 
We Are At War!

Bible Study On The Spiritual Warfare

Free From Bondage Ministry

Smashwords Edition

Copyright 2010, "Free From Bondage Ministry"

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We Are At War!

Introduction.

The Bible tells us very specifically that we are to meditate on the Word daily. But have you ever noticed how easy it is to "just read" your Bible rather than actually "meditate". Especially if you take every book of the Bible as a separate item.

At Free From Bondage Ministry, we read the Bible a little different. The Bible is a book of war, from cover to cover. War between God and Satan, played out through us. And every book, chapter and verse, ties into that. So while it is great fun to read the story of Moses as if we are reading a novel (we could as well just watch the movie...), the meditating on it should be in what it teaches us. What we can learn about God's will, Satan's ways and our responsibilities. And especially the last part, our responsibilities, is tough. As God clearly states over and over again, we are "stiff necked" people. That responsibility part is preferably skipped, or we only follow that what is to our liking. And with Christ making such an incredible sacrifice it is so easy to make claim that He covers us, no matter what, unconditionally....... A very dangerous statement if you read the Bible as a book of war. We would not need the New Testament and all its instructions if it was all finished with Christ.

So what this study is intended for is to open the eyes and ears to the spiritual warfare, and what role we as humans play in that. Some lessons might come across as a "Yeah, I know, I have heard that before....." or you might even find some repetition from one lesson to another. If you read your Bible you will find the same thing. And yet the point doesn't always come across, not even directly from God's Word. So if you feel like that, keep studying. You might find that after some repetition suddenly you will find yourself saying: "Oh.... is that how it works....". So just keep going.

You will find out that this study consists out of two parts.

The first part contains 33 lessons exposing the severity of the warfare (even with Christ's amazing sacrifice), and our role. These lessons can be studied alone or in a group (I would recommend a group for sparking intense conversations!). My recommendation is to take a week to study one lesson (or two lessons of you want to progress faster) at home independent or as a couple. Then take the lesson(s) with your answers to the study group. During that get-together review every part of the lesson(s) as a group. Before setting a set schedule of one or two lessons each week consider that there are a few lessons that are very long, while others are reasonably short. It might benefit the group to check each session how many lessons can be tackled for the next week.

What I hope (and strive for) will happen during the group sessions, is a vivid and open discussion between members of the group about what has been studied. This is why some lessons may seem so short in study time that one would prefer to maybe even triple up and try to do even more than two lessons per week. I advice against this, since it could reduce the need and desire to open up a vivid and extensive conversation. It is therefore that I want those groups who do two lessons per week to re-adjust schedule of time is cut short in these conversations due to the amount of study material. I urge each and every individual attending to not hold back in speaking what is on his/her mind. I know this might bring questions that will be answered later in the study, so skim through the lesson subjects to see if this might be addressed later. But I do not want anyone to go home and feel cut short, while so much could be revealed by discussing what is on someone's mind.

All the way at the end of this study you will find a chapter that contains the answers to all the questions listed per lesson, including my ten cents for the final discussion point per lesson. This answer list is not to cheat yourself through the study. The problem with someone creating a study is that the logic in thinking, and therefore the answers, are perfectly clear for that person, in this case me. But not necessarily for the students. Something I personally have encountered numerous times studying other people's materials, and then not being able to follow the study any further because of next questions being related to the one answer. So if you run stuck, do not hesitate to look the answer up. Just make sure to check yourself, why you did not figure the answer out. Was something blocking your hearing?? Was something blocking your sight?? Was something getting your mind to fumble??......... And just wonder who that could be......? I would recommend to take this cheat list and add it to reviewing the questions and answers in the group. It just adds my answers to the mix, all too often with some additional information, possibly heating up some of the conversations that will follow. Sorry, I will not be personally present to be in on the conversation, no matter how much I would like to be.

The second part of this study requires some in advance explanation. Unlike most other Bible studies, including the first part of this study, this part is going to be an extremely personal study. Therefore this part of this whole study is optional. If the study group decides it is too invasive, this can be skipped. Skipping however, will take away that what the Bible tells us we are supposed to do. But every participant could study this independently as well, without others involved. Yet it would still best be done in a group, preferably the same group you studied part one with. Consider that the group should not be too large. Something like 4-8 participant would be the best size. However, every participant needs to understand the following: You cannot be part of this part of the Bible study if you do not fully engage. That means you will have to participate in every aspect of it. If you are not willing to participate fully, I recommend to not participate at all in part two. And the group should be aware of this and understand why, since otherwise very awkward situations could be created. "So what does all that mean, and why?", you might wonder.

In the second part of the study every participant will bring up a life problem, health issue or other personal struggle. This means sharing your personal struggle with all aspects involved with the study group. Consider this might be an issue that no-one else in the group even has the slightest idea about, which could include hidden aspects within a marriage. (My wife was aware of most of my physical health issues, but pretty much unaware of my addictions, depression and suicidal thoughts. I was faking things really well...... It was not until I got saved that I told her about these things). So be aware of the sensitivity involved here. Then every participant of the group will study that problem for a week using the knowledge from the first part of this Bible study, combined with the references from the Bible to work towards a personal deliverance for that particular participant who shared his/her struggle. An electronic Bible with a "search" function would be recommended. Or our book "General Application of the Who Told You Principle. Repent and Overcome or Else....." can be used as a reference. Recommended is to use both. (You might come up with interesting finds that are not in our books).

After the week the group meets for an open discussion of the findings. This can be a painful, confrontational process, but necessary to gain a true understanding of the problem in relationship to the Word. Every participant should understand the intimate, personal and often emotion laden process that could be taking place here, and how serious this should be taken. And no finger pointing allowed here, since what will be discussed could originate generations back. And even if it is directly related to the person, we should remember Christ's words at all time: "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do". More on this later in this study. The discussion ends with the person, whose struggle in this spiritual warfare was discussed, praying for deliverance with the group backing him/her up in that prayer. The study will provide enough insight into The Lord's Prayer that it will be a natural basis to follow, while adding your own words. A process that results out of having a deep understanding of every part of The Lord's Prayer, combined with the knowledge of the struggle the individual is going through in his or her spiritual warfare. Consider that there is no "watching the clock" during the open discussion, and for sure not during the prayer. (Notify the babysitter of this!!). Realize that the response will come in God's time, which we have so far seen vary from minutes to weeks or even months. Although change is always starting right away if all that was done was based in true faith from the heart. And this study will guide you to get to that in a way that your chances of doing this in true faith from the heart are significantly increased. The session is then closed by a short break followed by the next person bringing their personal struggle into the group, so the cycle can be repeated, over and over.

Have fun studying!!

Lesson1: War? What War??

Imagine it is Christmas time. People all over the world celebrate. For many a time of too much food, presents and indulging. For those who believe in the Gospel a time in which we intensify what we should be doing daily: Praising God for loving us so much that He gave His only begotten Son for us. A sacrifice that started with Christ's birth (Yes, I know we can argue about the date.....). But just thinking of all the celebration busy-ness I can almost hear the familiar lyrics sounding out of so many speakers: "Peace on earth". Sounds so good, doesn't it?

Then there are those that pray in likewise fashion, Christmas time or not: "World peace". Nobel, but is it really according to God's plan?

And then we go to church. In so many places we see herds of believers who have a "Harry Potter mentality" when it comes to Satan.......: "He who should not be named". We see pastors who do not talk about Satan, warfare, or any of that, because it might make the congregation uncomfortable. And through that we believe even more that with Christ's birth, crucifixion and resurrection, peace did indeed come to earth. But did it really?! Maybe it is time to review all that, and put it into a Biblical perspective.

Read Matthew 24:4-26 or Mark 13:5-23.

1- Taking into consideration that the world talks about and prays for "Peace on Earth", and comparing it to what Jesus is telling us in these verses, how does this match up?

Read Mark 5:34, Luke 7:50, John 14:27, John 20:19, John 20:21 and John 20:26.

2- What is the common denominator that can be found in all these verses?

3- Does this seem more in line with the message of most churches preach (especially compared to the verses related to question #1)?

4- Where does Christ say we should have this peace?

Read Matthew 10:34 and Luke 12:51.

5- What is Christ NOT bringing?

6- Instead of peace, what does Christ bring?

7- Where will we find these things that Christ did bring, with-in or with-out?

8- Would this be considered attributes to peace or attributes of war?

Read Revelation 19:11-16.

9- Does this sound like peace or war?

10- Referring back to question #4, do you feel that questions #5,6,7,8 and 9 cause the Bible to contradict itself?

11- Which one of the two would you rather see, peace or war? (realize they are both in the Bible and therefore both truth).

12- So Christ brings us peace.........., but simultaneous brings division, a weapon, and predicts war............ (fill in the blanks).

13- Discuss in your study group what difference there is in "peace with-in" versus "war with-out". Why can we have "peace within" even when it is war all around us including on a spiritual level. Discuss also if you feel we have any responsibility to make that "peace within" a reality.

Lesson 2: You Mean A Real Battle With Enemies And Such....?

When we think about war, we tend to think about battle fields where armies shed each others blood. We can look back at wars throughout the centuries from old time battle fields to the modern time air attacks and long distance battles. Even the Bible shows many of these types of wars. Just consider Jericho or Ai......

But war seems to sound strange when we talk about the Bible in the spiritual realm. But then the spiritual world of the Bible is all pretty un-worldly. It takes believing more than what the mind of man can conceive and believe to get somewhat of an understanding about the spirit world. So to think about war in the spirit world tends to "strain our brain". But the fact that we might not be able to comprehend, doesn't mean it doesn't exist.

We can still find the softest, easiest to comprehend part of that warfare be brought forward in Christianity. Temptations, fiery darts, leading to sin. Although even that part many churches are leaving out nowadays, using Christ's sacrifice as a "get out of jail for free card". A just sin along whatever you want attitude, since all is forgiven anyway.

In this lesson we will start with a basic look at the warfare. We will discuss the three components that are most obviously present in this Biblical warfare.

Let's start with the first enemy:

1- How would you feel if you were in a dense jungle, without weapons or any kind of armor, and you would run into a wild and roaring lion?

Read 1 Peter 5:8, Proverbs 28:15 and Psalm 22:13.

2- Who is the roaring lion we are facing as an enemy (most clearly described in 1 Peter 5:8)?

Read Ephesian 6:11

3- Pull Out a Webster and other dictionary, and go online, and look up the word "wiles". What does this word imply?

Read Ephesians 6:12

4- What word is repeated four times in this one verse?

5- What does that word imply?

Read Revelation 12:9.

6- Is this enemy a sole figure or does he have help?

Read 2 Corinthians 12:7.

7- What other painful reference do we find for helpers of this enemy?

Read 1 Corinthians 15:26.

8- Considering that those doing this Bible study have a very basic understanding of this enemy, what does this enemy bring us?

9- By when will this enemy and what he brings us be destroyed?

10- So who is our first enemy?

Let's now look at our second enemy:

Read Romans 13:14 and Galatians 6:7-8.

11- Who is supposed to be doing something here?

Read Romans 8:1, Romans 8:4-8 and Romans 8:12-13.

12- Who is supposed to make the right choice?

Read Matthew 3:2, Matthew 3:8, Matthew 4:17 (and search for similar verses al throughout if you desire so).

13- Who is to take action?

Read James 4:7.

14- Who is put up the resistance?

15- So who is the second enemy we are facing (hint: Someone all too familiar to you....)?

Now let's take a look at our ally:

Read 1 John 4:4

16- Who is "He who is in you"?

17- Who is "he who is in the world"?

18- Who of the two is greater?

19- So whose side do we need to choose to win?

Now the question we need to ask ourselves, and that is what a large part of the rest of this study will cover, is: "Are we indeed choosing our ally, in all aspects given to us in the Bible?". (No answer required at this time).

20- Discuss within the group how you can feel that the "first enemy" will always try to make us feel that it is all the "second enemy's" fault. Consider how that ties in with Luke 23:34(a).

Lesson 3: So What Is Christ Asking From Us?

Yes, His sacrifice is a free gift. We do not have to write a check. But we do have to change our will...... Our "free will". In the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John we can read how Christ teaches how we should behave. Realize that He knew at that time already that He was going to be the sacrificial Lamb. Isaiah wrote about that hundreds of year before the miracle birth. Christ knew, when He was teaching, that He was going to make a sacrifice that would, or better said "could", set humanity free. So if His sacrifice indeed would be the "get out of jail for free card" as so many people use it, why would He teach so diligent on how to live and behave. Christ was not an individual who spoke unnecessary words. He did not waste time on anything. So the fact that He is asking something of us in His teachings, could mean that it isn't as easy as a "get out of jail for free card". Maybe we have to keep our side of the deal..... So what is He asking of us?

Read Luke 10:19, John 12:31, John 16:11, Colossians 1:13, Colossians 2:15, 1 John 3:8.

1- Based on these verses, could you make a statement that the battle has already been fought by Christ and won?

This is what most churches teach, therefore leaving spiritual warfare out of their teaching and preaching, as if we do not need to fight anymore. And indeed, Christ did fight that fight and won. But does that by default mean that we have won that fight as well? Let's take a closer look.

Read John 14:30.

2- Who is coming?

Romans 8:1, Ephesians 2:2, Colossians 2:10, 2 Thessalonians 2:9, 1 Timothy 5:15.

3- What can we read in these verses (Most clear in Romans 8:1)?

Just as a side note: If you read through your Bible, most specifically the New Testament, you will find that all verses pertaining to how Christ's victory over Satan can apply to us, does not make a statement of guarantee anywhere. It is always written as a "might" or "may". The whole chapter of Romans 8 is very clear on this "conditional" victory for us. Or better said, the whole New Testament addresses these "conditions". Let's review a number of them, although not nearly all.

Read Matthew 6:24, Luke 16:9-13, Galatians 1:10, 1 Timothy 6:17-19, James 4:4 and 1 John 2:15-17.

4- What are these verses asking us to do with worldly matters versus God?

5- If we choose one, can we also have the other?

Read Matthew 7:13-14 and Luke 13:24

6- Again we need to choose. But what are we asked to choose between?

7- What gate would be the most obvious to take?

8- Is the choice of gate simply a choice between believing or not believing, or are believers still put in a place of decision between gates every day?

Read Matthew 7:21-23, Luke 13:23-27, John 8:51, John 9:31, Romans 2:13, James 1:22-26 and Hosea 8:2-5.

9- Who's will are we supposed to follow?

Read Matthew 19:17 (b) and John 14:15-17.

10- How is the will of God listed in these verses, and what are we supposed to do with that?

Read Matthew 5:16, John 5:17, 1 Peter 2:12 and 1 Timothy 6:18.

11- What is the key word that is used in all these verses?

12- What are we supposed to do?

Read Matthew 10:8.

13- Referring back to question #10, what are the details of what we are supposed to do?

14- How much of that do we see happening in todays churches?

Read Matthew 6:12, Matthew 6:14-15 and Luke 6:36-37.

15- In these verses Christ shows how important it is that we............? (fill in the blank).

Read Matthew 7:22.

16- If you would attend a church, and the pastor was showing all that this verse mentions, would you consider to be part of a thriving church with a pastor who showed strong faith and was clearly blessed with the Holy Spirit?

17- In how many churches today do we see these things happen for real (and I do not mean a television pastor who is putting up a show for people to open their checkbook.....)?

18- If you yourself were doing all that this verse mentions, would you consider of yourself that you must be a true believer who was blessed with the Holy Spirit?

Read Matthew 7:23.

19- Jump back to questions #16 and #18, and answer them again........

Read 2 Corinthians 11:14-15, 2 Thessalonians 2:9, Revelation 13:13 and Revelation 16:14.

20- How might it be that we could still perform miracles and signs, and that Christ will still claim to not know us?

Read Matthew 24:9-13

21- The importance is found in the last verse: What are we to do no matter what is done to us?

22- Could we be persuaded to decide otherwise?

23- Discuss in the group where you find yourself to struggle with the areas we now covered. Realize that the area we struggle with shows us our weakest point. The point where our enemy will most likely strike.

Lesson 4: Fight A Good Fight In The Law

Have you ever noticed that every government seems to write more laws each year, to cover up all the loopholes that were found in previously written laws. Only to find out that these new laws allow for more loopholes. The problem is that human law is written trying to lead everyone in every situation into what is right and what is wrong. The problem is that no situation is equal to another, and no person is equal to another. That is why human written law is bound for failure.

Before we get going on the verses and the questions, I would like to make something clear about law. There are two ways to take law into account. By the letter or by the spirit. Take a simple human law issue as speeding limits. If we drive the speed limit based on the letter of the law we do it because otherwise we might get a ticket. But if we keep to the speed limit based on the spirit of the law, then we do it because it is the right thing to do for our safety and the safety of those around us. In the first case we need the law to have us keep the law. In the second case we do not need the law because doing what we do comes forth out of something much bigger than law, but by doing so we keep the law anyway. I want to you keep this in mind for this lesson. It will answers many questions about this being under the law or being in the spirit that is referred so much to in the Bible.

Now God also has a law. But it has a distinct difference from human law. Because instead of attempting to lead people into right actions (the letter of the law), it is based on the deep seated God given ability that we all have within on knowing right from wrong (the spirit of the law). God's law requires a relationship with God to understand it. Yet humanity tends to look at it all too often from a perspective as if we are dealing with human law, according to the letter of the law. Which is a way that is bound to fail.

So since we are discussing war, we better start fighting with God's law at hand..... Or shouldn't we? But how do we do that? Should we follow the crusaders, and create a bloody trail in the name of The Lord? Many will tell us we just need to believe. That when we believe we are not under the law anymore, and that therefore the law doesn't apply anymore. Is this so? Or is that a matter of using a few verses to justify our behaviors, while we should look at the whole Bible as a reference. Let's check.

Read Matthew 7:12 and Matthew 22:36-40.

1- What does Christ tell us the Law and the Prophets are based on?

Romans 7:12.

2- The Law is what?

Read Matthew 5:18 and Luke 16:17.

3- Is there any indication in Christ's words that we can skip on any part of the Law?

Read Romans 3:28, Roman 3:31 and Romans 6:14-15.

4- Can we actually void the Law or sin more because of Grace?

Read Romans 10:4, Galatians 2:16, Galatians 3:12 and Galatians 5:18

5- So what are we justified by?

6- If so, can't we then just toss the law out?

Read Luke 9:55 and Galatians 5:19-25.

7- How do we know we are lead by the Spirit?

8- If we have not crucified the things of the flesh, where do we default back to?

Read Matthew 7:21-23.

9- What can this lead to?

Read Romans 3:10, Romans 7:14 and Romans 8:10.

10- How many are completely in the Spirit and how many "fall" for the flesh?

11- So how do we walk in the Spirit?

Read Galatians 3:24.

12- So where do we learn that righteousness so we can be justified by faith in Jesus Christ?

Read Romans 6:16 and 1 Timothy 1:8-11.

13- Keeping questions #11 in mind, where would we learn the "sound doctrine" mentioned at the end of verse 10 of 1 Timothy?

Read Galatians 2:21.

14- Should we then say that the Law is righteousness?

Read Jeremiah 31:31-33.

15- Who is coming?

16- What does get written in our minds because of that?

17- How close are Christ and the Law therefore related?

Read James 2:8-10.

18- In the Law we all........., but through the blood of Christ we can be............. (fill in the blanks).

19- Discuss in the study group how even though Christ's sacrifice can cleans us from sin, that we need the Holy Law as our tutor.

Lesson 5: Fight A Good fight In Faith

In the previous lesson we took a closer look at "the law", and how we fight our fight in that area by understanding that the Law is Holy, and functions as the tutor. But as Christians we know by heart that we need to have faith in Christ because without Him we will never make it to the New Jerusalem. But faith is such an intangible thing. Its is for that reason that I would like to start with a brief review of what I wrote as an introduction to lesson #4. Remember what I wrote about "the letter of the law versus the spirit of the law? This is where fighting the faith in the law and fighting the fight in the spirit get mixed up. Do we follow Christ, and do what He asks us to do, because it is the right thing to do, or do we do what He tells us to do (and fail in that all the time) because we do not want to consequences? Realize that this is a very tricky question to answer. But what it comes down to is the question whether our faith is truly based on our love for Christ or our fear for God's wrath. We all like to believe that we have true faith. But in that way of thinking, are we basing this on worldly matters or are we determining this on Biblical truth? So how do we know that we fight a good fight in faith? Let's check.

Since there are so many verses addressing this issue, the majority of verses pertaining the fight in the faith will not be used. You are however free to search for more verses and add them to the mix.

