With this post, I am going to start a new series on Spiritual Warfare. This is the first of seven articles, and we’re going to look at the issue of Christians and Spiritual Warfare, explaining all about spiritual warfare.
The objective of this series is to address the subtle and practical ways that Satan engages in his attacks on Christians. This first message of the series, however, is foundational, laying down the basic truths of spiritual warfare and our enemy.
The Reality of Spiritual Warfare
In addressing spiritual warfare, the first thing that we must recois the fact that there is a battle, a war going on—a very serious war indeed.
Man’s Fallen Nature and the Need for Spiritual Rebirth
When we first left our mother’s womb and entered the world, we were born with a sinful nature. David addressed this when he wrote in Ps 51:5, reading NIV: “Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me.”
After the transgression of Adam and Eve, from that time on, sin fell on every subsequent member of their seed. Sin breeds sin. As Job wrote in Job 14:4: “Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean? not one.” This placed man in a terrible state.
But because of God’s grace and mercy, He sent His son Jesus as the ultimate sacrifice for our resulting sins. [Romans 6:23] But because of man’s corrupted seed, He had to be born of a virgin in order to be the perfect sacrifice. Jesus said during His ministry here on earth: “you [must] be born again.” [John 3:7]
Now let’s take a closer look at this new birth. Let’s take a look at John 3:3
3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
Let’s now go down to verses 5-8
5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.
8 The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.
What we see in this passage is that this rebirth is indeed spiritual.
From Death to Life: Our Transfer of Spiritual Allegiance
Now the Apostle Paul went into much more detail to describe the nuts and bolts, if you will, of our spiritual rebirth. Let’s look at Ephesians 2:1-10
1 And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;
2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world,
Now, this goes back to what I said earlier, at our natural birth, we were automatically put on the worldly course. What Jesus called: the broad road to destruction. [Matt. 7:13] We had nothing to say about it. Once we stepped out of our mother’s womb, we were put on this broad road. Let’s read on:
…according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:
…according to the “prince of the power of the air.” Now that’s Satan—the one and only. Notice what else this verse says about him: “the spirit that now
worketh.” Satan is a spirit: the adversarial spirit to God, that is: “now working in the children of disobedience.” Now the picture is starting to form.
3 Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh [and of the mind;]and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.
“by nature the children of wrath.” Now here’s that point again. All of us by nature, were “children of wrath.” In our complete naturalness, we were walking in the flesh—fulfilling the desires of the flesh, and of the mind. [2 Cor. 11:3] We’re going to get back to the mind (next article/post). So what we have are individuals who were once dead in sins and trespasses, being spiritually reborn.
4 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,
5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)
6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:
7 That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.
8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
Why Spiritual Rebirth Declares War on Satan
So now the picture is complete. What we have here are people who were 
once under the control and power of Satan (who, by the way, is a spirit); who become born again spiritually, reconciled to God, who is also a spirit, [John 4: 24] through Christ. So people whose spirits were under Satan’s control, were and still are today, being literally snatched—spiritually from him by God. Do you think that Satan is going to sit back and let this happen without a fight? Absolutely not!. What does this mean? W A R! Spiritual War! The moment we accept Christ as Lord and Savior and are born again, war is declared against us with a target on our backs.
The Nature of the Battle: Not Flesh and Blood
So, what we have is [Spiritual] Warfare. Now I emphasize the word spiritual because it’s crucial for us to know what kind of war this really is. It is not in the flesh, but it is spiritual. This is what Paul is addressing in Ephesians 6:12. Let’s take a look: 
12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood,
Now this is clear. It’s not against our parents, it’s not against our siblings, or aunts and uncles, cousins and friends, but against principalities… The word “principalities” refers to principal rulers, or group leaders.
…against powers, that being those who had power, or to whom the name of “powers” was given, that being, Satan and his demons.
…against the rulers of the darkness of this world,
These are the rulers that preside over the regions of ignorance, and sin with which the earth abounds.
… against spiritual wickedness in high places.
Now this refers to the spiritual things of wickedness; evil spirits, in celestial or heavenly places, and to their influences on earth. So now we’ve covered the breakdown, or the makeup, of the adversarial kingdom, which is headed by Satan.
