The Prince of the Power of the Air
Kathy — Let’s follow history beyond Goliath into the Middle Ages, (400AD to 1500AD). A guy with a complaint could start a fight and set the rules of engagement just by throwing a gauntlet (a heavy-duty glove) at someone’s feet. Under the sway of that age, you were then obligated to rules of engagement that required you to get a pole and a horse and risk your life in a joust! Supposedly that was all in the name of honor and dignity, though it sounds a bit more like pride and stupidity. For hundreds of years after jousting, there were duels from 1500-1900. This time, if a man slapped you in the face with a glove, you were obligated by the rules of engagement to risk dying or killing someone! Who made that Koolaid? Of course, the culture of that age made it the way of the world. When you consider the huge span of years in history, it begs the question: how does a foolish and destructive paradigm stay so consistent throughout different cultures over a span of centuries? The answer is not complex. We know who has been the consistent negative effect on cultures and we know who has mastered taking advantage of human nature, the prince of the power of the air. Eph. 2:2 says – you walked habitually following the course and fashion under the sway of the present age, following the prince of the power of the air. You were under the control of the demon spirit that is constantly at work. No matter what century, what culture, the same prince of the power of the air is constantly at work in every age and he uses the same methods.
Setting An Atmosphere
Do we set a bad atmosphere with our thoughts or emotions or words, or does the atmosphere hunt us down to dictate our thoughts or emotions or words? I believe the answer is both. We certainly have the ability to create an atmosphere for ourselves and everyone around us. One person’s impatience in a waiting room can have everyone tense and walking on 
eggshells in a matter of seconds. One person’s panic can clear a room. Our expectations, meditations, fears or our mouthing against self can fill the air until it is lethal. However, not only people are able to condition an atmosphere. The devil is called “the prince of the power of the air” (Eph.2:2) for a reason. He is skilled at blowing in a foul wind to influence people and situations. The Old Testament word “ruach” is translated “spirit” most often, but it means “wind” or “breath”. In the New Testament, the same word is “pneuma”. A spirit or wind can carry a contradiction to the will of God into an atmosphere by blowing in a lie or fear or threat or opinion or accusation, etc. The air becomes its infected storage place so that it can affect and influence thoughts and feelings when it finds an advantage, an open window. Just as we breathe in air unconsciously, we can also come under the influence of what’s in the air unconsciously. It can become an influence over our emotions and thoughts and decisions.
(This is the fourth excerpt from Kathy’s article “Clear The Air” which was published in Volume 18 Issue 4 of their ministry magazine SEEC Magazine. Excerpts will be posted Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Previous excerpts may be read by scrolling down this page.)
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