In spiritual warfare, how do I fight back??

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.