Conclusion of: HOW TO RESIST WICKED SPIRITS

What other step did those Christians in Ephesus need to take?  They needed further protection because they were living in a city filled with demonism. So Paul told them:  "With every  form of prayer and supplication . .  .carry on  prayer on every occasion in spirit."  (Ephesians 6:18)   Since we too live in a world full of demonism, earnestly  praying to Jehovah for his protection is essential  in resisting wicked spirits. Of course, we need to use Jehovah's name in our  prayers.  (Proverbs 18:10)  Hence, we should keep on praying to God to "deliver us from the wicked one," Satan the Devil.  (Matthew 6:13)  Jehovah will answer such earnest prayers. -Psalm 145:19. 

Wicked spirits are dangerous, but we need not live in fear of them if we oppose the Devil and draw close to God by doing his will.  (James 4:7, 8)  The power of wicked spirits  is limited.  They were punished in Noah's day, and they face their final judgment in the future.  (Jude 6)  Remember, too, that we have the protection of Jehovah's powerful angels (2 Kings 6:15-17)  Those angels are deeply interested in seeing us succeed in resisting wicked spirits.  The righteous angels are cheering us on, so to speak. Let us therefore stay close to Jehovah and his family of faithful spirit creatures.  May we also avoid every kind of spiritism  and  always  apply the counsel of God's Word.  (1 Peter 5:6, 7; 2 Peter 2:9)  Then we can be sure of victory in our fight against wicked spirit creatures. 

But why has God tolerated evil spirits  and the wickedness that has cause people so much suffering?  That question will be answered in the next chapter.  

Next time: Why Does God Allow Suffering? Chapter Eleven

From the Book: What Does the Bible Really Teach? 2005 and 2006