Spiritual Warfare???????

The
idea of spiritual warfare can seem very weird at times. Angels. Demons. God vs
Satan. The idea of a battle being waged over the souls of men that is going on
around us at all times even though most of the time we are 100% unaware of it.
Seems like something that would fit better in a sci-fi film. Yet the Bible
speaks of this as true reality of the world. Just as there is a physical realm,
which we all see; there is a spiritual realm that is just as real.

And
as surely as there is a God who is the source of light and goodness in the
world, there is an enemy of God known as Satan who is the source of all evil
and iniquity in the world. Satan was at one point one of the chief angels of
light. Yet pride was found in him and he rebelled against the Lord. A third of
the angels in heaven joined with him in the rebellion and they lost. They were
exiled as a result of their sin.

And the angels who did not keep their positions of
authority but abandoned their own home-these he has kept in darkness, bound
with everlasting chains for judgment on the great Day (Jude 6).

And
just as there are legions of angels that worship the Lord and fight on the side
of the light, there are also legions of demons that are aligned with Satan and
are waging a war against the Kingdom of Heaven.

Then
he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the
eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels (Matt 25:41)

There
will come a day when God will judge Satan and his legion of demons at the end
of time as noted in the book of Revelation.

And the devil, who deceived them, was thrown into the lake
of burning sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet had been thrown. They
will be tormented day and night for ever and ever (Rev 20:10)

Yet until that day, there is a war being fought. Thankfully
God is bigger and greater than anything demonic force in this world. We know that
Jesus has overcome the world (John 16:33) and the same Spirit that raised Jesus
Christ from the dead lives in all of us. And therefore we can overcome all of
the forces of darkness.

for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the
victory that has overcome the world, even our faith (1John 5:4)

And
I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the
gates of Hades will not overcome it. (Matt. 16:18)

I
write all this because my team and I have been experiencing a great amount of
spiritual warfare. We have felt the attack of the enemy in many facets:
sickness, attacks on team unity, travel problems, and a general darkness that has
engulfed the village of Camotan. There have been many witch doctors that have
created an intense spiritual darkness in this place. And it is against this
darkness that the Lord has called us to shine for the Kingdom of Heaven.

For
those reading this and think this is so weird, we think it’s a little weird as
well. But this is the reality that the true Word of God attests to and which we
have felt and seen around us. Yet we believe the light of Heaven is enough to
pierce even this darkness. Will it be a fight? Better believe it. Please
continue to pray with us in the battle.

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