The practical reality of spiritual warfare
The practical reality of spiritual warfare shows how far the church has gotten from truth. I was surprised at my blindness to the reality of current Christian fiction. Fiction about spiritual warfare deals with evil in horrendously horrid and graphic ways with monsters, horror, pain, terror, and more.
However, this fiction is rarely about spiritual warfare with demons. In most cases, it’s simply a lie. The stories are not about fighting the satanic world, but the rampant sin in the lives of characters and situations. The truth of spiritual warfare is much more deadly. The warfare is within us, day in and day out.
The practical reality of spiritual warfare takes place in our minds
How do we identify demonic activity? There are several major indicators: irrational fear, dread, confusion, lies, condemnation, and dragging up the past. It all comes with urgency. This has to end now! You have to do something now! All this is from the enemy. They’re the major weapons of the satanic world we live in.
All of these things are thoughts running through our minds. Many of them are demonic. Some of them are from ourselves. If they’re demonic, Jesus has given us the authority to get rid of them. If they’re from ourselves, repentance and turning toward Jesus fixes that.
The enemy has very little power
He has to get some foolish human to allow his proposed action. All we have to do is stand firm and say, “No!” in the name of Jesus. The demon cannot force you to do anything. But he can get you so overwhelmed with fear, doubt, worry, dread, horror, terror, and so on that you simply give in. You allow it to have place in your soul.
You’ll be amazed how quickly you can find peace if you tell the demon to leave in the name of Jesus. Within Jesus, the demonic has no power. Jesus totally overcame him, and all his minions, on the cross.
The question is: are you in Jesus?
If you aren’t sure, ask the Holy Spirit to show you all your sin. That will bring you to repentance. Turn to Jesus and ask for your forgiveness. He will give you that.
In your gratitude, ask Him to come live in you and be your Lord and King. Then praise and worship Him until you receive your breakthrough. Don’t quit until you’re sure.
Yes, it really is that simple.
So often Christians think the enemy puts thoughts in our heads or rules our actions (“the devil made me do it”). And while unbidden thoughts can come, I agree with my husband (and your examples) that more often than not, the enemy stirs up our emotions with irrationality, fear, anger or panic. We see this so much in the OT with Saul who became a basket case within seconds – all irrational emotional responses that he felt compelled to follow. And you are so right, that too often we (Christians) step right up to the plate and say, “Yes, I’ll agree with and receive that emotion” instead of rejecting it, saying “NOT ON MY WATCH!” Good post. Thanks.