Ephesians 6:12--Let's Define What We're Wrestling Against

Ephesians 6:12--(KJV) 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.

We're going to use Young's Analytical Concordance and Thayer's Greek Lexicon to bring a clear understanding to what Paul was talking about. When the Greeks conquered that area of the world they made everyone speak Greek. When the Romans overthrew the Greeks they left the language the way it was. It was easier to rule that way.

Paul was preaching and writing to the churches in a language that they understood. However, when it was translated into English, the original meaning is rather fuzzy. We need to get the full meaning of what Paul says by understanding some key words.

According to Thayer's Greek Lexicon, the Greek word translated 'against' means 'denoting direction toward a thing'. That's pretty simple. But, don't let the simplicity of the word hide the meaning of this verse.

He said to wrestle but he said that we were not to be 'against' or pick our fights with flesh and blood. For some time now, there has been a lot of racial tension. There are preachers that stand in their pulpits and preach 'against' or direct their remarks toward people of a different color than they are. There has been churches who have built up their congregations by espousing hatred 'against' or toward the United States of America and our form of government.

Paul would immediately call these preachers and congregations out for their ungodly ways. He specifically told the Ephesians that Jesus never called us to fight one another no matter how much we think that they deserve it. And, I'll agree. Some of them do deserve to be fought against but the most successful soul winner outside of Jesus Christ said that our fight is not with each other. One of the last things that Jesus said (John 13:34) was for us to love one another just like He loved us. He loved us unreservedly and without prejudice.

The first thing Paul said to wrestle against was 'principalities'. Young's Concordance defines the Greek word for 'principalities' as--the person who starts something, the beginning or origin. Now that's simple. It wasn't a white policeman that started anything. It wasn't a black teenager that started anything. It all originated in satan's deceiving ways of making the two races distrust each other.

Paul knew that for a fact. Before he became a Christian, he hated everyone that called on the name of Jesus. He voted to have Stephen stoned to death. If he found a prayer meeting going on, he hauled people into prison. He was on his way to Damascus to imprison more people when he met Jesus face-to-face.

He became a changed man after he turned his life over to Jesus. The first fourteen years of his life was spent in prayer and getting to know Jesus. The more he knew about Jesus, the more he realized that love was the greatest game changer. Love for mankind drove Jesus to the cross. Love for mankind made Jesus seek out the lost when the religious rulers of His day were constantly badgering Him.

Jesus didn't fight the the scribes and Pharisees. Often He would question them and they would get stumped. But, you don't see Jesus running them down all the time. He spent His time loving on people and letting people see the Love of the Father by His actions. Paul picked up on the love message and wrote in Galatians 5:6--(KJV)--Faith worketh by love. Again he wrote in 1 Corinthians 13:8--(KJV)--Charity never faileth. The agape love of Almighty God never gives up and never runs out and never fails to get the job done.

Something else about the agape love of Almighty God. Satan hates it. He can't stand it when we forgive one another and begin walking in love. He hates it when we quit hating. As long as we hate and are jealous and contentious, the devil has us chained to our sins and our defeat. God cannot operate where agape love doesn't rule and satan knows it.

The devil has chosen hatred, jealousy and strife to be his main 'principalities'. Where do divorces start? Where do murders start? Where do robberies start? Where do fights start? Where do arguments start? And hatred, jealousy and strife start with the devil. He instigates these things.

How do we wrestle? First, place the blame squarely on the bone-head who's responsible for all of the mess you're facing. It's the devil. Then pray against him. Jesus gave your authority over him in Luke 10:19.  In Mark 3:27, He told us to bind the strong man (the devil) and we could plunder his house. How about that? You can plunder the devil's place. You could probably find those things that he stole from you if you bound him and went inside his house couldn't you? Well, let's do it.

Father, on the authority of Your Word and Your Grace, (Ephesians 2:8) I am a blood-bought child of yours and I am a joint-heir with Jesus Christ (Romans 8:17). Jesus stated that the same things He did, I could do (John 14:12). Jesus bossed the devil around. When He told him to speak, the devil spoke (Mark 5:9). When He told him to shut up, he shut up (Luke 4:41). When Jesus told the devil to come out, he came out (Mark 5:8).  I know that You will honor the Word of Your Only Begotten Son when I pray.

Devil, I'm not the person I was a while ago. My eyes have been opened and I realize that my problems were instigated by you and not the people I have blamed. I forgive them for any wrong that they have done and I chose to walk in love toward them. Therefore, you no longer pull me around like a dog on a leash. Instead, I bind you with the leash of the Word of Almighty God your Creator. I plead the blood of Jesus Christ over all of your meddlesome ways over me and my household. I demand that you cease and desist your actions against my family. I've paid my tithes and given offerings and I demand you loose my good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over (Luke 6:38). Get out of the way of my blessings coming down from heaven that God is pouring out on me (Malachi 3:10). I boldly declare, according to Isaiah 53:5, that by the stripes of Jesus Christ my family is walking in healing and in perfect health. Now, git out of here devil, shut up and leave us alone.

Either write this down or print this out and put it on your bathroom mirror or your refrigerator. This is just a rough draft of how you can get started wrestling 'against' the devil. Do it on a daily basis. Do it on an hourly basis. Be firm with it. Be constant with it. Don't give up until the answer comes. Pretty soon you'll be walking in more freedom than you have ever experienced before.

As you pray, ask for God's guidance to teach you how to continue to exercise your God-given authority over our enemy. (Ephesians 1:17) Ask for the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Jesus Christ. Follow the words of Paul's anointed prayer in that first chapter to begin with. Watch your prayer life grow and watch your joy and peace grow right along with it.

Next blog: Praying against the rulers of the darkness of this world.