section 1

Spiritual warfare has been confused in our thinking perhaps because of fictional books and movies or false teachings, but truly we’re susceptible to confusion because of our own selfish, prideful bent ii peter 2:18-19  to dramatize our circumstances as to puff ourselves up with notions of knowledge i corinthians 8:1  colossians 2:18 . Hence, we are ripe for being deceived and tripped up by the schemes of Satan proverbs 11:2, 16:18  galatians 6:3 , as he is a master distractor luke 21:34  and deceiver i peter 5:8  revelation 12:9 . So, do not let your heart stray into speculations about spiritual warfare which promote strife i timothy 1:3-4 , which is the very aim of the enemy ii timothy 2:23, 26 . Rather than ruining ourselves with the controversy of speculation, we should humbly seek to handle the Word rightly ii timothy 2:14-15 , thus not go a step beyond what is written for us to know i corinthians 4:6  deuteronomy 29:29 .

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reference scripture

ii peter 2:18-19 niv

For they mouth empty, boastful words and, by appealing to the lustful desires of sinful human nature, they entice people who are just escaping from those who live in error. They promise them freedom, while they themselves are slaves of depravity--for a man is a slave to whatever has mastered him.

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i corinthians 8:1 csb

We know that "we all have knowledge." Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up.

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colossians 2:18 esv

Let no one disqualify you, insisting on asceticism and worship of angels, going on in detail about visions, puffed up without reason by his sensuous mind....

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proverbs 11:2, 16:18 esv

When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with the humble is wisdom.

Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.

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galatians 6:3 esv

For if anyone thinks he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself.

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luke 21:34 niv84

Be careful, or your hearts will be weighed down with dissipation, drunkenness and the anxieties of life, and that day will close on you unexpectedly like a trap.

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i peter 5:8 esv

Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.

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revelation 12:9 esv

And the great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world—he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him.

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i timothy 1:3-4 esv

...charge certain persons not to teach any different doctrine, nor to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies, which promote speculations rather than the stewardship from God that is by faith.

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my notes:

ii timothy 2:23, 26 esv

Have nothing to do with foolish, ignorant controversies; you know that they breed quarrels.

...they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will.

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ii timothy 2:14-15 esv

Remind them of these things, and charge them before God not to quarrel about words, which does no good, but only ruins the hearers. Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the Word of Truth.

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i corinthians 4:6 esv

I have applied all these things to myself and Apollos for your benefit, brothers, that you may learn by us not to go beyond what is written, that none of you may be puffed up in favor of one against another.

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deuteronomy 29:29 esv

The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but the things that are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law.

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section 2

Our spiritual warfare will not be anything like the world’s idea of it ii corinthians 10:3 . It is useless, and worse, dangerous to confront an enemy with his weapons, as if laying claim to power and authority makes it ours jude 8-10  psalm 73:8-9 , or accusing the Accuser does any good revelation 12:10 . No, if we respond to the enemy in his likeness, we are simply following his lead proverbs 26:4 , his trap is starting to spring shut. But if we resist his temptations to respond in kind i corinthians 10:13  i thessalonians 5:22  and instead follow our Lord’s direction we become like Jesus in our response i john 2:3-6  matthew 16:23 proverbs 26:5  and thus we are empowered with divine weapons for the battle ii corinthians 10:4-5 .

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reference scripture

ii corinthians 10:3 niv84

For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does.

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jude 8-10 esv

Yet in like manner these people also, relying on their dreams, defile the flesh, reject authority, and blaspheme the glorious ones. But when the archangel Michael, contending with the devil, was disputing about the body of Moses, he did not presume to pronounce a blasphemous judgment, but said, "The Lord rebuke you." But these people blaspheme all that they do not understand, and they are destroyed by all that they, like unreasoning animals, understand instinctively.

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psalm 73:8-9 niv84

They scoff, and speak with malice; in their arrogance they threaten oppression. Their mouths lay claim to heaven, and their tongues take possession of the earth.

