Emotions … the demons’ playground

This started off as an entry in the E’s for my Deliverance Dictionary. But like Topsy, it “just growed.” And that’s appropriate, because emotions are such a vital and necessary aspect of our lives. How bleak life would be without joy, wonder, excitement, or even sadness and grief. The capacity to feel is one of those special gifts God has given to human beings created in his image.

That, of course, is the very reason why Satan is focused on turning our emotional capacity against our Maker. Satan cannot create, but he can corrupt. And the gift of emotions is corrupted in at least three distinct ways.

• Satan deceives us into imagining that our emotions are so powerful that they must determine our choices.
• Satan deceives us into believing that our emotions are so shameful that they must be repressed..
• Satan deceives us into assuming that our emotions must be expressed if we’re to be “honest” with others.

Let’s look at each of these three lies of Satan. And then let’s ask the question, how much of our trouble with emotions is demonic?

Emotions are so powerful they must determine our choices

Esther feels anxious whenever she leaves the house. Sometimes the anxiety flares up into full-fledged panic attacks. She constantly worries about what other people think of her, and will change outfits a dozen times before a social engagement, finding some tiny flaw in first this outfit and then that. When friends or family try to encourage her, she tells them they just don’t understand how she feels. She doesn’t want to be the way she is. She doesn’t enjoy anxiety, or those times when her heart beats so fast she’s afraid it will burst. But Esther knows she just can’t help it. She can’t control her emotions, as much as she’d love to. Her emotions control her.

James has a similar problem, but with temper. Ever since he was a kid he’s had a temper. If someone cuts him off on the highway, he just seems to go berserk. Once he even jumped out of his car, grabbed a tire iron from the trunk, and beat dents in an offender’s fender. What bothers James now that he’s married is that his wife keeps doing little things that made him mad. So far all he’s done is to yell at her, but several times he’s almost hit her. He can see that she’s becoming afraid of him. And he’s afraid of himself. “I’m just an angry person,” he told her after the latest incident. “I really love you, but I just can’t help myself.”

This idea that our emotions control us and we can’t help ourselves is one of Satan’s lies. God created us in his image, with a mind and a will as well as with emotions. It’s clear that in cases like those of Esther and James. that mind, will, and emotions are out of balance. This is especially true since Esther and James are both Christians. Scripture says to Esther, “God is not give us a spirit of fear, but of power and love and self-control.” 2 Timothy 1:7). And to James Scripture says, “In your anger do not sin: (Eph.4:26). Our emotions are real enough. But our emotions are not to control us.

No reasonable person can challenge the power of emotions, or doubt the grip that they may gain on an individual’s life. But to believe that we must behave as our emotions dictate is to believe a lie, and to find ourselves in bondage. When the Bible says it is for freedom that Christ has set us free, one of those freedoms is freedom of the dictates of emotion so that we might joyfully choose to live our lives in submission to Christ, not to our feelings.

Emotions are so shameful they must be repressed

There’s no doubt that some of our emotions are a cause of shame. And it’s hard to know what to do with such feelings.
Dan has buried his anger at his father for ignoring him when he was a child. And his father did ignore him. Dan’s dad was an alcoholic, Dan’s resentment is constructed on a numberless heap of broken promises and disappointments. As an adult Dan has come to understand that his father, now a Christian and active AA member, couldn’t help himself in those days. But Dan often thinks, ‘Why couldn’t he have changed earlier?” Dan even finds himself resenting God for saving his father too late. Too late to avoid the hurts he experienced as a little boy. But Dan is a Christian. He believes that the resentment he feels toward his dad and the anger that wells up now and then against God are wrong. So he stuffs them down every time, denying their existence and yet filled with shame.

It’s a lot like the way James feels when someone talks about anger. He’d be mortified if his pastor had any idea of the way he treated his wife sometimes. Or of that desire to let it out and simply hit her. That’s something he won’t ever let himself think about. And something he certainly won’t admit to anyone else.

King David must have felt like this after his affair with Bathsheba and the success of his plot to see her husband Uriah killed in battle. David shares those feelings in Psalm 32.

When I kept silent, my bones wasted away
through my groaning all day long.
For day and night your had was heavy upon me;
My strength was sapped as in the heat of summer.
Psalm 32:3

Repressing our emotions never brings freedom, but keeps us in bondage. We have to bring even the most shameful things out into the open and deal with them.

Emotions must be expressed honestly

Carol has no problem with repressed emotions. She simply expresses everything she thinks and feels. After all, we are supposed to be honest with people. And Carol is brutally honest.
Like the time the pastor’s wife wore that dress to Carol’s daughter’s wedding. It was cut soooo low. Well, it wouldn’t have been too low for Carol to wear, but she wasn’t the pastor’s wife. Pastor’s wives are supposed to set a better example for the young people. Carol couldn’t wait to tell her how shocked and disappointed she was that a pastor’s wife would show up in something like that.
James has been thinking about something he heard a counselor say on TV about our emotions. Something that made sense. The way to get rid of a negative emotion is to express it. Like, if you’re angry, don’t try to stay calm. Just yell. It would be wrong to hit someone, of course. But by yelling the counselor said you “discharge” your anger. Then you’re over it, and no one will get hurt.

The trouble for both Carol and James is that Scripture calls on
Christians to “speak the truth in love,” and to “be kind and compassionate to one another.” We are to express “only what is helpful for building others up” (Eph. 4:29,32). The fact is that Carol’s “honesty” comes close to malice, and James angry shouts are hardly designed to build up those at whom he yells..

Truth vs Lie

The tragic fact is that too many Christians buy Satan’s lies about their emotions, and too few understand the truth expressed in God’s promise of transformation through trust in Christ. Just read a passage like Ephesians 4:17-32 or Colossians 3:1-17 and you have a clear picture of the emotional life that God intends to provide for his own. That life is not the life that Esther, James, Dan or Carol are experiencing.

Where do we go for help?

There are many offers of help around these days. Psychiatrists offer pills to help us control anxiety and avoid panic attacks. Courts decree anger management courses for those with tempers. Counselors promise to help us get to the roots of our problems, and hold out the prospect of change through understanding. Others promise change through behavior modification; still others suggest yoga and contemplation.
Let’s be honest and admit that pills, counseling, behavior modification, and even anger management can help a person deal with his or her emotions. But these techniques can’t resolve the problems.
Most in helping professions tend to deal with people piecemeal. Doctors see illnesses as physical problems. Counselors see emotional disturbances as psychological problems. Too often pastors see them simply as spiritual problems. In fact each of these areas is intimately linked to the other, so that emotional problems spill over into and have an impact on our health and our spiritual lives. Similarly our health has an impact on our emotions and spiritual life. And the spiritual can have a powerful impact on our health and our emotions.

