Tuesday, April 27, 2004
Persist, pray, prevail!
We are at war. In Daniel 10 we get inspired testimony of demonic opposition to God's purposes.
Jesus's parable of persistence in Luke 18:1-8 records the words "Give me justice against my adversary! ... but when the Son of Man comes will there be faith in the earth?" The oppressed remnant is to exercise their faith throughout this age. This is manifest in persistent prayer for vindication against the adversary.
We have been informed that we are not "ignorant of the devil's schemes" (2 Corinthians 2:11). Nobody is exempt from spiritual warfare. (1 Peter 5:8,9). The enemy opposes the "knowledge of God" (2 Corinthians 10:4,5). What can we know about them and their devices?
In Deuteronomy 32:8,9 we read that the nations were divided according to the sons of God (LXX), but Israel belongs to YHVH. The nations were placed under the custody of the angelic realm. These principalities perverted their stewardship. They were empowered to rule, the nations worshipped them!
From Ephesians 2:12-19 we know that although the Gentiles are strangers to God. Yet, when redeemed, they are fellow citizens of God's kingdom along with the Israel of God (believing Jews -- Galatians 6:16).
The enemy has no "legal right" to oppress God's redeemed transnational people. In fact, this united "people" has been called into existence to display God's wisdom to the "rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms" (Ephesians 3:10,11).
In Daniel 10 the angelic forces that ruled Persia and Greece, who opposed God's will, are exposed to the faithful reader. (They are typical of all other principalities and powers that are not specifically unmasked.) YHVH decreed Israel's restoration and the revelation of His purposes to His prophet (Daniel 10:12-14,20,21). These principalities sought to delay or halt God's purposes -- to further their own! This is what they are like. This is what they do. Like Daniel, we must persist in prayer until they are overcome.
Paul instructed the Ephesian community that our protracted struggle is not against flesh and blood (i.e. humanity, human structures), but against wicked spirits (Ephesians 6:10-12). We are at war against every describable level of satanic opposition.
Describing the struggle, Paul wrote that these beings oppose the knowledge of God (2 Corinthians 4:4; 10:3-6). The apostle claimed that as God's people we can "demolish" these "strongholds" through the effective use of holy spiritual weaponry!
All these were created by God through the Messiah (Colossions 1:16). God created them and they are under Messiah's feet now (Ephesians 1:20-23)! They are part of things in heaven, on earth and under the earth that will bow at the name of Jesus at the final judgment (Philippians 2:6-10,11).
These beings are evil. Right now they are opposing God. In 1 Corinthians 2:8 we find they have authority in this world through human rulers and institutions (Revelation 13). They are partly responsible for Jesus's crucifixion.
They are similar to the Devil. They are under the authority of Satan (Revelation 12:9) and seek to alienate men from God (Ephesians 2:2), to trap men and to bring them to hell (2 Timothy 2:26), making them miserable when they are alive (John 10:10).
They can be overcome (James 4:6,7; 1 John 2:13; Revelation 12:11)! We need the armor of God in order to effectively stand against them (Ephesians 6:11,13).
The Messiah has guaranteed us protection from, and authority over, the enemy as we are involved with His work (Luke 10:20, 21). One snare to avoid is being distracted from our devotion to the Most High (2 Corinthians 11:3).
Remember, the enemy is not the focus of our lives. Doing the commandments of God are the focus of our lives (love the Lord, love the brethren, love the lost, seek first the Kingdom of God, etc.)!
Paul wrote that God would actively strengthen and protect His people (2 Thessalonians 3:3).
The Messiah is building His people. He promised that the schemes, and barriers of hell will not prevail against us (Matthew 16:18)! God will crush Satan underneath our feet (Romans 16:20)!
These are the scriptures cited:
1. Luke 18:1-8
2. 2 Corinthians 2:11
3. Peter 5:8,9
4. 2 Corinthians 10:4,5
5. Deuteronomy 32:8,9 (LXX),
6. Ephesians 2:12-19
7. Galatians 6:16
8. Ephesians 3:10,11
9. Daniel 10:12-14,20,21
10. Ephesians 6:10-12
11. 2 Corinthians 4:4; 10:3-6
12. Ephesians 1:20-23
13. Philippians 2:6-10,11
14. 1 Corinthians 2:8
15. Revelation 13
16. Revelation 12:9
17. Ephesians 2:2
18. Timothy 2:26
19. John 10:10
20. James 4:6,7
21. John 2:13
22. Revelation 12:11
23. Ephesians 6:11,13
24. Luke 10:20, 21
25. 2 Corinthians 11:3
26. Thessalonians 3:3
27. Matthew 16:18
28. Romans 16:20
29. Luke 11:5-11
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We are at war. In Daniel 10 we get inspired testimony of demonic opposition to God's purposes.
