Ephesians 6:12-13
NKJV
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 spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
See the Spirit behind it all
We don’t just live in a physical world but a spiritual world. Jesus revealed this mystery to us with Peter.
Matthew 16:17-18
NKJV
16 Simon Peter answered and said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
17 Jesus answered and said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. 18 And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.
Jesus could discern that what influenced Peter’s response wasn’t his own human intelligence and knowledge. The source was divine. The source came straight from God. The spirit of revelation communicated this truth to Peter. I’m sure Peter didn’t hear an audible voice or see a vision of this truth but rather he spoke. His words weren’t His own but influenced by the spirit of revelation.
But we also read of a time when God wasn’t speaking through Peter but rather the enemy.
Matthew 16:21-23
NKJV
21 From that time Jesus began to show to His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised the third day.
22 Then Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him, saying, “Far be it from You, Lord; this shall not happen to You!”
23 But He turned and said to Peter, “Get behind Me, Satan! You are an offense to Me, for you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men.”
Jesus here could discern that the source of Peter’s words wasn’t from God or Peter. It was influenced by the enemy. The enemy influenced Peter’s words.
The enemy indeed uses people to hurt us. The enemy uses people to frustrate us and uses them to bring us to sin. The true source of all the problems we see is spiritual. There is a spiritual battle going on between the kingdom of darkness and the kingdom of light. We are on the kingdom of light’s side and because we are, we automatically become the enemy’s opposing team.
Our desires are opposites. We desire unity and peace. The kingdom of darkness desires chaos and division. We desire blessing and joy, the kingdom of darkness desires curses and pain. We desire freedom and love, the kingdom of darkness desires bondage and chains.
Our goals, desires and aim are different and contrary to each other. The enemy is anti-God.
We are legal here on earth because of our flesh, our bodies and God wants us vessels to move, act and speak. God uses us to achieve His aims His goal, and His desires. The kingdom of darkness needs bodies. They need vessels to operate here on this earth.
God uses us and fills us with His Holy Spirit to do His will and to make an impact. The kingdom of darkness uses people to accomplish their will, and desires and make an impact upon people.
That’s why often it will appear as though it is flesh and blood fighting you. The people insulting you, the people who wrongly treated you, hurt you, abused you. Thieves, liars, murders etc are used by the enemy to achieve the goal to kill, steal and destroy while God gives life more abundantly and sets the captives free (John 10:10, Luke 4:18, John 8:36)
We need to understand that the spiritual realm is real. Where every day, 24 hours after 24 hours the kingdom of darkness, principalities, spirits of fear, bondage, attacks, lust etc all seek to devour people. They whisper lies to people. They speak to people to bring hatred, pain, anger, unforgiveness, pride, and selfishness, into people’s hearts for the purpose to bring darkness bondage, death etc.
As Christians, we shouldn’t be blind. We shouldn’t be ignorant to the fact that there is a kingdom of darkness actively working through vessels and devices to seek to accomplish their aim the same way God uses devices and vessels to accomplish His aim.
Something I learned is that the enemy can use people out of their own ignorance. You desire to know God’s will for your life so you’re praying but on that day everyone isn’t acting right. Your sister keeps making you angry with the smallest things. She does one little thing to annoy you day after day. You yell at her in response. The result is you two argue and bicker. Before you know it, you have anger in your heart, which isn’t good because now you can’t pray properly.
The enemy can send distractions. You desire to worship God and people keep giving you duty after duty after duty. Maybe you’re at home seeking to grow in your faith but your family keeps pointing out your insecurities and hurting you. It makes you feel insecure and hurt.
When people bully and hurt you, the enemy can use those people to plant seeds of insecurity and depression in you. Their words are sown. That insecurity now is like a chain holding you back from stepping into who God has called you to be.
The enemy uses flesh and blood to accomplish his aim. The kingdom of darkness uses people and it’s not that those people always knew. Some people willingly chose to be vessels for the enemy but most people are broken, ignorant and don’t realise they are.
We were all once in sin too. In ignorance and the enemy could’ve used us. When we gossiped, he used our words to bring insecurity and ruin other people’s reputations. When we stole he used us to accomplish his will to bring pain to someone.