Read 1 Timothy 6:12 and 2 Timothy 4:7

1- What does Paul tell us here, how we remain in the faith?

Let's take a look at the importance of faith.

Read Isaiah 29:13.

2- How does Isaiah describe the "letter of the law versus the spirit of the law" issue here?

Read Matthew 5:8, Matthew 6:21, Mark 12:33 and John 14:1.

3- Taking Isaiah 29:13 into consideration, where does true faith take place?

4- Is head knowledge that does not turn into a heart issue of any value?

Read Matthew 5:48.

5- What is Christ asking of us?

6- Is that possible if we say to have faith but we actually approach it from a head knowledge standpoint?

Read Matthew 9:29, Matthew 15:28 and Luke 7:9.

7- What is the result of faith?

Read Matthew 17:20, Mark 11:23, and Luke 17:6.

8- If it is according to God's will, how powerful is your faith.

Read Matthew 21:21-22, Mark 11:24, Luke 11:9-10 and John 15:7.

9- If it is according to God's will, and you pray with true faith, what will happen?

Read Matthew 13:58 and Mark 6:5-6.

10- Leaving out the long-term consequences regarding eternal life, what is the consequence of unbelief here in our earthly life?

Read Matthew 8:26, Matthew 14:31, Matthew 16:8 and Matthew 17:17.

11- Is Christ showing great "confidence" in the level of faith of those around Him?

Read Acts 14:21-22.

12- Is Christ just leaving those near to Him (His disciples) in that struggle?

13- Is He telling them it is going to be easy?

Read Romans 1:17.

14- How do the just live?

15- Does it say to "have" faith, or to "live" by faith.

16- Do we profess to have true faith if we do not live by faith?

Read Romans 14:23 (b).

17- Keeping question #10 in mind, if we do not live by faith, then what do we live by?

18- As we saw earlier in Matthew 14:31, Christ addressed the issue of doubt. If we doubt are we then living by faith?

Read Psalm 103:3 and Philippians 4:13.

19- Have you ever struggled in disease and doubted what Psalm 103:3 tells you?

20- Do you truly have believe you can do "all things"?

Read Hebrews 6:12.

21- Can we just kind of "wing it", or do we need a certain amount of "intention" in our faith?

22- Discuss in the study group how "sluggishness" in faith could lead to not having "all things possible", not seeing Godly miracles happen, which then in turns leads to becoming more sluggish in faith.

Lesson 6: The Truth And Righteousness Of God's Armor

Looking at armor in worldly war, we can see how that has evolved throughout time. But no matter how advanced the technology, new weapons will constantly be created to overpower the newest of the newest armor. A battle within the battle so to speak.

As Christians we have most likely all heard of the "Armor of God". Time tested, never out-performed by new technologies, undefeated. The only weakness is in the one wearing the armor...... So are we actually truly aware of what we are putting on?? Do we actually know what each piece of armor represents, not to mention what the whole armor stands for? The easy answer would of course be: "The armor of God". But that could easily make us miss a part when we put on this armor.

Before we start, read about the Armor of God in Ephesians 6:10-20

Let's start with a basic question that shows the importance of putting on God's armor.

Read Ephesians 6:11.

1- Why do we need to put on the whole armor of God?

2- So what are "wiles" again? (See Lesson #2, question #3).

3- Since one of the definitions concerns strategies, would this be an indication we need a time tested and proven system to defend us, something that we cannot throw together by ourselves?

Let's now study each piece, and what are we supposed to do with it......, starting with Girding Your Waist With Truth and Putting On The Breastplate Of Righteousness.

Read Deuteronomy 32:4.

4- What are the two atributes of God mentioned in this verse?

Read Psalm 15:1-6.

5- What does the person have to "make his" to dwell with God?

Read Psalm 31:5.

6- Lord God of........ (fill in the blank).

Read Psalm 43:3

7- Send us Your........... (fill in the blank).

Read Psalm 54:5.

8- What is used to cut off the enemy?

Read Psalm 119:142.

9- What is everlasting?

Read Psalm 119:151.

10- So next to the law being the truth, what else is truth?

Read Isaiah 16:5 and John 14:6.

11- Who is the truth?

12- So if you gird your waist with Truth, what are you girding your waist with? (Just remember to do this not according to the letter but according to the spirit).

Read Galatians 5:7-8.

13- Consider the spiritual warfare. Who could be referred to by "who" in verse 7?

Read Leviticus 19:11(b), Psalm 101:7, Proverbs 19:5, 1 John 1:6, 1 John 1:8, 1 John 2:4 and Revelation 22:15.

14- How good does it look for those who do not practice the truth (tell lies)?

Read 1 Corinthians 1:30.

15- Who became righteousness for us?

Read Jeremiah 33:15 and Revelation 19:11.

16- How does "He who became righteousness for us" judge us?

Read Matthew 5:6 and 1 John 2:29.

17- How do we "become one" with Him?

Read Psalm 119:172.

18- So all of God's............ are righteousness (fill in the blank).

Read Isaiah 65:5, Proverbs 30:12, Luke 3:8, Romans 10:3, Revelation 3:17,

19- What warning should we read in these verses about considering ourselves righteous?

Read Matthew 23:28.

20- What warning is made towards "outward appearance"?

Read 2 Corinthians 11:14-15.

21- Who is also righteous in "outward appearance"?

Read Isaiah 64:6, Ezekiel 33:12 and Romans 3:10.

22- Are you righteous?

23- How good does it look for those who do not practice righteousness?

Read Matthew 6:30-33.

24- What "things is Christ referring to?

25- How does Christ say we obtain these "things"

26- Is seeking God's kingdom and His righteousness found in living in sin and using Christ's sacrifice as a "get out of jail for free card"?

Read Job 29:14, Isaiah 11:5 and 2 Corinthians 6:7.

27- Are the pieces of armor of this lesson new at the writing of Ephesians, or are they time tested?

Read Isaiah 59:16-17.

28- Who Himself wore that armor that you are supposed to put on?

29- Discuss within the study group the importance of faith from the heart. Also discuss the destructive consequences of self-righteousness and how faith from the mouth can so easily lead to self-righteousness.

Lesson 7: The Gospel of Peace Of God's Armor

We will continue our study on the "Armor of God" to Shod Your Feet With The Preparation Of The Gospel Of Peace. Just as a side note: Realize that the Gospel Of Peace is just one piece of the "Armor of God". In many congregations the Gospel is preached as being the only thing needed to be saved. Realize that even though all parts of the "Armor of God" are interconnected, we cannot assume that addressing just one will then cover us in all areas. So this should make it clear that "just" the Gospel is not sufficient.

Read Isaiah 2:3-4 and Jeremiah 31:31-33.

1- What is predicted in these verses?

Read Mark 1:1

2- What from question #1 is Mark confirming?

Read John 7:16.

3- On who's will is the Gospel based?

Read Matthew 24:14, Luke 24:47 and 2 Corinthians 5:7.

4- Considering the absence of trains, planes, automobiles and the Internet at the time this was written, why would we have to "shod our feet " with the Gospel of Peace.

Read Leviticus 7:15, Numbers 7:17, Numbers 7:23, Number 7:29, Number 7:35, Number 7:41, Numbers 7:47, Numbers 7:53, Numbers 7:59, Numbers 7:65, Numbers 7:71, Numbers 7:77 and Numbers 7:83.

5- What were the offering to God for?

Read Judges 6:24, Isaiah 9:6 and Micah 5:5.

6- Who is peace?

Most of the following questions have been discussed in lesson #1 already. I do however recommend to go over them again. The peace Christ will eventually bring is what the world is looking forward to as well. Yet there is a significant difference in what the world consideres the road to peace to be, and what the Bible tells us.

Read Mark 5:34, Luke 7:50 and John 20:21.

7- What peace does Christ refer to?

Read John 14:27.

8- In this world we talk a lot about peace in a worldly manner. In what manner does Christ refer to peace?

9- Why can we and why should we have peace "within"?

Read Matthew 10:33-42.

10- What is Christ not bringing, but what does He bring?

11- So if Christ brings us that, how can we still act peaceful?

12- What do we use to keep that peace?

13- What will all that Christ says He brings eventually lead to?

Read 1 Corinthians 9:14.

14- Who should we let ourselves be lead by if we preach the Gospel?

Read Matthew 24:14 again.

15- Discuss in the study group why we need to shod our feet with His Gospel of Peace (will true peace come if the Gospel is not preached to all the nations?).

Lesson 8: Faith And Salvation Of God's Armor

We will continue our study on the "Armor of God" with The Shield Of Faith and The Helmet Of Salvation. Consider that we discussed "faith" at length in lesson #5. There will possibly be overlap and repetition, but starting with question #1 and #2 of this lesson you will realize that some repetition will not be harmful.

Read Hebrews 11:1

1- What is faith?

Read Ephesians 6:16.

2- Why would "The Shield Of Faith" be listed with an "Above All"?

3- Can we have Truth, Righteousness, The Gospel of Peace, Salvation and the Holy Spirit, if we do not have Faith?

Read Hebrews 11:6.

4- Keeping question #3 in mind, does it make sense that we need faith to please Him?

Read 2 Samuel 22:3.

5- How does Samuel refer to God?

Read Matthew 8:13, Matthew 9:22, Matthew 9:29, Matthew 15:28, Matthew 17:20, Matthew 25:21, Mark 9:23, Mark 11:24 and John 15:7 (and there are many more verses like these).

6- What happens or is done because of faith?

Read Matthew 8:26, Matthew 13:58, Matthew 14:31, Matthew 16:8 and Matthew 17:17 (and there are many more verses like these).

7- What are the consequences of not having faith?

8- What words does Christ use to describe the short comings that accompany the lack of faith?

9- Are these atributes of God?

10- Who could these atributes then be from?

Read Revelation 21:8.

11- Where do the "unbelievers" end up?

Read Luke 16:10.

12- How precise do we have to be with our faith?

Read John 14:12.

13- What can we expect to see happen in our works if we truly believe?

Read 2 Timothy 2:11.

14- How do we show Him our true faith, so that His works we will also do?

Read James 2:20-26.

15- Is James telling us also that there is a strong correlation between our faith and our works?

Read Romans 10:4.

16- If our faith would not be true, what would we be under again?

Read 1 Corinthians 16:13.

17- What does Paul ask of us?

18- Why would Paul ask us that?

Read 2 Corinthians 1:24.

19- Does your faith come from your pastor, your neighbor, your brother in law?

20- Then where does your faith come from?

Read 2 Corinthians 13:5.

21- Who needs to check you on your faith?

Read Romans 1:16, 1 Peter 1:5 and 1 Peter 1:9.

22- What does faith eventually lead to?

Read Revelation 7:10.

23- Who does what we receive through faith belong to?

Read Psalm 27:1.

24- Who is the salvation?

25- Discuss in the study group the close connection between faith and salvation. In previous lessons we discussed the importance of true faith, truly following Christ. With what the questions have covered so far in all the chapters, how true do you consider your own faith? How true are you in following Christ?

Lesson 9: The Sword Of God's Armor, And Being A Warrior

We will continue our study on the "Armor of God" with the last part of the armor: the Sword Of The Spirit. Take something very important into consideration before studying this lesson. All parts of the"Armor of God" that we have studied so far are items that we would put on, and then they protect us. This last item is however very different. Just holding a sword does not bring any protection whatsoever. A sword is a part of a warriors armor that requires something from the bearer: Action!! The bearer needs to swing it, fight with it.

This brings us directly into the second part of this lesson: Being a warrior. Realize this also ties back into lessons four and five.

Read Deuteronomy 32:40-43 and Psalm 45:3

1- What is glittering, and what should He be girding on His thigh?

Read Psalm 149:6 and Proverbs 5:4.

2- What type of sword is being referred to in these verses?

3- What would the benefit be of a sword like that above a regular sword?

Read Hebrews 4:12 and Revelation 1:16, Revelation 2:12, Revelation 2:16, Revelation 19:11-16 and Revelation 19:21.

4- What is the reference for the "sharp two-edged sword" coming out of Christ's mouth?

Read Matthew 10:34 and Luke 2:35.

5- I know I asked before: What did Christ come to bring?

Read Genesis 1:2

6- Who's Spirit?

Read Genesis 1:26.

7- Is God talking single or plural?

Read John 14:26, Romans 1:20, 2 Corinthians 13:14, Colossians 2:9 and 1 John 5:7.

8- Which three Holy parts form the Godhead?

Read John 1:1, John 1:14, 1 Peter 1:23 and Revelation 19:13.

9- Who is the "Word"?

Read Luke 8:21.

10- Are we just to hear the Word?

Read Luke 8:4-15.

11- What do the seeds stand for?

12- Does Christ understand that in the warfare there will be casualties?

Read Matthew 10:20.

13- Taking all the verses discussed in this lesson so far: If it are the words of the Spirit of God who speaks in you, and the Word of God is sharper than a two edged sword, or "a sharp two edged sword", then what conclusion could we draw the Sword of the Spirit to be? (I know, this is one of those mind benders.....)

Read 2 Timothy 2:3

14- What do we need to be?

Read Ephesians 6:12

15- Is the "wrestle" mentioned in this verse a playful game or a true fight?

Read Revelation 19:14 and Revelation 19:19.

16- Is Christ fighting alone?

17- What is His army wearing?

Read Revelation 3:4-5, Revelation 6:9-11 and Revelation 7:9-17.

18- Who are those that form Christ's army clothed in white?

19- What indication would this be for those who fight a good fight in true faith (until persecution for His sake) in this live?

20- Discuss in the study group how the use of the Word is the action we need to take, such as using a Sword. Consider the importance of a strong and faithful army during the final battle as described in Revelation.

Lesson 10: The Armor Of Light

Interestingly almost every Christian knows about the "Ephesians" Armor of God that we discussed in the previous few lessons. Yet in Romans we find another reference towards an armor that is mentioned very seldom, the Armor of Light. And when we learned about the Armor of God, we found out that we are putting on Christ by putting on the Armor of God.

Now consider that when we discuss the issue of light, we cannot leave out what is opposite of light: darkness.

Have you ever stepped into a closet, and the light bulb wasn't working? Pretty dark, huh? So what do you do to still find your way in that closet (besides replacing the light bulb.....)? Most obvious would be to keep the door open. Now realize what is taking place here, and it works every time again without fail. Light overtakes the darkness. By leaving the door open the dark inside of the closet is overcome by the light. And most amazingly, outside of the closet it does not get darker because darkness "flows out of the closet". It always works! But realize that there is something needed in that process..... The open door!

The Light of this Armor is no different. And in this lesson we will not only study the "Armor of Light", but also start the process of understanding the "open door".

Read Romans 13:12.

1- Instead of works of darkness we are to do what?

Read Genesis 1:3-4

2- What did God create and divide?

3- Which day is this taking place?

Read Genesis 1:14-17.

4- What did God create?

5- Which day is this?

6- What differences in light are we talking about between day 1 and day 4?

Read Psalm 36:9, Psalm 104:1-2, Psalm 119:105 and Proverbs 6:23.

7- What is all referred to as light? (list all)

Read Matthew 17:1-3, Luke 1:76-79 and John 1:4.

8- Who are the disciples writing about when mentioning "light"?

Read Acts 9:3.

9- How does Christ present himself to Saul on the road to Damascus?

Read John 8:12, John 9:5 and John 12:46.

10- What does Christ say He is to the world?

Read Revelation 21:23.

11- Who will be "the Light" in the New Jerusalem?

Read 2 Corinthians 11:14.

12- Warning: Who is also presenting himself as an angel of light?

13- Could this mean that those things that look like they come from God might actually come from Satan?

14- What does this mean when we feel we need to take certain action for God?

Read Luke 11:34-36.

15- The warning is extended: What kind of light should take heed of?

Read 1 John 1:6 and 1 John 2:9.

16- What happens if we do not stay "in the light"?

Read 2 Cor 11:14

17- What would be considered the "light that is darkness"?

Read John 9:4 and John 12:35.

18- Christ gives us a very specific warning. What is to come?

Read John 3:19-20.

19- Has mankind changed much since this was written?

20- Are we keeping the door open, so light can overcome darkness?

Read John 10:7-9.

21- How is Christ referring to Himself taking the "open door principle" in mind?

22- Discuss in the study group what conclusion can we draw "the Armor of Light" to be? Refer back to Lessons #6, #7, #8 and #9. Considering what each piece of the Armor of God is, are the armors mentioned in Ephesians and Romans different?

Lesson 11: Repent And Overcome

In the previous lesson we figured out something really important. The "open door" phenomenon. We also studied some "closing door" examples. Probably made you think about how open you keep your door.... Well, as we hear all the time in Christianity "We are all sinners, we all sin all the time". And the message send out with that is simple: "He died on the cross, so we are free of sin because He took it all from us". True! Yet not to be manipulated into something that Christ did not mean.

In this lesson we will go over some very serious matters involving Christ giving some very serious warnings. And don't think these warnings do not apply to you. These warnings are Biblical text, and apply to each and everyone whether you are reading it or not.

Read Revelation 2:5, Revelation 2:7, Revelation 2:10-11, Revelation 2:16-17, Revelation 2:26, Revelation 3:3-5, revelation 3:11-12, Revelation 3:19-21 and Revelation 21:7.

1- Christ is speaking to the churches. In every pair of these verses He not only tells the churches to repent, but He tells them something else, something which is then followed by a promise. What is He asking us to do besides repent?

2- Is the promise given for the repentance or for the overcoming?

Read Exodus 10:16-17.

3- The Pharao asks for forgiveness of sin, but is he willing to overcome?

Read Exodus 14:4 and Exodus14:28.

4- What was the result of this?

Read Matthew 3:2, Mark 6:12, Luke 5:32 and Luke 13:3.

5- What do these verses indicate us to do?

6- Can we repent for something we do not know / understand we did?

Read 1 John 3:6-9.

7- What would someone who just gave his life to Christ (and many seasoned believers still justify themselves on these verses as well), understand about sin from these verses?

Read Galatians 2:11-15.

8- Was Peter being truly righteous, that Paul confronted him?

Read 2 Corinthians 12:7.

9- What weakness did Paul talk about?

Read Revelation 22:8-9 and Exodus 20:5.

10- What is John doing of which the angel clearly tells him it is not right to do?

Read Romans 6:6, Romans 6:15 and Romans 7:14.

11- Does Paul indicate that it is impossible to sin?

Read Romans 7:13-20.

12- What is dwelling within Paul?

13- What is he doing because of that?

14- In which part of Paul is this sin dwelling, his spiritual being or his flesh?

Read 1 John 3:7.

15- How is John addressing the readers of his letter?

Read 1 John 3:9 (again).

16- How would a mother or father address his child to refrain from doing something, using a "very affirmative should not"?

17- Does such an "affirmative should not"as "cannot" indicate that it is an absolute impossibility?

18- Taking questions #12-14 into consideration: Or could John refer to the same as Paul, that we still do things because "sin dwells within, but that it is not I who do it"?

Read Matthew 26:75 and John 21:15-19

19- How did Peter repent?

20- When did Peter overcome?

Read Isaiah 1:16-17, Jeremiah 7:3, Ezekiel 18:30 and Daniel 4:27.

21- Even though these are Old Testament verses, what is the basic message in these verses that Christ repeats many times?

22- Is it God's responsibility or our responsibility to do all that?

23- Discuss in the study group why it is so important to not only repent but to also overcome. Take this thought into consideration: If we repent for our sins, but we do not overcome them and keep repeating the sin over and over again, do we then really love Christ and keep His commandments? Are we keeping the "door open" if we do not overcome?

Lesson 12: Forgiveness

This lesson will cover an area that is violated so often within Christianity that it is not funny anymore. I see this all the time, and you can see it too if you look around. People who talk about the forgiveness they received from Christ, and within thirty seconds they go off about how their mother-in-law did this, how their boss was dadada, how their father did this to them when they were a child, and the list goes on and on. They claim to be forgiven, but they have not forgiven those who sinned against them. And yet the Bible is extremely clear on this one. But it appears as if the violations in this area are not considered any problem, while it is a huge problem. It almost is as if generally unforgiveness is such a common thing, that it isn't even recognized anymore. While the importance of forgiveness should be clear when understanding the spiritual warfare and listening to Christ's lasts words on the cross.

Read Matthew 5:7 and Luke 6:36.

1- What are we asked to be?

2- What does this mean?

Read Matthew 5:44, Matthew 22:39, Luke 6:27-28 and Romans 12:14.

3- Who are the most difficult to forgive?

Read Matthew 18:21-22 and Mark 11:25.

4- How often do we need to forgive?

Read Luke 17:3-4.

5- So do we just forgive, or do we have a responsibility towards those who sin against us.

