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Spiritual Warfare - Part 4 of 7

by Paul George  
12/04/2008 / Bible Studies


Ephesians 6:12-13

Quotes from World English Bible unless noted otherwise

"For our wrestling is not against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the world's rulers of the darkness of this age, and against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore, put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and, having done all, to stand."

Who are the rulers, powers, world forces of this darkness, and spiritual forces of wickedness?

According to Scripture, prior to the beginning of time nothing existed but God (Isaiah 43:10). In the New Testament, the Apostle John states, "In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God, and the Word was God" (John 1:1 NASB)). In Colossians chapter one verse seventeen, Apostle Paul tells us that Christ is before all things which imply He existed prior to the creation of the heavens and earth. The prophet Isaiah and the apostles John and Paul claim prior to the beginning of time God existed and Christ coexisted with God, that He is equal with God that He is God. In Acts chapter five verses three and four Peter tells Ananias that by lying to the Holy Spirit, he lied to God. In 2 Corinthians chapter three verse eighteen, the Holy Spirit is called "The Lord." In Hebrews chapter nine verse fourteen; we are told the Holy Spirit is "The eternal Spirit." Therefore Biblical speaking, God is a trinity in unity consisting of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:19; I John 5:7); whenever we read in the scriptures a reference to "God", we must remember that the Godhead is implied.

In the Bible, the decisions and acts of God prior to the creation of the heavens and earth are revealed. The authors of the books of the Bible use the word "foundation" to describe when the decisions and acts of God occurred. In Psalm one hundred and two verse twenty-five we are told God laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the work of God's hands. God told Isaiah "Mine hand also hath laid the foundation of the earth" (Isaiah 48:13 NASB). Matthew tells us the purpose of Jesus using parables in His teachings was to reveal, things which have been kept secret from the foundation of the world" (Matthew 13:35); in the parable of the talents Jesus said, "Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, 'Come ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world" (Matthew 25:34 KJV). In His response to the Pharisees reaction when Jesus did not wash His hands before reclining at the table to eat a meal with them Jesus said, the blood of all the prophets shed since the foundation of the world would be charged against that generation (Luke 11:50). In His prayer of intercession Jesus prayed, "Father, I desire that they also whom You have given Me be with Me where I am, so that they may see My glory which You have given Me before the foundation of the world" (John 17:24 NASB).

In Ephesians chapter one verse four, we are told before the foundation of the world God the Father predetermined that we should be holy and blameless before Him. In Hebrews chapter one verse ten, we are told the Lord in the beginning laid the foundation of the earth. In Hebrews chapter four verse three; we are told the works of the Lord were finished from the foundation of the world. The Apostle Peter told the first century Christians, referring to Jesus, "He was foreknown before the foundation of the world, but has appeared in these last times for the sake of you who through Him are believers in God" (1 Peter 1:20-21 NASB).

The Apostle John referring to the Antichrist said, "All who dwell on the earth will worship him, everyone whose name has not been written from the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who has been slain" (Revelation 13:8 NASB). In Revelation chapter seventeen verse eight, the angel told the Apostle John, "The beast that you saw was, and is not, and is about to come up out of the abyss and go to destruction. And those who dwell on the earth, whose name has not been written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, will wonder when they see the beast; that he was and is not and will come" NASB).

These passages of Scripture supports the claim, God predetermined, prior to the beginning of time, every event good or bad, every incident expected or unforeseen, every circumstance favorable or unfavorable. God predetermined the course of history and destiny of things animate or inanimate. Everything, whether it is the establishment of a nation, its culture, its language, people, population, its location on the earth, and its destruction, were all predetermined by God. Therefore, everything that has occurred, is occurring, and will occur has been decreed by God. The motivation of the decrees of God was His own will and good pleasure. That fact is clearly stated by the apostle Paul in Ephesians chapter one verse eleven; all that God does is from Himself and not from any outside source. Human wills are influenced by the thoughts of the mind and the affections of an individual's situations and circumstances, however, such is not so with God. There is nothing outside of His will influences His will. Therefore, before the creation of the heavens and earth, God first willed that a thing should happen, and now He is in the process of bringing it to pass. This process began with the creation of the heavens and unknown number of spiritual beings, referred to as angels.

