Yesterday at Valley Church we talked about the controversial topic of Spiritual Warfare. I know that people are all over the map on this topic and I think C.S. Lewis summarizes the tension well. He writes:
"There are two equal and opposite errors into which our race can fall about the devils and demons. One is to disbelieve in their existence, the other is to believe and to feel an excessive and unhealthy interest in them.They themselves are equally pleased by both errors and hail a materialist or a magician with the same delight.”
Here's a link to a great debate put on by ABC news' Nightline - participants included Deepak Chopra, Pastor Mark Driscoll, and some others. It's interesting to see how people view the idea of whether or not Satan exists - especially interesting to me to hear the worldview of someone as influential as Deepak Chopra.
Here's the link: click here to go to ABC's website and scroll down to the "Does Satan exist" area and view the debate.
In scripture, one of the key texts on Spiritual warfare is Ephesians 6:10-18. Actually this passage is a summary of what the apostle Paul detailed in the other five chapters of Ephesians up to this point. Here's a quick look at chapter 1.
A few things stand out to me as I read through Ephesians 1 and they spell out the truth of who we are in Christ and the reality of our Salvation that Paul alludes to in Ephesians 6. I took a minute to focus on the spiritual blessings we have in Christ Paul lists here.
1. We are blessed in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. (verse 3)
2. He has freely given us His glorious grace (verse 6)
3. We have redemption through Christ's blood (verse 7)
4. Forgiveness of sins (verse 7)
5. God's grace is lavished on us (lavished!! - verse 7)
6. He revealed Himself to us (made known the mystery - verse 9)
7. We are marked in Him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit! (verse 13)
That's what we have - that's who we are! My prayer for us is the same as Paul's prayer for the Ephesians in verses 17-19. Here it is:
"I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his people, and his incomparably great power for us who believe."
That's good stuff. What stands out to you in Ephesians 1?
Yesterday was GREAT! We so often think of demons as benign little horned creatures and don't think of how their leader is set on seeking, killing, and destroying by any and all means possible.
Ephesians 1 I have lots of thoughts on, but I really like vs. 7--I am marked with His seal--that's empowering! So in light of that how will I go out to battle? I have the most powerful weapon in heaven and Earth backing me up. Not to say that I won't have to do my share of spiritual combat, His seal is no free pass. Having God's seal should give me boldness and peace, knowing who holds me up, who will fight for me, and who's got my back no matter what.
You rock Babe! And thanks for allowing God to rock you so that you can share such powerful passionate stuff.
Posted by: Stephanie | October 05, 2009 at 11:58 AM