Introduction 

I think that one of the legacies of MMA Fighting is that it exposes a lot of the things we were taught as effective, essential and even mystical, as totally useless. I know of martial arts styles that hyper focused on katas or forms (A series of movement simulating a fight). The problem is that real fights do not look as pretty as a kata. Some of these martial arts schools do not even engage in sparring or a deep study of effective self-defense classes. How can they possibly be ready for a bloody and violent street encounter without training for it? Impossible! 

What makes matters worse is when they keep earning belts and with each belt, they feel more and more confident on their ability to defend themselves, when in reality they are far from ready.  In the world of MMA is also useless to focus on one style of martial arts; you better learn boxing, how to kick, the ground fighting game and, you better be in top shape; if not, you are going to get seriously hurt.  

I think that the same thing is happening in our churches. Christians are trained to see things through the glass of their denomination. Everything that does not fit the box of their belief system is thrown out.  Many focuses on one or two things and they stay there. Like martial arts schools that only do katas we learn to go through the motions, but we are never taught to really engage in real combat. We stay in the superficial, but never go into the deep things of God. 

This is not an article about MMA fighting, but about something even more intense, painful and deadly. The New Testament has a lot references to fighting. The Apostle Paul stated that he fought the good fight.^[1] In Ephesians 6:12 Paul also tells us,

For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. (KJV)

Do not get confuse in thinking that because this is a spiritual battle it will not have much effect in us. The effects of a spiritual battle are tangible and visible. The nature of our fight is spiritual, but it will distress our bodies and our souls. As believers we must learn the nature of the spiritual battle in and around us. We must learn to fight! 

I am going to take the next few articles to deal with the study of demons and beyond. We will attempt to discuss the following topics, 1) Beyond Adam and Eve’s Disobedience, 2) Are there other Gods in the Bible? 3) Who are the Fallen Angels? 4) Who are the Nephilim? 5) What are Demons and Where they Come From? 6) Demons in the Old Testament 7) Demons in the New Testament and 8) How to Fight Effectively.

To be continued…

^[1] 2 Timothy 4:7-8