07/14/2020
Hidden enemies terrify us. We are far less apt to stumble, or be frightened in the light of day than in the night, and yet half our lives are spent surrounded by darkness. This is also how we struggle spiritually. The spiritual snares placed to trap us are most effective when they are set in darkness, in those places we can’t see or readily understand. When we oppose someone, or something, it is far easier for us than when we wrestle against ideas, fears, spirits, and vaporous things; those are the enemies that scare us as they go bump in the night.
“For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.”
Ephesians 6:12 ESV
When a child comes to its parent crying, and says that they have hurt their arm, the mother, or father knows exactly how to treat the injury, and console them, but when that same child is crying so hard that no sound is coming from its mouth, it’s face is red and contorted, and it is unable to speak or take a breath, then a parent fears the worst, and is at a loss as to what to do. This is how we are confronted by the spiritual enemies that come against us. They are like the crying child that can’t tell us how to help it. We know the feeling that comes from the presence of evil, but we just can’t determine how to deal with it. We can’t see it, feel its skin, or smell its odor. We are left grasping, and flailing about in the dark... we fear, and fear the worst, but if we trust in God, then our help comes from the Lord.
“My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.”
Psalm 121:2 ESV
There is an old saying; it isn’t biblical, but we hear it often, and it goes like this... “fight fire with fire”. The implication is that we can’t defeat evil unless we fight it with evil, and we can’t overcome darkness with anything other than darkness, but as people of faith we know this to be untrue; that we can’t defeat evil unless we fight it with good, and we can’t overcome darkness with anything other than light. What we can understand from this saying is that although we can combat the spiritual things in our lives spiritually, and the physical things that come against us physically, that it isn’t always that way.
“Then he said, “Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel, for you have striven with God and with men, and have prevailed.””
Genesis 32:28 ESV
No, although it is generally good advice, there are those times when these two worlds are so intertwined that it is hard to tell where one leaves off and the other begins. Jacob wrestling with the angel of God is a good example. Was that a physical or a spiritual encounter? So how then do we face these spiritual forces... these powers of darkness that can enter into our everyday lives? We do so by calling upon God who stands astride both night and day, and can move between the spiritual and physical natures of our lives.
“do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
Philippians 4:6-7 ESV
We see here that facing the sin in our lives is more than resisting physical temptation, there is a spiritual side to it, a side that is vaporous, and resides in our hearts, minds, and yes... souls. This is the side that frightens us to our core, and that we are most uncomfortable with. It took more than Jesus the man dying on the cross for us to be redeemed, He had to take on our sin, descend into Hell, and to not only be resurrected, but be transfigured. The physical side was important, but the spiritual portion had to be realized. It wasn’t enough that Jesus physically walked out of the tomb... After all Lazarus did that, and no one received eternity. So we face the darkness and God is Light, we face evil but God is Good, and we face death and sin, but God has redeemed us through Jesus. Though we face those things we cannot see... who then should we fear?
“The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?”
Psalm 27:1 ESV
Prayer:
Father, thank you for being our rock when we are confronted by the forces of evil. Thank you Holy Father for not only defeating the men and other physical obstacles that are arrayed before us, but for giving us your spiritual protection against those powers we can’t see. Thank you Father for the peace we feel when you set a table for us in the presence of our enemies, both physical and spiritual, and our faith comforts us there. Holy, Holy, Holy, are you our God who rules over Heaven and Earth. Great are you who goes before us into both physical and spiritual battle. Merciful are you who sent your Son to redeem us, and your Holy Spirit to guide us, and give us understanding. Your grace abounds, and fills us Lord, and your presence comforts us in the midst of our greatest fears. Hear our prayers as we cry out in contrition and ask for your forgiveness. Hear our prayers as we call on your protection, and hear us as we sing songs of our thanksgiving from within our prayer closets, and in the streets. Lift us up Lord, give us rest, confidence in our faith, and seat us at your table forevermore.
“I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth. He will not let your foot be moved; he who keeps you will not slumber. Behold, he who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. The Lord is your keeper; the Lord is your shade on your right hand. The sun shall not strike you by day, nor the moon by night. The Lord will keep you from all evil; he will keep your life. The Lord will keep your going out and your coming in from this time forth and forevermore.”
Psalm 121:1-8 ESV
Rich Forbes