#108: "That'll Preach!"

Yep, that was one sister's assessment of my short oration on spiritual warfare on a personal level after dinner last night.
It all started off with the possibility of poltergeists in the Big House, traveled through the truth of Ephesians 6:12, "For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places," into the book of Daniel, around to Martin Luther's reputed ink bottle toss at Satan, touched a bit on Romans 8:31, "What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us?" and ended with John 4:4, "You are from God, little children, and have overcome them; because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world." Here's roughly how it ran...

Odd things happen to Christians in the physical world that quite possibly are the result of demonic activity. (Read C.S. Lewis's The Screwtape Letters as an interesting "read" on the subject.) Based on Psalm 91, the book of Daniel, and Hebrews 1:1-5, we Christians have guardian angels given by God as well as demons of different levels assigned to us by the Prince of Darkness. Angels and demons are immortal, so the ones, for instance, that were for/against Daniel were freed up to be assigned to someone else when he died and have been continually reassigned down through the ages. I figure it is likewise for all the rest of us on an adjustable scale, based on how close we're getting to the Lord in our daily walk. Martin Luther is said to have thrown an ink bottle at Satan himself; which makes sense, given the importance of Luther's role in the Reformation and Satan's ability to come up personally against one of God's people. (cf. Job 1 & 2)

So, the answer to the question of Romans 8:31 is this: Satan, at least 50,000,000 demons (based on the simple math that 10,000 x 10,000 angels surround the Throne in Revelation and they outnumber the fallen ones 2 to 1!), and about 6 billion unregenerated people on this planet!! HOWEVER, 1 John 4:4 is the key to this whole preachifying. If you're Born Again and have the Holy Spirit, "GREATER IS HE WHO IS IN YOU THAN HE WHO IS IN THE WORLD!" OOORAH, OOORAH!!

To summarize:
1. Recognize the fact that you're in a spiritual war deep in Enemy territory of which he's temporarily been given charge by God.
2. Even if the angels didn't outnumber the demons 2 to 1, you've got the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit on YOUR side and they're waaaaaaaaaaaay more powerful that the opposition.
3. When it hits the fan of your life, rely on James 4:7,8: "Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded."
Judy Collins is singing "Amazing Grace" on my computer as I write this, so I've gotta wrap this up and wipe my eyes.
Got tissues?