Pulling The Curtain Back

Transcription

1 SPIRITUAL WARFARE

2 SPIRITUAL WARFARE Pulling The Curtain Back Dowlen Road Church Adult Class Benjamin Lee

3 Table Of Contents page 1 What To Expect page 2 Lesson 1: Words In The Word page 3 Lesson 2: Do You Believe In The Devil? page 4 Lesson 3: Is Satan Like God? page 5 Lesson 4: The Devil And Demons page 6 Lesson 5: Angels page 7 Lesson 6: Tough Questions About The Devil page 8 Lesson 7: Witchcraft, Sorcery, Astrology page 9 Lesson 8: The Battle For Our Souls page 10 Lesson 9: Where The Battle Is: Flesh vs. Spirit page 11 Lesson 10: Victory In Jesus page 12 Lesson 11: The Temptation Of Jesus page 13 Lesson 12: The Battle For Our Minds: F.U.D. page 14 Lesson 13: The Battle For Our Minds: Discouragement page 15 Lesson 14: The Battle For Our Minds: Apathy page 16 Lesson 15: The Battle For Our Loyalty: Our Careers page 17 Lesson 16: The Battle For Our Loyalty: With Our Money page 18 Lesson 17: The Battle For Our Loyalty: With Our Time page 19 Lesson 18: The Battle For Our Relationships: Our Homes page 20 Lesson 19: The Battle For Our Relationships: The Church page 21 Lesson 20: Stumbling At The Finish Line page 22

4 INTRODUCTION : Someone is PREYING for you. That person is the devil. The apostle Peter warns us that we have an enemy. In 1 Peter 5:8 the Bible says, Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world. While the devil may attempt to defeat us, we can be victorious. It is possible to resist his tactics and devices. Sadly, too many Christians fail to remember this point. Many believe that the lusts and desires of the world are simply too difficult to overcome. As a result, many fall to his tactics and be defeated. Through Jesus, we have been given the victory to overcome, 1 John 5:1-5. But make no mistake about it, we are in a fight. While the devil may depart for a season, he will continue to attack us, Luke 4:13. Throughout the scriptures we find that the devil has a variety of tactics that he uses to attempt to defeat the people of God. Therefore, it is critical that we listen carefully to the warnings the Holy Spirit has given us in His word. The purpose of this study is to learn more about our enemy. Many have questions about the devil that we may not always be able to answer. Our job is not to speculate, but to observe, and believe what the scriptures teach, Deuteronomy 29:29. Let s be satisfied with the revelation God has provided for us, Ephesians 3:3-5. I decided to call this class Spiritual Warfare: Pulling the Curtain Back, because sometimes we can forget that we are indeed in a battle. Our adversary the devil works behind the scenes. Take for example the story of Job. In the midst of his suffering, Job struggled with his physical conditions. His friends believed that he was suffering because he had done wrong, Job 4:7-9. Job didn t believe what his friends said to him. But he struggled with what happened in his life. Job felt that it was God who attacked him, Job 6:4. Job was upset with God, Job 23:1-7. Yet Job would soon learn that it was not God who was to blame, Job 42:1-6. We know that Satan was involved with all of the sufferings that Job endured, Job 1-2. He was behind the scenes. The story of Job pulls the curtain back on the spiritual warfare and that battle that is being waged. The story of Balaam and Barak reminds us of the battle that takes place behind the scenes, Numbers 22:1-21. Balak, after seeing what God had done for the Israelites against the Amorites, sought to defeat them. As king of the Moabites, he sent messengers to Balaam, to see if he might curse God s people. What s interesting about this story is that while Balak and Balaam had this conversation, it appears the people of God had no idea this was taking place. All of these events took place behind the scenes. The story of Elisha is another great example of the battle that is being waged behind the scenes, 2 Kings 6:8-18. We are in the middle of a great battle! Thankfully, through God we can be successful in this spiritual battle. Page 1