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revelation 12:10 esv

And I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, "Now the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our God.

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proverbs 26:4 esv

Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest you be like him yourself.

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my notes:

i corinthians 10:13 esv

No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and He will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation He will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.

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i thessalonians 5:22 csb

Stay away from every kind of evil.

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i john 2:3-6 esv

And by this we know that we have come to know Him, if we keep His commandments. Whoever says "I know Him" but does not keep His commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him, but whoever keeps His Word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may know that we are in Him: whoever says he abides in Him ought to walk in the same way in which He walked.

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matthew 16:23 esv

But He turned and said to Peter, "Get behind Me, Satan! You are a hindrance to Me. For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man."

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proverbs 26:5 esv

Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own eyes.

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ii corinthians 10:4-5 niv84

The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.

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my notes:

section 3

So, we must beware the subtle, confusing, distracting teachings of demons i timothy 4:1  as Satan and his indentured slaves do their most severe damage in masks of light ii corinthians 11:13-15 . Demonic teaching thrives on the surface of things appearing good ii corinthians 10:7  john 7:24  i thessalonians 2:5  i samuel 16:7 , mysterious isaiah 8:19 , imposing isaiah 14:16 , and/or promising ii peter 2:19 . False teaching paints a relationship with God to look impossible revelation 6:16-17 , pleasing the Lord insurmountable matthew 25:24-25  and even seeking to repent unto Him as useless jeremiah 18:12  while simultaneously and deviously emboldening self-reliance isaiah 50:10-11 , self-righteousness romans 10:3 , and self-justification john 9:41 . False teaching takes our eyes off the Lord, separating and isolating us from Him galatians 4:17  and puts it on humanism i corinthians 3:21 , methods isaiah 28:10 , and selfish goals i timothy 6:5 . We should search beyond mere appearance to what the Truth actually is genesis 3:6  i john 2:16  jeremiah 23:14-29 . We should test everything i thessalonians 5:21 : what we think we know, believe, what we are taught, what we pick up, our actions, motives, and even what we are simply used to in our lives. We test everything by the Word of God i john 4:1-6  isaiah 8:20 ; the Truth john 17:17 . It is useful to note as much is claimed for extra-Biblical validity that, "all truth is God’s truth", but we should be severely cautioned as the opposite would also then be true that, "all lies are satanic lies" john 8:44 . TRUTH, the truth revealed by Scripture ecclesiastes 12:11-12 , is paramount in genuine love for God and each other i john 5:1-5  ii john 1-9 . Do not be deceived. Stick with the Word, anything beyond them is suspect ecclesiastes 12:11-12 .

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reference scripture

i timothy 4:1 esv

Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons...

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ii corinthians 11:13-15 esv

For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. So it is no surprise if his servants, also, disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their deeds.

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ii corinthians 10:7 niv84

You are looking only on the surface of things.

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john 7:24 esv

Do not judge by appearances, but judge with right judgment.

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i thessalonians 2:5 esv

For we never came with words of flattery, as you know, nor with a pretext for greed—God is witness.

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i samuel 16:7 esv

But the LORD said to Samuel, "Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the LORD sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks on the heart."

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isaiah 8:19 nlt

Someone may say to you, "Let’s ask the mediums and those who consult the spirits of the dead. With their whisperings and mutterings, they will tell us what to do." But shouldn’t people ask God for guidance? Should the living seek guidance from the dead?

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isaiah 14:16 esv

Those who see you will stare at you and ponder over you: ‘Is this the man who made the earth tremble, who shook kingdoms...

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ii peter 2:19 nlt

They promise freedom, but they themselves are slaves of sin and corruption. For you are a slave to whatever controls you.

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revelation 6:16-17 esv

...calling to the mountains and rocks, "Fall on us and hide us from the face of Him Who is seated on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb, for the great day of Their wrath has come, and who can stand?"

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matthew 25:24-25 esv

He also who had received the one talent came forward, saying, ‘Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you scattered no seed, so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here you have what is yours.’

