SPEAKER_00: Nehemiah chapter 6 is a classic example of spiritual warfare.
SPEAKER_00: When you're doing God's work like Nehemiah, adversaries will sometimes come in and try to bring you to a grinding halt.
SPEAKER_00: To be sure, these people will think they're doing noble work, even thinking they're doing it for the Lord sometimes, and yet they're being used by the enemy.
SPEAKER_00: These spiritual attacks come in the form of distraction and fear and can sometimes bring discouragement.
SPEAKER_00: Well, a couple of antidotes to minimizing spiritual warfare in your life are prayer and the reading, meditation on, and memorization of scripture.
SPEAKER_00: Perhaps you're already exercising these spiritual disciplines, which is good, but it's still important to be aware of the battle that rages in the spiritual realm.
SPEAKER_00: Paul writes that we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over the present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.
SPEAKER_00: Pastor Paul Enns writes, What is Satan's purpose as ruler of this world?
SPEAKER_00: His purpose is to create a counterfeit kingdom in opposition to Christ.
SPEAKER_00: But, my friends, if you're in Christ, there is nothing to fear.
unknown: R.
SPEAKER_00: C.
SPEAKER_00: Sprohl has this to say about demons in his book, Essential Truths of the Christian Faith.
SPEAKER_00: If we take the Bible seriously, we must take the demonic world seriously.
SPEAKER_00: There can be no biblical theology without a corresponding demonology.
SPEAKER_00: Though demons are real and powerful, there is no reason to believe that they can ever possess a Christian.
SPEAKER_00: We may be harassed, tempted, or accused by demons, but never controlled by them.
SPEAKER_00: Every Christian is indwelt by the Holy Spirit.
SPEAKER_00: His presence guarantees liberty from demonic possession.
SPEAKER_00: He is stronger than any demon that may attack us.
SPEAKER_00: I hope we remember this the next time we experience spiritual warfare.
SPEAKER_00: This has been Dan Stevens on Thursday, May 28th.
SPEAKER_00: Be encouraged and have a great day.