Why should the spiritual warfare passage wake us up?
It should awaken us because the conflict is not against flesh and blood but against principalities, powers, rulers of darkness, and spiritual wickedness in high places. These enemies are beyond the normal, possessing tremendous power and high position, so the battle is not merely human.
Les explains that the spiritual-warfare passage should wake us up because the conflict is not against flesh and blood. It is against principalities, against rulers of the darkness of this world, and against spiritual wickedness in high places. He stresses that these powers are not down in the gutter, on skid row, or among the offscouring of humanity, but in high places. That means we are up against something beyond the normal, with tremendous power and position. He compares the same Greek word with Matthew 10:1, where Jesus called His twelve disciples and gave them power, to show what Paul is driving at. The passage should wake us up because the enemy is positioned above the ordinary human level.
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.
More Questions
Why did Les compare the spiritual-warfare terms to Matthew 10:1?
Paul's use of the terms principalities and powers should be understood by comparing the same Greek word in Matthew 10:1—that comparison gives an idea of what Paul is driving at in the spiritual-warfare statement.
Why should the truth about the spiritual powers in high places wake us up?
We should wake up because we are up against something beyond the normal, operating up high with tremendous power and position.