The effects of this pandemic we are experiencing today is just what some in the country want, to control the population through fear and intimidation. This includes making it difficult for Christians to worship. We are in a war in this country. Who is leading the opposition’s army? The answer is quite simple. Satan and his minions. This crisis we are in is nothing less than spiritual warfare. With Satan on one side and Jesus on the other.

Jesus warned us about what is happening today.

“…. Take heed that no man deceive you.⁵ For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. ⁶ And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. ⁷ For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. ⁸ All these are the beginning of sorrows.”  ~ Matthew 24:4-8 (KJV)

Spiritual warfare is a real thing. We are in a battle for our very souls, a battle between good and evil.  There are forces at work today trying to undermine the Christian faith.

Christianity is under constant attack in this country and for the most part it seems to be coming from the political left .  A lot of it seems political but in realty it is spiritual.

Angels and demons do exist. Many of the demons of today were actually worshiped in ancient days gone by. And some still are today. These “old gods” are still here.

In his book “The Old Gods of the New Age” Alex Simmons said, “ I believe that there are New Age spiritual forces at work in Christianity that are very real and can be very dangerous…The old gods are real, and they are still being worshiped…”

¹¹ Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. ¹² For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. ~ Ephesians 6:11-12 (KJV)

 Those who are not “flesh and blood” are demons over whom Satan has control. They are not mere fantasies. They are very real. We face a powerful army whose goal is to defeat Christ’s church. When we believe in Christ and join his church, these beings become our enemies, and they try every device to turn us away from Jesus and back to sin. Although we are assured of victory we must engage in the struggle until Christ comes again, because Satan is constantly battling against all who are on the Lord’s side.  We need supernatural power to defeat Satan, and God has provided that in His Holy Spirit within us and His armor surrounding us. If you feel discouraged, remember Jesus’ words to Peter:

¹⁸ And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. ~ Matthew 16:18 (KJV)

 We to have that same protection that Peter has. If we surround ourselves with the Word of God, then we cannot be defeated.  But that won’t stop Satan from trying, using his own army of the ungodly.

¹³ For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. ¹⁴ And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. ~  2 Corinthians 11:13-14 (KJV)

Satan and his servants can deceive us by appearing attractive, good, and moral.  Many unsuspecting people follow smooth-talking, Bible quoting leaders into cults that alienate them from their families and practice immorality and deceit.

Many of the same type of ungodly leaders are very subtle and will steer many people on the wrong path, the path to destruction.

Don’t be fooled by external appearances. Our impressions alone are not an accurate indicator of who is or isn’t a true follower of Christ.

It helps to ask these questions:

(1) Do their teachings confirm Scripture?

¹¹ These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so. ~ Acts 17:11 (KJV)

(2) Do the teachers affirm and proclaim that Jesus Christ is God who came into the world as a man to save people from their sins?

¹Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. ² Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: ³ And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world. ~ 1 John 4:1-3 (KJV)

(3) Is their lifestyle consistent with biblical morality?

³³ Either make the tree good, and his fruit good; or else make the tree corrupt, and his fruit corrupt: for the tree is known by his fruit. ³⁴ O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh. ³⁵ A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things. ³⁶ But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. ³⁷ For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned. ~ Matthew 12:33-37 (KJV)

 Don’t be fooled, Satan is alive and well and living right here along side of us. The spiritual warfare we are in will not end until our Lord Jesus Christ comes again to bring us home to Heaven with Him and to defeat Satan and sin once and for all.

In the meantime, we need to constantly wear the Armor of God.

¹³ Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. ¹⁴ Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of  righteousness;¹⁵ And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; ¹⁶ Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. ¹⁷ And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: ¹⁸ Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints; ~ Ephesians 6:13-18 (KJV)

Yes Christians need to be cloked with the Armor of God. What about the non-believers? They to can be saved and go to Heaven. This needs to be sooner rather than later, because we have no gaurentee there will be a tomorrow.

We are in a fight for the soul of our nation. Spiritual warfare is a reality and we as Christian are on the winning side. As the Bible said, we must repent of our sins as individuals as well as a nation. True repentance is more than talk; it is a changed behavior. Whether we sin individually or as a nation, following Jesus will lead to forgiveness and God will answer our earnest prayers.

“For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.” ~ 2 Corinthians 6:2 (KJV)