WE WRESTLE NOT AGAINST FLESH AND BLOOD

WE WRESTLE NOT AGAINST FLESH AND BLOOD

By Rev. Samuel Arimoro

Main Text: Ephesians 6:10-18

Key Verse: “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.” (Ephesians 6:12, KJV)

Supporting Texts: 2 Corinthians 10:3-5; Daniel 10:12-13; Matthew 5:44; James 4:7; 1 Peter 5:8-9; Colossians 2:14-15.

Description: This sermon teaches believers to recognise the spiritual dimension of life's struggles, avoid treating people as enemies, and overcome spiritual opposition through the power of God, prayer, faith, and the Word.

INTRODUCTION

Life is filled with struggles that sometimes seem beyond our understanding. We encounter opposition, misunderstandings, family conflicts, workplace challenges, disappointments, temptations, and seasons of intense pressure. In such moments, it is easy to focus entirely on the people or circumstances before us. However, the Word of God reveals that the Christian life involves more than what our physical eyes can see. There is a spiritual dimension that requires discernment, prayer, and dependence on God.

In Ephesians 6:12, the Apostle Paul declares, “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood.” He wrote this instruction after commanding believers to be strong in the Lord and to put on the whole armour of God. The word wrestle communicates the idea of close and intense struggle. Paul identifies the spiritual forces of evil as part of the opposition believers must resist. He does not teach that every human conflict is caused by demons, nor does he excuse wrongdoing by people. Rather, he warns Christians not to reduce spiritual warfare to a battle against human beings.

This truth changes how we respond to opposition. Instead of allowing hatred, revenge, bitterness, or fear to control us, we must stand in God's strength and use the spiritual weapons He has provided. We may need to confront wrongdoing, establish boundaries, seek justice, or resolve practical problems, but we must not allow our hearts to become controlled by hatred. Our victory comes through Jesus Christ, who has triumphed over the powers of darkness and equips His people to stand firm in faith.

1. UNDERSTAND THE REALITY OF SPIRITUAL WARFARE

Paul's declaration that we wrestle not against flesh and blood reveals that the Christian life involves spiritual conflict. Believers are called to live in holiness, proclaim the gospel, resist temptation, and remain faithful to Christ in a world where evil and deception are present.

Spiritual warfare should not produce fear or unhealthy suspicion. Instead, it should encourage spiritual alertness, sound biblical understanding, and a deeper dependence on God. We must learn to recognise spiritual opposition without assuming that every problem has a supernatural cause.

a) There Is an Unseen Spiritual Dimension (2 Corinthians 4:18)

Paul teaches that the things seen are temporary, while the things unseen are eternal. This reminds us that visible circumstances do not represent the whole reality of life.

A believer may face discouragement, temptation, or opposition that cannot be understood fully through outward appearances alone. Nevertheless, spiritual awareness must go together with practical wisdom. Financial difficulties may require better planning, relationship problems may require honest communication, and illness may require medical attention alongside prayer.

Practical Application: Pray for spiritual discernment while investigating practical causes and taking responsible steps to address your challenges.

b) The Christian Life Requires Spiritual Alertness (1 Peter 5:8)

Peter commands believers to be sober and vigilant because the devil seeks whom he may devour. Spiritual alertness means being watchful concerning temptation, deception, pride, bitterness, and anything that may weaken our commitment to Christ.

A careless believer may gradually compromise convictions without recognising the danger. Spiritual vigilance helps us identify weaknesses early and seek God's help before they develop into destructive habits.

Practical Application: Examine your spiritual life regularly, maintain prayer and Bible study, and seek godly counsel when you notice patterns that threaten your faith.

c) Spiritual Opposition Must Be Met With Spiritual Weapons (2 Corinthians 10:3-4)

Paul explains that although believers live in the flesh, they do not wage war according to the flesh. Their weapons are mighty through God for pulling down strongholds.

Human anger, manipulation, dishonesty, and revenge cannot produce genuine spiritual victory. God's weapons include truth, prayer, faith, righteousness, the gospel, and His Word. These resources help believers resist deception and remain obedient to Christ.

Practical Application: Respond to spiritual pressure through prayer, Scripture, faith, and godly conduct rather than resorting to sinful or destructive methods.

d) Christ Has Triumphed Over the Powers of Darkness (Colossians 2:14-15)

Paul declares that Christ disarmed principalities and powers and triumphed over them. Through His death and resurrection, Jesus accomplished redemption and demonstrated His victory over the powers of darkness.

Believers therefore do not need to live in terror of spiritual opposition. Our confidence rests in Christ, not in human strength, rituals, or superstition. We stand in His victory as we trust Him and obey His Word.

