Spiritual warfare
Jesus reveals that we:
- are at war
- have spiritual enemies
- have guardian angels
- can expel demons
- are under His care and protection
The Weapons of War
- Repentance and amendment for our own sins.
- Natural virtues: prudence, justice, temperance, fortitude.
- Supernatural virtues: Faith, hope, and love.
- Gifts
- Fruits
- Creed, code, cult
- spiritual directors or regular confessors
- Exorcisms
- Blessings
- sacramentals: holy water, rosaries, medals, scapulars, images, etc.
- Pilgrimage sites
- Churches and chapels
- Forgiveness prayer.
- Works of Mercy.
- Intercessory prayer.
- Fortress Church:
- - "The gates of Hell shall not prevail against it."
- - "United we stand; divided we fall."
- - Seven sacraments--infallible means of grace.
- - Communion of saints.
- Nine choirs of angels.
- The Name of Jesus.
Understanding the Enemy
I hate demon-chasing.
Some awareness of the tactics of the enemy may prove useful.
We must not become hypnotized by focusing on what the enemy can and cannot do. Our focus should always be on God, Who has delivered us from evil by the death and resurrection of Jesus.
Victory is ours for the asking
Each one of us is sovereign. No devil can steal us away from the Good Shepherd.
No one is in Heaven against their will.
No one is in Hell against their will.
Jesus does not tell us to become like X-Men, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Captain America and the Avengers, or any of the other superheroes of our day. Our King asks us to become like little children and to follow Him on the way of the Cross. We gain power over our enemies by letting God have power over us.
The war is inside of us
We're born again. That's our personality transplant. By rebirth in Baptism, we have a new identity, a new Father, and a whole new family. Our new nature is at war with our old nature. We are sovereign, by God's grace. He gives us the power to choose. Jesus has won the war. We can join Him in victory--or not--as we choose.
"The patient are better than warriors, and those who [conquer themselves are] better than one who conquers a city" (Prv 16:32, revised).
References