Read Ephesians 5:25, Colossians 3:19 and 1 Peter 3:7.

6- Is that forgiveness only towards those who we would consider enemies, or does the Bible tell us we need to look at other areas as well?

Read Matthew 6:12-15.

7- How do we get forgiveness from our own sins?

Read Matthew 18:23-34.

8- Can we be forgiven before we forgive?

9- If we do not forgive, even if we have been forgiven, what could happen?

Read Colossians 3:8 and 1 John 1:9.

10- What do we "put off", "get cleansed from" when we truly forgive?

Read Mark 3:29.

11- Who do we offend that we will not receive forgiveness?

12- Since not forgiving will lead to not receiving forgiveness, could we then conclude that not forgiving is an offense against the Holy Spirit?

Read Romans 3:23.

13- So why is it so important that we receive forgiveness?

Read Luke 23:34.

14- Was Christ forgiving His enemies, those who persecuted Him?

15- If it was just about forgiveness, why would Christ mention the reason for forgiveness?

16- Christ said "They do not know what they do" Didn't they know what they were doing to Him?

17- Or did Christ make that reference to show us that there is "something else" that could make us do things without our understanding?

18- What could that "something else" be.......?

19- Discuss in the study group where each of you have unforgiveness lingering inside. Taking what you just learned into consideration, what blessings are you keeping yourself from? Talk about why it is so important to forgive someone, especially taking into consideration that that person might have been "under the influence" of evil spirits.

Lesson 13: But Aren't We Covered In Christ?

I have had so many discussion on this subject, not to mention the e-mails received on this. As mentioned a few lessons earlier, many view Christ's sacrifice as a "get out of jail for free card". And in many ways it is, although in lesson #11 and 12 we saw that we need to take that "get out of jail for free card" very serious. I would like to mention in advance this lesson will take more reading and overal time than any of the previous lessons and will spill over into lesson #14 and lesson #15. There is a lot to cover here.

Read Matthew 18:21-35.

1- We read all of these verses except the last one in the last lesson. In that last verse, what does Christ say will happen to you if you do not give to others what you received?

2- Who would you think these torturers are?

3- Who is the One delivering you?

Read John 15:1-11.

4- What does Christ tell us we need to do to bear much good fruit?

5- How do we do that?

6- What happens if we do not do that?

7- Who is the One casting you out and throw you in the fire?

Read Romans 11:16-24.

8- Who were the original branches?

9- Why were they cut off?

10- Who is grafted in?

11- What happens if we become sinful and boast?

12- What could then happen to you, who was grafted in?

13- Who is the One not sparing you?

Read Job 15:32-34, Matthew 3:10, Matthew 7:19 and Luke 3:9.

14- What is being referred to in these verses that are similar to the verses of John and Romans we just studied?

Read Ezekiel 3:20, Matthew 25:31-46, John 14:15-17, John 15:10 (again), Romans 11:23 (again) and Revelation 22:14.

15- What are the key ingredients for not letting this happen to you?

16- Whose responsibility is this?

Read John 16:26-27.

17- How do we keep in favor with God the Father, the One who could cut us off and throw us in the fire?

Read 1 Chronicles 28:9, 2 Chronicles 15:2, 1 Corinthians 15:30, Colossians 1:23, 1 Timothy 1:19, 1 Timothy 4:1, 1 Timothy 5:11-12, Hebrews 3:12-14, Hebrews 6:4-6, Hebrews 10:26-27, Hebrews 10:38, Hebrews 12:1, James 1:14-15 and 2 Peter 2:20-22.

18- What is the constantly returning "recipe" combined in all these verses.

19- Who is responsible for this?

Read Hebrews 10:26-31.

20 What should we have if we do not keep these responsibilities?

21- Going back to the "grapevine" and "olive tree" passages earlier in this lesson, who is responsible for God the Father cutting us off and throwing us in the fire.

22- So what do we have to do (in very basic terms) to make Christ's sacrifice work for us?

23- Discuss in the study group what our responsibility is to make Christ's sacrifice work for us. How Christ's "free gift" of grace is always there, and free to each and everyone but that God the Father has a say in the matter as well. (Take into consideration that due to the intensity of this subject, much of what could become heated debate could be covered in the next lessons).

Lesson 14: But We Will Never Loose Christ's Love...., Do We?

Those opposing these all to obvious passages that we studied and will still study for that, will bring up a few verses that appear to counter what we have learned so far. Is the Bible contradicting itself? How can this be, as the Bible indeed doesn't contradict. So we have to make sense of how it can appear that way without leaving stuff out of the Bible (or just ignoring it, hoping it might go away....).

Read Genesis 28:15, Deuteronomy 31:6-8, John 1:5, John 6:37-40, John 10:11-18, John 10:27-29, John 17:24, Romans 8:1(a), Romans 8:35, Romans 8:38-39, Philippians 1:6, Hebrews 13:5(b), and 1 Peter 1:4.

1- What is the common (and popular) believe that is brought forward in these verses (and only read those verses and nothing else!)?

Note: We will return to these verses in lesson #15 to check if that is how we can read them.

Read Psalm 50:6, Psalm 75:7, Isaiah 33:22, Isaiah 66:16, Zechariah 3:1, John 8:50 and Romans 3:6.

2- Who judges?

Read Luke 6:36 and 1 Peter 1:16-21.

3- Who is the One that actually gives the mercy?

Read Matthew 18:11 and Luke 19:10 and John 12:47.

4- What did Christ say He came to do for the world?

Read 2 Corinthians 5:10.

5- Whose Seat of Judgement is being referred to?

Read John 3:35, John 5:22 and Acts 10:42

6- Who was ordained to de judge?

7- So next to God being judge, who else is judge?

Read 1 Corinthians 6:2.

8- Who else will be judge?

Read Romans 2:16.

9- By what will God judge?

Read John 1:1-5.

10- So if God judges by Jesus Christ, what is being used to judge us?

11- Are you familiar with God's Word?

12- Do you faithfully believe and follow God's Word to the best of your abilities, or do you rely on Christ's sacrifice for more than just "mistakes for which you repent and work hard to overcome"?

13- Could God judge against you if you do not follow Christ's commandments.

Read 1 Corinthians 11:31.

14- Do you judge yourself according to the Word?

Read John 5:30, John 8:14-17, John 12:44-50 and John 14:10.

15- Does Christ say He judges?

16- Whose will does Christ seek to make His judgement?

Read John 5:19 and John 10:30.

17- How come it seems that Christ follows the Father's judgement, while the Father follows Christ's judgement.

Read John 10:29-30.

18- Who is greater?

19- Who therefore has the main authority in judgement?

Read Deuteronomy 17:6 and John 8:17.

20- How many witnesses does judgement require to sentence someone to death?

Read Zechariah 3:1, Philippians 1:8 and 1 John 2:1.

21- Who all could possible be witnessing against you or on your behalf?

Read John 5:45.

22- Will Christ ever witness against you?

23- Would Christ witness on your behalf if you did not follow His commandments?

Read Revelation 12:17 and Revelation 14:12.

24- So if we (judge yourself on this!) have the love of Christ, since the Bible states we will never loose that, could we still have two witnesses against us if we did not follow the Word of God?

25- Who could these two witnesses against us be?

26- If that would be the case, whose will does Christ then follow?

Read Psalm 7:11.

27- Is God the Father's judging against us unjust in His judgement?

28- Does God not love us, that He would judge against us?

29- What did we "do wrong" if God would judge against us?

30- If the sentence is "death", would Christ stop loving us?

31- So (to tie it al together), if we did not follow Christ's commandments, and therefore did not show true love for Him, could we be sentenced to death even though He still loves us?

Read Matthew 7:2.

32- So how "intensely" will you be judged?

33- Discuss in the study group how Christ's love and sacrifice guard us from death only if we follow His commandments, or that otherwise we could face two (or even three) witnesses against us even if Christ still loves us. Let each member of the study group bring forward an issue in life that you struggle with, that could be used against you in this situation. (Take into consideration that this lesson will extend into lesson #15, so that not all subject matter has been covered yet).

Lesson 15: The Old Covenant and the New Covenant

In the Old Testament we can read a lot about "The Covenant" with God. And then Christ came, calling himself the "New Covenant". Did the old come to pass, or is there a connection?

Let's start with reviewing the list of verses from question #1 of lesson #14 to see what those who are using these verses are missing.

Read Genesis 28:15.

1- Who is God making this promise to?

2- Is that promise extended to us anywhere?

Read Deuteronomy 31:6-8.

3- What situation does God's promise pertain to?

4- Is that promise extended to us and our situation anywhere?

Read John 1:5.

5- How are we "in the light"? Do we have any responsibility to be in and with "the light"?

Read John 6:37-39, then add John 6:40

6- What is required of us in verse 40?

Read John 10:11-18, then add John 10:7-10.

7- Who are allowed to enter and how do we do that?

Read John 10:27-29.

8- According to verse 27, what do we need to do?

9- Verse 29 mentions "no one", but is the Father Himself included in this "no one"?

Read John 17:24, then add John 17:20.

10- Those who........ (fill in the blank).

Read Romans 8:1 completely.

11- What is required of us to be in Christ?

12- Will we be free of condemnation if we walk according to the flesh?

Read Romans 8:35 and Romans 8:38-39.

13- In verse 39 it mentions "nor any created thing". Is God a "created thing"?

14- Could God therefore judge against us?

Read Philippians 1:6, then add Philippians 1:5.

15- What do we need to have with the Gospel?

Read Hebrews 13:5 completely.

16- What do we need to be with what we have?

17- Could not following that be considered we do not keep His commandments?

Read 1 Peter 1:4, then add 1 Peter 1:5.

18- Through what?

19- Do we portrait that if we do not follow His commandments?

Read John 14:15.

20- Reviewing all these verses that are being used to claim we cannot loose salvation, with the requirements and assumptions, and considering John 14:15, could it be that our love for Christ is not true due to our own shortcomings?

Read Hebrews 6:4-6, taking, into consideration how many who believe the verses we studied for lesson 14, question #1, that these verses do not discuss believers.

21- Would you consider someone who fits the description of verse 4 and 5 to not be a believer?

22- With the Strong's concordance telling us that the "partakers of the Holy Spirit" means "a sharer, an associate, a fellow, a partner", would anyone who is not a believer be able to fit the description of "partaker of the Holy Spirit"?

23- What would Hebrews 6:4-6 then mean if someone walks away from the faith?

Read Mark 14:24.

24- What does Christ's blood represent?

25- How do we keep this new covenant (this goes back to many verses studied in the last few lessons)?

26- If we do fullfil Christ's request to keep His commandments, does the New Covenant then apply to us?

Read the Old Testament (just kidding!), although the next few question do pertain to that.

27- What were the commandments we had to keep under the old covenant?

28- Did anyone succeed at that?

Read Hebrews 9:13-14 and Hebrews 9:19-22.

29- What blood was used in the old covenant to cleanse sins?

Read Hebrews 10:4.

30- Did this really work?

Read Hebrews 9:15.

31- Is it a guarantee that the new covenant applies, or does it say "may" (as "by the Grace of God")?

32- If we do not keep Christ's commandments, and the new covenant would not apply to us, which covenant would we then fall under?

33- What is easier to fulfill, the new covenant or the old covenant.

Read Exodus 32:33, Deuteronomy 29:20, Psalm 9:5, Psalm 51:11, Psalm 69:28, Revelation 3:5 and Revelation 22:19.

34- What is clearly mentioned in all these verses?

35- Is being written in the Book Of Life an absolute guarantee for everlasting life?

36- Discus in the study group how far stretched the consequences would be if one does not follow His commandments. (Hint: as we will study further on, this is more than just eternal life and/or eternal damnation).

Lesson 16: So "Who" Are We Fighting Again?

In the previous lessons we have briefly touched on warfare, but then we mostly discussed all that we have available to us to fight this war. And what we have to do I that whole process. But there is one important thing to remember in warfare: understanding your enemy.

I have been told by many people that I give Satan too much cloud. That I portrait him as an amazing warrior, with incredible strategic skill and extreme intelligence. That he knows the Scriptures better than any of us humans..... If you also thinks I am making Satan more than what he is, consider this: Who Told You he isn't....? Study any book of war, as far back in history as you can, and you will find a common thread in all battles lost. The loosing army underestimated their opponent!!

Let's start with the basics, and crawl deeper into understanding Satan the further we go.

Read Luke 9:54-56.

1- What did the disciples want to do?

2- What did Christ think about this?

3- How did He address this with the disciples?

4- What do you think "what manner of spirit" means?

Read Luke 23:34.

5- Considering that even the disciples did not understand what manner of spirit they were of, why would Christ use one of His last breaths to say "They do not know what they do"?

Read 2 Corinthians 10:3 and Ephesians 6:12.

6- Are we fighting a worldly battle or a spiritual battle.

7- How does this tie in with question #4?

Read Romans 7:23 and 2 Corinthians 10:5.

8- So where is this battle taking place.

9- Have you ever considered that the thoughts, feelings and emotions that are going through your head might not be yours?

Read James 4:1.

10- What are these thoughts all too often about, and how are they all too often expressed?

Read Isaiah 14:12-21 and Ezekiel 28:12-19.

11- What was Satan before he became a "fallen angel".

12- Just an angel?

Read Isaiah 14:14(a) and Ezekiel 28:13

13- Where was Satan before his fall, that he wanted to ascend above the height of the clouds, and was walking in Eden, the Garden of God?

Read Genesis 3:1, Job 1:6, Matthew 4:3, John 8:44, John 12:31, John 14:30, John 16:11, John 17:15, 2 Corinthians 4:4, 2 Corinthians11:14, Ephesians 2:2, Ephesians 6:11, Ephesians 6:16, 1 Peter 5:8, Revelation 9:11, Revelation 12:9-10 and Revelation 20:2.

14- List all the different "names /descriptions" for Satan.

15- What do these names represent?

Read Ephesians 2:2.

16- What mention of level of authority of Satan do we find in this verse.

Read John 12:31, John 14:30, John 16:11 and 1 John 5:19.

17- What level of influence is mentioned in these verses?

Read Matthew 12:26.

18- Does Satan just kind of go around at random, or does he have a true kingdom?

Read Matthew 25:41, Ephesians 6:12 and Revelation 12:9.

19- Is Satan alone in this? (More details on this in lesson #20 and lesson #21).

Read 2 Corinthians 4:4.

20- Who is blinding the minds?

21- Why is this not written with a capitol "G".

Read Revelation 2:9 and Revelation 3:9.

22- Whose church / synagogue is being referred to?

Read 2 Corinthians 11:15.

23- Whose ministers is being referred to?

Read 1 Timothy 4:1.

24- Whose doctrine is being giving heed to?

Read 1 Corinthians 10:20-21.

25- There appear to be two cups, and two tables. To whom does one set belong and to whom the other?

Read Galatians 1:6-9.

26- Who would the "other gospel" belong to?

Read Colossians 1:13, 2 Thessalonians 2:9, Hebrews 2:14 and 1 Peter 5:8.

27- What powers does Satan have?

Read Job 1:12 and Job 2:6.

28- Who controls how much of those powers Satan is allowed to use?

Read 2 Corinthians 11:14.

29- Who is Satan trying to mimic?

30- If we do not know God's Word to the detail, could we be confusing Satan for Christ?

Read 1 John 4:1-3.

31-What does John say we should therefore do?

32- With Satan mimicking Christ how do you discern in this matter?

33- Will this message always be clearly brought forward, with Satan being a liar and a deceiver and able to twist even God's Word into lies, so that we can discern?

34- If not, do you know the Word of God good enough to discern anyway?

Read 1 Corinthians 15:26.

35- How long will Satan be around as our enemy?

Read 1 John 4:4.

36- In spite of what we now know about Satan, do we have to worry?

37- Discuss in the study group if you underestimated Satan or that you were "right on". Also discuss if you have ever taken on a task that appeared to come from God, that might have been "sneaked in" by Satan who disguised himself as "an angel of light".

Lesson 17: Areas Of Attack

As I mentioned in the introduction of the previous lesson, one of the biggest down falls of great nations in history is underestimating the enemy. This also includes not understanding how and where the enemy will attack. Many victories have been won or lost by the enemy finding out the strategies, areas of attack or time of attack. Realize that Satan has been around for thousands of years in this war, so therefore has a huge amount of experience. He knows the Bible inside out. And he is not alone.

Read Revelation 3:14-22.

1- The church addressed here, in which era does this church exist?

2- Do you think a "lukewarm" church provide us with clear and specific insights into Satan's strategies, areas of attack and times of attack?

Read Job1:6-12.

3- What is Satan's area of attack?

Read Job 2:1-7.

4- What is the next are of attack?

Read Job 19:6-12.

5- After Job's possessions and his physical body, what is Satan going after now?

6- Which of the three areas of attack is hardest to figure out?

Read Genesis 6:5, Genesis 8:21, Deuteronomy 15:9, Deuteronomy 31:21, Psalm 64:6, Psalm 119:113, Proverbs 6:18, Proverbs 12:5, Isaiah 66:18, Jeremiah 20:12, Matthew 9:4, Matthew 16:23, Mark 5:15, Romans 7:23, Romans 8:5-7, Roams 12:2, 2 Corinthians 3:14, 2 Corinthians 11:3, Ephesians 4:23, Colossians 1:21 and James 1:8.

7- What is the common verbiage in all these verses?

Read Philippians 2:5

8- Which mind should we take in?

Read 2 Timothy 1:7

9- What did God give us besides the "power and love"?

Read Luke 12:12, John 14:16-17, John 14:26, John 15:26, John 16:7, Romans 8:15-17, Romans 8:26, 2 Timothy 1:14 and 1 John 3:24.

10- What do we need to set our mind to, and follow in all we do?

Read Galatians 5:18.

11- What are we not under if we truly follow the Holy Spirit?

12- What are we under then?

Read Galatians 5:19-21.

13- How are we diverted from following the Holy Spirit?

14- How does this make the mind (and heart) such a fierce battleground?

Read Jude 1:4.

15- What is the result if we do not have the Holy Spirit?

16- Considering the attack on the mind being emphasized so often, why does not having the Holy Spirit result in such?

Read 1 Corinthians 6:19.

17- What is our body?

18- Does this ongoing emphasis on the attack on the mind mean that we then should disgard the attack our body (and our personal property)?

19- How well should we therefore take care our body?

20- How well should we take care of our personal property?

21- What should be the first thing coming to our mind according to God, when we are confronted with misfortune with our personal property, our physical health or our emotional state of being?

22- Discuss with the group any attacks that you might have experienced. We will discuss misfortunes in personal property, physical health and emotional being in more detail in lesson # 31.

Lesson 18: Curses

So we have an enemy. But we now know some of the strategies and the areas of attack. Now that we can recognize the area of attack, we need to look at the next step. How far has the enemy progressed in the attack. Are they just scratching the surface, or have they broken through the barriers.

Read James 1:15.

1- What is the first step that takes place in the attack which we can read about in this verse?

2- What is the second step that takes place in the attack which we can read about in this verse?

3- What is the third step that takes place in the attack which we can read about in this verse?

4- What is the last and final step that takes place in the attack which we can read about in this verse?

Read Genesis 3:11-13

5- What sin was committed?

Read Genesis 3:14-19

6- What is the consequence of this dis-obedience?

7- Taking question #4 into consideration, how is verse 19(b) confirmed by James?

Read Revelation 22:3(a).

8- What shall be no more?

9- But didn't that already end with Christ? (hint: we studied this in the previous lessons).

Read Luke 22:20

10- Those sins that lead to death (James 1:15) find remission in?

Read Galatians 3:15.

11- What needs to take place before "no one annules or adds to it"?

12- Since Christ already rose again on the third day so He confirmed it, what and who needs to then still confirm?

13- If it is not confirmed, are we then covered by the "New Covenant"?

14- If not under the "New Covenant", which "Covenant" are we then under by default since God controls al the earth?

Read Genesis 17:1-21, Exodus 2:24-25, Exodus 19:5-6, Joshua 8:30-35.

15- So what was the "Old Covenant"?

16- What is harder to follow, the "Old Covenant" or the "New Covenant"?

17- Is it possible to honor all of the "Old Covenant" and still falter towards the "New Covenant"?

Read Matthew 7:21

18- What does Christ tell us we need to follow if we want to enter into Heaven?

19- What is the Father's will?

20- What is the additional requirement, next to following the Father's will, to fall under the "New Covenant"?

Read Deuteronomy 28:1-14.

21- For those honoring the "Old Covenant" and by believing in Christ also honoring the "New Covenant", what can they expect?

Read Deuteronomy 28:15-68.

