Christian, You’re Engulfed in an All-out Spiritual Battle. Are You Prepared for It?
For years I’ve been saying that America is in an all-out spiritual battle. Kids vs. Parents…Sexual deviancy vs. Virtue…Hollywood vs. Family values…Filth vs. Decency…Pro-death vs. Pro-life…Moral relativism vs. Absolute truth…Christian liberalism vs. Christian orthodoxy…Atheism vs. Theism…Evolution vs. Creation…Big government vs. Free enterprise.
You’d think that because of the downright wickedness we’re dealing with in our morally bankrupt culture, Christ followers would wear the whole armor of God 24/7. What I’m referring to is the spiritual armor Paul advises believers to “put on.” Based on this admonition it would seem only a fool would fail to heed Paul’s advice. In Ephesians 6:1-19, he lays out how to arm ourselves to fight the unseen forces of evil. If we yield for a second, we give them the advantage.
This world is engulfed in an ongoing battle between the spiritual forces of good and evil, evil being Satan and his demons. Our enemy’s goal is “to deface the heavenly image in our hearts.” Therefore, we must be prepared to “stand firm” against them. Paul wants God’s people to understand that our enemy is not flesh and blood, we’re wrestling with the rulers, the authorities, the cosmic powers over this present darkness, the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Even though the battle will be ongoing for as long as we remain on this planet, Paul offers hope:
…in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:37)
Demons are under the power of Satan (Mat. 12:24). They have the ability to possess and control those who are unsaved. (Mat. 8:28-34) They can cause sickness (Mat. 12:22); insanity (Luke 8:26-36); bodily injury (Mark 9:14-26); long term infirmities (Luke 13:11-13). Yes, God has allowed Satan some powers; nonetheless, turncoat angels remain servants of God and can only work within the boundaries that God defines.