Quote from Forum Archives on August 18, 2005, 9:43 pm

Posted by: masinick <masinick@...>

Word for Today, Thu, 18 Aug 2005: Facing Opposition
Dear friends,

When we struggle, what is it that seems to be continually
fighting against us? The apostle Paul answers this question in
his letter to the church at Ephesus, and Neil Anderson writes
about this today in his devotional series, Daily in Christ.

Yours in Christ,
Brian
___________________________

Neil Anderson's Daily in Christ August 18, 2005
www.crosswalk.com/faith/devotionals/dailyinchrist/
www.ficm.org

THOSE WHO OPPOSE US

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 (Ephesians 6:12).

Virtually all evangelical Christians and even many liberals agree
that Satan is a living being who is an evil force in the world.
Historically, Christian confessions of faith have always included
statements about belief in a personal devil--not that every
person has his own personal devil, but that the devil is an actual
personage rather than merely an impersonal force. But when you
talk about demons being alive and active in the world today, a
lot of Christians bristle, "Hold on there. I believe in the
devil, but I don't buy that stuff about demons."

My questions to these people is: How do you think Satan carries
on his worldwide ministry of evil and deception? He is a created
being . He is not omnipresent, omniscient or omnipotent. He can't
be everywhere in the world tempting and deceiving millions of
people at the same moment. He does so through an army of
emissaries (demons, evil spirit, fallen angels, etc.) who
propagate his plan of rebellion around the world. It is clear
from the context of Ephesians 6:12 that the rulers, powers, and
forces which oppose us are spiritual entities in the heavenlies
(the spiritual world).

Disbelief in personal demonic activity (or an inordinate fear of
demons) is further evidence of the static that Satan perpetrates
in our minds to distort the truth. In the classic Screwtape
Letters, C.S. Lewis wrote: "There are two equal and opposite
errors into which our race can fall about the devils. One is to
disbelieve their existence. The other is to believe and feel an
unhealthy interest in them. They themselves are equally pleased
by both errors and hail a materialist or a magician with the same
delight."

Father God, I announce that You are the only legitimate
fear-object and sanctuary, and I renounce all demonic activity in
my life.

-----------
This daily devotional is published and distributed by
Crosswalk.com. It is written by Neil Anderson at
www.ficm.org

--
Brian Masinick, mailto:masinick@yahoo.com
Home page: www.geocities.com/masinick/

__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around
mail.yahoo.com