Practical Application: Keep your confidence in Jesus Christ. Resist fear, remain faithful to Scripture, and remember that spiritual warfare must be approached through the truth of the gospel.

Biblical Example: Job (Job 1:6-22). Job experienced severe losses, yet the opening chapters of his story reveal a spiritual dimension behind his trials that he did not fully understand at the time. His experience reminds us that visible circumstances may not tell the whole story. It also teaches us to respond to suffering with humility and dependence on God rather than making careless assumptions about its cause.

2. RECOGNISE WHO YOUR REAL ENEMY IS

Ephesians 6:12 identifies principalities, powers, rulers of darkness, and spiritual wickedness in high places. Paul is describing spiritual forces of evil that oppose God's purposes. His message is that believers must not mistake human beings as the ultimate target of their spiritual warfare.

People may oppose us, deceive us, or treat us unjustly. Their actions may require correction, accountability, or legal action. Yet we must distinguish between confronting wrongdoing and allowing hatred to dominate our hearts. The Christian is called to stand against evil while treating people according to God's truth and righteousness.

a) Principalities and Powers Represent Spiritual Opposition (Ephesians 6:12)

Paul's language points to organised spiritual forces of evil. The passage reminds us that the Christian life includes opposition that cannot be overcome by human ability alone.

This truth should make us prayerful and spiritually alert, not fearful or speculative. Scripture does not give believers permission to label every difficult person or every unfortunate event as evidence of a particular demonic activity.

Practical Application: Take spiritual opposition seriously, but avoid unsupported accusations. Seek God's wisdom, examine the facts, and remain grounded in Scripture.

b) The Enemy Seeks to Hinder God's Work (1 Thessalonians 2:18)

Paul explained that he wanted to visit the Thessalonian believers but was hindered. His statement shows that he understood opposition could affect the progress of gospel ministry.

Believers may encounter resistance when serving God, sharing the gospel, or pursuing a responsibility consistent with Scripture. Such resistance calls for perseverance and wise planning rather than immediate surrender.

Practical Application: When your service to God encounters obstacles, pray for guidance, review your plans, seek godly counsel, and continue faithfully where God has opened the way.

c) Human Beings Must Not Become Objects of Hatred (Matthew 5:44)

Jesus commanded His followers to love their enemies and pray for those who persecute them. This teaching is central to understanding Paul's statement that our struggle is not against flesh and blood.

We may need to challenge harmful conduct, protect ourselves from abuse, or report wrongdoing. However, we must not allow another person's actions to turn us into people ruled by hatred and revenge.

Practical Application: Pray for those who oppose you, speak truthfully about wrongdoing, establish appropriate boundaries, and seek just solutions without nurturing hatred.

d) Our Struggle Is Against Evil, Not Against Human Dignity (Ephesians 6:12)

Paul's words remind us that people are not to be treated as the ultimate objects of spiritual hostility. Every human being has dignity, even when that person's conduct is wrong.

This distinction helps believers respond to conflict without dehumanising others. We can oppose lies without hating the liar, reject injustice without becoming unjust ourselves, and seek accountability without pursuing personal revenge.

Practical Application: Separate people from their wrongdoing. Address harmful behaviour firmly and fairly, while preserving a commitment to truth, justice, and godly character.

Biblical Example: Jesus on the Cross (Luke 23:33-34). While being crucified, Jesus prayed for those who were involved in His execution. His response demonstrated mercy in the face of terrible injustice. He did not call evil good, but He refused to answer suffering with hatred. His example calls believers to respond to hostility with a heart governed by God.

3. UNDERSTAND THE DEVIL'S STRATEGIES

Paul warns believers to stand against the wiles of the devil (Ephesians 6:11). These are deceptive schemes intended to weaken faith, encourage disobedience, and hinder spiritual growth.

The enemy's methods may include temptation, deception, accusation, division, fear, and discouragement. Believers must understand these dangers so that they can respond through Scripture and the power of the Holy Spirit. Awareness of these strategies must not become an excuse to blame the devil for every mistake or avoid personal responsibility.

a) The Enemy Uses Deception (John 8:44)

Jesus described the devil as a liar and the father of lies. Deception can make falsehood appear attractive and disobedience appear harmless.

In the Garden of Eden, Satan questioned God's Word and distorted the consequences of disobedience. The same pattern can occur when people accept teachings that contradict Scripture or justify actions God has forbidden.

Practical Application: Examine teachings and ideas in the light of God's Word. Reject deception and take responsibility for the beliefs and decisions you choose to embrace.

b) The Enemy Uses Temptation (James 1:14-15)

James explains that people are tempted when they are drawn away by their own desires. Temptation can appeal to legitimate needs or desires but encourage us to satisfy them through sinful means.

