Time to Wrestle

Time to Wrestle

Spiritual warfare is not new to the church although there are vast swathes of the body of Christ who  do not even understand the need for any kind of warfare, spiritual or otherwise. It is something rarely taught in churches, even within the Pentecostal realms that I walk in. Frequently, the most that is said about it is to quote Ephesians 6:10-18 “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.  Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.  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. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness,  and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace;  above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one.  And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God;  praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints.” Even then, more often than not, the only thing mentioned is that that, “We wrestle not against flesh and blood ...”

The truth is that “We wrestle not.”

One of the great deceptions of Satan has been in the diminishing of his status and power and of the forces at his disposal. We have watered him down so far that some in the great established churches are saying that he may not even exist. He exists and he is a powerful as he has ever been because the world has encouraged him with its wickedness and the church has encouraged him by its folly in ignoring him. “Oh never mind, we’ll sweep him under the carpet and pretend he doesn’t even exist.” What folly, what sin, what stupidity.

I saw a post of Facebook today that sums it up beautifully –

“The prayer warrior faces an enemy with immense spiritual resources and centuries of experience in spiritual conflict. He is engaged in a battle to the death, and no quarter can be asked or given. When the Devil cannot carry the position by a frontal assault, he will use a flank attack or employ fifth column tactics. Where he cannot intimidate us as a roaring lion, he will come as an angel of light to beguile us. What a need there is for vigilance.“ – Dennis Odoi

The Devil is he who is already defeated by the blood of Jesus at the cross. Trouble is, he refuses to accept his fate while trying to change ours to the same as his.

Time to wrestle some more.