Written by Paul J Bucknell on May, 02, 2026
Discerning Light and Dark Powers | Ephesians 6:10-12
I would like to know, as far as the scripture is concerned, or you know, can demons or witchcraft destroy an airplane, causing it to fall from the sky? Can they destroy bridges, making them collapse? Do they have the power to destroy your work?
There are many aspects to addressing your insightful question about the interaction between the material and spiritual worlds. Please be patient as I outline the main points. We can only understand dark powers when we first grasp God’s own power. I’m glad you mentioned the Scriptures as the guiding reference. I will provide specific answers to your question by using Ephesians 6:10-12 as a solid foundation for a thorough understanding.
10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. (Eph 6:10-12)
There are many insights about dark spiritual forces from these verses. Verse 10 tells us to trust in the Lord in whatever dark situations we find ourselves in. The Lord is our strength and oversees our circumstances. Verse 11 discusses our role in fighting against the evil one. We do not sit idle but put on the full armor of God. The devil has schemes, including using people to deceive us and lead us to trust their false guidance. Verse 12 reveals that the real struggle is not with people but with wicked spiritual forces that we cannot see. The witch doctor or priest of a false religion is not our enemy, even if they seek to do us harm for their profit.
Let’s go through each essential truth and apply additional truths under each heading.
1. Trust Fully in God (Eph 6:10)
“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might” (6:10).
From the Book of Job, we learn that Satan can at times gain power to influence the weather, climate, and even evil people like the Chaldeans who attacked Job’s possessions (Job 1:13-19). Demons and humans under Satan’s evil powers can perform these acts, just as angels carry out God’s commands. In each situation, when having God’s permission, Satan intentionally causes disastrous incidents regarding Job’s family. Even the good deeds the devil occasionally promises ultimately lead to evil. Opposite to God, he always desires the worst for humanity.
This trouble was not due to Job’s character; the Scriptures clearly attest to his righteousness. But under some circumstances, God will permit evil to come. Like Job, we won’t have any inside information about why it happens. The Scriptures tell us that the evil one was responsible for these calamities.
However, each act of destruction occurs under the oversight of God Almighty. Should we be worried? Absolutely not. As believers in Christ, Satan cannot, even if we lose everything else, steal our souls (Rev 7:3; Rev 13:8). Be concerned about earthly troubles, but focus primarily on our eternal lives. But if we are not under Jesus Christ’s protection, then we are already under Satan’s control. Judgment awaits all before His Majesty. Believe in the Lord Jesus and be saved. Find eternal life in Christ.
God ultimately promises to care for those who trust Him. We therefore can stand firm and fully trust Him.
2. Our Part in the Spiritual Battle (Eph 6:11)
“Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil” (Eph 6:11).
Believers do not have permission to approach their circumstances without caution, however. This verse is one of many verses calling us to be fully alert by putting on our spiritual armor. We should not settle for just one piece; we should carefully ensure the entire armor is properly worn. Only then can we stand firm against the schemes of the devil. Our alertness stems from understanding the devil’s schemes, not from some witch doctor who has no power on his own. Satan seeks to devour us; be sober-minded (1 Pet 5:8)!
So, Satan uses his demons, who are fallen angels, to control situations that God allows and people he influences. Notice how Jesus said earlier, “The Son of Man is to be delivered into the hands of men, and they will kill Him” (Mark 9:31). While people carried out the killing of Christ on the cross, it was the evil one who plotted it all. The evil one loves to whisper dangers and frightening thoughts to scare us into his devious traps. Satan uses people, but they have no ultimate power or wisdom. Jesus instructs us to pray:
“And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil” (Mat 6:13).
Keep watching and praying that you may not enter into temptation; the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak” (Mat 26:41).
I share these thoughts because we need a deeper understanding of why it’s important to stay alert in God’s Word and prayer. When we carefully put on all our armor, we can remain strong, even if we lose all our possessions (1 Pet 1:6-9).
3. Insight into Dark Enemy Forces (Eph 6:12)
“For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places” (Eph 6:12).
When we carefully examine Ephesians (also Eph 2:2), we gain insight into numerous dark powers. Paul describes the different, yet related, groups in four ways. Great powers of darkness exist, and yet, being under the protection of Jesus Christ, and being raised to the heavenly places on Christ’s right hand (Eph 2:5-6), all fear is stripped away. This same knowledge leaves unbelievers in a terrible plight; they don’t have Christ as Savior and are fully under the evil one’s power, but the danger they have now is nothing compared to suffering with the devil in the Lake of Fire (Rev 20:15).
The Battle in Action
How is the material world linked to the spiritual world? We don’t have all the answers. We are not entirely sure how angels exert their powers, or, for that matter, how the devil and demons carry out their ways. The limited knowledge we have, however, is enough to call us to stand firm. The question about demons or witchcraft being able to destroy airplanes, bridges, or our personal work needs to be understood carefully.
First, realize that if we stand in faith, protected from the evil one in Christ, we might lose possessions, friends, and work (as in William Carey’s Bible translations being destroyed in a fire). But in Christ, we always have the sure promise of victory. No loss is absolute, for God has all eternity and great wisdom to make up for temporary setbacks. God the Father had great delight in Jesus’ faithful work and rewarded Him.
The diviner or witch doctor has little, if any, involvement in the destruction of bridges or planes being destroyed. Such people hint that they hold greater influence than they do, largely through secret knowledge. It is better to see the destruction of a bridge as negligence, failure to properly erect or maintain it, rather than the devil simply causing it to fall. However, demons can influence men to do their work improperly. They may tempt the workers to cut corners financially by using inferior materials in the bridge’s construction.
No doubt a swirl of demons can also work through a willing terrorist to destroy a bridge with bombs or drones. In other words, the evil one might work through a witch doctor’s clever words to act on a wicked plan. If the witch doctor has any part in this, it would be to put dark schemes into people’s minds.
In a general way, I would answer no to your question; witches have no such power, but they can connect to evil powers that do. There might be some knowledge, possibly received through a dream or a seance, about what the devil is plotting to do. The diviner, in turn, passes this knowledge on to them so that they can use the secret information to create fear and gain influence and money. This is the same with priests and their idols. (Actually, any mysterious power associated with demons is either made up or linked to associated demons.)
Some people can connect to the dark realm; they are not in control. Instead, the evil one uses them to carry out his malicious plans. Think of this in a parallel relationship to how believers seek God’s grace through prayer. Our pursuit of God aligns our desires through persistent prayer, with the goal of receiving a response from Him. God works through us to accomplish His purpose. We cannot do anything on our own.
Final Thoughts on Witch Doctors
There are many aspects to this larger question on the power of witch doctors, but we are urged to strengthen believers’ full trust in God to watch over them. Yes, we can stand firm. We will not understand everything, even as Job, Joseph, and Jesus suffered greatly through the evil one’s work and desires. But, and we can say with full confidence, that God also cares for us as we trust Him. When we commit our work to the Lord, He can create and take away (Job 1:21). However, I still do my best to stay on guard. For example, I still make numerous digital backups of our resources and pray for His protection. But even here, my hope is daily entrusted to Him to work through me to glorify Him. I trust Him not only for the final outcome but also for its effects and rewards. My trust is in Him to care for me when I faithfully care for what He has put in front of me. My work is God’s work.
Let me conclude with an illustration. What if a pastor is powerfully used of the Lord, but gets careless and starts boasting about what is done? He is tempted to fake greater success by boasting, but then the lie is revealed, and he faces disgrace. The church faces a terrible division; numerous people don’t want anything to do with this unfaithful servant. But what if, at the same time, someone came to a witch doctor and paid money so that the man would come to evil. The witch doctor uses his devices to cause evil. When it happens, he and others see it as his power, but, truly, it is not the witch doctor, but the uncareful steward of God’s Word who did not heed the warning about living a humble life. This can happen with anger, bitterness, pride, lust, and so on. Dark forces creep in when we put down our shield of godly character.
Maybe Christ will soon return. At that time, we will, as believers, face all sorts of deception, even powerful signs by the Beast. We are strongly warned of them, and this time. We are to persevere, even if we lose all things. Many will lose their lives. It looks like the terrible Beast has all power, and yet, he will falter and be slain upon Jesus’ return. We never need to live in fear. Faith is the assurance that God will work through the worst of times to bring about a wonderful end. We simply follow Jesus.
Final Spiritual Advice
So, if there is a witch doctor trying to get money from a brother to protect him, we are to resolutely refuse—even though he seems to have some powers or secret knowledge (Acts 13:4-12). We believe in the King of Kings and live under His power. “For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen” (Mat 6:13). “For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins” (Col 1:13-14).
Instead, train your people to learn how to pray, state aloud, and affirm that they belong to God. Here is a brief statement/prayer one can make as a genuine believer when speaking with a witch doctor or the sort. You will notice that I also boldly proclaim the Gospel to the one trying to cause fear in me.
I now belong to God because of the living and resurrected Jesus Christ, who has bought me with His blood and delivered me from darkness into the kingdom of His beloved Son. I have turned from the domain of darkness and instead entrust my life, work, and loved ones to Jesus Christ to protect and keep us. Meanwhile, for you, I pray that God would open your eyes and help you see how you will soon perish in darkness if you don’t believe in the Lord Jesus. He can also save you, deliver you from your sin and the dark powers around you, and bring you into His love forever for His glory. In Jesus Name, I live and pray.
Assignment
1. Review Joshua and Judges to see how many problems occurred because God’s people failed to live uprightly and follow His clear commands.
2. Read through 1 Samuel 5-7 and observe how people viewed their gods’ powers, or ‘luck’, from having the ark with them. How did God ultimately persuade the Philistines?
3. Study Ephesians 6:16 and consider a few ways to take up the shield of faith. What benefit does it provide? “In addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one” (Eph 6:16).
Study Questions
- According to Ephesians 6:10, where does the believer’s strength come from, and why is that important when facing fear?
- What does Ephesians 6:11 teach about the believer’s responsibility in spiritual battle?
- How does Ephesians 6:12 help Christians distinguish between human opponents and unseen spiritual forces?
- What lessons from Job help us understand Satan’s destructive activity under God’s oversight?
- Why is fear-based dependence on witch doctors, idols, or spiritual manipulators incompatible with trust in Christ?
- What are practical ways believers can take up the shield of faith when threatened by fear or spiritual intimidation?
- How can Christians proclaim the Gospel confidently to those who claim occult power or try to control others through fear?
