Spiritual Warfare

Spiritual warfare is a topic that many Christians struggle to understand. Some attribute every hardship to the devil, while others dismiss his influence altogether. This blog delves into the reality of spiritual warfare—what it is, how it manifests, and its impact on our daily walk with the Spirit.

Hello Everyone,

I briefly touched on this subject in the series Angels and the Spiritual Realm. In this blog, I’d like to explore the demonic aspect of the spiritual realm and how it affects us as Christians.

In the well-known sixth chapter of Ephesians, Paul reminds us that we are engaged in a spiritual battle. This conflict involves powers and authorities in the heavenly realms, but its effects are also felt in the physical world.

Let’s explore the struggle and see what it means to us in a practical sense.

The Blood Of Jesus

However, some misconceptions arise when discussing Christ’s victory over sin, death, and Satan—especially regarding spiritual warfare. While Jesus’ resurrection undeniably secured our victory over these forces, some Believers take this to mean we have direct power over them in ways Scripture does not explicitly support. For instance, some “plead the blood of Jesus” over sickness, trouble, and adversity, often attributing every hardship to Satan. Yet, the Bible teaches that Believers are influenced not only by the devil but also by the world and the flesh.

Notably, Scripture never mentions the practice of pleading the blood of Jesus. Those who engage in this ritual sometimes treat His blood as a weapon, wielding it as if it grants them personal authority over Satan. This approach can foster an attitude of arrogance, leading some to believe they can directly engage in battle with the enemy simply by invoking Christ’s blood. While the blood of Jesus is central to our redemption and victory, its application should align with biblical truth rather than tradition or assumption.

What Is Spiritual Warfare?

Satan’s attacks on Christians reveal the depth of our relationship with God. He targets Believers because they are precious to God, and in doing so, he seeks to strike at what matters most to the Him. These attacks are Satan's attempt to hurt God by going after those He loves.

Contrary to what some might imagine, Satan does not typically manifest in obvious horrors like chainsaw-wielding murderers or grotesque, bloodthirsty creatures lurking in the shadows. Instead, he operates in the light through what appears to be attractive, desirable, and beneficial—subtly drawing us away from God’s path. His primary weapon is temptation, not direct confrontation. While temptation can lead to spiritual downfall, it is not the same as spiritual warfare. Understanding this distinction is crucial: resisting temptation is part of our spiritual walk, but true spiritual warfare involves standing firm against the enemy’s deception, accusations, and schemes that seek to undermine our faith.

His goal is to take away our hope. He will bolster that discouragement in any way he can via spiritual and secular methods. The weight will be subtle but heavy:

• You’ve been praying for your drug addict son to be delivered from drugs, but he’s currently in the emergency room of your hospital being treated for a drug overdose.
• You are barely making it financially. Your manager pulls you into their office and tells you the company will lay off some people, and you are in the first cut.
• You are a married woman with a deep respect for your Pastor. During a private counseling session with him, he makes a pass at you.
• Your automobile mechanic tells you your car will need a new transmission costing $3,800. You have $121.38 in your checking account.
• Your wife, the love of your life, tells you she’s leaving you for another man.
• Your daughter tells you she’s a lesbian.
• Unanswered Prayers

There are a myriad of things that bring discouragement to our lives. Satan is fully aware of our hopes, fears, and situations. In spiritual warfare, he uses his intimate knowledge of us to crush us with disappointment, oftentimes with multiple events.

The attack will almost always come to you from out of the blue. It will be inopportune and unexpected. It will make your heart heavy and take your breath away.

How Do You Do Battle?

Final Thoughts

The devil is an opportunist. He takes advantage of our weakened state, often a state orchestrated by him. Many Christians see the devil in everything bad, but that's not necessarily true. Evil also comes from our flesh and the world (James 1:14). Some troubles, like hurricanes, come because of the curse.

The point is that the devil is strategic in his attack. He is also subtle. We usually don’t recognize we are under attack until we are completely surrounded and fully engaged. The quintessential ingredients of a spiritual attack are always discouragement and disappointment. If you are experiencing either or both of those things, you are under attack and need to take the steps listed above.

God Bless!

Mark