5 What To Expect Before we can dive into the lessons there are some things we must address, so this class will be a success. This class will address a variety of topics pertaining to the devil and spiritual warfare. We will seek to answer some of the questions people have regarding the devil, demon possession, angels, witchcraft, and how Satan attempts to attack us. Some may not be happy with this class. I mentioned it earlier, but it needs to be addressed again. Not every question we have will be answered. Our job is to stick with what God has revealed to us in His word. 5. Sometimes fictional books about the devil, spiritual warfare, etc. can have a big impact with what we believe regarding these subjects. What books in the past have you read about the devil or spiritual warfare? Discussion 1. Why did you decide to sign up for this class? 6. How often do you use Bible commentaries, concordances, or other aids to assist you in your Bible study? 2. Are you willing to come to class prepared? YES/NO 3. Are you willing to participate in class? YES/NO 4. What questions do you have about the devil? Page 2

6 Lesson 1 Words In The Word The Bible is God s word, 2 Timothy 3:16. God has communicated His will for us through words. Therefore, it is important that we understand the meaning of words found in the scriptures. Many people use words in the scriptures inaccurately. We can sometimes try to define a word that doesn t fit with how that word is used in its context. Sometimes people define a Biblical word by how the word is currently used. What are some Bible words that you have heard others use in a way that is contrary to how they are used in scripture? 2. The word Devil is used 33 times in the New Testament. Read the passages listed, and see how the devil is described, Matthew 4:1-11; John 8:44; Acts 10:38; Revelation 12:9-10; 1 Peter 5:8. Look up the word Devil What does it mean? As we discuss our enemy and the battle we are in, first we must define some terms. There are different words that are used to describe the devil. Knowing what they mean will help us to understand our enemy better. In this lesson we will examine some of the terms in their particular context. 3. The term Satan is found in both the Old and New Testament, Job 1:7-12; John 13:27; Acts 5:3. Look up the word Satan on your own. What does it mean? Discussion 1. Isaiah 14:12 is one of the most abused passages in the Bible. Many refer to the devil as Lucifer. But is Lucifer the devil? Read Isaiah chapter 13 and 14:1-12 to get a better understanding of the text. Who is Lucifer? 4. Take some time and identify other passages where a different word or phrase is used to describe the devil. What passages come to mind? What can we learn from them? Page 3

7 Lesson 2 Do You Believe In The Devil? One of the greatest lies of all time is that the DEVIL is not real! This might sound silly to us, but many Americans don t believe that the devil is real. According to a survey conducted by The Barna Group in 2009, to Americans who consider themselves to be Christians, 40% said that Satan is not a living being but is a symbol of evil. The devil is thankful that so many don t believe he is real. It makes his job at deceiving man that much easier. Make no mistake about it, the devil is on a mission. He wants you. In this lesson we will discuss the reality of Satan s existence and where he will spend eternity. 4. Read the first two chapters of Job. What do we learn about the existence of the devil? 5. Read Zechariah 3:1-5. What was it that Satan was attempting to do? You may want to read some commentaries or some type of introduction to the book of Zechariah to help answer this question. Discussion 1. What comes to mind when you think about Satan? How do you visualize him? How do you think your picture of him might help or hinder you as you fight against him? 6. Read 1 Thessalonians 2:17-18; 1Timothy 5: What is it that we learn about the devil from these verses? 2. Read Genesis 3:1-7. What do we learn about the devil from these verses? What passage in the New Testament refers to the devil as a serpent? 7. It could be that some refuse to believe that Satan is real because then they can reject the reality of hell. What do we learn about the existence of hell from the scriptures? Matthew 25:31-46; 2 Thessalonians 1:7-9; Revelation 21:8; John 5: Read 2 Samuel 24:1-10. What was it that David did that caused him to admit he had sinned? Now read 1 Chronicles 21:1-10. Who was it that influenced David? Page 4