22- What can be expected if we falter in the "New Covenant", which by default makes us falter in the "Old Covenant" since we are all sinners?

23- Do any of these verses list anything that we see plenty of in today's world, including among Christians?

Read Galatians 3:13.

24- What did Christ become for us?

25- If we deny to have a curse (even if we do have one), can Christ truly become the curse for us?

26- If we deny to have a curse (even if we do have one), based on a sin issue that we also deny, can we repent and overcome, and can we be truly forgiven through Christ's sacrifice?

27- Taking most of the previous question of this lesson into consideration: If remission of sin through the Blood of Christ is the "New Covenant", how can these curses then be so vividly present even among Christians?

28- What would be needed to cover this problem?

29- Discuss within the study group what you see in the world (around you, close to you, within yourself) that could be an indication that you or people around you are under a curse? (Consider to look at the three areas of attack, which are all presented in Deuteronomy 28:15-68).

Lesson 19: Generational Curses

This lesson will cover a subject that many find hard to understand. We now know that curses we suffer come from sins that we have committed. But many wonder how that curse can become an issue for those who did not commit those sins but are in the same family lineage.

Read Exodus 20:5.

1- What is passed on?

2- What do these iniquities result in?

Read Ezekiel 18:20.

3- What could one believe when reading this verse? (Many use this verse to claim what we are discussing in this lesson is not true).

Read Ezekiel 18:4-19.

4- What conditions apply to not have the curses be passed on?

Read 1 Kings 11:9-13 and 1 Kings 13:33-34.

5- So father, so...... (fill in the blank).

Read 1 Kings 22:52 and 2 Kings 15:9.

6- He did evil in the sight of the Lord, just as who?

7- How often do we see that, that the disobedience towards God is also passed on?

8- How great do you consider the chance that one living under a curse from previous generations will not obey the Lord?

9- What will this result in?

Read Matthew 18:1-6.

10- What does Christ think about this passing on of sins?

Read John 9:1-3.

11- Do Christ's disciples understand the generational curses?

12- Is it always a generational sin or personal sin issue when someone suffers? (more on this in lesson #31).

Read Matthew 15:22-28, Mark 7: 25-29, Mark 9:17-24, Luke 7:12-15, Luke 8:41-42, Luke 8:49-54, Luke 9:38-42 and John 4:49-51.

13- Who is asking for the "cure" of the children?

Read Ephesians 6:1.

14- What is one of the possible antidotes?

Read Leviticus 26:40.

15- Next to confessing our own sins, and ask for forgiveness, whose sins should we also confess?

16- Considering generational curses, why is this important?

Read Matthew 18:22.

17- In light of that, how important does forgiveness of parents become?

18- Discuss in the study group how some "things" seem to get passed on through families (where science is trying to find how that is genetically possible). Eg: Think about crime families, addiction families, depression families, cancers and other diseases being passed along, poverty being passed on, certain "character traits", sometimes even being a victim seems to be passed on etc. etc. Keep a simple phrase in mind in this process: "You are just like your.....".

Lesson 20: Who Brings Us These Curses And In What Form Do They Come To Us?

Have ever considered that God has the power to end it all yesterday. He is almighty. So why is He not ending it? Why is He letting people suffer under these curses. How do these curses actually come to us. Why does He allow Satan to continue his war against Him by tempting, tormenting and even slaughtering us? Is God cruel, or does He have a reason for letting all this happen?

Once I heard someone mention that "life is not a resting place, but a testing place". I often use that phrase to explain this part of the warfare. I consider God is not ending it because we have not finished the test yet.

I consider that after reading Deuteronomy 28:15-68 in lesson #18, it is clear who the curses come from. But how do these curses come to us?

Read Matthew 18:34-35.

1- Who delivered the sinner to the torturers in this parable?

2- Who would deliver us to the torturers if we committed sin?

3- Who are the torturers in that case?

Read Isaiah 34:2, Jeremiah 24:9 and Jeremiah 29:18.

4- Who is delivering them into trouble and slaughter?

Read Deuteronomy 32:24-25.

5- What shall there be "within"?

6- What could this "terror within" be?

Read Job 1:12, Job 2:6 and Luke 22:31.

7- Who delivers Job and Peter to Satan?

8- Why did God provide Satan with this type of access to Job and Peter?

9- Taking question #1, #2 and #3 into consideration, on what basis would Satan gain access?

Read Matthew 4:24, Matthew 8:16, Matthew 8:28, Matthew 9:32, Matthew 12:22, Mark 1:23, Mark 5:2, Mark 7:25, Mark 9:17, Mark 16:9, Luke 8:30, Acts 8:7, Acts 10:38, Acts 16:16 and Acts 19:12.

10- What "terror" was living "within" the individuals described in these verses?

11- What are other description of demons?

Read Judges 9:23, 1 Samuel 16:14, 1 Kings 22:21-23, 2 Chronicles 18:20-22, Isaiah 19:14.

12- Who is putting a sinful or evil spirit into these individuals?

Read 1 Corinthians 10:21.

13- In spite of who delivers us from evil, who is doing the partaking?

Read Deuteronomy 11:28, Deuteronomy 28:14, 2 Chronicles 11:15, Psalm 106:37, 1 Corinthians 10:20 and 1 Timothy 4:1.

14- If we do not choose God and Christ's cup and table, who do we by default choose even if we do not realize we are choosing?

15- Would it be unreasonable for God to deliver us to His enemy if we (even if it is unknowingly) choose His enemy?

Read Luke 22:3 and John 13:2.

16- This is a food for thought question that could result in a study by itself: With God's plan for Christ to be tortured and crucified for our sins, already described by the Old Testament prophets, is Satan suddenly helping out God by arranging for Judas to deliver Christ into the hands of those who will fullfil God's plan? (No answer needed, no answer in the "cheat sheet", because this will indeed become a whole separate book......).

17- Discuss in the study group how many Christians and churches do not address Satan, the demons, unclean spirits, evil spirits in their teachings. While they all clearly play a vital role in God's whole plan. Consider what would be left of the Bible if we would take all that out, as some are attempting to do.

Lesson 21: But Satan Isn't Omnipresent, So How Can Satan Be At So Many Places At Once?

We already touch on this a little in the previous lesson, but I feel we need to get a better picture of the size and scope of Satan and his army.

Read Isaiah 14:12-21 and Ezekiel 28:11-19.

1- Who is being discussed here?

Read Luke 10:18 and Revelation 9:1.

2- Where did Satan fall to?

3- In Revelation 9:1, how is Satan addressed?

Read 2 Peter 2:4, Jude 1:6 and Revelation 12:4-9.

4- Who were cast out with Satan?

Read Revelation 8:12.

5- What would the stars represent?

6- As we can read in Revelation 12:4 as well, how many fell with Satan?

Read Revelation 5:11.

7- What were the numbers of the totals of them?

8- How much is that when doing the multiplication?

9- How many is one-third of that?

Read 1 John 2:18-19 and 1 John 4:1-6

10- Does John speak about just Satan, or does he speak about multiple spirits?

Read James 2:19.

11- How does James refer to these spirits?

Read Exodus 6:9, Numbers 5:14, Numbers 5:30, 1 Samuel 16:14-15, 1 Samuel 18:10, 1Kings 10:5, 1 Kings 22:21-23, 1 Chronicles 21:1, 2 Chronicles 9:4, Job 4:15, Proverbs 16:18, Daniel 2:1-3, Daniel 5:20, Hosea 4:12, Hosea 5:4, Micah 2:11 and Zechariah 13:2.

12- Is this just Satan at work, or does this imply multiple and different types of spirits?

13- Being that Satan has thirty-three million demons in his army, could we openly state that there are multiple?

Read 1 Chronicles 10:13 and Isaiah 8:19.

14- What was God's "opinion" on fellowship with these spirits?

Jump back to question #10 in lesson #20, then read Colossians 2:15.

15- Who triumphed over them?

16- Are these spirits suddenly gone out of all of us because Christ died and rose again?

17- Why not?

Read Matthew 9:22, Matthew 9:29, Matthew 15:28, Mark 2:5, Mark 5:34, Mark 5:36, Mark 10:52, Luke 7:50, Luke 8:48, Luke 17:19 and Luke 18:42.

18- What is needed before delivery from these evil spirits can take place?

Read 1 Corinthians 10:20.

19- Did God's "opinion" change regarding fellowship with these spirits after Christ died for our sins?

20- So if we let them "dwell within" us, how can we not have fellowship with them if we are the house they live in?

Read Job 1:7 and Job 2:2.

21- What did Satan say he was doing?

22- Is this "traveling" portrait as a major journey or a leisurely stroll?

23- What indication could this be regarding the speed with which spirits can move?

24- With the numbers of demons as we calculated in question #9, how many humans could this army affect in a 24 hour period?

Read Mark 5:1-16.

25- By Roman standards, how many soldiers were there in a legion?

26- Looking at the overwhelming numbers of demons, is it any wonder this man acted the way he acted?

27- Discuss in the study group if it would be wise to leave the equation of a huge spiritual army out. How much more influence could that army have if we deny its existence? Consider the effects this army could have on humanity since we do not know how fast they can move around, and what timespan they need to influence an individual.

Lesson 22: But I Have The Holy Spirit Within! I Cannot Be Tormented Like That.

I have heard many people say this: "But I have the Holy Spirit within, so how could I be bothered by an evil spirit?". Good question, and it needs to be looked at from two directions. So first of all I would like to start out with asking a question that will hurt many, but has to be asked: "So you have the Holy Spirit within..... How do you know?". Now I am not Christ. I cannot look inside of you, and see whether you have the Holy Spirit within or not. We already learned in another lesson that you might prophesy, perform miracles, heal people, cast out demons, and Christ will tell you He doesn't know you. Could you do all these things and actually not be blessed with the Holy Spirit? Or did you have the Holy Spirit but you departed from the faith? Now this lesson will not touch on whether you are indeed blessed with the baptism of the Holy Spirit or not. But even if you are indeed baptized with the Holy Spirit, which we will touch on in this lesson, are you then immune to the influence of evil spirits, devils, demons?

The second portion of this lesson we will take a look at the kind of torment these evil spirits bring. We will also take a look at whether this is all that they do, or that there is more.

Read Mark 7:15.

1- From where does that come that defiles the man?

2- Do Christians who claim to have the Holy Spirit and no evil within, to then never defile anymore?

Read Romans 7:14-20.

3- Was the apostel Paul blessed with the Holy Spirit?

4- What does Paul say he does do?

5- What is making him do that?

Read 2 samuel 23:6.

6- What are the "sons of the rebellion" called here?

Read 2 Corinthians 12:6-9.

7- What does Paul says he has "in the flesh"?

8- Referring back to 2 Samuel 23:6, what does Paul have "in the flesh"?

9- What more specific name does Paul give this "thorn"?

10- What did Paul ask of the Lord?

11- Can something that does not "dwell within" actually "depart"?

12- Why does Paul have this "messenger of Satan" attached to him?

13- If Paul has a messenger of Satan attached to him because he might possibly exalt himself, how much more likely can we have one or more of these messengers attached to us if we actually sin as we all do in our carnal nature?

Read 2 Corinthians11:14-15.

14- How easy will it be to recognize that an evil spirit might be dwelling within?

15- Could this indicate that certain positive things that happen to us, that we consider to be blessings, could actually be evil trying to persuade us to falter in our faith?

Mark 5:2-5.

16- Does the influence of evil spirits always come disguised as coming from the light?

Read Matthew 4:24, Matthew 9:32, Matthew 10:8, Matthew 12:22, Matthew 17:14-19, Mark 9:17-18, Luke 4:33-35, Luke 8:26-29, Luke 22:3-6, Acts 5:3, Acts 16:16, Acts 19:12 and Ephesians 6:12.

17- Reflect back on many different spirits we have already studied verses about, and then add these: What forms of torment do we see here? (make a small list).

Think back on all the verses you just read. Some forms of torment did not seem that clear, or described a pretty extensive and all encompassing picture.

18- Do you think all possible forms of torment are shown in the Bible, or could there be many more, especially considering the size of Satan's army and their warfare experience?

Read Acts 10:38.

19- What were all those healed oppressed by?

20- Do you think that is only Satan himself, or does this include his army of demons?

Read Exodus 15:26, Psalm 30:2, Psalm 103:3, Jeremiah 17:14, Jeremiah 30:17, Hosea 6:1 and James 5:15.

21- What should happen to our diseases?

22- What should happen to our hardship?

23- If we have any form of disease or hardship in our life, should we then suffer like that if we live according to God's will? (more on this in lesson #31)

24- Discuss in the study group, by looking at the world around us (including Christianity), what suffering do we see that could be from evil dwelling within. Discuss and consider that a certain amount of this suffering could be based on unrighteousness. Consider how this ties in with Christ's ongoing request to follow His commandments.

Lesson 23: The "Cure": Understanding "The Lord's Prayer"

So we can read the whole Bible, and study it intently. And we should! But there is so much to it, that it feels like an impossible task. But is it? We will look at that. Then let's look at the Master who could teach us, Christ Himself. He was not a man of many words. He was not repetitive in His teachings, and He gave us some very detailed instructions. And for our direct connection with God, He gave us a very condense prayer.

We learned the basics of the spiritual warfare, we learned what Christ is asking of us, we learned the importance of putting on the armor of God, we learned about the strategies of the enemy, we learned the basics of looking inside ourselves to determine how far the enemy has progressed. Now we need to learn how to take all that and address it with God. Looking at all that we learned and will still learn, you will find out the incredible impact of this condense prayer.

Read Matthew 6:9-13.

1- Sound familiar, right. But do you really understand why Jesus taught us to pray this prayer?

Read Matthew 6:5-7.

2- What does Christ teach us about repetitions in prayer?

3- What does this repetition warning tell us about the importance of every word in the Lord's Prayer?

4- What does Christ teach us about using "fancy" words?

5- What does Christ teach us about the location we should be praying?

6- What does Christ teach us about your reason for prayer in regards to other people?

Read Mark 6:46 and Luke 5:16

7- Where did Christ go to pray?

Read Mark 1:35-36 and Luke 6:12.

8- How long would He stay away for prayer?

Read John 16:26-27.

9- Who does Christ say we should pray to and why?

Read 1 Thessalonians 5:17.

10- Is praying at dinner time enough?

Read Hebrews 4:16 and 1 Timothy 2:8.

11- Does this describe kneeling, bowing our heads and mumbling / speaking in our mind only?

12- The Bible does express that every knee will bow to the King of Kings, but is there any verse that tells us to kneel, bow our head and mumble during prayer?

Read Mark 11:24 and 1 John 5:14-15.

13- What can we be assured of if our prayer is according to His will?

Read 2 Peter 3:9.

14- And with that assurance of question #13, will the outcome be good, or better than we can imagine?

Read 1 Corinthians 14:15.

15- Think back to lesson #4 and #5. Are we to pray according to the letter of the law or according to the Spirit?

16- Even though we pray according to the Spirit, do we still need to understand the letter of the law?

17- If we then pray to God to be delivered because we do not want the torment, will we be delivered?

18- How should we then pray?

19- Discuss in the study group how we are taught to pray, how we mostly pray, and how we see other people pray. Does this line up with the above verses and questions / answers? What could be the reason that so many people pray in a manner that is contradicting what the Bible teaches us?

Lesson 24: Our Father In Heaven, Hallowed Be Your Name

Read Matthew 5:45.

1- If we do not find love, compassion, grace and blessings from our earthly father or mother, who can we always turn to?

Read Exodus 20:2-3.

2- What important message do we find in these verses?

3- With the many verses throughout the Bible on idolatry, why is it so important to not "idolize" anyone or anything?

Read Genesis 35:11 and 2 Chronicles 20:6.

4- Is there anyone greater than He?

5- Many people consider Satan to be God's enemy in the same realm as God. Is this correct?

6- At what level of influence should we figure Satan to be, taking Satan origin into consideration?

Read Revelation 11:17.

7- Is there any time that God is not God?

Read Matthew 6:9.

8- In a world where congregations are worshipping the virgin Mary, praying to Christ, even asking the apostels or the Pope for help, healing and blessings, do we already follow this first line of the Lord's Prayer?

Read John 14:14-17 and John 16:23.

9- What does Christ say about praying to Him and asking Him for what we need?

10- Who should we ask in who's name?

Read John 4:23.

11- Who are we told to worship?

Read Numbers 20:12.

12- What consequences do we face when not hallowing His Name?

Read Ezekiel 36:23.

13- How many shall know that He should be hallowed.

14- How many people do you consider will face the consequences for not hallowing His Name?

Read Exodus 20:7 and Leviticus 22:32.

15- Next to hallowing His Name, what warning is extended in these verses?

Read Matthew 6:33

16- Who and what does Christ say we need to seek?

17- Discuss in the study group what very important concept from the Bible is violated all too often in too many churches when it somes to praying to the Father and hallowing His name? What do most people pray to? How does this tie in with the constantly returning warnings on idolatry we can find everywhere in the Bible?

Lesson 25: Your Kingdom Come, Your Will Be Done

Read Revelation 21:2 and Revelation 21:10.

1- What amazing city is awaiting those who are truly in Christ?

Read John 14:2.

2- Will there be room for those who have Christ in their heart?

Read Matthew 24:36 and Mark 15:32.

3- Who knows when this is going to happen?

4- Does even Christ know when this is going to happen?

Read Isaiah 13:6, Matthew 4:17, Luke 10:9, Revelation 22:7 and Revelation 22:12.

5- What time span is indicated in these verses?

6- Why are so many things in the Bible clearly timed, and this not?

Read 2 Kings 19:15, 1 Chronicles 29:11, Psalm 22:28, Psalm 45:6, Psalm 103:19, Psalm 145:13, Isaiah 37:16 and Daniel 4:3.

7- Who rules all?

Read Mark 14:24-25.

8- What do we have available to us until the New Kingdom of God?

Read Exodus 20:1-17.

9- What does God use to show us what His will is?

Read Matthew 7:21.

10- Is Christ just talking about believing in Him, or is He referring back to the will of the Father?

11- As we addressed several times already in this study, how does this address the matter of continuing sin while claiming to believe?

Read Mark 3:35

12- How does Christ address earthly mother and brothers compared to believers?

13- What should us tell this about the importance of following God's will compared to the earthly relationships that we have?

Read Matthew 6:24.

14- How do we serve any of the two masters?

15- Are we doing the will of the Father if we do these things that serve Satan?

16- Taking question #10 and #11 in consideration, will we then enter into Heaven?

Read Revelation 9:6.

17- To what extend can mankind even be confronted with God's will?

18- How does this show God's power over Satan and the will of mankind?

Read Luke 1:37.

19- How does Christ confront us with our limited will and abilities compared to God's will and abilities?

Read Mark 14:36.
20- What simple, yet so hard to follow, phrase does Christ use when it comes to following the will of the Father?

21- How often do you say this to yourself?

Read Jeremiah 29:11.

22- What is the will of the Father for us here on earth? (More on this in lesson #31).

23- Discuss in the study group how the coming of God's kingdom and all that will happen to earth and mankind is a clear expression of God's will, and how ultimately God's will will happen whether we followed Him or followed Satan?

Lesson 26: On Earth As It Is In Heaven

Read Ezekiel 28:13 and Isaiah 14:14.

1- Being in Eden, and wanting to ascend above the height of the clouds, where was Lucifer before his fall?

Read Revelation 12:7-9.

2- Where were Satan and his angles cast from?

Read Job 37:6, Job 37:10, Job 38:12-13, Job 38:22-23 and Job 38:29-30.

3- What icy battle is God revealing to Job in these verses that did bring Satan and all other angels to Heaven?

Read Isaiah 14:16-20.

4- How does Isaiah put the responsibility of this battle with Satan?

Read Ezekiel 28:18 and Luke 10:18.

5- How did Satan end up on earth in ashes?

Read Revelation 12:8.

6- Have the spirits from this battle been judged already?

Read Revelation 12:4(a).

7- How many were condemned?

Revelation 12:9.

8- What happened to the condemned?

9- Did the creation of Lucifer and the angels, ending with the icy battle on earth that shook out the wicked, then the battle in heaven with Satan and his angles being cast back to earth all happen according to God's will?

Read Genesis 6:7, Matthew 24:36-39 and 2 Peter 3:6.

10- What was God's will for earth and mankind in the time of Noah?

Read Job 37:6, Job 37:11-13, Job 38:12-13 and Job 38:34.

11- What watery battle is God revealing to Job in these verses that did that bring all sinners to Heaven?

Read 1 Peter 4:6.

12- Have these dead been judged already?