It would be foolish for a person like Esther or Dan not to seek help from counselors. Finding the roots of anxiety or anger, which frequently lie in childhood experiences, can make a contribution to healing. But while understanding helps, healing is something much more, and different in character. Healing is essentially spiritual, and only God can truly heal the wounded heart.

Wounded by lies

Satan’s strategy is to note our reaction to emotional trauma, and then to craft the lie that will keep us in emotional bondage. For some, it’s the lie we are the helpless victims of our emotions and have no choice but to live as our emotions dictate. Esther has believed this lie. She feels helpless, and whenever her heart begins to beat faster and beads of sweat break out on her forehead she surrenders to her fears.
For some the lie is that our emotions are so shameful that we dare share them with no one. Emotions are suppressed, forced deep down lest they reveal something about us that will make us unacceptable to others.

For some, emotions are confused with reality. What we feel is assumed to be true. Contempt for what others say or do spills over into condemning words or withering looks, and we self-righteously assume the mantle of judges of our fellow humans. “Well, that’s how i feel about it” is justification for the most harmful words.

Satan loves these lies. And demons actively resist attempts to help anyone who has believed them learn and live by the truth. And what is the truth?

• Our feelings our real, but we are free to act despite and even against them. As we make godly choices our feelings will change.
• Our feelings may be shameful, but God loves, forgives, and accepts us anyway. Our acceptance by God and by others does not require repressing our feelings.
• Our feelings are real, but are not to be equated with truth. Nor do they justify treating others with contempt instead of respect.

The road to healing
Healing the emotions calls for a very special ministry, in which we identify the sources of emotional problems, invite God to share those terrifying moments with us and affirm his love and presence. Healing calls for forgiving those who have hurt us, forgiving God for permitting our pain, confessing the sin involved in our reactions to those experiences, accepting God’s forgiveness, and forgiving ourselves.
Often this process calls for the help and guidance of a deliverance minister. For those with serious emotional scars and severe emotional problems it is almost certain that demons will have attached themselves, and will battle against anyone in search of healing. This is why emotional healing [deep healing, prayer healing, whatever it is called] will often involve encountering demons and casting them out.
But even without deliverance ministry there is a place where we can begin. That place is acknowledging our emotions and expressing them honestly to the Lord. Esther can and should tell God all about her fears. Dan can and should bring his anger to the Lord. God’s love is unconditional. He knows our deepest secrets and loves us anyway. Whatever our situation, however deep is our distress, God has an answer. David puts it this way in Psalm 142
I cry aloud unto the Lord,
I lift up my voice to Lord for mercy.
I pour out my complaint before him;
Before him I tell all my trouble.
When my spirit grows faint within me
It is you who know my way.

God does know.

He understands.
And he can and will free us from bondage to our emotions.

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Principalities and Powers, #9

The ninth in a series of studies of references to demons in Paul’s epistles.

Dark Kingdom

As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, 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. All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath
Ephesians 2:1-3

Background

Paul’s letter to the Ephesians is the New Testament’s clearest and most extensive treatise on spiritual warfare against demons, identified in the epistles by names familiar in the Hellenistic [Greek speaking] world. In the present paragraph the Apostle describes the state of those living in Satan’s kingdom under his sway. With vivid imagery the Apostle sketches the hopeless state of the unsaved, who are helpless to overcome the spirit now at work in them.

The chapter however moves on to describe God’s intervention . . . and intervention which infuses life into those who are spiritually dead and raises them up with Christ Jesus. Lost and hopeless in ourselves, we who have been saved are fashioned anew, shaped by the Creator for good works which he has prepared in advance for us to do.

Thus while the chapter’s flow makes it one of the most positive and hope-filled in the Bible, the initial verses paint a dark picture of the human condition. Mankind roots happily in the mud, unaware that they are governed by Satan and evil spirits.

Observations

1. “you were dead in your transgressions and sins” This is the state of the unconverted. Their deadness is spiritual not biological. Dead, humankind is as unresponsive as corpses, deaf to God’s voice, unable to respond to him or please him.

2. “you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air” John tells us that “the whole world lies in the wicked one.” The word for world here is kosmos, a term which when used theologically depicts the tangled beliefs, attitudes and values of a lost humanity. Here Paul links the “ways of this world” with the “ruler of the kingdom of the air.” Satan and his agents have crafted a world that resonates with mankind’s sin nature, appealing to “—the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does.”

3. “the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient.” There are two ways in which we can take this phrase. “The spirit . . . now at work” is taken by some as the attitude, the outlook or mind-set, of lost human beings. In this view the phrase is equivalent to a historian’s depiction of “the spirit of the age of reason.”

Our translators however have clearly chosen to view the “spirit” as a “who.” In fact, this “who” is none other than the “ruler of the kingdom of the air” whose craft has fashioned the world system to appeal to fallen human nature. To say that this ruler, Satan, “is now at work in those who are disobedient” does not require him to be personally active in humans. Satan, unlike God, is not omni-present. So Satan works through his agents, those fallen angels who followed him in rebellion and whom we know as demons or, in the epistles, as principalities and powers and dominions and rulers, etc.

The fact that Satan’s agents are now actively involved in the lives of “those who are disobedient” underlines the helpless state of humanity. Lost humankind is not only spiritual dead. They are under the influence of spirit beings they have no capacity to resist.

What Paul is doing in this introductory passage is establishing the utter helplessness of human beings; the utter hopelessness of mankind’s situation apart from God’s personal intervention.

4. “gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts.” Strikingly, human beings do not even try to resist the spirits’ influence. They drive us down a path that we take willingly, even eagerly.

Let’s not assume that this passage is speaking of gross sins and heinous actions. Like the moderns who speak blithely of their “spirituality” and seek contacts in the spirit world to make their path easier, humankind embraces spirits who promise benefits that often appear to be “good.” Yet the driving forces in human and evil spirit alike are sinful cravings and twisted desires.

5. “Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath.” This phrase sums up God’s judgment of fallen angel and fallen humanity alike. Their very nature cries out for, demands, the wrath of God.

Yet God “because of his great love for us” has acted in Christ to provide us with life, and free us from Satan’s grasp.

Conclusions

Paul has no illusions about the spirit world. He knows that an invisible war rages between the defeated hosts of Satan and the conquering armies of Christ. While on the cross Jesus sealed Satan’s doom, the denizens of the spirit world continue to ride their human victims mercilessly. They take every advantage provided by our own sinful nature and by the world’s system of values which Satan has shaped to match mankind’s cravings. Our only hope is found in the saving work and saving grace of God.

