WEDNESDAY July 31, 2024
Spiritual Hosts of Wickedness
For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.
Ephesians 6:12
Engaging in spiritual warfare is difficult because we fight an unseen enemy. When any person wrestles with someone who is flesh and blood, they can see their opponent and pin him down. It is not so with spiritual warfare. Christians cannot visibly see demonic spirits, but a real battle exists between good angels and fallen angels for the souls of men.
However, believers should be able to discern demonic activity. Know that he will often disguise himself as an angel of light (2 Corinthians 11:14). For instance, if there are heresies that arise––false teachings––the enemy is there. He also causes divisions and works through people who are bitter, envious or self-seeking in the body of Christ:
But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth. This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic. For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there (James 3:14-16).
Jesus revealed Satan’s work as it became visible in the lives of the Pharisees––religious leaders––whose hidden desire was to kill Him:
“You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it” (John 8:44).
Murder, lies and lawlessness are marks of Satan’s activities. It is important to help one another discern his attacks and warn each other. How can we defeat the enemy? We can only wage our warfare through Jesus Christ’s power.
There is no winning without warfare; there is no opportunity without opposition; there is no victory without vigilance.
~Alan Redpath~
For more from Raul Ries, please visit SomebodyLovesYou.com!