Dabbling With Darkness

     This week has not been an easy week to write. God has been placing situations and truth in front of me that I can’t ignore and when the Holy Spirit nudges, I need to trust God’s will and not my own. As the coming of Christ draws ever closer, we are told of all that will come to pass. Evil will increase, some believers will fall away from the truth of Scripture, earthquakes and storms will increase. (Did Jesus predict climate change or is this His will being put into motion?)

     Demonic activity is real. C.S. Lewis, one of my favorite Christian writers said something like this: There are two equal and opposite ways to consider the demons around us. One is to ignore their existence completely and the other is to have an unhealthy interest in them.

     This week we will discuss the reality of the evil surrounding us. Before we begin, I want to remind you, that as believers in Jesus, we have the power and the strength of His protection. His Holy Spirit resides within us.

You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the One who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. 1 John 4:4

     Reading through the whole chapter of 1 John 4, written by the apostle John, we are reminded to test all spirits. Any spirit who does not acknowledge Jesus as Lord is demonic and deceptive. Many in our day are turning to witchcraft (yes, it is real) and to mediums and psychics, to Eastern religion. This was foretold in Scripture.

The Spirit clearly says in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons. 1 Timothy 4:1

     For today, we pray to remain steadfast in our faith, to stand up for Jesus as the Savior, to lead others to the Gospel and to the inherent truth of His Word. Later in the week, we will study the full armor of God available to us each day. We have the power of Jesus and His name.

Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we can be saved. Acts 4:12

Therefore, God exalted Him to the highest place and gave Him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.  Philippians 2:9-11

     Satan and his demons know Jesus. Their entire goal is to move people away from the one true God, but their power is limited and they, too, must bow to Him.

Father,

We thank You for teaching us truth. We follow light and not darkness. We listen to the voice of the Shepherd, the name above all names. It is Jesus Christ.

Amen