“The Devil’s Schemes”

Ephesians 6 introduces us to the phrase. “Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.” I like that word, schemes, although we might translate the original as Satan’s “tactics” or “strategies.” We need that “full armor,” Paul goes on to say, because “our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms” (Ephesians 5:11,12). Now, that sounds scary. And it is.

But the devil’s schemes aren’t what most of us, familiar with the Gospel accounts of demons and evil spirits, might think. In fact, if we page through the epistles and stop at every reference to Satan or to the devil, or at references to those “powers” that served as the names of demons in the Hellenistic world and thus in Paul’s epistles, we get a rather surprising insight into just what the devil’s schemes are.

Gospel Impressions

If we limit ourselves to the Gospels we get the distinct impression that demons spend all their time crippling people mentally or physically. The people Jesus cast demons from were typically blind or deaf or mute, or were as openly hostile and mentally disturbed as the man called Legion. I suspect that one reason preachers hesitate to mention demons in their teaching is that Christians think anyone who is demonized must act or be really weird.

But when we look through the Epistles, we get a very different impression of Satan’s efforts to trouble believers. In fact, the picture drawn in the epistles is so dramatically different we wonder if Gospels and epistles are dealing with the same phenomenon.

There’s A Reason

There have been three periods in history when the warfare between God and Satan broke into the open. The first period was that of the Exodus, when God performed his miracle judgments on Egypt. Those miracles had specific purposes: they authenticated the revelation given through Moses, they served as judgment on the demon-gods of Egypt, and they confirmed to the Egyptians as well as the Israelites that the Lord is God. Miracles continued to be the norm for the generation that left Egypt to travel to the Holy Land. But then miracles became less and less common.

The next period of open warfare took place in the 8th century B.C. Through the efforts of King Ahab and his pagan queen, Jezebel, the people of Israel wavered between allegiance to the Lord or to Baal. Then God sent Elijah and Elisha, and their combined 21 recorded miracles convinced Israel that the Lord, he is God. Afterward miracles again became uncommon.

The third period of open warfare took place when Jesus began to preach and teach. Jesus’ miracles and the casting out of demons whose presence was obvious to the nation, again served unique purposes. The miracles confirmed Jesus as the Messiah, they authenticated the new revelation which he brought, and they served to judge the evil forces that operated among God’s people. Infrequent miracles continued to mark the ministry of Jesus disciples as the church became established. But then again the miraculous became less and less common.

These periods of miracle and open conflict with the powers of evil were not normative, For most of the Old Testament era and in most times and places during the age of the New Testament, open and obvious conflict simply has not taken place. Satan and his demons have continued their work, but quietly. Satan’s strategies as described in the Epistles are not designed to provoke open conflict, but to cripple, hinder and sabotage what God is seeking to do through his people, without bringing undue attention to Satan or his demons.

A Strategy Survey

Some demonic activity referred to in the Epistles is as crude as that described in the Gospels. Paul was given a “thorn in the flesh” by Satan, a debilitating illness which God permitted for his own purposes (2 Cor. 12:7). It also seems that the Apostle recognized demonic involvement in the hardships, persecutions and dangers he suffered; hardships intended to drive a wedge between believers and their awareness of the love of God (Romans 8:36). Satan’s followers also stopped Paul us from pursuing godly goals (1 Thes 2:18). And 2 Thes. 2:9 speaks of “counterfeit miracles.” While the reference is to a future spate of counterfeit miracles as the end draws near, we should recognize the fact that demons have the ability to enable feign true miracles, something we should remember when dealing with the occult.

Still, overall, Satan’s schemes are far more subtle. The context of verses in the epistles shows that the devil presents temptations to those who lack self-control (1 Cor. 7:5). He encourages believers to punish straying brothers too severely, and to withhold forgiveness (2 Cor 2:11). Satan’s demons masquerade as servants of righteousness, causing confusion between good and evil (2 Cor. 11:14). The devil encourages believers to hold on to anger (Eph. 4:27). He confuses believers so that they take following lists of “dos and don’ts,” legalism, with true spirituality (Col.2:15), and confusing human traditions with unchanging truth (Col. 2:8). The devil seeks to weaken faith and encourage those with weak consciences to violate their own standards of right and wrong (1` Tim. 1:20). Satan encourages conceit and pride in leaders, especially in those who are relatively new believers (1 Tim 3:5). The devil corrupts biblical truth by promoting asceticism (1 Tim. 4:1), and tempts sexually those who are single or re-singled (1 Tim. 5:15). Satan promotes a “wisdom” that’s rooted in envy and selfish ambition, and works to promote failings that ruin a Christian’s reputation with unbelievers. Satan blinds the eyes of unbelievers to the Gospel, and no doubt uses the same ability to blind believers to other realities (2 Cor 4:4). Certainly getting a believer innocently involved in the occult is one of his most effective strategies (1 Cor. 10:20-21).

What is perhaps surprising about this list of what I’ve called the subtle strategies is that they seem so ordinary.

There seems to be nothing supernatural about a person holding on to anger, or acting out of selfish ambition. There’s nothing obviously demonic about a believer’s conviction that a sinning brother should suffer for his failings, or about our unwillingness to truly forgive someone who sins against us. There is nothing obviously demonic about a person taking pride in the things he does or does not do because he or she is a Christian. Yet each of these things is identified in the New Testament epistles with Satan’s efforts to make our lives miserable and ineffective. And it seems likely that what the Epistles identify as a focus of demonic activity is a representative rather than an exhaustive listing!

Each of these so obviously “human” issues, is, however, a focus of demonic efforts to accomplish Satan’s purposes and to thwart the purposes of God.

Re-imaging Demonization

We can understand demonization as the activity of demons by which they seek to influence or control human beings with a view to keeping a nonChristian from becoming a believer, or with a view to making a believer ineffective in his or her calling as one of Jesus’ people.

At this point it’s important to make a few observations.

1. Each of the things identified above may be manipulated by demons. If we continue to give demons access by persisting in the anger, or pride, or legalism, etc., demons use our behavior to establish a presence in in our lives, and may then exacerbate the problem.

2. In some cases a trait such as anger or unforgiveness may provide a basis on which demons can cause physical illness or other serious problems.

3. In a few cases persistent commitment to one of these behaviors may provide a basis for demons to gain additional control over our thoughts, feelings, and behavior.

The symptoms we observe in the Gospels need not be present at all for an individual be demonized. In fact, it’s far more common for demons to work through the ordinary sins and failings to which the Epistles relate them when describing Satan’s strategies!

Dealing with the Demons

In some cases an exorcism . . . a power confrontation in which one or more demons is cast out in the name of Jesus . . . may be required. But it is much more likely that demonic efforts can be thwarted by becoming aware of the avenue though which demons entered, and dealing directly with that issue. Take anger as an example.

