Ephesians 6:12: “ 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.”
As we live in this natural world, we navigate using our five senses. These senses enable us to navigate the world gathering sufficient information to be effective in it. However, there is another realm that impacts our lives, that cannot be navigated by the five senses…This is the spiritual realm.
We read in the bible that sometimes there are angels walking amongst us and we are unaware of them (Hebrews 13:2). Angels appear sometimes as regular people. There is also a demonic realm, that impacts us and those around us. These attacks are usually mental attacks. This is why God provides us with a sound mind (2 Timothy 1:7). A sound mind will be able to detect demonic influences. Have you noticed that the most egregious crimes are often committed by people who are described as having mental problems? Some of these people even claim to hear voices telling them to do evil things. Of course, not every time we do wrong can we blame it on the devil. Due to the sin-nature, which we are born with, we are quite capable of doing wrong on our own.
Jesus said that we should love our enemies, bless them that curse us, do good to those that hate us and pray for those who despitefully use and persecute us (Matthew 5:43-44). This is a pretty tall order. If we only see things in the natural it is almost impossible to do this. When we understand that there are spiritual forces at work using people who are weak, against us, it is easier, with the help of the Holy Spirit, to forgive them. The bible also tells us to not be unequally yoked with an unbeliever in marriage. When we are yoked with an unbeliever, they not only can be used by the devil against us, but they also have no clear concept of the spiritual realm.
Being able to recognize that there is a spiritual realm at work for and against us, gives us a powerful tool in winning our battles. We are told to put on the whole armor of God (Ephesians 6:11). Why? Because of spiritual warfare. If there is no warfare, there is no need for armor. The armor of God…Don’t leave home without it 😊.
· I would like to correct a spelling error in my last post. I spelled Noah’s ark as arc…ooops. I had a nagging feeling that I had misspelled it and it must have been the Holy Spirit telling me.