Verse: Ephesians
6:12
For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities,
against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age,
against spiritual hosts
of wickedness in the heavenly places.
Application:
These who are not "flesh and blood" are demons over whom Satan
has control. They are not mere fantasies - they are very real. We face a powerful
army whose goal is to defeat Christ's church. When we believe in Christ, these
beings become our enemies, and they try every device to turn us away from him
and back to sin. Although we are assured of victory, we must engage in the
struggle until Christ returns, because Satan is constantly battling against all
who are on the Lord's side. We need supernatural power to defeat Satan, and God
has provided this by giving us his Holy Spirit within us and his armor
surrounding us. If you feel discouraged, remember Jesus' words to Peter:
"Upon this rock I will build my church, and all the powers of hell will
not conquer it" (Matthew 16:18).
The purpose of putting on God's armor is to be able to stand
against the schemes or stratagems of the devil or adversary. Christians are not
to attack Satan or advance against him; they are only to “stand” or hold the
territory Christ and His body, the church, have conquered. Without God's armor
believers will be defeated by the “schemes” of the devil which have been
effective for thousands of years.
The struggle is not physical (against flesh and blood); it
is a spiritual conflict against the spiritual “Mafia.” Though the ranks of
satanic forces cannot be fully categorized, the first two (rulers and
authorities) have already been mentioned in Ephesians 1:21 and 3:10. Paul added
the powers of this dark world and the spiritual forces of evil. Their sphere of
activity is in the heavenly realms, the fifth occurrence of this phrase, which
is mentioned in the New Testament only in Ephesians 1:3, 20; 2:6; 3:10; 6:12.
Satan, who is in the heavens (Ephesians 2:2) until he will be cast out in the
middle of the Tribulation (Revelation 12:9-10), is trying to rob believers of
the spiritual blessings God has given them (Ephesians 1:3).
Resources:
"Life Application Study Bible" by Tyndale House Publishers
"The Bible Knowledge Commentary" by John F. Walvoord and Roy B. Zuck
"The Bible Knowledge Commentary" by John F. Walvoord and Roy B. Zuck