Ephesians 6:12, “For we wrestle [circle the word wrestle] not against flesh and blood [or the original blood and flesh], but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness [or wicked spirits] in high places.”
We’re wrestling against powerful evil forces. They have one goal, and that is to destroy any child of God that has been made right with God and now is a disciple of Jesus Christ, one that has taken up the cross for the cause of Christ. There are a lot of Christians in today’s world, but not too many have the attention of Satan and his evil minions. He is not attacking Christians as much as they think he is. His forces and his evil minions are very dedicated to attacking individuals that have been made right with God. Those who have had a change of mind about Christ and what His redemptive work has done for them. He is now angry at those who received the gift of grace and are now causing others to inherit what you inherited through Christ. That causes Satan to be very angry. Therefore, Satan will go on the offensive and step up his intensity against us. He doesn’t have to utilize his evil forces to the CINO (Christian in name only) who are doing nothing for the cause of Christ. I’m sorry that is just the way it is. How would you dedicate your forces if you were Satan? Would you attack Christians who are nothing but lumps on a log for Jesus or Christians that are drawing others to Jesus Christ? Think about it. He sure isn’t dedicating his forces to Christians who think they are Christians in name only. It leaves you and me wrestling in hand-to-hand combat against some real evil forces.
Let me read something written centuries ago.
“Your state in this life is set out by the word wrestling.”
“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.”
A bloody and lasting war. Come to Jesus if you want to have a bloody and long-lasting war. Now that’s a recruiting statement that won’t get very far. You won’t see too many banner ads, advertisements, or read many books like this in today’s Christian market Come to Jesus. Join us in our bloody and lasting war with Satan.
Two things make wrestling a sharper combat than others. First, it is a single combat. Strictly speaking, 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.”
In our case, it is not by our flesh and strength that we fight against Satan and his minions. In 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].” It is God’s force, God’s strength and God’s might that we take into this wrestling match with Satan because if we try to do it in our strength, our power, and our force, Satan will mop the floor with us. We would be at his mercy.
“Such combat is much fiercer than fighting in any army where, though the battle is sharp and long, and the soldier is not always fighting. He can stop occasionally to get his breath. In fact, he may escape without a scratch because in war the enemy’s aim is not at one man in particular but at the whole regiment. However, 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.
Learn more at Faith Cometh By Hearing Ministries at www.TeachingFaith.com