Spiritual Self-Defense

“For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.”

-Ephesians 6:12 (ESV)

Principalities, rulers, powers, authorities, world rulers, cosmic powers, this present darkness, forces, and hosts of wickedness or evil in the heavenly places are all very descriptive words used to give us a picture of what is happening around us each day.

A commentary that I read said, “Paul did not call the believer to enter into spiritual warfare. He simply announced it as a fact. We are in a spiritual battle.” It took me a long time in my own spiritual walk to really recognize this fact and to understand the magnitude of this verse. As I have grown and matured in my walk with Jesus, I recognize more and more the necessity to pray daily to be equipped for battle each day.

Dr. David Jeremiah says, “make no mistake, whether they are aware of it or not, all Christians are engaged in a very real spiritual battle between two opposing kingdoms. And those that are least in the know are often the first casualties.” Thankfully, Paul provides believers with a self-defense course in Ephesians 6, and Jesus equips us with all of the spiritual armor.