Spiritual Warfare In Our Relationships With Others
March 1, 2010 by WitnessScott
Filed under Thoughts & Revelations, Weekly Devotional
Spiritual Warfare In Our Relationships With Others
“For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rules, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.”
Ephesians 6:12
Let’s face it, in this particular verse Paul isn’t saying that we enter into the spiritual battle, he states that we are in fact in a spiritual battle whether we like it or not. If you do not know this because you never realized it or you just ignore the fact that you are, I can probably tell you that you aren’t winning the battle.
When we are in conflict with someone or some circumstance we aren’t warring with humans or flesh. We shouldn’t be saying “Oh if this person would just act this way everything would be fine”. It is not the person who is causing the strife, it is the spiritual forces behind them. Now I am not saying there is a demon behind every bush but what I am saying is if we are in conflict in some way, the bible teaches us that we are warring with principalities.
We should realize this spiritual realm and recognize it as being real and very important. We have an enemy out there that wants to trip us up and basically have our head. There are angels and demons fighting constantly behind the scenes in our life and to prove this point take a look at this scripture in Daniel.
Daniel received a very disturbing vision from the Lord which left him terrified. He was so shaken that he fasted and prayed for 3 weeks. As he became so weary he fell to the ground and an angel touched him and comforted him. The angel then stated in Daniel 10:12-14 ” Then he said to me “Do not be afraid Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart on understanding this and on humbling yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response to your words. BUT the prince of the kingdom of Persia was withstanding me for twenty-one days, then behold, Michael, one of the chief princes came to help me, for I had been left there with the kings of Persia.” It is clear that Satan and his demonic forces actually held back this prayer from Daniel.
As you can see we are involved in this battle and it is real. We shouldn’t be so lofty and think “oh Satan, what’s the big deal?” He is a big deal! The Bible states that he is a roaring lion seeking someone to devour.
The next time you get into an argument at work with your boss; The next time you get into an argument with you mother-in -law; The next time you’re in a fight with one of your siblings; Remember who you are really fighting and battling – you aren’t fighting with them, but with the forces that are behind them and that are pulling the strings, looking to trip you up and get to you. Also remember this: the only way to fight the spiritual is through prayer! Not reasoning with them or making them try to see your point – that’s God’s Job. We can only fight for people and circumstances through prayer.
Scott, I think this is one of your best. Powerful and great reference to the story in Daniel. I guess this adds another reason to why persistence in prayer is necessary. Persistence in prayer is for us, not God.
Scott, that was very wise! It was funny because I was just speaking to a friend of mine about that very thing. I was telling him that if we see things through the eyes of Christ, we will feel sorry for our enemies and those who are lost. They are bound so tightly by the enemy that many of them feel trapped. I told him that there is a spiritual warfare going on at all times and we must be battle ready at all times by keeping a mind of worship and that is pleasing to God. Great Job! Thanks Scott!