SPIRITUAL WARFARE 1.5

LAYING THE FOUNDATION – SECTION 1-5:

***  God Uses Warfare To Achieve His Overall Goal In The  ***
*** Lives Of His Children – To Make Them More Like Christ ***

God expects His children to become increasingly more
like Jesus as they grow in their faith – sometimes He uses
warfare in an effort to bring them into a likeness of Jesus.

The term “Christian”:
    – For some it means a good person who goes to church.
    – Some equate Christian to being an American.
    – In some parts of the world,
      anyone who isn’t Muslim or Jew is called a Christian.
    – Literally it means “of Christ” or “like Christ”.

(Romans 8:18-37) (read these verses before continuing)
    – Paul tells us how to respond to the struggles we face in this world.
    – How do our sufferings compare
      with what God will prepare in heaven? (Verse 18)
    – What happens when we don’t know to pray
      in the midst of our struggles? (Verse 26)
    – How does the Spirit pray for us?
      (Verse 27 – in accordance with God’s Will)
    – What is the purpose of God’s work
      in the lives of Christians? (Verse 28 – for our good)
    – What is the goal of God’s work in the lives of Christians?
      (Verse 29 – that we will be conformed to the likeness of Christ)
    – What can separate us from the love of God? (Verses 31-39)

Paul knew that when the battles are intense,
believers would not always be sure how to pray.

The Holy Spirit prays for believers
and He always prays according to God’s Will.

Since God’s Will is that believers would be conformed
to the image of Christ, the Spirit must be praying that God
will allow whatever it takes to make us like Jesus.

*** God Always Has A Goal – To Make Us Like His Son ***

If He allows spiritual battles
to occur in our lives, He does so for our good.

He wants us to turn to Him, trust Him,
and become more like Him through the battle.

Possible responses:
    – I’m in a battle right now and I needed this information.
    – I didn’t know how God would use spiritual battles in my life.
    – I’m glad God has a purpose, but I still don’t like the battles.
    – Usually I try to run from the battles. I guess I should
      start trying to see what God is trying to teach me in my battle.

Question:
How did Paul handle his battles?
(2 Corinthians 12:7-10)
    – Satan was continually attacking Paul through his weaknesses.
    – Paul asked God three times to remove the weakness in him.
    – When he learned why God would not
      remove the thorn (God’s power is demonstrated
      through Paul’s weakness and He would give Paul
      the strength he needed to endure),
      Paul learned to lean on God during his struggles
      and to find joy in his weaknesses.
      Question:
      Why do you think Paul found joy in his weaknesses?
          – He knew God was present and was using him?
          – He knew great things would result from his struggles?
          – He knew he was becoming more like Christ?

          Note:
              Paul was being conformed to the image of Christ.
              He learned to say,
              “Not my will, but God’s will is in control of my life”.

      (Luke 22:42)
          – Jesus was in a spiritual battle, but He chose
            to stay in the battle if it was God’s Will.
            The Battle?
                – His impending death to provide salvation for the world.

God may choose to leave us in the battle because He is
always in the process of transforming us into the image of Christ.

We can find joy,
    (1) In knowing God is in control.
    (2) In realizing that we become more like Christ
         as we learn from our battle experiences.

Question:
Where do we find our strength?
    – Through the Lord who gives us strength (Philippians 4:13).

Question:
What assurance do we have that
the Lord is available to strengthen us?
    – We are in Him.
          – (Ephesians 1:4) He chose us in Him.
          – (Ephesians 1:7) In Him we have redemption.
          – (Ephesians 1:12) We have our hope in Him.
          – (Ephesians 1:13)
                We have been included in Him;
                we have been marked in Him with a seal.
          – (Ephesians 2:10) We are created in Him to do good works.
          – (Ephesians 1:13-14)
                He has guaranteed our inheritance, securing our salvation
                forever (the ultimate victory).

    – Also,
          – (Ephesians 1:5) God has adopted us as His sons (children).
          – (Ephesians 1:7) Through his grace, He has forgiven our sins.
          – (Ephesians 3:12)
                Because we are in Christ, we may
                approach God with freedom and confidence.