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jeremiah 18:12 csb

But they will say, ‘It’s hopeless. We will continue to follow our plans, and each of us will continue to act according to the stubbornness of his evil heart.’

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isaiah 50:10-11 esv

Who among you fears the LORD and obeys the voice of His servant? Let him who walks in darkness and has no light trust in the name of the LORD and rely on his God.

Behold, all you who kindle a fire, who equip yourselves with burning torches! Walk by the light of your fire, and by the torches that you have kindled! This you have from My hand: you shall lie down in torment.

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romans 10:3 esv

For, being ignorant of the righteousness of God, and seeking to establish their own, they did not submit to God’s righteousness.

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john 9:41 esv

Jesus said to them, "If you were blind, you would have no guilt; but now that you say, ‘We see,’ your guilt remains.

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galatians 4:17 nas

They eagerly seek you, not commendably, but they wish to shut you out so that you will seek them.

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i corinthians 3:21 esv

So let no one boast in men.

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isaiah 28:10 niv84

For it is: Do and do, do and do, rule on rule, rule on rule; a little here, a little there.

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i timothy 6:5 csb

...constant disagreement among people whose minds are depraved and deprived of the truth, who imagine that godliness is a way to material gain.

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genesis 3:6 esv

So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate.

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i john 2:16 esv

For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world.

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my notes:

jeremiah 23:14-29 esv

...they commit adultery and walk in lies; they strengthen the hands of evildoers, so that no one turns from his evil; all of them have become like Sodom to Me, and its inhabitants like Gomorrah."

Thus says the LORD of hosts: "Do not listen to the words of the prophets who prophesy to you, filling you with vain hopes. They speak visions of their own minds, not from the mouth of the LORD. They say continually to those who despise the word of the LORD, ‘It shall be well with you’; and to everyone who stubbornly follows his own heart, they say, ‘No disaster shall come upon you.’"

For who among them has stood in the council of the LORD to see and to hear His word, or who has paid attention to His word and listened?

"I did not send the prophets, yet they ran; I did not speak to them, yet they prophesied.

But if they had stood in my council, then they would have proclaimed my words to my people, and they would have turned them from their evil way, and from the evil of their deeds.

I have heard what the prophets have said who prophesy lies in My name, saying, ‘I have dreamed, I have dreamed!’ How long shall there be lies in the heart of the prophets who prophesy lies, and who prophesy the deceit of their own heart, who think to make My people forget My name by their dreams that they tell one another, even as their fathers forgot My name for Baal?

Let the prophet who has a dream tell the dream, but let him who has My word speak My word faithfully. What has straw in common with wheat? declares the LORD. Is not My word like fire, declares the LORD, and like a hammer that breaks the rock in pieces?

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i thessalonians 5:21 esv

...test everything; hold fast to what is good.

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i john 4:1-6 esv

Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world. By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you heard was coming and now is in the world already.

Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for He Who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. They are from the world; therefore they speak from the world, and the world listens to them.

We are from God. Whoever knows God listens to us; whoever is not from God does not listen to us. By this we know the Spirit of truth and the spirit of error.

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isaiah 8:20 esv

To the teaching and to the testimony! If they will not speak according to this word, it is because they have no dawn.

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john 17:17 esv

Sanctify them in the Truth; Your Word is Truth.

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john 8:44 esv

You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies.

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ecclesiastes 12:11-12 esv

The words of the wise are like goads, and like nails firmly fixed are the collected sayings; they are given by one Shepherd. My son, beware of anything beyond these. Of making many books there is no end, and much study is a weariness of the flesh.

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i john 5:1-5 esv

Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the Father loves whoever has been born of Him. By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey His commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome.

For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?

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ii john 1-9 esv

...whom I love in truth...Grace, mercy, and peace will be with us, from God the Father and from Jesus Christ the Father’s Son, in truth and love. I rejoiced greatly to find some of your children walking in the truth, just as we were commanded by the Father.