Some tend to react to frustration or conflict with anger. Scripture recognizes this, and encourages the angry person not to sin. The prescription, don’t let the sun go down on your anger, emphasizes the need to deal with anger immediately and in a healthy way. The anger response can’t be excused with a “that’s just the way I am” remark. We need to acknowledge that fits of rage are rooted in the flesh, and are ungodly. We need to look for the root of our anger and seek the Spirit’s help in dealing with it. Often a person with an anger issue will need the prayers and support of others. What’s significant is that in the process of dealing with anger we remove the foothold gained by any demons, and the may demons leave without the need of exorcism.

In other cases anger may have escalated and led to significant sins. For instance, an angry husband may have beaten his wife or a child. If this pattern is deeply engrained, it’s likely that demons will have established a stronghold in that husband’s life. In such cases its still necessary to deal with the root of the anger and also the impact on the husband’s relationship with his wife, family, and all others involved. But generally when anger has established this strong a grip on a person, the associated demons will need to be cast out.

While dealing with such issues and any demons who have used them to gain entrance to one’s life is often necessary, there is a much better way.

Block Entry Points Early

I do believe that Scripture’s description of the Christian as involved in a struggle against supernatural powers that rule this “dark world” is accurate. I have no hesitation in believing the accounts of those in deliverance ministry of confrontations with demons, in which the demons were cast out of a victim by the power of Jesus. I do not doubt that demons can and do cause or exacerbate physical and metal problems, and that we must be aware of the spiritual dimension if we are to help such individuals.

At the same time, I’ve come to believe that rather than deal with demons after they have established a foothold in a Christian’s life, it’s far better to equip Christians with what Paul calls the “whole armor of God,” so that we can take our “stand against the devil’s schemes.”

What’s been exciting for me is to realize that the Book of Ephesians is written specifically to prepare Christians for this spiritual warfare and enable them to block those vulnerable points at which Satan and his demons might gain a foothold their lives.

On a personal note, let me add that this is why I’m so excited to offer my FREEDOM WORKSHOP, which takes participants through the Book of Ephesians, not only explaining each piece of God’s armor, but helping each person actually put that piece of armor on. I’m so enthusiastic about Ephesians and its vital contribution to Christians that I plan to offer this Friday evening/Saturday workshop, free, to churches or groups that wish to sponsor it.

Oops. I didn’t intend this post to end up promoting my FREEDOM WORKSHOP.

I began simply intending to review what the epistles reveals about Satan’s schemes. But the more I learned, the more I realized how key the Book of Ephesians is to building a defense against demonic influence in our lives. And the more thankful I am to have had the privilege of studying this great epistle against the background of the New Testament’s teaching on spiritual warfare.

May you be blessed too.

Principalities and Powers, #3

The third of a series of studies of references to demons in Paul’s epistles.

The great miscalculation

“We do, however, speak a message of wisdom among the mature, but not the wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing. No, we speak of God’s secret wisdom, a wisdom that has been hidden and that God destined for our glory before time began. 8None of the rulers of this age understood it, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory” (1 Corinthians 2:6-7).

Background

The Corinthian believers have formed cliques, each claiming to be followers of a different Christian leader (1:10-17). Paul’s critique quickly moves to the issue of “wisdom.” He argues that there is a human wisdom, which is both limited and corrupt. There is no chance of knowing God through human wisdom, which is foolishness to God, even though revealed truth seems like foolishness to the natural man. The cliques that have formed are reflections of human wisdom, and contrary to the Gospel. Paul himself has not relied on “wise and persuasive words” but he has related God’s “foolish” truth simply, “so that your faith might not rest on men’s wisdom” (1:18-2:5).
At this point Paul introduces the God’s ”secret wisdom,” a reference to revelations that have come with Christ and are not revealed in the Old Testament. With this shift in theme Paul speaks of “the wisdom of this age” and of “the rulers of this age.”

Observations

1. this age. The Greek word here is aeon. It focuses attention on a time span marked by some distinctive or moral characteristics. The New International Encyclopedia of Bible Words states that “as a spiritual and psychological state, this age is evil (Gal. 1:4). Its wise men and its philosophers are blind to God and ignorant of him, for they scornfully reject the crucified Christ (1 Co. 1:20-25). The principles by which this age operates are “foolishness in God’s sight” (1 Co.3:19), for lost humanity is blinded by illusions that are sponsored by Satan, the unacknowledged “god of this age” (2 Co. 4:4)” [page 28].

2. the rulers. The title “rulers” is applied to human authorities, as in Romans 13:3, where the Apostle urges believers to submit to the laws established by human governments. But it this title also is applied to supernatural [demonic] powers, as where the Apostle pictures believer in a struggle against “the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms” (Eph. 6:13). The question is, in 1 Corinthians 2:6 Paul is referring to human rulers, or the demonic.

3. the rulers. Most commentators assume that Paul is referring to human rulers, and that the “wisdom of this age” that is contrasted with God’s secret wisdom is simply limited and corrupt human wisdom. If this is the case, the passage suggests if first century leaders had understood God’s plan they “would not have crucified the Lord of glory.” That is, the Jewish and Roman authority would have chosen to acknowledge Jesus rather than put him to death.

This interpretation has significant difficulties. First, the “rulers” are described as “rulers of this age.” While it’s possible to understand the phrase as “rulers who have authority during this age,” it’s more likely grammatically that the phrase portrays rulers who govern the age itself.
If we opt for this second and grammatically more likely meaning, it’s clear that no human rulers fit the description.

Second, if human authorities are in view, the verse would assert that those who were responsible for Jesus’ crucifixion would have changed course had they understood God’s hidden purpose. But in his wisdom God chose to permit Jesus to be crucified. Thus Paul would be arguing that if the Jewish and Roman leaders had understood God’s purposes in Jesus death, they would not have crucified him.

This notion is flawed theologically. The human rulers did understand Jesus’ claim of deity and Messiahship . . . and they hated him for it (cf John 3:2, 8:48-59, etc.). Unsaved human beings have never, and never will, willingly support God’s plans and purposes, but are hostile to all that God stands for and intends.

On these and other grounds the interpretation that takes “the rulers” in this verse to be either the spiritual leaders of the Jews or to the secular authorities, is not likely to be correct.

4. the rulers. The other possibility is that the rulers in view here are spirit beings, the “spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms,” that is, demons. This view is consistent with taking “rulers of this age” as meaning “beings who rule this age.”

5. the rulers. Assuming that the reference is to demons, Paul is making a fascinating point. Despite his vast intelligence and great power, Satan falls far short of understanding God’s plans and purposes. “God’s secret wisdom” is hidden from the fallen angels as well as from human beings. And, because Satan failed to understand God or to grasp the “secret wisdom” that governs God’s actions, Satan made the disastrous [for him!] decision to incite the human rulers to bring about Jesus’ death.

