Today's Daily Lesson comes from Ephesians chapter 6 verses 10 through 18:
10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. 12 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. 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 firm. 14 Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. 16 In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; 17 and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, 18 praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication.
As we can see from what we read and view in the news and social media, we are living now in a dark time and what has the potential to throw us back into a dark age. As we think on what it means to actively engage the darkness in the struggle for light, the first thing we must remember is that there is a great and unseen cosmic spiritual war going behind the curtain of the visible stage where the wars, rumors of wars, and oppressions we see are playing out. This is what Paul meant when he said, "our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but . . . against the powers. The powers are hidden behind the scenes; but they are also active and dangerously besetting to the world of peace.
Twentieth century theologian Walter Wink wrote a series of very helpful reflections on the spiritual warfare behind the struggle for justice and peace and liberation from oppression. In his three-volume series, Naming the Powers, Unmasking the Powers, and Engaging the Powers, he wrote of the three-tiered 1) Name Powers - meaning, find the courage to speak and name abuse 2) Unmask Powers - meaning, open the curtain on the economic, political, psychological and spiritual ways in which powers oppress, and 3) Engage the Powers - meaning, face them in creative ways which seek not to destroy them but rather to turn them to repentance and turn them back to their God-given purpose and being.
Central to Wink's reflection on engagement with the dark powers of the world is his understanding of prayer. Prayer is necessary Wink says because, "the struggle to be human against the suprahuman Powers requires it. . . Prayer is . . . the interior battle where the decisive victory is first won, before engagement in the outer world is even possible."
The Quakers say, "If in confronting a beast you become a beast then beastiality has won." We are engaged now in battle with many a beast -- global terrorism, the abuse and exploitation of the vulnerable -- especially women and children, the curtailing of liberty and human rights, and encroaching lawlessness, just to name a few. In this present spiritual battle, prayer is the way we remind ourselves that we were born human beings and not beasts, children of light and not darkness -- and so too were our enemies.
To remember this takes supernatural spiritual strength -- the kind only a life steeped in communion with God can provide.
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