CLOSE CONTACT WARFARE

Part 2

Eph. 6:12

Morning Meditation

"For 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."

The word “wrestle” translates “pale” and refers to a contest between two in which each endeavors to throw the other, and which is decided when the victor is able to hold his opponent down with his hand upon his neck; the term is transferred to the Christian’s struggle with the power of evil.”

OUR WARFARE NOT WITH FLESH AND BLOOD

When we are attacked by someone because we are a Christian, we are not to wrestle with that person. Our fight is not with flesh and blood. Our struggle is with Satan and his organized demonic forces. The biggest mistake would be to fight flesh and blood. Paul by inspiration of God clearly sets forth the truth that that would not be the course to take.

We are safe to assume that the opposition that we encounter as Christians is from Satan. Too many times churches have been torn asunder because of fighting’s within. Someone has offended us and we become combative and take the battle to him/them. We start gathering around us some of the members who agree with us and organize a click. When we go to church, we take a resentful spirit into the church. The other side of the argument feels the resentment and bows their neck and the division hinders the work of the Holy Spirit.

The warfare is real but it is against Satan and his kingdom. We are fighting an enemy that we cannot see. However, we can detect the work of Satan in ourselves and others. We cannot see the wind but we can see the effects that it has on the trees.

How do we fight in this warfare? Prayer seeks the help of the Lord in this battle. The Bible gives us the right way to act when under the attack of Satan. Say for instance, someone is angry with us and that anger is directed toward us with offensive words. Satan is the one behind this person’s anger. You can count on that. The way to do warfare in this situation is found in Proverbs 15:1, "A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger." When we do what the Bible says the Lord is in control.

What if someone is unkind to you? What if they say bad things about you? I have heard it said, “If it were the truth, I wouldn’t mind. But they are lying and what they say is false.” The fact is, whether they are telling the truth about us or lying, it is not something that I want being spread around. Our first response to this kind of situation is to make the rounds and set the record straight. In other words deny the claims. Again, our warfare at that point is against flesh and blood. Paul gives us the right approach in Ephesians 4:32, "And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you."

Taking this kind of action is directly engaging the enemy in the Name of the Lord and trusting the Lord to take care of the accuser. Romans 12:19, "Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord."

There are many other illustrations in Scripture that we could point out. However, let’s look further into this verse.

THE COMBATANTS ARE NAMED

The following are named as being those with whom we are engaged in close combat:

1. Principalities translates “arche” and came be translated “Prince.” It is a plural word which would suggest that Satan’s kingdom is divided and he has divided this world up under rulers or chief demons. Some have written about territorial spirits. There is evidence that this is true.

2. Powers translates “exousia” and is the word for authorities. The territorial princes have certain designated demons who are authorities.

3. The rulers of the darkness of this world. “The rulers of the world; the emperors of the darkness of this state of things.” –Adam Clark

4. Spiritual wickedness in high places. Ephesians 2:1-2, "And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;  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:"

There is no way for us to comprehend the scope of the rulership of Satan and those fallen spirits called demons. We can know that Jesus defeated Satan and his kingdom on the cross. Colossians 2:14-15, "Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;  And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it."

I want to make a two quotes from William Gurnall: “Another thing about Satan’s power you should know is that it is limited, and that in two ways: Satan does not have enough power to do all he wants to do, nor does he have God’s permission to use all the power he possesses.”  Another quote from Gurnall: “We do too little if we do not fear Satan at all. But we flatter him overmuch when we fear him more that we trust God.”

May the Lord bless these words to our hearts.

In Christ

Bro. White