5. would not have crucified the Lord of glory. Given that the rulers in view in this passage are demonic powers, the verse supports the idea that Satan and his followers actively manipulated human beings to bring about the murder of Jesus. This view is given direct support Luke 13:27, which states that Satan “entered into” Judas at the last supper when Judas was identified as Jesus’ betrayer. To Satan, bringing about the death of the Savior before the beginning of the 70th week of Daniel prophecy must have seemed his only chance to defeat the purposes the Lord had announced through that prophet (see Daniel 9:24). It must have seemed that if the Messiah were killed God’s stated purposes in the prophecy could not be fulfilled.

But this verse tells us that the dark authorities failed to understand the significance of Christ’s death. Had they understood they “would not have crucified the Lord of glory.” For in God’s “secret wisdom.” the death of Jesus was the key to the ultimate defeat of every evil power.

God has always had the power to put down Satan and his followers. But before the death of Jesus God, whose character requires him to punish sin, had no moral basis on which to act against the devil without at the same time acting against human beings.

The cross of Jesus established the basis on which God can be just and still justify sinners [pronounce innocent sinners who trust in Jesus] (Romans 3:24-26). The cross provides the basis on which we are forgiven, and it also serves as the moral basis for God’s action against all sin. In dying for us Jesus demonstrated God’s commitment to punish sin, by taking our punishment on himself.

In taking this action, Paul says in Colossians that Christ “disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.” With the moral foundation now laid, God is free at any time to act against Satan as well as against any human who rejects him, while offering forgiveness to all who trust in Jesus.

It is this stunning significance of the cross that God in his “secret wisdom” fully understood, and which Satan and his followers in the spirit world failed to grasp. As Paul says, if they had grasped the significance of Jesus’ death on the cross, “they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.” For in conspiring to bring about the death of Jesus they brought about their own ultimate defeat.

An Aside

The fourth book in the Invisible War series, The 60th Week, looks at the increased demonic activity reported during Jesus’ earthly ministry, and explores Satan’s motives for inciting the religious leaders to put Jesus to death. The story gives a fuller explanation of the significance of the point that the Apostle Paul is making in 1 Corinthians 2:6-7. I think you’ll find this novel fun to read, and filled with insights that will fascinate you and enrich your life. The 69th Week will be available on Amazon.com and in bookstores early in February.

Insights

In these brief verses the Apostle Paul highlights an important truth. He has been arguing that the Corinthians’ reliance on human wisdom is foolish. Here he points out that even the evil spirits who rule this present age can lay no claim to a superior wisdom. God has shown that their wisdom too is foolishness, for if they had understood God’s secret wisdom they would never have conspired to bring about the death of Jesus and thus accomplish their own ruin.

What does this tell us about the spirit world? Simply that the powers we so often fear are totally outclassed by God!

That true wisdom is to submit our judgment to the Word and the Spirit of God, realizing that the universe conforms to God’s secret wisdom; a wisdom by which all choices, whatever the intent of the one who chooses, operate to bring about that which God knows to be good.

This is an important lesson. We cannot know the consequences of any action we take. The best plans we can make, as the poet says, “gang aft aglay.” But when we seek God’s will and submit to it, trusting the outcome of our choices to his “secret wisdom,” we remain “safe and secure from all alarms.”

In fact, our only safety is found in “leaning on Jesus, leaning on Jesus. Leaning on the everlasting arms.”

Lost in Translation

How does it happen there are so few references to demons in the New Testament epistles? It seems as if after the Gospels and Acts, demons just disappear from the Scripture’s radar.

It’s a common notion. But its wrong. And the answer is found in NT terms that are lost in translation. The Book of Ephesians is a classic example.

In the Book of Ephesians, the Apostle Paul uses a number of terms that are intimately linked to the practice of magic and sorcery in Asia Minor, and particularly in Ephesus, the leading city of the area. These terms are also associated with the worship of the goddess Diana (Artimis). Interestingly, in the NT and in the written material from the first two centuries AD, these spirits’ titles are derived from several terms for “power” in the Greek language. Thus when Paul writes that Christ as been raised up “far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given,” Paul isn’t using these terms in any abstract way. In first century Ephesus, “rulers,” “authorities,” “powers” and “dominions” were understood to be evil spirits; demons who controlled the destines of  individuals, and who must be placated or influenced for a human to have a minimum of safety. And Diana—a goddess of the underworld and intimately linked to magical practices, the “great goddess” of the Ephesians– was generally believed to be most potent of these “powers.” And so this demon goddess was worshipped throughout Asia.

Rather than failing to mention demons in Ephesians, Paul frequently refers to these “powers,” who first century readers understood to be demons. In fact, Paul uses 13 Greek power words in his writings, which research contemporary documents show are references to supernatural beings! In Ephesians these terms are used to refer to spirit beings (demons, evil spirits)  in Ephesians 1:10,21; 2:2; 3 ;10,15; 4:8,27; 6:11,12, and 16.

The notion that the New Testament letters are silent about demons is false, simply because references to supernatural beings using the “power” vocabulary is lost in translation. Today we simply do not this language in speaking of demons. Other letter of Paul which refer to demons using such terms are:  Romans (8:38), 1 Corinthians (2:6-8; 10:19-21; 15:24-26), Galatians (4:3,9), and Philippians (2:10).

Hellenistic [Greek cultural] magick was based on the notion that through spells featuring the names of various supernatural powers the witch or sorcerer could enlist the aid of a supernatural being. This magick was used in attempts to gain the love of a desired person, to succeed in business, to maintain health or wealth, to heal, etc.. In a culture were every turn of fortune or any illness was thought to be caused by some spirit being, people were highly motivated to turn to magick. By magick one might gain the support of a powerful spirit being, who might casting out a less powerful demon that caused sickness, or turn the curse of a less powerful spirit being into a blessing.

In the book of Ephesians Paul shows that Jesus is supreme in the spirit world. And because the same power that raised Jesus from the dead now flows in us who believe, we need not fear the demons who terrorize the rest of humankind. In fact, equipped with the full armor of God, we are able to stand against all the strategies of Satan himself. 

More on Feet Shod with Peace

We’re in the middle of a study of Ephesians, approaching it as a manual for spiritual warfare. Taking our clue from Paul’s description of the armor God provides believers to “take a stand” against the devil, we’re looking through Ephesians to understand what each piece of armor represents.

So far I’ve posted two studies, one on the Helmet of Salvation, and the other on The Breastpiece of Righteousness. Naturally, I got overenthusiastic and took them out of order.