Now, let us not be deceived. Because this war is spiritual, not in the flesh, it doesn’t mean we shouldn’t take it seriously. Because we can’t see it, it doesn’t mean that it doesn’t exist. It actually makes it more dangerous. When we can’t see the enemy, and we don’t know who he is, we can’t defend ourselves. But with our sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God, we can see him for what he is and defend ourselves.
The Inevitable Opposition Against Every Christian
Now, moving on, it is important for Christians to realize that the battle is going on and that there is going to be opposition in our lives. Let’s look at John 15:18-19
18 If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you.
19 If ye were of the world, the world would love his own…
The point: anyone who’s part of the enemy’s camp doesn’t have to be concerned about being attacked by the enemy. AMEN?
…but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.
Jesus told His disciples here that because they are not of the world, the world would hate them. But just like He chose them, He has chosen us—making us disciples as well. [John 12:32] The bottom line is that every Christian, whether we know it or not – whether we like it or not— is engaged in war. And we have to realize that: if we walk in the ways of God, Satan is going to oppose our – lifestyle, our conversation, our character, and our conduct. He will do everything to frustrate, bring anxiety and confusion, and steal from us the Word of God. He will do everything to keep us from serving God by creating confusion and disharmony—working morning, noon, and night—24/7/365. Therefore, we must be ready for battle. There’s no ifs, ands, or buts about it. This is a daily war—around the clock. We must pray for protection while we sleep because he can even torment and tempt us while we’re sleeping. This war is perpetual throughout our lives here on earth as a born-again Christian.
Who Is Satan? Names, Nature, and Origin
Let’s now look at the head of this adversarial organization. He is called by several names in the bible. He is also called by several names in the flesh, of which I won’t repeat. The most popular ones are: Satan and the devil. Now the word devil means accuser. So Satan is his name, and devil is his game. Devil is what he is—the accuser or deceiver. This is the main title for this fallen angelic being, who is the supreme—the highest enemy of God and man. The term comes from a Greek word that means “a false witness” or “malicious accuser.”
Lucifer’s Creation, Pride, and Fall
So who is this Satan? Well, as I mentioned earlier, he’s a fallen angel. First of all, Satan was created by Christ along with other beings, principalities, and powers in heaven and on earth. Let’s look at this in a passage of scripture: Colossians 1:15-17. Now, this is concerning Christ.
15 Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:
16 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:
17 And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.
Christ created all things, including Satan, whose name was originally Lucifer, which means—morning star. A morning star or star of the morning is a bright star. For a star to shine in the brightness of morning, it has to be very bright. Lucifer was a high and bright angel in heaven. He was beautiful and had a kingdom on earth, long before the creation account in Genesis. [He was the leader of praise and worship] But Lucifer became full of pride, and rebelled against God, and led an invasion in heaven, which he lost. Now, let’s look at this in scripture. Isaiah 14:12-15
12 How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer , son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations!
13 For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north:
14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.
15 Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit.
Now, this is actually a prophecy of Babylon’s downfall—this is judgment against the king of Babylon. But it is allegorical (symbolic) of Lucifer’s downfall, because the king of Babylon became a king who was driven by the spirit of Lucifer or Satan, and exhaled himself – rebelled against God.
Let’s look at another one: Ezekiel 28: Now here we have a lamentation [expression of grief] for the king of Tyre, when he has consequently fallen, though his own iniquity. But again, it is allegorical (symbolic) to Satan and his fall. Verses 12 –17 The Lord said to Ezekiel:
12 Son of man, take up a lamentation upon the king of Tyrus, and say unto him, Thus saith the Lord GOD;
thou sealest up the sum, full of wisdom, and perfect in beauty.
13 Thou hast been in Eden the garden of God; every precious stone was thy covering, the sardius, topaz, and the diamond, the beryl, the onyx, and the jasper, the sapphire, the emerald, and the carbuncle, [kar’-bun-k’-l] and gold: the workmanship of thy tabrets and of thy pipes was prepared in thee in the day that thou wast created.
The original creation was like the Garden of Eden. In that, it was a paradise of splendor and glamour. As the scripture reads: “every precious stone” was present.
Now tabrets are drums, and pipes represent music. This goes back to what I wrote earlier, about Satan’s involvement in praise and worship in heaven.
14 Thou art the anointed cherub that covereth; and I have set thee so: thou wast upon the holy mountain of God; thou hast walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire.
Now this goes back to what I mentioned about him being, at one time, very high in the kingdom of God. God said: “and I have set thee so.” He was appointed or anointed as a guardian angel (cherub) and had access to the “holy mountain of God,” meaning that he had direct contact with God. He was God’s prince—so much that he walked amongst ‘Stones of fire,” i.e., bright and shining. Decked with bright jewels, this prince walked among jewels in gorgeous splendor. This again refers to the original earth, which was full of splendor and beauty.
15 Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee.
He was perfect: after all, he was created by God. But here’s where the party ended—he fell off the wagon. He was perfect until – iniquity was found in him.
16 By the multitude of thy merchandise they have filled the midst of thee with violence, and thou hast sinned: therefore I will cast thee as profane out of the mountain of God: and I will destroy thee, O covering cherub, from the midst of the stones of fire.
“by the multitude of thy merchandise.” His greatness—his wealth filled him with internal turmoil, and he sinned, and there was a war in heaven.
So now we see that this highly exalted and perfect prince, created by God, was cast down from his high place. From the “midst of the stones of fire” that was earth, which was voided out as a result of the prince’s iniquity. Verse 17 describes this iniquity:
17 Thine heart was lifted up because of thy beauty, thou hast corrupted thy wisdom by reason of thy brightness: I will cast thee to the ground, I will lay thee before kings, that they may behold thee.
“thine heart was lifted up because of thy beauty, thou hast corrupted thy wisdom by reason of thy brightness.” Now this is in a word: pride—plain and simple. This high angelic being became puffed up, arrogant, and conceited. Why? Because of his beauty. Somebody told him that he looked good—one time too many; that he was all that, and a bag of chips, and he believed it. So much so that he rebelled against God. As a result, the scripture says: “I will cast thee to the ground.” Now we all know that once you raise yourself up against the boss to the point that you want to take over, your time is up, and you’ve got to go. Remember what Scripture says about pride in Proverbs 16:18: Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall. NIV
So the kings of Tyre and Babylon were cast out of their high places, just as Satan was. What happened to these kings was a result of the spirit within them. So what do we see from these passages? Anything that is driven by Lucifer’s spirit goes the same route as he did.
Let’s look at this in 1 Timothy 3: Here in this chapter, Paul is describing to Timothy the qualifications of an elder. And it reads that he should be among other things:
6 Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil.
The NIV reads: “He must not be a recent convert, or he may become conceited and fall under the same judgment as the devil.” So again, anything or anybody who is driven by Satan’s spirit will be judged as he was. Paul also warned the Corinthians when he told them: “that they should cast down arguments, and [every high thing], that exalts itself against the knowledge of God. [2 Cor. 10:5.]
So Satan, full of rebellion and pride, which God hates, was judged. [Prov. 6:16] Now because of this, all on earth was destroyed by the first flood. [Gen. 1:2] So Genesis begins a recreation of the earth. But Satan regained rulership over the earth in Adam’s time, seizing man’s dominion by causing his fall.
Satan’s Objective: Total Destruction
Let’s now take a look at Satan’s objectives. It really only takes one word to label his objective: Destruction. His aim is to destroy our bodies, minds, and spirits. As a believer, he can’t touch our spirits, but he harasses us until he wrecks and ruins our testimony for Christ, rendering us of no use or value to God.
Now, as a result, we are living in a world that’s asleep. We live with our minds clouded in darkness, accepting wrong for right. We accept this immoral age as a moral age. We are now living Romans 1—right now, today. Let’s take a look at this: Romans 1:18-31 describes God’s wrath against unrighteousness. Verse 21 describes the problem, it reads:
20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse.
21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.
22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,”
Now what do we have here? Again: pride! Verses 24-31 explain the result
24 Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves:
25 Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.
26 For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: Let’s skip down to verse 28.
28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;
29 Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers,
30 Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,
31 Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:
Now, if this isn’t today, I don’t know what is. We have become so acclimated to the darkness that even the “very elect” are deceived by Satanic devices. Jesus stated this would happen in Matthew 24:24.
Moving on, we must know that, as powerful as Satan is, he is not omnipotent. He isn’t all-powerful. But he can possess unbelievers with his demons, but they can only harass believers. No believer can be possessed, but greatly harassed and oppressed by demonic powers.