The presence of temptation is not itself proof that a person has sinned. The danger comes when temptation is entertained, nurtured, and eventually acted upon. Believers must learn to recognise temptation early and choose obedience.

Practical Application: Identify situations that repeatedly lead you towards sin. Avoid unnecessary exposure to them and seek accountability where appropriate.

c) The Enemy Exploits Unresolved Anger (Ephesians 4:26-27)

Paul warns believers not to allow anger to become an opportunity for the devil. Anger that is allowed to grow into bitterness, revenge, or cruelty can damage relationships and weaken spiritual life.

Some conflicts require difficult conversations, firm boundaries, or formal intervention. Nevertheless, we must handle them without allowing hatred to control our thoughts and actions.

Practical Application: Deal with conflict promptly, communicate honestly, forgive where appropriate, and seek help when a situation cannot be resolved safely or fairly on your own.

d) The Enemy Uses Discouragement to Weaken Faith (1 Kings 19:3-8)

After receiving a threat from Jezebel, Elijah became deeply discouraged and asked God to take his life. God responded by providing food, rest, and further direction.

Discouragement may arise from fear, exhaustion, disappointment, or prolonged pressure. It is not always evidence of a direct spiritual attack. The important thing is to respond wisely and seek the help needed to regain strength.

Practical Application: When discouraged, pray, rest, seek trusted support, and return to the promises of God. Do not make permanent decisions during a period of overwhelming distress.

Biblical Example: Peter's Denial of Jesus (Luke 22:31-34, 54-62). Jesus warned Peter that Satan desired to sift him as wheat, yet Jesus also prayed that Peter's faith would not fail. Peter later denied Jesus under pressure, but his failure was not the end of his story. His experience shows the importance of prayer, humility, repentance, and restoration.

4. USE THE SPIRITUAL WEAPONS GOD HAS PROVIDED

God does not command believers to stand against spiritual opposition without giving them the necessary resources. Ephesians 6:13-18 describes the armour of God, including truth, righteousness, the gospel of peace, faith, salvation, and the Word of God. Paul also emphasises prayer as essential to the believer's readiness.

These resources must be applied in daily life. The armour is not a magical formula or a collection of physical objects. It represents the truth, faith, righteousness, hope, and spiritual discipline through which believers remain steadfast in Christ.

a) The Word of God Is the Sword of the Spirit (Ephesians 6:17)

Paul calls the Word of God the sword of the Spirit. Scripture helps us distinguish truth from error, resist temptation, correct wrong thinking, and make decisions that honour God.

Jesus demonstrated the importance of Scripture when He resisted Satan's temptations in the wilderness. He answered with God's Word and refused to compromise His obedience to the Father.

Practical Application: Read the Bible daily, study passages in context, memorise relevant Scriptures, and apply them when facing temptation or confusion.

b) Prayer Keeps You Spiritually Alert (Ephesians 6:18)

Paul commands believers to pray always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit. Prayer expresses our dependence on God and helps us remain attentive to His direction.

Prayer is not merely an emergency response. It is part of a continuing relationship with God through which we seek wisdom, confess sin, intercede for others, and receive strength to persevere.

Practical Application: Establish a consistent prayer life. Pray for your family, church, community, and personal growth, and remain sensitive to the Holy Spirit's leading.

c) Faith Helps You Resist the Enemy (Ephesians 6:16)

Paul describes the shield of faith as the means by which believers quench the fiery darts of the wicked. Faith enables us to trust God's character and promises when doubt, fear, and discouragement arise.

Faith does not mean denying reality or refusing practical help. It means facing reality while continuing to trust God and obey His Word.

Practical Application: Strengthen your faith through Scripture, prayer, worship, and Christian fellowship. Refuse to let fear alone determine your decisions.

d) Righteousness and Truth Strengthen Your Stand (Ephesians 6:14)

The belt of truth and breastplate of righteousness remind believers that spiritual victory requires truthfulness and godly living. We cannot expect to stand firmly against deception while deliberately embracing dishonesty or persistent disobedience.

God's grace calls us to integrity in our private lives, relationships, work, and ministry. A life shaped by truth and righteousness helps us resist the temptation to compromise.

Practical Application: Practise honesty, repent of sin, pursue holiness, and make decisions that honour Christ even when doing so is difficult.

Biblical Example: Paul and Silas (Acts 16:22-26). After being beaten and imprisoned, Paul and Silas prayed and sang praises to God at midnight. Their circumstances were painful, but they continued to trust the Lord. Their example shows how prayer and faith can sustain believers when they face opposition.

5. STAND FIRM IN THE VICTORY OF JESUS CHRIST

The final message of Ephesians 6:12 is not that believers should live in fear of spiritual powers. It is that they should understand the nature of the conflict and stand in the strength God supplies. The Lord has provided His armour, His Word, His Spirit, and the privilege of prayer.

