SATAN AND HIS KINGDOM: chapter 1
- Put into your own words how you believe our outlook should change in light of knowing we are in a spiritual war:
- How does satan attack our moral?
- We need to be equipped: 2 Corinthians 10:4 says we have God’s mighty weapons to fight this battle...look into this and tell me about these weapons (what they are, how we can have them and use them)
- We are needing to build a strong offense in this spiritual battle, but because we are human we will not be able to constantly be able to withstand the tension and slugging of the evil one. Do you feel that you have the “defense team” to refresh, re-energize and nurture you?...How do you think you can be a part of someone else defense team?
1. So I think that this goes together with what Ben has been teaching us really well. One of the qoutes from this book was "You are in the middle of that war. Whether your heart is peace-loving or warlike makes no difference. You can't get out of it. You can only choose whether to fight or to be mowed down as a civilian casualty." I'm pretty sure that none of us would like to be mowed down. So our outlook should be that of someone getting ready to or going into battle, instead of going about our daily lives not worrying about it.
ReplyDelete2. I had a question, haha. Wendy- did you mean morale or moral?
morale!!!! :)
ReplyDeleteHehe, okay.
ReplyDeleteSo for question #2: Satan attacks our morale by pulling up past failures and convincing us that we arn't good enough to do what God would have us do in the present. When we mess up he's there whispering "you are a failure... what makes you think that you're going to acomplish anything great for God?" Also for me, I become easily distracted, and convinced in my mind to do other things (cleaning, homeworking, making dinner) instead of sitting down and having time with God. This is something that I have just recently become aware of. I noticed that while I knew I should be going to spend time in the Bible, all of these thoughts of other things that I had to do would (and still do) pop into my head. Something Ive been really convicted of lately is that I need to have a real relationship with God. It's becoming clear to me that I need to fight for it.
#1 Agree with Kaitlyn. Even though we can't get out of the war. We can equip ourselves with the tools to fight the Devil (The armor of God).
ReplyDeleteAnd we can't pick and choose when we want to fight. Otherwise we will be torn apart. It's a commitment that we make everyday, to fight
#2 Well, I know Satan target is my level of confidence. Thinking "i am not good enough" or "i could have done that better." And i beat myself up about it. At times, it gets to the point were i think i am worthless. But i am extremely grateful for the people God put in my life to encourage and pick me up. And i am realizing more and more that God made me a certain way for a reason.
#3 Ben was just talking about this on Sunday, to equip ourselves with the weapons of battle. It seems to me that Paul is talking about the Armor of God. (Ephesians 6:13-17) We are to put on the Belt of Truth, Breastplate of Righteousness, Sandals of Peace, Shield of Faith, Helmet of Salvation, and the Sword of the Spirit to be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. All of the Armor is given to us by God to fight against the strategies of the devil.
ReplyDelete#4 I think that we are blessed to have a Youth Group to hear the Truth being taught to us clearly. It nurtures and energizes me to go out take action in my fight. And the encouragement i receive, is a huge blessing.
To saturate ourselves in the Word and keep our eyes on God keeps me in check with what my focus is on.
Teaching and growing others in the Word can help them defend themselves against they fiery arrows of Satan.
By all means if i am totally off base on these question. Correct me, i am willing to learn
Ok so it is Anna, Kaitlyn, Wendy and I? I do realize I have 2 profiles! Agh! I'm trying to get rid of one! I have my answers written out! I will let you girls answer and if I have anything to add... I will!
ReplyDeleteWell, girls, on MOnday I wrote out my answers to each of these questions and the dodo computer person that I am, I did something and they were all erased. Not a good start...but I will press on anyway. :)
ReplyDelete# 1 For years, I didn't realize the all out WAR that was going on the earth and in my life by Satan. Paul uses such "wartime" language when he talks about our enemy and the more we really believe and understand the ways of Satan the better we can fight against him.
#2 Along the lines of what Kailyn said, I think that in my life, Satan enjoys reminding me of my struggles and how for so many years I haven't changed, why would I be able to change now. As far as how he attacks our moral, it is always going to be through untruth. That is his way. And the more I know the truth, the more I will recognize the untruths (although verrry subtle sometimes).
#3 What are our weapons? Yep, Ben did a great job explaining this last Sunday. The biggest thing that I learned in a mini-study on Ephesians 6 of the armor of God is just that...it is God's armor. But when we believe the gospel, he gives that armor to me for my safety. It's not what I have to drum up in myself, but the armor is all that God provides for me to withstand the devil. Actually, girls, it would be totally worth your time to do a little study on Eph.6 and see if you can get a better and better understanding of the armor. I know for me, it has been hard to understand...but a closer look, taking your time, you may be very surprised at how clear you can get.
#4 This was a great question Wen...who is our "defense team" or am I on anyone else's "defense team". Remember in our first big meeting on how to study the Bible...we saw how knowing God's word is NOT just for me. AS I know it, I am to push it out to others in encouragment, exhorting and admonishing (helping people get back in line with the truth), etc. And what a need we have to speaking into each other's lives as we each struggle with the POUNDING Of Satan on our minds. MAn, we need to be opening our mouths and letting each other know they aren't alone in the temptations of Satan...that we ALL are struggling in so often the VERY SAME ways. And then, to also be willing to open our mouths and speak truth to our friend, sister, whomever. We will always be tempted as long as we are on planet earth, but the actual winning over Satan's lies and deception is trhough knowing the TRUTH that combats those lies and believing them.
As far as my defense team, I would have to say that Jamie has always been an honest friend, willing to speak truth to me when my mind has been confused by the devil's lies. My sister and mom...my family...hold a key role in my defense team too.