Spiritual Warfare The Conflict! 26-04-2009 1 Eph 6:12-13 12For 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.13therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. (NKJ) The Greek phrase For we do not wrestle is not correctly translated. It should actually read for the wrestle to us. The suggestion here is that this is something we will experience personally. There is no passive action from satan s kingdom. The word Wrestle pale ^3823^, "a wrestling" (akin to pallo, "to sway, to vibrate"), is used figuratively in <Eph. 6:12>, of the spiritual conflict engaged in by believers, RV, "(our) wrestling," KJV, (from Vine's Expository Dictionary of Biblical Words)(Copyright (C) 1985, Thomas Nelson Publishers) The suggestion here is in reference to a wrestling match. In the old sense pale meant to shake with vibration. One Geek scholar has suggested that this is in reference to the Holy Spirit giving us vibes, or if you will, warning us by allowing us to sense an impending satanic attack that is coming our way. This enemy has murderous intent! The Greeks derived their name for the Palastra from this word pale. The Palastra was a huge palace of combat sports. It was a beautiful building where the sportsmen of that day would train in disciplined fervor to become the best they could be. They were boxers, wrestlers, and pankratists. At all times of the day you could find these athletes training for their competitions. These sports were brutal and violent. There were no rules, and the first one who died or the first one to give up was declared the loser. These boxers would have their gloves ribbed with steel and spiked with nails. Few boxers ever lived to retire. A common phrase of that day was A boxers victory is obtained through blood. It was not uncommon for a boxer to strike his opponent so hard that his eyeball would pop out of its socket. It was a brutal, bloody sport. The wrestlers were just as brutal. One of their favorite moves was to grab their opponent throw him up into the air and bring him down with his back towards the knee and snap the back in two. The pankratists incorporated all styles and were out to prove that they were the best. Paul uses this illustration to metaphorically illustrate and describe our conflict with unseen demonic powers gathered for our destruction. There are no rules in the spirit. Satan uses all methods of attack; there is no umpire to shout foul when satan wants to choke you, break your back, kill and destroy you or your loved ones. Whoever fights in the spirit the hardest, the meanest, and lasts the longest wins the confrontation. Eph 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 host of wickedness in the heavenly places Against This word is used four times for emphasis. When God repeats Himself He is trying to get our attention and this would necessitate that we take note. This word carries the idea of personal confrontation; in a forward position, close against, face-to-face, eye-to-eye. The wrestle to us will be a personal confrontation and it involves satanic forces in the invisible reality.
2 1. Principalities The Greek word, arche (ar-khay'); from 756; chief (in various applications of order, time, place, or rank): This word meant ancient, ancient times; it also speaks of the highest position of rank. This word describes satan s highest ranking authorities that have held this position since ancient times, possibly since the fall of Lucifer. 2. Powers - The Greek word exhausia. This word means delegated authority. The suggestion is that these powers receive instructions and then carry out their mission however, wherever, whatever, against mankind. 3. The rulers of the darkness of this world This is a Greek compound word; kosmokrateros. This comes from two words: Kosmos Order, arrangement and Kratos Power. When you put these two words together as kosmoskrateros it primarily refers to great military power in one spot. It describes power that has been harnessed and put into some kind of order. This was a Greek word that the Greek s used to describe certain aspects of their military. It is descriptive of young soldiers who are full of energy but very chaotic. For their military power to be effective this raw energy of young troops had to be harnessed and then organized, disciplined, committed, submissive, ordered, and perfectly arranged into rank and file. It speaks of a military training camp. Paul is telling us by using this word that satan deals with his dark legions of demon spirits like troops. These demons are organized, disciplined, trained and committed to our destruction. The church has no power shortage. We do not lack authority. What we do lack however, is commitment, discipline, organization and strategy. We need to match the level of satan s commitment. The devil is very serious about doing damage. 4. Spiritual wickedness in high places High places refers to the air or atmosphere in which we come into contact with. The word wickedness refers to vile, bad, malevolent, vicious and malignant. These are the spirits we usually cast out of people. Eph 6:13: Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. They are encouraged to put on the whole armor of God. Not parts, but the whole. It is important for us to understand the metaphor that Paul is using in this text. It is based on the armour and battle dress of the first century Roman soldier. This armour consisted of seven pieces of weaponry. Paul consistently tells us to put the whole armour on. i) The loin belt ii)the breastplate iii)the shoes iv)the shield v)the helmet vi)the sword vii) The Lance of intercession. The necessity for us to be clothed in the whole armor of God is so that we can withstand. The word withstand - koluo ^2967^, "to hinder," "to set against," to forbid, to resist (from Vine's Expository Dictionary of Biblical Words) (Copyright (C) 1985, Thomas Nelson Publishers) This word suggests in the Greek to so stand in your position of victory so as to be vigorously opposing, bravely resisting, standing face to face against an adversary, and i.e. standing your ground. The suggestion is that with the authority and spiritual weapons granted to us we are able to withstand evil forces.
