Struggling

I would like to draw attention to a few scriptures about ourenemy and our relationship to him.

“For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, butagainst the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this darkworld and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms”(Ephesians 6:12).

“I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightenedin order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches ofhis glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for uswho believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, which heexerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his righthand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power anddominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age butalso in the one to come” (Ephesians 1:18-21).

“As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins,in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of theruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who aredisobedient…. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in theheavenly realms in Christ Jesus” (Ephesians 2:1-2, 6).

My point is that though our struggle is against the 1)rulers, 2) authorities, 3) powers of this dark world, and 4) spiritual forcesof evil in the heavenly realms, and although we were once dead intransgressions and sins and followed the ruler of the kingdom of the air, weare now seated with Christ in the heavenly realms, far aboveall rule and authority, power and dominion.

In other words, our struggle with spiritual evil is onewhere we are with Christ, far above our opponents. Our struggle is not one ofdefeat.

“We proclaim him, admonishing and teaching everyone with allwisdom, so that we may present everyone perfect in Christ. To this end I labor,struggling with all his energy, which so powerfully works in me” (Colossians1:28-29).

I often hear Christians say that they are “struggling.” Theyusually mean that they are being defeated. But “struggling” in the Scripture iswinning, not losing.

The struggle here seems to be more intense. The attacks onthe saints are heavy, but we are on the winning side.

This post coordinates with today's reading in the Tothe Word! Bible Reading Challenge. If you are not in a daily reading plan,please join us at TotheWord.com. We would love to have you reading with us.

How To Be Free From Bitterness and other essays on Christian relationships