Most people don’t hurt you realising they are being used by the enemy and are working on the wrong side. They don’t recognise how broken, and sinful, they are. They don’t recognise how much they need Jesus. They think they are rich when they are poor (Revelation 3:17).
Our job isn’t to attack those who are against us. They aren’t our enemies. Our enemy is the kingdom of darkness pushing its aim to kill, steal and destroy. If we attack the right source, we will see true victory.
Luke 6:28-30
NKJV
28 bless those who curse you, and pray for those who spitefully use you. 29 To him who strikes you on the one cheek, offer the other also. And from him who takes away your cloak, do not withhold your tunic either. 30 Give to everyone who asks of you. And from him who takes away your goods do not ask them back.
Jesus came to reveal to us that our enemies aren’t just those who hurt, insult and persecute us but the powers, spiritual forces behind them seeking to destroy everything good and ruin the lives of others.
We pray for those who are our enemies so that God will open their eyes, and save them so that a transfer can take place. That transfer happens when we are saved. We were walking on the path of destruction and wickedness leading to death but by the power of Jesus, we switched lanes and now are going toward the abundant free life in Jesus.
Jesus doesn’t want us to curse those who are already under bondage, insult those already spiritually dead and hurt those who are broken. We need to recognise how weak they are. Jesus wants us to pray and bless them because if they encounter His love they will switch lanes and be powerful vessels for Him.
Those murders
Those liars
Those thieves
Etc
God will use all of them to now be filled with His Holy Spirit to accomplish His good, perfect and acceptable will. (Romans 12:2).
That’s why Jesus calls us to pray because we were once like them. In the darkness, blind and sinful but now we are saved by grace, not because we are better than those who hurt us. Now we pray for that grace to receive the gospel to locate them to help them understand and receive the gospel.
Your enemy isn’t flesh and blood. The aims of the kingdom of darkness, the rulers, principalities, and demonic forces are our enemies. If we see what the enemy is trying to do through people we’ll recognise the great need to intercede and pray for them. You’ll pray for them to have revelation and open eyes. You’ll understand the great need to rebuke the enemy and bring the kingdom of darkness to ruins.
Jesus came to give us the revelation and understanding of spiritual forces against a lot of the problems we have. From sickness to people’s behaviour to people being attacked. Jesus revealed there is a greater enemy we should be watchful of. Some spirits seek to bring people into bondage, addictions, bad sinful patterns, sicknesses and oppression.
This enemy has a kingdom and he will use people to seek to achieve his goals. Similar to Jezebel. She was a human being like you and I but used mightily to kill many of God’s prophets. Elijah was a man like me and you (James 5:17) but used mightily to make an impact for the kingdom of heaven.
The enemy uses Jezebels to hurt God’s people and bring chaos. We shouldn’t make the mistake to focus on Jezebels as the problem. The problem isn’t solved once she is dead. We forget that the same way of someone passes away that God uses someone else the enemy will use someone else. Our prayers shouldn’t be against people but the powers of darkness.
The Bible tells us that we have been given authority over all the powers of the enemy (Luke 10:19). We can trample, rebuke, and cast out the demons and attacks of satan. We can call upon God’s fire to consume them, we can command them to leave and be chased out by the power of the name of Jesus.
Don’t focus on men and women. That girl or guy. Those people who hurt insulted you. Though yes, if you it is someone who is seriously hurting you call the authorities as needed and separate yourself from them. Get help as needed. What I’m communicating isn’t for you to be passive but for you to recognise the source. When you recognise the source it will make forgiveness and mercy a lot easier. It will also help you recognise when you’re under spiritual attack. Often the enemy can attack us through people to distract us so we don’t do what God wants us to do in that season. We are called to be like Jesus, forgive them and pray God opens their eyes.
In conclusion, I want us not to focus on people anyone but I want you today to ask God to give you a heart filled with love for Him and His people so that you may not keep bitterness, or anger towards them. Like Jesus had such a deep compassion that the very people who crucified Him when He was innocent were the people He interceded for while on the cross (Luke 23:34). That you will stare at those who hurt you and cry because you recognise how lost they are. You can go to your room and pray they will find their way to God.
But also in that same room, you begin to pray against the enemy. Cast out the demons, rebuke the plans of the enemy, reject, renounce, and chase out these forces by the power of Jesus and the word of God given to you.
-etty
