Spiritual Warfare, the Reality of Satan, and the Demonic

This coming Sunday my colleague Josh Bentley and I will co-preach on Spiritual Warfare, the Reality of Satan, and the Demonic. We're doing this in preparation for Angela Greenig being with us next week.

Here are some thoughts I have as I am now prepping for this.

• I think many North American Christians practically deny the role of the demonic.
• Yet the demonic (kingdom of satan/darkness) is central in the four gospels and the writings of Paul.
• I have never disbelieved in the demonic since becoming a Jesus-follower.
• Jesus-followers in non-Westernized cultures affirm the reality of satan and demons, and angels as well. I've been in these countries, and am friends with a number of Asian and African scholars (including some Fulbright scholars), who all embrace the reality of a supra-natural realm. (= above nature)
• Belief or disbelief in satan and demons (and angels) is a matter of worldview, not intelligence.
• Jesus had a worldview. His worldview included non-physical agents (spirits, good and evil). See Charles Kraft's excellent cultural-anthropological chapter "Jesus Had a Worldview" in his Christianity With Power.

On Sunday I'll first preach out of Ephesians 6:12 - 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.

Then Josh will preach on deliverance ministry.

Then, we'll see what God does.