THE DEVIL GOES TO CHURCH
PRAYER AS SPIRITUAL WARFARELesson 8: The Nature of Our Victory
This lesson will show the contrast between Jesus’ love of unity and Satan’s desire for division. It is so important that believers understand that the nature of our victory is the finished work of Christ on the cross.
In this lesson you will:
• understand that because Jesus loves unity, Satan hates it.
• learn to pray with Jesus for unity.
• understand that the nature of our victory over Satan is the work of Christ alone!
Reading:
• The Devil Goes to Church – Chapter 5 pgs. 64-65
• The Devil Goes to Church – Chapter 8
• John 17
Video 8: The Nature of Our Victory
Discussion Questions:
1. Have you been aware that the devil goes to church? What ways have you seen Satan work at dividing the church in this nation? In your own church?
2. Did you resonate with Dave’s story about the “contemporary” music in the church he pastored? Were you convicted about any ways you may have been or are currently critical about how things are done at your church? Did it make you aware of some ways you could interject the love of Jesus by setting aside your preferences in favor of what God might want? Explain.
3. Talk as a group about what to do regarding any potentially divisive issues in your church and how you can be an instrument of unity rather than division.
4. How have you seen Satan mess with the things Jesus wants to have happen in your own life?
5. How could John 17 inform your praying for the Church?
6. How did the story of the arm-wrestling ant help you to recognize and understand the nature of our victory over Satan? Was this a helpful illustration? Why or why not?
Download Lesson 8 Discussion Questions
Watch Dave’s Summary Video (2-3 minutes)
Spend Time in Prayer
Dave mentioned that learning to pray with Jesus over time will help you to get to a point where “you would rather die than divide the body of Christ.” Take time to pray through John 17 as intercession for the Church in this nation and around the world.
Here are some other ways to pray for your church:
• Pray about being like-minded. “Finally, brethren, rejoice, be made complete, be comforted, be like-minded, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you” (2 Corinthians 13:11).
• Pray to be of one heart and one soul. “And the congregation of those who believed were of one heart and soul; and not one of them claimed that anything belonging to him was his own, but all things were common property to them” (Acts 4:32).
• Pray that the attitudes and thoughts of all believers will be constantly changing for the better. “Now your attitudes and thoughts must all be constantly changing for the better” (Ephesians 4:23).
• Pray to be one in Christ with all believers. “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus (Galatians 3:28).
• Pray that Christ-followers will be known for loving one another. “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another” (John 13:35).
• Pray that people in your church and in the Church will work together with one heart and mind and purpose. “Then make me truly happy by loving each other and agreeing wholeheartedly with each other, working together with one heart and mind and purpose. Don’t be selfish; don’t live to make a good impression on others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourself” (Philippians 2:2-3).
• Pray for believers to pursue things which make for peace and which will build others up. “So then we pursue the things which make for peace and the building up of one another” (Romans 14:19).
• Pray that your church will grow in the practice of corporate prayer. “Again I say to you, that if two of you agree on earth about anything that they may ask, it shall be done for them by My Father who is in heaven. For where two or three have gathered together in My name, I am there in their midst“ (Matthew 18:19-20).
• Pray that every believer will work to equip the saints and build up the body of Christ to reach unity. “And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ; until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ: (Ephesians 4:11-13).
Because of Christ’s victory over Satan, make this declaration from Romans 16:20 together in unison and unity:
“The God of peace will soon crush Satan under our feet!”
Our victory must still be lived out in real-time. Take the Next Step below to do just that!
Next Steps:
Consider Psalm 133:1 – “How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity!”
This week and into the future, consider how God is asking you to be an instrument of unity. Act on His prompting and watch God have the victory over Satan through you!
Supplemental Material for Lesson 8:
5 Ways to Promote Unity in the Church
Can one person actually make a difference? I believe so. Here are some simple steps to promoting unity not only in your own church home, but in the church as a whole:
1. Avoid gossip and assumptions. When we don’t know the reason for something, we love to assume we have the answer based on what we’ve seen and heard. Here’s an idea: if you have a question, ask the person in question. You will never know the real story unless you go to the source.
2. Talk to someone you don’t know. Some of my best friendships have been formed as a result of approaching someone new. Our first impressions of people are often far from true, and often what we perceive as being standoffish is a person simply waiting for us to make the first move.
3. Don’t sweat the small stuff. I have known many who have left a church because they did not agree with every single detail of a pastor’s teaching. The truth is, if you keep this mindset, you will be continually disappointed. Your pastor is learning and growing just like you are. If your church is preaching the Gospel and truth about how to receive salvation, you can afford to disagree on secondary issues.
4. Pray for your church. Pray for its leaders. Pray for its body and each member. Pray, just as Jesus did, that you will be one in Spirit and purpose. This is the most important but easily the most overlooked step we can take.
5. Contribute. We are a body. If one part is not contributing his or her gifts, the entire church suffers. Find the area where you thrive and get involved. Not only will the church benefit, but you will as well.
Adapted from a blog by Abby McDonald, 2015
https://abbymcdonald.org/2015/02/5-ways-to-promote-unity-in-the-church/
**The bibliography at the end of The Devil Goes to Church has many additional resources that can be utilized for further study.
** Remember – there are many additional study questions at the end of each chapter in The Devil Goes to Church.
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