Lesson 1: Introduction

The deadliest earthquake in history happened in 1556 when an approximately 8.0 earthquake shattered a 520-mile-wide area in central China, killing about 830,000 people. There is not much any of us can do about such an event, but there is a greater disaster happening right now in this world which causes even greater destruction to far more people. This earthquake was a disaster in nature but the disaster in us who are believers in Jesus Christ is a spiritual disaster. It is the destruction that has been going on for the last 2000 years, and has resulted in countless people dying without Jesus Christ as well as countless Christians being sidelined from the battle to which Jesus called each of us who believe in Him.

We as believers in Jesus need to know how and where this battle occurs, we need to know our enemy and recognize his tactics and destructive power. We need to learn how we can face temptation with the protection Jesus has provided for us all so we can be victorious in this battle.

Who is our enemy? Satan and his demons. He wants us to think of him as that ugly character with horns and a tail, so that when we do not see him that way in a temptation, we will not recognize him. The Bible tells us that he can come to us as an angel of light (2 Corinthians 11:14) so he can more easily tempt us away from Jesus. He will make every sin seem to be good or fun or harmless and will always lie about the fear and pain and despair that comes from it as soon as we have yielded.


His tactics of attack will follow three basic areas of your life – what your body wants, what your eyes see, and what your ego desires (1 John 2:16). His attacks are individual – what tempts me may not be any temptation to you at all.

How are we to stand against temptation and win in this battle? How can we fight an enemy we cannot see? Jesus gives us all the spiritual armor we need to stand firm and strong! We are not destined to failure, in fact, He equips us for victory. All we need is to use what He has given us for our battle.

But we also need to recognize what victory looks like. We cannot defeat Satan – Jesus has already done so. We must not focus on our enemy, but on our goal of life. Jesus has given us a job to do here on earth, a job that does not include wealth or fame or “good life” as this world suggests. Our job here is that of ambassador (2 Corinthians 5:20) and priest (1 Peter 2:9-10). We represent Jesus as King, and we seek to bring others to Him to be forgiven and adopted into His family.

*What is the temptation you are most likely to fall into? Ask Jesus to help you put your spiritual armor on, beginning today, so you will learn to stand in the battle against temptation.