June 19 - Ephesians 6:11-12

June 19
Ephesians 6:11-12

Dear Christian friend,

Ephesians 6:11-12 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.

The area of spiritual warfare is something to take seriously. The devil is out to destroy far too many Christians who are ignorant of his schemes.  We are in a spiritual battle whether we know it or not, or whether we believe it or not!  Just as we, as believers, have hosts of God's angels watching us on our behalf, each having their own rank, position and assignment, we also have Satan and his hosts of angels who also have their ranks in their fight against us. There is a continuous battle going on in the heavenly places. When we put on the armor of God, however, we are protecting ourselves against the schemes of Satan, defensively and offensely. 

Scripture tells us that Satan roams around like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour. In addition, Satan has his host of demonic spirits that come against us each having their ranks and position as well.  In this scripture passage, the Apostle Paul  gives us some of the ranks that his demonic hosts carry, with principalities being the top rank under Satan.

• Principalities
• Powers
• Rulers of darkness (of this age)
• Spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.

Satan has his own kingdom of darkness, like military soldiers, trained in their methods of destruction.  It's been only a matter of time and they have discovered your weaknesses and strike when and where you are vulnerable.  That is why it is so important to live in your secret place, being armored with the armor of God. 

If we can remember that one of God's angels overtook Satan and his hosts of demons, it helps us to understand that God's angels are right there with us, but we must know and use our authority in the name of Jesus to come against them. We don't have to yell and scream at them, but simply take our authority in the name of Jesus. Remember, greater is He that is in you than he that is in the world.  As such, we have more power and more authority living within us than all these evil forces combined!

Over the next few days we will learn what the weapons of our warfare are as we keep living under our secret place in God, fully armored. When we do, we will have first-hand witness to the awesome demonstrations of God's power in our life.

Blessings