Restitutio Podcast 11: Wrestling against Spiritual Forces (Sean Finnegan)
by Sean Finnegan
Ephesians 6.12 tells us our struggle is not really against other humans but against spiritual forces. Learn how malignant powers influence people both directly (through demon possession) and indirectly (through the culture). Hopefully, this message will open your eyes to what is happening behind the scenes as Satan works to keep people from believing the gospel message as well as take out those who already follow Christ. At the end, I offer 7 specific examples of how the devil gains a foothold in our lives. Even so, through the power of God we are able to shut down these vulnerabilities and overcome spiritual attacks.
“Greatest trick the devil ever pulled was convincing the world he didn’t exist” –Keyser Söze, Usual Suspects
Eph 6.12
ὅτι οὐκ ἔστιν ἡμῖν ἡ πάλη πρὸς αἷμα καὶ σάρκα ἀλλὰ πρὸς τὰς ἀρχάς, πρὸς τὰς ἐξουσίας, πρὸς τοὺς κοσμοκράτορας τοῦ σκότους τούτου, πρὸς τὰ πνευματικὰ τῆς πονηρίας ἐν τοῖς ἐπουρανίοις.
Because the struggle for us is not against blood and flesh but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the world-powers of this darkness, against the wicked spirits in the celestial realm
how is it that malignant spiritual powers are behind flesh and blood actions?
- direct influence of people
- indirect influence of people
- specific examples to watch out for
- direct influence
Luke 4.31-36
31 And he went down to Capernaum, a city of Galilee. And he was teaching them on the Sabbath, 32 and they were astonished at his teaching, for his word possessed authority. 33 And in the synagogue there was a man who had the spirit of an unclean demon, and he cried out with a loud voice, 34 “Ha! What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are– the Holy One of God.” 35 But Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be silent and come out of him!” And when the demon had thrown him down in their midst, he came out of him, having done him no harm. 36 And they were all amazed and said to one another, “What is this word? For with authority and power he commands the unclean spirits, and they come out!”
though you would think dealing with demon-occupied people would be harder, it’s actually easier
- we have authority in the name of Jesus to cast them out
- when the 72 returned they said, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in your name!” (Luke 10.17)
- Paul cast out demon from girl in Ephesos (Acts 16.18)
- “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.”
- indirect influence
wake you up to Satan’s influence on our world
- relevant scriptures about Satan’s massive sway over this age
- John 14.30: “the ruler of this world”
- 2 Cor 4.4 “god of this age”
- Rev 12.9 “the deceiver of the whole world”
by nature we dance to the devil’s drumbeat
Eph 2.1-3
1 And you were dead in the trespasses and sins 2 in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience– 3 among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.
what indirect means does he use to infect us?
- horror movies: meditate on torture and evil
- music, especially rap and pop
- sing about committing sin
- where are the songs about how wonderful marriage is after a dozen years?
- where are the songs about raising children?
- where are the songs about finding satisfaction in working hard?
- tv