Satan’s Primary Method: Deception
Now, what is his method of operation? This can also be summed up in one word: 
deception. His main tool is deception. If he can deceive a believer, they become one of his most effective tools. Remember what Paul said in Gal 5:9:
“A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump.” Any time two or more believers get together, Satan’s work begins. Whether it’s a marriage, a friendship, an association, or a church group, he’ll do all he can to divide and separate that union. Once he gets saints fighting amongst themselves, he just sits back and watches, laughing all the way to the bank (sort of speaking). It’s just another feather in his cap.
Satan and his servants (demons) disguise themselves as believers, which requires discernment on our part. Let’s look at this in 2 Corinthians 11:13-15
13 For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.
14 And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. 15 Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.
We must be ever so sober and vigilant, because Satan’s methods of deception can be difficult to recognize. Let’s look at one passage regarding this:
2 Corinthians 2:10-11
10 To whom ye forgive any thing, I forgive also: for if I forgave any thing, to whom I forgave it, for your sakes forgave I it in the person of Christ;
11 Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.
Now, here Paul addresses the issue of forgiving others. One of Satan’s devices or designs is to cheat the believer out of true forgiveness. Unforgiveness enslaves an individual and can divide the church. Satan will try to divide the church in any way he can, and we must not be ignorant of his devices. Now this is only one of them
The Three Primary Areas of Satanic Attack
Satan works on us in three areas:
First, he operates in our minds by injecting his thoughts into us. It’s up to us, however, to accept or reject these thoughts. Satan uses the mind as his playground. He takes our natural curiosity and carries it beyond God’s intentions until we cross His line of disobedience. Now again I want to mention that we’ll address the issue concerning the mind in the next article/post.
Now, one of Satan’s tactics is to get people to not believe that he exists—he blinds them to enslave them (the unbelievers). Let’s look at this in
2 Corinthians 4:4:
4. In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.
Now this is how Satan keeps his kingdom thriving: by keeping the unbelievers, unbelieving. In addition, he keeps believers enslaved in their flesh by attacking and harassing them so subtly that they don’t even realize that there’s a war going on. He is the prince of this world,[Eph. 2:2] having dominion of all the world’s forces under his control; and he uses these forces to harass us, to tempt us, and enslave us, and can eventually deem us useless to God.
Satan’s ultimate and only objective is to destroy. There never has been, nor ever will be, any good objective in the mind of Satan. Moving into the next area that he works on:
He also works on our consciences. For example, when we feel guilty because we don’t do what is wrong, that is a Satanic attack on our conscience–our thoughts. Which is why Satan is called “an accuser of our bretheren;” in Rev 12:10 “a liar, and the father of it” [John 8:44] a deceiver; [Gen 3:13 NKJV] and, a destroyer; [Job 15:21, I Cor. 10:10] and Jesus said that he seeks to accuse and wipe out—destroy. As Jesus stated in John 10:8 regarding the works of Satan: “The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.” He is, in no uncertain terms – a thief. Moving into the final area:
The third area that he works on is our bodies. Now, not all sickness is from Satan, but a lot of it is. For example, if we violate a law of health, we’re going to get sick. It doesn’t have anything to do with Satan: at least not directly.
A Call to Wakefulness and Readiness
Bottom Line: Satan is a deceitful, scheming, cunning, liar, and his ultimate and only objective is to destroy and maim: testimonies, families, finances, friendships, churches, and business; and will use anybody willing to be used to do it.
It’s time for Christians to stop sleeping—to wake up, and see things as they are. To smell the stench of Satan, our enemy, and the ongoing battle that must be fought. We can’t fight this battle: sleeping and keeping our heads stuck in the sand. You know when the ostrich sticks its head in the sand, its tail is still out—leaving itself open to be rear-ended and blind sided.
It behooves every Christian to take heed to the word of God, which says in 1 Peter 5:8: “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:”
For part 2: Spiritual Warfare: The Mind is the Battlefield, click here.
Please leave any questions, comments, or concerns regarding spiritual warfare below.
Blessings!
Watch the companion videos for this teaching series. Each one expands on the key truths shared in the All About Spiritual Warfare articles.
