A Bird’s Eye View

Str Eph.4
l. 3 hri
st

ip :22
nC
: 27

off
to

sin
Ga
Pu

Engage truth

Exercise humble
authority and resist

James 4:7 (e.g. Jude 9)

 The Divine Drama
Act 1: Creation
Act 2: Bondage through the fall
Act 3: God's people called to freedom
Act 4: Freedom established on the cross
Act 5: Freedom inaugurated in the church
Act 6: Final freedom: Christ’s return
 Unit One:

The Divine Drama of Spiritual

Conflict in the Old Testament
 Act 1: The Creation
Genesis 1-2

Event Themes

 God's creation of the  God is the sovereign

universe creator.
 God’s creation of  People are made in
humankind God's image; our
purpose is to glorify
Him.
 Our Firm Foundation: God
 God's Nature: Sovereign Creator
 God's Identity: Loving, merciful Father
 God's Goal: Unfold the Kingdom through
human history
 Implications of God as Sovereign
Creator
 He simply speaks, and what is spoken happens
 Creation is God’s choice
 Everything that exists does so only because God
chooses to allow it—that choice continues today
 Nothing that God made is intrinsically evil—God
likes matter, since He invented it!
 The world is to be utilized and enjoyed—while
also being respected as God’s creation
Our Firm Foundation: God
 We are made in God’s image
 We have the ability to choose
 We provoke jealousy in Satan by virtue of
who we are
 We were designed to connect to the one
whose image we bear
 We must worship—either God or idols
 Act 2: The Fall
Genesis 3-11

Events Themes

 The temptation, fall,  Satan's nature and

and banishment of purposes
Adam and Eve (Gen.
 The battle for the
3)
mind
 The fall of the nations
(Gen. 11)
 The Fall: Concluding Observations
 Satan cannot coerce; he can only convince
 In contrast to God, Satan is a “discreator”
 Adam and Eve were tempted to take a generous
provision of God and pervert it. Core of temptation:
question who God is and who we are.
 After succeeding in his quest, Satan disappears from the
scene (he deserts his victims)
 Immediate results of the fall include guilt, fear, unbelief,
brokenness in relationships, and struggle with an enemy
 The fall continues through Genesis 11, when the nations
show they have fallen.
 Our Antagonists:
Satan and Demons
 Their Nature: Rebellious
creatures
 Their Identity: Parents of
lies and murder
 Their Goals: Destruction of
those made in God’s image
 Satan’s Nature

Toward Death
Sifter/ Tempter Deceiver Sinner Destroyer
Accuser
Tester Liar Murderer

Matt.4:3
Luke 22:31 1 Th. 3:5 Rev.12:10 Jn. 8:44 1 Jn.3:8 Jn 10:10a
 Morphing Truth

God’s
Truth

Satan’s Lie
A Dualistic Fantasy:
What Satan Would Have Us Believe
Theistic Truth: God Is in Control!
 The Human Side
 Our Nature: God imaging saints who sin
 Our Identity: Children of God
 Our Goal: Delight in God forever
 Universal Human Needs
 Appetites: Tied to physical nature
 Significance: Connecting to the One we
image
 Security: A place of rest; a sense of
control
 Idols: God Replacements
Near Idols: The Search for Security

 General orientation
 Dominion over Creation
 Control
 Accessible and tangible
 Examples
 Money, possessions, lifestyle
 Expertise, competence
 Health, diet, fitness, body-beautiful
 Result: Enslave and overpower us
 Idols: God Replacements
Far Idols: The Search for Significance

 Core issues:
 Trust: Relating to God
 Meaning and purpose in life
 Less accessible, more overarching
 Examples:
 Hope of happiness or immortality
 Progress as an inevitable force
 Self-esteem
 Results: Evaporate when we need them most
 Satan’s Intended Path

Domination
Deception

Destruction
The Enemy’s Chief Strategy:
Destruction of Relationships on All Fronts
 Act 3: God’s People Called to Freedom
Genesis 12-Malachi

Events Themes

 God calls apart a people  God calls people on the

(Gen. 12-22).
 Moses with Pharaoh
(Exodus 7-9)
 Saul's encounters (1 Sam.
16-19; 28)
 Job's trials (Job 1-2)
 Daniel's vision (Dan.
10:4-11:1)
basis of His mercy, which
He longs to lavish on us.
 Our responsibilities
towards God
 The different levels of
spiritual conflict
 Job’s Trial
 Satan further revealed:
 A limited degree of freedom (to roam)
 Accusation is his primary work
 He can only act within restricted boundaries
 He cannot believe in any person’s integrity
 After proven wrong, there is no repentance
 He has some control over nature and health
 God’s concern is not with Satan but Job
 Job defeats Satan not by direct engagement or
expulsion, but by perseverance!
 Daniel’s Vision
 Satan’s forces:
 A hierarchy of demonic powers
 Some ability to hinder angels on assignment
 God’s forces (angels):
 In this instance were overwhelming in appearance
(Daniel faints)
 Battle the demonic on behalf of God’s people
 Daniel:
 Only hears of the battle; does not directly participate
 His focus is prayer—but not engaging “territorial
spirits”
 Fronts of Warfare

Local Church

Cosmic Each Other

Cultural/
Personal Systemic
 Personal Strongholds

Se
s
i te

cu r
pe t

ity
Ap
Truth
Significance
World View
Corporate Strongholds
(Local)
Organizations

Family/
Kinship
Associations
 Systemic Strongholds
Law/Politics

Economics
Education

Religion