While it is never stated in the Bible, the time of the creation of angels we are told in Job chapter thirty-eight verses four and seven the morning stars sang together and all the sons of God shouted for joy. Who are the morning stars and the sons of God? They are created spiritual beings that dwell in the heavenly places.

Unlike humans and animals, angels were created as a company, a countless host (Colossians 1:16; Nehemiah 9:6); they are not subject to death and they do not propagate. Although angels do not have material bodies as humans do, angels have been given the ability to reveal themselves in the form of human bodies. An example of this ability is found in Genesis eighteen. They are not omnipresent. They cannot be everywhere at once. They were created without sin, and in a state of perfect holiness. They are not divine and are not to be worshiped. As a separate order of creatures, they are both distinct from human beings and higher than humans with powers far beyond what our abilities are (1 Corinthians 6:3; Hebrews 1:14; 2:7). However, as created beings they are limited in their powers, knowledge, and activities (1 Peter 1:11-12; Revelation 7:1). Like all of creation, angels are under God's authority and subject to His judgment (1 Corinthians 6:3; Matthew 25:41).

Angels were created to be servants of God. Though God can always act independently without the use of angles and humans, He has chosen to use both angels and humans as instruments to accomplish His will and plan for the course of history. In keeping with this, repeatedly in the Bible, we find angels acting as God's servants involved in ministry to people.

Perhaps no aspect of their ministry to man is more talked about than the idea of a "guardian angel." While no passage specifically states that every person has a guardian angel, the Bible does teach that angels do guard or protect (Psalm 91:11). Matthew chapter eighteen verse ten may refer to a guardian angel because of the statement Christ made regarding little children when He said, "See that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you, that their angels in heaven continually behold the face of My Father who is in heaven." However, it should also be pointed out that Psalm ninety-one verse eleven is directed to those who make the Lord their refuge. Some Bible scholars claim that this Old Testament passage does not apply to the present age. However, throughout the Bible, we find angels involved in communicating God's truth or message as the Spirit of God directed them. This is, of course, very much in keeping with the basic meaning of the word angel, "messenger."

In Acts chapter seven verses thirty-eight and fifty-three, Galatians chapter three verse nine, and Hebrews chapter two verse two; we are told God used angels to reveal His Word. Angels announced the birth of John the Baptist and Jesus (Luke 1:11f, 26f; Matthew 1:20f). In the Tribulation, God will use them to announce key events (Revelation 14:6). Today, however, we must be aware of those claiming to have new revelation as given by an angel or of anyone claiming to be an angel with new revelation. Remember, Satan is a deceiver with his own angels of deceit promoting false doctrine (2 Corinthians 11:1-4, 12-13; 1 Timothy 4:1).

Prior to the creation of the earth, all angels were in a state of sinlessness. From what Biblical information available angels prior to the creation of the earth had the ability to make decisions concerning their relationship with their Creator. The angel's ability to make decisions prior to the creation of the earth and humanity is, in most of the Christian community ignored. The reason for this ignoring of ability to make decisions by angels lies in Satan's deception and men and women seeking answers to the questions of life apart from God and His revelation of Himself and His plan of salvation as it is revealed in the Bible. As the arch deceiver and enemy of God, the church, and humanity Satan masquerades as an angel of light with his servant angels, who also disguise themselves as faithful to people who do not know how to tell the difference.

A false doctrine that has made its way into the Christian community is the calling upon, praying to, angels for health, healing, prosperity, and guidance. However, angels are God's servants, and all this attention, emphasis, and glory should go to God, not His servants. God says, "I will not share my glory with another" (Isaiah 42:8 NASB). Scripture never tells us to pray to angels, only to the Lord Himself.