📺 Watch the Companion Teaching Videos (Full & Shorts)
Prefer a quick message? Watch the Short here:
Thank you so much for giving us such a wonderful article. Your article is really informative and I gained a lot of knowledge by reading your article which is very helpful to me .Although I am not a Christian, I have great respect for all religions .Satan is a deceptive, conspiratorial, clever, liar, and his ultimate and only purpose is destruction and deception. I think the enemy is roaming like a roaring lion .So I should follow God and always be on the right path to avoid Satan .God has guided me in all the right paths in his sacred texts. You must be grateful for your wonderful religious article .I will definitely get your article out to my friends and they will have a wonderful feeling and will definitely share with you their new experience.Can I share your article on my social media?
Hi Shanta – I’m happy to know that you enjoyed the article. Yes you can definitely share the article. Thanks for stopping by and commenting.
The Lord we serve is a great one, no matter how often we fail his mercy will always be there to pick us up. I think we can look no further than this Coronavirus pandemic to see the lengths of which our enemy will go to in order to keep us away from God. He’s basically shut down the entire world, making it impossible to gather at our local church to worship. Little does he know that we serve a powerful God, and this is just making us stronger, and with the ability to “gather” online we can still worship our mighty God. Satan will not win this spiritual war, great post I look forward to reading more of them!
Hi Travis – Yes it’s time like these when we can show our resiliency and we must worship Him in spite of the circumstances. Yes, little does he know that this only makes us closer.
Thanks for stopping by and commenting!
Thank you so much for such an indepth and inspiring article. One of the many words that really stands out for me is ‘vigilance’. As much as we should know the difference between right and wrong, it is up to us to be able to discern that which might be seen to being what it is not. Therein lies temptation. The promise of something that we desire, as a reward for transgressing into those areas which could be deemed as wrong. Having the strength of mind to resist is of paramount importance, even when the reward is something we might covet.We gamble in the hope of winning that fortune, yet the risks are too high. Once we have fallen victim to the trappings, then it becomes a slippery slope until we reach the bottom. If we hold our belief close and see it for what it is, then we stand a chance of being able to withstand the temptations that are all around.
For sure deception is the enemies game. He will always show us the reward that we covet but not the consequences of receiving that reward. He’s a liar and the father of lies. [John 8:44]
Thanks for commenting!
Hello Brother Nathaniel. An awesome education on Spiritual Warfare.
On another subject, $25.00 has been subtracted from my checking account every month and I must ask you to stop that donation until I can get my finances figured out. Thank you very much and God bless you for the great education!
Hello Paul – I am happy to know that you were blessed by the Spiritual Warfare article. I will be presenting on the subject on YouTube soon. I don’t know anything about a monthly $25.00 donation. I don’t receive any donations.
Blessings!
I look forward to reading many of your other exposés on the numerous subjects that you’ve published!
Greetings, Paul – It would be a blessing to me for you to read as many articles as you wish – Thanks so much for commenting! Catch me on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thechristianadvocate
Strong foundation. I appreciate how you ground the battle in Scripture and keep the focus on discernment, forgiveness, and unity. One question: what daily practice do you recommend first for a new believer to build “battle readiness” in the mind and conscience? Also, how can local churches train members to spot subtle division before it spreads?
It also seems to me that the battle between good and evil is eternal. That makes it difficult for those who believe to convince those who don’t of these realities, because to them, they are nothing but fictional stories or best imaginations of the few.
John Monyjok Maluth
Greetings, John – The daily practice I would recommend to a new believer to build battle readiness is to read and meditate on Ephesians 6:10-18, putting on the full armor of God.
Regarding those who don’t believe, it is difficult to convince them. So true is the Scripture which reads,
“But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, 4. whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them.” 2 Cor 4:3-4 NKJV
Their minds have been blinded by Satan, “the god of this age”, which makes it difficult to convince them.
Thanks for commenting, John
This post was both sobering and deeply affirming. Thank you for laying out the reality of spiritual warfare with such clarity and biblical grounding. That line, “the moment we accept Christ as Lord and Savior and are born again, war is declared against us with a target on our backs,” really struck me. It’s a truth we often overlook, especially when the battles we face feel so personal or circumstantial. But as you emphasized, this war is spiritual, not fleshly, and recognizing that changes everything.
I appreciate how you broke down the adversarial kingdom and Satan’s objectives. It’s easy to forget that his goal isn’t just to tempt us, but to destroy our testimony and render us ineffective for God’s kingdom. That’s a chilling thought, but also a call to vigilance.
Thank you again for this powerful message. I’m looking forward to the rest of the series.
Greetings, Alice – Yes, time is drawing near, and we need to face the realities. In the natural AND the Spiritual.
