Ephesians 6:12

1. Ephesians 6:12 12For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.

2. Ephesians 6:12 12For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.

3. The Battle Is On &The Enemy Is Real Larry Cline – Hardin Valley Church Of Christ – 3/11/2018

4. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual [forces] of wickedness in the heavenly [places].(Ephesians 6:12)

5. Three points • This battle is fought in invisible realms • Way too often I think the problem is you. You think the problem is me, when the reality is we have an adversary.

6. Peter says whether you see it or not you are fighting a roaring lion. • John says the whole world is under the power of the evil one. • The invisible world is every bit as real as the physical one.

7. Invisible does not mean fictional • We’ve been taught that if we can’t discover something through our 5 senses it doesn’t really exist.

8. This war is manifested in the physical world • “Spiritual Warfare is the cosmic conflict waged in the invisible spiritual realm but simultaneously fleshed out in the visible physical realm.” - Tony Evans

9. All of us have struggled in relationships before and been tempted to make a friend or co-worker or brother or sister or spouse or… the enemy. • The truth is satan knows how to manipulate us

10. This war manifests itself physically. • We at times are under physicalattack! • We think the problem is finances, or schedule, or spouse, or job, or alcohol, or drugs, or porn, or food… those are symptoms of the real issue.

11. I mistakenly identify the enemy, it’s not my spouse, co-worker, child, critic, president, neighbor, it’s not even me. The enemy is satan.

12. This war is won in spiritualrealms • If the root of the war is in the spiritual realms it is not going to be won by physicalmeans.

13. Blessed [be] the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly [places] in Christ,(Ephesians 1:3)

14. What is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe. [These are] in accordance with the working of the strength of His might(Ephesians 1:19)

15. and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly [places] in Christ Jesus,(Ephesians 2:6)

16. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual [forces] of wickedness in the heavenly [places].(Ephesians 6:12)

17. Three points review This battle is fought in invisible realms This war is manifested in the physical world This war is won in spiritual realms

18. A warning and a desire: • The danger here is that we can make way too little of this or way too much. • Our goal: To take the invisible and make it visible, making us both alert and confident.

19. Careful: Many of us act like we live on a playgroundwhen we really live on a battle ground.

20. There’s a target on your back!

21. We are at war! Declare It!