Ch.5 Ground Battles “Focus on the air battle” Diane Gorsuch Digging Deeper 19 Ephesians 6:12 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. “We do not battle against flesh and blood.” How does this Scripture clarify anything going on in your circumstances today? Does thinking about the “heavenly realms” and the air battle blow your mind at all? How are the heavenly realms actually more real than the earthly realm? Name a few instances when you’ve mistakenly struggled against flesh and blood, people, perceiving that they were the enemies?
Digging Deeper 28 Mark 10:17-22 17 As started on his way, a man ran up to him and fell on his knees before him. “Good teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” 18 “Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is God alone. 19 You know the commandments: ‘You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, you shall not defraud, honor your father and mother.’” 20 “Teacher,” he declared, “all these I have kept since I was a boy.” 21 Jesus looked at him and loved him. “One thing you lack,” he said. “Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” 22 At this the man’s face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth. We see here how Jesus defines a boundary line for His territory. What did He tell the man he had to do in order to receive treasure in heaven from Jesus? Jesus allowed the man to make his choice without compromising His boundary line, while also respecting the man’s kingdom. He did not
Digging Deeper 31 Proverbs 25:28 28 Like a city whose walls are broken through is a person who lacks self-control. Explain one or two instances where your lack of self-control resulted in what seemed like an invasion. Take a moment to envision yourself as a kingdom. Draw a sketch of your kingdom. Draw the different districts and label them. Get creative, maybe adding parks, ponds, a river, etc. Then take a moment to draw a wall around your city. Take note where the wall, your discipline, is weaker. Write a prayer of thanksgiving for the “kingdom” that God has blessed you with and petition the Spirit to strengthen your wall - to work in you the discipline needed to guard your heart. Ask Him to work in you a discernment that loves and communicates Christ to everyone around you.
Ch.6 Storge Love “See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God.” 1 John 3:1 Digging Deeper 20 John 1:12-13 12 Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— 13 children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God. “He gave the right to become children of God.” The Greek word that was translated as “right” in this passage is “exousia”. It can also be translated as “power, authority, liberty, jurisdiction, and strength”. One definition said that it is power of choice, liberty of doing as one pleases. How does one come to acquire this “right”? Have you claimed this right? Do you exercise this right, choosing to be a child of God on a regular basis? Expand on your answers. According to the definition above, it seems that even if one has received Christ as their Savior, God still gives them a choice to become a child of His. Is possible to believe and still choose to not live as a child of God? Explain your response to that thought.