8 Lesson 3 Is Satan Like God? Many people have different ideas and questions regarding the devil. Does he have the same power as God? Was he a fallen angel? Is he a created being? When did he become evil? You might be surprised with what the Bible reveals and does not reveal. As we consider some basic facts about the nature of the devil, it s important to remember Deuteronomy 29:29. We could spend countless hours by speculating. Our responsibility is to simply stick to what the text says. However, we are able to know some things with certainty. In this lesson we will consider the question, Is Satan like God? There are far reaching consequences based on how we answer this question. If Satan is God s equal, then we have no assurance that God will be able to keep any of His promises to man. If the devil is God s equal, then he would have the power to undo whatever God would do. There are many ways in which Satan is not like God. 3. Read Psalm 90:2; Deuteronomy 33:27. What do we learn about God and His existence? Read Colossians 1: What do we learn about the existence of the devil? 4. Read Psalm 147:5; Job 34:21, Hebrews 4:13. What do we learn about God and His knowledge? Read Job 1:9-11. What do we learn about the knowledge of the devil? There are some similarities between God and Satan. 1. With respect to nature, God and Satan are similar, John 4:24. Ephesians 6: But does this mean that the devil is on the same level as God? Explain. 5. With respect to rulership, how are God and Satan different? Read 1 Chronicles 29:11-12; 1 Timothy 6:15; Ephesians 2:2; 2 Corinthians 4:4 to help answer this question? 2. God and Satan are more powerful than man, Psalm 8:3-4. Ephesians 6: But does this mean that the devil is on the same level as God? Explain. 6. What is the difference with the power of God compared to the devil, Revelation 19:6; Psalm 135:6; Luke 22: In what other ways is Satan not like God? 3. What other similarities are there between God and Satan? Page 5

9 Lesson 4 The Devil And Demons In our last lesson we learned the differences between God and Satan. This is important to know as we wage war against our enemy. It s also important to know some other facts regarding the devil. The Bible says so much about him. And the Bible says a lot about demons and demon possession. Throughout the gospels, there are stories of people who had demons inside of them. Today, there are people who claim that they have been possessed by demons in the past. Is that true? In this lesson we will consider some more facts regarding our enemy, and discuss an important issue regarding demons and demon possession. This lesson is critical when it comes to us knowing that we can be victorious over our adversary. 1. Read the following passages, Mark 5:1-20; Luke 8:26-31; Acts 19:11-20; Matthew 12: What do we learn about demon possession in the first century? 5. What do you think was the purpose of demon possession? That is, why did God allow it? 6. Some claim they have been possessed by a demon. What differences do you find with what people say today compared to what we find in the scriptures? 2. What exactly were the demons that possessed the people? 7. Demon possession has ceased, but the devil is alive and well. So how does he operate? Take some time to study and see how the devil was involved with the apostle Judas, John 13:1-30, 12:1-7; Matthew 27:1-3. In what way did the devil operate? 3. How many cases of demon possession can you identify in the Old Testament? 4. How long would demon possession last? Is there some indication that it would last forever, or would it be temporary? Read Matthew 8:29 to help answer this question. Page 6

10 Lesson 5 Angels One of my favorite shows growing up was about a man who was an angel. The show was called Highway to Heaven. The star of the show was Michael Landon. Since that show many other television programs and movies have been about angels. Yet many people are not familiar with what the Bible says about angels. The topic of angels has found its way into this workbook because the devil is often referred to as a fallen angel. We will look at some of the scriptures that some have used to justify this position. The Bible says a lot about angels. Throughout the scriptures we find that angels played a part delivering God s message to man, fighting against the devil, and so much more. In this lesson we will highlight some of the main points that will help us to get a better understanding of angels. 1. What are angels? Read the following passages to help answer this question, Luke 20:27-38; Hebrews 1: Why were angels created? Read the following passages to help answer this question, Hebrews 1:14; Psalm 103:20; Acts 7:53; Acts 10: What role do angels have today? Read the following passages to help answer this question, Hebrews 1:14; Matthew 18:1-10; Hebrews 13:1-2; Luke 15:1-3; Luke 16: Some believe that the devil was a fallen angel because of passages like Luke 10:18. Read Luke 10:1-20. Do these verses teach that the devil is a fallen angel? 2. Where did angels come from? Read the following passage to help answer this question, Colossians 1: When were angels created? How would you answer this question? 7. Is the devil a fallen angel? There are passages like Matthew 25:41; 2 Peter 2:4; Jude 5-9 that cause many to think that he is. Whether we believe that he is or not, what can we learn about those who oppose God from these verses? Page 7

