Spiritual Warfare

1. Christians are engaged in a universal spiritual war against an organized demonic kingdom.

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.

Universal conflict. As Christians, we are enlisted in a global, even universal, war that extends beyond Earth into the heavens. This conflict is not against human adversaries ("flesh and blood") but against a highly structured, well-organized kingdom of evil spirit-beings led by Satan, who is recognized as a powerful ruler with descending orders of authority. This "titanic conflict" involves every Christian, not just a select few like pastors or missionaries.

Satan's kingdom. Jesus Himself affirmed Satan has a kingdom, which is not divided but highly organized and currently stands. His ministry of driving out demons vividly demonstrated the superiority of God's kingdom over Satan's. The Bible consistently presents two opposing domains: the "kingdom of light" (God's) and the "dominion of darkness" (Satan's), engaged in mortal warfare.

Total conflict. The nature of this struggle is likened to a "wrestling match," the most intense form of personal conflict, requiring every part of the body, skill, and trick for success. This emphasizes that spiritual warfare is a total conflict, demanding full engagement and understanding of our adversary and the spiritual realm.

2. Satan's headquarters are in an intermediate heavenly realm, influencing prayer outcomes.

Notice that all translations except the Living Bible emphasize that the headquarters of this highly-organized kingdom is in the heavenlies.

Multiple heavens. Scripture indicates there is more than one heaven, with Genesis 1:1 introducing "the heavens" in the plural. Paul's experience of being "caught up to the third heaven" (Paradise, God's dwelling place) logically implies a first (visible sky) and a second heaven. This intermediate "second heaven" is understood to be where Satan's headquarters are located.

Delayed answers. This understanding of Satan's location explains why sincere prayers, even those aligned with God's will, sometimes experience delays in receiving answers. The journey of God's angelic messengers from the third heaven to Earth can be obstructed by Satan's forces in the second heaven. This creates an "intense wrestling match" in the spiritual realm.

Angelic warfare. The book of Daniel provides a clear example: Daniel's prayer was heard immediately, but the angel dispatched with the answer was "withstanding... for twenty-one days" by the "prince of the kingdom of Persia" (a satanic angel) until the archangel Michael came to help. This reveals that prayer on Earth can set angelic battles in motion in the heavens, highlighting the need for persistence.

3. The primary battleground for spiritual warfare is the human mind.

We absolutely must understand the battleground is in the realm of the mind.

Mental strongholds. The spiritual war is fought primarily in the human mind. Satan wages an "all out war to captivate the minds of the human race," building "strongholds" and "fortresses" there. These mental constructs, described as "imaginations, reasonings, speculations, arguments, knowledge and thought," resist the truth of the gospel and prevent people from receiving God's Word.

Prejudice and preconception. Common examples of these strongholds are prejudices and preconceptions, where minds are "made up" irrespective of facts or reason. Such mental barriers can drive people to self-destruction, as seen in historical examples like the British military's rigid tactics in the American Revolutionary War. Religious, racial, and denominational bigotry are also identified as satanic strongholds.

Blinded minds. Satan, as "the god of this age," actively "blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel." Arguing with someone in this condition is futile; only spiritual weapons can break down these strongholds and liberate minds to receive Christ's truth.

4. Christ's victory on the cross has already disarmed Satan and secured our triumph.

The great essential fact is this: Christ has already defeated Satan and all his evil powers and authorities totally and forever.

Total defeat. The most crucial fact for victory in spiritual warfare is that Jesus Christ, through His death on the cross, His shed blood, and His triumphant resurrection, has already achieved a complete and eternal defeat over Satan and all his evil powers. This victory was not for Himself, but for us, His followers.

Disarming guilt. Satan's primary weapon against believers is guilt, as he acts as "the accuser of our brothers... day and night." His objective is to make us feel guilty, thereby disempowering us. However, God, through Christ's sacrifice, has dealt with guilt by forgiving "all our sins" and canceling the "written code" (the Law) as a means to righteousness, making us "the righteousness of God" by faith.

