For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.
Ephesians 6:12

In our modern era we tend to reject the idea that anything might exist beyond the visible, material realm, beyond what we can measure with our scientific instruments. We have adopted a completely materialistic mindset. But God’s Word tells us that there’s more to life than what we can see.

It’s important for us to keep this reality in mind, because our struggle isn’t so much with what we can see as what we can’t. The enemy isn’t the person standing in front of me, or the political party he represents, or “the economy.” The real enemy is composed of spiritual forces of wickedness in the “heavenly places,” the spiritual dimension that surrounds me.

The person who opposes me or who presents me with a temptation is often himself or herself a victim of that invisible enemy. He may be a willing servant or an unwilling slave of that dark power, and is usually completely clueless to the spiritual reality of what’s happening.

We have been supplied by God with the equipment we need to do this battle, but we have to pick it up and use it. So this passage goes on to say, “Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day...” (Ephesians 6:13)

Lord, please remind me of this invisible reality when I face temptations or run into roadblocks that oppose Your purpose in my life today. Thank You for giving me the tools I need to deal with it. Help me to pick this equipment up and develop skill in its use, through practice. Amen.

Pastor Dan Giles