Standing firm does not mean every problem will disappear immediately. It means that opposition does not have to destroy our faith, temptation does not have to control our conduct, and conflict does not have to turn us into people ruled by hatred. Through Christ, we can remain faithful and respond to challenges in ways that honour God.

a) Submit Yourself to God (James 4:7)

James teaches believers to submit to God and resist the devil. Submission comes first because spiritual resistance must be rooted in obedience to the Lord.

We cannot consistently resist deception while deliberately rejecting God's truth. A surrendered life is one that seeks God's will and depends on His grace rather than self-confidence.

Practical Application: Examine your life, repent of known disobedience, and surrender your decisions and desires to God's authority.

b) Refuse to Give the Devil an Opportunity (Ephesians 4:27)

Paul's warning not to give place to the devil follows his teaching about anger. This shows how destructive attitudes can create opportunities for further wrongdoing.

Persistent bitterness, dishonesty, pride, and uncontrolled anger can damage our relationships and weaken our spiritual lives. Believers must address these attitudes before they become established patterns.

Practical Application: Deal with sinful attitudes promptly. Seek reconciliation where possible, establish healthy boundaries, and ask God to help you respond with wisdom.

c) Resist the Devil and Remain Steadfast (1 Peter 5:9)

Peter commands believers to resist the devil, steadfast in the faith. Resistance requires perseverance, especially when temptation or opposition continues.

Sometimes the victory is seen in a changed circumstance; at other times, it is seen in the believer's continued obedience, patience, and refusal to compromise. We must not abandon our faith simply because the struggle lasts longer than expected.

Practical Application: Continue in prayer, remain faithful to Scripture, seek godly support, and take practical steps to avoid recurring temptation.

d) Keep Your Eyes on Christ (Hebrews 12:2-3)

The writer of Hebrews directs believers to look unto Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith. Christ endured suffering and hostility but remained faithful to the Father's will.

When we focus only on our enemies or difficulties, we can become consumed by fear and resentment. Looking to Christ reminds us of His faithfulness and helps us continue in obedience.

Practical Application: Make Christ the centre of your attention. Worship Him, meditate on His Word, and allow His example to shape your response to opposition.

Biblical Example: Stephen (Acts 7:54-60). While Stephen was being persecuted, he remained faithful to his testimony about Christ and prayed for those who were stoning him. His response demonstrates the power of a heart governed by the Holy Spirit. He opposed evil through faithful witness rather than hatred or revenge.

CONCLUSION

Beloved, the Bible teaches that we wrestle not against flesh and blood because spiritual opposition is a real dimension of the Christian life. Yet this truth must never become an excuse to hate people, blame others without evidence, or neglect practical responsibility. We must recognise the schemes of the devil, guard our minds, resist temptation, and use the spiritual weapons God has provided. Through prayer, faith, Scripture, righteousness, and the power of the Holy Spirit, we can stand firm in Christ.

Therefore, refuse to let bitterness, fear, or revenge control your heart. Address wrongdoing truthfully, seek justice through appropriate means, forgive where Scripture calls you to forgive, and maintain healthy boundaries where necessary. Above all, depend on the Lord and remember that Jesus Christ has triumphed over the powers of darkness. Your calling is to stand in His strength, live in His truth, and remain faithful to Him until the end.

PRAYER POINTS

1. Father, give me spiritual understanding to recognise the nature of my battles, in Jesus name.

2. Lord, deliver me from deception and spiritual carelessness, in Jesus name.

3. Father, help me overcome temptation through Your Word, in Jesus name.

4. Lord, remove bitterness, hatred, and revenge from my heart, in Jesus name.

5. Father, strengthen me to stand firm in the whole armour of God, in Jesus name.

6. Lord, empower me to remain steadfast in faith during adversity, in Jesus name.

7. Father, strengthen my prayer life and spiritual discernment, in Jesus name.

8. Lord, help me overcome evil with good, in Jesus name.

9. Father, let the victory of Christ be evident in my life, in Jesus name.

10. Lord, keep me faithful to You until the end, in Jesus name.

PROPHETIC DECLARATIONS

1. You will stand firm in the strength of the Lord.

2. You will recognise deception and walk in God's truth.

3. You will overcome temptation through the grace of Christ.

4. You will not be ruled by bitterness, hatred, or revenge.

5. You will grow stronger through prayer and the Word of God.

6. You will stand firm in the whole armour of God.

7. You will overcome evil with good.

8. You will walk in wisdom, holiness, and spiritual discernment.

9. You will remain steadfast in the victory of Jesus Christ.

10. You will fulfil God's purpose for your life, in the mighty name of Jesus.