13- What did Christ still do for these spirits?

Read Matthew 3:11, Matthew 13:42, Mark 9:43(b)-44, Luke 12:49, 1 Corinthians 3:13-15 and Hebrews 12:29.

14- After ice and water, what is the next means by which God's will be done on earth?

Read revelation 8:5-10, Revelation 9:17-18, Revelation 16:8-9, Revelation 18:8, Revelation 20:10, Revelation 20:14-15 and Revelation 21:8.

15- Do these verses confirm the answer to question #14?

16- Discuss in the study group how the will of God has been sweeping earth already twice in a major way, and many times over in smaller ways. And it will happen again in a major way, cleansing mankind with fire. God promised Noah after the great flood that He never would destroy it all again like he had during the flood. Discus how the cleansing with fire will be different.

Lesson 27: Give Us This Day Our Daily Bread

As at least one Bible version translated this: "Give us this day breakfast, lunch and dinner"....... They clearly did not get the point. So what are we asking for?

Read Matthew 4:4.

1- What can we not live by alone, as Christ told Satan?

2- So are we asking for regular bread, regular food, for every day?

Read John 6:31-51.

3- What did God supply in the desert?

4- What was the result of the manna, the bread?

5- What, or better said "Who" is the true bread of life?

6- What will happen if we eat of that "bread"?

Read Matthew 26:26, Mark 14:22 and Luke 22:19.

7- What does Christ refer to when breaking the bread?

8- How is Christ's body bringing us life?

9- So if we ask for "daily bread", what are we asking for?

Read 1 Corinthians 11:20-34.

10- How intently towards other as well as to ourselves and towards God do we need to be when taking this bread to us?

11- How easy is it to abuse the eating of the bread?

12- What do we need to do to take this bread as intended?

13- Discuss in the study group how Bible translations that twist the "daily bread" in to "breakfast, lunch and dinner every day" completely ignore the true sacrifice Christ made by having His body "broken". Consider in that matter that taking the bread of life in unworthy matter (1 Corinthians 11:27-31) has incredible consequences.

Lesson 28: Forgive Us Our Sins, As We Forgive Those Who Sinned Against Us

Read Exodus 34:6-7 and Numbers 14:18.

1- What can we know for sure about God and His forgiveness?

Read Psalm 103:3

2- To what extend does He forgive?

3- What else does He do for us besides forgive?

4- Since forgiveness and healing are mentioned in one sentence, could there be a link between disease and being laden with sin?

Read Psalm 86:5.

5- What does God ask of us in the first place in order for Him to forgive you?

Read 2 Chronicles 7:14

6- Does God ever require any more actions on our part before He forgives?

Read Matthew 6:14-15 and Mark 11:25-26.

7- What do these verses state we need to do in order to be forgiven?

Read Matthew 18:34-35.

8- What does Christ teach us that God will do if we do not forgive?

9- If we read the whole parable: Was this man forgiven already?

10- Would this indicate that even if our sins are forgiven that if we do not change our ways, that God can still account our forgiven sins to us after all?

Read Matthew 5:44, Luke 6:27-38, Romans 12:14 and 1 John 2:9-11.

11- Who do we even need to forgive?

12- Considering the spiritual warfare, why is it so important to forgiven even our enemies?

Read Matthew 18:21-22 and Luke 17:3-4.

13- How often do we need to forgive?

14- Discuss in the study group how important it is to forgive. Take into consideration how hard it is to forgive those who do terrible things against you. Consider that those enemies are just people who are "under the influence" and will receive their judgement according to God's will. Should we now feel "hate" against them, or feel "sorry" for them? Have every person in the group share where they have used their mouth to forgive, but nor their heart, if they have such an experience. Based on the fact that that "enemy" needs to be forgiven "for they do not know what they do", and that we should feel pity for them, consider going through forgiving again. Also consider that not a single word in the Lord's Prayer is unnecessary, and that we should remember that every word is important and ties into all the other words.

Lesson 29: Do Not Lead Us Into Temptation, But Deliver Us From Evil

Read Genesis 3:4, Genesis 6:5, Genesis 11:3-4, 1 Chronicles 21:1 and Matthew 4:1-11.

1- What is the common theme in these verses?

2- Who is behind it all?

Read 1 Peter 5:8 and 2 Corinthians 11:14.

3- How does that tempter (including his demons) show up?

4- So does temptation always come across as evil?

Read James 1:13.

5- Does God tempt us?

6- Will He ever lead us into temptation?

Read 2 Corinthians 10:5.

7- If God does not tempt, but Satan can tempt us as an angel of light with things that appear to be good, how do we discern?

Matthew 26:41 and James 4:7.

8- What does Christ ask us to do to prevent temptation from taking over?

9- How do you think we stand stronger against Satan: In resisting or in prayer? (Hint: When is God our ally?).

10- What does James therefore tell us to do?

Read 1 Corinthians 10:13.

11- How much temptation will God allow?

12- Does this indicate God has a "leash" on Satan to limit him?

Read 2 Corinthians 2:11

13- What is however our responsibility, or better spoken, the consequence of our lack of responsibility?

14- If we then ask God to "not lead us into temptation" what are we asking for?

Read Matthew 4:1.

15- Who was lead into temptation by God?

16- Why would God not allow that to happen to us?

Read James 1:14-15.

17- What could "being led into temptation" because of our ignorance eventually lead to?

18- What gains control over us if we follow this path?

19- How does this tie into the deliverance part of the Lord's Prayer?

Read Exodus 14:30, 2 Samuel 22:1-19, Psalm 18:1-19, Psalm 34:4, Psalm 56:13, Psalm 59:2, Psalm 91:3, Romans 8:21, Galatians 1:4, 2 Timothy 4:18 and Hebrews 2:15.

20- What are we being delivered from?

Read John 3:16.

21- We all know this one. But what can Christ sacrifice do if we are truly in Him?

Read Hebrew 10:26 and James 4:17.

22- What warning should we take heed of regarding the use of this sacrifice?

Read Luke 9:1, Luke 10:19 and Colossians 2:15.

23- What specific evil is addressed here?

24- How does this evil relate to the temptations at the beginning of this lesson?

25- Discuss in the study group why we ask to not be lead into temptation when God already doesn't allow us to be tempted more than we can handle. Consider how that shows who the weak link is in this process, our ignorance and lack of responsibility. Discuss the process from temptation to death as James describes and how we have a responsibility whether this process is fulfilled or not. Also discuss how with Christ's sacrifice this process can be reversed, but should not be misused or abused.

Lesson 30: For Yours Is The Kingdom, The Power, And The Glory, Forever, Amen

Read 1 Chronicles 29:11, 2 Chronicles 20:6, 1 Corinthians 15:24-26 and Revelation 21:22-26.

1- Even though Christ is King of Kings, who shall the kingdom eventually belong to?

Read 1 Chronicles 29:11 (again), 2 Chronicles 20:6 (again), Matthew 19:26, John 6:44 and Revelation 4:11.

2- Even though Christ is King of Kings, who holds all the power?

Read Exodus 33:18-20, 1 Chronicles 29:11 (again), Psalm 24:10, Romans 3:23, Revelation 4:11 and Revelation 21:23.

3- Even though Christ is King of Kings, who is and holds the Glory?

4- What would happen to man if he would get to see God in His Glory?

Read 1 Corinthians 15:24 (again).

5- Who delivers the Kingdom to who?

Read Psalm 145:13, Daniel 4:3 and Hebrews 1:8.

6- Even though Christ is the King of kings, Whose Kingdom will therefore be everlasting?

Read Revelation 22:21(b)

7- What does the word "Amen" actually mean, and what do we imply when we say "Amen"?

8- Since this is the last lesson regarding the Lord's Prayer, discuss in the study group how Christ taught us in this prayer to address God the Father. Points for discussion: Why did Christ ask us to address the Father, and not Himself? How well have you used every valuable word and meaning of this prayer in your past prayers? Understanding the spiritual warfare, would you pray differently now? Would Christ want you to use the Lord's Prayer in a repetitive manner or pray with this knowledge but using your own words, experiences, emotions, problems, torments, etc?

Lesson 31: Righteousness Versus Self-Righteousness

This will be the most confrontative, and for many most irritating lesson of all. But it is such an important matter. A matter that is grossly overlooked, twisted and manipulated within Christianity. And the problem is that the overlooking, twisting and manipulating plays exactly in Satan's court. So when you feel offended, confronted or irritated when going through this lesson, consider who might be trying to keep you from realizing the truth of the matter. This lesson has been referred to in several previous lessons. Once you go through this I guess you will understand why this is such an important subject.

There will be a few questions in this lesson that do not require searching Bible verses, but Google can help.

1- How many Christians are there in the world today?

2- How many Christians have died since Christ's resurrection? (Just a wild guess will be sufficient).

3- How many more people will become new Christians until the end times? (Just a wild guess will be sufficient).

4- How many spirits proclaiming to believe in Christ would that total?

Read Daniel 7:10.

5- How many minister to Him?

6- How many stand before Him?

7- How many is that in total?

Read Deuteronomy 33:2, 1 Kings 22:19, Psalm 68:17 and Revelation 5:11.

8- Do these verses confirm or refute Daniel's numbers?

9- Compare the total number of (self-proclaimed) Christians with the number mentioned in Daniel 7:10. What is the difference?

10- Why do you think there is such a big discrepancy?

Read Job 1:1, Matthew 4:1 and Luke 22:31.

11- What do the individuals in these verses have in common?

12- Are there any other individuals in the Bible who are tempted or tormented as a test of their righteousness?

Read John 9:3 and John 11:4.

13- What do the individuals in these verses have in common?

14- Are there any other individuals in the Bible who are suffering as to glorify God?

15- How many other individuals in the Bible suffer due to their sinful behaviors, receiving the wrath of God and/or giving Satan and his demons the right to torment them (God delivered them to the torturers)? (Just a wild guess will be sufficient).

16- How do the numbers of the ones tested for righteousness and suffering for God's stack up against the numbers of those suffering due to sin issues? (A wild guess of percentages will be sufficient).

Now go out and ask the average Christian why they are living a life in which they suffer in their prosperity, their health, their relationships or any other area of life.

17- What is the most uncommon answer you would find?

18- What percentage of Christians would give this answer?

19- What are the two most commonly heard answers?

20- If they respond with "that is just life", are they aware or ignorant of the spiritual warfare and God's mercy, grace and power? (This is a large number of Christians, but not nearly the largest group).

21- Would this group be true believers in every word of the Bible?

22- If their response is "I am suffering for Christ", they fall under the even larger group of Christians. Which of the two most likely options (being tested for righteousness or to glorify God) do they claim?

23- What percentage of Christians would claim to fall in the categories "That's just life" and "I am suffering for Christ" (either being tested for righteousness or to glorify God)?

24- What do both options in "I am suffering for Christ" have in common, as well as the "That's just life" category?

25- How do the percentage of question #18 and #23 stack up against each other?

Read Job 32:1, Proverbs 14:2, Proverbs 20:6, Proverbs 21:2, Proverbs 30:12, Isaiah 64:6, Ezekiel 13:3, Matthew 19:20-22, Matthew 23:28, Luke 16:15, Romans 2:8-10, Romans 10:3 and Revelation 3:17.

26- What is the common theme in these verses?

27- Comparing the percentages of answer #16 and #25, what do we see that confirms the answer to question #9?

Read 1 Corinthians 11:31 and 2 Corinthians 13:5.

28- Looking at the numbers above, are we as Christians doing what these verses tell us to do?

Read Jeremiah 29:11.

29- Would it make sense that so many Christians claim to "suffer for Christ"?

30- Discuss in the study group how the numbers we came up with in this lesson are showing us a dangerous trend in Christianity. How is this trend directly in line with Satan's "game" in this spiritual warfare? How is this exactly in line with Christ's statement that we are in the era of the "lukewarm" church? And then for the toughest question: Which group do you fall under?

Lesson 32: Safety And Danger In Deliverance

Read Matthew 19:26.

1- How much is possible with God?

Read Matthew 13:58 and Mark 6:5-6.

2- If everything is possible with God, was Christ truly unable to do mighty wonders there?

3- What was the reason for not doing mighty wonders?

Read Luke 11:24-26.

4- If performing a mighty wonder on a "house" (person) that remains empty afterwards due to unbelief, what will the future bring for that person? (danger #1).

5- What could be the reason Christ did not do "mighty wonders"?

Read Acts 19:13-16.

6- Does the danger of casting demons out of someone who is not a true believer only exist for the person being delivered?

7- What could happen if the deliverance minister is not truly "in the faith"? (danger #2).

8- How can we know if someone that needs deliverance is a true believer?

Read Matthew 7:22.

9- How can we know that the deliverance minister is a true believer?

Read Matthew 9:4, Matthew 12:25, Matthew 14:31, Mark 2:8, Luke 9:47, Luke 16:15 and Luke 24:38.

10- What is Jesus doing in all these verses that we in our human mind are not able to do?

11- How can we do these things anyway?

12- Are we truly able to discern whether we are listening to the Holy Spirit or "another" spirit? (danger #3).

Read Matthew 15:8-9.

13- Taking lesson #4 and #5 onto consideration regarding "the letter of the law" or "the spirit of the law", if we then ask to be delivered from the consequence (the curse), are we then asking according to the "letter" or according to the "spirit"? Or other said, are we drawing to Him with our heart or according to the doctrines of men?

14- How could this result in not seeing prayer answered when it comes to deliverance?

15- How can this lead to not believing in the "dwelling inside" of demons and that we would even need deliverance? (danger #4)

16- What are the four dangers of deliverance practices that we can find so far in this lesson?

17- Taking these dangers into consideration, how can we best address the issue of deliverance?

18- Discuss in the study group how most deliverance ministries practice deliverance. Consider the dangers we mentioned in this lesson. Consider that the deliverance should not be based on the minister but on the faith of the believer. Consider that deliverance it is not based on any "power" of the minister. Discuss whether it is needed to go through a deliverance ministry to be delivered from evil. If you would need a minister to be delivered do you then understand the spiritual warfare enough to withstand it when evil returns in a season?

Lesson 33: Whiter Than Snow........

Read Psalm 51:2 and Psalm 51:7.

1- What are we asking God for in these verses?

Read Psalm 51:6 and Psalm 51:10.

2- Do we talk about washing the outside or the "inside" of our body here?

3- How specific can you point out the "inside" that we ask to have cleansed?

Read Mark 7:23.

4- Why is cleansing the "inside" so important.

Read Matthew 23:25-28.

5- How did the Pharisees, and still most people today, mistake this cleaning process?

Read Ezekiel 24:13.

6- What is God's response to our request towards Him to cleane us?

Read Isaiah 1:16 an 2 Corinthians 7:1.

7- What should our task be based on God's response?

Read Romans 6:19, 1 Corinthians 5:7 and James 1:21-24.

8- What other verbiage is used to make a similar statement?

Read Proverbs 20:30.

9- Will the cleaning always be a pleasant process?

10- How can this "scare away" people in the cleaning process if they do not understand this?

Read John 13:3-16.

11- With the street conditions in those times, how pleasant would it be to have to wash someone's feet?

12- In spite of the dirt on the feet of men back then, Christ is very clear that the real cleaning takes place where?

13- After washing all their feet, what task did He bestow upon all of them?

14- What relevance does this have to to upcoming weeks of this study?

15- For this lesson, if at all possible, bring towels, a few washing bowls and wear easy shoes. In light of the upcoming lessons where we will touch on very personal and possibly very difficult issues, you need to show that you are there to pull each other through. You are going to do some serious feet washing! And since it is serious do not combine this lesson with another lesson. The task at hand will require time for open discussion.

You will not all wash all of each others feet, since then none of you will have any callus left by the end of the evening..... But every person in the group will one by one pick one person to go and wash that person's feet. It could be that someone gets his feet washed a few times, and others none, but every person will wash someone's feet. I would recommend to pick the person you feel to struggle the most with in trusting that person. During washing the feet I recommend an open discussion between the washer and the person being washed about these feelings of "difficulty to trust". This could be based on "status", "attitude", "posture", "use of voice", or anything else. These things should be open on the table and be worked out before proceeding to the "personal studies". Realize that this could already create some friction. Keep in mind that that is what Satan would like to see happen. He doesn't want us to help each other to come closer to God and Christ and gain a deeper understanding of the Word. And he for sure doesn't want himself or any of his demons be cast out of any of you.

If anyone did not get to work things out regarding trust and open discussion, because the feet washing did not allow for washing multiple persons feet by one washer, please still discuss obstacles between all individuals included in the study group. I do not want to have any hang-ups or surprises coming up in the following lessons. There will probably already be enough of those with open discussions now.

Do not skip this "simple" yet profound activity. By serving each other by washing feet, and in the mean time discussing any objections we might feel against each other, we can get these out of the way (either partially or fully). Then they will not become an obstacle in the upcoming lessons.

Lets Review What We (Should) Have Learned So Far.

I could write a separate book about this, but I feel it will be best if I paint a picture on the process we have studied so far. It will be short and easy to understand, and it will cover everything this study has covered so far. Basically it is a summary of the spiritual warfare that is woven throughout the whole Bible.

He was a good man. God created him in His image. He did no harm, lived a life of service and went to church every Sunday. Then one day Satan (or one of his demons) sneaked into his head and planted a little thought, a fiery dart. Temptation. The man did not understand that it was Satan who had planted that thought since it didn't seem like a bad thought. He thought he was just having a thought of his own. Desire came about. So he started to dwell on the thought a little, and finally took a small action. Sin was conceived.

Even though the man did feel it was not completely right what he did, it was just a small thing, he did not worry about it too much. But Satan had now noticed that the man was "easy to be had". So Satan and his demons started to implant some more thoughts to see if the man would cave in. Still thinking it were his own thoughts, the man gave in some more, and slowly but surely sin became full grown. But it wasn't anything "really" bad....... Yet God was looking on, and with a deep sigh He exclaimed "I would have forgiven him, but he just kept going, didn't he. I feel sorry, but I will have to deliver him to the torturers". And so Satan and his demons gained the right to the man. God allowed them to bestow all the curses on the man that He had created, according to His Word. And the man suffered.

Every day the man thought to himself "Why is this happening to me. How come I am going under financially, how come my health is deteriorating, how come my relationships are such a struggle, how come.........how come...... how come......?". So the man prayed, and God listened. And God pointed the man at His Word: "There you can find the answer to you problem". But the man did not listen. He read only what he wanted to read from the Word, and did not spent enough time in the Word to gain a true understanding. And the pastor at church had told him that he was suffering because he was being tested for his righteousness, so why worry. Just keep doing good, and all will be well. Then the man's brother in law told him that maybe he was suffering so that God could be glorified. That sounded good too.

Eventually the man died. He struggled all his life to keep his head above water financially, especially since the medical bills piled up pretty high. And the divorce had taken a big chunk out of his accounts as well. He had no relationship left with his children, and many of his friends had retreated because he "sucked the energy right out of them". But he continued to go to church all his life, and talked to many people how he was "suffering for Christ". Just before he died a thought raced through his brain......: "That test for righteousness sure did take long........".

Appearing before God the man stood there trembling. The man thought about his life: "I have not done anything really bad, I went to church, talked to people about my suffering for Christ...... I am going to be alright.....".

Then God spoke: "You didn't get it, did you?! Yes, you think you did good and that you were a faithful servant. Had you indeed studied my Word and done accordingly, it would have all been very different. But you considered reading the Bible like a storybook to be sufficient. You failed to follow me with your heart, and fell for sin. You did not listen to the Holy Spirit that was upon you, but overruled the Holy Spirit with your free will. You thought that it wasn't that bad, so you never really repented nor overcame. Then I delivered you to the torturers to bestow all these curses upon you according to My Word. In the Old days you would have been done with. I might have given you the small chance of finding my favor again if you had walked the desert for forty years. But you had so much more going for you because My Son already died on the cross for you. Yet even though you proclaimed to believe in Him you still denied your sin, you still denied to be under a curse. You denied your need for My Son's sacrifice by being ignorant, and through that you denied My Son. How could My Son take your sins away if you do not understand your sins? How could My Son become a curse for you if you do not understand you had been cursed? I can only hope that your children and their children will read the Truth in My Word, so that the curse that is bestowed on them through you can be taken from them. With My Son's crucifixion and resurrection the curses from old became blessings in disguise. Instead of a curse being with you forever into eternity, you could see the curse as a warning sign. A small taste of what everlasting torment would be like, but with a chance to return to Me because My Son sacrificed Himself to take your sins and be cursed for you. Had you really read my Word you would have put on My armor and put up a good fight. Had you really read My Word, you could have studied the Law, not to be under the law, but to use it as a tutor and gain understanding of righteousness by being obedient to it, so you could follow My Son with your heart and live according to your faith. You would have understood your sins, and you would have understood to be under a curse. You could have judged yourself, so you would not be judged. Surely under the law you would have failed, but I am forgiving. I send My only begotten Son so that you could be forgiven. But you did not show any mercy to His sacrifice by remaining ignorant towards your sins and the curses I had the torturers bestow on you. I love you, and My Son loves you. We would never leave you nor forsake you, but you walked away from Us. Therefore you will walk for eternity with those you choose, Satan and his demons".

