DEV 22FN Spiritual Warfare

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=Session 22: Spiritual Warfare =

''In this session, you will discover what the Bible has to say about our spiritual battle with Satan and evil spirits and overcoming his attacks. ''

Heart of a Leader (40 min)

 * Worship together in the big group
 * Have participants get into groups of 3-4 people and discuss the following:
 * What are you learning and how are you abiding in Christ through word, prayer, obedience, PCS, relationships and fellowship?
 * What unresolved conflict do you have?
 * What areas of your life is obeying God a challenge?
 * What happened as you trusted God with your goals from our last meeting?

Vision Casting for the Heart
'Sometimes in the scary trials of life we can feel very alone and fearful. Our feelings rarely match the bigger reality of who we are in God’s eternal scheme. Especially as we seek to follow Jesus in obedience living out his kingdom and revealing his character and priorities we will meet with opposition. The enemies of Jesus will oppose his work. Jesus promised his followers that no matter what they felt the reality is that he “would be with them always even to the end” (Mt 28:20). Knowing the Lord is sending us out, has commissioned and empowered us is vital but trusting that he actually personally present with us is transforming. Read Psalm 23. “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me..”  '

Celebration of Faithfulness (20 min)
[NOTE: Celebrate Faithfulness in the large group so that all can benefit and be encouraged.]


 * Give opportunity for participants to share what has happened since the last meeting. Ask them to relate it to goals from the last meeting.

Iron on Iron: Sharpening Myself and Others (45 min)
Proverbs 27:17 “As iron sharpens iron, one man sharpens another.” 
 * Have everyone return to their Iron on Iron small groups, draw their network of missional communities and churches then share and evaluate with their group.
 * What is going well?
 * What is not going well?
 * What obstacles are you facing?
 * What do you need to do to add the missing characteristics into each group?
 * Where will you start a new group or church this month?


 * Have everyone set goals for improvement from their evaluation and share their goals with their small group. Then have them pray for one another.

New Lesson (45-60 min)
Relevant Topic: Why is it important and helpful if we know what has been revealed about how to successfully resist Satan?


 * Have participants get into new groups of 4-5 people (or they can continue in their Iron on Iron groups)


 * In the following sections, each group assign verses to each participant. Each participant will then read the passages below and tell what they learned.

Discovery Bible Study – Spiritual Warfare

Section 1: Where do Evil Spirits come from?

God Created all Things Seen and Unseen: Nehemiah 9:6; Colossians 1:16

Purpose for Angels: Revelation 5:10; Hebrews 1:14

Satan: Ezekiel 28:12-19; Isaiah 14:12-14; Revelation 12:7-10


 * After they have all shared their assigned verses, have each person in the groups share:
 * What caught your attention? (or What did you like best?) Why?

'Summary: Almighty God is able to create whatever He wills. God created ten thousand upon ten thousand angels (Revelation 5:11). They were created perfect and without sin. Angels are spirits. They worship God as His servants. There was one angel who was very wise and beautiful, named Lucifer. (Ezekiel 28:12) But over time Lucifer became very prideful (Ezekiel 28.13-19) and wanted to rule like God. Lucifer led many angels to rebel against God. But God knew Lucifer’s evil thoughts. The rebellion failed because God is all-knowing and all-powerful. '

'The fallen angels sinned against God. Therefore, God expelled them from heaven and cast them down to earth (Revelation 12.7-9). God said that one day He would punish for eternity the angels who sinned. God changed Lucifer’s name which means “light” to Satan meaning “deceiver”. Satan and the sinful angels became enemies of God because they were against God. The angels that joined Satan are now called evil spirits or demons. They resist the truth and don’t want us to hear the Word of God. They are deceivers.'

Section 2: The Battle

Two Plans: John 10:10; Colossians 2:15; 1 Peter 5:8

Work of Satan: Daniel 10:2-14; 2 Corinthians 11:14; Galatians 1:6-9; 2 Corinthians 4:4

Satan’s Future: Revelation 20:10

Jesus’ Authority: Luke 10:17-19; 1 Peter 3:22; Ephesians 1:20-22

Warning about Evil Practices: Deuteronomy 18:10-14; 2 Chronicles 33:6; Galatians 5:19-21

Our Response: Acts 19:18-20; 1 John 4:4; James 4:7; Ephesians 6:10-18


 * After they have all shared their assigned verses, have each person in the groups share:
 * What caught your attention? (or What did you like best?) Why?

'Summary: Satan and his demons sometimes pretend to be angels of light. Sometimes evil spirits will pretend to bring new teaching from God or through dreams (Galatians 1:6-9, Jude 8-9). Do not follow them. Sometimes evil spirits tempt man by giving them power or strength. They can give power to shamen, special stones, idols, or do magic so that we depend on that power rather than on God. If followers of Jesus ever used power from evil spirits, they should repent and renounce those spirits and practices. The Holy Spirit in us is greater and has more power than the spirits in the world. Jesus has power over Satan and his evil spirits. Therefore, believers submit themselves to God, resist the devil, come near to God and give thanks that they have victory over Satan’s temptations.'

Conclusion: Lucifer (Satan) Became God’s Enemy


 * 1) Lucifer wanted God’s position and wanted to become like God (Isaiah 14:13-14).

3.	God took away Lucifer’s position and threw him to the Earth (Ezekiel 28:17). 4.	Satan tempts man and opposes the divine plan in the world, including deceiving people and accusing man before God (Revelation 12:10). 5.	In the end times, God will throw Satan and the angels who followed him into hell where they will be tormented for eternity (Revelation 20:10, 15). 6.	The Fate of Satan and Evil Spirits: Began in heaven > Cast to Earth for a time > Banished to hell for eternity
 * 1) One-third of the angels followed Lucifer (Revelation 12:3-4).

Preparing for Mission (20 mins) •	In small groups, have each participant Evaluate their strengths and weaknesses in resisting Satan and Make a Plan on how they will improve. o	Pray for each participant who has ever made a vow or promise with a spirit (other than Jesus) that they would live in submission to Christ and they would be free from the power of Satan. •	Write “I will by when” statements. Include “Who will you teach this lesson to?” •	Practice any additional skill that the leaders need in leading their groups or starting new ones Sending the Laborers •	Reinforce the overall vision: a church or faith community for every 1,000 people •	Spend time in prayer: o	committing everyone’s goals to the Lord. o	for God to raise up a movement of churches. o	for more laborers to come out of the harvest.