OUR SPIRITUAL WARFARE: PART TWO
EPHESIANS 6:10-13
I WANT TO WELCOME THOSE WHO ARE LISTENING BY RADIO TO OUR SERVICE AT FIRST BAPTIST. I ESPECIALLY WANT TO WISH EACH OF THE MOTHER’S LISTENING ALL OF GOD’S BLESSINGS ON THIS YOUR SPECIAL DAY.
WE BEGAN A SERIES LAST WEEK ON THE ISSUE OF SPIRITUAL WARFARE, AND I AM CONTINUING WITH THAT TODAY. WHETHER WE REALIZE IT OR NOT, THERE IS A CONSTANT SPIRITUAL BATTLE GOING ON, BETWEEN GOD AND SATAN. THERE ARE TIMES WHEN THIS BATTLE WILL INVOLVE US PERSONALLY, AND THERE ARE TIMES WHEN WE WILL SEE IT ON A CORPORATE LEVEL.
WHEN I THINK ABOUT SPIRITUAL BATTLES I THINK ABOUT THE PRAYERS OF MY MOTHER. I CAN REMEMBER SEEING HER ON HER KNEES MANY TIMES, PRAYING FOR GOD’S PROTECTION ON HER FAMILY, AND THAT WE WOULD COME TO KNOW JESUS AS LORD AND SAVIOR.
THE SPIRITUAL BATTLES THAT WE FACE ARE FAUGHT ON TWO FRONTS. THEY CAN BE INDIVIDUAL BATTLES, OR WHAT WE WOULD CALL “TEMPTATION”. AN OVER-SIMPLIFIED ILLUSTRATION OF THIS WOULD BE TELEVISION SHOWS WHERE A MAN IS ASKED TO DO SOMETHING. ON ONE SHOULDER WOULD APPEAR THE DEVIL, WITH HIS RED COSTUME, POINTY TAIL AND PITCHFORK. ON THE OTHER SHOULDER WOULD APPEAR AN ANGEL, WITH HIS WINGS AND HALO, TRYING TO SWAY THE MAN TO ACT ACCORDING TO HIS DIRECTION.
THIS INDICATES THE KIND OF BATTLE THAT GOES ON FOR CHRISTIANS BECAUSE INSIDE US ARE TWO NATURES: THE SINFUL NATURE THAT WE ARE BORN WITH, AND THE SPIRITUAL NATURE THAT WE RECEIVE WHEN WE ACCEPT CHRIST INTO OUR LIVES AS LORD AND SAVIOR.
PAUL TEACHES ABOUT THESE TWO NATURES INSIDE US IN ROMANS WHERE HE WRITES:
ROMANS 7:18-23:
18 FOR I KNOW THAT GOOD ITSELF DOES NOT DWELL IN ME, THAT IS, IN MY SINFUL NATURE. U FOR I HAVE THE DESIRE TO DO WHAT IS GOOD, BUT I CANNOT CARRY IT OUT. 19 FOR I DO NOT DO THE GOOD I WANT TO DO, BUT THE EVIL I DO NOT WANT TO DO—THIS I KEEP ON DOING. 20 NOW IF I DO WHAT I DO NOT WANT TO DO, IT IS NO LONGER I WHO DO IT, BUT IT IS SIN LIVING IN ME THAT DOES IT. 21 SO I FIND THIS LAW AT WORK: ALTHOUGH I WANT TO DO GOOD, EVIL IS RIGHT THERE WITH ME. 22 FOR IN MY INNER BEING I DELIGHT IN GOD’S LAW; 23 BUT I SEE ANOTHER LAW AT WORK IN ME, WAGING WAR AGAINST THE LAW OF MY MIND AND MAKING ME A PRISONER OF THE LAW OF SIN AT WORK WITHIN ME.
THE SECOND AREA WHERE THESE BATTLES OCCUR IS IN WHAT IS CALLED THE HEAVENLIES. THIS IS AN INVISIBLE REALM AROUND US, THAT ONLY CHRISTIANS ARE AWARE OF. THE PRINCIPALITIES OF SATAN AND THE ANGEL ARMIES ARE PRESENT IN THIS REALM, AND HERE THEY DO BATTLE.
