Spiritual Warfare
Spiritual Warfare
Satan is spirit, and his kingdom is a spiritual kingdom from which he conducts spiritual warfare.
To influence the physical realm, he has to work through people.
Spiritual warfare is warfare in the spiritual realm, a war involving every person on earth.
Spiritual warfare is not a physical battle between flesh and blood. It is not a war of man against man. It is invisible warfare in the spirit realm and is waged within every person.
“For we are not fighting against human beings but against the wicked spiritual forces in the heavenly world, the rulers, authorities, and cosmic powers of this dark age.” (Eph 6:12 GNB)
Spiritual warfare is much more than mere exorcism or deliverance.
In contrast to these, spiritual warfare also focuses on prevention, not just cure. Spiritual warfare includes all the processes required to prevent actual demonic problems.
Spirits do not have flesh and bones.
“Behold My hands and My feet, that I am He! Handle Me and see, for a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see Me have.” [Luk 24:39 MKJV]
Spiritual warfare is fought in four dimensions:
- Social-spiritual warfare between the believer and the world.
“If the world hates you, just remember that it has hated me first. If you belonged to the world, then the world would love you as its own. But I chose you from this world, and you do not belong to it; that is why the world hates you.” (Joh 15:18-19 GNB)
- Personal spiritual warfare between the flesh and the spirit of the believer.
“What I say is this: let the Spirit direct your lives, and you will not satisfy the desires of the human nature. For what our human nature wants is opposed to what the Spirit wants, and what the Spirit wants is opposed to what our human nature wants. These two are enemies, and this means that you cannot do what you want to do.” (Gal 5:16-17 GNB)
- Supernatural spiritual warfare between believers and evil spiritual powers.
“Put on all the armor that God gives you, so that you will be able to stand up against the Devil’s evil tricks. For we are not fighting against human beings but against the wicked spiritual forces in the heavenly world, the rulers, authorities, and cosmic powers of this dark age.” (Eph 6:11-12 GNB)
Physical spiritual warfare, with Satan launching arrows of sickness and disease towards your body.
Satan replied, “A person will give up everything in order to stay alive. But now suppose you hurt his body—he will curse you to your face!” So the LORD said to Satan, “All right, he is in your power, but you are not to kill him.” Then Satan left the LORD’s presence and made sores break out all over Job’s body. (Job 2:4-7 GNB)
Unbelievers and spiritual warfare.
Unbelievers belong to Satan’s world system.
They are knowingly or unknowingly supporting him in his attacks on believers. Their own nature blinds them, so they cannot discern the spiritual warfare that is taking place around them.
And so they were not able to believe, because Isaiah also said, “God has blinded their eyes and closed their minds, so that their eyes would not see, and their minds would not understand, and they would not turn to me, says God, for me to heal them.” (Joh 12:39-40 GNB)
“In the past you were spiritually dead because of your disobedience and sins. At that time you followed the world’s evil way; you obeyed the ruler of the spiritual powers in space, the spirit who now controls the people who disobey God. Actually all of us were like them and lived according to our natural desires, doing whatever suited the wishes of our own bodies and minds. In our natural condition we, like everyone else, were destined to suffer God’s anger.” (Eph 2:1-3 GNB)
Unbelievers are slaves to their human natures and are usually victims of spiritual warfare because Satan’s forces are known for fighting amongst themselves.
“And so people become enemies of God when they are controlled by their human nature; for they do not obey God’s law, and in fact they cannot obey it.” (Rom 8:7 GNB)
“What human nature does is quite plain. It shows itself in immoral, filthy, and indecent actions; in worship of idols and witchcraft. People become enemies and they fight, they become jealous, angry, and ambitious. They separate into parties and groups, they are envious, get drunk, have orgies, and do other things like these. I warn you now as I have before: those who do these things will not possess the Kingdom of God.” (Gal 5:19-21 GNB)
Believers and Spiritual Warfare
Believers, on the other hand, are not mere victims of spiritual warfare, as they have received the Holy Spirit in their lives, who will direct them away from their human natures.
What I say is this: “let the Spirit direct your lives, and you will not satisfy the desires of the human nature.” (Gal 5:16 GNB)
This creates a conflict in them that wasn’t there while they were still unbelievers.
“For what our human nature wants is opposed to what the Spirit wants, and what the Spirit wants is opposed to what our human nature wants. These two are enemies, and this means that you cannot do what you want to do.” (Gal 5:17 GNB)
They have been freed from bondage to their human natures and to sin, but they are still engaged as soldiers in spiritual warfare.
“The thief comes only in order to steal, kill, and destroy.” (Joh 10:10 GNB)
“Be alert, be on watch! Your enemy, the Devil, roams around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour.” (1Pe 5:8 GNB)
Spiritual warfare strategy
Spiritual warfare can only be effective if you correctly identify your enemy, understand his nature, and recognize his strategies.
As a spiritual soldier, you must first identify the enemy before engaging in spiritual warfare. You must study all available information on the enemies, their natures, and their strategies. If you are to wage effective spiritual warfare, you must learn how to successfully deal with spiritual powers that desire to obsess, oppress, or possess your body, soul, and spirit. You should know that they are not flesh and blood. They are spiritual beings filled with wickedness.
Satan fights to maintain control of his worldly kingdom. He does not want it to come under God’s authority. This spiritual warfare rages within the hearts, minds, souls, and spirits of both believers and unbelievers. Satan darkens the minds of unbelievers and attacks the believers in the areas of fellowship, worship, their daily walk with God, and their ministry for God.
No one is exempt from spiritual warfare.
You cannot view it from a distance. You are in the midst of conflict, whether you believe it or not. If you think it will become better, you are wrong! Spiritual warfare never ceases.