So what is SPIRITUAL WARFARE exactly?  
 

Ephesians 6:12- For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.

 

The phrase SPIRITUAL WARFARE means a battle against things that are supernatural.  It means to fight or wage war against or for things that are spiritual in nature.

 

 

2 Corinthians 10:3- For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. 4 For the weapons of our WARFARE are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. 5 We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ, 6 being ready to punish every disobedience, when your obedience is complete.

 

The weapons we use to FIGHT against these forces are SPIRITUAL and this is the only way to win the war against the enemy.  So what are these weapons and how do we use them?  This article about putting on the armor of Christ is a good place to learn about SPIRITUAL WARFARE and what things God has given us to assist us in battling the enemy.

 

 

Daniel 10:10- And behold, a hand touched me and set me trembling on my hands and knees. 11 And he said to me, “O Daniel, man greatly loved, understand the words that I speak to you, and stand upright, for now I have been sent to you.” And when he had spoken this word to me, I stood up trembling. 12 Then he said to me, “Fear not, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart to understand and humbled yourself before your God, your words have been heard, and I have come because of your words. 13 The prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me twenty-one days, but Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, for I was left there with the kings of Persia, 14 and came to make you understand what is to happen to your people in the latter days. For the vision is for days yet to come.”

 

This is a great verse that gives us a visual of the battles that go on behind the scenes in the SPIRITUAL realm.  Sometimes a delay in an answer to prayer or a breakthrough is a real struggle that is happening each day we persist in prayer.  That is why it is so important to persevere and to stand strong, even when we feel nothing is progressing or improving.  You never know what kind of battle is going on for your soul and every moment you don't falter is a step closer to winning!

 

Now, we do have to be careful how much credit we give the devil and discern what is him and what isn't.  Often times I see people claiming every problem they ever encounter, even things like losing their keys or their computer crashing, to being caused by the enemy.  Maybe it might be, but the danger with putting too much focus on the enemy is we forget that life can go wrong for many other reasons.  Sometimes God uses trials to perfect you and grow you, sometimes he allows you to be tested to refine your faith.  When we are too busy looking toward the devil and trying to cast him out, we miss the gift and the possible lesson to be learned.  When something goes wrong, it's best to first examine yourself to see if there is something you can take from it and then pray for discernment. Sometimes what we perceive to be wrong may be a blessing in disguise, keeping you from harm or a mistake you may regret later.

 

 

So now we know what SPIRITUAL WARFARE is, do you know why there is war being waged?

 

John 10:10- The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.

 

1 Peter 5:8- Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. 9 Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world. 10 But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you. 11 To Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.

 

The reason there is SPIRITUAL WARFARE is that the battle is for your souls.  The devil still thinks he has the upper hand and will win if he can gather as many people under him as possible just like the first time when he was thrown out of heaven.  It even seems lately that he might even be succeeding, but we know better. Our bible tells us that God wins, not the enemy, and knowing that, we can stand strong against him.  The devil is cunning and very crafty though, and many times christians get led astray by his tactics to try to seperate them from what is promised to them.  That is why we are warned and told to be sober and alert, because the battle is very real and very serious.  Every moment we need to FIGHT, keeping hold of what is promised to us and take captive every thought and every deceptive word spoken by speaking the truth through Christ's name!

 

Mark 3:23- So He called them to Himself and said to them in parables: “How can Satan cast out Satan? 24 If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. 25 And IF A HOUSE IS DIVIDED AGAINST ITSELF, THAT HOUSE CANNOT STAND. 26 And if Satan has risen up against himself, and is divided, he cannot stand, but has an end. 27 No one can enter a strong man’s house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man. And then he will plunder his house.

 

One of the devil's greatest tactics is divsion.  If he can pit believers against one another, that kingdom cannot stand.  If he can cause divison between husband and wife and parent against child, that house cannot stand.  If he can cause us to harbor hatred for those we could bring to Christ, we won't be able to join ranks and defeat him.  We must be ever dilligent in spotting the ploys caused by the enemy and FIGHT back by refusing to give in to the temptation to quarrel, judge and harbor bitterness.

 

 

Luke 10:18- And he said to them, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. 19 Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt you. 20 Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”

 

Revelation 12:10- Then I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, “Now salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down. 11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death.

 

Christ has given us power to conquer demons and the enemy, but that power is through His name, we must remember that. It is never because of our own doing.  Many people struggle to overcome the enemy because they do not know who or what it is that saves them.  If they would only realize that just being a child of God is enough power to conquer all things.  If they only knew the promises God made to them who belived in Christ.  So many people waste energy on paying people to come cleanse their homes and do extensive deliverance rituals when all that they need is the blood of Jesus Christ to be set free. No amount of special formulas, incantations, objects or rituals will make the enemy flee like the name and power of Jesus Christ our Saviour, so let's take hold of that power and speak BOLDLY of our testimony of salvation whenever we are under attack!