July 6, 2011

Saint James AME Adult Bible Study

Scripture: Various

Subj: Battlefield of the MIND (Waging Victorious Spiritual Warfare) Pt. 1-2

The Nature of the Battle

We became a part of this spiritual warfare the day we trusted the Lord Jesus Christ as our personal Savior. This war affects every area of our life. There is no way you can avoid the conflict. There is no bunker or foxhole you can crawl into that will shield you from the effects of this cosmic battle between the forces of God and the forces of Satan.

Some Christians don’t even know they’re at war. But others can see the results of the battle in their lives, because they have become casualties of spiritual warfare. A Christian casualty may reflect the following characteristics:

  1. Emotional Casualties: discourage, depressed, downtrodden, defeated
  2. Marital & Family Casualties: divorce, conflict, abuse
  3. Moral Casualties: uncontrollable passions, poor moral choices

Definition:

Spiritual Warfare is a battle between invisible, angelic forces that affects you and me. The cause of the war is something you and I can’t see. But the effects are very visible in the kinds of problems I mentioned above and in the day-to-day stuff you and I face all the time.

Who is the enemy: Satan & his demons

What areas of our life are impacted?

  1. Personal Impact: Ephesians 4:25-27
  1. Family Impact: 1st Corinthians 7:5
  1. Church Impact: 1st Timothy 4:1 Acts 17:11 (checking out teachings)

Definition:

Satanic Stronghold: A stronghold is a mind-set that accepts a situation as unchangeable, even though that situation is contrary to the will of God. Anything that exalts itself over the Word/Will of God is a Satanic Stronghold.

Strongholds are ultimately spiritual problems, so until we attack them with our spiritual armor, they won’t be torn down (2nd Corinthians 10:4).

Jesus said, “That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit” (John 3:6). In other words, too often, we fight problems of the spirit with weapons of the flesh.

Pt II

Tearing Down Strongholds in our PERSONAL LIFE:

  1. We must remember our Position in Christ.
  2. We are connected to the Winner (Christ). Ephesians. 2:6
  3. We should set our minds on things above. Colossians 3:1-2

This means if your mind is set on an earthly solution to your spiritual struggles, then you won’t see a heavenly response. The solution to the strongholds Satan builds in our lives is found in Christ, “for in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form, and in Him you have been made complete, and He is the head over all rule and authority” (Colossians 3:1-2).

  1. We have LEGAL AUTHORITY over Satan.

We have been set free by Jesus Christ. Therefore, Satan cannot hold us captive.

Ex. Football Players –vs- Referee(s)

Who has the most power?

The Refs. Why? Although the players are bigger and stronger, the refs have been given legal authority over the game to throw their flag out/against any player who does not follow the rules.

Satan attempts to bring up your past, for instance, and telling you that you can’t overcome it, you have the legal right to flag him and say, “You area liar!” We are not victims; We are victors! We are more than Conquerors, in Christ Jesus.

  1. We must RELY ON GOD’S PROVISION.

We must rely on God’s Greater Grace. (James 4:6).

Regardless, of the sin, God gives greater grace to the humble. Take all your sin that you can remember and add that to the sin that you forgot and God still has more GRACE than all of that junk!

  1. We must SURRENDER TO GOD.

This is how we get God’s Greater Grace. We surrender! This is the forgotten element in submitting. James 4:1-5 tells us what submission is not. Therefore if we are exhibiting these characteristics, then we have not completely submitted ourselves to God! Once accomplished, we can then follow James 4:7. Afterward, we will be able to say, “We can do all things through Christ” (Philippians 4:13)

Surrender comes before Commitment! Don’t get it twisted!!!!

  1. We must COMMIT TO GOD.

Realizing that we can’t tear down stronghold by ourselves, but through God’s provisioning we can fulfill His expectations (His Will) Philippians 2:12-13. (Psalm 37:1-7a)

  1. We must DRAW NEAR TO GOD.

James 4:8 We accomplish this when we enter His presence and spend time in prayer and worship before Him. We should do this on a daily basis. WE SHOULD ALWAYS ENTER INTO GOD’S GATES WITH PRAISE AND WORSHIP AND THEN PRAYER! The Bible says, “He inhabits the praise of the righteous!”

  1. We must REPENT OF SIN.

James 4:8-9 True Repentance!

  1. We must ADMIT OUR SIN.

The reason God can’t help some people is that they never sin. They just ‘make mistakes.’ Please understand that, Jesus didn’t die for our mistakes. He died for our SINS. This means taking personal responsibility for our sinful actions.

  1. We must RESIST THE DEVIL.

In order to accomplish this, although it is listed in an above scripture James 4:7, it comes after submitting. We are only empowered to resist the devil through the submitting of ourselves to God. Look at 1st Peter 5:6-7. God exalts us and we can rise above any problem, addiction, attachment, or anything else holding us captive.

  1. We must KNOW AND USE THE WORD OF GOD.

We know what successful resistance looks like because we have the perfect example in the temptation of Jesus Christ (Matthew 4:1-1). Jesus stated, “It is written…

Therefore if It is written, then it has got to happen. Because, God Word does not return back to Him VOID! Notice that Satan left after Jesus used the Word on him! Remember, anyone Jesus has set free is free indeed (John :32-36).

Put God’s Word to the TEST

Ex. David -vs- Goliath (1st Samuel 17)

Hebrew 4:14-16 says, “We have a High Priest…)

Will we still struggle if we do all of this? Of course we will. We will have to battle as long as we are in the flesh. Jesus said: “ I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” John 16:33

But we have every weapon we need to defeat Satan. Let’s take them and go out to meet our giants. God is waiting to topple our GAINTS if we will confront them in the name of Jesus Christ!

Notes:

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