If you read this and don't get it........ you might want to start the study all over again. Or spent a lesson evening with the group going over this review. Because if you do not understand this review, you will not find any meaning or result in the upcoming personal studies.

Lesson 34: And Beyond, Into Personal Studies

Remember, this part of this whole study is optional. If the study group decides it is too invasive, this can be skipped. Skipping however, will take away that what the Bible tells us we are supposed to do. But every participant could study this independently as well, without others involved. Yet it would still best be done in a group, preferably the same group you studied part one with. Consider that the group should not be too large. Something like 4-8 participant would be the best size. However, every participant needs to understand the following: You cannot be part of this part of the Bible study if you do not fully engage. That means you will have to participate in every aspect of it. If you are not willing to participate fully, I recommend to not participate at all in this second part. And the group should be aware of this and understand why, since otherwise very awkward situations could be created, as you might understand by making it this far through this study.

In this second part of the study every participant will bring up a life problem, health issue or other personal struggle. This means sharing your personal struggle with all aspects involved with the study group. Consider this might be an issue that no-one else in the group even has the slightest idea about, which could include hidden aspects within a marriage. (My wife was aware of most of my physical health issues although not the severity of them, but she was pretty much unaware of my addictions, depression and suicidal thoughts. I was faking things really well...... It was not until I got saved that I told her about these things). So be aware of the sensitivity involved here.

Then every participant of the group will study that problem for a week using the knowledge from the first part of this Bible study, combined with the references from the Bible to work towards a personal deliverance for that particular participant who shared his/her struggle. An electronic Bible with a "search" function would be recommended for looking up words that you feel to be related to the issue. Or our book "General Application of the Who Told You Principle. Repent and Overcome or Else....." can be used as a reference. Recommended is to use both. (You might come up with interesting finds that are not in our books. If so, please let us know!).

After the week the group meets for an open discussion of the findings. This can be a painful, confrontational process, but necessary to gain a true understanding of the problem in relationship to the Word. Realize that the person going through this process is very exposed in his or her being, and that there might be very painful awareness being brought out into the open. Every participant should understand the intimate, personal and often emotion laden process that could be taking place here, and how serious this should be taken. And no finger pointing allowed here, since what will be discussed could originate generations back. And even if it is directly related to the person, we should remember Christ's words at all time: "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do". The real culprit we are dealing with is Satan (and his demons). The discussion ends with the person, whose struggle in this spiritual warfare was discussed, praying for deliverance with the group backing him/her up in that prayer.

What we want to achieve is that each and every person on the group works through this to realize being under a curse, due to sin issues (either from themselves or from previous generations). Only through finding this out can we truly repent and overcome to be forgiven, and through realizing we have a curse can Christ become a curse for us. After all, if we deny to have a curse or are ignorant about it, He cannot become cursed for us. And if we deny or are ignorant about sin issues, we cannot repent and overcome.

Consider that there is no "watching the clock" during the open discussion, and for sure not during the prayer. (Notify the babysitter of this!!). Realize that the response will come in God's time (only He knows our true faith), which we have so far seen vary from minutes to weeks or even months. Even though many things might have already come up during the first part of the study, count this second part as a start of the process towards deliverance. I might require more praying than just here and now with the group. Let your heart take you where you should go, as long as it is according to God's will. Although change is always starting right away if all that was done was based in true faith from the heart.

The session is then closed by a short break (cookies and juice....), followed by the next person bringing their personal struggle into the group, so the cycle can be repeated, over and over. The group decides when to stop. Either after each member has done one issue, or could people bring forth more issues and be studied several times. That is up to the group.

All I can say is: "Have fun with it. It is about something really good and wonderful. The elimination of evil from our lives. Coming closer to God and Christ. How much better can it get??"

The "Cheat" Sheet.

Lesson 1:

1- Not, Christ tells us there will be war, division, and great tribulation.

2- Go in peace.

3- Yes.

4- Within.

5- Peace.

6- A sword (a weapon).

7- With-out.

8- War.

9- Major war.

10- No. One form of peace is with-in (inside of us), another is with-out (outside of us).

11- Rather see peace.

12- With-in. With-out.

13- My ten cents: With all Christ told us, and His disciples after His resurrection, and what we see in the world, the warfare is still in full force. Those denying it are "being told so....", in order to have then stray from God and Christ. They are easy targets since they believe not to have an enemy. However, Christ brought us a weapon. A weapon of forgiveness. If we keep our responsibilities towards God and Christ, that is. It is through that that we can have "peace with-in", even though "world peace" is nowhere near yet. World peace at these stages would even be against God's will.

Lesson 2:

1- Scared out of my pants.....

2- Satan.

3- Strategies.

4- Against.

5- Battle, struggle, opposition.

6- He is not alone, he has "angels".

7- Thorn in the flesh.

8- Death.

9- He will be the last one to be destroyed.

10- Satan (and his "angels").

11- Us, we.

12- Us, we.

13- Us, we.

14- Us, we.

15- Ourselves.

16- God, the Holy Spirit.

17- Satan.

18- He who is in us: God.

19- God's side.

20- My ten cents: The biggest deceit Satan brings us, is making us believe that our thoughts, feelings and emotions are all original to us. It takes the attention off Satan and makes us believe we are failures in the eyes of God. Understand that we are not liars, murderers, rapists, thiefs, addicts, adulterers, idolaters etc. We are just weaker than Satan who is doing this through us. It is our weakness and misunderstanding of the warfare that makes use easy targets to be pulled along into sin. As long as Satan is pulling the strings on us puppets and we do not even believe there are any strings, because we either do not believe Satan still exist or that he does not have such control over us, we do not believe truly that we need God and Christ in this battle. And that is the ultimate recipe for loosing in this battle. In Luke 23:34(a) Christ sincerely asks for forgiveness because He understands that the people then (and still in today's world) have no idea what they are dealing with. Consider that "He marveled at their unbelief". In today's world of the lukewarm church, when it comes to spiritual warfare, Christ would still marvel at our unbelief.

Lesson 3:

1- Yes, it sounds like Satan has been defeated.

2- The ruler of the world: Satan.

3- We are to be in Christ.

4- Choose God over worldly matters.

5- No, we can only have one.

6- The wide gate or the narrow gate.

7- The wide one since that is the one almost everyone takes.

8- Believers are still choosing every day. It is soo easy to follow the masses (including the masses of self-proclaimed Christians) through the wide gate.

9- The will of the Father.

10- Keep the commandments.

11- Work.

12- Good works.

13- Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons.

14- (Don't get me started.......) Pretty much none.

15- Forgive.

16- Yes, that church would be standing room only.

17- Hardly any.

18- Yes.

19- Oooooops..... and ooooooops again......

20- Maybe that power to perform did not come from Christ.....

21- Endure until the end.

22- Yes we could.

23- My ten cents: Christ knew He was going to die for our sins, yet His teachings were full of instruction how to live. He tells us that those who enter Heaven are the ones who do the will of His Father. So there are about fifteen hundred pages of instruction on how to live, that we still are supposed to follow. So He died for our sins, but we are not to mis-use and abuse that sacrifice. The overly used and mis-used phrase "What would Jesus do?" is indeed valid. Christ at all time followed the will of His Father. So should we. If we do not do that, we are not truly in Christ. And we might appear as faithful believers, but realize that "Even the demons believe, and they tremble".

Lesson 4:

1- Love God, love all other people.

2- Holy.

3- No, all will be gone before any part of the law will be gone.

4- No, absolutely not.

5- Faith.

6- We would like to (and we do that way too often).

7- We hope to know by understanding the Fruits of the Spirit, but we really cannot be sure.

8- The flesh.

9- That we do wonders but will still be denied by Christ.

10- We all fall for the flesh.

11- By being in Christ.

12- From the Law

13- By obedience to the Law.

14- No, but we learn righteousness b knowing the Law and being obedient to it.

15- Christ.

16- God's Law.

17- Very close.

18- Fail. Saved.

19- My ten cents: Without the law, righteousness would be wild guess on how to behave. So if we want to have true faith in Christ and follow Him, we need to practice righteousness. Which we learn from reading and understanding the law. That is how the law is the tutor to righteousness. We become righteous by being obedient. However, if we would strictly live according to the law, believing that will bring us eternal life, we are kidding ourselves. Everyone fails in the law, everyone fails in righteousness. This is how the law is made to fail. It is by the subject of lesson #5 that we can conquer that failure.

Lesson 5:

1- Put up a good fight.

2- Honoring with the mouth is according to the letter of the Law, and is having the hearts removed from the process or actions.

3- In the heart.

4- No, none what-so-ever.

5- Perfection.

6- No, because we are all carnal by nature, but we can learn from the "head" knowledge.

7- It will be according to our faith.

8- God power.

9- Prayer will come through.

10- That God's miracles will not happen for us.

11- No, and He expresses that boldly.

12- Yes, tribulation is needed.

13- No.

14- By faith.

15- "Live by".

16- No, that is just our mouth speaking, not our heart.

17- Unbelief.

18- No.

19- This is a personal question. My answer: Yes, especially working in the medical field with so much disease and suffering surrounding me, also among children, also among Christians, I do sometimes doubt that.

20- This is a personal question. My answer: No, here I also easily fall into doubt.

21- We need intention.

22- My ten cents: Since the law is set up to create failure, since we are carnal beings, we need a way to be covered when we fail. That is where Christ comes in. By having true faith that He died on the cross for our sins, (and living to the best of our abilities how God wants us to live,) we can have our sins (failures) forgiven. The problem is that faith is intangible, it requires us to "think" beyond what our human mind can conceive. Faith is very much like a fireplace. You do not sit in front of it asking it for heat, to then throw on wood. You have to have faith before your faith will be confirmed by the things that happen with you and around you. And don't think that those things that then happen around us will be like a neon billboard falling out of the sky which tells us with flickering lights "I am up here!!!". Such would be a sign that clearly would take away that "faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen" (Hebrews 11:1). And then, as a final thought: Even if we live as righteous as can be, Christ is very clear about it. It is our unbelief that is holding us back. He tells us this over and over again.

Lesson 6:

1- So we may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

2- Strategies.

3- A proven system.

4- Truth and righteousness.

5- Righteousness.

6- Truth.

7- Truth.

8- God's truth.

9- Righteousness.

10- God's commandments.

11- Jesus Christ.

12- Jesus Christ.

13- Satan (same principle as in Genesis: "Who told you.....?").

14- Pretty bad.

15- Jesus Christ.

16- In righteousness.

17- Be (hungry for) righteous(ness).

18- Commandments.

19- That self-righteousness is very unrighteous.

20- That that can easily be self-righteousness.

21- Satan and his demons.

22- "Probably" not.

23- Pretty bad.

24- Our earthly needs.

25- By seeking God's Kingdom and His righteousness.

26- No, that is not how God intended righteousness.

27- Time tested.

28- God Himself.

29- My ten cents: As with the discussion at the finish of lesson #6, faith is stretching us beyond what our human mind can conceive. Which causes many to say to have faith, but their hearts are in doubt. It isn't until we "follow Him with our heart instead of our mouth", that we have true faith. And when we follow Him with our hearts, we would have to go against our deepest desire to do God's will, and deny the Holy Spirit, to not have the truth in us. We need to be very careful though. Since it is based on an intangible faith, it is very easy to make claim to be righteous, to be in the truth. Not based on true faith, but on a basic knowledge of the truth. Making such claim will sound good towards the world around us, but are we truly in Christ? We will go into much deeper detail on this in lesson #31.

Lesson 7:

1- Christ's coming.

2- Christ's coming.

3- God the Father.

4- We will be walking many miles.....

5- Peace.

6- The Lord God.

7- Peace with-in.

8- Peace in our heart.

9- That is spite of all the tribulation to come we will be alright if we are truly in Him.

10- A sword.

11- Remember peace within.

12- The Word, live by faith, be in Christ, act in righteousness.

13- Rewards.

14- The Lord.

15- My ten cents: First of all we see that in most churches the Gospel is preached in abundance. Many churches fall into Satan's trap that the Gospel is all we need. Just sin along, and Christ's sacrifice is there for you. As you will find in the rest of this study, there is a huge danger involved in thinking like this. As the Armor of God shows us we need much more than just the Gospel to withstand the wiles of the devil. But we do for sure need to shod our feet with the Gospel of Peace. Consider that the Gospel has to be preached to all nations before Christ will return. Yes, nowadays we have the Internet and satellite connections, but realize how many miles have been covered by foot to get this spreading of the Gospel started.

Lesson 8:

1- The substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

2- Without faith everything else leads to death.

3- Only from our mouth, not from our heart.

4- Yes, no faith, no connection with God.

5- My shield and horn of my salvation.

6- Healing, prayers answered, according to faith.

7- Nothing happens. No healing, no prayers answered, nothing. Eventually death.

8- Fearful, little faith, unbelief, doubt.

9- No.

10- Satan.

11- The lake of fire.

12- Very precise (don't skip the small stuff....)

13- That we will do the works that Christ did.

14- Die with Him and also live with Him

15- Yes, they go hand in hand.

16- The Law.

17- Be brave, be strong.

18- Because we are at war.

19- No.

20- From ourselves, in our hearts.

21- We check ourselves.

22- Salvation.

23- God the Father and Jesus Christ the Lamb.

24- The Lord.

25- My ten cents: This study will stretch your faith in Christ in a positive way. I have been told by so many Christians, when discussing certain parts of the Bible, that I should not take it that serious and precise. I have had church-going, Bible-thumbing, praise-the-Lord-everyday Christians tell me that I must have a lot more faith then they do, and that the true reason "things" have happened in my life are based on "luck". They claim to believe Christ died for their sins, but they do not believe the God that send Christ. And through that they do not truly follow God's will in every detail. While Christ said that those who enter into Heaven will be those who follow the will of the Father. The question becomes what is true faith and what is not true faith anymore? But without true faith there will for sure be no salvation.

Lesson 9:

1- A sword.

2- A (sharp) two-edged sword.

3- Strikes and divides in both directions.

4- The Word.

5- A sword.

6- The Spirit of God.

7- Plural.

8- God the Father, God the Son, the Holy Spirit.

9- Jesus Christ the Son.

10- Also "Do it".

11- The Word of God.

12- Yes.

13- The Word.

14- A good soldier of Jesus Christ.

15- A true fight.

16- Yes, He is up front.

17- White linnen.

18- The undefiled, who died for Christ.

19- To become a part of Christ's army, clothed in white linnen.

20- My ten cents: God's Word is many times referred to as a sword, a two-edged sword. This also comes from Christ's mouth when he returns for battle. And the Word is what brought forth creation. And it is by the Word that we should live. It is the Word that we should study in order to know God's will. Without the Word there would be nothing. We would not be able to put up any fight (as a soldier without his sword.....). How well do you know, understand and follow the Word? Without pure knowledge and through that following God's will, can we have true faith? If we do not know the Word, we would not know what we would have faith in, would we?!

Lesson 10:

1- Cast of the works of darkness and put on the armor of light.

2- He created light and divided it from the darkness.

3- The first day.

4- The lights to divide day from night, to be as sign for the seasons, days and years.

5- The fourth day.

6- Day one is the light that will also light the New Jerusalem, while day four is the sun and the moon.

7- God, the Lord God, the Word, The commandments, the Law.

8- Jesus Christ.

9- A light.

10- The light.

11- The Glory of God, the Lamb.

12- Satan.

13- Yes.

14- We better discern which spirit is talking to us.

15- The light that is darkness.

16- We walk in darkness.

17- Satan.

18- The night, darkness.

19- Not really.

20- No, we tend to shut the door

21- The door.

22- My ten cents: As you might have notices, every part of the Armor of God as well as the Armor of Light is Christ. We are to put on Christ. Which means we need to know what Christ wants of us, expects of us, as we can find in all His teachings. If we do close the door realize that darkness truly takes over. Satan and his demons will take over. It is not Christ that opens the door. Christ is the door, and we need to open that door. If we close it, we let Satan in.

23- My ten cents: There is a lot of talk in the Bible about darkness. Satan, his demons and their works are darkness. The darkness versus light principle is brought in many churches as "temptations", and that because of Christ we have nothing to worry about. Really, why then do we need to put on an Armor? Yes, the armor is Christ, but we still need to put it on, every part of it. If we go to battle without every part of it and die, did we follow His will? It is our responsibility to wear every part of armor and swing the sword. Yet, how often do we go to church, read our Bible, pray, and do all these things, but are caught in our underwear in the process.......

Lesson 11:

1- Overcome.

2- For the overcoming.

3- No.

4- It hardened the Pharaoh's heart and his whole army perished.

5- Repent.

6- No.

7- That if we are in Christ we are incapable of sin.

8- No.

9- A tendency to exalt himself.

10- Bow before the angel. We are to worship God.

11- No.

12- Sin.

13- Things he knows he should not do.

14- His flesh.

15- Little children.

16- You "cannot" do that!

17- No.

18- Absolutely.

19- He cried bitterly.

20- When he affirmed with Christ that he loved Him.

21- Wash yourselves, pur away evil, cease to do evil, amend your ways and your doings, turns from your transgressions, break of your sins and your iniquities.

22- Not God's, it is our responsibility.

23- My ten cents: As Christians we become "born again" when we let Christ in our life. It means that the old is gone. If we say we are "born again" and we keep the old, then there is something wrong. We either did not really receive Christ, or we practice our free will to continue in our sinful ways. That is not His will, but we are sinful by our carnal nature. Now that is when we received Christ. But how about later on. If we have true faith and we study the Word, then we become more and more aware of the sins that we still let into our life. We repent for our sins, and Christ forgives us (if we follow His "guidelines"). But just as with being "born again" would we show true faith and true repentance if we would continue those same sins. No, we need to overcome our sinful ways. Christ says it many times: "Overcome". Now I will say that Satan and his demons are strong, cunning and experienced. And overcoming is not always a simple thing. Sometimes it is as easy as "done, over with", other times it is more of a process. Perfection is not in our carnal nature, but we can "glory by glory be changed into His image". Get a little better every day!

Lesson 12:

1- Merciful.

2- Compassion, kind forbearance shown towards an offender or enemy, to pardon, blessing.

3- Those hurting you, killing you and your family, those persecuting you.

4- Seventy times seven.

5- Yes, we need to rebuke them.

6- No, we also need to look close at home to those we love, and forgive them.

7- By asking to be forgiven, and by forgiving in return.

8- Yes, we might.

9- Our sins could be accounted to us again.

10- All unrighteousness.

11- The Holy Spirit.

12- That could very well be, yes.

13- Because we all sin.

14- Yes.

15- So that we could learn to understand why forgiveness is so important.

16- It would appear they knew. Who would not know if he did such a horrible thing to another man.

17- That would make a lot of sense.

18- Satan and his demons.

19- My ten cents: I have encountered this so many times. People who talk about how they are forgiven because of Christ's sacrifice, and within the next minute they spew about their step dad who did......, their ex-wive who......, their ex-husband did......., their boss who...... And these are not positive remarks. No, they are caked with bitterness, anger, unforgiveness. Not to mention that some of the issues that involve the individuals who they spew about took place after they became born again. Situations that are full of sin issues that they might have been able to repent for but surely have not overcome (and this in particular counts for the divorce issues). And even then they might have repented for the one issue (divorce) but not for all the other issues that accompanied the situation. Not to mention all the related issues involving the people surrounding them who were negatively influenced by is all. And yes, I am particularly strong on this when it comes to divorce. There is so much involved with divorce. It already starts with unforgiveness before divorce even comes into the picture, but the finalization of a divorce is the ultimate expression of unforgiveness. Christ says that divorce is allowed in case of fornication. But it doesn't make it so that you have to divorce when that takes place. Forgiveness in order to be forgiven starts there already. And consider why the other person committed fornication.... Did you cover your spouse in all areas so that Satan did not have a chance with temptations? But in general within the issue of forgiveness too many people forget the main condition Christ states (next to having true faith in Him): You need to forgive in order to be forgiven. And you can say you forgave, but if it is just because you wanted to be forgiven that will not do it. That is not breaking the speed limit because you do not want the speeding ticket..... (remember that one?). It doesn't come from the heart.

