Online Bible Study
LESSON ONE-THE INVISIBLE WAR
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LESSON ONE
THE INVISIBLE WAR
KEY VERSE
For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against
powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual
wickedness in high places. (Ephesians 6:12)
INTRODUCTION
As you learned in the introduction to this lesson, there is a great war being
waged in the world today. It is not a conflict between nations, tribes, or
government leaders. It is not a rebellion or a coup. It is an invisible battle
taking place in the spirit world. This lesson introduces the invisible war in
which every believer is engaged. It is a war where no
one wears a uniform, but where everyone is a target. The historical and
prophetical record of this war is contained in God's Word, the Bible.
THE NATURAL AND SPIRITUAL REALMS
To understand this invisible war, you must first understand the natural and
spiritual worlds. Man exists in two worlds: The natural world and the spiritual
world. The natural world is that which can be seen, felt, touched, heard, or
tasted. It is tangible and visible. The country, nation, city or village in which
you live is part of the natural world. You
are a resident in a natural kingdom located on one of the visible continents
of the world. You can see the people who are part of your environment. You
can communicate with them. You can experience the sights, sounds, and
smells around you. But there is another world in which you live. That world is
a spiritual world. You cannot see it with your physical eyes, but it is just as
real as the natural world in which you live. Paul speaks of this division of
natural and spiritual:
There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body. (I Corinthians 15:40)
All men have a natural body which lives in the natural world. But man is also
a spiritual being with an eternal soul and spirit. Man is body, soul, and spirit.
Your spiritual being (soul and spirit) is part of a spiritual world just as your
natural body is part of the natural world.
SPIRITUAL DISCERNMENT
Because spiritual warfare is just that...spiritual...it must be understood with a
spiritual mind. In our natural, sinful state, we can not understand spiritual
things:
But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they
are foolishness unto him; neither can he know them, because they are
spiritually discerned. (I Corinthians 2:14)
THE INVISIBLE WAR
KEY VERSE
For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against
powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual
wickedness in high places. (Ephesians 6:12)
INTRODUCTION
As you learned in the introduction to this lesson, there is a great war being
waged in the world today. It is not a conflict between nations, tribes, or
government leaders. It is not a rebellion or a coup. It is an invisible battle
taking place in the spirit world. This lesson introduces the invisible war in
which every believer is engaged. It is a war where no
one wears a uniform, but where everyone is a target. The historical and
prophetical record of this war is contained in God's Word, the Bible.
THE NATURAL AND SPIRITUAL REALMS
To understand this invisible war, you must first understand the natural and
spiritual worlds. Man exists in two worlds: The natural world and the spiritual
world. The natural world is that which can be seen, felt, touched, heard, or
tasted. It is tangible and visible. The country, nation, city or village in which
you live is part of the natural world. You
are a resident in a natural kingdom located on one of the visible continents
of the world. You can see the people who are part of your environment. You
can communicate with them. You can experience the sights, sounds, and
smells around you. But there is another world in which you live. That world is
a spiritual world. You cannot see it with your physical eyes, but it is just as
real as the natural world in which you live. Paul speaks of this division of
natural and spiritual:
There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body. (I Corinthians 15:40)
All men have a natural body which lives in the natural world. But man is also
a spiritual being with an eternal soul and spirit. Man is body, soul, and spirit.
Your spiritual being (soul and spirit) is part of a spiritual world just as your
natural body is part of the natural world.
SPIRITUAL DISCERNMENT
Because spiritual warfare is just that...spiritual...it must be understood with a
spiritual mind. In our natural, sinful state, we can not understand spiritual
things:
But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they
are foolishness unto him; neither can he know them, because they are
spiritually discerned. (I Corinthians 2:14)