Opening scripture:

Ephesians 6:11-12 KJV
11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

As believers in Christ, Paul tells us to put on the whole armor of God and then explains why. The first thing he notes is that we don’t fight against flesh and blood. What does that mean, especially when we see people fighting each other everyday?

Paul defines this in Galatians 5:14-21 KJV
14 For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
15 But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another.
16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.
17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.
18 But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.
19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,
20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,
21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

When we don’t operate in love by loving our neighbor as ourself, then we bite and devour one another. Paul tells us to not be consumed with that but to walk in the spirit. When we walk in the flesh, we manifest adultery, fornication, etc. We allow envy and jealousy to rule within but as believers we’re to walk in the spirit.

Galatians 5:22-26 KJV
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
24 And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.
25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.
26 Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.

Now that we understand that we’re not fighting each other but our internal influences and the influences of others, let’s continue with Ephesians 6:12 KJV
12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

We fight against principalities. What are principles?

According to www.dictionary.com, a principle is:
noun
1. an accepted or professed rule of action or conduct.
a person of good moral principles.
2. a fundamental, primary, or general law or truth from which others are derived.
the principles of modern physics.

So, why does Paul tell us that we fight against rules of action or conduct or the general law of truth? Are rules actually meant to be broken?

Do you know that Jesus broke many rules while walking the earth? He cast out demons. He healed the sick. He walked on water. He brought the dead back to life and even rose from the dead three days after His crucifixion.

Romans 6:23 KJV
23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

If the wages of sin is death, shouldn’t we all die and stay dead? Isn’t that our due justice according to God’s law? And yet, Jesus tells us this rule is broken. Those that choose to believe, will have everlasting life.

John 3:16 KJV
16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Even Psalm 103:1-5 KJV – read the whole chapter
103 Bless the Lord, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name.
2 Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits:
3 Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases;
4 Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies;
5 Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle's.

We’re told that He forgives and heals our diseases. We shouldn’t have these benefits and yet we do because of God’s tender mercies.

Lamentations 3:22-23 KJV
22 It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not.
23 They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.

So, what does Paul mean that we fight against principalities:

John 10:10 KJV
10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

1 Peter 5:8 KJV
8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:

We have an enemy that will do everything in his power to steal, kill, and destroy us if given the chance.

Remember, the devil needs permission to do anything. Read Job 1.

We have the right to break the rules just like Jesus did because we’re joint heirs with Him.

Romans 8:17 KJV
17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.

And just like Jesus suffered, so do we. But here’s something more that Jesus promised us:

Proverbs 6:30-31 NKJV
30 People do not despise a thief
If he steals to satisfy himself when he is starving.
31 Yet when he is found, he must restore sevenfold;
He may have to give up all the substance of his house.

A thief is required to restore sevenfold. I asked chatgpt, what does sevenfold mean and this is what it provided:

The word “sevenfold” means seven times as much or multiplied by seven.

It can be used in different ways depending on the context:
1. General Meaning
• If something increases sevenfold, it becomes seven times greater in size, number, or intensity.
o Example: “Profits increased sevenfold” = profits became seven times larger.
2. Biblical / Spiritual Meaning
• In the Bible, “sevenfold” often symbolizes completeness, fullness, or divine perfection, since the number seven carries special spiritual significance.
• For example:
o Genesis 4:15 – God says that anyone who kills Cain will suffer vengeance sevenfold (a complete and perfect retribution).
o Psalm 12:6 – God’s words are described as pure, “purified seven times,” symbolizing perfect refinement.
o Proverbs 24:16 – “For a righteous man falls seven times, and rises again,” showing fullness of perseverance.
3. Figurative Usage
• “Sevenfold” can also mean in every way or completely.
o Example: “He repaid evil sevenfold” = he repaid fully, completely, and overwhelmingly.
✨ So, sevenfold means “seven times over” in the literal sense, and “full, complete, or perfect” in the symbolic/spiritual sense.

So, when the devil steals your health from you, your finances from your, a loved one from you, he is required to recompense you seven times.

Psalm 7:8 KJV
8 The Lord shall judge the people: judge me, O Lord, according to my righteousness, and according to mine integrity that is in me.

You can go before the Lord and ask Him to judge you if you believe that a thief has taken something from you but be ready for that judgement. Are you in the secret place with Him as Psalm 91 says? Have you made God a relationship vs a religion? Have you sought first the kingdom of God and His righteousness first as Matthew 6:33 says? Do you know you are saved and that Jesus is the Son of God? Have you confessed Jesus as Lord, Romans 10:9?

Once you are firmly minded, humble yourself before the Lord and simply tell Him that the thief took from you, and then ask Him to make the devil recompense you.

Matthew 7:7 KJV
7 Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:
Whatever you ask it shall be given.

This is part 1 of understanding what a Christian fights against. We will resume next week for part 2 in Ephesians 6:12.