SATAN ULTIMATE GOAL IS THE DESTRUCTION OF GOD AND HIS KINGDOM. HE WILL STOP AT NOTHING TO DO THIS. SATAN IS NOT ALL-KNOWING OR ALL-POWERFUL, NOR CAN HE BE AT ALL PLACES AT THE SAME TIME. THE FACT IS THAT HIS GREAT PRIDE AND HIS OWN WARPED SENSE OF REALITY, HE COULD VERY WELL BELIEVE THAT THE WAR IS NOT OVER IN THE SPIRITUAL REALM AND THAT HE WAS NOT DEFEATED AT CALVARY.
IT IS ALSO POSSIBLE THAT HE COULD REALIZE HE WAS DEFEATED AT CALVARY AND WANTS TO PREVENT CHRIST’S KINGDOM FROM GROWING, AND THE INDIVIDUAL BELIEVER TO HAVE VICTORY IN HIS OR HER LIFE. HE WILL WAGE INDIVIDUAL OR CORPORATE SPIRITUAL WARFARE IN AN ATTEMPT TO TARNISH OUR REPUTATION SO THAT OTHERS WILL NOT WANT TO JOIN OUR RANKS.
THE FACT THAT WE ARE IN A SPIRITUAL WAR, AS PAUL DESCRIBED IT, SHOULD NOT BE SURPRISING TO US. PAUL HAS BEEN SETTING THIS TEACHING UP THROUGHOUT THE BOOK OF EPHESIANS.
PAUL ENVISIONS ALL HUMANITY IN THE POSITION OF BEING A SLAVE. WE ARE BORN INTO SLAVERY TO SIN AND ARE A FOLLOWER OF SATAN DUE TO OUR SINFUL NATURE. THE CONSEQUENCE IF THIS SINFUL NATURE IS NOT TRANSFORMED IS THAT FOR ETERNITY WE WILL BE SEPARATED FROM GOD IN A PLACE CALLED HELL. THIS SINFUL NATURE WAS PASSED ON TO ALL OF US AS A RESULT OF THE FALL.
ISAIAH 53:6:
6 WE ALL, LIKE SHEEP, HAVE GONE ASTRAY, EACH OF US HAS TURNED TO OUR OWN WAY; AND THE LORD HAS LAID ON HIM THE INIQUITY OF US ALL.”
THE ONLY WAY THAT SINFUL NATURE CAN BE TRANSFORMED IS BY ACCEPTING CHRIST AS YOUR SAVIOR AND LORD. THE PASSAGE IN ISAIAH GOES ON TO SAY:
ISAIAH 53:7-8:
7 HE WAS OPPRESSED AND AFFLICTED, YET HE DID NOT OPEN HIS MOUTH; HE WAS LED LIKE A LAMB TO THE SLAUGHTER, AND AS A SHEEP BEFORE ITS SHEARERS IS SILENT, SO HE DID NOT OPEN HIS MOUTH. 8 BY OPPRESSION AND JUDGMENT HE WAS TAKEN AWAY. YET WHO OF HIS GENERATION PROTESTED? FOR HE WAS CUT OFF FROM THE LAND OF THE LIVING; FOR THE TRANSGRESSION OF MY PEOPLE HE WAS PUNISHED.
THIS IS SPEAKING ABOUT CHRIST’S SACRIFICE ON CALVARY. THE BIBLE TELLS US THAT OUR SINFUL NATURE IS SOMETHING THAT WE CANNOT CHANGE BY OURSELVES. UNDER THE OLD COVENANT THEY USED THE SACRIFICIAL SYSTEM, BUT WITH CHRIST AND THE CROSS OF CALVARY A NEW COVENANT WAS MADE. JESUS ACCEPTED THE GUILT FOR THE SINS OF ALL HUMANITY, AND THROUGH HIS DEATH, MADE IT POSSIBLE FOR US TO TRANSFORM OUR SINFUL NATURE BY ACCEPTING HIM AS SAVIOR AND LORD.
