Spiritual Warfare – 9.19&20
Week 2: Spiritual Warfare – Stop Wrestling, Start Resting
Purpose: To help students recognize that spiritual warfare is fighting against our flesh and our victory is being able to rest on the Victory that Jesus provided for us.
Series Truth: God always causes us to triumph no matter what may come our way in life. (II. Cor. 2:2) – Now thanks be to God, who always causes us to triumph in Christ…”
Main Ideas:
• Spiritual Warfare has to do mostly with fighting the lusts of the flesh that come to destroy our spiritual development and hinder our growth in Christ.
• Wrong thinking and wrong believing eventually lead to wrong actions.
• We need to know what the Word of God says on any subject and think and believe and act in line with God’s Word, and then we’ll get Bible results.
• The devil can’t get into a believer unless there is a door open. An uncontrolled mind and wrong thinking have as much to do with opening the door to the devil as wrong believing and wrong talking do. These are major battlefields in life.
• Instead of resting in the finished work of the Cross, we try wrestling a foe who we forgot is defeated!
• Believers don’t have to overpower and overcome the devil or wrestle him in their own strength. We “wrestle” the devil from our positions in Christ.
• If the devil keeps you in the sense realm, he’ll whip you every time, if you stay in the faith realm, you’ll whip him every time.
• The fight of faith is trusting God’s Word to work for you… there is a REST when you believe the Word of God.
• All the strength and rest we need is found in the Word of God.
• The only weapon Jesus used against the devil, was the Word of God
• Eph. 6:13 – Having done everything else you know to do – Stand!
• Stay with the Word of God, not opinions, or experiences. Experiences can be helpful, but only if they’re in line with the Word of God.
• Bottom Line – If you’re in Faith about something, you can rest and have peace.
Scripture:
• II Cor. 2:11, II Tim. 2:3,4, Eph. 6:10-17, Col. 2:15, I Tim. 6:12
Questions:
• What is spiritual warfare?
• Do you ever feel like you’re restlessly wrestling in battles in life? Is that God’s best for you?
• Do you think God wants you to have peace and be able to rest in any situation that may come?
• How can we come to a place of peace and rest during battles in our lives?
• What’s the greatest weapon we have in life and battle? How do we use it? (The Word of God)
• How can you tell if you’re truly in faith in an area? (You’ll be able to rest, you know the word in your heart)
Challenge:
• Recognize the areas you consistently wrestle with… Find scriptures to stand on in that area and get them in your heart until you come to a place of rest.
Things to Remember:
• If you haven’t signed up to serve at the Fall Festival with the Outreach team – DO IT!
The Triumphant Church
Are You Wrestling or Resting?
• II Cor. 2:11 – Don’t be ignorant of Satan’s devices
• The greatest enemy that robs us is wrong thinking and wrong believing.
• Wrong thinking and wrong believing eventually lead to wrong actions.
• We need to know what the Word of God says on any subject and think and believe and act in line with God’s Word, then we’ll get Bible results.
• The occupying army is just enforcing the victory that’s been won by our commander in Chief.
• The devil can’t get into a believer unless there is a door open. An uncontrolled mind and wrong thinking have as much to do with opening the door to the devil as wrong believing and wrong talking do. These are major battlefields in life.
• II Tim. 2:3,4 – Stay committed to the call of God on your life, regardless of the cost. Paul was reminding and encouraging Timothy to keep him free from the cares of this world and from any hindrances that would distract him from serving God.
• Many believers are trying to get victory in life some other way than the Word-they need to realize that genuine spiritual warfare has mostly to do with the mind and flesh and fighting the good fight of faith.
• When a believer learns by the Word of God to control his own thoughts and to gain mastery over his own flesh, he will have no difficulty in enjoying great victory over the devil.
• Eph. 6:10-17
• Instead of resting in the finished work of the Cross, we try wrestling a foe who we forgot is defeated!
• Col. 2:15 – Jesus made a show over them publically!
• Believers don’t have to overpower and overcome the devil or wrestle him in their own strength. We “wrestle” the devil from our positions in Christ.
• I Tim. 6:12 – Good fight of faith
• If the devil keeps you in the sense realm, he’ll whip you every time, if you stay in the faith realm, you’ll whip him every time.
• The fight of faith is trusting God’s Word to work for you… there is a REST when you believe the Word of God.
• Eph. 6:10 –“I’m trying to be strong” – The Bible says to BE STRONG IN HIM!
• All the strength and rest we need is found in the Word of God.
• The only weapon Jesus used against the devil, was the Word of God
• Eph. 6:13 – Having done everything else you know to do – Stand!
• Stay with the Word of God, not opinions, or experiences. Experiences can be helpful, but only if they’re in line with the Word of God.