This page is part of the Spiritual Warfare Bible Study; Return to Questions Page
A. What is Spiritual Warfare?
In general, spiritual warfare is the conflict between good and evil. It is the ongoing battle between two diametrically opposed kingdoms: God’s kingdom (good) and Satan’s kingdom (evil). Though it is inherently a spiritual conflict, spiritual warfare also manifests in the natural realm of flesh and blood. Humans are caught in the midst of this conflict and may participate in the struggle on either side.
B. Origin of the conflict
1) Before Man
The origin of the conflict between good and evil goes back before the creation of Man. One of God’s powerful angels, Lucifer, played a key role.
1. Read Ezekiel 28:12-13. What are some details about Lucifer’s original character and appearance?
Model of perfection
Full of wisdom
Perfect in beauty
Every precious stone was his covering
2. Please describe Lucifer’s original position in heaven and on earth according to the below verses:
He may have had a special role in worshipping God – had “timbrels and pipes” built in to his body (NKJV)
He was in Eden
God had ordained and anointed Lucifer as a guardian cherub
He was on the holy mount of God and walked among the fiery stones (around God’s throne)
He was blameless is his ways since he was created, until sin was found in him
Another reference to special function for worship – he had “harps”
He was called morning star and son of the dawn
Lucifer’s first mistake was that he entertained sin in his heart. Ezekiel wrote, “You were blameless in your ways from the day you were created till wickedness was found in you” (Ezekiel 28:15 NIV).
3. Read Ezekiel 28:17-18. What were Lucifer’s sins and how did they affect him?
Proud heart because of his beauty
His splendor corrupted his wisdom
“many sins” and “dishonest trade” caused him to be filled with violence
4. What were the five things Lucifer purposed to do? Isaiah 14:12-15:
1. Ascend to heaven
2. Raise his throne above the stars of God
3. Sit enthroned on the mount of assembly
4. Ascend above the tops of the clouds
5. Make himself like God
5. Read Revelation 12:3-9. What did Lucifer apparently do to some of God’s angels? :
Deceived one third of God’s angels (stars) to follow him
6. What did God do to Lucifer (and his evil angels) because of his sin / rebellion?
Removed his beauty, disgraced him and made a spectacle of him before kings
Expelled him from the mount of God
Made fire come from within him and consume him; reduced him to ashes
Isaiah 14:12,15, Revelation 12:7-9:
Cast them out of heaven to earth
Removed his power
Brought him down to the pit
Lucifer was in the Garden of Eden in the form of the serpent. Apparently he had already rebelled against God, becoming Satan (i.e. The Adversary). His goal was to deceive Eve and ultimately Adam.
2) Creation of Man
7. Read Genesis 1:26-27. In whose image and likeness did God create humans?.
In God’s image
8. Read Genesis 1:26,28, Psalm 8:4-8. What authority/power did God give to man?
Rule over the fish, birds, livestock, all the creatures of the earth and over all of the earth
Power to fill and subdue the earth
Rule over the works of God’s hands – everything was put under Man’s feet
3) The Fall of Man and Satan’s assumption of power
9. Read Genesis 3:17-19, 2 Peter 2:19, Romans 5:6,12-14,17,20-21.What were three things that happened as a result of Adam and Eve’s sin?
1. Man came under a curse affecting the ground he was to work; he was expelled from the garden to work soil that was cursed with thorns and thistles
2. Man became a slave to sin because he allowed sin to master him
3. Man was stripped of his power
10. Read Romans 8:19-21. How was the rest of creation affected by Adam and Eve’s sin?
It was subjected to frustration and bondage to decay
11. What power and authority did Satan gain after deceiving man? For each verse, please write the aspect of Satan’s power and authority it reveals:
Luke 4:5-6: Authority and power of all the world’s kingdoms
John 12:31: He is the current ruler of the world
Ephesians 2:2: He is the “prince of the power of the air”
Hebrews 2:14-15: He gained the power of death and uses the fear of death to enslave people
1 John 5:19: He is able to sway (deceive) the entire world
With such an array of powers, it is easy to see how many people might fall under Satan’s influence. Thankfully, Jesus Christ came to undo the works of the devil and bring salvation to all those who would believe on his name. Let’s examine Christ’s work and how it affects those who believe in him.
