Spiritual Threat of Unseen Powers

This past weekend I was in the stall of a public bathroom when I overheard a mother to her child, "Put the soap on your hands, now! Scrub, scrub, scrub! Under the water, under the water. Get your hands in there!" The whimpers of the child testified she was not enthusiastic about the reasons mom gave her to wash her hands. There was a scuffle. Raising her voice, the mother recited a long litany about the existence of germs, flu, viruses, and disease.  The poor child withstood the harsh chastisement and excoriation that would be fitting for a hardened criminal. This incident caused me to pause and think about how we are very conscious with regard to protecting our physical bodies from germ invaders but are lax when it comes to the more dangerous spiritual invaders. Many people, including some Christians, don't believe that there is a spiritual threat of unseen powers all around us every day that lie in wait to "infect" us with the sins of worry, hatred, jealousy, greed, perversion, etc. all in an attempt to beat us down, rob our joy, steal our hope, and destroy our souls. I am concerned about Christians who often disregard the existence of demonic powers and allow themselves to be unprotected against spiritual illness.

Paul tells us in Ephesians 6, verse 11 to "Put on the whole armor of God that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil." Wiles are cunning strategies employed to manipulate you or persuade you into doing what you want, even if it's wrong! You know that voice. We've all heard that voice ... "Just try it once. What will it hurt?" or "He has a wife but you love him, and if you love him how can the affair be wrong?" Those voices are non-other than Satan whispering into your conscience. He is the enemy of God and his goal is to undermine God's work in you. Why? Satan doesn't want us reaching our goal (Proverbs 21:5), to finish this race (Acts 20:24), to trust in God (Proverbs 3:5-6), he wants to impede and hinder us. He is hoping we will fall away and go back into his dark world of sin and death (Proverbs 4:23). Satan's hands are dirty with "spiritual germs"  that can be all over you, invading your mind, soul, and yes- even your body unless you arm yourself every day with God's holy, protective armor. The Bible says God's armor is your only defense against the wiles of the devil. This armor is available FOR THE BELIEVER (Isaiah 59: 16-19). If you are a Christian, you should be aware what those pieces of armor are: Belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, feet shod with the gospel of peace, shield of faith, helmet of salvation, and the Sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God. If there were no invisible forces and evil powers ("an unseen world" as defined by Paul), why did he bother to tell us to be prepared for such a thing then? You've heard the devil's voice tempting you and trying to persuade you to do wrong, especially if you've given your life to Christ!  Satan already has those of the world who love and wish to remain in their cesspool of sin. But what about you? Have you armed yourself with the protection God has allotted to His faithful? 

Spiritual threats are far more dangerous than the germs we attempt to wash from our hands or the viruses we fight with antibiotics. The invisible dark forces are constantly in competition for our attention, for our hearts, our souls, for our very lives! Many people laugh at this truth or at the very least, don't take it seriously enough so that they might protect themselves. The most dangerous enemy is the one you cannot see! We live in a dangerous world both physically and spiritually. But we are not without hope. Just as there is a way to fight the unseen world of germs and bacteria that invade our physical bodies, there is a way to fight the unseen entities of evil. Your armor is your protective covering. You must wear all of it on a daily basis, not leaving off one piece or you will make a way for evil to creep in. Satan and his horde of demons are quiet, tricky, and cunning. He offers you a moment of pleasure in exchange for your soul. He appeals to your flesh to destroy your spirit. The cost is too high!  Putting on your armor every day has nothing to do with being saved if you are a true believer IN AND FOLLOWER OF Jesus Christ. Believers are saved but our flesh, being human, is weak. The devil knows this and plays to it.  God knows our weaknesses also (2 Corinthians 12:9) and has made a provision for us out of His love and mercy so that the invisible forces of darkness cannot undo all the good work Jesus has done in us. I urge you to read the scriptures in this blog, learn what the armor of God is, why it's available, and then don't hesitate to arm yourself with its protection.
Until next time
-Pat-