1. What do you think of when you hear the phrase “Spiritual Warfare”? What images come to mind?

2. How would you define “Spiritual Warfare”? What is it? Is it a Biblical concept?

3. If God has already defeated Satan, why does He allow him to continue promoting evil? Why doesn’t He destroy him now?

4. What is the relationship between God’s sovereignty and Satan’s freedom, particularly in relationship to human beings?

Group Questions…

“the Christian’s struggle against otherworldly forces”

(Millard Erickson)

Spiritual Warfare

“the conflict of two opposing wills – namely that of God and His followers versus Satan

and his followers”

(Franklin & Lawless)

Spiritual Warfare

Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.

Ephesians 6:11-13

Moreover, the word of the LORD came to me: "Son of man, raise a lamentation over the king of Tyre, and say to him, Thus says the Lord GOD: "You were the signet of perfection, full of wisdom and perfect in beauty. You were in Eden, the garden of God; every precious stone was your covering, sardius, topaz, and diamond, beryl, onyx, and jasper, sapphire, emerald, and carbuncle; and crafted in gold were your settings and your engravings. On the day that you were created they were prepared. You were an anointed guardian cherub. I placed you; you were on the holy mountain of God; in the midst of the stones of fire you walked…

Ezekiel 28:11-19

You were blameless in your ways from the day you were created, till unrighteousness was found in you. In the abundance of your trade you were filled with violence in your midst, and you sinned; so I cast you as a profane thing from the mountain of God, and I destroyed you, O guardian cherub, from the midst of the stones of fire. Your heart was proud because of your beauty; you corrupted your wisdom for the sake of your splendor. I cast you to the ground; I exposed you before kings, to feast their eyes on you…

Ezekiel 28:11-19

By the multitude of your iniquities, in the unrighteousness of your trade you profaned your sanctuaries; so I brought fire out from your midst; it consumed you, and I turned you to ashes on the earth in the sight of all who saw you. All who know you among the peoples are appalled at you; you have come to a dreadful end and shall be no more forever."

Ezekiel 28:11-19

"How you are fallen from heaven, O Day Star, son of Dawn! How you are cut down to the ground, you who laid the nations low! You said in your heart, 'I will ascend to heaven; above the stars of God I will set my throne on high; I will sit on the mount of assembly in the far reaches of the north; I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.' But you are brought down to Sheol, to the far reaches of the pit.

Isaiah 14:12-15

Now war arose in heaven, Michael and his angels fighting against the dragon. And the dragon and his angels fought back, but he was defeated, and there was no longer any place for them in heaven. And the great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world—he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him. And I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, "Now the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ have come, for the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our God…

Revelation 12:7-12

And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death. Therefore, rejoice, O heavens and you who dwell in them! But woe to you, O earth and sea, for the devil has come down to you in great wrath, because he knows that his time is short!"

Revelation 12:7-12

When He had disarmed the rulers and authorities, He made a public display of them, having triumphed over them through Him. (NASB)

Colossians 2:15

And the devil who deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are also; and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.

Revelation 20:10

Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan also came among them. The LORD said to Satan, "From where have you come?" Satan answered the LORD and said, "From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking up and down on it." And the LORD said to Satan, "Have you considered my servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, who fears God and turns away from evil?“…

Job 1:6-12

Then Satan answered the LORD and said, "Does Job fear God for no reason? Have you not put a hedge around him and his house and all that he has, on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. But stretch out your hand and touch all that he has, and he will curse you to your face." And the LORD said to Satan, "Behold, all that he has is in your hand. Only against him do not stretch out your hand." So Satan went out from the presence of the LORD.

Job 1:6-12

“The devil, full of subtlety, and malice, and determination to spoil the work of God in the

human soul, could nevertheless not touch a single hair upon the back of a single camel belonging to

Job until he had asked God’s leave”

G. Campbell Morgan

"Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat, but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers."

Luke 22:31-32

“You don’t have to panic and suddenly call God into the situation as if He were caught off guard.

Instead, you recognize that He remains absolutely sovereign, in charge, and in complete command

of the situation, Satan, and you. Things do not just happen to you, but God works them out for His

greater purposes. If God is sovereign and the battle is His, then you cannot ultimately be

defeated.”

Franklin & Lawless

1. God has a greater purpose in spiritual warfare

2. The focus would be on God, not Satan, in the midst of attack.

3. The confidence for victory depends on God, not me and my performance.

4. The standard of evaluating success depends on whether or not God accomplished His purposes through my life.

Implications of a Sovereign God…

1. There would be no purpose in spiritual warfare, only random attacks.

2. The focus would have to be on Satan’s evil plots instead of God’s purposes.

3. The confidence for victory would depend on me and my performance.

4. The standard of evaluating success would depend on whether we are able to remove Satan.

Implications of a Non-Sovereign God…