The correct order is seen in the fact that in Ephesians 6, the armor is listed in the order in which pieces were put on by Roman legionaries. This turns out to be the reverse of the order in which Paul deals with each topic in the book.

We can chart the relationship as follows:

     The order put on          The order discussed

   6:14  The belt of Truth           Eph. 5:8-6:9
   6:14  The breaspiece of           Eph. 4:17-5:7
         righteousness
   5:15  Feet fitted…peace         Eph. 2:11-19,
                                          [related digression 3:1-13]
                                          [related prayer 3:14-21]
                                          [related exhortation] 4:1-16
   5:16  Shield of faith             Eph. 2:1-10
   5:17  Helmet of salvation         Eph  1:1-14
                                          [related prayer, Eph. 1:13-23]
   5:17  Sword of the Spirit      Not mentioned in Ephesians,
                                               defined in v. 17
                                  
                                  
More on Peace         

In the last post (on feed shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace) I noted that the “peace” in view is interpersonal, the unity and harmony that is to characterize relationships between Christians (see previous post). This is illustrated by the joining of Jew and Gentile in one body. The two groups, which were hostile to each other because of their contrasting views of and response to Law, can now become one, for in the cross Jesus made Law irrelevant as a divisive factor. It follows that all lessor factors by which humans define themselves [race,wealth,education,etc.] are also irrelevant in view of what Christ has done to make us one.

In the earlier post I left the discussion there, even though the topic is continued as  “related digressions” in Ephesians itself.

First related digression: making peace revealed God’s wisdom to man (3:1-13)

The bonding of Jew and Gentile one body was stunning to both Jew and Gentile. The Jews were God’s chosen people, the avenue through which he revealed himself to humanity, and we laden down with promises of a magnificent racial future.The Gentiles were outsiders, strangers to the covenants and promises of the Old Testament and without hope in the world. Then Jesus came and each people was given access to the same standing in Christ. No longer separated, Gentiles became fellow citizens of God’s kingdom with the Jews, and even more, believing Gentiles were welcomed with believing Jews as sons and heirs of God.

Paul points out that this revelation is a “mystery.” In the NT, “mystery” is a technical theological term referring to an aspect of God’s plan which was unrevealed in the older testament. And now, suddenly, in the church that unifies the separated and hostile, God’s wisdom is seen to be far more complex and his plan far more intricate that Jews or Gentiles had imagined. How amazing that through faith in Jesus all humans now are provided with access to God, and through Christ may approach him with “freedom and confidence.”

Second related digression: experiencing peace reveals Jesus to believers (3;14-21).

At this point Paul shares a prayer he offers for the Ephesians. The prayer is addressed to the Father, “from whom the whole family in heaven and on earth takes its name.” Paul’s point is self-defined. Since God is Father, and believers are God’s children, we believers are named “family.” Paul prays daily for that the believers Christ might be at home in our hearts, and explains that you “being rooted and grounded in love” may have the ability [power] “together with all the saints” to “know the love of Christ” and so become filled with all the fullness of God.

In this context the love in which we are to “rooted and grounded” is love for one another. Since Christ has made peace between us, we are to love one another, and through love for each other not only experience the reality of Christ’s love, but also to open ourselves up to his Spirit and the transformation the Spirit brings.

Third related digression: keep the unity of the Spirit (4:1-16).

Paul has shown us that the cross of Christ makes the differences that divide human beings irrelevant. God has displayed his wisdom by designing a body in which differences are submerged in the reality of oneness. What’s more, in making peace and uniting us in a single family, God has made it possible to experience Jesus now and to grow in him. Through the love of brothers and sisters we experience Christ’s love, and open ourselves up to the transforming power of the Spirit.

Now Paul provides practical guidance for the expression of peace within the body. Read the verses yourself, and you’ll not such guidelines as “be completely humble and gentle . . . bearing with one another in love.” In this context those will spiritual gifts for building the body toward maturity will function. ‘Speaking the truth in love’ each of us will contribute to the growth of others and we “will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ.”

Putting it all together

In the earlier post on peace I noted that the Roman legions won primarily because they were a disciplined force, trained to fight side by side in close formation. There were no “lone rangers” in the Roman armies, dashing off alone to perform heroics. The legions marched in unison, camped each night in a fortified camp they constructed after the day’s march, and fought is close formation. Unity was essential.

Paul portrays peace, peace as unity and harmony in the body of Christ, as essential equipment for spiritual warfare. Christ blood provides the basis for peace, love provides the context, and commitment to keeping building unity within the body provides direction.

If Christians are truly to stand against the schemes of the devil we must stand together, our feet shod with the preparation that makes for peace. How important this element of the full armor of God is can be seen in the space Paul gives to this theme in Ephesians.

Spiritual Warfare against the Devil (10)

When we look at Ephesians as a manual for spiritual warfare our approach nuat be to examine just what this book teaches about each of the pieces of armor we’re to wear in conducting war with evil spiritual powers.

So far we’ve noted that the only offensive weapon listed is “the sword of the Spirit,” which is defined in Ephesians 6 as “the word of God.” This definition is necessary because it is the only item on the list which has not been discussed previously in Ephesians.

The first defensive equipment we examined was “the helmet of Salvation” (Spiritual Warfare post #9). God himself provides salvation, and understanding what God has done for us and who we are as adopted members of his family is critical in spiritual warfare. We need to understand our identity in Christ if we’re to take our stand against the evil powers that rule this world. There is no way that we could stand if we were still lost sinners, alienated from God and powerless to control even our own fallen nature.

But Jesus Christ is “far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given” (Ephesians 1:21). As members of his living Body, bonded to Christ in an unbreakable union, we are no longer weak and vulnerable, subject to Satan’s whims. As we put on this helmet of salvation, reveling in our new identity in Christ, we find the courage to stand. And we lose our one-time terror of the dark forces ranged against us.

Standing vs State

There’s an important theological distinction we need to make at this point. This is the distinction between our standing with and in God, and our state. Our “standing” is who we are eternally in Christ. Our “state” refers to our present experience.

For instance, believers have the standing of “saints,” in the biblical sense of those who have been set apart, saved, and made pure by God. But a Christian’s life may be anything but saintly! Thus Paul in 1 Corinthians confronts believers in Corinth with the fact that while they bicker and divide over which Christian leader to follow, they are “acting like mere men.” In their standing the Corinthian believers are anything but “mere men.” They are members of God’s family, brothers and sisters whose common allegiance is to Jesus Christ. But they are behaving as if they were ordinary humans . . . who define themselves by their differences in order to feel superior to others. Paul’s critique is rooted in the conviction that standing and state should be in harmony; that a believer should behave in ways that are appropriate for who he or she now IS.

What About the Rest of the Armor?

