What are the principalities and powers we wrestle against like?
They are not flesh and blood but spiritual principalities, powers, rulers of the darkness of this world, and spiritual wickedness in high places. They operate beyond the normal realm with tremendous power and high position, not in the gutter or among the offscouring of humanity, but in high places.
Les teaches that believers do not wrestle against flesh and blood but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, and against spiritual wickedness in high places. He stresses that these are not down in the gutter, on skid row, or among the offscouring of humanity; they are in high places. That should wake us up, because we are up against something beyond the normal, with tremendous power and position. He also points to Matthew 10:1, where the same Greek word appears, when Jesus called His twelve disciples and gave them power.
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 holds the authority behind the principalities and powers we wrestle against?
Paul teaches in Ephesians that our wrestling is not against flesh and blood but against principalities and powers, and that authority belongs to Satan.
How does Matthew 10:1 help explain Paul's phrase 'principalities and powers'?
To get an idea of what Paul is driving at with principalities and powers, Les compares the same Greek word to Matthew 10:1, where Jesus calls his twelve disciples and gives them power.
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.