Spiritual Attack
I Corinthians 10:18–22
“Consider the people of Israel: Do not those who eat the sacrifices participate in the altar? Do I mean then that food sacrificed to an idol is anything, or that an idol is anything? No, but the sacrifices of pagans are offered to demons, not to God, and I do not want you to be participants with demons. You cannot drink the cup of the LORD and the cup of demons too; you cannot have a part in both the LORD’s table and the table of demons. Are we trying to arouse the LORD’s jealousy? Are we stronger than He?”
We generally take for granted the spiritual dimension in many aspects of our lives we must always remain vigilant. Elsewhere, the Apostle Paul tells us “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 ethereal places (Eph 6:12).” I believe that from today’s verses we can gather that if a purported spiritual activity does not involve God, it opens itself and those engaged in it to demonic influence. I don’t believe in ghosts per se, or that the dead can communicate with us (I Sam 28:15–16 was a curious event, the seer seemed to have been surprised herself), I would err on the side of the idea that these are deceptive evil spirits, after all, the Adversary is the father of lies (John 8:44) and he has been here long enough to know the workings of human minds. But before I give him too much credit (as many Christians appear to do), let us be reminded that the war is over, Christ is already victorious when He went to the cross and overcame death, an act of God’s love that the devil desired so much to frustrate but the LORD persevered and we partake in that glory. And we are fighting from that victory armed with the promise that “the God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our LORD Jesus be with you (Rom 16:20).” So in many seemingly harmless activities or innocent spiritual beliefs or superstitions, such as described in today’s verses, engaging in these may open ourselves to spiritual attack. This is why we pray not only for discernment and wisdom but also for protection and the covering of the precious blood of Christ. The Apostles have reminded us, St. Peter wrote, “Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings (I Pet 5:8–9),” and have encouraged us, St. James said: “Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you (Jam 4:7).” We hold to God and turn to our LORD Jesus Christ, may the Living Life prayer today be ours as well, for ourselves, our loved ones and fellow faithful: Lord God, You are holy. I reject any ties to evil and seek to worship only at Your throne. Show me the weak spots in my spiritual armor and fortify Your protection around my heart and mind. Forgive my sins and deliver me from evil. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
“Consider the people of Israel: Do not those who eat the sacrifices participate in the altar? Do I mean then that food sacrificed to an idol is anything, or that an idol is anything? No, but the sacrifices of pagans are offered to demons, not to God, and I do not want you to be participants with demons. You cannot drink the cup of the LORD and the cup of demons too; you cannot have a part in both the LORD’s table and the table of demons. Are we trying to arouse the LORD’s jealousy? Are we stronger than He?”
We generally take for granted the spiritual dimension in many aspects of our lives we must always remain vigilant. Elsewhere, the Apostle Paul tells us “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 ethereal places (Eph 6:12).” I believe that from today’s verses we can gather that if a purported spiritual activity does not involve God, it opens itself and those engaged in it to demonic influence. I don’t believe in ghosts per se, or that the dead can communicate with us (I Sam 28:15–16 was a curious event, the seer seemed to have been surprised herself), I would err on the side of the idea that these are deceptive evil spirits, after all, the Adversary is the father of lies (John 8:44) and he has been here long enough to know the workings of human minds. But before I give him too much credit (as many Christians appear to do), let us be reminded that the war is over, Christ is already victorious when He went to the cross and overcame death, an act of God’s love that the devil desired so much to frustrate but the LORD persevered and we partake in that glory. And we are fighting from that victory armed with the promise that “the God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our LORD Jesus be with you (Rom 16:20).” So in many seemingly harmless activities or innocent spiritual beliefs or superstitions, such as described in today’s verses, engaging in these may open ourselves to spiritual attack. This is why we pray not only for discernment and wisdom but also for protection and the covering of the precious blood of Christ. The Apostles have reminded us, St. Peter wrote, “Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings (I Pet 5:8–9),” and have encouraged us, St. James said: “Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you (Jam 4:7).” We hold to God and turn to our LORD Jesus Christ, may the Living Life prayer today be ours as well, for ourselves, our loved ones and fellow faithful: Lord God, You are holy. I reject any ties to evil and seek to worship only at Your throne. Show me the weak spots in my spiritual armor and fortify Your protection around my heart and mind. Forgive my sins and deliver me from evil. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
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