Isaiah - Verse By Verse

Thought:  To me, we all need to be much more aware of the spiritual warfare going on continually in this world.

Question:  Have I perceived the struggle against evil around me--in me?

Scripture:  Ephesians 6:12 (NIV):  "For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms."

We humans are "flesh and blood".  We can fight only on that plane, that level.  Satan is a spiritual being.  He is joined by fallen angels of various "ranks" who are also spiritual beings.  Because they are spiritual, we cannot fight them at all.  In addition, God has given satan authority.  He has allowed him to rule the earth and to dwell in its atmosphere with his demonic armies.  This has plunged the world into darkness.  Putting aside the logical and burning question for now, 'Why did God allow this?', we must simply accept this fact.  But God doesn't abandon us to this dilemma.  He has all the equipment necessary, ready and available to anyone and everyone who will receive it:  His "armor".  So the dilemma of a world ruled by satan is dissolved!  God overcomes!  When satan and his hordes are allowed to do their worst, God still wins.  Thus, if "our struggle" is against an enemy too large and powerful for us, all we need do is get equipped by God to win.

It is clear to me that Paul paints the awfulness of the opposition here for one purpose only:  to remind us how much we need God.  We must not think we can function independently.  We cannot at all.  We are totally ill-equipped to oppose "rulers", "authorities", "powers" and "spiritual forces."  What's more, we are either "used" by God or satan.  Christ put it this way, "you are of your father, the devil, and his deeds you are doing."  The implication was that they could have done the deeds of God their Heavenly Father.  Either we do one or the other--we never do "our own thing."  Many people are quite unaware of the fact that they are really serving satan when they think, via self-deception and/or satan's deception, that they are calling the shots themselves.  Man elevates himself way too much!  We are "children."  We are "sheep."  We need to remember that!  And if we are God's children, we need to clothe ourselves in His strong armor.  We'll never overcome the enemy unless we wear God's armor. 

Prayer:  Lord of Hosts, help me ever to place myself in Your side of the struggle that goes on in this world.  Equip me, Father, to utilize Your power for this battle.  Amen. 

• Main
• archives
• Albums
• Links
• Admin
• Send us a story!

• Isaiah - Day 159
• Isaiah - Day 158
• Isaiah - Day 157
• Isaiah - Day 156
• Isaiah - Day 155
• Isaiah - Day 154
• Isaiah - Day 153
• Isaiah - Day 152
• Isaiah - Day 151
• Isaiah - Day 150

• General [314]

• RSS 0.90
• RSS 1.0
• RSS 2.0
• Atom