Deep Dive into Cornerstone by Jeremy Prayer - Life Dominating Patterns of Sin
As believers, our struggle, or wrestling, is not against human adversaries or "flesh and blood," but against spiritual forces. This is a hostile spiritual conflict, described as a "no small skirmish" and a "massive and complex hierarchy of evil." It's a profound, unseen war taking place that affects a believer's life.
This spiritual enemy consists of various categories: "Rulers" (or leaders), "Authorities" (beings invested with authority, with some commentators suggesting these might be lower in rank), "Cosmic powers" (or world forces, supernatural beings directed by the devil to engage with our world), and "Spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places" (supernatural beings located in the spiritual realm).
This means there's "more going on in your life than just what's in your little pocket of the Bay Area." The war believers are engaged in involves a "much bigger stage" where "God's at work and Satan is at work" in a significant sense. While we may not fully grasp all the dimensions of this spiritual battle, Paul emphasizes its reality. Satan employs "schemes" and "craftiness" (deception) to tempt believers to sin, using "flaming darts" which manifest as fear, worry, anxiety, despair, and anger. Though believers have a "victory in Christ in the heavenlies" positionally, the full realization of this victory is still future, making the "struggle a present reality." This invisible, hierarchical nature of the enemy impacts a believer's approach to daily struggles and temptation. It underscores that we are not fighting alone, but against powerful, unseen forces aiming to hinder our walk with God, necessitating a strategic "standing firm."
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