Daily Meditation- January 11, 2008
"For we wrestle not against flesh and blood,
but against principalities, against powers,
against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places" (Ephesians 6:12)
(by Dr. John Williams)
 

I. What? (Definition, Explanation & Examples)
· Wrestle
From the time Satan was cast out of heaven he started working against God's plans, and particularly being jealous of man who was created as a more superior spiritual being than the angles in the very image and likeness of God. He has determined to thwart the plans of God by influencing man to disobey God's laws and to fall in sin, so that he will be separated from God's love and fellowship. Therefore, there is a constant battle for man between loving and obeying God or disobeying God's laws and falling in sin and getting separated from God's love and fellowship, and being doomed for everlasting punishment in hell with Satan and devils.

· Flesh and Blood
We often think that when we face a problem, that it has been brought about by the people on the scene, but it is Satan who uses people in different ways to separate man from God's love and fellowship.

· Principalities, Rulers of Darkness & Spiritual Wickedness in high places
These are the spiritual beings (Satan and Devils) cast out of heaven which are at loose now, and are causing a havoc in the lives of the people whom God loves so much, that Satan is jealous of.

In every situation that we may be in, we have to be conscious of the fact as we continue to live a holy and righteous life, loving God and our neighbors, maintaining a close fellowship with both, Satan some how intervenes in subtle ways, to disturb this love relationship and fellowship in deceptive ways and cause the man to sin against God by violating God's laws and ending up in misery.

II. Why? (Importance & Consequences)
· Why is it important to recognize the presence of devil in different situations of our life?
We have to remember there are basically 3 important spiritual beings operating on this earth, which are simultaneously existing and operating in this world. As long as man maintains his true love and fellowship with God and obeys his commandments as written in the word of God, man can literally live on earth now as living in heaven, with peace, joy, health, safety and prosperity.

· What will be the consequences, if we do not handle the problem properly?
If we do not recognize the subtle or deceptive ways in which Satan intervenes and somehow influences us to disobey God's commandments, and end up in some form of sin which brings misery and eternal damnation.

III. How? (To discern/diagnose ; to handle the situation; to achieve the goal; and appropriate the blessings of God.)
· Diagnosis
This verse makes it very clear that our battle or fight is not with our fellow human beings, but rather with the unseen, wicked one who is Satan and a host of devils. When once we realize that in every situation, if we are well guarded against the subtle tricks of the devil, we will not fall victims and be deceived by Satan.

· Overcoming
In all situations of our life, we should recall to our memory that the word of God is truth, and that God will reveal the truth and give us the spiritual understanding to shy away from sin which is to do anything contrary to the word of God, and will only follow the path of righteousness.

· Achieve the Goal
God has destined every one of us to enjoy life fully now and to be with the Lord in heaven for ever and ever, reigning and ruling with him.

· Appropriate the blessings
If we don't recognize the interventions of the evil spirit in our life in all forms and situations, and quickly take a position against the temptations and sinful ways, and follow the word of God, we will lose God's blessings and have misery in life. But when we do, we can immediately escape from the clutches of Satan and be in the shadow of the Almighty who gives us the covering and the protection to live a holy and righteous life, to inherit all the blessings of God, now and for ever, living always an overcoming and victorious life, enjoying all the blessings of God every day!!

-The End-