Entering Into God’s Presence

Knowing Who God Is: His Names

Warrior

To Study and Ponder

God the Warrior:

• God is described as a warrior many times in the scriptures. Read these verses.

• The Lord is a warrior; Yahweh is his name. Exodus 15:3

• The Lord your God is going ahead of you. He will fight for you, just as you saw him do in Egypt. Deu 1:30. Also read Exo 14:14,1Chr 20:17, 32:7-8, Isa 42:13, Jer 20:1, Zep 3:17

• He is recognized as a hero. The Lord will march forth like a mighty hero; he will come out like a warrior, full of fury. He will shout his battle cry and crush all his enemies. Isaiah 42:13

• But the LORD stands beside me like a great warrior. Before him my persecutors will stumble. They cannot defeat me.They will fail and be thoroughly humiliated... Je. 20:11

• In the Old Testament God fought for and with His people against their enemies. They won impossible battles (Gideon Judges 7–8:21, David & Goliath 1 Samuel 17:1-27,32-52). He sent hornets (Exodus 23:28). He brought confusion and hail (Joshua 10:7-11).

The Enemy:

• There is an enemy (Satan) who wants to destroy the life God has for every person

• The enemy began by tempting Eve, breaking relationship with God, bringing death (Genesis 3).

• Jesus said that the enemy’s plan is to “kill, steal and destroy” (John 10:10).

• Paul tells us about  evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, .... mighty powers in this dark world, ... evil spirits in the heavenly places.  Ephesians 6:12

Jesus the Warrior:

• Jesus was a warrior on earth fighting against Satan’s plan to “kill, steal and destroy” by bringing  life (John 10:10).  He healed people, set people free from demons, raised some from the dead.  He also made sure his mother would be protected (John 19:26-7).

• The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil’s work. 1 John 3:8b

• When Jesus died and was raised to life he conquered the death the enemy brought into the world  “Death has been swallowed up in victory. O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting? ... But thank God! He gives us victory over sin and death through our Lord Jesus Christ. 1Corinthians 15:55,57

• Jesus will return as a warrior king, His eyes like blazing fire, crowns on his head, his word a sharp sword. He will ride a white horse, ready for battle, with all the armies of heaven following him (Rev 19:11-16) This will not be a secret, everyone will see him! Rev 1:7

God's people are warriors:

• We may not fight physical battles but we all fight against ..…

• Jesus follower Peter says Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. Stand firm against him, and be strong in your faith. 1Peter 5:8-9a

• As Jesus’ followers we are a part of bringing His kingdom on earth now, and will be a part of establishing His kingdom on earth after His return – we need to be trained and ready.

• May your Kingdom come soon. May your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven. Matthew 6:10

• Ephesians 6:14-18 tells us to put on armor (belt of truth,breastplate of righteousness, shoes of readiness, shield of faith, helmet of salvation) and weapons(sword of His word, prayer) that God gives us for the battles. Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. Eph.6:11

• keep away from worldly desires that wage war against your very souls. 2Peter 1:11b

• God wants us to recognize our need to rely on HIM as the One who fights for us.

• Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. Ephesians 6:10-11 (Also read Psalm 33:16-18, 20)

Memory/Meditation verses

Lower Grades: We put our hope in the LORD. He is our help and our shield. Psalm 33:20 (NLT)

The Lord is my strength and my song; he has given me victory. This is my God, and I will praise him—my father’s God, and I will exalt him! The Lord is a warrior; Yahweh is his name!   Exodus 15:2-3 (NLT)

Middle Grades: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. Ephesians 6:10-11 (NLT)

For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places. Ephesians 6:12  (NLT)

Upper Grades: Then I saw heaven opened, and a white horse was standing there. Its rider was named Faithful and True, for he judges fairly and wages a righteous war. His eyes were like flames of fire, and on his head were many crowns.  Revelation 19:11-12a  (NLT)

We are human, but we don’t wage war as humans do. We use God’s mighty weapons, not worldly weapons, to knock down the strongholds of human reasoning and to destroy false arguments. We destroy every proud obstacle that keeps people from knowing God. We capture their rebellious thoughts and teach them to obey Christ.  2 Corinthians 10:3-5 (NLT)