Listen
On this Sabbath, August 17, 2019, pastor Shelem Flemons played a recording of a sermon he preached entitled Principalities, Powers, Rulers of Darkness and Spiritual Wickedness In High Places.
Eph. 6:12 says, ” 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. “
Pastor Flemons, in this sermons defines and explains the significance of each of these enemies in our spiritual warfare.
In Summary, principalities refer to the Father of lies and pastor Flemons explained the categories of lies told about ourselves, about Christ, about the church, and about himself.
Powers refer to all Satan’s demons and all the temptations they specialize in.
Rulers of the darkness refer to the oppressive powers of Satan and how he controls the lives of his victims.
Finally, spiritual wickedness in high places refers to Satan’s desire to totally bring us under demonic possession.
The highlight of the sermon was the understanding that these spiritual enemies are put in place to tempt us to violate the law of God. We must fight with the armor of God and we must win.
[For more information, listen to the recording. Pastor Flemons also gives you his full sermon notes below.]
Eph. 6:12 Principalities
- the person or thing that commences,the first person or thing in a series, the leader
- that by which anything begins to be,the origin,the active cause
John 8:44 KJVS[44] Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning,and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.
The Greek for “Murderer” is an adjective. Literally it means “to kill,” so in the context, it’s a killing liar or one who tells lies that kill.
THE DEVIL LIES ABOUT WHO WE ARE.
HE EITHER MAKES US THINK THAT WE ARE BETTER THAN WE REALLY ARE WITHOUT CHRIST OR HE MAKES US THINK THAT WE ARE LESS THAN WE REALLY ARE WITH CHRIST. THE END RESULT OF BOTH LIES IS DISOBEDIENCE TO THE LAW OF GOD. WHEN WE THINK WE ARE BETTER THAN WE REALLY ARE WITHOUT CHRIST, WE BECOME PRESUMPTUOUS, THINKING THAT GOD WILL ACCEPT OUR SERVICE WHEN WITHOUT A FULL SURRENDER. WHEN WE THINK WE ARE WORSE THAN WE ARE WITH CHRIST, WE BECOME DEPRESSED AND DESPONDENT, FEELING THAT THERE IS NO HOPE SO WHY TRY?
THE DEVIL LIES ABOUT WHO THE CHURCH IS
HE WANTS US TO THINK THAT THE CHURCH IS GOING THROUGH WITHOUT A FULL SURRENDER TO CHRIST. OR HE WANTS US TO THINK THAT THOSE WHO HAVE SURRENDERED ALL TO CHRIST ARE NOT PART OF THE CHURCH. THE END RESULT IS THE LARGER BODY OF THE PROFESSED CHURCH BEING DISOBEDIENT TO GOD.
THE DEVIL LIES ABOUT WHO CHRIST IS.
HE WANTS US TO THINK OF HIM AS A HARSH TYRANT WHO DEMANDS BLIND SUBMISSION. OR, HE WANTS US TO THINK OF CHRIST AN INDULGENT PARENT THAT SAVES US IN OUR SINS. IN EITHER CASE, WE HAVE NO MOTIVATION TO SERVE SUCH A MASTER. THE END RESULT IS DISOBEDIENCE TO THE LAW OF GOD.
THE DEVIL LIES ABOUT WHO HE IS.
HE WANTS US TO THINK THAT HE IS THE VICTIM IN THE GREAT CONTROVERSY AND THAT HE IS BETTER THAN HE REALLY IS. OR, HE WANTS US TO THINK THAT HE IS THAT ENGINE RED MONSTER HOLDING A PITCH FORK IN SOME PLACE CALLED HELL SO WE WONT SEE HIM WORKING SUBTLY IN OUR LIVES. THE END RESULT IS THAT WE WILL BE DISOBEDIENT TO THE LAW OF GOD.
ALL OF SATAN’S LIES CARRY US TO EXTREMES.
MATT. 7:13,14 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wideisthe gate, and broadisthe way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:14Because straitisthe gate, and narrowisthe way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.____________________________________________________________________
Powers POWERS REPRESENT DELEGATED AUTHORITY Rom. 13:1 Let every soul be subject unto the higherpowers. For there is no power but of God: the powersthat be are ordained of God.
Luke 12:11 And when they bring you unto the synagogues, anduntomagistrates, andpowers, take ye no thought how or what thing ye shall answer, or what ye shall say:
THOSE WITH DELEGATED AUTHORITY IN SATAN’S KINGDOM ARE DEMONS. Mark 5:9 And he asked him, Whatis thy name? And he answered, saying, My name is Legion: for we are many.
“In the Roman army a legion consisted of from three to five thousand men. Satan’s hosts also are marshaled into companies, and the single company to which these demons belonged numbered no less than a legion.” { 4SP 332.3 }Demons of: lust, pride, lying, stealing, laziness, etc.
THE GOAL OF SATAN’S DELEGATED AUTHORIEIS IS TO TEMPT US TO SIN AND VIOLATE GOD’S LAW. SINCE THEY ARE MARSHALED INTO COMPANIES AND EACH DEMON HAS HIS SPECIAL WORK, WE ARE THUS GUARANTEED THAT WE DON’T HAVE TO SIN._______________________________________________________________________________
Rulers of the Darkness SATAN IS LOOKING TO RULE OUR LIVES. HE WANTS TO EMPLOY FORCE TO COMMAND US TO OBEY HIS DICTATES
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Spiritual Wickedness Rom. 7:14 For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin.
This deals with total possession
When something is spiritual, it goes deep into heart issues. Because God’s law is spiritual, adultery includes looking at a woman for the purpose of lust and murder includes unrighteous anger according to Matthew 5:21-28. Therefore, spiritual wicknessness would be wickedness from the inner core of your heart. This is total possession. One can be delivered by Christ, but the demon will have to be cast out by the Lord for he has reached the high places of the heart.