God has provided us with the Word of God, which we are responsible to study and to know that we might be able to aim deadly thrusts at the Evil One.

God has given us a new identity through the salvation each person of the Godhead was actively involved in providing for us. This standing is provision which we’re to understand and count on as we take our stand against the Devil’s minions.

But the other pieces of armor that Paul discusses in Ephesians have to do with our state. That is, Paul is not describing who we are in God’s sight, but rather is describing characteristics of that lifestyle which armors us against Satanic and demonic attack.

“Your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace”

As I noted earlier, in chapter 6 of Ephesians Paul treats the armor in the order in which it was put on by the Roman legionnaire. This reverses the order in which the topics are discussed in Ephesians. The Helmet of Salvation, listed last in Ephesians 6, is discussed in Ephesians 1. “Peace,” listed next to last in Ephesians 6, is discussed in Ephesians 2.

The military sandals worn by Roman soldiers we a vital piece of equipment. Legionaries were noted for the ability to cover miles quickly, marching in rank and without stragglers. In addition the foot gear was designed to provide good footing when the legion fought. Both features of the foot gear were important, especially as no Roman Soldier was intended to fight alone. The legionnaires fought in tight formation, facing the enemy side by side, with companions protecting their left and right sides. The was the secret of their ability to defeat enemies with vastly superior numbers who tended to rush into battle as a mass of individual warriors. In Roman legions there were no stragglers, and no one fought as an individual.

This was surely in Paul’s mind as he described the significance of “the gospel of peace” as essential to fitting the feet of those who would engage in spiritual warfare. The peace that the Gospel provides was and is essential if the people of God were to battle side by side against the evil spirits ranged against them.

“The Gospel of Peace”?

Reading the phrase the first question we have to answer is, what “peace” is Paul referring to. It’s common here for commentators to leap to verses like Romans 5:1, which states, “having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” But if we approach Ephesians as a spiritual warfare manual, we need to understand that “peace,” like the other elements of God’s armor, is defined in the context of the book itself. Our hermeneutic demands definition in context, not jumping from text to text in search of definitions that are out of context.

In Ephesians there’s no doubt that the “peace” Paul writes about is that harmony and unity of believers, bonded together in Christ’s body, which Jesus made possible on the cross.

The primary example of “peace” in Ephesians is the relationship between Jew and Gentile. For millenniums the relationship between Jew and Gentile was one of mistrust and hostility. The Jews, confident of their special relationship with God, and proud of the Law God had given them on Sinai, looked down on Gentiles and condemned their behavior. In the first century no observant Jew would enter the home of a Gentile, and might even consider himself defiles if a passing Gentile’s shadow touched him. For their part the Gentiles resented Jewish assumptions of superiority. History, and particularly Old Testament Law, served as a barrier that not only divided the races but created hostility.

Then Jesus came, and in Paul’s words, “made the two one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, b y abolishing in his flesh the law with its commandments and regulations. His purpose was to create one new man out of the two, thus making peace” (Ephesians 2:14.15).

The two races, each of which had defined itself by its differences from the other, was united in Christ. Peace . . . as unity and harmony . . . was now to be the norm, for the basis of hostility was made irrelevant in the cross of Christ.

Paul concludes chapter 2 of Ephesians arguing that despite their origins Gentile believers are “no longer strangers and aliens” but “fellow citizens with God’s people” who have been “joined together” and are being “built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.”

Peace

In context then, the “peace” that Paul has in mind when describing the sandals with which believers are to be fitted is interpersonal. It is not peace with God, which refers to our standing. It is peace . . . unity, harmony, bonding, being “built together” . . . with other believers! And this is a state for which we must strive.

Paul picks Jew and Gentile as a classic example of definition by differences, and the consequent hostility and mistrust which result. But they are simply an example here. The principle extends to every kind of difference which believers may use to define themselves and other believers . . . and so distance themselves from one another.

The difference may be socio-economic, political, or racial. The difference may, as it was with the Corinthians, be denominational or a matter of exalting one Christian leader above another.

The difference may even be personal, stemming from a thoughtless comment, growing from an intended or even unintended hurt.

Whatever drives a wedge between believers whom God has united in one body, and intends to build together to become a dwelling in which He dwells, interrupts peace . . . and makes us vulnerable to demonic attacks.

Put on the whole Armor

The Christian involved in spiritual warfare against the Devil can’t afford to permit differences or hurts to separate him or her from others. In Christ, the differences are of little moment, and hurts must never be nurtured into bitterness and isolation. We are to affirm our unity with all who honor Jesus Christ as Lord, and we are to be quick to extend as well as receive forgiveness when we sin or are sinned against.

If we would “be ready to take our stand against the devil schemes” we need to seek peace with brother and sister Christians, and to pursue it actively.

In Christ we do have peace with God.

We are now to live with one another in the peace Christ makes possible.

Si\piritual Warfare against the Devil (8)

The country preacher explained. “First, I tells ‘em what I’m gonna tell em. Then I tells ‘em. And then I tells em what I told ‘em.”

I suspect the country preacher got this approach from the Apostle Paul, who used something like it in the Book of Ephesians. Paul had “told” the believers in Ephesus when he was with them. He “tells ‘em” in the Ephesian epistle. And then he tells ‘em what he told ‘em at the end of this brief letter.

Actually, understanding the country preacher’s approach is the key to understanding Paul’s famous words about “the whole armor of God,” a resource which is specifically designed “so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes” (6:11).

I’m not aware of any commentary that treats Ephesians as a treatise on spiritual warfare, but I suspect that’s what it is.

The situation in Ephesus

When Paul went to Ephesus it was the center of the cult of Diana [Artemis]. Her temple dominated the city, and pilgrims from all over the Mediterranean world flocked to Ephesus to worship. The economy of the city depended on these pilgrims, and whole industries had developed to sell souvenirs and religious items to the visitors.

But the worship of the goddess failed to satisfy the spiritual hunger of the population, and Ephesus was also a center of occult activity. Books of magick were bought and sold,  spells and curses were cast, and those who claimed the power to cast out demons,like the seven sons of Sceva, were in great demand. In short, Ephesus was one of Satan’s strongholds, a city where the darkness was intense.

Then Paul arrived with the Gospel, and in just two years of preaching and teaching tore down the system Satan had spent decades developing . . . and in the process destroyed the economy of the city! Silversmiths couldn’t sell their amulets, and millions of dollars worth of books of magick were burned publicly by converts.

Paul had launched spiritual warfare against Satan in one of the centers of his power . . . and had been victorious.

Throwing down strongholds

Introducing the “full armor of God” Paul writes that “our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms” (6:12). He then goes on to state that to take our stand against the onslaughts of these demonic forces, God has provided us with a complete set of military equipment, the “full armor” (panoply) which a Roman legionnaire wore when going into battle.

