Lesson 1: Understanding the Battle

The Spiritual Battle

How do we know that there is a spiritual realm? If we cannot see it, should we believe in it? Many
believers and unbelievers today do not want to deal with a world we cannot see when the world we
do see is hard enough to deal with. Before we can discuss the spiritual battle, we have to believe in
the spiritual realm. We have a tendency to act like a two year old child who closes her eyes and places a
blanket over her head, really believing that no one can see her because she cannot see them. Just
because we cannot see the spiritual realm does not mean it is not there. Keith Green, a Christian song
writer, wrote, I *Satan+ used to have to sneak around. But now they just open their doors. No ones
looking for my tricks because no one believes in me anymore.
However, if we choose to ignore or not believe in the spiritual realm, we will find ourselves confused,
frustrated, and quenching the peace that God has promised to each of us. The best defense is a strong
offense. Just educating ourselves about the spiritual realm is half the fight as God gives us everything
else we need to be victorious.
Question: What words used in the verses below describe the spiritual realm and its invisible
components?
a. Nehemiah 9:6
b. Luke 2:13, 15
c. Ephesians 6:12
d. Colossians 1:1516
e. According to Hebrews 11:3, what is required for us to believe?
f. What does that mean to you?

There are those who believe that fortune telling, horoscopes and ouija boards are harmless fun, but
what does the Bible say?

a. Leviticus 19:2631

b. Deuteronomy 18:914

c. Have you ever been involved or participated in these types of activities? Discuss what happened and
how it started.

The Battle with the world/society
We are not called to be of the world, or worldly, but we are sent in to the world to be a witness of Jesus
Christ. This is a miraculous calling and it takes the miracle of the Holy Spirit living in us to fulfill it. It also
takes training to discern between the ways of God and the ways of the world. Because we are born into
this world, we naturally think according to it. We have to be transformed to understand Gods ways
instead (Romans 12:3). Gods ways are not natural to us.
Question: Look up Mark 4:120 to answer the following questions.

a. What is being sown? See verse 14.

b. Briefly describe the scenarios of how the seed is sown and what happens to each.

c. How does the world influence a new believer and what is the result? See verse 19.


The Battle with self

For some of us, the hardest battles are fought within ourselves. We can understand the circumstances
and situations that the enemy uses to destroy us. We can accept the truth of how the world lures and
tempts us. We can understand to some degree that the battle in the spiritual realm is ongoing and real,
even though we cannot see it. But, to get a grasp on what is going on within our own hearts and minds
can be the hardest, most exhausting, battle of them all.

Question: From the following verses, describe the battle of flesh versus spirit.

a. Matthew 26:41

b. Romans 7:1420

c. Galatians 5:1617

d. How do these examples reflect similar situations in your life?