Avalon Chronicles #131: Strongholds and Principalities

      "For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places." (Ephesians 6:12 KJV Life Application Study Bible). Footnote pg. 2079. "In the Christian life we battle against 'principalities and powers' (the powerful evil forces of fallen angels headed by Satan who is a vicious fighter, see 1 Peter 5:8)....the whole body needs to be armed...fight in the strength of the church, whose power comes from the Holy Spirit."

     In the previous message DNA was addressed. How we are composed in our personality and beliefs and actions can be positive or negative. Until we become informed about the great personal struggle within each of us, we do not have the spiritual weaponry to battle the forces of evil that beset and besiege us each day, especially in a world today that demonstrably is anti-Christianity. There are embedded in us "strongholds" that keep us from reflecting in our thoughts, words and actions a Christ-centered attitude of behavior and thought. My new favorite author Ella LeBain introduced me to another author, Art Mathias, author of Biblical Foundations of Freedom. He delineates seven of these "principalities" that take us over and are the antithesis of a pattern of thought and behavior that reflects Christ's love. 

Satan's Seven Principalities of Unloving Spirits:

         1. Accusing Spirits (judgmentalism, religious spirits, criticism, control, shame, blame, guilt, depression);

         2. Bitterness (resentment, unforgiveness, pride, anger, abuse, rage, murder, hate, greed, lies, denial, depression, trauma);

         3. Self-Bitterness (shame, guilt, self-hatred, self-sabotage, suicide, denial, depression);

         4. Rejection: (rejection of others, desiring rejection, victimization, rejection of God, betrayal);

         5, Jealousy/Envy (coveting, greed, rudeness, murder, ungratefulness, inability to respect other's gifts and talents, betrayal);

         6. Fear (anxiety, worry paranoia, intimidation, bullying, control, lies, anger, trauma);

         7. Occult (false beliefs, religious spirits, counterfeit spirits, lying spirits, witchcraft, black and white magic, curses, vows, false identities).

     These are all reflections of Satan's personality and they hold us back from the enriched life we can have with their direct opposite, which is Christ's personality, derived from the Holy Spirit as the guiding force in a well-balanced life, not tormented by the attacks of Satan. 

HOMEWORK: Meditate on each of the above, determine which are applicable to one's self. Ask if that is what we desire to uphold or reflect. If not, pray to God in the Name of Jesus by the Holy Spirit that we rebuke that stronghold and open ourselves to God's light and change to adhere to the teachings of Jesus.