FIGHTING THE FORCES OF EVIL THAT PREY ON THIS WORLD

The forces of evil that prey on this world are manipulative, self-serving, and hell-bent on destroying our souls. Why? Because they will never experience the beauty of eternal life. They walk in eternal darkness, separated from God forever. In their jealousy and hatred, they prey on us, seeking to separate us from Him too, and from the mercy and redemption they can never have.

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The battle between good and evil has existed since the dawn of creation.

Scripture reveals both the source of our tribulation and the source of our salvation. There is suffering and death in the world because evil exists within it. The forces of evil that prey on this world target our souls because that is where the spirit of God dwells. And where God is, love is also.

The entirety of creation is an extension of God’s perfect love. God’s love transcends our human understanding. We can never truly know the mind of God, for He is omnipotent. His ways are beyond our limited comprehension. Thus, only God knows the whys and hows of His creation. What we can know is provided in scripture, “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth,” Genesis | 1:1.

Creation was an intentional act and God has a purpose for it. Moreover, we can be assured that His purpose is being accomplished even now.

God did not create evil, but He did create creatures with free will. Free will allows for the possibility of evil, for the possibility that we will choose to worship something other than God in the center of our lives.

So if God did not create evil, how did it come to exist? The Bible explains this as well. Evil came into the world through jealousy, disdain, and rebellion against God. Satan, envious of God, seceded from heaven. He and those that followed him were banished from heaven never to return. They are forever separated from God. Because they understand their eternal fate, they prey on this world trying to drag down as many souls as possible with them. Through their actions, suffering, tribulation, and death entered the world.

Satan’s fall from grace brought evil into the world. However, according to Genesis, sinfulness entered the world through Adam and Eve. Tempted by Satan, their sinful act against God was the original sin. It was also the beginning of God’s plan for our redemption.

Though forces of evil prey on this world, they are not as powerful as God. Satan is not omnipotent and all-knowing as God is.

Satan is the great deceiver. Like any good con artist, Satan uses lies and deception to isolate, manipulate, and overpower. He preys on the spiritually weak, the vulnerable, the impressionable, and the willing. By twisting the truth, he blinds humanity to the Word of God.

Still, we are assured that Satan’s darkness will never overpower God’s light. We know this because God did not forsake His creation. Instead, He sent us a Savior. “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life,” John | 3:16. Through His suffering and death, Jesus bore the sins of mankind. Through His resurrection, He conquered the eternal death that came into the world through Satan’s fall from grace.

“And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him,” Revelation | 12:9.

As children of God, we are called to stand firm in our Faith, to don the Armor of God, and to raise the Sword of Truth against the great deceiver and his forces of evil that prey upon the world.

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The Sword of Truth is the Word of God.

Scripture tells us that Jesus grasped the Sword of Truth when He was tempted by Satan in the wilderness Matthew | 4:3-9. Each time the enemy’s taunts, which were designed to cause Him to stumble in His task, were countered with the proclamation, “It is written… it is written… it is written,” Matthew | 4:10.

Though Christ existed in human form, He could not be tempted in Spirit. His Spirit was fully focused on His Father and on His Father’s Word. Jesus did not live by earthly flesh, He lived by the Spirit of God within Him. Thus, the forces of evil that prey on the world could not touch him.

We can expect evil and temptation in this world. We will face hardships and experience moments of doubt. In the world, we’ll face injustice and witness corruption, depravity, and wickedness. We’ll be tempted by power, self-gratification, and desire. However, we do not have to give in. Just as Christ quoted scripture in His defense against Satan, the Word of God is the weapon of victory that we must grasp in our hands and our hearts. With it, we can face every charge of Satan and every doubt that is planted in our minds. “Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you,” James | 4:7.

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OUR STRUGGLE IS NOT AGAINST FLESH AND BONE, BUT THE FORCES OF DARKNESS THAT PREY ON THIS WORLD.

The world is burning,

consumed with greed,

with hate and fear.

The seas are churning,

drowning our souls,

in an ocean of tears. 

Mankind is blinded,

enslaved by pride, 

unwilling to bend.

The children are crying,

swept up in the storm,

unable to swim.

Evil is lurking,

preying on faith,

and feasting on fear.

Weary and broken,

we give into doubt,

and fall into despair.

Darkness approaches diminishing light.

Covering the shore in a blanket of night.

BUT, THE SPIRIT WITHIN US, WHICH COMES FROM THE LORD, IS GREATER THAN ANY ALIVE IN THIS WORLD.

“You are My children,

I’ve shown you the way,

out of the darkness,

do not be dismayed.

Trust in My mercy,

My Kingdom awaits,

on the Rock of Salvation,

I’ve placed at your feet.

I will not forsake you,

or leave you to drown,

in the perilous depths,

of the oncoming storm.

My strength is sufficient,

for all you must do,

to vanquish the forces,

now threatening you.

For, you are My people,

stand firm in your Faith,

relinquish your burdens,

emerge from the waves.

With My light to guide you,

eyes fixed on the Son,

there’s no evil among you,

you can’t overcome.”

AND HIS PEOPLE ROSE. DONNING HIS MANTLE, FACING THE DARKNESS, ANOINTED FOR BATTLE.

“We trust in You Lord,

in Your awesome power.

You clothe us in Mercy,

and the might of Your armor.

As soldiers of Christ,

You stand before us.

The forces of darkness

cannot defeat us.

For, we are Your children,

Your Spirit within us,

is stronger than anything,

standing before us.

And if we should fall,

in the heat of the battle,

if this be the moment,

our work here is done.

We gladly surrender,

our lives to Your keeping,

for our Victory dwells,

in the Kingdom to come.”

WITH THE HELMET OF SALVATION AND THE SWORD OF THE SPIRIT, THE ARMY OF GOD FACED THE DARKNESS BEFORE IT.

“Victory belongs to,

the God of our fathers,

who formed the earth and,

commands living waters.

All dominion is His.

All above and below it.

He is our Maker,

and we are sent from Him.

This day is the Lord’s,

for this purpose He made us.

We stand in His Name.

His Grace is upon us.

With Light and with Truth,

guiding our feet,

we rise in the Name,

of the Gospel of Peace.”

JN Fenwick (© 2023) | mothjournal14

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JN Fenwick (© 2023) | mothjournal14