A second deadly doctrine involves the seeking of instructions, knowledge, or insight from angels, particularly ones with names. There are men and women, both in the Christian community and secular community who claim that angels are trying to contact us, so they can give us deeper knowledge of the spiritual world. The four names of angels that appear in these two doctrines are, Michael, Gabriel, Uriel, and Raphael. Michael and Gabriel are the only angels mentioned by name in the Bible. The other two show up in the apocryphal "First Book of Enoch" which includes accounts of the actions of these four beings.

A third deadly doctrine is "the angel within" doctrine. Ignored in this doctrine is angels are a separate part of the creation. They were created before man as a different kind. They are not within us.

A fourth deadly doctrine is the teaching good people, especially children, become angels when they die. When humans die, they do not become angels, and certainly not a god.

In this present society and its love affair with the supernatural, we need to share with others, three truths about angels; they never contradict the Word of God; contradiction of the Word of God comes from a fallen angel, a demon. A second characteristic, the actions of an angel will always be consistent with the character of Christ. A third characteristic, a genuine encounter with an angel will glorify God, not the angel. If the encounter glorifies the angel, the person experiencing the encounter is in the presence of a demon. While it is true many have "entertained angels unaware" (Hebrews 13:2). However, we need to make sure we are entertaining the right kind of angels.

In this present society every professing Christian needs to be on guard. In the Bible references to angels is incidental to some other issue. They are not the primary subject of the passage. God's love and grace is. When they are mentioned, it is always in order to inform us about God. This includes what He does, and how He does it. This very fact should teach us that not only are angels not the focus, but they should certainly not be worshiped.

We are not to worship angels because they are fellow servants (Revelation 19:10; 22:8-9). While it is true angels are powerful and awesome in many ways, but, like us, they are only creatures and servants of the living God who alone deserves our worship. This means we do not pray to them or trust in them, even though God may use them as our guardian. Our trust is to be in God, not angels. They minister at His bidding. The church at Colossae was invaded by false teachers who were teaching a false humility and the worship of angels, claiming special mystic insights by way of visions in connection with their worship of angels (Colossians 2:18). This was demonic because it was usurping the preeminent place and sufficiency of Christ as Savior and Lord. The claim was Christ is not enough for salvation and spirituality. This deadly doctrine has invaded Christianity. From pulpits and classrooms, it is being taught you need this or that in addition to the blood of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Closely associated with the worship of angels, but in a more subtle way, is the collecting of the images of angels. Sometimes this is not just a matter of collecting and enjoying angel figurines much as someone would collect and enjoy figurines and pictures of animals, birds, etc. There is nothing wrong with enjoying angel figurines on the coffee table as long as they do not become icons that somehow replace our dependence upon God's Word and the role of the indwelling Holy Spirit in our lives.

In addition, we need to avoid the critical spirit that questions and belittles the claims of others, especially those who do not know the Scripture. Laughing at or belittling their claims will only close the door to opportunities to witness and point them to the truth of the Gospel and the Bible. When confronted with claims of angels about which we are skeptical, we should seek ways to use these claims to show interest in the person and to engage them in discussion about the realities of the Savior or the truths of God's Word.

Second, we should be thankful to God for the ministry of angels and for those reports that do not contradict Scripture and may very well be genuine cases of angelic ministry. Even though we may not be able to validate that it was an angel, we can and should certainly praise God for the aid or encouragement experienced.

Finally, we must know what the Bible teaches about God, Jesus Christ, angels, salvation, true spirituality, and the ministry of angels that we might not fall for the satanic counterfeits that seek to cause people to bypass the sufficiency of the person and work of Jesus Christ.

Retired pastor,Church of the Nazarene

Author of web site Exploring God's Word

www.thewordofgodonline.net

New American Standard Bible

King James Version

The World English Bible

Sermons and Bible studies preached and taught by author

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