I recently read the screenplay for the 2017 Wonder Woman movie. The turning point occurs when Diana played by Gal Galgot is told a story by her mother Queen Hippolyta. Sharing a brief history of war, Queen Hippolyta tries to warn her daughter of the dangers of battles and fighting. When Diana learns of Ares, the Greek God of War, she develops a wonderful perspective about life. Diana comes to believe that if she can find Ares and defeat him, war on earth will end.
I But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me for twenty-one days. Then Michael, one of the chief [of the celestial] princes, came to help me, for I remained there with the kings of Persia.
One of the topics most churches don’t talk about from the pulpit are the spiritual forces of evil that exist on earth. According to the passage above, Daniel experienced a spiritual battle for 3 weeks. While no details are mentioned, it appears that a demon known as the prince of Persia had developed a spiritual stronghold over this specific region. While attending a nearby Vineyard Church in Pennsylvania, I was introduced to the concept of spiritual mapping. This teaching is built upon the sins of the father in Exodus 34:7 and giving the devil a foothold, Ephesians 4:26-27, an open door to create havoc on your life.
Put on God’s whole armor [the armor of a heavy-armed soldier which God supplies], that you may be able successfully to stand up against [all] the strategies and the deceits of the devil. 12 For we are not wrestling with flesh and blood [contending only with physical opponents], but against the despotisms, against the powers, against [the master spirits who are] the world rulers of this present darkness, against the spirit forces of wickedness in the heavenly (supernatural) sphere, Ephesians 6:11-12.
As Russia continues to attack and invade Ukraine, demonic strongholds once mentioned in the Bible continue today under the guise of darkness. According to the apostle Paul, certain leaders in these demonically controlled regions can become vessels of the Devil. Former president George W. Bush referred to this invisible force as the Axis of Evil in his State of the Union address on January 29, 2002. Whatever you want to call it, we need to develop a similar mindset of Diana in Wonder Woman with one difference. Instead of seeking to defeat Ares, seek to defeat the devil and war will be replaced by peace.
by Jay Mankus
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