WE DO THIS BY ACKNOWLEDGING OUR SINFUL STATE, AND THAT JESUS SACRIFICED HIMSELF IN OUR PLACE ON CALVARY. WE ACCEPT THE FACT THAT HIS SACRIFICE WAS ON OUR BEHALF, FOR NO OTHER REASON THAN HIS LOVE FOR US, AND DETERMINE THAT WE ARE GOING TO BEGIN A RELATIONSHIP WITH HIM AS SAVIOR AND LORD.
IF SOMEONE WERE TO SAVE YOUR LIFE, YOU WOULD HAVE A SPECIAL PLACE IN YOUR HEART FOR THAT INDIVIDUAL. THIS IS THE RELATIONSHIP THAT JESUS WANTS TO HAVE WITH YOU. YOU MUST ACCEPT THE GIFT OF SALVATION THAT HE IS OFFERING YOU TO BEGIN THAT RELATIONSHIP.
WE BECOME SLAVES BY CHOICE, OR WHAT THE BIBLE CALLS BOND-SLAVES TO GOD, WHEN WE ACCEPT CHRIST AS OUR SAVIOR AND LORD, WE. IT MEANS THAT OUR LIVES ARE NOT OUR OWN, AND WE LIVE OUR LIVES FOR THE GLORY OF GOD.
PAUL GIVES THE MOST DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE SPIRITUAL WARFARE AND HOW WE CAN DEFEND AGAINST IT IN CHAPTER SIX, BUT USES THE ENTIRE BOOK OF EPHESIANS TO LEAD UP TO IT.
PAUL EXPLAINS IN CHAPTER ONE THAT, AS A CHRISTIAN YOU REALIZE THAT YOUR SALVATION IS PART OF GOD’S PLAN, DECREED BEFORE THE EARTH WAS CREATED AND TIME EVEN BEGAN. WE ALSO COME TO LEARN THAT WHILE GOD’S PURPOSE WAS TO SAVE YOU FROM YOUR SIN, HIS ULTIMATE PURPOSE IS TO SUM UP ALL THINGS IN CHRIST. IN SHORT WE ARE AS HE DESCRIBES US SLAVES, BUT WE ARE A PART OF GOD’S ETERNAL PLAN, AND PRIVILEGED TO HAVE A PART IN BRINGING GLORY TO GOD.
NOW THIS IS THE MESSAGE SATAN DOES NOT WANT PEOPLE TO HEAR. HE DOES NOT WANT PEOPLE TO KNOW THEY WERE LOVED SINCE BEFORE THE CREATION OF THE WORLD BY GOD. HE DOES NOT WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT GOD LOVED YOU SO MUCH THAT HE MADE A PLAN OF SALVATION FOR YOU. IT WAS A PLAN THAT BECAUSE OF HIS LOVE FOR YOU, THAT HE WOULD COME TO EARTH IN HUMAN FORM, DIE THE CRUELEST DEATH KNOWN TO MAN, IN ORDER TO GIVE YOU A CHANCE AT SALVATION. NOONE IF ALLOWED TO SEE THAT COULD SAY NO TO THE OFFER, SO SATAN IS GOING TO DO HIS BEST TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS OFFER IS NEVER MADE OR UNDERSTOOD. A GOOD WAY TO DO THIS IS TO DESTROY THE TESTIMONY OF THE PERSON OR GROUP MAKING THE OFFER.
THUS IT IS HERE THAT PAUL WILL INTRODUCE TO THE EPHESIANS THE GREAT POWER OF CHRIST WITH WHICH TO STAND AGAINST THE ATTACKS OF SATAN. THIS POWER IS AT OUR DISPOSAL WHEN WE PUT ON THE WHOLE ARMOR OF GOD.
EPHESIANS 1:18-23:
18 I PRAY THAT THE EYES OF YOUR HEART MAY BE ENLIGHTENED IN ORDER THAT YOU MAY KNOW THE HOPE TO WHICH HE HAS CALLED YOU, THE RICHES OF HIS GLORIOUS INHERITANCE IN HIS HOLY PEOPLE, 19 AND HIS INCOMPARABLY GREAT POWER FOR US WHO BELIEVE. THAT POWER IS THE SAME AS THE MIGHTY STRENGTH 20 HE EXERTED WHEN HE RAISED CHRIST FROM THE DEAD AND SEATED HIM AT HIS RIGHT HAND IN THE HEAVENLY REALMS, 21 FAR ABOVE ALL RULE AND AUTHORITY, POWER AND DOMINION, AND EVERY NAME THAT IS INVOKED, NOT ONLY IN THE PRESENT AGE BUT ALSO IN THE ONE TO COME. 22 AND GOD PLACED ALL THINGS UNDER HIS FEET AND APPOINTED HIM TO BE HEAD OVER EVERYTHING FOR THE CHURCH, 23 WHICH IS HIS BODY, THE FULLNESS OF HIM WHO FILLS EVERYTHING IN EVERY WAY.
IN CHAPTER TWO, PAUL REMINDS US OF OUR SPIRITUAL STATE BEFORE WE ACCEPTED CHRIST AS OUR SAVIOR.
EPHESIANS 2:1-3:
AS FOR YOU, YOU WERE DEAD IN YOUR TRANSGRESSIONS AND SINS, 2 IN WHICH YOU USED TO LIVE WHEN YOU FOLLOWED THE WAYS OF THIS WORLD AND OF THE RULER OF THE KINGDOM OF THE AIR, THE SPIRIT WHO IS NOW AT WORK IN THOSE WHO ARE DISOBEDIENT. 3 ALL OF US ALSO LIVED AMONG THEM AT ONE TIME, GRATIFYING THE CRAVINGS OF OUR FLESH M AND FOLLOWING ITS DESIRES AND THOUGHTS. LIKE THE REST, WE WERE BY NATURE DESERVING OF WRATH.
IT EXPLAINS THAT WERE WERE ONCE “DEAD” SPIRITUALLY IN OUR SINFUL STATE. WE WERE ENSLAVED TO SATAN AND UNKNOWINGLY CARRYED OUT HIS PLANS AND PURPOSES. PAUL GOES ON TO SAY IN VERSES 4-10 OF CHAPTER TWO, THAT WE HAVE BEEN FORGIVEN OF OUR SINFUL STATE THROUGH THE GRACE OF GOD IN CHRIST.
CHAPTER THREE GIVES US A MORE COMPLETE PICTURE OF THE ETERNAL PLANS AND PURPOSES OF GOD. PAUL SPEAKS OF THE “MYSTERY” WHICH GOD PURPOSED TO REVEAL THROUGH HIM.
THE MYSTERY IS THE CHURCH, AND THAT GOD WOULD RECONCILE BOTH JEW AND GENTILE TO HIMSELF AND EACH OTHER, SO THAT THEY WOULD BECOME FELLOW-HEIRS OF THE PROMISE OF CHRIST IN THE GOSPEL.
EPHESIANS 3:8-12:
8 ALTHOUGH I AM LESS THAN THE LEAST OF ALL THE LORD’S PEOPLE, THIS GRACE WAS GIVEN ME: TO PREACH TO THE GENTILES THE BOUNDLESS RICHES OF CHRIST, 9 AND TO MAKE PLAIN TO EVERYONE THE ADMINISTRATION OF THIS MYSTERY, WHICH FOR AGES PAST WAS KEPT HIDDEN IN GOD, WHO CREATED ALL THINGS. 10 HIS INTENT WAS THAT NOW, THROUGH THE CHURCH, THE MANIFOLD WISDOM OF GOD SHOULD BE MADE KNOWN TO THE RULERS AND AUTHORITIES IN THE HEAVENLY REALMS, 11 ACCORDING TO HIS ETERNAL PURPOSE THAT HE ACCOMPLISHED IN CHRIST JESUS OUR LORD.
PAUL IS TELLING US THAT OUR CHRISTIAN WALK SHOULD MATCH OUR CHRISTIAN TALK. PAUL EXHORTS CHRISTIANS TO WALK IN A MANNER WORTHY OF OUR CALLING.