Our triumph. Jesus "disarmed the powers and authorities" and "made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross." This triumph is not merely a past event but an ongoing reality that God "always leads us in His triumph in Christ and manifests through us the sweet aroma of the knowledge of Him in every place." Our responsibility is to demonstrate and administer this victory.

5. The "full armor of God" provides comprehensive spiritual defense for believers.

Put on the full armor of God, that you may be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil.

Essential protection. Because Christians are involved in a "life-and-death struggle with the evil spirit forces of Satan's kingdom," it is imperative to "put on the full armor of God." This armor is not optional but a necessity for every believer to "resist in the evil day," a time when faith will be challenged and opposition unleashed.

Roman legionary. Paul draws his imagery from the equipment of a Roman legionary, listing six pieces of armor: the girdle of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, the shoes of the preparation of the gospel, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit. When fully donned, this armor protects from head to foot, with one critical exception.

No back protection. The armor provides no protection for the back, which carries a twofold significance:

• Never retreat: Believers must never "turn your back on the devil" by giving up or retreating, as this exposes an unprotected area to attack.
• Mutual support: Christians cannot fight as isolated individuals. Like Roman soldiers in a phalanx, they must stand in close ranks, trusting fellow believers to protect their backs when they cannot. This emphasizes the vital role of community and mutual support in spiritual warfare.

6. Truth and righteousness are foundational for personal spiritual protection.

Stand firm therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness.

Girdle of truth. The "girdle of truth" is the first piece of armor, essential for active spiritual engagement. Just as a Roman soldier would tie up his loose tunic to prevent hindrance, believers must put away "sham, hypocrisy, religious cliches, and saying and doing things we do not mean." This means embracing honesty, sincerity, openness, and frankness in daily living, even when it is painful, to become effective Christians.

Breastplate of righteousness. The "breastplate of righteousness" protects the heart, which the Bible identifies as the "springs of life" and the source from which "all the things there are in life come out." This righteousness is not self-derived or based on works of the Law, but rather "the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith" in Christ.

Christ's righteousness. We must be convinced and accept by faith that we "might become the righteousness of God in Him [Christ]." This divine exchange—Jesus becoming sin for us so we could become God's righteousness—is the only breastplate that can adequately protect our heart from Satan's attacks.

7. Faith and hope are essential for protecting the heart and mind.

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for ....

Breastplate of faith and love. The breastplate of righteousness is further described as a "breastplate of faith and love." This emphasizes that the righteousness protecting the heart is received by faith, and this faith "works through love." Love, being "as strong as death" and "never fails," provides an irresistible, impenetrable defense against negative forces like resentment, unforgiveness, bitterness, and despair that can corrupt the heart.

Helmet of hope. The "helmet of salvation" protects the head, representing the mind, which is the primary battlefield. This helmet is identified as "the hope of salvation." Hope is defined as a "quiet, steady expectation of good based on the promises of God's Word," a "continuing optimism." This optimistic attitude protects the mind from Satan's attacks of depression, doubt, and self-pity.

Anchor for the soul. Hope is an "essential part of our salvation experience," providing an "anchor for the soul, firm and secure," reaching into God's presence. It ensures stability in a temporary world, allowing believers to "hold unswervingly to the hope we profess." When Christ is in us, we have "the hope of glory," enabling us to be "more than conquerors" by coming out of conflicts with more than we had.

8. The spoken Word of God is the primary offensive weapon for believers.

The word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.

Sword of the Spirit. The "sword of the Spirit" is the only offensive weapon listed within the defensive armor. It is the "rhema," the spoken Word of God, which "pierces and penetrates" to the innermost parts of human personality. This sword is not merely the Bible on a shelf, but Scripture taken into one's mouth and quoted directly, becoming a powerful weapon against the devil.

Jesus' example. Jesus Himself demonstrated the effective use of this weapon during His temptation in the wilderness. Each time Satan attacked, Jesus responded with "It is written..." quoting directly from Scripture. This shows that knowing and correctly applying God's Word is crucial to silence and drive off the enemy.

