Download II Peter - Mount Calvary Baptist Church

The Holy War
Lesson 3
Goals
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To gain a greater understanding of the spiritual
warfare in which we are engaged.
To develop a greater awareness of the methods
employed by Satan.
To deepen our appreciation for the grace of God
in saving sinners.
To learn more about ourselves through
empathizing with Mansoul (Mansoul = me)
Key Questions
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What primary Bible passages come
to your mind as you read this
assignment?
To what degree does the story
accurately depict Bible teaching?
Week 3
News carried to Shaddai
to
Diabolus doubles his guards
Synopsis
Tidings are brought to Shaddai, and
He announces his plans against
which Diabolus makes preparation.
Synopsis (continued)
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Tidings are brought to Shaddai
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“to a very circumstance.”
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Sorrow in the court
Shaddai and Emmanuel confirm their plans
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Emmanuel to make amends
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Emmanuel to make war
The plans are published abroad
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Joy in the court
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Tidings outrun the proclamation
Synopsis (continued)
Diabolus’ makes a fourfold counter-plan
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1.
To keep the news from Mansoul
2.
To put them under a new oath
3.
To debauch the town even more
4.
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That they might grow weaker and less able to believe
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That Shaddai might change His mind
To lie about Shaddai’s intentions
Synopsis (continued)
• Diabolus
battle
outfits the Mansoulians with armor for
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Helmet of Hope of Doing Well
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Breastplate of Iron-heartedness
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Sword of the Tongue
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Shield of Unbelief
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Spirit of Dumbness and Prayerlessness
• He
doubles the guards at the gate
• The
people practice for war
Discussion
The whole man was corrupted at the fall
Lord Will-be-will
Mayor
Recorder
Lord Understanding
Mr. Conscience
Lord Lustings
Forget-Good
Mr. Mind (clerk)
No-Truth
Mr. Vile-Affection
Carnal-Lust
(deputy)
(daughter of Mr. Mind)
Image of Shaddai
Impudent
Blackmouth
Law of Shaddai
Hate-Reproof
Scorn-Truth
Slight-God
Defiance - Governor Spite-God - by the Eye-gate
Midnight hold - Governor Love-no-light – by the old castle
Revenge
Sweet-sin hold - Governor Love-flesh – in the market place
Discussion: Change of Perspective
For 2 chapters we have been focused on Diabolus’ perspective and
that of the townsmen.
They have impugned His character and portrayed Him as helpless
and ignorant.
We are left with some nagging questions:
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Where is Shaddai?
Why has he not intervened?
Is He aware that the town has fallen?
How will He respond?
Discussion: Change of Perspective
How do Shaddai and His court respond to the public report of
Mansoul’s fall as she is reported as being “once famous, but now
perishing”?
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They bewail the losing of Mansoul
What lessons might we learn from Shaddai’s response to Mansoul’s
sin?
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How we should respond to sin ourselves
How much sin runs contrary to God’s purposes
God’s grief over sin is an active grief. He responds to meet man
in his deep need.
Discussion
Though the report came publicly and appeared to be news in
Shaddai’s court, it was not new to Shaddai and His Son. What
Bible doctrine does Bunyan highlight with the following teaching?
“only the King and His Son foresaw all this long before, yea, and sufficiently
provided for the relief of Mansoul, though they told not everybody thereof”
“when the King and His Son . . . consulted about what they had designed
before”
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The omniscience of God
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His knowledge of all things that are
His knowledge of all things that will be
1 Corinthians 2:7-8
But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God
ordained before the world unto our glory:
Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have
crucified the Lord of glory.
Discussion
The Godhead knew of the fall in eternity past and counseled
together as to how they would provide for man’s redemption.
Can you think of any verses that support this?
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Revelation 3:18 Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.
Isaiah 53:5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was
bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon
him; and with his stripes we are healed.
I Peter 1:18-20 Knowing that you were ... redeemed with precious
blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ.
For He was foreknown before the foundation of the world…
Genesis 3:15 And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and
between your seed and her seed; He shall bruise you on the head,
And you shall bruise him on the heel.
Discussion
What are the details and characteristics of the plan to recover
Mansoul?
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It would be recovered in such a way “that both the King and his
Son would get themselves eternal fame and glory thereby.”
Emmanuel would “lay a foundation of perfect deliverance” from
Diabolus and his tyranny.
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While upholding justice and equity
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He would take a journey into the country of Universe
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To make “amends for the follies of Mansoul”
Emmanuel would make war upon Diabolus
Emmanuel would, “through…His matchless love,” bring
Mansoul into “a far better and more happy condition than it
was in before it was taken by Diabolus.”
Discussion
How does the court of Shaddai respond to the report of His plans
to take back the town?