If we then take into account that the person who committed an offense to you, that you are so unforgiving about, could be pushed, shoved, guided, influenced by demons, we for sure need to forgive. Yes, the person let themselves get pulled along in the wickedness of those demons and that is their responsibility. But if they did not know that it were demons leading them, the fight to resist the wicked ways seems a fight against one self. And with evil all around, other people can so easily justify the wicked actions to steer someone on even more. The spiritual warfare being played out through Christ's suffering was indeed something that those who had Him beaten, who had Him carry that cross, who had Him nailed to that cross to let Him die a slow and painful death, did not understand. Their considered it all to be their own thoughts, their own justifications, their own ideas. But what truly drove it was a spirit world that was engaged in an intense strategic plot within the spiritual warfare. But they did not understand that, and therefore Christ asked for them to be forgiven.

Lesson 13:

1- The Father will do likewise, deliver us to the torturers.

2- Satan and his demons.

3- God the Father.

4- Abide in Him (Jesus Christ).

5- Keep His commandments.

6- We would be cast out and thrown into the fire and be burned.

7- God the Father.

8- The seed of Abraham.

9- So new branches could be grafted in.

10- The Gentiles.

11- We then do not support the root, but the root supports us.

12- We could be cut of, just like the original branches.

13- God the Father.

14- Vines, branches, trees. That which does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.

15- Remain righteous, follow His commandments (which includes the will of the Father).

16- Ours.

17- Love His Son Jesus Christ.

18- Seek God, stay in the faith, do not stray from the faith, refrain from sin, endure, resist temptation.

19- Us, we.

20- A fearful expectation of judgement.

21- We are.

22- Practice righteousness, which we can only do if we truly understand this and have faith: take responsibility.

23- My ten cents: This is a touchy subject. And taking it into too much of an extreme could make one believe that Christ's sacrifice doesn't count because God has the final say. But consider that God the Father send His Son Jesus Christ to make that sacrifice. Christ then followed the will of the Father and died a horrible death doing that, for us. So God's decision will have that included in there. The problem that Christianity faces is that the sacrifice He made is used to cover it all. Whether we continue to live in blatant sin and claim to live a Christian life while we do many things the Bible tells us are unGodly, the common phrase is "Oh, but I am forgiven....". This study will dive into our responsibility deeper and deeper as we go.

C.S.Lewis mentioned that the most heard word on the day of judgement will be "Oh......". And I think he is right. There will be many who call themselves Christians that will be shocked when the verdict falls. And do not get me wrong, I might be one of them. Only God can see our true faith, we can only hope we are living up to that standard. Better to hear that we overdid it in our quest for righteousness, than to hear we fell short......

Lesson 14:

1- That once we except Christ into our live we can never loose Him again and therefore never be cast into the lake of fire.

2- God.

3- God the Father who send His Son Jesus Christ to die for us, which is why our faith and hope are in God.

4- Save what was lost.

5- Christ.

6- Christ.

7- Christ.

8- The Saints.

9- Jesus Christ, that is why all judgement has been committed to the Son.

10- The Word.

11- Personal question. My answer: I hope so. I will keep studying every day.

12- We all could have more knowledge of the Word, although we will never be able to go without Christ's sacrifice. But I feel we can all be more "Christ-like".

13- Yes, because you are not in Christ, and He will follow Christ's judgement.

14- We should (every day).

15- Yes.

16- The Father's.

17- Because They are One.

18- Yet the Father is greater.

19- God the Father.

20- Two or three.

21- Satan and God.

22- No.

23- No, because then He would be telling a lie.

24- Yes.

25- The dragon is already a witness against us because we all fail at one time or the other, so if we do not keep the commandments we could easily have other witnesses against us in God and Christ (because they will not lie about our lives).

26- The will of God the Father.

27- He is just.

28- No, He loves us. It is us not truly loving Him.

29- Not follow His commandments and therefore not truly love Him.

30- No, He will send us into the lake of fire though he still loves us. Imagine His pain!!

31- Yes, because Satan will witness against us, and God or Christ could witness against us.

32- With how intense you judge others.

33- My ten cents: Consider a general court room: The judge is seated in the bench. You are standing in front of the bench. Next to you is your defense lawyer. On your other side, one table over is the accusing lawyer. The accusing party will do everything they can do to prove you are guilty. You lawyer will do everything he can to defend you. And the judge listens intently.

Now consider the Heavenly court room: God is seated on His throne, Christ your advocate is on His right hand. You stand before the throne. Satan is standing on your right side, ready to accuse you. And rest assure that he will. He will take every word you uttered, every action you took, every little thing of your life to make an attempt to accuse you of going against God's will. Christ will do everything He can to defend you, and he sure is an awesome advocate. He gave His life so that your sins could (read that clear: "could", not "would") be forgiven if you showed you truly believed in Him, which included living how He asked you to live. He would never accuse you. But He would not tell a lie on your behalf. So He can only bring those things into the courtroom where you were a true follower of Him. If He cannot speak on your behalf there, His silence will be clearly heard. God is listening intently. But there is one big difference compared to the worldly judge. God knows everything already. He already knew all your actions, every one of your words, every little detail, before you were even born. The only thing His judgement is based on is your faith in His son. Without true faith in Him we automatically face judgement to everlasting torment. But what is true faith? We claim to know, but do we really? In truth, only God the Father, Jesus Christ the Son and the Holy Spirit know.

Lesson 15:

1- To Jacob and his descendants.

2- No.

3- The conquering of the promised land.

4- No.

5- "Keep the door open".

6- Believe in Him.

7- Anyone, by faith.

8- Follow Christ.

9- No, because it says that "no one" snatches them out of the Father's hand.

10- Believe in Christ.

11- To not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.

12- No.

13- No, He is the Creator.

14- Yes.

15- Fellowship with the Gospel.

16- Content.

17- Yes.

18- Through faith.

19- No.

20- Yes.

21- No, that sounds like a believer to me.

22- No, and saying otherwise would be gross speculation on God's Word.

23- That he looses Christ.

24- The New Covenant.

25- Keep His commandments.

26- Yes.

27- The ten commandments.

28- No.

29- The blood of goats and bulls.

30- No.

31- Not a guarantee, it says "may".

32- The Old Covenant.

33- The New.

34- Being blotted out of the Book of Life.

35- No, God can blot out our name.

36- My ten cents: Christ stated clearly that those who will enter into Heaven are those who follow the will of the Father. And He told us we needed to follow His commandments. And with Christ telling us that He seeks the will of Him who send Him (the Father), Christ's commandments will be the commandments of the Father. Are we indeed following that, or are we cutting corners? And we do that because most of the time we do not really understand everything God wants. While especially here in the United States, we can freely buy a Bible and read it. But Christians spend more time on Facebook then in the Word (true statistic!!). An ignorance on which Satan preys. Now, if we do not follow Christ, we are not covered under the New Covenant. So we fall back under the Old Covenant, which has even more details and strict rules then the New Covenant. So we are bound to fail in the Old Covenant too. And God makes it very clear. He who does not keep His covenant will have to bare the consequences; God's wrath. And if you read the Bible, it is clear that that is not a pretty picture. But consider that as long as we are on earth we still have a chance to come back in God's favor. Unless we do not recognize God's wrath and make excuses, live in ignorance to it (Satan preys on ignorance!). And therefore we do not repent, do not overcome, and will face a big surprise on judgement day. Take the problems, struggles, health issues, and all that happens to you and consider that maybe God is given you a warning to go and judge yourself, so you will not be judged.

Lesson 16:

1- Burn the village.

2- He rebuked them.

3- "You do not know what manner of spirit you are of".

4- Discernment between the Holy Spirit or evil spirits.

5- The people did not know either what manner of spirit they were of.

6- A spiritual battle.

7- If we don't understand what manner of spirit we are of, we are loosing the battle right there and then.

8- In our members and in our mind.

9- Personal question. My answer: Before I started reading the Bible again at the age of forty, No. But once reading, I understood it right away in Genesis at "Who Told You.....".

10- Pleasure and desires that we act on.

11- And angel.

12- An anointed cherub.

13- Here on earth.

14- Serpent, Satan, the tempter, devil, ruler of the world, the evil one, god of this age, angel of light, prince of the power of the air, spirit who works in the sons of disobedience, wicked one, your adversary, roaring lion, the angel of the bottomless pit, great dragon.

15- The different ways Satan presents himself, which very often tells us about his deceiving ways as well.

16- A prince.

17- Ruling and influencing the world.

18- He has a kingdom.

19- No, Satan and his angels.

20- The god of this age.

21- Because it is referring to Satan, a wanna-be god.

22- Satan's.

23- Satan's.

24- Deceiving spirits and demons: Satan's.

25- One Cup and Table of Christ, one cup and table of Satan.

26- Satan.

27- Power of darkness, power to perform signs and lying wonders, power of death, power to devour us.

28- God.

29- Christ; Satan has a church, ministers, a doctrine, a cup and table, a gospel, power to perform signs and wonders.

30- Yes!

31- Test the spirits.

32- If they don't confess Jesus Christ has come in the flesh, then the spirit is not of God.

33- No, because the message might come from the mouth but not from the heart and just be a lie.

34- Personal question. My answer: I hope I do.

35- Until the end.

36- Not if we have God (the Holy Spirit) in us, because then He who is in us (the Holy Spirit) is greater than he who is in the world (Satan).

37- My ten cents: I get many e-mails from people who tell me they were "told this or that by the Spirit" or they "received a sign from God that they had to go do this or that". And I understand a desire to jump on that, especially if it is obviously a "good" thing that is asked of them. When I was saved in late fall of 2009, I prayed to God: "You have given me an amazing gift, now what do I need to do for you?". And night after night I was told I had to start a ministry, and write books, with all the details spelled out. Did I jump on it right away? No!! I did realize that Satan disguises himself as an angel of light, and that even though what was asked of me sounded right, and was a direct answer to my prayer, it could be that it wasn't the Holy Spirit talking to me in my sleep. So after weeks of debating what to do, I prayed very intently to find out who was talking to me: "God, how can I know that what comes to me is from you, and not from Satan and his demons?". Well, it did not take long for an answer to come: "Do you really think Satan would ask you to write books that expose his wicked warfare strategies??". On top of that I got that answered topped of by a few other prayers that got answered in a way that was clearly not Satan's doing. But it was my understanding of the warfare and how Satan can present himself that I did not automatically jump up to do what was presented to me. So when something is presented to you, no matter how good it looks, be aware. Satan is very sneaky, deceiving.

Just consider this made up story that could very well be real: A minister is asked to sell his belongings, travel to a foreign country to go and build a church there and preach the gospel. He gets so caught up in the process that he forsakes to take good care of the other things God had given him to do; be a good husband, a good father to his kids, and in those things set a good example for the community. Eventually he changes so much that his preaching changes. False doctrine is sneaking in. His wife tries to address this with him, together with some church elders, but he continues to go down the path of false doctrine. He leaves his wife, his kids and the church he started in that foreign country to go across the border where he has found many followers of his new doctrine. There he also finds a new wife who supports him in his preachings, and they live "happily" ever after....... Yes, Satan could have moved in at some point, but who is to say that Satan wasn't the one who got the whole process started in the first place by telling this minister to do this "mighty deed for God". Food for thought next time you get a "sign" from "a spirit".

Lesson 17:

1- We are now living in the era of the lukewarm church.

2- No, which is why Christ spews this church out of His mouth.

3- Possessions

4- The physical body.

5- The mind (Satan is making Job believe that God has wronged him).

6- The mind.

7- The thoughts of the heart and mind.

8- The mind that was also in Jesus Christ.

9- A sound mind.

10- The Holy Spirit.

11- The Law.

12- The Spirit.

13- Following the flesh.

14- By satan influencing our mind he tempts us to walk according to the flesh, pulling us back under the Law where we fail for sure.

15- We start to deny God and our Lord Jesus Christ (and that is not with "our mouth" so we may keep saying Christ is Lord, but "in our heart" as Christ told us).

16- We are persuaded through influencing our mind to deny God and Christ.

17- The Temple of the Holy Spirit.

18- No, because the body is the Temple.

19- Excellent.

20- Excellent, all we have belongs to God.

21- That Satan has a hold on us.

22- My ten cents: We all know the Donald Duck cartoons where he is facing the battle of the mind: An angel-duck on one shoulder, a devil-duck on the other. Who will win? Now that is pretty easy to recognize. Those sneaky thoughts called temptations that rise to the surface. But do we truly understand this in every area? Most of you will have considered that lusting at another person in the heart is sinful. But have you considered that longing for that tasty banana-cream-pie could feed into a looking for love in the wrong place as well? Did you consider that depression is based on fear in the heart of men. But how did that fear get there? These temptation are a lot sneakier than we might ever consider. It is for that reason that we need to take every thought into captivity, and weigh it against the Word. But if we "run" with that temptation (either knowingly or in ignorance), the deal changes significant. And in ways that is hardly taught anywhere anymore. It can escalade to a point where Satan and his demons will make you so miserable inside, with "promise of relief" if you follow their ways, that you will follow their wicked ways. They literally dwell inside and move you like a puppet on a string. They will make you sick, they will make you do things you will lie awake about at night. They will force you into things every thinking person knows is wrong, but you cannot resist because of the pain. They will destroy all you have if you do not do what they ask. And yes, how easy is it to say that you are "suffering for Christ", while you are actually suffering because you followed their wicked ways (more on this in lesson #31).

Lesson 18:

1- Desire is conceived (a thought is placed in our head).

2- It gives birth to sin (we take action on the thought)

3- Sin becomes full grown (we repeat the sin and turn it into a habit).

4- It brings forth death (God delivers us to the torturers due to our ongoing sin).

5- Going against the one rule God had; "Do not eat of the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil".

6- God cursed humanity.

7- For dust you are and to dust you shall return.

8- The curse.

9- No, death will be the last enemy to be destroyed.

10- The blood of Jesus Christ.

11- It needs to be confirmed.

12- We need to confirm it through our faith.

13- No.

14- The Old Covenant.

15- Our obedience to God in return for His promise to us.

16- The Old Covenant.

17- Yes.

18- The will of the Father.

19- Keep His covenant.

20- Believe in Christ, so that when we fail in the covenant we can be forgiven.

21- All of God's blessing including forgiveness if we falter.

22- All of God's curses.

23- Yes the world is full of it, also among Christians.

24- He became a curse for us.

25- No, because by denying that we have a curse, we deny our need for Christ to be cursed for us.

26- No, because by denying to have a sin issue , we deny our need for Christ to have taken the sins from us.

27- They deny to have sin issues and / or they deny to be under a curse and / or these Christians are following Christ with their mouths and not with their hearts and /or they are not following Christ's commandments and God's will.

28- A Christianity make-over!! (Make the lukewarm church hot again).

29- My ten cents: What disasters, health issues, relational problems, economic struggles, personal possession problems, authority failures, generational quarrels, reproduction problems do we see in our world today. The curses are upon the world for sure, and looking in the churches of the world they are there too. When you ask around among Christians the majority will give you one of two answers. One is based on ignorance, the other on an even bigger denial of the truth (see lesson #31 for more in depth details). For now we can at least say that the curses of Deuteronomy are not the first thing that comes to mind by most Christians when faced with these issues. And yet it should. If we do not admit that we have a cursem Christ cannot become cursed for us. If we do not admit that our suffering could come from sin issues, we cannot repent and overcome. We are at war, and the fact that we face these problems should be a warning sign that we need to get back to our Bibles and read more intently, gaining more knowledge.

Lesson 19:

1- The iniquities of the fathers.

2- Generational curses.

3- That generational curses do not exist anymore.

4- Righteousness, following God's will, turn from all sin, do what is lawful and right etc etc.

5- So father, so son.

6- His father, and his mother, and Jeroboam the son of Nebat.

7- A lot.

8- Great since Satan already has a right to him.

9- More sins, more curses, more curses passed on to the next generations.

10- Christ will not even describe how bad it will be for a person who has done harm to a child. Now consider that allowing curses to be passed on to the next generation (or committing sin that will bestow a curse on the next generation) while Christ could be cursed for us, is indeed harming a child.

11- Yes.

12- No, not always.

13- The parents.

14- Obey your parents in the Lord (and not when it is not in the Lord).

15- The sins of your ancestors.

16- To show that we understand we are curse because of sins from a previous generation.

17- Extremely important.

18- My ten cents: When Christ was told His mother and brothers had arrived, He responded that His true family were those who believed. We could consider this rude, but realize that thinking that way hangs on a biological bond. Christ referred to a spiritual bond. Those who are in Christ are not spiritually bonded to their family anymore. The spiritual bonds that stretch from generation to generation are undone.

At least 90% of my suffering before I found Christ was a perfect copy of what my dad suffered through. Some areas a little less, others more outspoken, but in general the same. Although all things combined the overall intensity seemed more severe. And then I had a few things stacked on top that were related to the problems, but new to the family line. Our son was from his first day on following that same path, with doctors telling us he needed to learn to live with that since it "ran in the family". Even certain character trades that didn't necessarily seem related to the problems were copied from my dad to me, and on to our son. Science, psychology, the medical field, alternative medicine, they all had the same answer: "That just runs in the family". But then I asked for deliverance on that day late fall 2009, and that "big warm hand reached down into my chest and pulled everything out of there", and I continued in prayer for the months that followed with one thing after the other that was left in me or our son disappearing from the family line. Suddenly it wasn't "running in the family" anymore.......

Lesson 20:

1- The master.

2- The Heavenly Father

3- Satan and his demons.

4- The Lord God.

5- There shall be terror within.

6- Evil dwelling within.

7- God the Father.

8- Satan asked to test them on their righteousness.

9- By God's permission.

10- Evil spirits.

11- Unclean spirits, devils.

12- God.

13- We are, we choose by partaking.

14- Satan.

15- No, it's what He says, He will do.

16- This will indeed require a whole book..........

17- My ten cents: If indeed we would leave Satan and his demons out of the Bible, there would be nothing left but God's grace, His blessings, His love...... And Christ would have died for nothing. We cannot deny that there is another side to the Bible, although many churches try really hard to obscure that other side, the side of the warfare. As I heard just the other day how a man showed up at a church as a new visitor. With his Bible under his arm he loudly asked; "Is God anywhere in this church???". When met with many puzzled stares, he stated loudly: "Because I have been to a good number of churches before I came here, and God for sure wasn't in any of those churches!!!". A sad but true statistic. When we leave the truth out of the church, God will not bless that church. (As Christ said: "I will spew you out of my mouth"). So yes, leaving Satan and his demons out, is also leaving Biblical truth out, and therefore taking God out, taking Christ's sacrifice out. And he who takes away from the Word, the promises written in the Word will be taken from him as well.

Lesson 21:

1- Satan.

2- The earth.

3- A star.

4- The angels who sinned.

5- The angels.

6- One-third of all angels.

7- Ten thousand times ten thousand and thousands and thousands.

8- One hunded million plus.

9- Thirty three million plus.

10- Multiple.

11- Demons.

12- Multiple.

13- Yes.

14- Not according to His will.

15- Christ.

16- No.

17- Because if we are not in Christ then we don't have this authority over demons.

18- Faith.

19- No.

20- We cannot keep that separate.

21- Going to and fro earth and walking back and forth on it.

22- A leisurely stroll.

23- Could be at unmeasurable speed.

24- Probably all of humanity.

25- 3000 to 6000 soldiers.

26 No!

27- My ten cents: People often make funny faces and laugh somewhat when I talk about Satan and his demons. It is amazing to me how many people claim to be blessed with the Spirit, believe in God and His angels, believe Christ to be alive in Heaven at the right hand of the Father, yet cannot seem to believe in evil spirits. Satan's most cunning deception is to make people believe he and his demons do not exist. In which way he has so much more power and influence. There is no fight or resistance towards an enemy, and his army, that is by many (even Christians) deemed as a myth. Just for a moment let it sink in that this army is real. Then consider it's soldiers could possibly be moving at the speed of light, or maybe even faster, the speed of thought. Then think how long "implanting" a thought would take. Or, with Satan being an ex-arch angel, how easy it would be to influence part of our creation, our immune system or even our DNA. (Maybe that pre-disposition for cancer, heart disease or addictions or whatever is just a generational curse.....).

Lesson 22:

1- From inside.

2- Some do.

3- Yes.

4- He does what he hates.

5- Evil that is dwelling within.

6- Thorns in the flesh.

7- A thorn in the flesh.

8- A son of rebellion, a fallen angel, a demon.

9- A messenger of Satan.

