Fight for God’s spiritual family!

Topics: God, spiritual family,

I. God's plan for his spiritual family!

A. Satan deceived our first parents to breakup our spiritual family!

Now the serpent was more crafty than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said to the woman, "Indeed, has God said . . . " (Genesis 3:1a).

B. God's love for the human race fostered His plan of redemption!

1. And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her seed; He shall bruise you on the head, and you shall bruise him on the heel? (Gen 3:15).
2. See Genesis 12:1-3.

II. God's person for his spiritual family!

A. Satan seeks to disrupt anything that advances God's plan!

1. And the great dragon was thrown down, the serpent of old who is called the devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him (Revelation 12:9).
2. And his tail swept away a third of the stars of heaven and threw them to the earth. And the dragon stood before the woman who was about to give birth, so that when she gave birth he might devour her child (Revelation 12:4).

B. God's justice requires a sinless human to pay the ransom!

Therefore, since the children share in flesh and blood, He Himself likewise also partook of the same, that through death He might render powerless him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, and might free those who through fear of death were subject to slavery all their lives (Hebrews 2:14, 15).

III. God's people make his spiritual family!

A. Satan targets Jews and Christians to thwart God's plan!

So the dragon was enraged with the woman, and went off to make war with the rest of her children, who keep the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesus (Revelation 12:17).

B. God's victory is assured for those who trust His Son!

"Truly, truly, I say to you, an hour is coming and now is, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live" (John 5:25; see 1 Peter 2:9).

Sermon by Pastor Rod Akins, May 19^th, 2024

Life group flow and discussion questions

Fight for God's spiritual family!

An important Guideline of Life Groups: Understanding the spiritual battle raging behind the "flesh and blood" struggles gives Christians a gracious boldness to pray fervently and to express truth in love (Ephesians 6:12). How can your Life Group help equip one another in this spiritual warfare?

Getting Started:

1. Why is it important to understand the Abrahamic Covenant (Genesis 12:1-3; 15:4-7) involves three things: Blessing, Land and Posterity.
2. How has Satan tried to thwart God's plan of redemption throughout human history? What is he doing in our time to try and sabotage Christ's victorious return?

Discussing Truths:

1. What do you think of the Bumper Sticker that reads: "Fight like a Real Man - Get on your knees and Pray!"?
2. How does the existence of Israel as a restored nation since 1948 and its continual survival "against all odds" confirm the reliability of Scripture and the promises of God?
3. Why is the tiny land of Israel (about 8,000 square miles) compared to the 22-member State of the Arab League (over 5 million square miles) such a contested piece of real estate?
4. What constitutes a true spiritual Jew in God's perspective (Romans 2:28, 29; 9:27-29; 11:25-27; Matthew 4:7-12)?
5. How can you know if you are part of God's Spiritual Family (John 1:12-14; Rom 8:9-17)?
6. Why does God's plan and Satan's attacks operate through human beings?

Now What? Application:

1. Pray fervently for the salvation of all involved in the Middle East conflict: Palestinians, Israelites, Arabs, Muslims, Druids and lost pagans of all kinds (Romans 10:1).
2. Take a stand against antisemitism and all prejudice that seeks to promote Satan's agenda and disrupt God's gracious plan of redemption.