Week Six -
Fighting
The Good Fight Of Faith
The churches of Christ Greet You (Romans
This week you
will
study about the spiritual warfare each Christian engages in each day of
his
life.
1. You are well
over
a month into your new life as a disciple of Jesus Christ. If you have
been
serious about it, this month should have been one in which you faced
many
things about yourself that need changing. It also should have been one
filled
with joy because you know that God is for you and Jesus Christ is with
you
to help you become like Him.
2. Read
Philippians
4:4-6. When should we rejoice?
3. Read 1
Thessalonians
5:16-18. When should we be thankful?
4. If you have
been
guilty of complaining or being negative about your life, seek out those
you
have hurt and let them know that you are sorry because you have all the
reason
in the universe for joy.
1. The image of a
soldier
or a warfare is often employed in the New
Testament.
The reason: WE ARE AT WAR! The ways of God and the ways of men
(influenced
by Satan) are totally opposed. Our culture is constantly bombarding us
with
ITS message of how to find life, but God's message is totally
different.
One cannot survive in warfare unless he is equipped and knows how to do
battle. We therefore will study this
warfare.
2. Read Ephesians
6:10-18.
There is enough in this passage for several weeks of study; however, we
will
use only a few days.
3. First of all,
in
warfare we need to identify the enemy. From verse 12 we learn who the
enemy
is not - the enemy is not FLESH and BLOOD (parents, husband,
wife,
another race, your boss, or anyone else in mankind). So,
who is the enemy? Verse 11 and 12 reveal him as
the devil - the spiritual ruler of darkness.
4. What are some
of
the schemes you can see the devil working out in your life to take you
out
of the light of God? Set your mind against the forces of darkness that
Satan
commands. Pray for strength to overcome Satan's schemes.
1. Read Ephesians
6:10-18
again. Satan has real power, but verse 13 gives us the reason why we
don't
have to be fearful in this warfare. What is the reason?
2. We don't have
to
be fearful, but we do have to put on the whole armor of God (vs.
13-18).
Jesus Christ is the source of our armor (Philippians
3. The armor
described:
Loins girt about with truth - Read John 17:17.
The Breastplate of righteousness - Read Philippians 3:8-9.
The Gospel of peace - Read Ephesians 2:14-18.
The Shield of faith - Read Romans 10:17.
The Helmet of salvation - Read Romans 8:1-2.
The Sword of the Spirit - Read Hebrews 4:12.
Praying always in the Spirit - Read 1
Corinthians 14:15.
4. Remember, like
any
good soldier, you will have to put this armor on anew every day.
Satan
has the world (1 John
1. Read 2 Timothy
2:1-7.
To be a Christian is not like going on a picnic. It is like enrolling
in
an army and being trained to use the (spiritual) weapons of warfare as
we
battle the enemy.
2. If you are
really
walking with Jesus Christ and waging His warfare, you will experience
hardships
(vs. 3-4). Read 2 Timothy 3:12. What does this promise assure us of?
3. If you never
experience any persecution from the forces of the enemy, you are not
fighting
against the enemy. If the attitude of the people of this world toward
you
is that you are just an "okay" person, then you need to examine your
commitment
and your boldness for Jesus. Read John 15:18-20.
4. 2 Timothy 2:4
warns
us not to allow ourselves to become entangled "with the affairs of this
life."
Are there some things in your life that need to be given up because
they
are taking you away from the "front lines" of our battle?
1. This study
guide
ends today, but may your study never end. You are on your way to things
too
glorious and enriching to even describe. NEVER,
NEVER,
NEVER, NEVER, NEVER GIVE UP!
2. Read and
meditate
on the following verses: Hebrews 5:11-6:3; 1 Peter 2:1-2; Colossians
2:6-10.
3. Keep studying,
confessing,
encouraging, sharing, "And whatsoever you do in word or deed, do all
in
the name of the Lord Jesus (by His authority), giving thanks to God the
Father
by him" (Col 2:17).