Lesson 27: The Battle for the Heart

 A Healthy Lifestyle for Your and Your Family

Lesson 27: The Battle for the Heart

1. After Jesus was baptized He went into the wilderness where He fasted for 40 days and then was tempted by the devil. What were Satan’s first words to Jesus? Luke 4:3

“If” is a little big word. Though Satan did not appear as himself to Jesus but as an angel of heaven, this question insinuated that Jesus was not who He claimed to be.

2. Who was Satan, or the devil, and where did he come from? Revelation 12:7-9

3. What was Satan’s name in heaven and what does it mean? Isaiah 14:12

4. What was his position in heaven? Ezekiel 28:14

5. What happened to Lucifer’s heart? Ezekiel 28:17

6. What did he desire? Isaiah 14:13, 14

Lucifer became proud of his beauty and his intellect. He believed that he was entitled to all the honor and worship that was given to God. He finally came to believe that he would be a better ruler than God, thus he would set his throne above God’s throne. He would overthrow the powers of heaven and rule the universe himself. When open war broke out, Satan was no match for the armies of God. When he was expelled, he claimed earth as his own.

7. What will be Satan’s end? Ezekiel 28:18; Isaiah 14:15

“And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day” Jude 1:6.

8. What did Jesus say about Satan’s status in sin and in this world? John 8:44

9. What did Satan tell Jesus to do to prove He was the Son of God? Luke 4:3

“And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God” Luke 4:4

Jesus was starving after His fast. Science has shown that a human can live about 40 days without eating anything, but if he is not fed at that time, he will die of starvation. Jesus was very weak physically, yet He did not succumb to the temptation.

10. Satan took Jesus to a high mountain and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world then told Jesus that he would give them to Him if He would do what? Luke 4:6, 7

“And Jesus answered and said unto him, Get thee behind me, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve” Luke 4:8.

11. Satan set Jesus on one of the pinnacles of the temple, and told Him to do what? Luke 4:9-11

“And Jesus answering said unto him, It is said, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God” Luke 4:12.

Satan misquoted scripture in this attempt to make Jesus disobey His Father just once. Jesus came to earth to live as man lives, not using His own divine power, but relying on His Father for everything. Unless He did so, He could not become man’s Substitute and show us that the law of God could be kept.

12. Why was it necessary for Jesus to be tempted? Romans 5:12, 19

“Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham. Wherefore in all things it behooved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people. For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted” Hebrews 2:14-18.

13. What are the three enticements that the world holds out to each person? 1 John 2:16

It was in these three areas that our Saviour was tempted. Had He turned the stones into bread, He would have succumbed to the lust of the flesh. If He had bowed down to Satan, the lust of the eyes would have been His downfall. Jumping from the pinnacle of the temple would have shown the pride of life. But Jesus had met each temptation in the most effective way possible. He quoted scripture responses to each temptation. We can do the same when we are tempted.

14. We usually connect the word lust with sexual excess and immorality. What behaviors does the Bible call lust? 

A. Psalm 78:18

B. Proverbs 6:25

C. Romans 1:27

D. Romans 7:7

E. 1 Corinthians 10:6

F. 1 Thessalonians 4:5

G. 2 Peter 2:10

H. 2 Timothy 2:22

Concupiscence: longing, especially for what is forbidden.

15. What are we not to fulfil? Galatians 5:16

16. What is the end result of giving in to our lusts? James 1:14, 15

17. What are we to make no provision for? Romans 13:14

“For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world” Titus 2:11, 12.

18. What have Christ’s children done with lust? Galatians 5:24

“I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me” Galatians 2:20.

“I die daily” 1 Corinthians 15:31.

19. How does Paul describe the battle that goes on in the human heart? Galatians 5:17

20. Why does the flesh war against the spirit? Romans 8:7, 8

“For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting” Galatians 6:8.

21. Does Jesus understand what we are going through? Hebrews 4:15

22. What will God do for us when we surrender ourselves to Him? Ezekiel 36:26

“Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes; cease to do evil; Learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow. Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land: But if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be devoured with the sword: for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it” Isaiah 1:16-20.

23. What has God given us to help us overcome our lusts? 2 Peter 1:4

24. How can we know that we are living in the end of time? Matthew 24:37-39

25. What was the condition of the earth at the time of the flood? Genesis 6:11-13

26. What were the people like then? Genesis 6:5

27. What has Jesus promised to those who overcome the enemy and faithfully follow Him? 

A. Revelation 2:7

B. Revelation 2:11

C. Revelation 2:17

D. Revelation 2:26

E. Revelation 3:5

F. Revelation 3:12

G. Revelation 3:21

Next Lesson: A Land Where We Never Grow Old