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All the nobles “were taken with the business”
All were “wondering at the glorious design…between the King
and his Son”
The “courtiers could scarce do anything…but they would mix,
with the doing thereof, a noise of the love of the King and his
Son, that they had for the town of Mansoul.”
The nobles were not “content to keep this news at court;” but
“themselves came down and told it in Universe.”
They did this even though they did not know as yet the exact part
that Emmanuel would play.
Discussion
Can you think of any verses that allude to this response in heaven
to the plan of salvation?
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I Cor. 1:24 But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ
the power of God, and the wisdom of God.
Luke 2:13-14 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the
heavenly host praising God, and saying,
Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.
I Peter 1:12 Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto
us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them
that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from
heaven; which things the angels desire to look into.
Revelation 5:10-12 Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels
around the throne and the living creatures and the elders; and the number
of them was myriads of myriads, and thousands of thousands, saying with a
loud voice, "Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power and riches
and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing."
Discussion
After spending some time in Shaddai’s court, we are directed once
again to the diabolical cunning occurring in the town.
Upon learning that Shaddai knows of Diabolus’ successful
overthrow of Mansoul, Diabolus is afraid.
He reveals his insecurity by devising a fourfold strategy.
What are the four parts of his strategy?
Discussion
Strategem #1 That the “news…should be kept from the ears of the
town of Mansoul”
What does this stratagem say about Diabolus’ pretense of
providing the townsmen of Mansoul with liberty?
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Diabolus works to blind the minds of men
And aims to keep them blind (II Cor. 4:4)
He tries to keep the Word confined to as small a sphere as possible.
God would have His Word run freely (II Thess. 3:1)
and dwell richly (Col. 3:16)
Satan covets opportunity to snatch away seed before it can penetrate men’s
ears (Matt. 13:19)
Discussion
Strategem #2 That a “new oath” be imposed upon the townsfolk
“that they should never desert him”
“Thinking…that Shaddai had not power to absolve them from this
covenant with death, and agreement with hell.”
From what passage is this language borrowed?
Isaiah 28:15 (Speaking of the scoffers who were leading Judah)
Because you have said,
"We have made a covenant with death,
And with Sheol we have made a pact
The overwhelming scourge will not reach us when it passes by,
For we have made falsehood our refuge and we have concealed ourselves
with deception."
This passage is followed by a passage (28:16) that speaks of Messiah’s
ministry as the chief cornerstone.
Discussion
Strategem #3 That a new piece of legislature be drawn up that
“gave license to all…to do whatsoever their lustful appetites
prompted them to do”
What are Diabolus’ goals with this strategem?
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That Mansoul might grow weaker and less able to believe or hope
“The bigger the sinner, the less grounds of hopes of mercy.”
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That Shaddai might change His mind
“might repent…of pursuing…their redemption”
and thus make their estrangement and punishment permanent like
Shaddai had done with Diabolus
Discussion
Strategem #4 That all be convinced “that Shaddai was raising an
army, to come to overthrow and utterly to destroy this town of
Mansoul”
Why might this stratagem prove effective?
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It
It
It
It
would
would
would
would
distort Shaddai’s intentions
predispose the people to misinterpret His words
nullify any offer by Him to extend mercy
ensure that the town stayed loyal to Diabolus
“Blood, blood, nothing but blood is in every blast of Shaddai’s trumpet
against poor Mansoul now.”
But…
Ephesians 1:1-19
Paul an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, To the saints who are at Ephesus and who are faithful in
Christ Jesus: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the
heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy
and blameless before Him In love He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself,
according to the kind intention of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on
us in the Beloved.
In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His
grace which He lavished on us. In all wisdom and insight He made known to us the mystery of His will,
according to His kind intention which He purposed in Him with a view to an administration suitable to the
fullness of the times, that is, the summing up of all things in Christ, things in the heavens and things on the
earth. In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to His purpose who
works all things after the counsel of His will, to the end that we who were the first to hope in Christ would be to
the praise of His glory.
In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation--having also believed, you
were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is given as a pledge of our inheritance, with a view to
the redemption of God's own possession, to the praise of His glory.
For this reason I too, having heard of the faith in the Lord Jesus which exists among you and your love for all
the saints, do not cease giving thanks for you, while making mention of you in my prayers; that the God of our
Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of
Him.
I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling,
what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the surpassing greatness of His
power toward us who believe. These are in accordance with the working of the strength of His might
Discussion
How does Diabolus’ armor compare to the Christian’s armor in
Ephesians 6?
Salvation
Hope of doing well
Righteousness
Iron-heartedness
Word of God
Wicked tongue
Faith
Unbelief
Prayerfulness
Prayerlessness
The Holy War