Questions:
7.
- snatches away the seed sown in hearts of uneducated (seed along the path)
- Sows weeds among the seeds
- murderer from the beginning, no truth in him, he lies, native tongue is lies, the father of lies
- the prince of this world who will be thrown out and condemned
- god of this age, blinds the mind of unbelievers
- ruler of the kingdom of the air, a spirit working in the disobedient
8.
a.
Because of us. We were told to rule this world, yet we don’t fight the prince who seeks to usurp and destroy the kingdom
b.
not omnipresent, not omniscient, only has what power God allows. Cannot stand up against the true word of scripture. he and his followers faces eternal torment.
9.
- prayer and confession of sins, pray for each other
- Fasting
- armor of God, the sword of the word of God
- Submission to God. Resist the devil and he will flee (torment from satan is always temporary)
My Daily Journal:
When I see pictures on the news of Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria, etc., I am always amazed to see how people find ways to live their daily lives in the midst of a war zone. Children play among bombed out cars. Mothers scurry to cross streets with their children for food and education. They survive through vigilance. They are not stronger than the men with guns, but they know where to find shelter and protection. They are never complacent. They are never blind to the battle being fought around them, nor do they forget whose side they are on.
Our lesson today reminded me of the fact that, as christians on the earth, we live in a war zone. We were given the command to rule this earth, but we have allowed the prince of the air to usurp our authority and command in our stead. We were called to be soldiers and equipped with the strongest shelter and most powerful weapons, yet we try to rely on our own man-made shelters for protection and our own wit for a weapon. But mostly, we too often become unaware or even in denial that there is a battle going on. If that occurred on the streets of a terrorist controlled village in the middle east we would consider the person insane or suicidal, but when we do it, we consider it normal, realistic and rational.
I am not advocating that we spend our lives in fear or in a constant focus on the forces of evil. I believe our focus should remain on our supreme commander. However, I am concerned that we go about our day forgetting or being too careless or complacent to wrap ourselves in prayer, fasting, submission to God and strengthening ourselves with His word. Take the time to suit up – it is the rational thing to do.
The Notes are Good 