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Struggling


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

“For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world 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 enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also 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 the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient…. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly 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 forces of evil in the heavenly realms, and although we were once dead in transgressions and sins and followed the ruler of the kingdom of the air, we are now seated with Christ in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion.

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

“We proclaim him, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, 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” (Colossians 1:28-29).

I often hear Christians say that they are “struggling.” They usually mean that they are being defeated. But “struggling” in the Scripture is winning, not losing.

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


This post coordinates with today's reading in the To the 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.

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