EPHESIANS 4:1: AS A PRISONER FOR THE LORD, THEN, I URGE YOU TO LIVE A LIFE WORTHY OF THE CALLING YOU HAVE RECEIVED.
THE WALK FOR THE CHRISTIAN IS DESCRIBED FROM EPHESIANS 4:1-6:9. IT IS A WALK THAT IS CHARACTERIZED IN PART BY THE FILLING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT 5:18, AND EVIDENT BY THE MUTUAL SUBMISSION SPOKEN OF IN 5:21-6:9.
I HATE TO BURST YOUR BUBBLE GUYS BUT ALL THAT TALK ABOUT WIVES SUBMITTING TO YOUR HUSBANDS, IT ISN’T ABOUT YOU. IT’S ABOUT ALL OF US SUBMITTING TO GOD.
OUR PASSAGE IN EPHESIANS CHAPTER SIX, IS ONE OF THE MOST THOROUGH TREATMENTS OF THE SPIRITUAL WAR THAT WE ARE INVOLVED IN, GIVEN IN THE NEW TESTAMENT. YOU CAN TURN TO IT NOW.
LAST WEEK WE LOOKED AT THE CHARACTER OF SATAN AND FOUND OUT SOME THINGS ABOUT HIS CREATION. WE FOUND OUT THAT SATAN WAS AN ANGEL WHO WAS CREATED BY GOD, GIVEN GREAT AUTHORITY UNDER GOD, BUT WAS ALSO NOT CONTENT WITH THIS ROLE. HE POSSESSED GREAT BEAUTY, POWER, AND AUTHORITY BUT IN HIS PRIDE HE HAD TO HAVE MORE. ISAIAH 14:14 TELLS US THAT HE WANTED TO EXALT HIMSELF FURTHER AND BECOME LIKE GOD.
ISAIAH 14:14: I WILL ASCEND ABOVE THE TOPS OF THE CLOUDS; I WILL MAKE MYSELF LIKE THE MOST HIGH.”
PAUL LISTS A NUMBER OF GROUPS THAT SATAN HAS AT HIS DISPOSAL, BUT I FEEL THAT THE “SPIRITUAL FORCES OF EVIL” COULD BE A SUMMARY EXPRESSION TO COVER ALL OF THEM.
CONFUSING AS IT MAY SEEM THE ENERGY FOR THESE PRICIPALITIES AND POWERS COMES FROM GOD. HOW CAN THIS BE? WHEN THESE EVIL AGENTS OF SATAN WERE CREATED THEY WERE ACTUALLY ANGELS DOING THE WILL OF GOD. AS SUCH THEY POSSESSED ALL THE POWER THAT GOD GAVE THEM. AT THIS POINT THERE THERE WAS NO EVIL IN THE WORLD AND THE ANGELS ALL HAD THE SAME POWER. THEY ALL HAD THE SAME GOALS AND THE SAME PURPOSE.
WHEN SATAN FELL AND TOOK A THIRD OF THE ANGELS WITH HIM, THEY DID NOT LOSE THE POWER GOD CREATED THEM WITH, BUT IT WAS NOW USED FOR EVIL PURPOSES. THE WILL OF THE BAD DETERMINES TO USE GOD’S ENERGY FOR THEMSELVES. GOOD PRINCIPALITIES WILL USE THEIR ENERGY ONLY TO DO WHAT THE LORD WILLS.
THE EVIL PRINCIPALITIES RULE OVER THE DARKNESS OF THIS WORLD. THEY DO NOT POSSESS MERELY AN OUTWARD FORCE, AS IN TEMPTATION, BUT THEY ARE IN THE HEAVENLIES AND ARE OCCUPIED WITH SPIRITUAL WICKEDNESS AND A BATTLE AGAINST THE GOOD PRINCIPALITIES THERE.
THE GREEK TERM THAT IS USED IN VERSE 12 IS KOSMOKRATOR. IT HAS IT’S ROOTS IN ASTROLOGY, WHERE THE WORLD IS THOUGHT THEN AND NOW, TO BE UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF THE PLANETS. THE BELIEF WAS THAT THE PLANETS REPRESENTED PERSONAL FORCES, FROM ROMAN EMPERORS TO PAGAN GODS.
