I love golf, so I know how important it is to make sure to practice; so, when I don’t have time to go to the golf course I go to my small backyard and practice my putting in my putting area. There is a fence that divides my backyard from a playground. I could hear some children playing in the playground; suddenly I started hearing some F-bombs; at first, I was not sure, but then it was obvious. So, I waited for an adult to correct these children; but the F-bombs continue and the frequency of increase also. In two years in this house, I never heard kids talking that way. 

I became angry and was about to yell at them to stop, but the Holy Ghost told me no. I said, but I don’t want these punks to feel comfortable cursing like that in my neighborhood… I must do something. But I keep sensing a check in my spirit. By now, my putting was not going all that great.  My fence, like many fences in Arizona is made of concrete block, so I could hear these kids, but was unable to see them. As I continue feeling irritated with these kids as they got louder and lauder; the Holy Spirit told me go upstairs and just look at them from my balcony, but to say nothing. By now it was getting dark, but it was still clear. 

I went upstairs and went straight to my balcony. At first, I could not see the kids that were cursing, but they moved to a little gazebo that is next to the playground. I had a perfect view to them, and they had a perfect view to me if they looked up. By this time these kids are cursing like they were in Def Comedy Jam; the F-Bombs were flying; they were loud, and they were even talking about who they were doing it to. It was only two kids, probably about 12 or 13-years of age. They were both white. 

I stood there for a few minutes without saying a word, but staring straight at them. It did not take long before one of the kids made eye contact with me. I could hear him telling the other kid, who was the one doing the most cursing, “hey, somebody is watching us.” The other kids asked “Who?” When he turned and look at me, he yelled and immediately both left the playground. I did not say a word! I went down and resumed my putting practice.

I knew deep inside, there was a lesson to be learned here; I don’t have the whole revelation but understood some. As believers, we have authority over every demonic power in this world. In Matthew 28:18-19 Jesus tells us, “…All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, ²⁰ and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (NIV) 

We walk in the authority of Christ, not our own. The demonic kingdom has Satan on top as the god of this world (2 Cor. 4:4), but his government also have other gods under him who cover regions; Paul referred to them as principalities in Ephesians 6:12. There are fallen angels operating on this world, authorities looking for legal rights to attacks us… again Ephesians 6:12. Now, we are not called to engage these divine demonic beings in the spiritual realm but one, and those are “Demons”. Demons are not just in regions or territories; demons look to dwell in the inside of us. Jesus tells us,

“When an impure spirit comes out of a person, it goes through arid places seeking rest and does not find it. ⁴⁴ Then it says, ‘I will return to the house I left.’ When it arrives, it finds the house unoccupied, swept clean and put in order. ⁴⁵ Then it goes and takes with it seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there. And the final condition of that person is worse than the first. That is how it will be with this wicked generation.” Matthew 12:43-45 (NIV)

Our focus is on the activity of these demons; we also have authority over them. However, even as we are not called to engaged fallen angels, principalities and so on, we MUST be aware that we have authority, through Jesus, over them also. This fight is not against flesh and blood (Ephesians 6:12), our focus MUST be the spiritual dimension and not what is in front of us. What is in front of us is the result of the spiritual dimension. Those two teens were not the issue; the issue was what was behind them. 

There is evil that is unable to manifest just because of your presence and mine. This is not because of us, but because of Jesus. The demonic kingdom knows who belongs to Jesus and who does not. The first step in engaging in spiritual welfare is to; 1) understand that we operate under Jesus’ authority not ours, 2) understand that there is a demonic realm in this world, 3) understand that we are not called to engage all the evil around us, 4) understand that this is God’s battle not ours and, 5) don’t be afraid.