We live in a fallen world. There are principalities working against us and powers of darkness that rule the physical operation of this world. However, they are rooted in spiritual principalities and powers by dominions of spiritual wickedness.
[Eph 6:11-13] 11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 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]. 13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
The above verse is often misunderstood. Some take it to mean NOTHING is faced in the physical and therefore we have the opportunity to handle everything in the spiritual as the physical has no affect on us.
However, we live in a physical world. We have affect from the choices of those around us because they are also given free will. However, their principles for operation are not governed in the flesh, but in the spirit according to whom they serve. We face physical challenges as much as spiritual ones. And the fact is we live in a physical world.
There are those out there who have the ability to harm us. While their actions may be stirred in the spiritual, they may do so with physical tools, they may do so with weapons, they may do so with force. Some have experienced rape or abuse, or have been subject to Satanic ritual abuse, etc. Some think that because we are believers we have some sort of force field around us that nothing can penetrate. Because greater is He who is in us than he who is in the world. This simply means we have the weapons of warfare to OVERCOME. Not that we will not face any trouble.
Many have been taught that God controls everything. That is why when someone faces a trauma or a family member dies they ask why God would allow it if He is in control. But the answer is a bit more than that. God has everything UNDER control, and all things may work for good for those who love God and called according to His purpose. However, God does not control everything. He allows free will. But that doesn’t mean He approves of the actions we take. Satan was given free will to attack Job. The only restriction God gave is that he couldn’t take his life. He could take his family, however. But that was the boundary in that circumstance. God has boundaries, but free will is a choice He has given each one. However, they too have consequences.
There is a spiritual battle going on. And it is getting even stronger. The things they do may be spiritual and have a principality behind it, but the affects may be physical and we have to deal with those things as well. But as we ward off the physical attacks, we stand in spiritual warfare against the spiritual principalities behind those attacks.
When we mention a New World Order, for instance, many laugh because they think they will not be susceptible to it. They think because “God is in control” their tactics cannot touch believers. God has boundaries they cannot cross, and limitations to their plan, and eventually has a point in which He will pull the plug. But while they are active, they can reek havoc on believers. That is why WE need to exercise our faith and learn to come to God and rely on Him to guide us and to use the weapons He gave us to ward off the evil that attacks. We have to put on the armor to stand. It isn’t automatic. We need to call upon Him, which is the practice of our faith.
Some Christians believe there is no need to ward off the enemy, that he cannot touch a believer. Yet the scriptures tell us to stand against the WILES (devices) of the devil. Elsewhere we are told that he roams like a lion seeking whom he may devour. And we are given spiritual defenses against it. Including the power to cast out demons that we encounter. Matter of fact, we may be under more attack because of our threat. Christians who believe there is no spiritual realm may not ever had to face the devil. Since they are not a threat to him, he has no reason to pick on them. They are already in his pocket. But they just think they are out of the cross hairs because of their prosperity or whatever. If that is the case, they ought to ask why they have not been confronted. Are they rooted in the worldliness?
While these principalities exist, we transcend them in our spirit by acknowledging and operating from the Kingdom in which we preside. We can defend ourselves according to the rules and jurisdiction of THAT heavenly country. But while in this world we are also obligated to uphold the kingdom principles of the kingdom in which we are from. And spiritually we seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness.
God may intervene on our behalf by His mercies. But He has given us the tools to quench the fiery darts. We have the ability to arm ourselves with the Sword of Truth and the rest of the armor of God. We have been given jurisdiction over the principalities to take authority over their operating. We have been approved to cast out demons. But mostly we have been given access to call upon the Lord and HE lifts us out of our woes. We have the ability to get through the fires. However not to expect to avoid trouble or spiritual attack altogether.
We are still in a battle against principalities and rulers of darkness. But we have the weapons of warfare to stand against the wiles of the enemy. Put on the whole armor of God.