ITSOGS

The real war;

When you become a follower of Jesus, you take sides in a battle. You are now involved in the real struggle of the universe. Satan will try to make you useless to God and his kingdom. You will find powerful weapons used against you – lies, temptations, fears and perhaps physical violence. You cannot fight this battle with the weapons of the world. The real war is on a different level.

Our fight is not against human beings. It is against the rulers, the authorities and the powers of this dark world. It is against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly world[S1] .

Attack #1: Untruths about God, his love for you, and his final victory. We live in a world where few people believe that real truth exists or can be known. Many people try to create their own reality. “Why should you trust God? How can you really know if what God says is true?”

Your Defense: Truth

God is the source of all truth. He has chosen to give you real knowledge of himself and his salvation for you. By holding firmly to the truth he has shown you, especially in the bible, you can defeat the lies of Satan.

I don’t fight my battles the way the people of the world do. The weapons I fight with are not the weapons the world uses. My weapons have the power of God to destroy the camps of the enemy. I destroy every claim and every reason that keeps people from knowing God. I keep every thought under control in order to make it obey Christ[S2] .

Attack #2: Temptations to ignore God’s direction for living.

You are invited to enjoy so many sinful pleasures. “After all, how could it hurt? Choose your own lifestyle! Decide your own values! Don’t let anyone judge you! Satisfy your desires!”

Your Defense: Godliness

God himself protects you with the righteousness of Christ. The spirit, who is holy, lives in you to help you live a clean life. Commit yourself to faithfully follow his ways of wisdom. Do the right thing!

Doing right, guards those who are honest. But evil destroys those who are sinful[S3] .

Attack #3: Temptations to believe that God’s ways do not work.

You will hear so-called practical advise about how to get things done in the real world. “Don’t let anyone stand in your way! Do what it takes to get what you want! Watch out for yourself, nobody else will!”

Your Defense: The good news of peace.

The ways of force and violence turn back on those who use them. But the Gospel of peace has power to change lives. It works! The good news from God that his peace will overcome. Let this peace rule in your life.

God’s peace will watch over your hearts and your minds because you belong to Christ Jesus[S4] .

Attack #4: Arrows of doubt about God’s promises.

In a world where science rules and machines work wonders, it can be hard to believe. “Where is the God of Heaven? If Jesus is coming, why has he taken so long? Show me! Prove it!

Your Defense: Faith

Faith is a gift of God. By this gift you can be sure of what you hope for in Jesus. You can be certain of God even though you cannot see him. Learn to see in a new way with the eyes of faith. Trust the God who has already done so much for you.

Everyone who is a child of God has now the battle over the world. Our faith has won the battle for us[S5] .

Attack #5: Bringing charges against you to produce feelings of guilt.

You are attacked again and again by reminders of you sin. “You blew it! You always fail! What is the matter with you? God could never use someone like you!

Your Defense: Understanding your Salvation.

God has taken care of your own sin once and for all through the cross of Jesus. Your salvation in Jesus is firm and cannot be lost. God has already given you a role to play in his kingdom. Go forward with God. Be sure of his power to defeat your sin.

I’m in pain. I’m in deep trouble. God, save me and keep me safe[S6] .

Attack #6: Things that distract you and keep you from growing in God.

You are tempted not to read the bible. It is so easy to fill up your time with other things. “It’s just an old book with other people’s religious opinions. It’s hard to read! You have more important things to do! Take a break! Read it later!

Your Defense: The word of God.

God has given you a strong and active weapon in his word. It is not just words on a page, but his mighty word that does what he wants to do. The bible is the word of God. God will speak to you through it. Read it every day. Study it carefully. Know it deeply. Let it work God’s purposes in you and for you.

The word of God is living and active. It is sharper than any sword that has two edges. It cuts deep enough to separate soul from spirit…It judges the thoughts and purposes of the heart[S7] .

Attack #7: Anything to keep you away from God.

Satan wants you to forget about God, to believe that God really does not make any difference in the world. “Can’t you admit that it is impossible to talk to him? How sill to think God hears or cares about what you say!”

Your Defense: Prayer

Because of your relationship with Jesus, you can come right into the presence of your father. You can freely and openly talk to him, share with him, cry out to him. The very reason God made you was to have this kind of close fellowship with him. Pray all the time! Your love for God will grow deep. And you will be amazed at what God will do.

