How Do Angels and Demons Affect People’s Lives Today? Part 1 of 2

How Do Angels and Demons Affect People’s Lives Today
Written By Bryan Hurlbutt
Angels and Demons

This week we start to look at the influence of angels and demons on human lives, emphasizing the need for balance in understanding spiritual warfare. It highlights the importance of recognizing the spiritual realities beyond the physical world while cautioning against attributing every life event to supernatural causes or overemphasizing the role of demons and angels.

Key Insights:

  • Spiritual Reality: There is an unseen spiritual dimension that interacts with the material world, affecting human lives in ways that are not always visible.

  • Balanced Awareness: It is crucial to avoid the extremes of either ignoring the influence of spiritual forces or attributing every challenge to demonic activity.

  • Personal Responsibility: While acknowledging the influence of spiritual forces, individuals must also take personal responsibility for their actions and not use demons as scapegoats for personal shortcomings.

  • Discernment in Spiritual Warfare: Understanding spiritual warfare involves recognizing the subtle ways in which demons may exploit human weaknesses without resorting to naming specific spirits or overestimating one's authority over them.

  • Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. 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.

  • Let brotherly love continue. Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.

Reflective Questions:

  1. How can you maintain a balanced perspective on the influence of spiritual forces in your life without falling into either denial or overemphasis?

  2. In what ways can you take personal responsibility for your actions while being aware of the potential influence of spiritual warfare?

  3. How can you cultivate discernment in recognizing the subtle ways spiritual forces may impact your life and decisions?

Bryan Hurlbutt

After years of preparation and seeking the Lord’s direction, Bryan moved to Utah in 2004 for the sole purpose of founding Lifeline Community. Born and raised in upstate New York, Bryan received his bachelor’s degree in religious education from Davis College in Johnson City, New York, and his master’s degree in theology from Dallas Theological Seminary. His doctorate of ministry from Talbot School of Theology focused on how worldview, philosophy, and culture relate to the local church, which culminated in the release of his first book, Tasty Jesus: Liberating Christ from the Power of our Predilections, published by Wipf and Stock. A true scholar and pastor at heart, Bryan longs to merge the life of the mind with life in the Spirit. His primary passion in ministry is discipleship, as evidenced by the various ministries at Lifeline, with the intended result that Lifeline be the kind of church that no one ever outgrows. Bryan is married to Jennifer and they have three daughters. He is an avid runner, a devout Syracuse Orange fan, and his favorite hobby is discussing world views and theology at ANY time in ANY place.

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How Do Angels and Demons Affect People’s Lives Today? Part 2 of 2
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Why Create the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil?