And Having Done All, Stand [a study of Ephesians 6:10-20] part 1

We are in a very real battle against unseen spiritual forces of evil. This is Paul's primary assertion in Epheisans 6:10-20. Even a quick look at the life of Jesus supports this contention. In fact, the apostle John states that the primary purpose Jesus came into the world in human form was to 'destroy the works of the devil' (1 John 3:8). Understanding this reality is the first crucial step in preparing to successfully stand in the evil day. 

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This passage has one primary objective:

…that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. [Eph 6:13]

The passage offers three keys for reaching the objective:

• Recognizing the reality that we are in a real battle against unseen forces of evil.
• Being strengthened by the Lord and the power of his might.
• Utilizing the full armor provided to us by God

In this study we will look at the first of the three keys.

Our battle is against unseen but very real spiritual forces of evil that are effectively organized according to rank under Satan’s leadership.

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, ESV]

• Jesus clearly acknowledges the reality of this unseen spiritual kingdom under Satan’s rule.

I will no longer talk much with you, for the ruler of this world is coming, and he has nothing in Me. [John 14:30, NKJV] (also see 1 John 5:19)

ARCHON—a ruler, chief, prince


KOSMOS—orderly arrangement; by implication, the world

If Satan also is divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand? [Luke 11:18a, NKJV]

• Charles Kraft diagrams the different levels and types of demonic spirits as follows:
• GROUND-LEVEL SPIRITS (living in people) see Luke 11:24-26
• Family spirits (inherited through the generations in societies that dedicate their children to their deities and spirit beings)
• Occult spirits (come from membership to occult organizations; can be passed to succeeding generations)
• Ordinary spirits (gain legal access through sinful attitudes like unforgiveness, anger, hatred, fear, lust, etc.)

• COSMIC-LEVEL SPIRITS (in the air) see Eph 2:2
• Territorial spirits (assigned to nations, cities and regions; create a satanic “force field” influence over that area)
• Institutional spirits (those assigned to disrupt churches, governments, educational institutions, and to empower cults, occult organizations and non-Christian religions)
• Vice spirits (assigned to oversee and encourage vices such as prostitution, pornography, abortion, homosexuality, gambling,murder, etc. in a location or establishment)
• Object and household spirits (inhabit households, and material objects that have been dedicated, dedicated music, etc.)
• Ancestral spirits (assigned to deceive people into believing that their dead ancestors still participate in human life)

Derek Prince writes that these ground-level and cosmic-level spirit beings “are united in a ceaseless war against the human race.  Under Satan’s domination they work together to inflict on humanity every possible form of harm, deception and torment.”

These evil forces develop and execute strategies anchored in deception in order to hinder the work of God’s kingdom in and through our lives.

Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. [Eph 6:11, ESV]

METHODEIA—crafty scheming with the intent to deceive

But I fear, lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. [2 Cor 11:3, NKJV]

And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient, 25 in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth, 26 and that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will. [2 Tim 2:24-26, NKJV]

There seem to be especially intense and deliberate seasons of warfare against individuals,  families, churches and ministries called the “evil day.”

Now when the devil had ended every temptation, he departed from Him until an opportune time. [Luke 4:13, NKJV] 

And when the devil had ended every [the complete cycle of] temptation, he[temporarily] left Him [that is, stood off from Him] until another more opportune and favorable time. [Luke 4:13, AMP] 

Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. 9 Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world.10 But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you. [1 Peter 5:8-10, NKJV]