ANGELS AND DEMONS
Jamin Metcalf – October 11, 2020
KEY IDEA: We need the armor of God, and the armies of God, on our side if we are ever to have any hope of winning battles.
KEY PASSAGE: “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 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. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.” Ephesians 6:10-18
INTRODUCTION: The moment many of us here the words “angels” or “demons” we immediately think of a whole slew of cultural images associated with those words. A problem for those of us who grew up in the church is that there have been many Christians who use them inappropriately. However, despite the weird abuses and myths that surround the subject of spiritual beings, they are an integral part of the Christian story.
WHY SHOULD WE BELIEVE THAT SPIRITUAL BEINGS ACTUALLY EXIST?
Drawing from human experience
· Drawing from human experience
· Belief in spiritual beings is one of the most commonly held beliefs around the world and throughout history.
· It should give us pause if over thousands of years that millions of people have expressed encounters with spiritual beings.
· There has never been a scientific study that has disproved or proved the existence of spiritual beings.
· Scientific studies can’t say anything about spiritual beings. The scientific method is a methodology for studying natural phenomena in the material world. Spiritual beings, just like God and our own souls, are neither material nor a part of the natural world. Science has no authority to speak on the topic.
· So many people in the modern western world today find it difficult to believe in spiritual beings is that they have bought into a philosophic worldview called materialism. Materialism is the belief that nothing other than the material world exists.
WHAT DOES THE BIBLE TELL US ABOUT SPIRITUAL BEINGS?
· As Christians we should believe that spiritual beings exist because Scripture tells us so. Nearly every major Biblical character had interactions with angels or demons.
· 10 Quick Facts about Spiritual Beings: They are (1) bodiless spirits, (2) created by God,
(3) with intelligence (4) and free will (5) who can carry God’s messages to humans, (6) can assume bodies as we assume costumes, (7) are capable of influencing our thoughts and imaginations, (8) though they are not permitted to violate our free will. (9) There are many different types of angelic beings (10) and some of these beings have rebelled against God and now actively work against the good of human beings.
· We can’t talk about what spiritual bodies what they look like because they are bodiless spirits that can take on bodies as we take on a costume.
· Angelic beings and demons have different ranks and positions.
· Angels and demons have played a role in every major stage of human history, from our Fall to our redemption in Jesus Christ. They are present here and now.
§ Abraham and Jacob
§ Jewish girl who bore the Son of God
§ Jesus when he was born, died, and ascended into heaven
§ When Jesus comes again, they will be there
WHY SHOULD WE CARE?
· Ephesians 6:10 – 12
· The reality is that we are involved in a cosmic struggle—a spiritual war. There will be casualties. Look around and see the violence, cruelty, oppression, death, corruption.
· The Christian life is one of spiritual warfare, and the only way we can be equipped is by taking on the spiritual attributes given to us by Christ and the Holy Spirit.
· The imagery of the “armor of God” is actually being drawn from Isaiah 59:15-19
· We cannot fight this spiritual battle in our own strength. And, luckily, we don’t have to. God has given us all the equipment we need to engage in this spiritual warfare every day. All we have to do is ask him and his angels to help us.
“There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your philosophy.”
– Shakespeare
REFLECTION/DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
Use these reflection questions as a way to deepen your relationship with God. Allow the Holy Spirit to shine a light into your heart.
1) When you were younger, what did you think or believe when you heard the word angels or demons? Has your idea about angels and demons changed over time?
2) How easy or difficult is it for you to believe that there are spiritual beings—angels and demons—that are active in the world today?
3) Jamin presented a list of 10 Quick Facts about Spiritual Beings:
a. They are (1) bodiless spirits,
b. (2) created by God,
c. (3) with intelligence
d. (4) and free will
e. (5) who can carry God’s messages to humans,
f. (6) can assume bodies as we assume costumes,
g. (7) are capable of influencing our thoughts and imaginations,
h. (8) though they are not permitted to violate our free will.
i. (9) There are many different types of angelic beings
j. (10) and some of these beings have rebelled against God and now actively work against the good of human beings.
What if anything surprised you the most about spiritual beings? Why is that? How has this information changed how you think about spiritual beings?
4) What would it look like if the Body of Christ really believed that we are involved in a cosmic struggle— a spiritual war—and took seriously the passage in Ephesians to put on the armor of God? How might we approach the challenges we face in our families, in our cities, in our state, in our country, and in our world, differently? What might be the outcome?
5) How often do you get sucked into fighting battles out of your own strength rather than relying on God and the tools he has already given us, like the armor of God?
6) What is an area of your life where you feel like you are in a battle and you are trying to fight it on your own, rather than with God’s help? Note: Pray in your small groups for each other.
Full Podcast Episode: https://banner.church/podcast/2020/11/12/angels-and-demons-introduction-101120