Not Against Flesh and Blood

“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,” Ephesians 6:12, KJV

Today, yesterday, and forever, Jesus Christ is the same. He is our strength, our power, our help in any time of need. As we live in this world, we are not to be of this world, but are to be transformed by the renewing of our minds. Once we have grasped the concept of why we were created, as God’s workmanship in Christ Jesus, it is easier to understand the operation of spiritual things.

As we live in this world, our awareness can sometimes be dulled to our surroundings. The surroundings made up of things that are unseen. Often, when having a bad day or encountering “obstacles” that appears in our path we may attribute it to particular people that are associated with said events. For example, if a coworker takes credit for work you’ve done, anger may arise or even resentment. Or if someone maliciously spread rumors about you, you sit in pain wondering why they’ve said what they’ve said. This may lead us to challenge that person’s credibility, especially after repeated incidents. But we must consider the spirit that is at work within them.

When the apostle Paul spoke the words that we wrestle not against flesh and blood, we’re well aware that this not referring to humans. As we pay particular attention to who we are wrestling against, our understanding deepens. In the above examples that I mentioned, upon examining you can see that there is something at work in those people. Either it is jealousy, greed, hatred, or any of those negative works of the flesh. I ponder on the book of Galatians where Paul expounded upon the works of the Spirit. Consider this when you come into contact with the works of the flesh. What spirit is in operation?

When we wrestle, it is a struggle. It means to be in opposition of an opponent to win according to a set of rules. God sets the rules, in His words, the commandments. And satan has been opposing them since the beginning of our time. So, what satan will try to do is to get those with bodies to do his work in the earthly realm because he is a spiritual being. But we have to keep in mind that he has already lost, his fate is sealed. God said so and no word will return to Him void.

Our struggle is against principalities. Principality is defined as a territory ruled by a prince, simple enough. What is a name for satan? He is the prince of darkness. Also, in the Amplified Bible the word principalities is translated and used as despotisms. Despotism is defined as absolutism: dominance through threat of punishment and violence. Does this remind you of Adolf Hitler? What spirit do you think was at work in him? Our struggle is against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places—the heavenly realm.

What are some areas that we wrestle against principalities, powers, rulers of the darkness, and spiritual wickedness in high places? Tomorrow’s entry explores areas of deception where spiritual wickedness evident: Be Not Deceived.

References: Hebrews 13:8, Romans 12:2, Ephesians 2:10, Galatians 5:16-25, Isaiah 55:11