It’s interesting that in 431 AD in Ephesus Mary the mother of Jesus was declared to be the ‘’god bearer’’ or mother of God whilst before it was a title that belonged to Diana! Even the crescent moon and the stars depicted over her head were copied over when some of the contemporary artists painted Mary. For almost 400 years the early church never thought of Mary the mother of Jesus as any more than a believer and a fellow saint as the other disciples of Jesus. Heathenism slowly crept into the church!
So it is against this backdrop of ungodliness, idolatry, sorcery and occultic practices that Paul is writing in. Today a lot of books have been written on the subject of spiritual warfare. Some teaching has become out of balance and teachers are overemphasizing certain scriptures without taking into account the context and totality of Paul’s teachings. |
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| Therefore, when it comes to spiritual warfare we are not fighting for victory but from a position of victory |
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Some years ago I read about a group of Christians that traveled to Ephesus in order to combat the spirit of Diana! Spiritual warfare becomes a subject that is likened more to science fiction than sound Biblical teaching. One author of a book even claimed that he had strategies that Paul did not know about!
When Paul wrote the letter of Ephesians he assumed that people would start from the beginning of the letter. The context of chapter 6 is better understood when read against the chapters that comes before it. In earlier chapters, Paul is praying that the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, (Eph 1:18)
He is praying for them that they may be able too see something with their “spiritual eyes’’.
Christ's Superior Position
Amongst the things he most wants them to see is Christ’s superior position. Christ is seated far above all these evil powers mentioned in chapter 6.
….. which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come.
And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church,
(Eph 1:20-22)
In the letter of Colossians Paul writes that on the cross Christ disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it. (Col 2:15)
Most Christians understand that all authority belongs to Christ and that to His Name every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth,
(Phil 2:9-11)
The next truth that Paul wants us to understand is our position in Him. This is the truth that believers too often overlook or don’t understand.
Our Position in Him
Paul never wrote his letters in chapter and verses (anymore than you write your letters that way) and his teaching continues over into chapter two: even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, (Eph 2:5-6).
| When Christians are trying hard to defeat the devil and his demons they are missing the whole point. The battle has been won and what God want us to do is to rest in Him. |
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Paul wants us to see that the act that raised Jesus from the dead also raised us from our death. We understand this is spiritual speaking. Notice the word together in verse 6. This is an astonishing truth, not only is Christ seated far above these evil powers, we are seated with Him! Christ is seated at the right hand of the God. Right hand always denotes authority. |
Therefore, when it comes to spiritual warfare we are not fighting for victory but from a position of victory! When Christians are trying hard to defeat the devil and his demons they are missing the whole point. The battle has been won and what God want us to do is to rest in Him. We can rest in the finished work of Jesus.
Paul is teaching us in Colossians that we have been delivered from the power (authority) of darkness and set us over into His kingdom. (Col 1:13) No evil power, or demon from hell can exercise any authority over a believer that know this truth.
The way Spiritual warfare is being taught today emphasizes what we must do instead of what Christ has done through the finished work of the cross.
Paul is writing to the Corinthians (another sinful place in the ancient world) that we are triumphant in Christ (2 Cor 2:14) God wants us to see that we are the church triumphant! We are called into this world as enforcers of Christ’s triumphant victory! It is true that the authority on the earth has to be exercised through the Christ body (the church) but it is so important that we first understand the position of Christ and our position of rest in Him. Then we can enter the battle in the knowledge that the battle has already been won.
Stand Therefore
Finally, what Paul emphasizes in chapter 6 is not fighting (because Jesus has won the fight for us) but standing on the evil day. Stand against (v.11), withstand and stand (v13) stand therefore ( v.14). There is no force, no evil power that can exercise any authority over you as you stand in that armor that God has given to you in Christ Jesus. Resist him and he will flee from you (James 4:7). Too many Christians are afraid of evil powers and demons. Jesus said Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you. (Luke 10:19) |
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| We are called into this world as enforcers of Christ triumphant victory! |
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There is nothing to fear. We are the church triumphant; take your place of authority and exert your authority over the enemy! |
The theater in Ephesus today (Acts 19:29)
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