Cooperation with the Spirit. The phrase "sword of the Spirit" signifies a necessary cooperation between the believer and the Holy Spirit. Believers must "take the sword" by speaking God's Word, and then the Holy Spirit empowers and provides wisdom for its effective use, causing Satan to retreat.

9. The Church is called to an offensive posture, exercising Christ's authority.

Jesus pictures the church on the offensive, attacking the gates of Satan.

Advance, don't just defend. No army wins a war by remaining on the defensive. The Church has an "absolute obligation to move out from the defensive" and actively attack Satan's kingdom. Jesus envisioned His Church "attacking the gates of Satan," promising that "all the powers of hell shall not prevail against it." This means Satan's councils and strongholds will not be able to withstand the Church's advance.

Administering victory. Through the cross, God "disarmed the rulers and authorities," making a "public display of them, having triumphed over them." This victory was won by Jesus on our behalf, and our assignment is to "administer the victory, demonstrate the triumph and exercise the authority that Jesus has won." This authority, "all authority in heaven and on earth," was given to Jesus, and He commissions us to "go therefore and make disciples," exercising that authority.

Demonstrating Christ's power. The world can only witness Christ's victory when believers actively demonstrate it. This requires moving from a defensive mindset—wondering where the devil will strike next—to an offensive one, where the devil wonders where the Church will strike him next. Our role is to storm Satan's citadels, break through his gates, release his captives, and carry away his spoil.

10. Prayer and praise are powerful weapons to break demonic strongholds.

Prayer is like that intercontinental ballistic missile. With it, we can assail Satan's strongholds anywhere, even in the heavenlies.

Prayer as a missile. Prayer is identified as the most powerful weapon of attack, likened to an "intercontinental ballistic missile" that can target Satan's strongholds across any distance or time. Earnest, persistent prayer, even "day and night," can break through in the heavenlies and release divine angelic intervention, as seen in Peter's miraculous prison release and Herod's subsequent judgment.

Praise as strength. Praise is a vital weapon that "reveals and calls forth God's awesomeness," especially against His enemies. Psalm 8:2, as interpreted by Jesus, reveals that "out of the mouth of infants and nursing babes" (those relying on God's strength) God has "prepared praise" as strength against adversaries and the enemy. This praise silences Satan's "day and night" accusations, which aim to make believers feel guilty.

Judgment through praise. Praise, combined with God's Word, becomes an instrument of judgment. Psalm 149:6-9 describes saints having "the praise of God in their mouths and a double-edged sword in their hands" to "inflict vengeance on the nations and punishment on the peoples," binding "their kings with fetters, their nobles with shackles of iron." This signifies the authority given to all saints to administer God's judgment on satanic angelic princes and rulers.

11. Preaching and personal testimony are vital for advancing God's kingdom.

Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage— with great patience and careful instruction.

Preaching the Word. The "weapon of preaching" refers exclusively to the solemn charge to "preach the Word" of God, not human philosophies or elaborate theology. God's Word is inherently powerful: "like a fire," "like a hammer that breaks a rock in pieces," and "sharper than any double-edged sword." It is guaranteed to "not return... empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it."

Transformative impact. Paul's intense, continuous, and extensive preaching of the Word in Ephesus for over two years demonstrated its transformative power. This ministry resulted in:

• Supernatural attestation: "Extraordinary miracles" like healing and deliverance from evil spirits.
• Exposure of evil: Demons were brought "out into the open," acknowledging Jesus and Paul's authority.
• Occult broken: Believers publicly confessed evil deeds and burned valuable sorcery scrolls, signifying a break from occult domination over the city.

Power of testimony. "Testimony" is distinct from preaching, focusing on "witnessing" from personal experience about God's Word. Jesus' final commission was for His disciples to "be my witnesses" with supernatural power from the Holy Spirit, starting locally and expanding "to the end of the earth." This involves not just words but one's "total life" being a witness, creating an ever-extending ripple effect that historically conquered empires when applied.

Last updated: August 11, 2025