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said they were of their father, the devil. He was a murderer from the beginning and he
did not abide in the truth. He is a liar and the father of it (John 8: 44).
In Hebrews we read that Satan had the power of death, but Jesus Christ shared flesh
and blood, that through death, He might destroy him that had the power of death, that is,
the devil (Heb. 2: 14-18).
We must also include a reference to the parable of the tares. In Matt. 13: 24-42 the
devil is described as the enemy who sowed tares in the field after the farmer had sown
good seed. Good and bad grew up together and one could not tell which was good and
which was bad. So it is in the world where there are children of the Kingdom and
children of the wicked one. How difficult it is for us to know who is a child of the evil
one! Only at the last day shall the good and bad be separated. What wisdom we need
lest we are led astray by one who pretends to be a leader but who is not truly sent by God.
Now we must turn to other aspects. In Eph. 6: 12 (A.V.) we read "For we wrestle
not against flesh and blood . . . . .", and it is interesting to look at other translations:
"For our struggle is not against flesh and blood . . . . ." (N.I.V.).
"For we are not contending against flesh and blood . . . . ." (R.S.V.).
Paul frequently writes about contending and he prefers to use the figure of the athlete,
although he does refer to the soldier. He uses the Greek word agonizo, which means to
agonize or contest publicly (Young's Analytical Concordance). It occurs in Luke 13: 24
and John 18: 36. We quote four references taken from Paul's letters. We should
mention that agonizo is translated "strive" or "fight", and in one place "labouring
fervently":
"And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it
to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible" (I Cor. 9: 25).
"Epaphras . . . . . always labouring fervently for you in prayers, that ye may stand
perfect and complete in all the will of God" (Col. 4: 12).
"Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life . . . . ." (I Tim. 6: 12).
"I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith" (II.Tim.iv.7).
Our struggle is with principalities and powers What do we know about them? There
are about 400 references to angels: over 200 in the O.T. and about 188 in the N.T. They
are heavenly messengers. The number of passages of Scripture that mention
principalities and powers are few. It appears they are the heavenly aristocracy. Some of
them accept the Lordship of Christ but others were in opposition to Him. Let us collect
the references and learn what we can about these heavenly beings.
Romans 8: 38 tells us nothing can separate us from the love of God in
Christ Jesus our Lord, not even principalities and powers.
Ephesians 1: 20, 21 speaks of Christ being seated at His (the Father's) right
hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality and power.