Ephesians 6:12

“For our wrestling is not against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the world-rulers of this darkness, against the spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places”

“For”: “A thorough knowledge of the enemy and. healthy respect for his prowess are. necessary preliminary to victory in war. Similarly, if we underestimate our spiritual enemy, we shall see no need for God's armor, we shall go out to the battle unarmed, with no weapons but our own puny strength, and we shall be quickly and ignominiously defeated” (Stott p. 263). “Our”: Every Christian is in this fight. “Wrestling”: “Our struggle” (Rhm). “Fight” (Phi). “The word for our ‘struggle' originally meant. wrestling match. It is appropriate in this context because of its connotation of. close-in, hand-to-hand combat” (Boles p. 334). “Is not against flesh and blood”: “The wiles of the devil,. say, for it is not mere men we have to face” (Gr. Ex. N.T. p. 383). “No mere wrestling match with an unarmed, human opponent” (Lenski p. 659). The word "wrestling" suggests that each Christian is involved in. personal struggle with evil. No one is above temptation (1 Corinthians 10:13). How important then the need to encourage each other and take advantage of such encouragement (Hebrews 3:13; 1 Thessalonians 5:11; 1 Thessalonians 5:14; Hebrews 10:24).

Physical weapons are powerless in this struggle (2 Corinthians 10:2). Such things as money, fame, or possessions, cannot protect or insulate one from the devil's wiles. And there is no place on this planet or in this universe that is "neutral ground", no spiritual Switzerland exists. One can get physically hurt in wrestling matches with other men, ye. much more is at stake in this battle than even physical death. You lose this struggle and you lose eternal happiness!

‘Principalities”: Compare with Ephesians 3:10; Colossians 1:16; Colossians 2:14; Romans 8:38. “Powers”: Authorities. “The forces arrayed against us have three main characteristics. First, they are powerful” (Stott p. 263). “World-rulers”:”World forces” (NASV). “Not in. corner but in the whole world these have their vast domain” (Lenski p. 660). “Powers dominating the world as such and working everywhere” (Gr. Ex. N.T. p. 383). “The cosmic dimensions of the power of the enemy are also shown when Satan is called the ‘god of this age' (2 Corinthians 4:4) and the ‘ruler of this world' (John 12:31; John 14:30; John 16:11). Satan and his hosts do not actually rule this world, but what power they do have is concentrated here” (Boles p. 335).

Satan is active everywhere on the face of this planet (1 John 5:19). You cannot run from temptation. Even to this day certain individuals think that they can escape the temptations of the world by dwelling in isolation or in some remote part of the country. “These texts do not deny our Lord's decisive conquest of the principalities and powers, but indicate that as usurpers they have not conceded defeat or been destroyed” (Stott p. 264).

“Of this darkness”: “That hold sway in the Darkness around us” (TCNT). Christians have been rescued from the "domain of darkness" (Colossians 1:13), but our foe will continually try to lure us back. “Power itself is neutral; it can be well used or misused. But our spiritual enemies use their power destructively. They hate the light, and shrink from it. Darkness is their natural habitat, the darkness of falsehood and sin” (Stott p. 264). “Darkness is not the mere absence of light; it is the absolute antagonism to light” (Lenski p. 660). This provides us with incentive to "expose the unfruitful deeds of darkness" (Ephesians 5:11), because ignorance of the will of God or misinterpretation only provide the Devil with more opportunities to deceive (Acts 26:18; 2 Timothy 2:25). “Spiritual hosts”: They are called "spiritual" because they are not flesh and blood. “The spirit-forces whose essential character is wickedness” (Gr. Ex. N.T. p. 384). “Wickedness”: “Wickedness is active evil. Hence Satan is called the wicked one (Luke 3:19; Luke 7:21; 1 John 2:13)” (Vincent p. 406). “If we hope to overcome them, we shall need to bear in mind that they have no moral principles, no code of honor, no higher feelings. They recognize no Geneva Convention to restrict or partially civilize the weapons of their warfare. They are utterly unscrupulous, and ruthless in the pursuit of their malicious designs” (Stott p. 264). “In the heavenly places”: Compare with Ephesians 1:3; Ephesians 2:6; Ephesians 3:10. This fight is fought in the spiritual realm. The real battle does not rage in our physical body. Sometimes people blame their natural desires for the reason why they cannot live the Christian life, yet Jesus pointed out that the "real problem" is when people allow themselves to "believe" the wrong things (Mark 7:20). The real battle is for the mind. The Devil operates by trying to convince us that God will change His mind about sin, God will save "good" people who are not Christians, the hypocrites in the church are. valid reason why. do not have to serve God, God would not want me to be unhappy,. deserve better, and 1000 other lies. Please note that Eve was not physically or genetically predisposed to crave the forbidden fruit. Instead she wanted the fruit because she had accepted. false concept (Genesis 3:1).