Many commentators have written on the pieces of armor Paul lists. More than a few have missed the point. That point is that Paul, like the country preacher, is using the analogy of armor to “tell ‘em what he’s told ‘em.”

That is, the armor we’re to wear when engaged in spiritual warfare is intended to serve as a review of the book of Ephesians itself.

Only “the sword of the Spirit” in this list is defined [as "the Word of God"]. Why define the sword while leaving the other pieces of armor undefined? Because the other pieces of armor have already been defined in the book itself.

In short, we can and we should approach Ephesians as a manual for spiritual warfare against the demonic powers that rule this world.

Deadly thrusts

In future posts I’ll look at each piece of armor Paul mentions, note its function, and relate it to the relevant teaching in Ephesians. For the rest of this post I want simply to comment on the one piece of equipment not expanded on in Ephesians, the “sword of the spirit.”

Roman military doctrine required soldiers to fight the enemy together, pressed close side by side. Roman ranks advanced, each man’s shoulder pressed against the shoulder of the man next to him, shields held before them, a solid wall bearing down on the enemy. This approach left no room for a soldier to swing a sword with the great looping blows we’re familiar with from pirate movies, or to lunge and retreat, thrust and parry as in fencing. Instead as the ranks of Roman legionaries pressed in to engage the enemy behind their shields, they thrust at their enemy with short, pointed blades. There was no slashing with the Roman broadsword; just deadly thrusts aimed an exposed bodies, arms, legs, or throats; blows that crippled even if they did not kill.

Roman legionaries did carry two javelins. which they hurled as they approached the foe. But when the battle was joined the struggle was face to face, intimate, body straining against body. In this kind of battle the Roman sword was decisive, easy to wield, designed for deadly thrusts in melees where there was no room to swing a longer, sharpened blade.

This is what the Word of God is in spiritual warfare, a Roman short-sword, used by the Spirit of God to strike the enemy deadly blows. This is how Jesus used the Word of God when he was tempted by the Devil (Matthew 4). Jesus found in the book of Deuteronomy truths with which to strike down every test by Satan) Similarly we find in Scripture truth the Spirit will bring to mind to counter every threat and lie of the enemy, and send him reeling in defeat.

Don’t be like Eve

In the temptation in Eden Eve proved vulnerable. As Satan probed, Eve misquoted Scripture, and then questioned God’s motive for commanding the first pair not to eat the forbidden fruit. Thus disarmed, Eve had nothing to rely on but her own appetites and reasoning. The fruit looked and smelled good, and surely God would want her to gain knowledge. So she ate…as Adam, who was not deceived, stood by and let her.

Adam could have stepped in. He could have challenged Satan’s deceits with an accurate statement of the Word God had spoke to him. With one thrust of this Sword provided by the Spirit Adam could have wounded Satan and driven him away . . . and changed the course of human history.

The believer who knows the Word of God and uses it to deal Satan a deadly blow each time the evil one seeks to attack and deceive us is assured of victory.

Let’s learn from Eve, who failed to accurately quote the divine Word, and from Adam, who failed to act on the Word he knew. Let’s equip ourselves with a knowledge of that Word
the Spirit both inspired and brings to our mind when needed, and so make sure we’re equipped not only to defend ourselves against Satan’s schemes but to strike him deadly blows each time he attacks us.

The Devil (1)

Recently [3/26/009] ABC’s “Nightline” sponsored a debate on the existence of the Devil. It was held at Mars Hill Church in Seattle. On the pro side were Pastor Mark Driscoll and a Ann Lambert, a converted prostitute who now heads Hookers for Jesus. On the anti were Deepak Chopra and Bishop Carlton Pearson. With gracious condescension Chopra put down those whose own needless guilt required the invention of an evil being, while an emotional Lambert insisted she’s seen the Devil in the eyes of her John. Excerpts from the actual debate were mere snippets, and did justice to the positions of neither side. But you can still see the full episode on line by going to “Nightline on ABC” and clicking on video of the full episode.

The fact is, of course, that belief in the existence of the devil doesn’t rest on our interpretation of experiences with evil. It rests on the reliability of Scripture, which enables us to interpret our experiences accurately. Chopra admitted the existence of evil but denied the existence of a being who embodies evil and actively promotes it. Scripture is clear that the evil was introduced into the universe by the rebellion of Lucifer, the angel who became Satan, and that evil was introduced into our world by a similar rebellion against the will of God by Adam, instigated by Satan himself.

Oh yes. Satan exists. And he is still intent on encouraging rebellion against the will of God, whether that rebellion is inadvertent or conscious. In fact, Satan, as ruler of this world, uses both the world and the flesh to foment continuous rebellion.

A brief review

In our studies on “the world” we saw that the Greek word kosmos means “order” or “system.” When the Bible says that “the whole world lies in the wicked one” it’s reminding us that human society as a systematic arrangement of attitudes, beliefs and values reflects the nature and character of Satan rather than of God. In the words of the Apostle John, “all that is in the world–the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does–comes not from the Father but from the world” (1 John 2:16). Human cultures mirror Satan, not the divine.

In our studies on “the flesh” we saw that the Hebrew and Greek terms, when used to describe human nature, depict humankind as vulnerable, helpless, and corrupt. We are drawn to sin, urged to it, by our “sinful passions.”

The best image I know of the relationship between the world and the flesh is that of a picture puzzle. Label half the pieces “the world” and label the other half “the flesh,” and you suddenly realize that the world and the flesh fit together perfectly! The social world, the culture in which we live, is perfectly structured to fit man’s sinful tendencies.

I won’t go into here how we conduct spiritual warfare with the world and with the flesh. That’s covered in earlier posts on each enemy. What I want to emphasize here is the fact that Satan and his demons and involved in our struggles with the both the world and the flesh.

Satan’s own twist

There’s not much about demons in the Old Testament. There are two references that indicate demons were the spiritual realities behind the gods pagans worshipped, and we have no reason to doubt that demons continue to energize non-Christian religions.

The Gospels however describe different ways in which demon’s impact human experience. And the epistles provide additional information on what Paul calls “Satan’s devices” or strategies. So in exploring spiritual warfare against Satan, we’re going to explore three biblical sources of information.

   We’re going to look at demonic attacks on individuals described in the Gospels.
   We’re going to look at Satan’s strategies as unveiled in the Epistles.
   We’re going to look at what Paul calls the “whole armor of God” described in Ephesians.

I’m not sure how many posts it will take to work through all this information. But personally I’m looking forward to the adventure . . . and to discovering what the Bible teaches about spiritual warfare against the Evil One and his followers.