Love as a Way of Life
Study Series: The Invisible WarBy: Chip IngramLesson Title: “In Sync with God” (pp. 157-166)November 26, 2017Session 13The main point of this lesson is: Seeing through the deceptions of Satan must be followed by practicing God’s truth with confidence in His gospel.Focus on this goal: To help adults stand firm against Satan by conforming to God’s will with confidence in the gospel.Key Bible Passage: Ephesians 6:14b-15To the LeaderThese sessions have explored the defensive armor discussed in Ephesians 6:14-15. If those in the group are interested, meet at an additional time to explore more of the author’s teachings on spiritual armor in his book The Invisible War. Transcripts of his radio broadcast on this subject are on the Internet at the addresses in the sidebar on the last page of your leader guide and below. the SessionStep 1. Lead-in Ask if adults know what Greenwich, England, is best known for. (The prime meridian running through Greenwich establishes Greenwich Mean Time which sets the standard for world time.) Note a standard time is essential for people to get in sync. Explore what happens when people get in or out of sync with each other. Assert: Battles are won or lost based on whether commanders and soldiers are in sync. Declare believers must be in sync with God to enforce the victory Jesus has won. Today’s session examines how to stay in sync with God. Step 2. Day 1 – Breastplate of Righteousness, Part 1Relate the Day One opening illustration (p. 157) about a believer who was out of sync with God. Declare condemnation is part of Satan’s arsenal, not God’s. Complete Day One, activity 1 (p. 158). Read the paragraph (p. 157) beginning, “Guilt is real.” Read Ephesians 6:14. Describe a Roman breastplate. Ask what it would protect. Explain in Hebrew thought the heart and bowels were the seats of thinking and emotion. Satan will seek to undermine our thoughts and emotions with fear and condemnation but we don’t have to let those in because God has given us the invincible armor of righteousness. Recall from Session 12, Day Four (p. 151), that all a soldier’s armor was hooked to his belt. Declare the breastplate of righteousness is held in place by God’s truth. Define true righteousness using the margin quote on page 158. Request half the class determine bad news and good news about righteousness from the first two passages in Day One, activity 2 (p. 158) and the other half do the same with the last two passages in that activity. Declare: Since Jesus is our righteousness, the only way to put on the breastplate of righteousness is to submit to His Lordship, conform to His will, and put God’s truths into daily practice.Step 3. Day 2 – Breastplate of Righteousness, Part 2State: The breastplate of righteousness, anchored by truth, is essential because Satan offers counterfeits to God’s realities. Determine from Day Two (p. 159) the demonic counterfeit to the Holy Spirit’s conviction (accusation or condemnation). Note the devil’s accusations are designed to drive you into false comforts to ease your guilt. Analyze some of those false comforts. Ask: How will believers feel when they give in to those false comforts? Why will Satan whisper to us to just “try harder”? Read the quote in the margin of Day Two (p. 160). Declare one crucial way to put on the breastplate of righteousness is to claim the truth that God’s Word says about us. Invite volunteers who completed Day Two, activity 1 (pp.?159-160) prior to the session to read the paraphrase that is most helpful to them in standing firm against Satan’s lies. Determine what happens when believers fail to put on the breastplate of righteousness and willfully rebel against God’s truth (see last paragraph of Day?Two, p. 160.)Step 4. Day 3 – Breastplate of Righteousness, Part 3Refer to Day Three remarks and 1 Samuel 10:8; 13:8-9; and 15:1-11 to describe how King Saul is an example of what happens when one doesn’t put on the breastplate of righteousness. Discuss Day Three, activity 1 (p. 161). Declare believers stay in sync with Jesus when we accept everything He says, even when it’s hard. Relate how Peter opened the door to a statement straight from Satan. Note this didn’t disqualify Peter from following Jesus but it did lead to a stern rebuke. So every believer must carefully consider the question asked in Day Three, activity 2 (p. 162). Read that question, allow a moment of silence, and then read the quote in the margin of Day Three. Glean from the last paragraph of Day Three what it means to seek first God’s righteousness.Step 5. Day 4 – Sandals of Preparation, Part 1Invite a volunteer to read Ephesians 6:14-15. Describe the sandals of a Roman soldier and state their purpose (p. 163). Analyze what empowers believers to keep their footing in the faith. Discuss Day Four, activity 1 (p. 164). Warn Satan will try to confuse us about the reason for the hope that is in us. Analyze how Satan will attack grace in a believer’s life and what will happen if grace is undermined in a believer’s mind. Identify the solution. Complete Day Four, activity 2 (p. 165).Step 6. Day 5 – Sandals of Preparation, Part 2Relay the author’s challenge from Day Five (pp. 165-166) to share the gospel. Discuss Day Five, activity 1 (p. 166). Review what believers need to remember about the invisible war and the first three pieces of defensive armor God has given us. Complete Day Five, activity 2.Step 7. Make It PracticalRemind adults that putting on the full armor of God is a lifestyle, not a checklist. Urge them to pursue a lifestyle that is in sync with God by making Jesus their standard, top priority, and greatest love. Read Jude 24-25 as your closing prayer.In Your LifeWhat activities and responsibilities do you fulfill out of a sense of guilt? What steps can you take to remove the sense of guilt and replace it with a devotion to God?How can you tell the difference between the Holy Spirit’s conviction and the enemy’s condemnation?The thought that rebellion opens us up to demonic attack is frightening – and sometimes hard to swallow. What would you tell someone who thinks that obedience is not really a big deal to God?Is there anything God has shown you to do that you are not currently doing (or that he has shown you not to do that you are currently doing)? If so, what?What statement does our disobedience make about our relationship with God? ................
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