‘Against Spiritual Wickedness’

‘Against Spiritual Wickedness’

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

As we pass through this world, it is important for us to be realistic about our environment, and what we should expect.  The Apostle Paul has already set the stage in the previous verses which we have considered.  He has declared that we need to prepare ourselves to face spiritual opposition and aggression.  In our text for today he delineates, in very specific terms, the sources of this aggression.  He defines this opposition as ‘not…flesh and blood, but…rulers…authorities, the powers of this dark world and…the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.’  These are real forces, consisting of real personalities, with real histories, who engage in real spiritual activity.  The Scripture everywhere supports this.  We see multiple references to Satan, his minions, and their activities in both the Old and New Testaments.  Christ encounters them from Genesis 3 to Revelation 20.  This leads us to consider that Christ’s enemies are our enemies, and our enemies are His.  Because He is in heaven, and untouchable by them, they direct their venom against us, the Body of Christ.  Hence, Christ has provided for us the spiritual armor to which this passage refers.  Christ both forewarns and forearms us.  Today, let us be aware of the nature of the warfare in which we find ourselves and look to Our Captain to lead us in the fight.

O, Captain of our Salvation,
we rejoice in You, our All-Victorious Christ.
We praise You, that while we are here on earth,
You protect us in the ways that please You most.

Tomm Tice
Where the Bush is Burning