11 Lesson 6 Tough Questions About The Devil The Bible provides us with a lot of information regarding demon possession, angels, and the devil. And yet there are some questions that are more challenging to answer regarding Satan. 3. Many people want to know the answer to the following question; Why has God allowed Satan to continue to exist? How would you answer this question? In this lesson we will address a couple of these questions to the best of our ability. Let s remember what Moses said in Deuteronomy 29: Sometimes people ask, When was the devil created? How would you answer that question? 4. We know that Satan is not equal to God when it comes to his power. But he does have power, 2 Corinthians 4:4; Luke 4:6. But what exactly are his powers? Read the following verses to help answer this question. Genesis 3:4: 1 Timothy 4:1-3: 2. We know that the devil is opposed to man, 2 Corinthians 2:11; Job 1; 1 Peter 5:8. But why has he arrayed himself against both God and man? 2 Corinthians 4:4: Ephesians 6:11-12: 2 Corinthians 12:7: Acts 5:1-5: 1 Thessalonians 2:18: 2 Corinthians 11:13-14: Page 8

12 Lesson 7 Witchcraft, Sorcery, Astrology Many of today s teenagers are frequently exposed to supernatural themes through movies, TV programs, books and video games. A 2006 survey by the The Barna Group reveals that teenagers perspective regarding the supernatural are varied and often depend upon the teaching they receive in the home and church. Below are some of the findings. Three-quarters of America s youth have engaged in at least one type of psychic or witchcraft-related activity beyond media exposure or horoscope usage. The most common types of witchcraft behavior are using an Ouija board and reading a book about witchcraft. Ten percent of teens have participated in a séance, and 1 out of 12 have attempted to cast a spell or mix a magic potion. Here s the point. It s important that we know what the scriptures teach regarding the devil, demons, angels, sorcery, witchcraft, etc. so we will not be deceived. In this lesson we will examine the scriptures regarding some of these issues and the danger of them. Before we begin define the following words: Witchcraft: 1. Read Deuteronomy 18:9-14. What was Israel to avoid when they entered into their new land? Why? 2. Read Isaiah 47:8-15; Genesis 41:8; Daniel 2:2-11. What do we learn about people who claimed to have special powers in sorcery or astrology? 3. Read the stories about the witch of En Dor and Simon the sorcerer 1 Samuel 28:1-19; Acts 8:9-13. Did these people really have power or were they frauds? Explain. 4: Many believe in ghosts. Some think that ghosts are the spirits of those who have already died. Can the dead really come back? Read Luke 16:19-31 to help answer this question? Soothsayer: Spiritualism: 5: Sorcery is condemned in Galatians 5: Why has God condemned things like sorcery, witchcraft, astrology, etc.? Astrology: Sorcery: Page 9

13 Lesson 8 The Battle For Our Souls We are in a battle! We often hear terms and phrases like.. battle It was a war out there Fight to the finish We recognize that there are physical battles that men across the centuries have had. One of the great conflicts in American history was the Civil War. During that war, more American lives were lost than the rest of the American wars combined. Sadly, the spiritual battle between good and evil has produced more casualties than all of man s wars combined. It s interesting that when you read the New Testament scriptures, you will find a lot of words that pertain to some kind of battle or war. Read 1Timothy 6: What was Timothy to do? 1. Read, Ephesians 6: Who is our battle against? Why is this important? 2. Our battle against the devil is spiritual in nature. According to Ephesians 6:10-20, what weapons do we have so we can be victorious over him? 3. From the answers you wrote from the previous question, write out how each of these things will help us to be victorious. Read 2 Timothy 4:6-8. What did Paul say he had done? Read Ephesians 6: What did Paul remind the church in Ephesus they were to do? 4. Is it important that we have all of the pieces Paul mentioned? Explain. The devil wants us to miss out on our great reward of heaven, Hebrews 3:12-14, 4:1-3, 11. He wants our souls to be lost. If we are to be victorious in our battle against the devil, there are some things we must know. In this lesson we will discuss some things regarding the battle for our souls. Page 10

