The Word of God teaches us in Ephesians 6:12 (ESV) that 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. Let's go!
Let's understand what it means. First, that there is a fight. That there is a battle.
And that this battle isn't against people. When it says "we do not wrestle against flesh and blood", it means that it's not against men, against people. And it mentions rulers, authorities, cosmic powers over this present darkness, spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.
"Heavenly places" is the spirit world. Every time the Bible mentions "heavenly places", "the heavens", it means the spirit world. So that Scripture talks about two worlds.
The natural world and the spirit world. In the natural world there are flesh and blood, mankind. And in the spirit world there are the rulers, the authorites, the cosmic powers over this present darkness, and the spiritual forces of evil.
So we need to understand the spirit world in order to understand many things that afflict us. The natural world is very small when compared to the spiritual world. It's a very small part of it.
The spiritual world is in a greater place which englobes the natural world as well. I can barely compare the natural world to a movie theater. And the spirit world would be the rest of the nation.
Both natural and spirit world connect with each other. And these connections always happen from the inside. Like a door that opens.
The natural world opens doors to the spirit world. And it's important for you to know that mankind rules the natural world. God chose that way.
He established that the heavens are the Lord's heavens, but the earth. . .
"Earth" in the Bible means the natural world. The heavens are the Lord's heavens, but the earth he has given to the children of man. The Bible also states in Genesis 1:26 that.
. . When God created all the earth, all the animals and plants He said He would make man in His image, after His likeness.
Genesis 1:26 states: "Then God said, 'Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. " 'And let them have dominion over everything. ' " Anyway, the natural world is a gift God gave mankind.
Also, mankind have authority and dominion over the natural world. Mankind rules the natural world. The spirit world comes to the natural world whenever we let it happen.
When we open and close doors. In order for you to understand, try to imagine a birthday balloon. Like the ones we use to decorate a birthday party.
Imagine that inside that balloon is mankind. Imagine a little dummy inside this balloon. Imagine that the angels are alongside mankind in it.
Because the Bible says that the angels of the Lord encamp around those who fear Him. These angels deliver and guard them. But the Bible also says that not far from the angels there're demons.
Demons are farther. They're not that close. Angels are closer and demons are further.
Demons are in the spiritual place where there're rulers, authorities, cosmic powers over this present darkness, and the spiritual forces of evil. Then, in order for the demons to get in the balloon. .
. For them to go past this protection, which a connection would be needed. .
. To go past this barrier, this protection wall between the natural world and the spiritual world, we must open the door. A chance must be given.
Evil spiritual beings can't come in. So how do we open these doors from the spirit world to the natural world? By our own choices.
We can choose between light and darkness. We're able to open doors to both good and evil. When God spoke to Cain, in Genesis, Cain already intended to kill his brother.
He already intended to kill Abel. God told him: "Sin is at the door. " "You must rule over it.
" That is, evil is harassing you. But there's a door stoping it from getting closer. When God said "You must rule over it", He meant "You are in charge of this door".
You hold the key to this door. Also, in Revelation 3:20, Jesus says, "I stand at the door and knock. "If you open the door, I'll come right in and sit down to supper with you.
" It works both ways, both evil and Jesus stand at your door. You start to understand that the spirit world, where are both Jesus and the evil spiritual beings, they needs us to grant them access, which happens through links established by us. Our choices.
Choose light or darkness. From the moment we choose, we rule on earth, in the natural world, under the chosen authority. If we choose Jesus, then we start ruling in the Kingdom of Light.
If we choose Satan, then we rule under the covering of the dominion of darkness. Then we understand how things work. .
. What afflicts, and bothers, and sicken us. Why?
Because there's a ministry, so to speak. . .
There's a professionalization of the spiritual world. Jesus comes to give us abundant life. And Satan comes to kill, steal, and destroy.
Satan's only work. . .
his professional and ministerial life is to kill, steal, and destroy. To kill what? Anything.
He may kill our families. . .
By destroying our children, our projects, our dreams. . .
He may kill our hope. People get deeply depressed, or even commit suicide. .
. because they see no way out, they have no perspective. He may steal anything.
It could be your health. Young people seriously ill. He may steal your children, like when parents bury theirs.
Children were not supposed to be buried by their parents. Rather, parents were born first, therefore should be buried first. Parents don't bury their children.
But children bury their parents. Unless there's an open door to kill, steal and destroy. So what should we do?
We opened a door and evil came in. The dark prince, an evil spiritual being, came in. Are we bound to be prisoners, captives for the rest of our lives?
No! There's a way out. Now you may open the door to the light.
When you open the door to the light, Jesus comes in. The Bible states He is the One who came to destroy the works of the devil. "The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil.
" He came to have authority on earth. . .
So He'd be able to undo the killing, stealing and destroying. But it doesn't happen automatically. The spirit world doesn't work automatically.
Nothing does. The spirit world is like a warehouse. .
. Where everything I need is. And I access what's in this warehouse.
That's when I am released from captivity. When I'm able to change mine and my family's history. The Bible tells me how to do it.
How can I close the doors I opened in the spirit world? Through repentance and confession of sins. Sinning opens the door.
Repenting and confessing your sins closes the door. And when the door is closed, we can cast out the evil spiritual beings. For the authority of Him who brought the light.
. . is now to cast out the darkness.
So now you know that the spirit world is legal for both light and darkness. We must want Jesus. We must cry out for Jesus.
We must cast Satan out. It doesn't work automatically. And then.
. . Let me tell you.
When we understand it, we start to evaluate all our actions. Because living under the dominion of darkness is losing. It's achieving nothing.
It's not having the promised abundant life. Now, we'll keep going with these lessons. .
. We'll move forward so that you understand everything. And that's why I advise you not to miss the next chapter.
God bless.
