Beloved in Christ,
As we go on thinking about our spiritual warfare, we have to know our enemies! Who is it that oppose us on all hands? Men? Liberals? Baby killers? No, believe it or not, they are only acting at the behest of agents of the Devil himself!
Quote:
12For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
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Make no mistake, the struggle that folks have trying to become True Christians™ is not against any flesh and blood. We struggle against principalities, powers, and rulers of the darkness, and against spiritual wickedness in high places. What does this mean? Does it merely reiterate the previous verse? Of course not, else why have it in there? No, God is telling us through his meat puppet Paul what kinds of demonic presences we have to fight against.
Principalities
Powers
Rulers of Darkness
Spiritual wickedness in high places
These are not just different names for earthly powers. They are ranks of celestial beings, being fallen angels who serve Lucifer, the fallen great angel who is also known as Satan, the Deceiver, Morningstar, etc. Where demons afflict humans in our own sphere of influence, Principalities and Powers are set over entire geographical areas or nations. Rulers of Darkness are the next tier in the hierarchy, and spiritual wickedness in high places refers to that small echelon directly beneath Satan. Make no mistake! The warfare for God hangs in the balance!
Quote:
13Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
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So stand in the Lord, but how? By putting on the whole armor of God, so you can stand against the wiles of the devil. Make no mistake, the devil, Satan, Lucifer, Beelzebub, the “angel of light” and his fallen angelic (demonic) hoards are wily. They are out to cause trouble in this life, and they will do if believers let them. Until you become a True Christian™, you cannot know peace from their tricks. So put on the whole armor of God to be strong.
In Christ,
Warren