:: We wrestle

Paul in his letter to the Ephesian followers of Christ gives us insight on the reality of the spiritual matrix that is happening all around us:

6:12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

A spiritual battle going on in the earth for the souls and spirits of men is the metanarrative. As in the matrix, where Neo has to make a choice to make, we have to choose what reality he will live in. We can ignore the reality of the matrix and pretend there are really no angels and demons. We can ignore that the loving God is on the throne of the universe and pursuing us or we can continue to live an untruth. if you believe Paul's words are inspired words of the Holy Spirit, then the reality of a spiritual fight going on around us is true.

This past weeks has been evidence of that in the lives of people from Resonance. There is a dual spiritual dynamic happening. On the one side we have had two people get raises at their jobs in two weeks. That is an important answer to prayer for people who have left comfortable places, transplanted to a new city and struggle to make all the ends meet. Chris has landed a job at Java House, the only coffee shop in the Colony. We believe this is a strategic answer to prayer to help us connect more with the community of the Colony. We have sensed God's encouraging presence in our times together. So on the one hand God is blessing our community of called out ones.

The other side of the coin is spiritual attack that has been happening. Last Sunday night it seemed there was no area left untouched by difficulty. The set-up took too much time, the video on the computer wouldn't run, and when it finally did it wasn't smooth, the air-conditioner wasn't working well and it was hot, one of the musicians who had joined us had his car breakdown, our sign was messed up by the wind, etc. And then there is Gracelyns fall one night against a cabinet that left a blood clot in her cheek. She has been to the doctor twice and going again Friday. Now you could say that was just coincidence, but I don't think so. And that makes me mad. When I get in a fight I'm cool in backing down, but when you start messing with the kids I love, yea that makes me mad.

Now I am not one to see a dark angel under every bush and as an excuse for any mishap and immaturity of people, but I do recognize that the enemy does not want added prayer, added worship, added missionaries, or added servant-hearted people in any of the territories he has a grip on and therefore will fight those things. Much like an invading army force, the occupying force doesn't want to lose ground.

So my conclusion of this post is that prayer is vital. Prayer changes the direction of angels in this spritual matrix. Prayer draws us to God's heart on these matters. And prayer releases power from the very throne of God. There is a battle going on. If we are serious about this walk of the spirit, then we have to be aware that there is battle to do and one of the weapons for us in this battle is prayer. So get your programmer (the Holy Spirit) to download a prayer program.