1 CORINTHIANS 10:20-22:
20 NO, BUT THE SACRIFICES OF PAGANS ARE OFFERED TO DEMONS, NOT TO GOD, AND I DO NOT WANT YOU TO BE PARTICIPANTS WITH DEMONS. 21 YOU CANNOT DRINK THE CUP OF THE LORD AND THE CUP OF DEMONS TOO; YOU CANNOT HAVE A PART IN BOTH THE LORD’S TABLE AND THE TABLE OF DEMONS. 22 ARE WE TRYING TO AROUSE THE LORD’S JEALOUSY? ARE WE STRONGER THAN HE?
THESE POWERS RULE IN THE DARK PARTS OF THE WORLD NOT YET EXPOSED OR ONLY MINIMUMLY EXPOSED TO THE LIGHT OF CHRIST. IT IS A WORLD OF DARKNESS THAT IS SATAN’S DWELLING PLACE.
THIS IS ESSPECIALLY IMPORTANT FOR US, FOR THERE WAS A TIME WHEN WE THOUGHT THIS WORLD OF DARKNESS WAS PRIMARILY WHERE MISSIONARIES ARE SENT, AND WHERE CHURCHES HAVEN’T BEEN DEVELOPED. SATAN IS WILLING TO ALLOW US TO BELIEVE THAT FALSEHOOD TO HIDE HIS REAL TARGET. OVER THE LAST TWENTY YEARS OR SO CANADA AND THE UNITED STATES HAVE INCREASINGLY WALKED AWAY FROM THE GOSPEL, AND ARE WALKING TOWARD AREAS, SUCH AS SPIRITUALITY, WITCHCRAFT, AND SATANISM, JUST TO NAME A FEW. SOME OF THE LATEST DECISIONS BY THE SUPREME COURTS OF OUR LAND, CHANGES IN THE CURRICULUM IN OUR SCHOOLS WITHOUT PARENTAL KNOWLEDGE OR CONSENT, AND THE DECISIONS OF LEADERS OF POLITICAL PARTIES ALL SEEM TO SUPPORT THIS FACT. IT WOULD SEEM THAT THE ONLY TIME OUR COUNTRY WILL TURN TO GOD NOW IS AFTER A TRAGEDY, NOT BEFORE IT.
KEEP IN MIND THAT ONE OF SATAN’S POWERS IS THE ART OF DECEPTION. THIS MEANS THAT HE CAN HIDE THE EXISTENCE OF DEMONS IN VERY INNOCENT THINGS. YOU MAY NOT TOLERATE A OUIJI BOARD IN YOUR HOME, BUT WHAT ABOUT THOSE CUTE LITTLE STATUES OF BUDDA THAT ARE SOLD IN STORES, OR CHILDREN’S COLLECTOR CARDS LIKE POKEMON AND SOME OTHERS WHICH ARE ALL BASED FROM PAGON GODS AND IDOLS.
SATAN WILL USE THESE INNOCENT AVENUES TO SET A FOOTHOLD IN OUR HOMES AND FROM THERE TO ATTACK US FURTHER. HE CAN AND PROBABLY HAS OFTEN DECEIVED US, OFTEN WITHOUT US REALIZING IT UNTIL IT IS AFTER THE FACT. HE WILL USE HIS ARMY OF EVIL SPIRITS TO HELP HIM GAIN INFORMATION AND TO KOW THE BEST POSSIBLE WAY TO ATTACK US. WE MUST BE PREPARED AT ALL TIMES WITH THE FULL ARMOR OF GOD.
PRINCIPALITIES AND POWERS ARE EVIL SPIRITS WHO ATTACK USING SUCH WEAPONS AS PRIDE, ENVY, MALICE, ETC. IN SOME CASES SATAN WILL USE A DIRECT FORM OF INVASIO SUCH AS DEMON POSSESSION OR SORCERY, WHICH IS THE USE OF POWERS SUCH AS MEDIUMS ETC. THEY MAY ATTACK INDIVIDUALLY OR IN A GROUP.
