As believers in Jesus Christ we are fighting against the Principalities and Powers of this world. We cannot fight with the methods of the world. We must wrestle in the manner in which Christ wrestled, in the power of the Spirit.

1. Wrestling In A Dark World
John 15:18–16:4, Eph. 6:12-13
By David Turner
www.BibleStudies-Online.com

5. Ephesians 6:10–13 (ESV)
10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength
of his might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that
you may be able to stand against the schemes of
the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and
blood, but against the rulers, against the
authorities, against the cosmic powers over this
present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil
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 firm.

6. Ephesians 6:10–13 (ESV)
10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength
of his might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that
you may be able to stand against the schemes of
the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and
blood, but against the rulers, against the
authorities, against the cosmic powers over this
present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil
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 firm.

7. Ephesians 6:10–13 (ESV)
10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength
of his might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that
you may be able to stand against the schemes of
the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and
blood, but against the rulers, against the
authorities, against the cosmic powers over this
present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil
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 firm.

8. Are We Wrestling or Resting?
• Have I adopted a Cultural Christianity or a
Cross-Centered Christianity?
• Has the world become more Christian, or
have I become more worldly?
• Do I attempt to use the world to wrestle
against the world?

9. John 15:18–16:4
18 “If the world hates you, know that it has hated
me before it hated you. 19 If you were of the world,
the world would love you as its own; but because
you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the
world, therefore the world hates you. 20 Remember
the word that I said to you: ‘A servant is not greater
than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will
also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will
also keep yours. 21 But all these things they will do
to you on account of my name, because they do not
know him who sent me.

10. 22 If I had not come and spoken to them, they
would not have been guilty of sin, but now they
have no excuse for their sin. 23 Whoever hates
me hates my Father also. 24 If I had not done
among them the works that no one else did,
they would not be guilty of sin, but now they
have seen and hated both me and my Father.
25 But the word that is written in their Law must
be fulfilled: ‘They hated me without a cause.’

11. 26 “But when the Helper comes, whom I will send to you
from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from
the Father, he will bear witness about me. 27 And you also
will bear witness, because you have been with me from
the beginning.
16 “I have said all these things to you to keep you from
falling away. 2 They will put you out of the synagogues.
Indeed, the hour is coming when whoever kills you will
think he is offering service to God. 3 And they will do
these things because they have not known the Father, nor
me. 4 But I have said these things to you, that when their
hour comes you may remember that I told them to you.

12. Why Do We Wrestle The World?
Because the World Hates Us.
–Because it hates Jesus (5:18).
–Because we’re not one of them (5:19).
–Because we’re identified with Christ (5:20).
–Because they don’t know God (5:21).

13. The World Hates Us because It hates
Jesus
18 “If the world hates you, know that it has
hated me before it hated you.
How do we know who the world is? Who hated
(Hates) Jesus?
– Paul defines the head as “Rulers over this Present
Darkness” (political, religious, philosophical, etc.).
– Sometimes they redefine Jesus, worshiping a
Messiah made up by man, while hating the Jesus
of the Bible.

14. The World hates us because we’re not
one of them (5:19).
18 “If the world hates you, know that it has
hated me before it hated you. 19 If you were of
the world, the world would love you as its own;
but because you are not of the world, but I
chose you out of the world, therefore the world
hates you.

15. The World hates us because we’re
identified with Christ (5:20).
20 Remember the word that I said to you: ‘A
servant is not greater than his master.’ If they
persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If
they kept my word, they will also keep yours.
• Persecute – means to chase down.
• Why are we persecuted?
– We are his servant.
– Are you hated because you’re Christ’s servant, or
because your jerk?

16. The World hates us because they don’t
God (5:21).
21 But all these things they will do to you on
account of my name, because they do not know
him who sent me.

17. How do we know they Don’t know
God?
Because they have rejected Jesus’ words.
22 If I had not come and spoken to them, they
would not have been guilty of sin, but now they
have no excuse for their sin. 23 Whoever hates
me hates my Father also.
• Excuse – Lit. a “cloak”. Jesus’ words takes their
sin out from behind the cloak. Can’t hide sin
behind ignorance.

18. How do we know they Don’t know
God?
Because they have rejected Jesus’ works.
24 If I had not done among them the works that no
one else did, they would not be guilty of sin, but
now they have seen and hated both me and my
Father.
John 3:1–2 Now there was a man of the Pharisees
named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. This man
came to Jesus by night and said to him, “Rabbi, we
know that you are a teacher come from God, for no
one can do these signs that you do unless God is
with him.”

19. How do we know they Don’t know
God?
Because they did not know and esteem the
Scriptures.
25 But the word that is written in their Law must
be fulfilled: ‘They hated me without a cause.’
Psalm 69:4 More in number than the hairs of my
head are those who hate me without cause;
mighty are those who would destroy me,
those who attack me with lies. What I did not
steal must I now restore?

20. If the World rejects:
–The Scriptures
–Jesus’ Works
–Jesus’ Words
–Jesus
–The Father
Why should you be surprised if the world
rejects you?

21. If The Wrestling Match With the World
Seems Overwhelming:
Don’t be alarmed. The Helper will testify
of me.
26 “But when the Helper comes, whom I will
send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth,
who proceeds from the Father, he will bear
witness about me.

22. If The Wrestling Match With the World
Seems Overwhelming:
The Helper will help you will testify of me.
27 And you also will bear witness, because you
have been with me from the beginning.
Keep Wrestling by:
– Telling the world what I’ve told you.
– Telling the world what you’ve seen me do.
– Telling the world what the Scripture says.
– Telling the world who I am.

23. Why Are We Warned?
16 “I have said all these things to you to keep
you from falling away.
Eph 6 10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the
strength of his might. 11 Put on the whole
armor of God, that you may be able to stand
against the schemes of the devil.

24. Who Is the World?
Don’t be surprised to learn that the world isn’t just
atheists, agnostics, humanists, or liberals.
2 They will put you out of the synagogues. Indeed,
the hour is coming when whoever kills you will
think he is offering service to God. 3 And they will
do these things because they have not known the
Father, nor me.
Those who are seeking to persecute and kill Christ’s
followers may perceive themselves as doing
God’s will.

25. There will come a time to stand.
They will have “Their hour”, “the evil day”
4 But I have said these things to you, that when
their hour comes you may remember that I
told them to you.
Eph. 10:13 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
firm.

26. Jesus’ Day Came and He Stood His Ground
and Won the War against the World.
John 16:33 I have said these things to you,
that in me you may have peace. In the
world you will have tribulation. But take
heart; I have overcome the world.”

27. The time is coming for Us to take a
stand.
Eph 6:12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and
blood, but against the rulers, against the
authorities, against the cosmic powers over this
present darkness, against the spiritual forces of
evil 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 firm.

28. Are you prepared for battle?