Lady Carliss and the Waters of Moorue (28 page)

1. A Silent Warrior asks if Carliss is “the overcomer.” There are numerous verses in Revelation that talk about overcoming. Can you find a verse earlier in the New Testament that defines what enables a person to overcome?
   

2. When Carliss demands an explanation for the Silent Warriors’ inaction, the commanding warrior’s answer communicates the frustration the Silent Warriors have all felt in waiting for an Arrethtraen to answer the call to battle. What does this represent for us today? Support your answer with a Bible verse.
   

3. Despite the heavy odds, Carliss moves to action to defend the prisoners. Can you give examples in the Bible where God called someone to action in spite of overwhelming odds? Why does He often do this?
   

4. During the battle to free Malco’s prisoners, Carliss wonders how long the war will last. What war is she referring to? When will it completely end?
   

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1. The esca lizards flee light, and this is why they hide after each black powder explosion in the swamp. Can you find a passage in John that explains the symbolism of this fact?
   

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1. Carliss determined not to destroy the perpetrator of evil, but the evil itself. Oftentimes we only “Band-Aid” the problems sin causes when we really need to address the sin itself. Can you think of any examples of this?
   

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1. What do you think the hawk, Spirit, represents?
   

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1. After Carliss brings Dalton back to his home, Brynn thanks Carliss for her courage to save Dalton. Have you ever had a person who had mistreated you try to make amends? How did you handle that situation? What did Jesus say about forgiving someone?
   

2. Carliss relinquishes the hold her heart has on an imagined future with Dalton and contents herself with what the Prince has called her to. This decision frees her from the struggle and pain of romantic fantasy and also frees her, a little later, to embark on a new and fruitful relationship with Dalton. Sometimes God asks us to give up everything to follow Him, but He always gives back much more than we offer. Why does God test us in this way?
   

3. As Carliss and Dalton plan their future together, they know it includes the day when all in the kingdom is finally perfect. When will this happen and what does this represent?
   

1. The Prince represents Jesus Christ.
   

2. The Knights of the Prince represent all Christians.
   

3. The Noble Knights represent the Jews who were hostile to Jesus and His disciples (the Pharisees, etc.).
   

4. Chessington represents Jerusalem, and Arrethtrae represents the whole world.
   (Earth
   and
   terra
   are combined backward to make up this word.)
   

5. The Dark Knight, also referred to as Lucius, represents Satan.
   

6. The Silent Warriors are God’s angels, and the Shadow Warriors are Satan’s demons.
   

7. A Vincero Knight is a person who has been personally trained by one of Lucius’s Shadow Warriors to spread and cultivate evil. Vincero Knights are ruthless and twisted by the evil that has mentored them.
   

8. A haven represents a local church where believers are trained, discipled, and sent out to share the gospel with others.
   

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1. From childhood, Carliss understood there is more to life than what meets the eye. This kind of perspective precipitates maturity in a person beyond their years. The yearning Carliss feels means her heart is searching for truth, and this makes her receptive to the story of the Prince. This can happen in our lives as well, and we can only find truth in Jesus Christ.
   

2. Two possibilities are Acts 10:34–35 (“In truth I perceive that God shows no partiality. But in every nation whoever fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him”) and Galatians 3:26–28 (“For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus”).
   

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1. While passion is an important factor in following Jesus, He also tells us to be careful (1 Peter 5:8: “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour”). It is always best to seek the counsel of those older and wiser than we are, those who have the experience and emotional distance to assess the situation and provide appropriate counsel.
   

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1. When people we care about make foolish choices, we should still love them, but we do not have to condone their behavior or go along with it. Answer based on personal experience.
   

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1. Suffering can occur because we are in sin and we therefore suffer the consequences of the sin. Or it may be the result of a spiritual attack because we are doing God’s will and fighting the good fight. It could also be a consequence of living in a fallen world full of sin and death—as in the case of cancer victims, those who are abused, people who are bereaved, and so forth.
   

2. Romans 8:28 gives us important perspective on suffering: “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.” We also learn in the Bible that Jesus understands our
   suffering (Isaiah 53:3), provides us with comfort and hope (see, for example, Jeremiah 31:13 and 2 Corinthians 1:6), and of course provides remedy for the sin that can lead to suffering (1 John 1:9).
   

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1. James 4:17 indicates that sin is not only doing the wrong thing but also knowing what is right and not doing it.
   

2. Possible answers include Deuteronomy 15:11; Psalm 138:6–7; Proverbs 3:34; Luke 14:13–14; James 4:6; and 1 John 3:17.
   

3. In Luke 10:30–37 we read the story of the good Samaritan. Jesus commands His disciples to “Go and do likewise.” That means you!
   

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1. Psalm 34:18 says, “The L
   ORD
   is near to those who have a broken heart, and saves such as have a contrite spirit.” Also see Psalm 147:1–5 and Isaiah 57:15.
   

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1. Proverbs 4:23 says, “Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life.” This verse indicates that the heart, the source of our emotions and feelings, is a vital part of our lives, but that it can also lead us astray and take us to places that are not good for us. With our minds, however, we can influence or protect our hearts from entering and dwelling in such places. Carliss’s heart “battle” involved her feelings for Dalton, her respect for what she thought was his commitment to Brynn, and her desire to serve the Prince wholeheartedly. She was in danger of pining for something she assumed she could not have—an unhealthy place for a heart to dwell.
   

