I’m going to shoot straight with you: we live in a war zone. This world is not neutral. As believers, we are engaged in battle with the one who opposes our efforts to live a godly lifestyle-Satan. Have you ever wondered why there are so many references to warfare in the Bible?
This article explores the concept of spiritual warfare, emphasizing the importance of actively engaging with faith, resisting the enemy, and standing firm in the victory achieved by Jesus.
The Nature of the Battle
According to Ephesians 6, we aren’t called to fight the devil; instead, we resist him by standing firm in the power of the Lord. Through His ability, believers can overcome temptation, even when facing difficult circumstances.
Let's consider the key aspects of this battle:
- Spiritual: Paul isn’t talking about physical armor (v. 11). He speaks of “forces of wickedness in the heavenly places” (v. 12). Our current bodies are temporary but our spirits will last forever; it’s through them that we relate to God (John 4:24). Though Satan can’t change our eternal destiny, he’ll do all he can to interrupt our relationship with God while we’re on earth, drawing us away and making us unhappy and spiritually unproductive.
- Personal: Paul says, “Our struggle is not against flesh and blood” (Eph. 6:12). Struggle here can also mean wrestle, indicating one-on-one combat. Christians experience similar types of temptations, but the devil attacks and tempts each of us individually.
- Real: One of Satan’s tactics is to convince people that he doesn’t exist. Second Corinthians 4:4 says, “The god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving so that they will not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.” With such deception, the devil can easily execute his strategies of destruction. Although the Lord allows Satan to bring adversity, the Holy Spirit can enable us to walk through it victoriously, and even joyfully, as we trust in Him (James 1:2-4).
Why Do God's People Give In to Temptation?
As children of God, we are indwelt with the Holy Spirit. Why are believers still sometimes defeated in spiritual warfare?
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Here are some reasons:
- Ignorance of the battle. Many Christians aren’t even aware there is a war going on. They attribute the good or bad in their lives to luck.
- Denial of Satan’s existence. The devil is real: Jesus talked to him in the wilderness, cast out demons, and taught about the devil’s schemes. Christ would not have spoken of the adversary if he didn’t exist.
- Lack of training. It’s not enough to be saved. Scripture calls us to “suffer hardship … as a good soldier” (2 Tim. 2:3). Soldiers in faith need to learn how to use the weapons of spiritual warfare: the Word of God and prayer.
- The devil’s propaganda. Satan seeks to steal God’s glory and disrupt His kingdom. The evil one is always lying to us about what will satisfy. One of the ways he works is to make earthly goals, pleasures, and possessions so attractive that we are lured away from devotion to God.
- Spiritual landmines. God’s people sometimes fail to anticipate the danger zones they will face. But certain sins are like landmines; they take us by surprise and cause great damage. The devil says, “Just a little won’t hurt you,” but soon, we develop a dangerous habit or make a life-destroying decision.
- Inadequate biblical instruction. We call the Sunday morning service “worship,” but it’s also a time of learning. Sermons teach us principles to face the battle victoriously. Not attending church won’t cause us to lose our salvation, but spiritual knowledge and gathering with other Christians is an important part of preparing for spiritual warfare.
Sometimes people joke, “The devil made me do it.” We must assume responsibility for our sin. In reality, he can’t make a believer do anything.
The Armor of God
In my book, Stand, I take several chapters to explain the Armor of God, which is the supernatural protection we’ve been given to resist the enemy. Each piece represents an aspect of our identity and inheritance in Christ.
The armor of God is not meant to be just words we memorize, but actual truths that we clothe ourselves in that empower us to resist the schemes strategies of the evil one. The book of Ephesians teaches us that “when the day of evil comes,” we are to stand our ground and “put on the full armor of God.”
There is an engagement that takes place when we utilize the weapons the Lord has given us for victory. Consider, however: Upon what kind of church is the devil likely to launch such a full-throttled assault? Upon a calm and quiet church? Upon a church that keeps to its own business? Perhaps. The devil hates faith in Christ wherever he finds it. But his real dread is an advancing church.
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Strength and Authority in God
What gives us the power to resist sin?
- Believers have the strength of God. None of us can match Satan on our own; he’s too strong. He has been deceiving humans a long time, and he knows what tools and tricks to use. Our responsibility is to “be strong [continually empowered] in the Lord” (Eph. 6:10). We overcome in God’s strength, not ours.
- We have the authority of God. A police officer directs traffic using the government’s authority, not his or her own physical power. Similarly, you aren’t facing Satan alone; you can resist him in the power of Jesus’ authority. When we are walking according to the Spirit, we can command Satan to leave us in the power of Jesus’ name.
As believers, we can be strong and watch God fight our battles. We are called to put on our spiritual armor and then “stand firm” (Eph. 6:11). This is similar to what the Lord told Moses (Ex. 14:13), and centuries later, King Jehoshaphat: “You need not fight in this battle; take your position, stand and watch the salvation of the Lord” (2 Chron. 20:17). Although we are in a spiritual war, God doesn’t call us to fight with the devil. We are simply to be strong in the Lord and watch the miracles unfold.
Evangelism as an Offensive Weapon
Our Lord Jesus did not commission his disciples to hunker down and protect themselves, but to launch the world’s most epic offensive (Matthew 28:19-20). We are, first and foremost, not a church attacked, but a church attacking.
Consider the following points regarding evangelism:
- First, Paul hands this armor to the whole church, not just its pastors and evangelists.
- Second, Paul has in mind proactive, not merely reactive, evangelism. Christians who follow Jesus faithfully may indeed attract notice and even questions, and our gospel shoes make us ready for such moments (1 Peter 3:15). But the feet of God’s messengers are “beautiful” precisely because they “bring good news” (Isaiah 52:7), not because they offer it when asked. Such shoes send us to people and places we never would have approached otherwise.
- Third, faithful evangelism relies far more on will and desire than it does on methods.
Every faithful word you speak has the authority of the King behind it. Every hill you see will one day wave his flag.
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Table: Key Elements of Spiritual Warfare
| Element | Description |
|---|---|
| Nature of Battle | Spiritual, Personal, Real |
| Reasons for Defeat | Ignorance, Denial, Lack of Training, Propaganda, Landmines, Inadequate Instruction |
| Source of Strength | The Power of God |
| Weapon | Evangelism |