...that we love one another. And this is love, that we walk according to His commandments; this is the commandment, just as you have heard from the beginning, so that you should walk in it.

For many deceivers have gone out into the world, those who do not confess the coming of Jesus Christ in the flesh. Such a one is the deceiver and the antichrist. Watch yourselves, so that you may not lose what we have worked for, but may win a full reward. Everyone who goes on ahead and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God. Whoever abides in the teaching has both the Father and the Son.

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ecclesiastes 12:11-12 esv

The words of the wise are like goads, and like nails firmly fixed are the collected sayings; they are given by one Shepherd. My son, beware of anything beyond these. Of making many books there is no end, and much study is a weariness of the flesh.

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section 4

But we do not need to be terrorized either by spiritual warfare. Jesus has come to destroy the work of the devil i john 3:8  and has freed us from the death Satan would make us afraid of hebrews 2:14-15 , as we cannot continue to live in the enemy’s clutches i john 3:9 . The Holy Spirit in us is greater than he who has been allotted temporary power in the world ephesians 2:2  i john 4:4 . The devil knows his time is short so spitefully he seeks to do as much harm as he can revelation 12:12 . Do not fear the devil’s wrath, but rather we should take extreme caution to the real danger of our own heart’s wicked desires that would have us follow Satan into destruction james 1:14 . So, we should not fear Satan, but we should not become proud over him either luke 10:19-20  romans 11:20 ; as fear of anything but God is a potent tool to separate us from God revelation 21:8  matthew 13:21-22  and pride is one of the enemy’s main traps he uses to ensnare our hearts i timothy 3:6-7  galatians 6:3  proverbs 29:25 .

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reference scripture

i john 3:8 esv

Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil.

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hebrews 2:14-15 csb

Now since the children have flesh and blood in common, Jesus also shared in these, so that through His death He might destroy the one holding the power of death — that is, the devil — and free those who were held in slavery all their lives by the fear of death.

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i john 3:9 esv

No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God’s seed abides in him, and he cannot keep on sinning because he has been born of God.

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ephesians 2:2 esv

...following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience—

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i john 4:4 esv

Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for He Who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.

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revelation 12:12 esv

Therefore, rejoice, O heavens and you who dwell in them! But woe to you, O earth and sea, for the devil has come down to you in great wrath, because he knows that his time is short!"

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james 1:14 esv

But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire.

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luke 10:19-20 csb

Look, I have given you the authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and over all the power of the enemy; nothing at all will harm you. However, don’t rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven."

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romans 11:20 csb

True enough; they were broken off because of unbelief, but you stand by faith. Do not be arrogant, but beware...

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revelation 21:8 esv

But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.

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matthew 13:21-22 nlt

But since they don’t have deep roots, they don’t last long. They fall away as soon as they have problems or are persecuted for believing God’s word.

The seed that fell among the thorns represents those who hear God’s word, but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the worries of this life and the lure of wealth, so no fruit is produced.

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i timothy 3:6-7 csb

He must not be a new convert, or he might become conceited and incur the same condemnation as the devil. Furthermore, he must have a good reputation among outsiders, so that he does not fall into disgrace and the devil’s trap.

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galatians 6:3 esv

For if anyone thinks he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself.

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proverbs 29:25 nlt

Fearing people is a dangerous trap, but trusting the LORD means safety.

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my notes:

section 5

Our spiritual war is not fought against other people ephesians 6:12 , nor is our war fought in the realm of rituals, mystical happenings or unfathomable planes deuteronomy 18:14, 30:11-15 . The spiritual battlefield is our very heart proverbs 4:23 ; whether one will obey the Lord wholeheartedly james 1:13-25  or do as our sinful, natural self wants i peter 2:11. 4:1-2 . The battle is really about relationship with God. Am I seeking to walk with Him or am I going my own way?

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reference scripture

ephesians 6:12 nlt

For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.

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deuteronomy 18:14, 30:11-15 esv

...for these nations, which you are about to dispossess, listen to fortune-tellers and to diviners. But as for you, the LORD your God has not allowed you to do this.

