SPIRITUAL WARFARE 1.2

LAYING THE FOUNDATION – SECTION 1-2:

Question:
Who is in control, God or Satan?
Note:
    If we believe Satan is free to attack whenever he wants to,
    then we can expect constant attacks.
    Purpose:
        To hinder the will of God and personally destroy us.

    If we believe God is in control, then we assume
    that Satan has to get permission to do anything.
    Purpose:
        God has a greater purpose in mind for the warfare.

        (Job 1:6-12; 2:1-6)
            – These verses show that God is in control and Satan
               has to get permission before he can attack believers.

        (Job 1:10)
            – God made a hedge around Job that Satan couldn’t violate.

        (Job 1:11)
            – Satan asked God to touch Job; he didn’t volunteer to do it himself.
               This shows that he knows God is in control
               and he can’t cross the boundaries created by God.

        (Job 1:12)
            – God had to grant permission before Satan could touch Job’s things.
            – Even though He gave Satan permission, He set a limit that
               Satan couldn’t touch Job himself, and Satan had to obey.

Questions:
Does this passage line up with the rest of the Bible?
Is this only an Old Testament example of God’s superiority?
(Luke 8:26-24)
    – The demons could not go into the pigs without permission.

(1 Corinthians 5:1-5)
    – Implied is the granting of permission to Satan.
      Note:
          Look at the positive purpose – destroy the sinful nature and be saved.
          Question:
          What does that mean to us?
              – God can give Satan permission, which results in our good.

(1 Timothy 1:18-20)
    – Implied is the granting of permission.
      Note:
          A positive purpose – Taught not to blaspheme.

(Revelation 13:5-7)
    – The beast was given permission to war against the saints.

(Luke 22:7-32)
    – The last supper. Satan had to ask permission.
      Note:
          Knowing that Satan had been given permission, Jesus prayed for Simon.
          Question:
          What does that mean to us?
              – Jesus prays for us.

Feelings we might have:
1. Confident (unafraid; bring on the battle).
2. Relieved (never understood that God is that much in control).
3. Still trying to understand it all; still have questions.
4. Uneasy
    (God is supposed to deliver me from evil,
     so why would He grant Satan access to my life?)

If our feelings are 1 or 2, we realize that:
– We are not at the mercy of Satan.
– There are limits that Satan can’t cross.
– Satan can’t randomly attack us or our families.
– God’s protection will determine Satan’s boundaries.
– The battle is always the Lord’s
  (1 Samuel 17:45-47 (47); 2 Chronicles 20:1-15 (15)).

If our feelings are 3 or 4, we may have additional questions:
– If Satan seeks to destroy us, then why would God let him test us?
– Why did Jesus let Satan test Peter,
   especially when He knew Peter would fail?
– Why did God let Job be tested and lose everything important to him?
– How much testing will God allow in the life of a believer?

Answers:
– We have a responsibility in spiritual warfare.
– Although the final outcome is not in question,
  our lives will be affected by how we respond.
      – Adam and Eve’s response had negative consequences.
      – Paul’s obedience had positive consequences.
– Knowing that God is in control means our focus, expectations,
  and responses are altered so that we cooperate with God.
– If God has a purpose for warfare,
  the way we respond to the warfare changes:
      – Instead of reacting naturally,
        we focus on God and His perspective.
      – Instead of getting rattled or hysterical,
        we ask God what He is up to and respond accordingly.
      – Instead of seeing God as one waiting for Satan to try something,
        we realize that God is actively in control – He knows every
        battle we will have before they happen.
      – (Romans 8:29)
            – God has a purpose for every believer;
              He knows His purpose for allowing Satan’s attacks.
              Note:
                  Since God represents goodness,
                  His purpose can only be for good.
      – His desire is that we realize He has a purpose and cooperate with Him.

Summary:
1. If God is in control:
       – He has a greater purpose in spiritual warfare.
   If God is not in control:
       – There is no purpose in spiritual warfare,
          only random attacks.

2. If God is in control:
        – Our focus is on God and not Satan when we are attacked.
    If God is not in control:
        – Our focus is on Satan and his attack,
           instead of God’s purpose.

3. If God is in control:
        – Our confidence for victory depends on God,
           not on us and our performance.
    If God is not in control:
        – Our confidence for victory would solely
           depend on us and our performance.

4. If God is in control:
        – Success depends on whether or not God
           accomplished His purpose in our life.
    If God is not in control:
        – Success depends on whether or not
           we were able to remove Satan from our life.

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