2. Second Timothy 2:3 says, “You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.” Oftentimes, being a warrior for Christ means putting up with conflict or difficulty.
   

3. Eunice cares for Petolemew and helps him with his memory loss by writing down what he says about the black powder. Petolemew tenderly expresses his gratitude to her for her help and commitment. Read 1 Corinthians 13:4–7. This kind of enduring love transcends any selfish feelings we might have.
   

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1. These activities and the experiences these pastimes offer can feel more enjoyable or interesting than the real world, and they require much less work. In a way, the desire they fuel is just another form of “the lust of the flesh [and] the lust of the eyes” that John writes about in 1 John 2:16. The Bible says that this desire is not of the Father. Satan can play upon it to turn these activities into a stronghold of sin.
   

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1. Matthew 5:9 says, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.” Even though we cannot force people to get along, being a peacemaker and speaking encouragement—as Carliss did—may help in such situations.
   

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1. Love is the identifying mark of a Christian (see John 13:35). Our words and actions should always demonstrate that love for others, thereby indicating that we are indeed followers of Jesus Christ. Did you know that Christians did not come up with their own name? Instead, other people actually named them because they lived in such a way as to be easily identifiable as followers of Jesus.
   

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1. One possibility is Jeremiah 29:13: “And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.” See also Acts 17:11.
   

2. Proverbs 24:9 and Proverbs 12:23 warn against foolish thoughts, while Philippians 4:8 encourages the practice of choosing to think only on that which will honor the Lord. It is important to understand that imagination and creative thought are wonderful gifts from God. However, just as with so many other gifts from God, they can be improperly used. When imagination and creative thought are used to “fulfill the lust of the flesh” (Galatians 5:16) or to devise wicked activities, sin is the result.
   

3. The stronghold is escapism, which can be described as the habitual practice of retreating from reality through diversion or fantasy.
   

4. To occasionally escape from the stresses of life is a good thing. God even commanded that we rest from our labors on the Sabbath. Jesus often escaped from the crowds and even from His own disciples when He needed some time of recovery. However, these examples also show us that true, healthy replenishment really comes from spending time alone with God and not from fantasy and alternate realities that can easily become a stronghold.
   

5. Technological advances such as high-definition video, high-speed Internet, elaborate games, and even music-on-demand create an atmosphere of escapism for many people because the visual and audio productions are so realistic and the experiences they create are so intense and involving. They provide stimulation for the senses and imagination without truly involving people in the experiences of real life or requiring them to take responsibility or to grow.
   

6. Romans 12:2 warns us against being conformed to this world, and this includes feeling we need to involve ourselves in popular forms of escapism. We must constantly be vigilant and renew our minds so that we will accomplish God’s perfect will.
   

7. Despon Swamp represents despair or despondency, and “walking the bridge” indicates the extreme outcome of such despondency, which is suicide. Escapism, like many other strongholds,
   seems like a wonderful release from the pain of the world for a time. But eventually people realize that the pleasure gained is fleeting and empty. By then they have become prisoners of the sin and are unable to break free. At that point they may become despondent or even kill themselves.
   

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1. Although we may encounter those who belittle our faith—even other Christians—we must remain true to our convictions. Think about Noah and Job, two righteous men who were ridiculed unjustly, and about how God ultimately blessed them for their faithfulness to Him. Rest of answer based on personal experience.
   

2. James 5:16 tells us to “Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.” When we are young, it is best to take our struggles to our parents or other wise mentors.
   

3. Read Proverbs 14:7, 12. We shouldn’t listen to the counsel of the unwise, because that which our culture thinks is right often leads to spiritual or even physical death.
   

4. Intar, Romnov, and Vi Dogam represent Internet, romance novels, and video games, respectively. These are just three of many that could lead to a stronghold of escapism.
   

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1. Jesus said in Matthew 5:11, “Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake.” We need to remember, as Si Kon says later in the chapter, that although we may suffer and even shed our blood, “our blood is not wasted on the vanities of an ignorant life.”
   

2. Many countries have outlawed Christianity, including North Korea, China, Saudi Arabia, and Sudan. Christians in these countries continue to undergo severe persecution, and the most
   important thing we can do to help them is pray daily. There are also many organizations we can support with our time and money that help our persecuted brothers and sisters in Christ throughout the world.
   

3. Two possible examples of biblical betrayal are Joseph’s brothers selling him into slavery (Genesis 37) and Judas’s telling the chief priests of Jesus’ whereabouts (Mark 14). Betrayal obviously feels horrible and may make us extremely angry, but Romans 12:19–21 tells us to abandon our feelings of revenge, because God will do that work. Also, we should be kind to our enemies, and overcome evil with good. Rest of answer based on personal experience.
   

4. Christians have multiple resources available to guard against Satan’s deception. God’s holy Word is the ultimate source of truth and is a powerful weapon to use against this great enemy. The Lord is also present with us through the Holy Spirit, who gives us an ability to discern spiritual truth and deception. Another resource we have is the wise counsel of a godly friend (see Proverbs 1:5).
   

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