The Cross and the Principalities and Powers

In light of the last thought I gave a devotional on, "Into Thy hands I commit My spirit," I would like to offer up some brief thoughts concerning the principalities and powers, and how they relate to the cross, especially in relation to the Lord.

The apostle Paul wrote, "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." (Ephesians 6:12, KJV) In this brief thought, Paul gives us a brief insight into "what's really going on" in this world. That is, there are wicked angelic forces in heavenly places that dominate the lives of men.

Having as their prince, the father of all lies, Satan, they feed on the thoughts of men so as to cause them to act like beasts rather than men created in the image of God. It is these forces whom we as Christians are really in opposition against. For being guided by the father of all lies, they cause men to believe lies so as to not believe the truth of the gospel. They are responsible for the veil that lies over the minds of many so as to darken them in their understanding. And the more they lie, and the more men believe their lies and act upon them, the darker things become.

However, in the cross of Jesus Christ Satan and his angels suffer defeat. For it was at the cross that Jesus proclaimed in His actions that everything they said was a lie. For on a cross one would expect to have no hope. There is no natural or rational reason to have hope on a cross. To be hanging on a cross means your life has come to an end. Yet our Lord hung on the cross, "for the joy set before Him." He never lost hope. Rather, against all the opposition of hell He believed the Lord that the God's holy one would not see decay, and that after three days He would be raised up. In that the Lord kept faith that He would shortly be raised.

And it is such a faith that ultimately all who would be a martyr people must possess. There is not a man or woman who has ever died by the hands of another for Christ's sake who did not posses this faith. A faith that says "though he slay me, yet will I trust Him." A faith that says that "they may kill my body, but the Lord will give me a new one, full of glory." It is a faith and confession that stands in violent opposition to the Satanic forces that rule this fallen world. For the Satanic forces would have you believe the lie that death is it, that there is no resurrection, and that there is no hope beyond the grave. They would have you believe what they say, instead of what God says.

But if such would ever become the confession of the church in a militant fashion, then perhaps we will indeed one day see the events of Revelation 12 take place, where the prince of this world is cast down from his throne, "because they loved not their lives unto death." For if you believe the lie, that this life is all there is, then you must shy away from the cross. But if you believe that there is something greater in store for us, then you will gladly embrace the cross, knowing that though they might kill you yet shall you live. And this is why a proper understanding of the cross is so crucial to the defeat of the principalities and powers. For if they cannot sway you in this one thing, then they shall not be able to sway you in anything else. For your life will no longer become dear unto yourself. Rather, you will be like the apostle Paul, willing to spend yourself and be spent, for the sake of the gospel.

A faith that says that "they may kill my body, but the Lord will give me a new one, full of glory." It is a faith and confession that stands in violent opposition to the Satanic forces that rule this fallen world.

King Jimmy, I believe that you have introduced a crucial topic, which can lead to many personal applications. After all, Ephesians 6:10ff (the Spiritual Armour of God) is not merely for those who live in persecuted countries or experience direct threats to their lives. The context of Ephesians would suggest otherwise.

In Ephesians Paul addresses racial barriers – hostile walls between Jews and Gentiles. However, he doesn’t stop there. He addresses everyday spiritual battles related to walls of division in our everyday relationships: our families, our churches, marriages, jobs. These are areas where we face constant threat to our sense of “self autonomy”. here is the spiritual war zone in which we dwell every day.

Our attempts to preserve our “beloved self” create no end of relational walls of division, barriers of hostility -such as cold love, pretence, trampling over others, passive compliance, etc. Even our pious endeavours and fine-sounding chatter can be nothing more than a mask for a wicked objective: self-preservation. And when our mask is threatened, we react with hostility or we deploy some sort of self-defence that puts a barrier between us and our brother or sister (family or church member).

if you believe the lie, that this life is all there is, then you must shy away from the cross.

There is no end of books, programs, or strategies that try to resolve this problem of division in human relationships. However, as long as they permit the preservation of our fallen nature, our temporary identities, ex racial/religions identity, status, etc or whatever defines us, they don’t work in the long run. We find ourselves constantly trying to put out fires. :evil: No wonder Paul wrote the Corinthian church:

"For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. 1 Cor. 2:2

Nothing but the cross would have solved their problems!

To me, what makes the cross-work so radical is that it demands a radical death! But that is the victory! The spiritual forces of evil have no power over something that is dead! On the contrary, they have power over what resists crucifixion - that which gives them "fodder": sinful desires (James 1:13-15).

The cross frees us to embrace a radical hope – one that no spiritual evil force can rob from us. PTL!

”I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. “ Galatians 2:20

Diane

Excellent Words both of you, Jimmy and Diane.

I had just finished my quiet time and working on some notes regarding the Lord's visit to the Syro-Phonecian woman, fresh from His confrontation with the Pharisees regarding their comfortable adherence to their traditions that allowed all the corruption on the inside to still live while outwardly doing the "right things". And then I came across this post... what a confirmation!