"For this commandment that I command you today is not too hard for you, neither is it far off. It is not in heaven, that you should say, ‘Who will ascend to heaven for us and bring it to us, that we may hear it and do it?’ Neither is it beyond the sea, that you should say, ‘Who will go over the sea for us and bring it to us, that we may hear it and do it?’

But the word is very near you. It is in your mouth and in your heart, so that you can do it.

See, I have set before you today life and good, death and evil.

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proverbs 4:23 csb

Guard your heart above all else, for it is the source of life.

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james 1:13-25 esv

Let no one say when he is tempted, "I am being tempted by God," for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one. But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death. Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers...

...Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted Word, which is able to save your souls. But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like.

But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.

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i peter 2:11. 4:1-2 nlt

Dear friends, I warn you as "temporary residents and foreigners" to keep away from worldly desires that wage war against your very souls.

So then, since Christ suffered physical pain, you must arm yourselves with the same attitude He had, and be ready to suffer, too. For if you have suffered physically for Christ, you have finished with sin. You won’t spend the rest of your lives chasing your own desires, but you will be anxious to do the will of God.

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my notes:

section 6

The truth that we fight the spiritual war against our own hearts jeremiah 17:9  reveals to us that when we are battling demonic forces we are merely resisting the influence demonic forces seek to exert luke 4:1-12  titus 2:11-12  on our hearts through the temptation of our predisposed, wicked hearts i corinthians 10:13  romans 7:7-25 . Overcoming the evil one is about loving God not the things of this world; it’s about who fills your heart i john 2:13-17 . So, guard your heart proverbs 4:23 , it is apt to go after destruction!

reference scripture

jeremiah 17:9 esv

The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?

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my notes:

luke 4:1-12 esv

And Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the wilderness for forty days, being tempted by the devil. And He ate nothing during those days. And when they were ended, He was hungry.

The devil said to Him, "If you are the Son of God, command this stone to become bread."

And Jesus answered him, "It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone.’"

And the devil took Him up and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time, and said to Him, "To you I will give all this authority and their glory, for it has been delivered to me, and I give it to whom I will. If you, then, will worship me, it will all be yours."

And Jesus answered him, "It is written, "‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only shall you serve.’"

And he took him to Jerusalem and set Him on the pinnacle of the temple and said to Him, "If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down from here, for it is written, "‘He will command His angels concerning you, to guard you,’ and "‘On their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone.’"

And Jesus answered him, "It is said, ‘You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.’"

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titus 2:11-12 niv84

For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. It teaches us to say "No" to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age...

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i corinthians 10:13 esv

No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and He will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation He will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.

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romans 7:7-25 esv

...Yet if it had not been for the law, I would not have known sin. For I would not have known what it is to covet if the law had not said, "You shall not covet." But sin, seizing an opportunity through the commandment, produced in me all kinds of covetousness. For apart from the law, sin lies dead....

For sin, seizing an opportunity through the commandment, deceived me and through it killed me. So the law is holy, and the commandment is holy and righteous and good. Did that which is good, then, bring death to me? By no means! It was sin, producing death in me through what is good, in order that sin might be shown to be sin, and through the commandment might become sinful beyond measure.

For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am of the flesh, sold under sin. For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate.

Now if I do what I do not want, I agree with the law, that it is good. So now it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me. For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out. For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing.

Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me. So I find it to be a law that when I want to do right, evil lies close at hand.

For I delight in the law of God, in my inner being, but I see in my members another law waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members.

Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself serve the law of God with my mind, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin.

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my notes:

i john 2:13-17 esv

I am writing to you, fathers, because you know Him Who is from the beginning. I am writing to you, young men, because you have overcome the evil one. I write to you, children, because you know the Father. I write to you, fathers, because you know Him Who is from the beginning. I write to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, and you have overcome the evil one.

Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.

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proverbs 4:23 nlt

Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.

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my notes: