Question 1

Is spiritual warfare a reality?

Accepted Answer

Genesis 3:1The serpent was the shrewdest of all the wild animals the Lord God had made. One day he asked the woman, “Did God really say you must not eat the fruit from any of the trees in the garden?”Matthew 4:1Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted there by the devil.From the beginning of time and from the beginning of Jesus’ own ministry, the Bible clearly teaches that human beings are involved in a spiritual battle. Far from excluding or protecting us from spiritual battles, our faith puts us right in the midst of them. Those who fail to realize and plan for this put themselves in jeopardy.

Question 2

What does the Bible say about spiritual warfare?

Accepted Answer

Ephesians 6:11-12Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.Spiritual warfare requires preparation—through prayer, unwavering faith, and knowledge of biblical truth—to defeat our spiritual enemy.1 Peter 5:8Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour.We must be alert at all times for the sneak attacks of the devil.James 4:7So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.Philippians 2:10At the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth.When we resist the devil in the name and power of Jesus, he will flee from us. At the name of Jesus, Satan has no power.Matthew 4:1-4Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted there by the devil. For forty days and forty nights he fasted and became very hungry. During that time the devil came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become loaves of bread.” But Jesus told him, “No! The Scriptures say, ‘People do not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”When under attack by Satan, Jesus relied on the word of God to combat the lies of his adversary.

Question 3

How does spiritual warfare affect me?

Accepted Answer

1 Peter 5:8-9Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. Stand firm against him, and be strong in your faith. Remember that your family of believers all over the world is going through the same kind of suffering you are.The purpose of evil is to defy God and to wear down believers until they are led into sin. This gives Satan pleasure and greater power on earth. Therefore, we must be alert at all times for both the sneak attacks and the frontal assaults of the evil one. Eventually, God will destroy the power of evil for all time. Until that day, we must overcome evil by choosing to obey God.Genesis 3:1The serpent was the shrewdest of all the wild animals the Lord God had made. One day he asked the woman, “Did God really say you must not eat the fruit from any of the trees in the garden?”John 8:44“For you [teachers of religious law in Jesus’ day] are the children of your father the devil, and you love to do the evil things he does. He was a murderer from the beginning. He has always hated the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, it is consistent with his character; for he is a liar and the father of lies.”Satan’s first tactic is to distort teachings about God’s Word. If he can raise suspicion about the integrity of Scripture or religious teaching, he can get us to question God’s will and intentions for us. We should study the Bible so we know it well enough to recognize the lies that come in the guise of cultural worldviews, and also sometimes in the form of religious teachings.1 Chronicles 21:1Satan rose up against Israel and caused David to take a census of the people of Israel.Zechariah 4:6Then he said to me, “This is what the Lord says to Zerubbabel: It is not by force nor by strength, but by my Spirit, says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.”Satan’s strategy in spiritual warfare often involves getting us to rely on ourselves and not on God, who is the true source of our power. Satan will tempt us to rely on our own resources—on the tangible, measurable assets we can count. While it is wise to understand our resources, it is unwise to think that our ultimate security is in them. David’s census at the end of 2 Samuel involved taking an inventory of his military might, which was in direct contradiction to his experience of God’s provision and protection throughout his life. God had warned David against this, but he fell to the temptation to trust in his own resources.Matthew 4:3-9During that time the devil came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become loaves of bread.” . . . Then the devil took him to the holy city, Jerusalem, to the highest point of the Temple, and said, “If you are the Son of God, jump off! . . . ” Next the devil took him to the peak of a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. “I will give it all to you,” he said, “if you will kneel down and worship me.”In spiritual battle, we may be tempted by offers of personal gain, pride, or power. Note that twice Satan attempted to make Jesus doubt his own identity by saying “If you are the Son of God. . .” He will try this same tactic with us, causing us to doubt our relationship with God.

Question 4

In spiritual warfare, how do I fight back??

Accepted Answer

Matthew 4:4, 7, 10Jesus told him, “No! The Scriptures say, ‘People do not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” . . . Jesus responded, “The Scriptures also say, ‘You must not test the Lord your God.’” . . . “Get out of here, Satan,” Jesus told him. “For the Scriptures say, ‘You must worship the Lord your God and serve only him.’”Psalm 119:11I have hidden your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.Ephesians 6:17Take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.Hebrews 4:12The word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires.Our best offensive weapon is the word of God. It’s odd to think of the Bible as a weapon, but in it, God reveals his plan of attack and defense against anyone or anything that tries to bring us down. It contains our battle plan; if we don’t read it, we won’t know how to fight the battle that literally determines our destiny, here on earth and for eternity. Only by knowing who we are fighting, where the battle is, and how to defend ourselves will we be able to win. It is vital to read God’s Word as regularly as possible. This weapon will send Satan running for cover and leave him defenseless.Ephesians 6:10-18A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places. Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm. Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness. For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared. In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil. Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.When a dog threatens, it will chase if we run. But if we stand our ground, the dog will usually back down. The same principle applies in spiritual warfare. We are to stand our ground because we have the power of Jesus Christ with us. We should see beyond our human antagonists to the spiritual enemy, who often works through unaware parties. We should prepare ourselves with the resources God provides and count on God’s protection, not our own intellect or cleverness.Daniel 10:12-14Then he said, “Don’t be afraid, Daniel. Since the first day you began to pray for understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your request has been heard in heaven. I have come in answer to your prayer. But for twenty-one days the spirit prince of the kingdom of Persia blocked my way. Then Michael, one of the archangels, came to help me, and I left him there with the spirit prince of the kingdom of Persia. Now I am here to explain what will happen to your people in the future, for this vision concerns a time yet to come.”While this is a difficult passage, it is reveals the reality of spiritual warfare and resistance that goes on in the unseen spiritual world. More important, it shows how our prayers somehow work with God’s power to triumph. Through prayer and knowing Scripture, we can tap into God’s powerful defenses rather than being limited by our rational and finite thinking.

Spiritual Warfare