A NOTE FROM LIZ BORTH, DEACONESS…

TUG OF WAR
Church doors offer hope and peace for people experiencing despair and physical or mental affliction. Those of us who work inside a church expect to serve at least one needy person a day. While food, bus tickets, and a place to stay are the customary requests to ease physical discomfort, we also see Satan twisting and working in many souls. When you envision demonic possession, perhaps your mind's eye sees hair in disarray, evidence of self-inflicted wounds and a blank or crazed look in the person's eyes. The truth is, a demon possessed soul is often well clothed, well fed, and even claims membership in the church!

Biblical scholars raise the question of demon reality and sometimes lightly gloss over Scripture's mention of devils and demons as "just a common belief that those afflicted with disease or lacking in social graces were controlled by evil spirits". We often say today: "he is possessed"; "she has a mean spirit living within her"; referencing only that the person is a social misfit or needs care from a mental health professional. But, Satan is clearly described in Holy Scripture as a force working against God. Matthew 4: Jesus is tempted by Satan, Mark 1 and 5: The evil spirit talks to Jesus and recognizes Jesus' authority as God, Luke 22: Satan entered Judas and enticed Jesus' betrayal for His ultimate crucifixion. Can we clearly see Satan and the legions of fallen ones at work today? Revelation 12 and Ephesians 6 leave little doubt there are powers in this dark world bent on separating Jesus Christ and His followers. Matthew 12 records Jesus' own words telling us to beware of the evil spirits seeking souls. So, you who know Jesus Christ as your Savior, the only way a relationship with God is possible, beware of demonic possession. For Satan intends to torment and destroy those who are created in God's image (Genesis 3). As long as the pond is full of fresh fish, the Devil will not keep his line in the bucket containing those already captured. Each one of us daily struggles with temptations of carnal origin. We are in a continuous tug of war!

Your strength and hope for defeating the Evil One is secure in Jesus Christ, our Lord. He is our defender, protector, and our refuge. The tug of war is not you against evil, but the whole army of God pulling
you away from the mud hole. You are assured of this with Jesus' own words: John 17:15; with St. Paul's encouragement: 2 Thessalonians 3:3; and in David's song of trust: Psalm 46.


I am in His service for His glory,
Liz Borth
Deaconess