4) Mission of Jesus Christ, the 2nd Adam, restoring dominion to Man
12. How was Jesus like a second Adam? Read the following passages and comment on what they reveal about Jesus:
1 Corinthians 15:21-22: Death came through Adam to all people; the resurrection of the dead (i.e. life) comes through Jesus
1 Corinthians 15:27: He had dominion over all things; just as Adam originally had dominion over the earth and its creatures (Genesis 1:28)
1 Corinthians 15:45-47: The first Adam became a living being; Jesus, the “last Adam,” became a “lifegiving spirit”
Romans 5:12-19: Sin and death entered the world through Adam; God’s grace and gift of justification came through Jesus; Just as many were made sinners through the disobedience of one man, Adam, many will be made righteous through the obedience of one man, Jesus
13. Read 1 Corinthians 15:22-28. As a “second Adam”, what are Christ’s objectives from now until the end times?
He is to restore order and rule of God’s kingdom both on earth and in the heaven; he will subdue all God’s enemies and then turn over the kingdom to the Father.
14. Read Luke 4:18-21. What were 5 of Jesus’ initial mission objectives as he began his earthly ministry?
1. Preach the good news to the poor
2. Proclaim freedom for the prisoners
3. Proclaim recovery of sight for the blind
4. Release the oppressed
5. Proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor
One of the first things people noticed about Jesus in the beginning of his ministry was that he preached the word of God with authority (Luke 4:31-32). Next, he demonstrated that authority in many different ways.
15. For each verse, briefly write what Jesus did:
Luke 4:33-37,41, Luke 8:26-33: Cast evil spirits out of people
Luke 4:38-39: Rebuked a high fever and it left
Luke 4:40: Laid hands on people and healed them of various kinds of sickness
Luke 5:4-8: Performed miracles that demonstrated authority over all creation; in this case, a large catch of fish
Luke 5:20-26: Forgave sins and healed a paralytic
Luke 7:12-15: Raised a widow’s dead son
Luke 8:22-25: Calmed the storm; demonstrated authority over the wind and waves (i.e. the elements)
16. What did Jesus “inherit” as a result of his victory on the cross and his resurrection?
Philippians 2:9-10: He was exalted to the highest place and received the name that is above every name
Ephesians 1:20-23: God seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, and placed all things under his feet
Hebrews 1:3-4: Became far superior to the angels
17. What did Jesus accomplish on the cross for those who believe in him?
John 1:12: Gave them the right for them to be called children of God
John 3:16: Gave them eternal life
Romans 5:1: Brought peace between them and God
Romans 6:4-5: Enabled them to live a new life
Romans 8:9-13: Enabled them to receive the Holy Spirit
Romans 8:16-17: Designated them heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ
It is awesome to think that we are co-heirs with Jesus, with all the authority and power that he has (see question #16 answers). Unfortunately, some Christians don’t fully understand the scope of their inheritance in Christ, or worse, they understand it but don’t believe it. As with many aspects of the Christian walk, faith is the key to moving into our inheritance.
18. What mission did Jesus confer upon us as his believers to carry out on earth?
Matthew 28:18-20: Make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit
19. Read Genesis 1:28. How is our mission similar to Adam and Eve’s mission prior to The Fall?
God’s initial instructions to Adam and Eve were to multiply, fill the earth, subdue it and rule over it. Through the authority of Christ, we are to make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Lord and teaching them to do all that Christ commanded. These actions are intended to expand God’s kingdom, ultimately bringing all things under its rule.
C. Spiritual warfare is occurring today
Satan is certainly opposed to our fulfillment of God’s mission, as it will ultimately contribute to his final demise. As expected, Satan attacks people in a variety of ways in hopes of destroying their faith, alienating them from God and sabotaging them with temptation.
20. Here are some examples of ways in which Satan attacks people. For each verse, write a short description of the attack described.
Matthew 13:24-30,36-43: “Sows” evil servants among God’s people to do evil and cause sin
Luke 8:12: Comes and takes away God’s words from people’s hearts, so that they do not believe
Luke 22:31-32: Uses persecution and trials to “sift” Christians; i.e. testing their faith
John 10:10: Comes only to steal, kill and destroy.
Ephesians 6:12: Uses spiritual forces of evil to wrestle against Christians
Ephesians 6:16: Shoots “fiery darts”
Revelation 2:10: Throws Christians into prison to test them and persecute them
Revelation 12:17: Makes war on those who keep the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesus
Those are just a few of the many ways that Satan and his forces oppose God’s kingdom. We’ll further discuss enemy tactics later in this study.
Though God has declared victory over Satan and his forces, the process of bringing them under Christ’s feet is still underway (1 Corinthians 15:25). As members of God’s family and army, we have an important role in that process.
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