The Christian would have no hope of victory over the forces of evil unless the stage was set for it. In last week’s study it became clear that Christ, through His death on the cross and His resurrection from the grave, gained victory over all sorts of evil and anti-godly “powers.” In a very real … Continue reading –>
Read for This Week’s Study: Eph. 1:18-22, Rom. 8:26-39, James 4:7, 1 Pet. 5:6-10,Luke 10:1-20, Acts 5:12-16. Memory Text: “Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us” (Romans 8:37, NKJV). Key Thought: In Christ, we have victory over all forces that would oppress us. In some parts of the world, religion is basically a source of … Continue reading –>
Read Ellen G. White, The Book of Books, p. 136, in Fundamentals of Christian Education; Spiritualism, pp. 394, 395, in The Story of Redemption; Agency of Evil Spirits, pp. 511-517, in The Great Controversy. “A battle unseen by human eyes is being waged. The army of the Lord is on the ground, seeking to save souls. Satan and his host are … Continue reading –>
A boy stood on the bank of a lake tossing bread crumbs into the water. Small minnows and larger fish came to the surface to grab the crumbs. I thought of Ecclesiastes 11:1 which says, “Cast your bread upon the waters, for after many days you will find it again” (NIV). The Church’s radio and television ministries … Continue reading –>
[Thought Questions for Growing in Christ October 31, 2012] 1. Our victory. It’s not automatic, or is it? Since God has enough love to save everyone in the universe, why doesn’t He? If there was no devil alive to tempt us, to glorify sin, could we be good enough to be saved? Isn’t it the … Continue reading –>
Christ came into the world for the purpose of destroying the works of the devil (Heb. 2:14). This, He has done at the cross. But if Christ has been victorious over the devil and principalities and powers, why are we still wrestling with principalities and powers? Why is the devil still able to roam about like … Continue reading –>
As we saw, the word translated as principalities could refer to world rulers or supernatural powers that attempt to exercise control over human life. Another Greek word that is used in conjunction with the word principalities (archai) is the word stoicheia, which literally means elements, or elementary substances or principle. The contexts in which stoicheia is used reveal other aspects … Continue reading –>
Key Thought : Jesus proved victorious over evil in His life and at the cross. He also showed that Satan’s challenges to God’s government were based on lies. [Teaching plan for Growing in Christ October 29, 2012] 1. Have a volunteer read Romans 6:12-16. A. Ask class members to share a short thought on … Continue reading –>
The Bible pictures our world as being under the dominion of evil forces seeking to control and to ultimately destroy us. The great controversy is, of course, the result of the Lord’s work against these powers. The great news is that, after the Cross, victory against them is assured, even though the battle continues to … Continue reading –>
When we understand redemption as freedom from a form of enslavement that required external assistance, we may conclude that sinful humanity is bound by a power or influence stronger than itself. The question that needs to be answered is, by what power or agency has sinful humanity been so bound? Study Romans 6:12-23. Notice that in … Continue reading –>