Spend a lot of time in prayer. Always be watchful and thankful[S8] .

The Final Word

Let the Lord make you strong. Depend on his mighty power[S9] .

Hold on to what you believe. Fight the good fight along with all other believers. Take hold of eternal life[S10] .

But let us give thanks to God! He wins the battle for us because of what our Lord Jesus Christ has done[S11] .

[S1]Ephesians 6:12

[S2]2 Corinthians 10:3-5

[S3]Proverbs 13:6

[S4]Phil. 4:7

[S5]1 John 5:4

[S6]Psalm 69:29

[S7]Hebrews 4:12

[S8]Colossians 4:2

[S9]Ephesians 6:10

[S10]2 Timothy 6:11-12

[S11]1 Corinthians 15:57

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Visiting Hours with God;

Moses led God’s people into an awful trap. They were surrounded. On one side was the ocean and on the other was an army that wanted to kill them. Moses prayed – desperately – And God split the sea so they could escape. Another time, the apostle Peter was in prison, chained up and guarded by sixteen men. The night before he was sentenced, an Angel of the Lord visited him. This angel broke through Peter’s chains and walked him right past the guards.. Peter’s friends were so surprised when he knocked on their door that they forgot to answer it. They had been praying for him, but when they saw him, they thought Peter’s ghost had interrupted their all-night prayer service. One of the amazing things about prayer is how powerful it is. God hears us when we pray, even if we’re not exactly sure how we should do it.

Ask, and you will receive what you ask for. Then your joy will be complete[S1] .

God loves to answer our prayers in amazing ways. Yet you might not feel convinced.

Lord, teach us to pray[S2] .

Prayer is one of the deepest, most mysterious things a Christian can do. Some aspects of it are always true:

God always wants us to pray, for ourselves and for others;

The bible is full of prayers. People prayed for themselves. For those they called for and for those they had never met. God helps us know what to pray for. Throughout the day he sends his spirit to point out different ways for us to pray. It is almost as if the Holy Spirit taps on our shoulder and points to some place the Lord is working. We can thank God for something, ask for his help or invite him to join us in whatever we’re doing.

We don’t know what we should pray for. But the spirit himself prays for us… The spirit prays for God’s people just as God wants him to pray[S3] .

God wants to amaze us with his awesome power;

Prayer joins human effort with God’s power. One person can change the world if he only understands God’s plan for it and prays. For more than three years, not a drop of rain had fallen. God told his prophet Elijah to gather all his people together. For many months these people had been begging their false gods for rain. Now it is time for the people to make a choice. Elijah told them to prepare an offering to their gods, while he prepared an offering to the living God. He then killed a bull, cut it up and spread the pieces on a pile of wood. While the huge crowd was crying out to their gods, Elijah poured bucket after bucket of water on his offering pile. At the end of the day, when the other gods had still not responded, Elijah called out to the living God. Immediately the fire of the Lord came down from heaven and burned the sacrifice. And for the first time in three years, the sky suddenly grew dark and it began to rain. God wants you to be someone who causes great things to happen on earth.

God is able to do far more than we could ever ask or imagine[S4] .

God wants us to praise him and thank him;

The Old Testament prophet Daniel got caught praying. For his punishment, he got thrown into a den with some hungry lions. Daniel started to pray. Early the next morning, the king who had put Daniel in the lion’s den, hurried down to see how he was.

Daniel told the king, “My God sent his angel. And his angel shut the mouths of the lions[S5] .

Amazed, the king sent a letter to people all across the empire, ordering them to respect and honor Daniel’s God. People praised God in every language for his miracle. Daniel probably prayed for safety that night. And like Daniel we all have things we want from God. But what has God already given you or done for you that you can thank you for? Sometimes we find ourselves in a room full of lions. Thanking God for what’s happening is the last thing we feel like doing. But thanking God for the difficult, unpleasant events shows we trust him.

We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him[S6] .

Never stop praying. Give thanks no matter what happens[S7] .

The final word;

God knows what’s happening to you, what you’re thinking and what you need, no matter where you are. He wants you to turn your thoughts toward him throughout the day. He longs for you to ask him for help. For yourself, for the people around you, for the world. He wants to visit with you, right where you are now.

Let us come near God with an honest and true heart. Let us come near with a faith that is sure and strong[S8] .

