What are the spiritual powers we wrestle against like?
They are not flesh and blood but principalities, powers, rulers of the darkness of this world, and spiritual wickedness in high places. Such enemies operate beyond the normal, from high positions with tremendous power, not from the gutter or skid row.
Les teaches that verse 12 sets the believer’s conflict against something far beyond ordinary human opposition. The enemies are principalities, powers, the rulers of the darkness of this world, and 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; they are in high places, in positions of tremendous power. This should wake us up because we are up against something beyond the normal. Les also points to Matthew 10:1, where Jesus called His twelve disciples and gave them power, to illustrate the same Greek word.
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
Who is the real authority behind the spiritual powers we wrestle against?
In Ephesians, Paul teaches that our wrestling is not against flesh and blood but against principalities and powers, and the authority behind those powers is Satan.
Why should the truth about spiritual powers in high places wake us up?
The enemy believers face is beyond the normal, has tremendous power, and holds high position, which is why this truth should wake us up.