A Misunderstood Reality
For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. Ephesians 6:12
One of the main reasons I fumbled and failed in my early days of ministering to people in bondage was because I laboured under a number of misconceptions about the spiritual world. Perhaps you are struggling with some of these same faulty ideas that keep Christians in darkness.
One common misconception is that demons were active when Christ was on earth, but their activity has subsided today. Christians who hold this extreme view in light of what God's Word says and what is transpiring in the world today are not facing reality. The New Testament clearly states that believers will wrestle against the powers of darkness (Ephesians 6:12). Paul goes on to itemize the pieces of spiritual armour that we are to put on in order to defend ourselves against "the flaming missiles of the evil one" (verses 13-17). In 2 Corinthians 10:3-5 Paul again specifies that believers are engaged in a spiritual battle against forces that oppose the knowledge of God. If dark spiritual powers are no longer attacking believers, why would Paul alert us to them and insist that we arm ourselves against them?
The powers and forces that Paul wrote about in the first century are still around at the dawn of the twenty-first century, evident in the popularity of the New Age Movement and the proliferation of Satanism and the occult.
God's people wrestling against dark spiritual forces is not a first-century phenomenon, nor is it an option for the Christian today; it's unavoidable. The kingdom of darkness is still present and Satan is intent on making your life miserable and keeping you from enjoying and exercising your inheritance in Christ. Your only options in confronting spiritual opposition are how and to what extent you're going to wage the battle.
Thank You, Father, that I don't battle the forces of darkness alone. You have provided all the weapons I need to overcome and stand free.
Neil T. Anderson is the founder of Freedom in Christ Ministries. He began the ministry in 1989 and continues to spread the message of freedom to this day.