“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.
Whether you like it or not, you must go into the ring with Satan. He has not only a general malice against the army of saints, but a particular spite against every single child of God. As our Lord delights to have private communion with His saint, so the devil delights to challenge the Christian when he gets him alone. The whole issue of your spiritual destiny is personal and particular. You give Satan a dangerous advantage if you see his wrath and fury bent in general against the saints, and not against you specifically: Satan hates me; Satan accuses me; Satan tempts me. Conversely, you lose much comfort when you fail to see the promises and providences of God as available for your own specific needs: God loves me; God takes care of me. The water supply for the town will do you no personal good unless you have a pipe that carries it to your own house. Let it serve as both a caution and a comfort to know your spiritual combat is singular. (So although we wrestle with these powers we most like are not directly engaged with Satan himself but with those under his power.)
Second, wrestling is a close combat. Armies fight at some distance; wrestlers grapple hand-to-hand. You may be able to dodge an arrow shot from a distance, but when the enemy actually has hold of you, you must either resist manfully or fall shamefully at his feet. When Satan comes after you, he moves in close, takes hold of your very flesh and corrupt nature, and by this shakes you.
"We wrestle" encompasses everyone. You may have noticed that the apostle changes the pronoun "ye" in the former verse, into "we" in this, that he may include himself. He wants you to know the quarrel is with every saint. Satan neither fears to assault the minister nor disdains to wrestle with the lowliest saint in the congregation. Great and small, minister and people, all must wrestle-- not one part of Christ's army in the heat of battle and the other at ease in their quarters.” Quoted material from, ”The Christian in Complete Armour Daily Readings in Spiritual Warfare” by Gurnall and James S Bell. http://www.moodypublishers.com/pub_productDetail.aspx?id=41823&pid=53617
I once heard a well-meaning teacher of the Word say that this wrestling was not really warfare but much like an intermural sport. I have never read of a person’s soul being forever condemned to sin and its end results, which is eternal suffering and death from such a sport, but that is the intention of Satan. It is not a thought that makes one feel all warm and tingly but spiritual warfare is a part of everyday life as a Christian. From the moment you said yes to Jesus and no to the world, the flesh and the devil. That moment you were transferred out of the Kingdom of darkness and into the Kingdom of God’s Son was the moment God made you a joint heir of all His blessings, but also the moment Satan declared war on you. Colossians 1:13-14. The good news you’ll find at the end of the Book of Revelation.. We WIN!
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