Jesus's parable of persistence in Luke 18:1-8 records the words "Give me justice against my adversary! ... but when the Son of Man comes will there be faith in the earth?" The oppressed remnant is to exercise their faith throughout this age. This is manifest in persistent prayer for vindication against the adversary.
We have been informed that we are not "ignorant of the devil's schemes" (2 Corinthians 2:11). Nobody is exempt from spiritual warfare. (1 Peter 5:8,9). The enemy opposes the "knowledge of God" (2 Corinthians 10:4,5). What can we know about them and their devices?
In Deuteronomy 32:8,9 we read that the nations were divided according to the sons of God (LXX), but Israel belongs to YHVH. The nations were placed under the custody of the angelic realm. These principalities perverted their stewardship. They were empowered to rule, the nations worshipped them!
From Ephesians 2:12-19 we know that although the Gentiles are strangers to God. Yet, when redeemed, they are fellow citizens of God's kingdom along with the Israel of God (believing Jews -- Galatians 6:16).
The enemy has no "legal right" to oppress God's redeemed transnational people. In fact, this united "people" has been called into existence to display God's wisdom to the "rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms" (Ephesians 3:10,11).
In Daniel 10 the angelic forces that ruled Persia and Greece, who opposed God's will, are exposed to the faithful reader. (They are typical of all other principalities and powers that are not specifically unmasked.) YHVH decreed Israel's restoration and the revelation of His purposes to His prophet (Daniel 10:12-14,20,21). These principalities sought to delay or halt God's purposes -- to further their own! This is what they are like. This is what they do. Like Daniel, we must persist in prayer until they are overcome.
Paul instructed the Ephesian community that our protracted struggle is not against flesh and blood (i.e. humanity, human structures), but against wicked spirits (Ephesians 6:10-12). We are at war against every describable level of satanic opposition.
Describing the struggle, Paul wrote that these beings oppose the knowledge of God (2 Corinthians 4:4; 10:3-6). The apostle claimed that as God's people we can "demolish" these "strongholds" through the effective use of holy spiritual weaponry!
All these were created by God through the Messiah (Colossions 1:16). God created them and they are under Messiah's feet now (Ephesians 1:20-23)! They are part of things in heaven, on earth and under the earth that will bow at the name of Jesus at the final judgment (Philippians 2:6-10,11).
These beings are evil. Right now they are opposing God. In 1 Corinthians 2:8 we find they have authority in this world through human rulers and institutions (Revelation 13). They are partly responsible for Jesus's crucifixion.
They are similar to the Devil. They are under the authority of Satan (Revelation 12:9) and seek to alienate men from God (Ephesians 2:2), to trap men and to bring them to hell (2 Timothy 2:26), making them miserable when they are alive (John 10:10).
They can be overcome (James 4:6,7; 1 John 2:13; Revelation 12:11)! We need the armor of God in order to effectively stand against them (Ephesians 6:11,13).
The Messiah has guaranteed us protection from, and authority over, the enemy as we are involved with His work (Luke 10:20, 21). One snare to avoid is being distracted from our devotion to the Most High (2 Corinthians 11:3).
Remember, the enemy is not the focus of our lives. Doing the commandments of God are the focus of our lives (love the Lord, love the brethren, love the lost, seek first the Kingdom of God, etc.)!
Paul wrote that God would actively strengthen and protect His people (2 Thessalonians 3:3).
The Messiah is building His people. He promised that the schemes, and barriers of hell will not prevail against us (Matthew 16:18)! God will crush Satan underneath our feet (Romans 16:20)!
These are the scriptures cited:
1. Luke 18:1-8
2. 2 Corinthians 2:11
3. Peter 5:8,9
4. 2 Corinthians 10:4,5
5. Deuteronomy 32:8,9 (LXX),
6. Ephesians 2:12-19
7. Galatians 6:16
8. Ephesians 3:10,11
9. Daniel 10:12-14,20,21
10. Ephesians 6:10-12
11. 2 Corinthians 4:4; 10:3-6
12. Ephesians 1:20-23
13. Philippians 2:6-10,11
14. 1 Corinthians 2:8
15. Revelation 13
16. Revelation 12:9
17. Ephesians 2:2
18. Timothy 2:26
19. John 10:10
20. James 4:6,7
21. John 2:13
22. Revelation 12:11
23. Ephesians 6:11,13
24. Luke 10:20, 21
25. 2 Corinthians 11:3
26. Thessalonians 3:3
27. Matthew 16:18
28. Romans 16:20
29. Luke 11:5-11
