Recently I have been doing a study of Satan and Demons in scripture. The reason I began this study was a growing awareness that the ministry we are engaged in is receiving hostile opposition from spiritual places. Simple things become hard, things that shouldn't go wrong, go wrong, attacks coming from many different directions that slow, or even stop effective ministry. I'm currently doing a study which will probably lead to a sermon, and/or an article.
Why did Jesus teach us to pray "deliver us from evil?" Why did Paul warn us "not to be ignorant of the schemes of the devil?" Why did Peter warn us that "the devil prowls about like a roaring lion...be on the alert." Be on the alert. That's what I'm seeking to finally do. I've always understood that demons were active somewhere, but never as clearly as I do today that they are active all around me. We don't have the conventional "demon possession" happening in America as we see in the New Testament. But that isn't surprising, since anyone exhibiting these kinds of symptoms would be so heavily medicated they could no longer function. Either way, the person is out of commission.
They have changed their operations so that we would not be aware of what they are doing in OUR lives. Friends, be on the alert. There is more than just "fate" and "circumstances" that we are battling against. Spiritual powers in the heavenly places are arrayed against us.
