Pastor Jerry Houchens | 4-19-2006
In the midst of life’s battles, we often find ourselves wrestling with forces we can’t see or fully understand. The apostle Paul’s letter to the Ephesians reveals a profound truth about the nature of our struggles and the path to victory through Christ.
What Does It Mean to Fight Against Principalities and Powers?
Paul writes in Ephesians 6:12, “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against the spiritual host of wickedness in heavenly places.” This verse reveals that our real battles aren’t with other people, but with spiritual forces that seek to keep us bound to destructive patterns.
When Paul wrote to the Ephesians, he was addressing a church that had emerged from a dark spiritual environment. Ephesus was a place steeped in witchcraft and idol worship, where people served Diana and engaged in occult practices. When the Gospel came with power, new believers brought their magical books and paraphernalia worth over $2 million in today’s currency and burned them publicly.
Why Do We Struggle Between the Old and New Nature?
The wrestling match Paul describes isn’t happening in an arena—it’s happening within us. Every believer experiences this internal conflict between the old nature inherited from our earthly lineage and the new nature received through Christ’s blood.
This battle manifests in our daily choices. We inherit patterns from our families, our culture, and our past experiences. But when Christ transforms us, we receive a new bloodline—His bloodline. The challenge comes when old habits and thought patterns try to reassert themselves.
The Example of Cain and Abel
The story of Cain and Abel illustrates this spiritual warfare. Both brothers brought offerings to God, but only Abel’s was acceptable because he obeyed God’s requirements. When Cain’s jealousy led to murder, Abel’s blood cried out to God. This shows us that obedience to God’s ways brings life, while rebellion leads to destruction.
How Do We Put Off the Old Man and Put On the New?
Paul instructs the Ephesians in chapter 4:17-24 about this transformation process. He warns them not to walk “as the rest of the Gentiles walk, in the futility of their mind, having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart.”
The solution involves three key steps:
1. Put Off the Old Man
This means deliberately choosing to abandon the patterns and behaviors that characterized our life before Christ. It’s like removing a cast after a broken bone has healed—we must be willing to let go of what once gave us attention or comfort, even if it was ultimately harmful.
2. Be Renewed in the Spirit of Your Mind
Transformation happens in our thinking. We must allow God’s Word and Spirit to reshape how we view ourselves, our circumstances, and our future. This renewal is an ongoing process that requires daily surrender.
3. Put On the New Man
Paul writes that we should “put on the new man which was created according to God in true righteousness and holiness.” This new identity isn’t something we create—it’s something God has already prepared for us through Christ’s sacrifice.
What Happens When We Try to Avoid God’s Direct Path?
Sometimes we want to take an easier route, like a spacecraft trying to cool down before entering Earth’s atmosphere. But engineers discovered that the heat shield actually needed the direct heat to function properly. Similarly, God often calls us to go directly through difficult circumstances rather than around them.
When we try to modify God’s trajectory for our lives, we may actually weaken our ability to withstand the pressures we’ll face. The heat of trials, when we’re protected by Christ, actually strengthens our spiritual shield.
How Do We Recognize When We’re Drifting Back to Old Patterns?
Paul had to remind the Ephesian church about truths they already knew because they were beginning to drift back into old ways. This happens to all of us. We might become harsh when we should be gentle, angry when we should be patient, or fearful when we should trust.
The key is regular self-examination. Are we walking in the Spirit or being controlled by the flesh? Are we responding to God’s voice when He speaks to our hearts, or are we ignoring His guidance?
The Danger of Keeping Sin Close
Scripture tells us to “lay aside the sins that easily beset us,” but we often place them right in front of us instead of truly laying them aside. We want to keep an eye on our old patterns, but this makes them stumbling blocks rather than distant memories.
What Does It Mean to Walk in Faith Rather Than Flesh?
Walking in faith means responding to God’s call even when we don’t understand the destination. Abraham exemplified this when God called him to leave everything familiar and go to an unknown land. His obedience made him an heir of God’s promises.
When God calls us to specific actions or changes, our response determines whether we’re walking in faith or flesh. If we’re constantly questioning whether something is right or wrong, the safest path is often to avoid it altogether. As Paul writes, “If you can’t do it in faith, don’t do it.”
How Does Christ Protect Us in Spiritual Warfare?
Like a spacecraft’s heat shield protecting astronauts during reentry, Christ surrounds and protects us as we move from darkness into light. We’re not fighting this battle alone—we’re enclosed in Him, part of His body, all moving in the same direction toward the same destination.
The enemy wants to get us out of the spiritual realm and into the flesh, where he can defeat us. But when we stay in Christ, walking in the Spirit, we have access to resurrection power—the same power that raised Jesus from the dead.
Life Application
This week, examine your life for areas where you might be holding onto old patterns or hurts that are hindering your spiritual growth. Are there relationships, habits, or thought patterns that need to be “laid aside” rather than managed? God wants to break the chains that keep you from moving forward in your relationship with Him.
Consider these questions as you reflect on this message:
- What old patterns or hurts am I still carrying that might be stunting my spiritual growth?
- In what areas of my life am I trying to take an easier path rather than trusting God’s direct leading?
- How can I better recognize when I’m walking in the flesh versus walking in the Spirit?
- What specific step of obedience is God calling me to take this week?
Remember, God has already provided everything you need to break through whatever is holding you back. The question is whether you’re willing to let go of the old and embrace the new life He has prepared for you in Christ.