Paul tells us that our battle is not against flesh and blood, but against rulers (not temporal) and authorities ... and spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. These are strongholds. As the Israelites were about to invade a land of fortified cities, so any Christian who moves out into the community and seeks to evangelize and tell the Good News is going to encounter spiritual forces who do not want to give up ground. We should not shrink away, for we have the armor of God that helps.
