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.