WRESTLE - “Though sometimes it is used to define a form of recreational sport, here it describes the sharpness of your encounter with the enemy. Paul uses it to convey the notion of a bloody and lasting war between the Christian and his opponent.” Wrestling is not a team sport, but primarily as a one-on-one contest where one opponent singles out another and enters the arena with him as with David and Goliath. Each wrestler exerts his own force and strength against the other.”
Ephesians 6:10, we read, “Finally, my brethren, be strong [be strengthened literally] in the Lord, and in the power of his might [or force].”
In wrestling, each contestant is the sole object of his challenger’s fury and must be shaken and tried until one or the other is proclaimed victorious.” That is why we have God’s armor. The outcome will be a victory if we go in the power of His might. Our strength is too weak and insufficient. His strength and force are mighty and victorious. Let’s keep warring a good warfare.
It is so easy to isolate all of our conflicts to the physical realm but behind each of these conflicts there are spiritual influences. In the mist of conflicts we struggle oftentimes as the world does and often the results are the same. God tells that though we view these struggles as being physical there are spiritual influences behind them all.
WHAT ARE WE WRESTLING AGAINST:
I. PRINCIPALITIES AND POWERS
A.The problem today is preachers are afraid of the devil and figure if they leave him alone he, Satan, will leave them alone. That is true in part because if you are not doing anything to spread the True Gospel or you’re into false doctrine, you may already be headed to hell and he is content with that. I can assure you if we are going to be the church in this day and hour we are going to have to be willing to stand up to Satan and the Principalities and powers that he is bringing against and overcome them through the power of the name of Jesus Christ.
Romans 8:38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,
Ephesians 3:9 And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ:
10 To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God,
B.Who is the leader of the Principalities, Powers? Paul tells us in 2nd Corinthians 4:3-4. It is Satan, Lucifer, the god of this world. Lucifer is also called the “prince of the power of the air”. The word “prince” is translated from the Greek (#758) “archon” and refers to a ruler, a commander, chief or leader. Doesn’t a ruler or commander have an army that he rules over. Satan is the god that rules in the earth’s atmosphere, which is his kingdom…. for now. Right now, he has control and dominion over the fallen angels and demon spirits that oppress and torment man.
Ephesians 2:2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:
C. So if the Principalities are the chief rulers; they are first in a high order of evil spirits. Every place you see the word principality in relation to Evil in the word of God (KJV), it is the Greek noun (#746) “arche” which Vine’s Dictionary defines as that which is first in time, order, or place. It is used seven times in the scriptures to denote angelic or demonic rulers. The word powers is the Greek noun (#1849) “exousia” and means one who possesses authority or influence. It is used in Ephesians 6:12 to represent the angelic or demonic authorities that operate in the spirit realm. Using the phrase “principalities and powers,” Paul is telling us that there is a structure in satan’s kingdom (yes satan has a kingdom or thinks he does) where fallen angels, evil spirits, and demons are ranked one above the other, again just like human military, according to their power and authority. These fallen angels have influence over a State, Province, or Territory in a Country and must be dealt with to open up the Gospel in those areas.
Daniel 10:12 “Then said he unto me, Fear not, Daniel: for from the first day that thou didst set thine heart to understand, and to chasten thyself before thy God, thy words were heard, and I am come for thy words. 13 But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me one and twenty days: but, lo, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me; and I remained there with the kings of Persia.“
II. RULERS OF THE DARKNESS
OF THIS WORLD
A. No one is arguing that Satan is our primary enemy in the spiritual war, however, he does not fight alone. He is the commander of legions of soldiers. This is the kingdom of darkness that is the whole realm of satanic rule, or to the darkness of ignorance and alienation from God. Ignorance of God is darkness.
John 12:31 Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out.