Not at all to take away from the original post, but my message was/is regarding a picture of the congregation that we aspire to be a part of described in the Revelation, and also the congregation described as the first one that viewed Pentecost... fellowship based on far more, or far less than all the pitiful traditions, outward trappings, so-called racial differences (there is but one race according to Paul), and numerous things that go into the making of human pride, the great divider... but a congregation of actual martyrs, and those with a martyr spirit, for whom the world has been crucified to them, and they to the world, that have that ONE GREAT THING that they know, that Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Son of Ruth the Moabitess, the Son of Rahab, the Son of Judah and all the rest of the representatives of sinful flesh, lived the Holy and Sinless life for us, became sin for us, and died for us, that we might be liberated from sin, reconciled to God and freed to live in true holiness and righteousness in this present wicked generation and shine as lights... shine as beacons of hope in the midst of a hopeless world.

God bless you, and may this sort of thread multiply on SI.

Clint

Amen. Such is why Paul called his gospel in 2 Corinthians the "ministry of reconciliation." For in it we are not only restored unto God, but likewise, the dividing wall is taken down between us, and we are reconciled to one another in Christ. This is inclusive of so many things. Of course, racial barriers are gone as now there is a new race of men in the earth Christ-ians. There are now no white churches, black churches, or mexican churches, only Christian churches.

Likewise, those with whom we have strife with, no matter the race or nationality, we can be brought to peace with. We can forgive those who are unforgivable, those who have wronged us in deep and painful ways.

Indeed, the cross is central to all of this. When the fragmented Corinthian church was falling apart, Paul appealed to the cross to be the source of unity for them. Paul wasn't crucified for you, was he? Thus, instead of being guilty of hero worship and developing little kingdoms within the kingdom, we gather in one kingdom around one King.

But such will ultimately involve picking up our crosses and bearing them. It might be hard to undo the racial prejudice and brainwashing that generations of demonic forces have instilled in us. It might be hard to forgive those who have abused and molested us. But, such is the nature of the cross. As A.W. Tozer pointed out, the cross kills you from head to toe. There isn't a part of your body that is spared. Your entire being is up on that cross. Part of you just doesn't die, but all of you.

TWO....two crosses.

AMEN!

I realize that in some measure, I'm "preaching to the Choir" here, but this is the flat ground of battle that Satan covets more than any other.

Indeed, for he would like us to make concessions and be practical so that we might avoid the hard thing.

Must Jesus bear the cross alone

Must Jesus bear the cross alone,
And all the world go free?
No, there’s a cross for everyone,
And there’s a cross for me.

How happy are the saints above,
Who once went sorrowing here!
But now they taste unmingled love,
And joy without a tear.

The consecrated cross I’ll bear
Till death shall set me free;
And then go home my crown to wear,
For there’s a crown for me.

Upon the crystal pavement down
At Jesus’ piercèd feet,
Joyful I’ll cast my golden crown
And His dear Name repeat.

O precious cross! O glorious crown!
O resurrection day!
When Christ the Lord from Heav’n comes down
And bears my soul away.

That made me shout :)

I realize that in some measure, I'm "preaching to the Choir" here,

Paul said, “…if I surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.” 1 Cor. 13:3

Clearly, there is a “cross” that is different from the one Christ called us to carry.

....two crosses.

And yet, Romans 6 speaks of one cross – the one we are united in by death. I think that if we refer to “two” crosses, we need to be aware that it could be interpreted in a way that leads to just that – MY OWN cross versus CHRIST’S cross. Many religions have their own version of “crosses to bear” - ex, Bhuddism calls for the surrender of desire. Even the Pharisees had their own kind of cross: after all, they did surrendered a lot of sinful desires and worldly pleasures. Today, many well-meaning Christians carry crosses that they are not called to carry.

Jesus said, “Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." Matt. 11:29-30

Jesus also said, “Anyone who does not carry his own cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.” Lk. 14:27

How do we distinguish between that “load” which we must carry and that “load” which Christ must bear for us through our union with him?

Diane

:-x

Paul addresses this spirit in Colossians 2:23...asceticism....the monastic spirit...

Indeed, "touch not, taste not, handle not" has often been the cry of many "holiness" preachers. Sadly, that verse has been so abused when ignored in context. While meaning well, self-abasement/mutilation is a counterfeit cross that ultimately has it's origins in hell. It causes man to forget that it is on the basis of the obedience of One (Romans 5) that we can be pleasing to God.

Sadly, there are sects out there that literally practice crucifixion reinactments, and are perfect demostrations of this counterfeit cross. Men think they are doing something spiritual, when in reality, they are just hurting themselves physically and spiritually. They think they are literally atoning for their sin. The same can be seen in various "reconciliation" movements out there that seek to "atone" for sins (especially within Judiasm), all apart from the cross of Jesus Christ.