You sometimes see artwork where a person has an angel over one shoulder and a demon over the other. Sometimes they are shown to be whispering into the person’s ear. Regardless of whether the artist thinks these good and evil spirits are literally on someone’s shoulder, the idea is clear—that there are good and bad forces in the unseen realm trying to influence us. We may not be able to see them, but they’re there.

Have you ever noticed Paul’s statement in Ephesians 6:12? Speaking about spiritual warfare, he writes: “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.” 

Notice how our (spiritual) battle is not against “flesh and “blood” (i.e. humans), but against those other things: “rulers,” “authorities,” “cosmic powers over this present darkness,” and “spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.” According to people who have studied these words in the New Testament like scholar Clint Arnold, these are references to demonic entities. 

Today’s point is this. We need to be discerning. In my view, today’s spiritual climate is very naïve. If we have strong emotions or feelings about something, we sometimes conclude that these emotions or feelings must be from God. But that’s not necessarily the case. 

We can also adopt the thinking that any activity that feels “spiritual” must surely be acceptable to God. But again, that’s not necessarily the case. As Paul warns, there are demonic forces at work in the world. Are you discerning enough to know the difference, or do you gobble up everything that comes your way hook, line and sinker?

I’m not saying there are literal angels and demons on our shoulders. But I am saying that there are very real forces of both good and evil trying to influence your attitudes and actions. 

Let’s be wise, not naïve. 
Let’s keep our eyes fixed on Jesus. 
Let’s ground ourselves in the truth of the Bible. 
Let’s love one another as Christ loved us.

And, in the serious words of Paul in Romans 13:12: Let us “cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light.”

Notes:

-“Christie Thomas on Little Habits in the Home for Big Faith in Life.” Do you have or care about youth and their faith in the home? You too can feel more equipped. Click here for my interview with author and discipleship coach, Christie Thomas.

-“Is there an angel and a demon on my shoulder?” Click here. Sermon.

-Bible quotes are from the ESV.