Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.  ² After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry.  ³ The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.”   ⁴ Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”   ⁵ Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple.  ⁶ “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down. For it is written: “‘He will command his angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’”  ⁷ Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’”. (Matthew 4:1 – 7)

One of the classic Biblical passages on Spiritual Warfare is, of course, the temptation of Christ found in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke.  Interestingly, in the first two temptations there are clear references to identity (“If you are the Son of God”).

Please prayerfully read the passage above which captures two of the temptations and consider Jesus’ response to the devil.

Something to think about:

Recognizing that it is the devil’s strategy to attack the identity of God’s children, how does your response strategy stack up against the approach Jesus adopted?

¹⁵ I do not understand what I do.  For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do.  ¹⁶ And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good.  ¹⁷ As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me.  ¹⁸ For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature.  For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out.  ¹⁹ For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing.  ²⁰ Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it. (Romans 7:15 – 20)

Today we switch gears to the Discipline of Spiritual Warfare.  This Discipline highlights the reality of the struggle that believers engage in every day, for “we wrestle not against flesh and blood.” This is a struggle that many avoid thinking about but the Bible certainly doesn’t avoid the topic.

Please prayerfully reflect on the passage of scripture above.  It provides a powerful statement of Paul’s struggle, which can certainly be viewed as a struggle of identity.

Something to think about:

We are often encouraged to focus on victories in our Christian walk. That is, of course, appropriate encouragement because “greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world”.  However, in the passage above Paul exhibits clear vulnerability.  In the spiritual battle for our identity, how might the kind of vulnerability exhibited by Paul prove valuable?

You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. (1 John 4:4)

Your comments made our first day of considering challenges to Spiritual Warfare a true blessing.  We will stay with Spiritual Warfare, and Percy has a question.  As a reminder, you are being asked to play the part of Libby and share your thoughts on the challenges people are having.  Please share your thoughts and check the comments throughout the day to see what others are saying to Percy.

Dear Libby,

I need your practical advice.  As a believer I know that Satan and his negative forces cannot destroy me.  Despite this knowledge though, when I think about spiritual warfare I almost always take a defensive posture (i.e., I mostly think about fighting off spiritual challenges).  My observation of Jesus is that he lived his life on offense as well and I want to be more like Him.  Do you have any suggestions on the keys to not only playing on defense but also on offense where spiritual warfare is concerned?

In Search of Offense,

Percy

Today’s Question:

What thoughts would you like to share with Percy?

3 For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. 4 The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. 5 We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. (2 Corinthians 10:3-5)

What a blessing to see the practical advice provided over the last two days as we considered challenges to Bible Study.  We now switch our attention to the Discipline of Spiritual Warfare, and Carolina has a question.  As a reminder, you are being asked to play the part of Libby and share your thoughts on the challenges people are having.  Please share your thoughts and check the comments throughout the day to see what others are saying to Sarah.

Dear Libby,

I actually feel a bit awkward writing to you about the topic of Spiritual Warfare.  I know that evil exists and I know the Bible says a lot about evil powers, but talk of spiritual warfare evokes childish thoughts of boogie men and monsters in my closet.  I certainly wouldn’t be comfortable discussing this topic with my work colleagues.  What I am trying to say Libby is that of all the Disciplines this is probably the one that I keep most on the “low down”.  I don’t want to get all weird about spiritual warfare but I also don’t want to be naïve about my adversary.  Libby, how do you relate to spiritual warfare?  

Uncomfortable,

Carolina

Today’s Question:

What thoughts would you like to share with Carolina?

What kind of prayer gives you access to God’s authority?  God has given you a powerful way to access the authority you possess. Ephesians 6v18a says: praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit

There are some things God won’t do apart from prayer. Prayer shows dependency and gains us access. In Daniel 9, Daniel had a problem. The people of Israel were in captivity, so Daniel wanted to take it to the Lord in prayer. However before he did, he went to God’s word to see what he had to say on the matter. There he read how God dealt with Moses when he pleaded with God about Israel, and God changed his mind. Exodus 32v14: So the Lord relented from the harm which He said He would do to His people.  God’s repentance as a result of Moses’ prayer reflected His great intimacy with Moses and demonstrates that God values relationships and allows those He loves to influence His actions.

