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The Spiritual Battlefield

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Modern skeptics dismiss the accounts of demon possession in the Bible as ancient mistaken beliefs due to a lack of modern medical knowledge. However, the New Testament accounts make a distinction between those who were merely diseased and those who were possessed by demons (Mk. 1:32). No doubt the New Testament also describes physical and mental effects demon possession had on the possessed (Mt. 9:32; 12:22; 17:15; Mk 9:18; Lk. 8:27; 9:39; et. al), but this was more than mere sickness.

Photo by Miltiadis Fragkidis on Unsplash

Demons recognized the identity of Jesus Christ, the Son of God (Mk. 1:24; Lk. 4:34). He commanded them to leave the possessed person (Mt. 8:16), keep quiet (Mk. 1:34), and flee where He allowed (Mt. 8:31-32; Mk. 5:13-14). They did this not out of loving obedience, but out of fearful, shuddering recognition of His authority (James 2:19). This showed Jesus as Lord of the spiritual realm. He could keep even the worst forms of evil in check. Jesus stated the purpose of His casting out demons thusly: “But if I cast out demons with the finger of God, surely the kingdom of God has come upon you. When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own palace, his goods are in peace. But when a stronger than he comes upon him and overcomes him, he takes from him all his armor in which he trusted, and divides his spoils.” (Lk. 11:20-22.)

Mark 5:2-4 presents the record of a demon-possessed man who could not be bound, not even with shackles and chains for he broke them in pieces. All human effort to restrain him proved futile, but Jesus cured him. Modern skeptics also reject the notion that there is a spiritual, evil personality called the devil. The Bible, however, clearly warns: “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour” (1 Pet. 5:8). Modern people may devise all sorts of techniques and programs to advance human goodness, but unless the tempter who entices men to sin is acknowledged and dealt with, then all these efforts will prove as effective as the chains on the man in Mark 5 before He met Jesus.

Jesus came to earth to destroy the power of the devil (Heb. 2:14). Victory over sin and death has been accomplished by Jesus’ substitutionary death and resurrection from the grave (Rom. 4:25; 1 Cor. 15:3-5, 57; 1 Pet. 2:24). What Jesus provides—and what we so desperately need—is freedom from spiritual slavery to sin (Jn. 8:34-36; Rom. 6:5-14). Falling out with sin to serve the Lord Jesus is our only hope to overcome evil. Sin may be a joke to many, but the awful reality is it leads to death (Rom. 6:23; James 1:15). God does not allow the devil to override your free will nor displace your autonomy; instead, temptations are placed before you with a way to escape (1 Cor. 10:13). We must choose the way of escape rather than succumbing to the temptation.

Do not confine your line of thinking to only physical, emotional, and social considerations. Too often people dismiss the spiritual aspect of mankind and the warnings of the Bible as unworthy of consideration. Be awake spiritually and recognize that fleshly lusts war against your soul (1 Pet. 2:11).

-Mark Day

God’s Payment Plan

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Micah was a prophet of God from 740-700 BC who had a message of destruction for both the northern and southern kingdoms of God’s people. Population centers of both kingdoms would be destroyed and become places of desolation. The capital of Israel in the north was Samaria. Micah foretold that it would become a heap of ruins in a field (Micah 1:6). In 722 BC, the city was destroyed by the Assyrians. The capital of the southern kingdom of Judah was Jerusalem. Micah 3:12 predicted that this city where the temple stood would be plowed like a field, become a heap of ruins, and look like high places of a forest. Micah 4:10 forewarned of the deportation of its inhabitants to faraway Babylon. This was an amazing projection of future events in light of the fact that Assyria was the world power when this was uttered; Babylon was still a vassal state in Micah’s day.

God had been long-suffering to His people, but justice demanded the penalty be paid for their sins. While idolatry and host of other sins drove the nation toward captivity, Micah particularly focused on injustices done to the poor. God’s message through Micah was aimed at corrupt rulers and judges who took advantage of the poor while accepting bribes from the rich (3:1-3, 9-10; 7:2-3), crooked businessmen who cheated others out of their property (2:2; 6:10-12), and religious leaders (priests and false prophets) with mercenary motives (3:5-7, 11).

Seventy years of captivity in a foreign land was the result of their stubborn refusal to repent of their sins. Nations today need to learn lessons from Micah, including our nation. When those in power get rich at the expense of people in lower economic classes, God’s justice demands punishment. Rich and powerful people may be able to evade the law of man, but not God’s law. Read James 5:1-6 and consider God’s response to the wicked rich who abuse the righteous poor.

Everything of value in Jerusalem was taken away into Babylon as a result of these sins. Yet, God gave a glimmer of hope. In Micah 4:10, He said, “Be in pain, and labor to bring forth, O daughter of Zion, like a woman in travail: for now shalt thou go forth out of the city, and thou shalt dwell in the field, and thou shalt go even to Babylon; there shalt thou be delivered; there the LORD shall redeem thee from the hand of thine enemies.” God would redeem them—buy them back to be His own people again. He would rescue them from captivity and return them to their previous place.

Today, Christians have been redeemed from the bondage of sin (Rom. 3:24; Eph. 1:7). The blood of Christ shed on the cross is the price paid for our redemption; it is far more valuable than any corruptible currency like silver or gold (1 Pet. 1:18-19). Just as Israel of old should have been grateful for God’s unfailing love that brought them back from captivity, so we also today must be ever grateful for the ultimate declaration of God’s love in Christ who paid the penalty of our sins to save us from the punishment we deserved.

-Mark Day