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“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power” (Ephesians 6:10).
Spiritual warfare. William Gurnall says that all Christians are in the battle whether they realize it or not, and that the war is so serious that it makes the cruelest battle between human armies seem like child’s play.*
But what is spiritual warfare, anyway? Why has it been neglected in more recent times? Who is our enemy? Isn’t the New Testament just “out of date” on some of this stuff? Does “possession” still happen? How do we win the battle?
This is a big topic. I won’t pretend to answer all these questions in a short devotional.
But they all get addressed in an interview I had with Jon Thompson. Not only has he researched and written about spiritual warfare, but he has been in hundreds of situations where the demonic has been present.
I encourage you to earmark some time and take a listen. [Link below.]
For now, let me say this. One of the questions Jon encourages us to ask is this: “Do I actually believe what the Bible teaches about how the world functions, or do I dismiss it as ancient and stupid?”
That’s what a lot of people do. They assume that anything in the Bible that sniffs of the demonic is out-of-date mythology. But automatically taking that view—without thoughtful, prayerful research—is a kind of modern arrogance which prioritizes a secular view of the world which dismisses the supernatural, whether good or evil.
I realize that this topic can be intimidating or unsettling for those who haven’t thought much about it. To you, Jon says “Do not fear.” In Christ, God has already won the battle. The question for each of us is whether or not our ultimate allegiance is to him, and if we are standing in his truth alone.
Notes:
—SPIRITUAL WARFARE PODCAST – What is spiritual warfare? Why do some avoid it? Isn’t the Bible just ‘out of date’? Who is our enemy? Does possession still happen? How do we win?! I discuss all this and more (put on your seatbelts) with Jon Thompson, author of Deliverance, on ‘The Pulse Podcast with Matthew Ruttan.’ Click here. You can also find it on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcast, Spotify, Stitcher and TuneIn.
–*William Gurnall wrote extensively about spiritual warfare in the 17th century. This quote is a paraphrase and is from: The Reformation Heritage KJV Study Bible, Joel Beeke, ed. (Grand Rapids: Reformation Heritage Books, 2014), 1713.
–Bible quotes are from the NIV.
