"In the Heavenly Realms"

“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” (Ephesians 6:10-12 ESV)

There is a spiritual war going on, and all believers should know this. It is hidden but often spills over into this world. Unfortunately, there are those who underestimate our enemy. There are those who do not believe Satan exists, that he is a symbol of evil, which is dangerously wrong. Then again, there are those who overestimate the power of Satan, who, though prince of this world, is still. subordinate to God (Job 1:6-12). This, too, is dangerous, and we can see this in many churches, especially those that are charismatic. We cannot fight in this war because we are not in those realms, because the battle is not with flesh and blood. What do I mean?

Let us look at Ephesians 1:3, Paul writes, “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.” Are we blessed in this world? Yes, we are blessed in that we who are called to Christ are blessed with His mercy and grace that we would come to accept the gospel through grace by faith in Christ and be made righteous in our salvation. But that does not make us all-powerful and able to fight Satan in the spiritual war. Have you read of the Jews who tried to cast out demons in Jesus name and what happened to them in Acts 19:15-16? Luke wrote: “One day the evil spirit answered them, “Jesus I know, and Paul I know about, but who are you?” Then the man who had the evil spirit jumped on them and overpowered them all. He gave them such a beating that they ran out of the house naked and bleeding.” We cannot fight in this war. Our resources in this battle are found in Christ, His strength, His power, His might.

You see, we are blessed in the heavenly realms. Again in “the heavenly realms,” we are blessed with every spiritual blessing in Christ, meaning we will be glorified and resurrected, receive an eternal body, and reside in heaven for eternity, worshiping and glorifying God. In chapter two, Paul tells exactly what happened to us through our faith in Christ and where we are glorified as a result of this salvation. “But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus.” (2:4-6) Where are we who have been saved? In the "heavenly realms." Paul is telling us where we will be glorified, where we will be truly blessed, in the heavenly realms.

In Chapter 3:8-10, Paul tells us who he is and who we are as those saved and called to spread the gospel, Although I am less than the least of all the Lord’s people, this grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles the boundless riches of Christ, and to make plain to everyone the administration of this mystery, which for ages past was kept hidden in God, who created all things. We are to reveal the gospel, the mystery of salvation that was alluded to and prophesied in the Old Testament and directly revealed through our Savior, Christ Jesus. But revealed to whom? Let us look at verse 10,  ^“His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known. The church is to make known this manifold wisdom, to whom? “To the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms.” The same authorities in the same realms that are in today’s verse in chapter 6, the dark forces that battle in the heavenly realms.

So, if we are not to battle in this spiritual war, what are we to do? Well, first off, when we read today’s verse, we should not be afraid. God is revealing to us where this battle is being fought. Reminding us of the power of God, who cannot be overcome, who rules unending for eternity, and of whom the church proclaims the understanding and belief in His power. The enemy may run this world, but in the realm to which we have been saved, Christ rules and reigns.

So, what is our purpose? What are we to do if not fight? Paul tells us exactly what we are to do in verses 6:13-14, “Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand."  We are to stand in the truth. When evil comes, like Christ in the wilderness, we combat evil with the truth, the Word of God. We stand in the armor of God, which is what? The armor of God is a metaphor, and Paul tells us exactly what it is: “the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.) (vv. 14-17)

There is a war, but it has already been won by Christ, and we who come to Him in faith have unending blessings in the heavenly realms.

Do you know Christ as your Savior? Why do you wait? Seek Him now and let this world go. Your place is in the heavenly realms.

Grace and Peace.