>
>ON THE BRINK OF WAR
>
>Evangelist Billy Sunday was asked why he believed in the devil. He 
>replied, "For two reasons. First,
>the Bible says so. And second, because I've done business
>with him for years."
>It may sound strange to talk about the devil in our high-tech, 
>postmodern world but the fact remains
>that most Americans believe in the existence of the
>devil. How else can we explain the pervasive presence of evil in our world?
>A Newsweek poll showed that 66 percent of adult Americans and 85 
>percent of evangelical Protestants
>believe in the devil. For a fourth of them, however,
>he is merely a symbol of man's inhumanity to man. Sixty percent of 
>evangelicals say they have been
>tempted by the devil and half as many say they have
>met someone whom they thought was in Satan's control (Kenneth L. 
>Woodward, "Do We Need Satan?,"
>Newsweek, November 13, 1995).
>
>While we are at war in Iraq, another war rages behind the scenes -- 
>a war in the heavenlies. "There
>was war in heaven," writes John the Revelator (Rev 12:7).
>A war between good and evil, angels and demons, Christ and antichrist.
>We battle this spiritual war every day of our lives. "For our 
>struggle is not against flesh and
>blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities,
>against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual 
>forces of evil in the heavenly
>realms" (Eph 6:12). That last phrase, "the spiritual forces
>of evil in the heavenly realms" sheds light on the spiritual 
>struggles we often face.
>There are forces of evil that transcend time, space and matter. They 
>are spiritual or demonic
>forces. The phrase "the heavenly realms," means the spiritual
>realm.
>As the army of Christ we can win every spiritual battle we face. We 
>are instructed to arm ourselves
>with the armor of God (Eph 6:11-17), be aware of his
>devices (2 Cor 2:11), resist the devil (Jas 4:7), be on our guard (1 
>Pt 5:8), and pray in the Spirit
>on all occasions (Eph 6:18).
>Satan is a defeated foe. Christ conquered him at Calvary and has 
>given us full power and authority
>over the spiritual forces of evil that come against us.
>"Greater is he who is in us than he that is in the world!" (1 John 4:4).