Notes from a September 2012 conference regarding spiritual battle

1 Peter 5:8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:

Truths About Spiritual Battle – (conference speaker: Marvin Smith)

Understand that Satan has already been defeated; We need not give him any control in our lives!
- Satan was defeated in Heaven
- Satan was defeated by Christ in the wilderness
- Satan was defeated by Christ in hell

Understand that one of Satan's goal is to wear us out (Dan 7:25).
- Satan is not trying to defeat God; he knows his future. Satan isn't targeting a lost men – he already has them. Rather, Satan is targeting saved people! (that he might distract us from living for Christ & serving our Savior)
  - Rev 13:7 -- Satan makes war with the saints
  - Rev 12:12- Satan has wrath - knowing that he cannot win

Understand that Satan tells us LIES about God, others, self:
- Lies Satan tells us about God: God doesn't really LOVE you, ACCEPT you or CARE ABOUT you. God isn't fair/ God ripped you off, GOD CANNOT USE ME; cannot forgive me; God cannot be trusted;
- Lies Satan tells us about others: nobody cares; nobody loves me; the preacher is against me; the church does not accept me; no one understands me; everyone is a hypocrite; my parents do/don't love me; my spouse doesn't love me / care about me;
- Lies Satan tells me about myself:I'll never amount to anything; I'm stupid; I'm ugly (that's an offense to God!); I can't get victory; I'm worthless (we aren't worthy or worthless); I'm too filthy to be used of God; I am not accepted; I will never be loved; I cannot do anthing for God / my work isn't important.

Understand that we should combat Satan's lies with the truth of God’s word!
- Some great Biblical truths:
  - We have been crucified with Christ (gal 2:20); buried with him (to 6:4-5); raised up with him (Eph 2:6; ro 6:5); I am seated with Christ (Eph 2:6);
  - The Spirit of God desires to renew us each day!
  - Truths about our Salvation:
    - Past: We have been justified / positional sanctification
    - Present: We are growing in practical sanctification
    - Future: we will be glorified
  - Great truths about the results of my salvation in Christ:
    - … I am accepted by the Father (Eph 1:6)
    - … I am God's child (John 1:12)
    - … I am justified - ro 6:1
    - … I have been adopted as God's child (Eph 1:5)
    - … I have direct access to God
    - … I have been forgiven - Col 1:14
    - … I am complete in Christ
    - ….I have been appointed to bare fruit - John 15:1
    - … I am a personal witness of Christ
    - … I am a new creation in Christ
    - … I am God's workmanship
    - … I can do all things in Christ
    - … I am more than a conqueror in Christ

James 4:7 "Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you."