B. We see how the devil can move in with the ignorance of man against God and began to use them in the midst of this evil and perverse world. The evil may come from within their sinful nature, the world or directly from the devil. Paul made it clear that our chief battle is not between "Flesh and blood." This is why it is a spiritual battle because not even men can see that they are pones of Satan and it is manipulating them as He pleases. So how is it that men are doing and thinking as they are, they have become that pone that Satan has been allowed to control his agenda through the lives of people. That is why Paul says it is not mere flesh and blood but spiritual forces that we are coming against
1Ti 1:18 This charge I commit unto thee, my child Timothy, according to the prophecies which led the way to thee, that by them thou mayest war the good warfare;
1Ti 1:19 holding faith and a good conscience; which some having thrust from them made shipwreck concerning the faith:
C. The Sanhedrin council failed to realize that their political, religious and social powers were weaker than the power of Christâs truth and love. The council can only ask why their commands have not been obeyed even though the apostles had warned them it was better to obey God than men.
Worldly people easily grow frustrated by the greater authority of God âs truth. The Pharisees saw Peter and the apostles as just another group of rebel-rousers who needed to be beaten and used as example for the masses. Many people forget that any authority is weak without the moral, Biblical and Spiritual power fortifying their position. Might without right may merely repeat its feeble experiments and failing.
"No man can do what you do unless God be with him." (John 3:2)
III. SPIRITUAL WICKEDNESS IN
HIGH PLACES
A. Spiritual wickedness is at an all time high. Many world leaders and members of the elite are in bed with Satan. Deceit and lies are promulgated to trick us into following Satanic (or Luciferian) doctrine.
The deceit and lies are usually disguised as something good or beneficial. We are born and indoctrinated into satanic systems of control. The world is under more mind control than ever before in history. The Bible tells us to fight against spiritual wickedness in high places. The 911-attacks were orchestrated by wickedness in high places, planned and carried out by demonically-inspired men. The truth has become self-evident. Satan's hands have been busy.
Job 1:7 And Jehovah said unto Satan, Whence comest thou? Then Satan answered Jehovah, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it.
B. The phrase spiritual wickedness in high places refers to Satan and his demonic horde who inhabit the spiritual realm. This is a world unseen by us that exists in our midst. These spirit beings are not friendly toward us and will use every opportunity they can find to torment us. Sometimes they plant lies in our minds that contradict the truth we learn from God. Paul said we have divine weapons to take these thoughts captive and make them obedient to Christ (2 Cor. 10:3-5).
2Co 10:3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh
2Co 10:4 (for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but mighty before God to the casting down of strongholds),
2Co 10:5 casting down imaginations, and every high thing that is exalted against the knowledge of God, and bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ;
C. The natural meaning, though questioned by some, is, either that these hosts of wickedness have their residence in heavenly places, or, that these places are the scene of our conflict with them. The latter seems more agreeable to the context, for "in heavenly places" does not denote a geographical locality here any more than in Eph_1:3 and Eph_2:6. When it is said that "we have been seated with Christ in heavenly places," the allusion is to the spiritual experience of his people; in spirit they are at the gate of heaven, where their hearts are full of heavenly thoughts and feelings;
Eph 2:6 and raised us up with him, and made us to sit with him in the heavenly places, in Christ Jesus:
Eph 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ:
Dan 10:12 Then said he unto me, Fear not, Daniel; for from the first day that thou didst set thy heart to understand, and to humble thyself before thy God, thy words were heard: and I am come for thy words' sake.
Dan 10:13 But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me one and twenty days; but, lo, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me: and I remained there with the kings of Persia.
Undoubtedly, one who takes into view all the circumstances referred to in this passage would most naturally understand this of an angelic being, having some kind of jurisdiction over the kingdom of Persia. What was the character of this “prince,” however, whether he was a good or bad angel, is not intimated by the language. It is only implied that he had a chieftainship, or some species of guardian care over that kingdom - watching over its interests and directing its affairs. As he offered resistance, however, to this heavenly messenger on his way to Daniel, as it was necessary to counteract his plans, and as the aid of Michael was required to overcome his opposition, the fair construction is, that he belonged to the class of evil angels.