LUKE 8:27-33:
27 WHEN JESUS STEPPED ASHORE, HE WAS MET BY A DEMON-POSSESSED MAN FROM THE TOWN. FOR A LONG TIME THIS MAN HAD NOT WORN CLOTHES OR LIVED IN A HOUSE, BUT HAD LIVED IN THE TOMBS. 28 WHEN HE SAW JESUS, HE CRIED OUT AND FELL AT HIS FEET, SHOUTING AT THE TOP OF HIS VOICE, “WHAT DO YOU WANT WITH ME, JESUS, SON OF THE MOST HIGH GOD? I BEG YOU, DON’T TORTURE ME!” 29 FOR JESUS HAD COMMANDED THE IMPURE SPIRIT TO COME OUT OF THE MAN. MANY TIMES IT HAD SEIZED HIM, AND THOUGH HE WAS CHAINED HAND AND FOOT AND KEPT UNDER GUARD, HE HAD BROKEN HIS CHAINS AND HAD BEEN DRIVEN BY THE DEMON INTO SOLITARY PLACES. 30 JESUS ASKED HIM, “WHAT IS YOUR NAME?” “LEGION,” HE REPLIED, BECAUSE MANY DEMONS HAD GONE INTO HIM. 31 AND THEY BEGGED JESUS REPEATEDLY NOT TO ORDER THEM TO GO INTO THE ABYSS. 32 A LARGE HERD OF PIGS WAS FEEDING THERE ON THE HILLSIDE. THE DEMONS BEGGED JESUS TO LET THEM GO INTO THE PIGS, AND HE GAVE THEM PERMISSION. 33 WHEN THE DEMONS CAME OUT OF THE MAN, THEY WENT INTO THE PIGS, AND THE HERD RUSHED DOWN THE STEEP BANK INTO THE LAKE AND WAS DROWNED.
THEIR TARGETS ARE THOSE WHO DO NOT KNOW HOW TO RESIST THEM, OR WHO DO NOT HAVE THE POWER TO RESIST THEM, IN SHORT, THOSE WHO HAVE NOT PUT O THE FULL ARMOR OF GOD, AND THOSE WHO ARE NON-CHRISTIANS. THESE ARE EVIL BEINGS WITH THE POWER TO CARRY OUT GREAT DAMAGE TO US.
THIS THEN IS HOW SATAN GAINS INFORMATION. FIRST OF ALL HE HAS GREAT POWER HIMSELF AND IS A MASTER STRATEGIST. HE IS A BEING CREATED BY GOD WITH THE POWERS OF AN ANGEL. THEREFORE WE ON OUR OWN ARE NO MATCH FOR HIM.
HE USES HIS ARMY OF EVIL SPIRITS TO CONSTANTLY WATCH US. THEY ARE SEEKING POINTS WHERE WE MAY BE VULNERABLE, AND WAYS TO ACTIVELY DESTROY THE MINISTRY OF GOD’S PEOPLE. THEY REPORT THEIR INFORMATION BACK TO SATAN WHICH HE USES TO CREATE HIS PLAN FOR SPIRITUAL WARFARE.
ONE OF SATANS GREAT POWERS IS THAT OF DECEPTION. HE IS ABLE TO HIDE THE EXISTENCE OF DEMONS IN VERY INNOCENT PLACES AND THINGS, BUT WHEN THE OCCASION PRESENTS ITSELF CAN DO GREAT DAMAGE.
CONSIDER FOR A MOMENT THOSE PEOPLE WHO CREATE COMPUTER VIRUSES TO ATTACK YOUR PERSONAL COMPUTER. IN MOST CASES THEY ARE SENT THROUGH A VERY INNOCENT E-MAIL.
