In his first letter to the Thessalonians, Paul wrote that twice he had tried to come to visit and minister to the church there, “but Satan hindered us” (1Thess.2:18). The Greek word for hindered is EGKOPTO and was originally used to describe a road that was so deteriorated and broken up that it was impassable, forcing a person to turn around, go back, and try another way to get to the desired destination. The pictures that come to my mind are of the mudslides and rockslides that often occur on California highways. Paul related that twice he had sought to come to Thessalonica and was hindered, not by washed out road, or rocks or trees fallen on the roadway, but by hindrance from Satan!
EGKOPTO was also used in Greek in an athletic sense to portray the moment when a runner comes alongside another runner and literally elbows him out of the race. Although the second runner was running a good race, out in front, he was knocked out of the way by the other runner’s aggressive action. As a result, he loses the lead he previously had. This is how Paul perceived Satan’s tactics. He believed that Satan had specifically engineered unforeseen and unanticipated actions to keep him from getting to the Thessalonian church.
He wrote the same thing to the Roman believers: “Often times I purposed to come unto you, but hitherto was let” (Rom.1:13). The term for let is the same as hindered. In the final chapter, Paul described the signs and miracles that accompanied his ministry in order for him to successfully preach the gospel, but these came with adversarial opposition: “For which cause also I have been much hindered from coming to you” (Rom.15:22).
Clearly, we have an adversary, Satan, who launches tactics against those who preach the gospel to try to stop their progress and success. But he also seeks to hinder — to elbow off course — the saints! Paul wrote to the Galatians: “You did run well — who did hinder you that you should not obey the truth?” (Gal.5:7).
Not “what” — but “who.” The who is Satan. The who are hindering spirits.
So where do they come from? How do they operate?
Ministering Spirits
Psalm 104:4 tells us that God has “ministering spirits who are as a flaming fire.” Hebrews 1:7 & 14 explains “they are angels who are sent forthto minister to the heirs of salvation.” These ministering spirits are sent forth from God to assist us, to aid us, to come to our rescue in time of need. We are told in Psalm 34:7: “The angels of the Lord encamp round about them that fear him, and deliver them.” Psalm 91:11-12 assures us: “He will give his angels charge over thee to keep in all thy ways. They will bear the up in their own hands, lest you should dash your foot against a stone.”
And in Psalm 103:20-21 we are informed that these angels “are mighty in power and excel in strength, and they hearken to the voice of his word, to do his pleasure” (His will). We are talking about powerful beings, ministering spirits, whom God sends to watch over us, guard us, and to intervene on our behalf supernaturally in time of danger.
But there are also hindering spirits that Satan dispatches who hearken to his command, and he sends them forth to hinder us. We know that when Lucifer fell, one-third of the angels fell with him (Ezekiel 28:16-18, Rev. 12:4 & 9). Ezekiel revealed the behind-the-scenes activity of Lucifer’s demise. Once he had corrupted himself through pride of heart, which was a result of his self-focus on his extraordinary beauty, he set about to slander God to the angels (Isa.14:13-14, 1 Tim.3:6). He succeeded in convincing one-third of them to join his rebellion. When he was overthrown and cast out of Heaven like a flash of lightning, his co-conspirators were cast out with him (Lk.10:18).
When these “ministering spirits – angels” fell, they did not lose their “training”, but are now allied with Satan to withstand God’s ministering spirits and to hinder God’s kingdom on earth and the preaching of the Gospel. They seek to harass, to vex, to discourage, and prevent us from running our race in fulfilling our calling in Christ. They relentlessly endeavor to come alongside us and evil-elbow us off course. But the good news is:
There are more for us than are against us! (Rom.8:31, 2Kings 6:16).
We are not ignorant of Satan’s devices (2Cor.2:11). The Greek word for devices is noema and means “thoughts.” We are not ignorant of the way our adversary thinks or the mind games he plays.
We know not to give him any place through unforgiveness of heart or unsanctified speech (Eph. 4:27).
We have the whole armor of God, whereby we are able to stand against all the wiles of the devil (Eph.6:11). The Greek word for wiles is methodos and means in the literal sense “with a road.” The idea is to have a mapped-out planned destination, which in this case is eternal destruction. Satan wants to elbow us off course, knowing all other roads lead to Hell.
But if we do find ourselves being elbowed by hindering spirits, we don’t have to give up and quit the race. We can and must rise up, get back in the race, overtake the enemy, and elbow him out of our way. Paul gave us his method to victory in 1Cor.9:24-27: “So run that you may obtain (the prize). And every man that strives for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown (refers to the laurel wreathes given at the Olympics), but we an incorruptible.”
The term temperate means “to have self-control” which is a fruit of the Spirit (Gal.5:23). He recognized that one way hindering spirits can operate against us is through our uncrucified flesh. This is why he said, “I die daily” (1Cor.15:31). This is not a passive state of being. It requires vigilance, self-control, and even discomfort. Paul said, “I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beats the air (shadow boxing). But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection…”
Very strong words! Can I tell you the literal meaning of this? What Paul said is: “I beat my body black and blue.” These are pugilist terms referring to boxing. He did not mutilate himself, of course, but in prayer, fasting, denying fleshly lusts, and speaking God’s Word, he knocked out the opposing forces of his flesh and allowed his renewed spirit to have the ascendency in his life. Anything that can give Satan an opportunity to give us the evil elbow must be put under!
Whenever you make an effort to mount up spiritually, to strengthen your prayer life, to read and study the Word more, to fast, to attend church more, and you keep getting that push back again and again, you are probably experiencing the activity of hindering spirits. Don’t be defeated by discouragement or weariness in well-doing. It is a good idea to join with other strong believers in the prayer of authority through agreement.
Paul was certainly not shy about asking for prayer for himself and for doors to be opened to the Gospel that were closed to him. And it worked! He wrote in 1Cor.16:9: “For a great door and effectual is opened unto me, and there are many adversaries.” There are many hindering spirits, but through unified prayer and declaring God’s Word, there are many more ministering spirits sent forth from God to open doors no man can open and no man can close!
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