3 Some Areas Of satanic Spiritual Activity 1. The spirit world: Dan 10:7-14 7And I, Daniel, alone saw the vision, for the men who were with me did not see the vision; but a great terror fell upon them, so that they fled to hide themselves. 8Therefore I was left alone when I saw this great vision, and no strength remained in me; for my vigor was turned to frailty in me, and I retained no strength. 9 Yet I heard the sound of his words; and while I heard the sound of his words I was in a deep sleep on my face, with my face to the ground. 10Suddenly, a hand touched me, which made me tremble on my knees and on the palms of my hands. 11And he said to me, "O Daniel, man greatly beloved, understand the words that I speak to you, and stand upright, for I have now been sent to you." While he was speaking this word to me, I stood trembling. 12Then he said to me, "Do not fear, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart to understand, and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard; and I have come because of your words. 13"But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me twenty-one days; and behold, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, for I had been left alone there with the kings of Persia. 14"Now I have come to make you understand what will happen to your people in the latter days, for the vision refers to many days yet to come." (NKJ) This is one of a few examples that demonic armies oppose God s purposes and that earthly struggles often reflect what is happening in the heavens and that oftentimes prayer and fasting are required to affect the outcome. 2. The Womb: Luke 1:41-44: 41 And it happened, when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, that the babe leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. 42 Then she spoke out with a loud voice and said, "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! 43 But why is this granted to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 44 For indeed, as soon as the voice of your greeting sounded in my ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy. (It is interesting that the writer of this Gospel was a doctor.) We know that John the Baptist was influenced by the Holy Spirit while in Elizabeth s womb and was able to respond to both spiritual and external stimuli. The indication in this scripture is that John recognized outside stimuli, and was also influenced by the prophetic Spirit and began to rejoice that the Messiah was carried in Mary s womb. John responded both to the voice of Mary as well as to the Spirit in his life. He was so filled with the Holy Spirit in his mother s womb that the moment he leaped Elizabeth was effected by the power of the Spirit. My experience shows me that demons can afflict you even in your mothers womb. Some of the stuff I will share here is somewhat controversial and if you differ in views, please refrain from sending hate mail. Medical science agrees that the child in the womb can definitely react to certain stimuli. In fact there is a term being used in the medical fraternal to describe this phenomenon. It is called foetal programming. In fact there are those who are looking at creating a law to protect the rights of children who experienced unhealthy situations in the womb created by their parents. This law would allow them to sue their parents for any trauma, or behaviour that would place any limitations on their spiritual, emotional, and physical development. We know that there are abuser groups that have developed techniques to produce trauma in the
child while still in the womb to alter behaviour. Some say that the way your life begins in the womb determines how your life ends. John 9:1-3: 1 Now as Jesus passed by, He saw a man who was blind from birth. 2 And His disciples asked Him, saying, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?" 3 Jesus answered, "Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but that the works of God should be revealed in him. who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind? This is a very interesting scripture. The disciples are suggesting that this mans blindness could have been cause by sinning in his mother s womb. We all know that we are born sinners, but how is it possible for a child yet in the womb to be born sinning? The parents are the child s spiritual protection and covering. If for example the parents do not want the child and suggest that an abortion should take place, this immediately gives satan the legal right to act. Evil spirits can then afflict and torment the child s spirit and the child could be born with trauma, rejection, unforgiveness, anger, hatred, etc This sin could remain dormant and only be discovered by the Holy Spirits illumination. If the past is affecting your present, then it is not past but present and needs to be dealt with by the power of the Holy Spirit. This is just an informative point to be aware of. 4. Sickness: Luke 13:11-13: 11 And behold, there was a woman who had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years, and was bent over and could in no way raise herself up. 12 But when Jesus saw her, He called her to Him and said to her, "Woman, you are loosed from your infirmity." 13 And He laid His hands on her, and immediately she was made straight, and glorified God. i) Infirmity This person was a believer and had a covenant with God and yet had a demon of infirmity. This word infirmity is in reference to disease and sickness. When Jesus saw her he cast that spirit out and she was immediately healed and glorified God. It is important to be aware of this phenomenon. If someone comes to you with a disease or sickness that just does not seem to go away and will not respond to medical attention. There are many who believe that all sickness is from the devil. I personally do not believe this but in the same token sometimes it is necessary to cast out a demon that is responsible for the sickness. ii) Deafness and Dumbness - Mark 9:25: 25 When Jesus saw that the people came running together, He rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, "Deaf and dumb spirit, I command you, come out of him and enter him no more!" Here we see how an evil spirit causes the disease of deafness and dumbness. This young man would have remained deaf and dumb unless Jesus had not commanded the unclean spirit to come out. It is interesting here that Jesus commanded the spirit not to return. Sometimes under the guidance of the Holy Spirit you can forbid the demons never to return. We know that sometimes they can return, but this is not the rule, there are extremes. iii) Blindness - Matt 12:22 Then one was brought to Him who was demon-possessed, blind and mute; and He healed him, so that the blind and mute man both spoke and saw. (NKJ) 4
Here we see an evil spirit causes both blindness and dumbness. Next week we will deal with the various weaponry at our disposal for brutal war! 5