14 Lesson 9 Where The Battle Is: Flesh vs. Spirit The battle is between good and evil. The devil wants us to follow him. God wants us to follow Him. We have to decide who we will choose. Either the devil or God will be our Father. We can t follow both. 4. Read Galatians 5: Take some time and define the works of the flesh that are mentioned. You will need another sheet of paper. We can be successful doing the will of God. Galatians 5:16-26 helps us to see where the battle is. It s between the flesh and the Spirit. These two don t mix. From these verses an entire quarter of material could be presented. We don t have time to do all of that. However, it is critical that we examine these verses, so we can defeat our enemy. 1. In Galatians 5:16-26 how many times do you see the word walk? What does it mean to walk in the Spirit? 5. See if you can categorize into different groups the works of the flesh that Paul mentions. For example adultery, sexual immorality, and uncleanness would fall into sins of sexual immorality. How would you categorize the other ones? 2. When Paul speaks of the flesh, to what is he referring? 6. What will happen to us if we walk according to the flesh? 3. What do you think Paul meant when he said, so that you do not do the things that you wish in Galatians 5:17? 7. If one claims to walk according to the Spirit, the fruit of the Spirit should be evident. Define the characteristics that make up the fruit of the Spirit. Page 11

15 Lesson 10 Victory In Jesus We are in a battle! That point has been made clear. After learning about the devil for the past few weeks, we have learned that he is powerful. He has been successful defeating many across the span of time. He would like us to think that we have no chance of overcoming his temptations and tactics. That is not true! In the midst of great suffering, the apostle Peter encouraged the saints to resist the devil, 1 Peter 5:8-9. Like others who were enduring tough days, they too could be successful against their adversary. It was James who reminded the saints that they could resist the devil, James 4:1-10. Just like the disciples in the first century, we can resist the devil. We can be victorious over our adversary, 1 John 5:4-5. In this lesson we will examine how we can be successful through Jesus. We must always remember that who we have on our side is greater than our enemy. 1. It is important to note the great responsibility we have in our battle against the devil. Read Joshua 24:15; Deuteronomy 30: What has God given man the capability to do? Why is this important to remember? 2. While we have great responsibility, ultimately our victory resides in Jesus. Read Hebrews 2: What is it that Jesus has done for us? Why is this significant? 3. Our weapons against the devil are not physical, but spiritual. Read Ephesians 6:10-19 again. Why is it that we must use these weapons against the devil? 4. Paul encouraged the saints to put on the armor of light in Romans 13: What is the armor of light and how do we put it on so we can be victorious?. 5. Read James 4:6-10. Why is humility so important if we are to be victorious over the devil? Page 12

16 Lesson 11 The Temptation Of Jesus We are in a battle! This point has clearly been established from our previous lessons. As we begin to investigate from the scriptures how the devil attempts to defeat us, it s appropriate that we look at the temptation of Jesus. When Jesus was on earth, the devil tempted Him. We find the story of Jesus in the wilderness in Matthew and Luke s account, Matthew 4:1-11; Luke 4:1-13. The way that the devil attacked Jesus is often one of the ways that he will attack us. Let s take a closer look at the temptation of Jesus. What lessons can we learn as we continue to pull the curtain back on spiritual warfare? 3. Read Matthew 4:8-10. What was it that the devil wanted Jesus to do? Why do you think this was a big deal? 4. Do you think the devil tempted Jesus in three separate ways? Or do you think that the three opportunities which the devil had to tempt Jesus was in one specific way? Explain. 1. Read Matthew 4:3-5. What was it that the devil wanted Jesus to do? Why do you think this was a big deal? 2. Read Matthew 4:6-7. What was it that the devil wanted Jesus to do? Why do you think this was a big deal? 5. Where were the verses that Jesus responded with found in the scriptures? Go back and read the context where these passages are identified. Do you think there is any significance that Jesus quoted these passages? Page 13