So what’s the scope of prayer? If we’re going to see this work, prayer cannot be an addendum or attachment; it must be the controlling agenda. 1Thessalonians 5v17 says:  pray without ceasing.  We need to bombard heaven with prayer, on all occasions.

This concludes our week-long focus on Spiritual Warfare.  Next week our extra-credit discipline will be Fasting.  Please continue to learn about and practice the discipline of Spiritual Warfare.  Thank you very much for participating this week.

They say getting things done, isn’t always what you know, but who you know.  So how do we fight this spiritual war?  Thankfully, we know our saviour  because It has to be fought by the authority that has been garrisoned in Christ. That means if you don’t know your identity in Christ you’ve lost before you’ve even started, because you have nothing to call upon when you need power in order to get victory.

Jesus Christ has granted Christians authority in heaven. Not our own authority the delegation of his authority which depends on his power.

God has given us a wardrobe of authority, 6 pieces of armor.

Three you never take off, and three you pick up as needed (Ephesians 6v10-17).

So how do I get dressed when it feels like Satan is whipping me?

After the discussion of the armor Paul says in Ephesians 6v18:  praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints.

Prayer gives you access to the authority of heaven. Prayer is what dresses you up. If prayer is not a dynamic, vibrant, consistent, encompassing area in your Christian life you’re a nude spiritual saint.

So what’s the significance of prayer?  Prayer is connected to his discussion of spiritual warfare. You can’t get into v18 (praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints) if you don’t remember v10 (Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might)

You can’t benefit from the power of prayer if you’ve missed out on the understanding of the battle.

How do I overcome a personal stronghold in my life, a mindset that seems unchangeable that is against the will of God?

Remember your position in Christ.  This little statement can set you free: Ephesians 2v6 – and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,

You have been elevated to a position with Christ who is now enthroned over the heavenly realm and that’s where you are.  Colossians 3v1 – If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God.  If your mind is set on earthly solutions then you won’t get a heavenly response. Your position in Christ gives you legal authority over the angelic realm so you can tell the angelic realm that attacks you “you no longer have any rights over my life”. Satan does not want you to remember that you’ve been elevated higher than him in Christ, because if he can get you to forget who you are then he knows that you’ll never call on your legal rights.

Rely on God’s provision.  James 4v6 – But He gives more grace.  More Grace than the mess you’re in; an inexhaustible supply of Grace. So how do I get this Grace? James 4v7 – Therefore submit to God. Submit has 2 components,

(1)  Surrender.. Say to God, “I can’t do it”, “I’m too weak”.

(2)  Draw near to God..v8 Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.

To be able to draw near takes time.  Jesus said in Matthew 17v21 – However, this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting.  When you come into God’s presence with praise and prayer you’re drawing near to God.  Satan is allergic to prayer, he’s allergic to us drawing near to God.

Resist the devil.  James 4v7 – Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. One day Satan came to Jesus and said “you’re hungry, you’ve got to eat”,  But Jesus answered him, saying, “It is written”.   The devil then took him up on a mountain and tempted him, and Jesus answered and said to him, “It has been said, ‘You shall not tempt the LORD your God’”.

Now look what it says in v13 – Now when the devil had ended every temptation, he departed from Him until an opportune time. The devil got a beat down with the word of God and had to stop (though temporarily) and DEPARTED.

If God can use his own words to get rid of the enemy how much more should we.

Today, look at one area in your life where you’ve been having warfare.  Find a verse that’s applicable to this stronghold and whenever the enemy comes at you, use the verse and, stab him with it 🙂 (this is the only time you’re allowed to stab).