Deborah_
Well-Known Member
Ephesians 6:10-12
At the beginning of his letter to the Ephesians, Paul writes about God’s eternal plan to bring the entire universe back under His rule. But there is fierce opposition, for even after his comprehensive defeat at the cross (Colossians 2:15), the devil refuses to surrender. And so the world is a battleground, and the Church finds itself on the front line! Every new Christian becomes an outpost of God’s Kingdom in the middle of enemy territory, and is likely to come under attack. Whether we like it or not, we’re engaged in a struggle for our very survival, a spiritual war being fought between angelic and demonic armies in the heavenly realms.
These spiritual forces are invisible to us, and unbelievers are completely oblivious to their existence. But the cosmic conflict finds its expression on earth in various forms. Demonic activity and the occult are just the tip of the iceberg; Satan is also the mastermind behind ideologies, false religions, and even hostile governments. Whenever the Church finds itself opposed and persecuted, we need to be aware that there is a deeper reality underlying what we can see. “Our struggle is not against flesh and blood.” (Ephesians 6:12) These human agents are not acting on their own initiative; they are being manipulated by the devil. Our response must be tailored accordingly.
At the beginning of his letter to the Ephesians, Paul writes about God’s eternal plan to bring the entire universe back under His rule. But there is fierce opposition, for even after his comprehensive defeat at the cross (Colossians 2:15), the devil refuses to surrender. And so the world is a battleground, and the Church finds itself on the front line! Every new Christian becomes an outpost of God’s Kingdom in the middle of enemy territory, and is likely to come under attack. Whether we like it or not, we’re engaged in a struggle for our very survival, a spiritual war being fought between angelic and demonic armies in the heavenly realms.
These spiritual forces are invisible to us, and unbelievers are completely oblivious to their existence. But the cosmic conflict finds its expression on earth in various forms. Demonic activity and the occult are just the tip of the iceberg; Satan is also the mastermind behind ideologies, false religions, and even hostile governments. Whenever the Church finds itself opposed and persecuted, we need to be aware that there is a deeper reality underlying what we can see. “Our struggle is not against flesh and blood.” (Ephesians 6:12) These human agents are not acting on their own initiative; they are being manipulated by the devil. Our response must be tailored accordingly.