WHEN A COMPUTER GETS INFECTED WITH A VIRUS, THE PERSON WHO CREATED THE VIRUS SEEKS TO INFECT AS MANY COMPUTERS AS HE OR SHE CAN. IT ATTACHS ITSELF TO WHAT IS CALLED AN ADDRESS LIST, WHICH IS ALL THE PEOPLE YOU HAVE CONTACT BY E-MAIL WITH. IT AUTOMATICALLY SENDS OUT AN E-MAIL TO EACH PERSON ON THAT LIST. THE E-MAIL IS A PHONY AND CONTAINS THE VIRUS.
THE PERSON WHO RECEIVES THE E-MAIL SEES THAT THEY RECEIVED AN E-MAIL FROM A FRIEND, BUT IT IS REALLY THE VIRUS, AND SO THEY OPEN THE E-MAIL TO SEE WHAT THE PERSON SAID. AS SOON AS THEY OPEN THE E-MAIL THE VIRUS INFECTS THAT PERSON’S COMPUTER, AND THEIR ADDRESS LIST.
TENS OF THOUSANDS OF COMPUTERS ARE INFECTED EACH YEAR WITH VIRUSES SPREAD THIS WAY. THE CONSEQUENCES COULD BE VERY MINOR, BUT IN MANY CASES CAN ELIMINATE EVERYTHING YOU HAVE ON YOUR COMPUTER.
SATAN WORKS IN MUCH THE SAME WAY.
YOU MAY NOT TOLERATE A OUIJI BOARD IN YOUR HOUSE. YOU MAY SAY THEY GIVE YOU THE CREEPY FEELING, AND SAY THAT THEY ARE EVIL. YOU WOULD BE RIGHT IN DOING SO.
WHAT ABOUT THOSE LITTLE BUDDA STATUES THAT ARE SOLD AT STORES, OR CHILDREN’S COLLECTOR CARDS LIKE POKEMON AND SOME OTHERS. THESE ARE ALL BASED ON IDOLS AND PAGAN GODS.
IT WAS BELIEVED POSSIBLE IN CENTURIES PAST THAT EVIL SPIRITS COULD RESIDE IN PAGAN GODS.
NOW DON’T THINK THAT SATAN IS GOING AFTER CHILDREN, THAT’S NOT THE POINT I’M TRYING TO MAKE. WHAT I AM SAYING IS THAT HE IS NOT BEYOND USING INNOCENT METHODS TO INVADE YOUR HOUSE WITH EVIL SPIRITS, OFTEN WITHOUT US BEING AWARE OF IT HAPPENING UNTIL IT IS TOO LATE TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. WE MUST CONSTANTLY BE ON OUR GUARD AND BE PREPARED.
WHAT THEN CAN WE CONCLUDE ABOUT SATAN AND HIS ARMY OF EVIL:
1. THEY HAVE AN INTRINSIC CHARACTER, THEIR MODE OF BEING, AND THE STATE IN WHICH THEY ARE FOUND.
2. THEIR POWER IN THE WORLD AS GOVERNING IT
3. THEIR RELIGIOUS ASCENDANCY, AS LODGING IN THE HEAVENS
4. THE SPHERE FOR THE EXERCISE OF THEIR POWER RESIDES IN THE LUSTS OF HUMANITY AND THE TERRORS OF CONSCIENCE.
COMING TO FAITH IN JESUS CHRIST IS TO BE UNDERSTOOD AS ENTERING INTO EVERY SPIRITUAL BLESSING IN THE HEAVENLY PLACES IN CHRIST AS EPHESIANS 1:3 STATES.
IT IS ALSO THE COMMENCEMENT OF A GREAT STRUGGLE WITH SATAN AND HIS FORCES. LET THOSE WHO WOULD DWELL ON THE BLESSINGS OF FAITH ALSO TAKE NOTE OF THE BATTLE WHICH WE HAVE ENTERED INTO BY FAITH IN CHRIST JESUS, AND WHICH WE MUST WAGE IN HIS STRENGTH.
ARMOR IS MADE FOR DEFENCE AND NOT OFFENCE. WITH THE ARMOR OF THE LORD PROTECTING US WE CAN BE VICTORIOUS OVER SATAN AND HIS SCHEMES. WE DO HOWEVER HAVE TO FIGHT THE BATTLE.