[S1]John 16:24

[S2]Luke 11:1

[S3]Romans 8:26-27

[S4]Ephesians 3:20

[S5]Daniel 6:22

[S6]Romans 8:28

[S7]1 Thessolians 5:17-18

[S8]Hebrews 10:22

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Life in God’s kingdom is life together. Do not try to walk alone with Jesus. Find other followers of Jesus and meet regularly with them. When the body of Christ gathers, there is joy in sharing, music, prayer, teaching & worship. You can also expect to find:

A place to Belong;

As members of God’s family, the followers of Jesus come together by God’s Spirit. Here is a place you can know that you really belong. Here is where you can find support, encouragement and real friendship. God himself welcomes you into his household of faith. So you are no longer strangers and outsiders. You are citizens together with God’s people. You are members of God’s family.

And because you belong to him, you too are being built together. You are being made into a house where God lives through his spirit[S1] .

A place to serve;

The spiritual body, of Christ works together like a physical body. Each member of Christ’s body has a special purpose and job. You can find the special gifts God has given you by serving others. Soon you will see where God has gifted you.

Each of us has one body with many parts. And the parts do not all have the same purpose, so also we are many persons. But in Christ, we are one body. And each part of the body belongs to all the other parts. We all have gifts. They differ in keeping with the grace that God has given to each of us…Is it your gift to serve? Then serve. Is it teaching? Then teach. Is it giving to those in need? Then give freely. Is it being a leader? Then work hard at it[S2] .

A place to be served;

The different parts of the body depend on each other. As you serve others, you in turn will find God using others to meet your needs. God wants us to know the blessing of supporting each other.

But God has joined together all the parts of the body…In that way, the parts of the body will not take sides. All of them will take care of each other. If one part suffers, every part suffers with it. If one part is honored, every part shares in its joy[S3] .

There are different kinds of gifts. But they are all given by the same spirit. There are different ways to serve. But they all come from the same Lord. There are different ways to work. But the same God makes it possible for all of us to have all those different things. The Holy Spirit is given to each of us a special way. That is for the good of all[S4] .

A place to grow;

Just as your physical body needs food, so too your spiritual life needs to be fed. Jesus wants you to grow and mature in your faith. Your spiritual life and your service. The spiritual food you need, includes teaching from God’s word, sharing with other believers, and prayer & praise to God.

We will the truth in love. We will grow up into Christ in every way. He is the head. He makes the whole body grow and build itself up in love. Under the control of Christ, each part of the body does its work. It supports the other parts. In that way, the body is joined and held together[S5] .

A place to Obey;

The Christian faith is personal, but not private. Healthy and growing followers of Jesus are not loners. It is by living in community with others that you test how well you obey the great command of Love. Jesus called them together. He said, “…Anyone who wants to be important among you must be your servant. And anyone who wants to be the first must be the slave to everyone. Even the son of man did not come to be served. Instead he came to serve others. He came to give his life as the price for setting many people free[S6] .”

The final word;

A prayer for Jesus for the followers:

“Father, I pray that all of them will be one, just as you are in me and I am in you. I want them also to be in us. Then the world will believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory you gave me. I did this so they would be one; just as we are one…I want them to be brought together perfectly as one[S7] .”

[S1]Ephesians 2:22

[S2]Romans 12:4-8

[S3]1 Corinthians 12:24-26

[S4]1 Corinthians 12:4-7

[S5]Ephesians 4:15-16

[S6]Mark 10:42-45

[S7]John 17:21-23

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When we decide to follow Jesus, we become members of God’s family. All Christians are adopted into this family. The followers of Jesus are not people who stay by themselves in their walk with the Lord. God’s salvation produces a new community – The people of God:

But God chose you to be his people. You are Royal Priests. You are a holy nation. You are a people who belong to God. All of this is so that you can sing his praises. He brought you out of darkness into his wonderful light. Once you were not a people. But now you are the people of God[S1] .

This new gathering of people is called the body of Christ.

You are the body of Christ. Each one of you is a part of it[S2] .

[S1]1 Peter 2:9-10

[S2]1 Corinthians 12:27

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Have respect for God and obey his commandments. That’s what everyone should do[S1] .

At one time you were in the dark. But now you are in the light, because of what the Lord has done. Live like children of the light[S2] .

Do everything you say or do in the name of the Lord Jesus. Always give thanks to God the father through Christ[S3] .

[S1]Ecclesiastes 12:13

[S2]Ephesians 5:8

[S3]Colossians 3:17
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