Wresting in The Spiritual Realm (Eph 6:12)

There are unseen battles raging around us, whether we acknowledge them or not.
Every day we rise, we step into a world that is not neutral ground. We may prepare our bodies for the day, choosing garments and setting agendas, but unless we are awake to the deeper reality, we step out spiritually unguarded, exposed to a conflict fiercer than any earthly clash.

Paul does not allow us the comfort of ignorance. He peels back the veil and declares plainly, “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood.” The Christian life is not lived on a playground, but on a battlefield. Our deepest struggles are not against men or institutions, but against rulers, authorities, cosmic powers over this present darkness, and spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. (Eph. 6:12)

It is a scary thing to realize that our true enemies are unseen, intelligent, coordinated forces. It is even more frightening to realize how little we prepare for this reality.
We may schedule meetings, prepare speeches, even rehearse our words for difficult conversations, but how often do we prepare our hearts for the unseen war that seeks to cloud our minds, cool our affections, and twist our thoughts away from Christ?

In the wrestling match against spiritual forces, we do not wrestle alone. Christ is our strength, “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places” (Eph. 6:12).

The true nature of our conflict as believers is not a struggle against human adversaries but against the unseen powers of darkness. The Apostle Paul, in Ephesians 6:12, pulls back the curtain and exposes the battlefield for what it truly is, a spiritual arena where cosmic forces align against the children of God. We are not merely contending with difficult people, opposing ideologies, or personal afflictions. We are wrestling against spiritual entities, against rulers, authorities, powers, and forces whose singular aim is to thwart the purposes of God in our lives.

Paul paints a hierarchy of evil, a dark and ordered opposition to the kingdom of God. The rulers and authorities are not theoretical; they are real spiritual beings exercising influence over systems, cultures, ideologies, and temptations. The cosmic powers press against us, shaping the very atmosphere of the world we inhabit, the “present darkness” that blinds and binds the souls of men. Hell is organized, even if it is condemned

The word Paul uses for “wrestle” (palē) in the Greek denotes intense, close combat, a hand-to-hand struggle. This is not a distant skirmish but a direct confrontation, a personal, exhausting, relentless conflict. The imagery is drawn from the ancient Greco-Roman wrestling matches, where the objective was not simply to pin an opponent but to subdue him completely. The loser would be utterly humiliated, his eyes gouged out, rendered helpless for life. Paul uses this vivid imagery to convey the intensity of our spiritual battle, this is no minor scuffle; it is a fight to the finish.

But who is our true enemy? Paul is explicit: we do not wrestle against flesh and blood. People are not our ultimate opponents. Political opponents, hostile coworkers, antagonistic neighbors, they are not the real enemy. The real battle is against the unseen forces operating behind the scenes, influencing minds, hearts, and systems. Satan would have us believe that our fight is against people, against flesh and blood, to keep us distracted from the real war. But our battle is spiritual, not physical.

Paul’s description of our enemies is both sobering and specific. He lists four ranks of spiritual adversaries:

1. Rulers (archas) — These are high-ranking demonic beings, principalities that exercise authority over specific regions or domains. They are the architects of systemic evil, working to shape cultures, influence governments, and deceive nations.
2. Authorities (exousias) — These are the powers that enforce the plans of the rulers. They are the agents of spiritual oppression, influencing human behavior, promoting false doctrines, and spreading lies.
3. Cosmic Powers over this Present Darkness (kosmokratoras) — This term conveys the idea of world rulers, spiritual overlords of darkness who operate within the framework of the present evil age. They perpetuate deception, foster confusion, and incite rebellion against God.
4. Spiritual Forces of Evil in the Heavenly Places — This is the unseen, spiritual realm where demonic entities operate. It is the sphere where Satan exerts his influence, where spiritual warfare rages beyond our natural perception.

Why does Paul list these enemies so specifically? Because ignorance is dangerous. If we do not know the nature and structure of our enemies, we cannot adequately prepare to stand against them. Satan thrives on deception, and his greatest tactic is to convince believers that he does not exist, that spiritual warfare is a myth, or that our real enemies are flesh and blood.

But Scripture is clear: we are at war, and the battlefield is not of this world. The battlefield is the mind, the heart, the soul. This is where the wrestling match takes place, in our thoughts, our desires, our fears. The enemy seeks to undermine our confidence in God, to sow seeds of doubt, to cloud our perception of truth, to incite fear, to stir up strife. He is relentless, calculating, and utterly ruthless.

What does this wrestling look like in the believer’s life? It looks like the persistent assault of lies against the truth of God’s Word. It looks like the relentless accusation that whispers, “You are unworthy. You are not forgiven. You are a failure.” It looks like the daily battle against discouragement, despair, temptation, and fear. The wrestling match is not a single event but a continual, ongoing struggle that requires vigilance, endurance, and resolve.

But how do we stand firm in this battle? How do we wrestle without being overwhelmed?

1. Recognize the Real Enemy: We must keep our eyes fixed on the true nature of our conflict. Our enemies are not flesh and blood but spiritual forces of darkness. This perspective transforms how we pray, how we respond to opposition, how we engage in conflict. Instead of reacting in the flesh, we respond in the Spirit, wielding the weapons of prayer, truth, righteousness, and faith.
2. Stay Dressed for Battle: The armor of God is not ornamental; it is essential. Every piece of armor is designed to protect us in the specific areas where the enemy strikes — truth against lies, righteousness against accusation, peace against fear, faith against doubt, salvation against despair, the Word against deception. We must wear the whole armor, not just selective pieces.
3. Stand in Christ’s Victory: The enemy has already been defeated at the cross (Col. 2:15). Our task is not to gain victory but to stand firm in the victory that Christ has already secured. This standing is not passive but active — it is a resolute refusal to give ground to the enemy. It is a declaration that, though we are pressed, we will not be crushed; though we are afflicted, we will not be abandoned; though we are struck down, we will not be destroyed (2 Cor. 4:8-9).
4. Pray Without Ceasing: Paul concludes his instruction on spiritual warfare with a call to constant prayer (Eph. 6:18). Prayer is the atmosphere in which the battle is fought and won. It is our line of communication with our Commander, our source of strength, our place of refuge. We pray not as a last resort but as a first lineh. The Spirit is our guide. The Word is our weapon. The battle is fierce, but the victory is certain. And in Christ, we stand.