10- That it might depart from him.

11- No.

12- In case he would exalt himself, so apparently Paul has a problem with exalting himself.

13- Very likely.

14- Not easy because, as Satan, they transform themselves into ministers of righteousness.

15- Yes.

16- No. (In this case it is obviously evil).

17- Epilepsy, paralysis, mute, leprosy, blind, loud mouthing, insanity, betrayal, lying, divination, multiple diseases, invisible struggles and battles......

18- Many more.

19- The devil.

20- Satan and his army.

21- Be healed.

22- Be ended.

23- No.

24- My ten cents: There is an incredible important issue surrounding all this that will be studied in lesson #31. But before we get there, look around, take another look at Deuteronomy 28:15-68. Consider that todays world has categorized many of these curses into sub-categories and sub-sub-categories (and beyond) because of which we do not necessarily relate them to one of the many curses listed in this chapter in Deuteronomy. But if we look at the world today, with diseases, crime, disasters, conflicts, and just go on and on (not any less here in the United States) and we can fit pretty much everything in these verses of Deuteronomy. And projecting this onto Christians, we will find that the statistics are not much different then what we find in the rest of the world. Which should not come as much of a surprise with the majority of Christians being oblivious to the spiritual warfare and the presence of evil sprits in general.

Lesson 23:

1- We think we do......

2- No vain repetitions.

3- That no word is an unnecessary repeat.

4- To not use them.

5- In privacy.

6- To not pray in public to make yourself look good in front of other people.

7- He withdrew Himself into the wilderness.

8- All night, or long enough that His disciples went looking for Him.

9- To the Father, because He loves us.

10- No, we need to pray without ceasing, which means we basically need to pray all the time.

11- No, we need to come boldly, lifting up our Holy hands.

12- No.

13- That He will hear us, and that we receive whatever we ask for if it is according to His will.

14- He is not slack, so consider it will be beyond our wildest expectations.

15- According to the Spirit.

16- Yes.

17- No, because just asking for deliverance from the torment doesn't cover the sin issue that could be the cause for the torment. Consider that in the Lord's Prayer the forgiveness of sin comes before asking for deliverance.

18- Include all of the Lord's Prayer since all of it is a necessity and all parts are interconnected.

19- My ten cents: Many people pray kneeling down, or at least have their heads bowed. They close their eyes and mumble the words. Many people seem to consider that if they throw as many holy names and words as possible into it, that their mumbling might be heard better.

Picture this. You are as a child, an you have done something wrong. How would you address your father to ask him for forgiveness?? Yes, head bowed, eyes pointing at the floor, mumbling..... But now paint a different picture. You are as a child, and you want something from your father. You know he loves you with all his might, and that he would give everything (His only begotten son) to provide for you. How would you go up to him? You would run up to him, throw your arms around his neck, hug him, kiss him on the cheek, tell him excitedly about what you would like to have.....

The Bible tells us that we need to have fear of God, but it also tells us that we should come boldly in our requests towards Him. That He loves us so much that He gave his only begotten Son to help us, and that we are His children. He wants to have an intimate relationship with you. Can you truly come to Him from the bottom of your heart, if your heart tells you to jump on His lap, hug Him and excitedly ask Him, if you then refrain yourself from doing that and follow "church protocol" (kneeling, bowing your head, closing your eyes, mumbling...). Don't tell me you can, because you would sin right there!

I have stood in our garage in the middle of the night just a few short weeks after I was saved. Our son was suffering another allergy attack for which we had rushed him to the hospital three times already in his young life or he would have stopped breathing. He was coughing like a seal, and his breathing was labored. But every ounce in me told me not to dump him in my car and rush him to the ER. I turned of the monitor so his coughing wouldn't wake up my wife (who sleeps with earplugs...). I knew that in the garage I would not wake either of them. So I stood there, I cried, I screamed in agony, I poured my heart out.... for our son. After almost two hours I went back into the house. The coughing and stopped and fear jumped in me (guess who was doing that?....). Did our son stop breathing again?! No, he was quietly asleep, breathing gently. And he has not suffered any allergy attack since then. I feel I could not have reached God had I kneeled next to our son's bed, have my head bowed, my eyes closed and mumble words of prayer. It would not have been from my heart, but just from my mouth.

So how do you pray?

Lesson 24:

1- Our Heavenly Father.

2- To not have any other Gods.

3- Because it is so easy to worship idols.

4- No.

5- No.

6- An archangel, the same level of influence as Michael the archangel.

7- No, He was, and He is, and He is to come.

8- No, many Christians worship Christ with such intent that they forget that God the Father is Almighty. That He is the One who send Christ, who died for us according to the Father's will. And Christ told us the Father is the one we should pray to.

9- To not ask Him.

10 Ask the Father in His name.

11- The Father.

12- We could loose God's promise.

13- All the nations.

14- Many, including many Christians who leave the Father out of the picture and only focus on Christ.

15- Do not use His name in vain.

16- God's Kingdom and His righteousness.

17- My ten cents: What does Christ teach us? Pray to the Father. Yet in many churches prayer is directed to Christ. And that is good if we thank Him for the sacrifice He made, and we worship Him. But when we ask for healing, blessings, help, anything, Christ said clearly that we should not ask Him anything.

In other churches (I won't mention any denominations) prayer is directed to the Virgin Mary, the apostels, the hundreds of saints (that have been proclaimed saints by the church) and the list goes on and on. If we are to follow Christ's commandments, should we not also follow His instructions on prayer?

If we drive by churches in America we can see many billboards that read "Jesus is Lord". True, but what happened to "God the Father the Almighty being Lord"??

Lesson 25:

1- The New Jerusalem.

2- Yes.

3- The Father.

4- No, only the Father.

5- It is "at hand".

6- Because only the Father knows. If it was written then everyone would know. Besides that if we knew righteousness would become a "timed event".

7-God.

8- Christ's blood to cover us when we mess up.

9- The ten commandments.

10- That we need to do the will of the Father.

11- Our mouth says we believe in Christ, but our hearts do not follow God but Satan.

12- That His true family are those who believe.

13- That God's will is far above our will and our earthly thinking.

14- Either follow the will of God or follow the temptations of Satan.

15- No.

16- No.

17- That He can even keep death away when we actually desire to die in misery.

18- God rules over all.

19- With God nothing will be impossible.

20- "Now what I will, but what You will".

21- Not nearly often enough

22- Thoughts of peace and not of evil, giving you a future and hope.

23- My ten cents: In the introduction all the way in the beginning of this study I mentioned about people praying for "peace on earth". Sounds great. But if we read Revelation we should understand that even though there will be a New Jerusalem, outside of that the earth will not be peaceful at all. And to ever get to that point of the New Jerusalem, the earth will see a lot that will not seem to have any connection with peace whatsoever. Yes, God's Kingdom will come, and it will come according to His will. And there is nothing that we do that changes anything about. And whether we enter into the New Jerusalem or are thrown into the lake of fire, He knows it all already. Before you were born He knew every action you would take, every word you would utter, so He already knew what gate you would take. The wide gate or the narrow one..... So everything will indeed be exactly according to His will.

Lesson 26:

1- On earth.

2- From Heaven

3- The destruction of the angels due to Satan and his rebellious angels, and bringing them to Heaven for judgement.

4- That everyone will look at Satan (Lucifer) as the one who caused it all.

5- Satan burned being cast back to earth.

6- Yes.

7- One-third of all the angels.

8- Were cast to earth with Satan.

9- Yes, everything is always according to God's will.

10- To flood it, and wipe out all wickedness.

11- The great flood.

12- No.

13- Preach the Gospel to them.

14- Fire.

15- Yes.

16- My ten cents: The spirits of the first destruction have been judged already. One-third of them were thrown out of heaven in that process. The spirits of the second destruction are up in heaven, still awaiting judgement. They are there together with the spirits from those who died between the great flood and the time of Christ. They received a second chance when Christ came to them in the three days between His crucifixion and His resurrection and He preached the Gospel to them. And then we have the rest of us who have died or will die until Christ's return. The Word tells us that for anyone who seeks Him, He will reveal Himself. So all who are seeking, will receive the Gospel. Whether we receive it in our hearts or not is the only question remaining. And then earth will be changed drastically. Reading Revelation, it will be so drastic, there will be no mountains standing anymore, nor any islands left..... And that is just a little bit of what is to happen. But there will be no complete wipe-out of mankind. There will still be survivors (who will blaspheme God for all the terrible things that happened in the "end times"), plus that there is the promise of the glorified body and eternal life. For those who are in Christ the cleansing with fire will be the start of an amazing eternity.

Lesson 27:

1- Bread

2- No.

3- Manna / Bread.

4- They who ate it are all dead.

5- Jesus Christ.

6- Live forever.

7- That the bread is His body.

8- Through Christ we can find forgiveness of sin, and authority over demons, which takes us away from the drip of death (Satan).

9- A daily portion of Christ.

10- Very intently!

11- Very easy.

12- Judge ourselves.

13- My ten cents: I specifically used this "breakfast, lunch and dinner" example to make a point clear. I feel that anyone who has gone through this study this far will understand I am appalled by such a translation of the Holy Word. It is not a paraphrased translation, but a twisting of the Word that comes directly from Satan. The reason behind me using this example is that we humans tend to do this all the time. We tend to only read what we want to read and how we want to read it. It is so easy to be dragged along in this kind of unholy practice. If we want to read God's word as God intended it, we should not read it or translate it as we want to read it, but how God wants us to read it. We take the five percent of the Bible that talks about salvation and talk about that ninety-five percent of the time, while ninety-five percent of the Bible talks about our responsibilities which most of us spent only five percent of our time on. Yes, there are consequences in taking "the Bread" in unworthy manner, and we can preach multiple sermons on just that. But we need to consider that the "the Bread" is "the Word". We take "the Bread" in unworthy matter by default if we take any part of "the Word" in unworthy manner by twisting it, leaving out or adding to it.

Lesson 28:

1- That He is very forgiving, but also very just.

2- He forgives all out iniquities.

3- Heal all our diseases.

4- That could very well be.

5- That we call upon Him.

6- Yes; humble ourselves, pray, seek Him, turn from our wicked ways.

7- Forgive.

8- Deliver us to the torturers and have us pay for our sins.

9- Yes.

10- Yes.

11- Our enemies.

12- Because it is not that person doing that to you, but the evil spirit that is dwelling inside that person.

13- Seven times seventy.

14- My ten cents: We have gone over forgiveness in detail in one of the previous lessons. But in the Lord's Prayer there is something else we need to take into consideration. Within Christianity all the talk is about how through Christ we have forgiveness. There is already a lot less talk about how we need to forgive in order to be forgiven. Yet it goes hand in hand. But the forgiveness and forgiving goes also hand in hand with the rest of the Lord's Prayer. So why do we tend to put all our attention on being forgiven, while forgiving and every other word of the Lord's Prayer holds the same importance. Because just talking about being forgiven is easy.....

Lesson 29:

1- Obvious temptation.

2- Satan.

3- A roaring lion / An angel of light.

4- No, it could come across as good things from God.

5- No.

6- No.

7- Bring every though into captivity and into the obedience of Christ (weigh it against the Word).

8- Watch and pray.

9- Submit to God and resist.

10- Prayer.

11- Not more than you can handle.

12- Yes.

13- Better not be ignorant of Satan's devices.

14- To take away our ignorance.

15- Jesus

16- Because He knows we are ignorant of Satan's devices.

17- Death.

18- Satan.

19- The need to be delivered.

20- All sorts of evil.

21- Bring everlasting life.

22- To refrain from willingly sinning or we might not be covered. So do not mis-use and / or abuse Christ's sacrifice.

23- Devils, demons, evil spirits, unclean spirits.

24- Evil temptations come from evil spirits, possibly leading to sin, giving those evil spirits a right to torment us.

25- My ten cents: Satan or his demons are cunning scam artists. They have experience that goes far beyond our skills, knowledge and abilities. The only way we stand a chance is by being completely plugged into God and with Christ we have an extension cord to plug back in when we drift off. Temptation will hit all of us, no matter how faithful of a believer you are. God will not allow more than we would be able to handle, if we do our job. It is in our ignorance and lack of knowledge (while we have God's Word to our availability) that we have a chance to let that temptation turn into the the conception of sin. By then we have given Satan and his demons the signal we are easy to be had. And before we know it our ignorance and lack of knowledge lets that conception turn into habitual sin through which it becomes full grown. It is then that Satan and his demons have you in their grasp. God has delivered you to the torturers. That was death for sure, but we now have Christ. If we admit to have a curse, he can be cursed for us, if we admit our sins and work to overcome them, His sacrifice will forgive us of our sins.We can get back to God by following Christ, repent and overcome. But we can also read that if we have the knowledge to stay away from sin, and we are not ignorant anymore, that no sacrifice covers us anymore.... not even Christ's......

Lesson 30:

1- God the Father.

2- God the Father.

3- God the Father.

4- We would die.

5- Jesus delivers the Kingdom to God the Father.

6- God the Father.

7- Amen: firm, faithful, verily, surely, truly, of a truth, so it is, so it may be fulfilled, believe, faithful, trustworthy.

8- My ten cents: I recall being taught the Lord's Prayer as a child. And we would say it before every meal. But as a child I had no clue what I was saying. It wasn't until my early forties when I started reading the Bible again to find answers, that I suddenly understood what I had been "praying" as a child. Attending several churches after my miracle, it struck me that so many people praying will use parts of the Lord's Prayer, but leave certain areas out. Even the prayer lead by the pastor often addresses only parts but leaves other parts out. Interesting bus that the parts left out are most often hat is related to the spiritual warfare (deliver us....). Or the parts that require our responsibility (as we forgive....), or where our ignorance makes us falter (and lead us not....).

Now how do we then pray the Lord's Prayer? Use the concept, the knowledge, all issues covered, but use your words, your emotions, your heart! And that could be all locked up in a few words if in the heart this includes all that needs to be brought to God, or it could be an hour or more. God understands what you need. He is waiting to see if you (yes you!) understand.

Lesson 31:

1- About 2.3 billion.

2- 1 billion plus.

3- 3 billion or so.

4- About 6 billion in total.

5- 1 million.

6- A 100 million.

7- 101 million.

8- Confirm.

9- About 5.9 billion.

10- There are many who call themselves Christians, but do not live accordingly.

11- They were tested by Satan for their righteousness.

12- No.

13- They suffered so God could be glorified.

14- Yes, Jesus Himself. But outside of Him no others are described.

15- Hundreds, if not thousands, if not ten thousands. Too many to give and exact account.

16- Less then 5% for righteousness or to glorify God, versus more than 95% due to sin issues.

17- I suffer because I have done evil in the sight of the Lord my God.

18- Probably less then 5%.

19- "That is just life" or "I am suffering for Christ".

20- No, they life in ignorance and unbelief.

21- No.

22- That they are being tested for their righteousness.

23- Probably more than 95%.

24- Denying that sin would have any role in their suffering.

25- Very few (less than 5%) claims to suffer due to sin, versus most (more than 95%) claim sin is not the root of their suffering.

26- Self righteousness.

27- That there are (many) more self-proclaimed Christians than true Christians.

28- No.

29- No, God wants us to be healthy and prosperous.

30- My ten cents: When reading the Bible as a book of war, the instructions on how to live become a lot more serious than when we look at just the story of forgiveness and salvation. There are so many Christians who are self-proclaimed Christians. In a large television inquiry the majority of Christians asked if they would go to Heaven answered with "yes, because I have not done anything really bad". They do not understand that that is not the point. We are all sinners, and only through true faith in Christ do we make it into Heaven. And true faith in Christ includes doing the will of the Father. That is the will Christ sought as well.

Taking a statement as "I have not done anything really bad" serious, is the same as taking God's will with a grain of salt. That we shouldn't be too serious with it. That we can easily make it what our human mind wants it to be, rather than what God wants it to be. Then we can declare whatever part we want a myth and / or only believe what we want to believe or what our human mind can conceive.

Consider that self-righteousness falls right into that same category. Instead of judging ourselves so we will not be judged, we consider ourselves so knowledgable and holy that we do not look at the truth of God's Word. Claiming that we are suffering for Christ, or suffer so God can be glorified, without looking at the first possibility that we might have done evil in the sight of the Lord God, has huge consequences. We make claim that we are so in Christ or are so righteous that Satan and his demons would have no grasp on us. What a dangerous statement to make without first considering that Satan and his demons might have the right to make us suffer. If we do not erase every possibility that we have done evil in God's eyes, we proclaim self-righteousness. By claiming that, we claim to either be fail proof in our faith or we do not need Christ's sacrifice because we are sinless. In either way we deny our need for Christ's sacrifice. So in claiming too eagerly that we "suffer for Christ" or "suffer to Glorify God", we could easily in actuality deny Christ.

How happy is Satan with people with a mindset like that. He doesn't even have to put in an effort.

Lesson 32:

1- All things.

2- No. Christ can do ALL things.

3- Because of their unbelief.

4- More evil dwelling within.

5- Christ could not because He knew these people would be worse of in a season.

6- No, also the deliverance minister.

7- Evil could overtake them.

8- We can't.

9- We can't

10- Read their hearts, read if they truly believed.

11- Listen to the Spirit.

12- No, because we don't know what matter of spirit we are of.

13- To ask to be delivered from consequences would be to ask according to the letter of the law / doctrine of men. (It would be like asking to take the "speeding ticket" away, while we should be asking to be delivered from what drove us to speed and endanger ourselves and other people).

14- Yes, because it is not for the right reason.

15- Because nothing would change while we asked. The conclusion that would follow is that either God doesn't exist or doesn't love us, or that demons and deliverance are not real.

16- Increased evil due to empty house. Minister overtaken by evil. Listening to the wrong spirit(s). Prayer seemingly going unanswered, leading to unbelief.

17- Leave it to God, He knows our hearts. That is why in the Lord's Prayer we ask God to deliver us, and we do not ask a deliverance minister.

18- My ten cents: As we can see there is a danger element in deliverance. And that danger is more present than one might think, especially taken the righteous versus self-righteous issue in consideration. Ministers, pastors, priests, or whoever makes it a practice to help people in their deliverance, should be fully aware of these dangers and know how to deal with them, or not practice deliverance. It is not the minister's magical words, it is not the way someone prays, it is not any ritual involved. If that is what a deliverance ministry offers, run!! They consider themselves to be the power to deliverance, rather than God. The true deliverance comes from God, and is based on the faith of the person being delivered.

So how do we make deliverance safe, if we want to help someone? Well, I take this as simple as possible. I cannot see in a persons heart if they will have their house filled with the Word within a season. I cannot see their faith, I cannot even see my own faith. I hope and pray my faith is sufficient, but I too am carnal by nature. But who can see all these things? God can! So when someone asks me to help them with a deliverance, I do not tell evil to leave ("Demon, in the name of Jesus Christ, get out of this man..."). I start with teaching the individual about the ins and outs of the spiritual warfare. I teach them the process of deliverance as well as the dangers. Then I teach them the process of the Lord's Prayer, where we build up to the request to be delivered from evil. I teach the individual about the causes of the curses, why that demon (or demons) has right to dwell within. This includes the sin issues of that person him or her self, but also taking previous generations into consideration. And then I will either let that person do the praying, or if they are incapable of that (to what extend does evil has a grasp on them), I will pray. And I will pray according to the Lord's Prayer. Not those exact words, no vain repetitions, but touching on every aspect that the Lord's Prayer covers. And that includes asking for deliverance if it be God's will. Know that God will not allow that person to be tempted beyond what they can handle, so God will not deliver that person if He knows they will not be able to handle the return of evil within a season.

Lesson 33:

1- To be washed and cleansed.

2- The inside.

3- Our heart and spirit.

4- Because evil things come from with-in.

5- Their outer appearance seemed holy, but the inside was all uncleanness.

6- If we keep our filthiness inside He will not cleanse us again.

7- Cleanse ourselves.

8- Lay aside all evil, wickedness and filthiness.

9- No, it will be painful.

10- They consider that if it hurts it cannot be from God.

11- The streets were open sewers, the animals all did their "business" there. So the feet were probably the dirtiest part of someone's body.

12- Inside.

13- Wash one another's feet.

14- Help each other to be cleansed.

Lesson 34 (and beyond):

The answers in these lessons are truly your own quest. The answers are in the Bible, and you can find a huge cross reference in our book "General Application of the Who Told You Principle. Repent and overcome or Else.....".

Who Is Free From Bondage Ministry? What Does Free From Bondage Ministry Offer? What Does Free From Bondage Ministry Preach?

For answers to these questions I would gladly refer you to our website at www.freefrombondage.weebly.com .