17 Lesson 12 The Battle For Our Minds: F.U.D. Cindy grew up in the Lord s church. As a high school student she attended all of the high school devotions. After graduating from high school she began college. But Cindy was not prepared. The class work was not her problem. Her faith was not prepared for the attack she would face. Her professors challenged her about the existence of God. Her friends mocked her about her stance on premarital sex and drinking. Now Cindy began to have some doubts. She began to think that maybe what she had been taught regarding these issues were wrong. As time went on, the arguments about evolution seemed to become more logical than the creation story. Eventually, Cindy lost her faith in God. The devil had prevailed. I made this story up for the sake of this workbook. However, there are too many young people who have experienced this very thing. It s not just college students however who have had doubts and uncertainty about God and His word. Many Christians from time to time, based on events that happen in life can begin to doubt in God. This is one of the ways the devil attacks us. It s called the F.U.D. factor: Fear, Uncertainty, and Doubt. Read Isaiah 36. What tactic did King Sennacherib use against King Hezekiah as they came against Judah? 2. What effect did fear, uncertainty, and doubt have on the Israelites in Numbers 13:25-14:45? 3. Read John 12: What effect did fear have on some of the rulers in Israel in the days of Jesus? 4. What is it that the devil wants us to doubt? 5. What affects might fear, uncertainty, and doubt have on our walk with God? Read 2 Peter 3:1-7; 1Timothy 2:8; James 1:6-8 to help answer this question. In this lesson we will examine how the devil has defeated God s people this way, and how we can avoid it. 1. How did the enemy create doubt in Eve, Genesis 3:1-7? 6. How do we overcome the F.U.D. factor? Cite scriptures in your answer. Page 14

18 The Battle For Our Minds: Discouragement Lesson 13 More and more people in America seem to be depressed. While we have endured, and are still in an economic slowdown, we have been blessed with great wealth. We have access to healthcare and other tools to help us when challenges come our way. And yet many have become discouraged. We may not always think that discouragement is a tactic of the devil, but it is. Many of God s people have experienced discouragement. Read 1 Kings 19:1-4. What did Elijah ask from God when he became discouraged? 2. Why do you think that Satan might use discouragement to attack a child of God? What could it ultimately cause? 3. Job was certainly discouraged due to his sickness. Yet there were people in his life that discouraged him. Read Job 2: 7-10, 16:1-5. Who was it that discouraged Job? Read Job 3:1. What was it that caused Job to become discouraged? 4. Read Proverbs 10:1 and Colossians 3:21. From where else might discouragement come from? How might this effect a person s relationship with God? There are many other examples we could consider. In this lesson we will discuss how the devil might try to discourage us and how we can overcome this tactic. 5. How can a soldier of Christ overcome discouragement? 1. Is it a sin to ever become discouraged? Why or why not? Page 15

19 Lesson 14 The Battle For Our Minds: Apathy A couple of years ago a young lady obeyed the gospel. I was thrilled with her decision to become a Christian, so I decided to post the good news on Facebook. My comment received many positive responses. But one comment stood out to me. It was written by a Christian in Illinois. She posted, I wish I had the same zeal as you. I was puzzled by her comment. I assume she was referring to my excitement over the young lady who had been baptized. But why would a Christian wish they had zeal? Shouldn t every Christian have zeal for spiritual things? The answer to that question is YES! However, many Christians lack the zeal that God expects His people to have. How would you define the term zeal? 2. Read Revelation 3: What happened to the church of Laodicea? 3. In what ways might Satan attack us so that we may become apathetic in our walk with God? Why should every Christian have zeal? Cite scriptures with your answer. 4. Maybe you have found that you have lost your zeal when it comes to serving God. What can you do to regain your zeal? Cite scriptures with your answer. The devil wants to steal our zeal. He has been successful in the lives of many. Many Christians have become apathetic in their walk with the Lord. Let s take some time to consider how the devil attacks us in this manner. But first, what does the word apathy mean? 1. What are some warning signs of spiritual apathy? Page 16

20 Lesson 15 Battle For Our loyalty: Our Careers For all of his life Stan had been faithful in his worship attendance. While in college, nothing got in the way of Stan assembling with the saints on Wednesdays and Sundays. But after college, Stan began working full time. His job had great benefits, salary, and opportunities for over time. Stan occasionally would miss a Sunday evening service so he could prepare for his busy work week. However, Stan began to miss Sunday morning services. He needed to recover from his long week. And he couldn t seem to pass up opportunities to work overtime. Stan quickly moved up in his position. Soon, there was no time for worship on Sundays or Wednesdays, or for spending time with the brethren throughout the week. Stan told himself that eventually he would cut back on his work, so he could do more for God. But that time never came. Do you know someone like Stan? Have you ever been in Stan s situation where your career has had a negative impact on your faith? The devil is out to get us. Sometimes, our career is something that he may use to defeat us. In this lesson we will look at how Satan might use our careers to affect our loyalty to God. 2. What priority should a job have in your life? 3. How should we decide what kind of job we should take? What is your standard? 4. How might Satan attack you through your job? 5. Read Colossians 3: While this was written to servants, there are principles that apply for all workers. What principles can we learn from these verses that will help us with our careers? 1. What is the purpose of having a job? Use scripture to support your answer. 6. Satan can tempt us in a variety of ways through our careers. List some examples of how we might be tempted and how we can overcome them. Page 17

21 Lesson 16 Battle For Our Loyalty: With Our Money It is something that we all need. It is something in and of itself is not evil. However, it is something that can cause a Christian to stumble. What is it? It s Money! The Bible says a lot about money. The Proverbs are full of wisdom when it comes to money. Take some time and identify three Proverbs that speak about money. 2. One of our biggest challenges is covetousness. Read Colossians 3:1-5. What does covetousness mean? 3. Can you list some examples from scripture of religious men who were defeated as a result of covetousness? There is one particular passage regarding our attitude toward money that may challenge you. Read Proverbs 30:8-9. Explain what is taught in this Proverb. 4. Covetousness can potentially be a major problem for us. Do you think it s easy to detect it in our hearts? Why? The love of money is the root of all kinds of evil, 1Timothy 6:10. The devil has defeated many Christians through the love of money. Our loyalty is to be to God and not money, Matthew 6:24. Let s take some time to see the danger of money, and how we can overcome the schemes of the devil. 1. Read 1 Timothy 6:1-19. What do we learn about money from these verses? 5. What s the fate of those who are overtaken with covetousness, Luke 12:13-21? 6. If we find ourselves filled with covetousness, how do we overcome this sinful condition? List some passages to support your answer. Page 18

22 Lesson 17 Battle For Our Loyalty: Time Management I don t have time! Have you heard someone say that? Maybe you have said it in the past. It seems that no one has time for anything or anyone. The world has evolved with the technology that we have. We have cellphones, ipads, laptops, and many more things, that help us to manage our time. And yet we never seem to have enough time. Something has to give. There are usually things that will get pushed to the side. Often, it is the things that really matter the most. Sadly, one of the things that often gets pushed to the side is God. Read the short book of Haggai. What was the objection Judah gave to God, as to why the temple had not been completed? 3. What are some specific ways Satan may use time against us? Read 2 Peter 3:1-4; James 4:13-17 to help answer this question. 4. If Satan was setting your schedule, how do you think he would divide up your time? What would receive a lot of attention, and what would receive little attention? God is upset when we fail to properly use our time, so that His work can be done. Proper use of our time can help us to be victorious in our battle against the devil. Poor use of our time may cause us to lose the battle. 1. What does God expect of us when it comes to the use of our time, Ephesians 5:15-16; Acts 17:11? 2. What are some day-to-day struggles a Christian might face with respect to time? 5. Read Acts 6:1-6. What did the apostles say they could not do? Why? How might their example help us to put first things first with respect to our time? 6. It is obvious that some things in our daily schedule might have to be given up so we can ensure that our spiritual growth continues. What might need to change on your schedule if you find yourself not growing as you should? Page 19

23 The Battle For Our Relationships: Our Homes Lesson 18 Samuel and Sally got married at a young age. She was an accountant for a period of time. Samuel was in school working toward becoming a physician. This young couple would accomplish great things. Samuel eventually became a doctor. They had two beautiful children. They were both strong in their faith. Samuel taught Bible classes as often as he could. They eventually would move into a big house. All seemed great. But there was a problem. Samuel was not as strong as others had thought. He eventually cheated on his wife Sally. Yet she forgave him and tried to make the marriage work. By this time their children were in high school. This caused a great deal of harm to them. But as time went on, things seemed to get back to normal. However, things would eventually fall apart. Samuel cheated on Sally again. There would be no reconciliation. Samuel decided he wanted to get married to his girlfriend. The church disciplined him, but nothing could change Samuel. His wife and two children s lives would be forever changed. Samuel left the Lord. Sadly, so have his two children. There is only one person happy with what happened to this family: the devil! Satan is after our relationships. He would love to destroy our homes. In this lesson we will examine why and how the devil comes after us through our relationships. 2. Satan may attack our families in a variety of ways. Read Acts 5:1-5. How did Satan attack Ananias and Sapphira? What can we learn from this? 3. Read 1 Samuel 2: How did the devil attack Eli and his family? How was it that Eli failed with his two boys? What lessons can we learn from this? 4. One of the greatest ways the devil impacts our homes is through marriage infidelity. How does infidelity in the home affect the faithful spouse, children, and the church? 1. Why do you think Satan would want to attack the family? 5. What can we do to help protect our families, so the devil will not be victorious over them? Page 20

24 The Battle For Our Relationships: The Church Lesson 19 When you think of a great congregation that s mentioned in the New Testament scriptures, which one comes to mind? Identify some of the local churches we read about in the first century that seemed to excel. 1. What problem quickly arose in the Jerusalem church in Acts 6:1-5? How might the devil attack us in a similar way? While there are many great congregations to discuss, we also see other local churches that didn t seem to do so well, at least initially. A great example of this was the church in Corinth, 1 Corinthians 1:1. This local congregation had a lot of problems. Consider some of their issues: 2. Read Galatians 2: What was it that Peter did? Why was his behavior so bad? How might we as a local church fall into the same problem? There was division among the brethren, 1:1-10. They were still carnally minded, 3:1-5. They failed to practice discipline, 5:1-10. They abused the Lord s Supper, 11: What other issues did this local church have? 3. One of the ways that the local church is to solve problems is through communication. Read Matthew 18: When problems arise what should we do? The devil had great success with this local church. However, it is important to note that nothing is recorded about this church having a split. In fact, we find that things improved when they listened to God, 2 Corinthians 2:5-11.Satan wants to destroy our unity in Christ. This can t be allowed. In this lesson we will examine some of the tactics the devil uses to disrupt our unity, and how we can avoid it. 4. Read Philippians 4:2-3. What did Paul encourage Euodia and Syntyche to do? What can we learn from this? 5. Read Acts 9:31. Is it possible for local churches to have peace and grow? If so, how do we do it? Page 21

25 Lesson 20 Stumbling At The Finish Line So far this quarter we have covered a lot of ground looking at our enemy, the devil. He is real, he is powerful, and he wants to defeat us. He will attack us in a variety of ways. Yet we have also discussed how we can defeat him. Our victory is through Jesus. We can be successful in our spiritual battle. 4. Read Numbers 20:1-13. Moses certainly stumbled along the way to the Promised Land. What would be his punishment? Would you say that Moses was still a finisher? Explain. The devil knows this and therefore will continue to do his best to cause us to stumble. Therefore, we have to keep our focus on the prize. What is our finish line? What is our goal? If we are going to cross the finish line so that we might receive our crown, we must remember some important things. As we wrap up the quarter, let s remember what the scriptures teach about being a finisher. Let s see it through! 5. What will it take for us to finish our race? Read the story of Caleb in Joshua 14:6-15. When Caleb faced setbacks, what was it that kept him focused for 45 years? 1. Read John 17:4. What did Jesus finish? 6. Sometimes the devil will use guilt as a way to get us to stumble. We will make mistakes. But what should we do when we fall short? Read Proverbs 24:16 to help answer this question. 2. Read 2 Timothy 4:6-8. What was it that Paul finished? 3. Both the apostle Peter and Judas betrayed Jesus. Yet one would continue while the other committed suicide, Matthew 27:1-8. What can we learn from these men as we sometimes struggle in our walk with God? 7. What s our reward for finishing our race? Read the following passages to help answer the question, Philippians 3:20-21; Hebrews 4:1; Revelation 14:13? Page 22