Worship 501: Satan's Master Strategy for Destruction

MONDAY

In order for us to be aware of the schemes of the devil we must realize that we live amidst spiritual beings. Many of them are unfriendly spirits (deceiving spirits and demons: 1 Tim 4:1-3) and many more are ministering angels sent by God to protect us (Heb 1:14). Read 2 Kings 6:8-17. How was the King of Israel finding out all the moves of the King of Aram? What did the King of Aram do when he found out what was going on? How did Elisha’s servant react when he saw all that great army surrounding them? How did Elisha respond? Why was he able to respond this way? What did he see that others couldn’t? Hezekiah, who also did many favorable things in the eyes of God, understood that he was always protected and surrounded by many more entities than his eyes could see. He encouraged the people who were rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem with this in 2 Chronicles 32:7,8. Are your eyes open to what’s really going on around you? Are you praying that you may recognize who is in control and who you want to give the control to in your life? Write Psalm 34:7-9 on an index card and memorize it. Call someone in the church and ask them whether they are “seeing” the Lord’s hand at work in their life.

TUESDAY

How is your spiritual vision? How much do you dwell on the unseen battles that are occurring in your life? Are you just a spectator in your own battles? Do you cower before the temptations that come and just simply give in because you know of no other alternative? Do you shrink back from trying to make any progress in your relationship with God because you just don’t know what to fight with or with who or what you are you fighting? Read James 1:2-8. What are you to rejoice in? What’s so good about trials that we should rejoice in them? Is it possible that we could not be getting these great things from a trial? What then should we ask for (vs 6)? Do you think that perhaps you are not looking at some of your trials with spiritual wisdom (James 3:17,18)? Maybe you want to solve them on your own? Maybe you think that you can do it with without any extra help?! Read Ephesians 4:7-16. What gifts does God give the church? Why did He give us these gifts? Because of these gifts, what things should not happen (vs. 14)? So then, how do we each do our part in the Body to help see the unseen? What do we help each other focus on?

WEDNESDAY

Satan’s primary tool is deception. Read 2 Thess. 2:9-12. How would you categorize the kinds of things Satan uses to deceive? What do these things appeal to? What do they satisfy? The essence of spiritual warfare is lies vs truth. Satan can’t make you do anything so he will try to delude you into thinking something is good or truthful. He wages war to confuse your mind and capture your heart. Where does our delight need to be in? How do you teach yourself to delight in the Lord? (Psalm 1) Read Gal 5:16-21. It’s all about what you spend your time on. What are you doing? What do you focus on most of the time? Your desires or the Law of the Lord? Where do you want to be? Write Psalm 37:4-6 on an index card and memorize it. What happens when you make the Lord your hearts delight? Isn’t that something???!!! Turn the tables on Satan!

THURSDAY

Once you know who you’re fighting then you can prepare yourself for the attacks. Read Ephesians 6:11-17. How are you going to be able to stand (survive) the schemes of the devil? What kind of weapons and defense will you need? Can you fight the devil physically? Is that the way you’ve been fighting--battling against your spouse, your brethren, your boss, your co-workers and roommates?? Is it they who wage war on you? WHO IS IT??!! Notice in verses 11 and 13--who’s responsibility is it to put on God’s armor? Go through these verses and list each piece of the armor. Make a drawing of this armor (whether you’re an artist or not) and point out each of the pieces of God’s armor. On one of the margins of your paper list each piece of armor and how that piece will be effective in helping you stand firm. Rate how you are wearing each piece of armor. For example, in verse 15, how effective are you fitting your feet with the readiness of the gospel? What do feet have to do with readiness? What’s the spiritual analogy here? From 1 to 10, how ready are you to “see to it” to these things? Rate the other pieces of armor and understand the analogies used by Paul to the spiritual armor. Hang up your work on a wall to remind you of how you are going to be prepared to stand against the devil.

FRIDAY

Read Revelation 12:7-12. Who was aging war in Heaven? Who is the dragon and his angels? Where were they thrown down to? What power has been given to those on Earth to fight this dragon? What’s another name given to the devil in verse 10? How will you be able to overcome the devil? Why is a warning issued to you in verse 12? The Book of Revelation depicts the most amazing universal battle between Satan and his henchmen and the Lord God Almighty. The end of the story? Read 1 John 5:1-5. Who is it that overcomes? How are you able to overcome the world (the devil)? Read 1 Cor 15:50-58. Focus on verses 57 and 58. Who is our victory? Therefore, what is the encouragement? Doesn’t this sound similar to the encouragement given in Ephesians 6:11ff? How will you be able to stand firm?

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