The balance of the series is coming! Lord willing!
Thanks for commenting, Alice
thanks for the very indepth meaning and terms of Spiritual Warfare. You have covered all the aspects of it and noted links to the bible describing what happens and what it all means Nathaniel.
We have personally heard many stories of this happening to friends and other pastors, with one in particular who deals with this on a regular basis, and we have witnessed spirits leaving peoples bodies during a exorcism – not for the faint hearted either.
Keep the word going and all the best with reaching many souls on this earth who need guidance and knowledge of what is out there in the spirit realm.
regards Helen.
Amen – Thanks for commenting, Helen!
I’m so glad to see such a thorough dive into this topic – it’s something far too many people are afraid to talk about. I dove into it myself many years ago, and I learned a LOT studying on my own that the church NEVER taught me! I was part of a small study group at the time, and when I tried to bring up these things, none of them had any idea what I was talking about. They’d never heard of so much of it.
It opened my eyes to a whole new world. It wasn’t long after that that I actually left that church and found one that isn’t afraid to talk about the “fire and brimstone” things that so many churches avoid.
Excellent article here, so in-depth and educational.
Hi Steph – Yes, for sure, the church has been extremely compromised. It fulfills the warnings in Scripture, which reads, “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables.” 2 Tim 4:3-5 NKJV
We must pray as never before.
Thanks for commenting, Steph!
I am so relived to have read this. There are few people who see this reality in depth and even fewer who see the importance of it. Unfortunately, spiritual warfare isn’t mentioned in today’s “modern” church. It takes a deliverance ministry to expose this truth. Demons are real, spiritual warfare is real. Occultisms is real and we must know this to fight back in prayer.
Amen, Linda! Thanks for commenting!
This is an on time message for this day and age. The people need to wake up and know that we are spirits, living in a body having a soul. Once we understand that we are spirits, can we move strategically to fight a war in us, around us, through us. Walking in this life is a battle daily for we are to praise and worship the Lord and fight to ensure that we are walking righteously. If we can wrap our head in this truth can we successfully set our minds on above to keep us afloat and have discernment about evil lurking around us and defeat it each way it comes to us. We can then be overcomers and victors!!!
Amen Cydney! Thanks for commenting!
I found the section on Satan’s methods of deception especially powerful and eye-opening. The explanation of how he subtly operates through the mind, conscience, and body really highlights how spiritual warfare is more internal and psychological than most people realize. The reminder that Satan’s main weapon is deception disguising evil as light was both sobering and motivating. It makes clear why discernment and daily prayer are essential tools for believers. I also appreciated how Scripture was used to ground every point, making it not just a teaching but a call to awareness and vigilance. It left me reflecting on how often we may underestimate unseen spiritual battles in our lives. How can Christians strengthen their spiritual discernment to recognize deception early? And what practical habits best guard the mind from Satan’s subtle attacks?
Greetings, Marion – The answer to your first question is actually in your response, “discernment and daily prayer are essential tools for believers.” We must pray for discernment – daily.
As for practical habits to guide the mind, they can be found in this article, “Battling Spiritual Warfare.” Now, this article is going to be updated within the next month and will also contain a relevant video as I am updating the entire series, but I didn’t want to wait any longer to render a response to you. So, if you can, hold on to the link.
Thanks for commenting!
Amen! Very powerful, clear, and pastoral. I appreciate how you anchor every point in Scripture and keep the focus on the real battleground: the heart and mind under the authority of Christ (Eph. 6:10–18; 2 Cor. 10:4–5). Your reminder that deception often begins with subtle pride really hits home; it’s sobering and needed.
One thing I especially loved was your call to forgiveness as spiritual warfare, so many believers stumble there without realizing it’s the enemy’s device. In your experience, what daily habit has most helped your church family stay “sober and vigilant” against those subtle devices, regular confession, Scripture memorization, corporate prayer, or something else?
Greetings, Jason – Indeed, Spiritual Warfare is a hidden-in-plain-sight scenario. In addition to the devices you mentioned, individual daily prayer for discernment and the strength to put on the full armor of God is most effective in this battle. Part 5 of the series will address this.
Thanks for commenting, Jason!
What drawed me to your website was my curiosity about spiritail warfare, I had no idea what this was but had to read your article to find out about it.
Today Satan seems to be doing quite a good job corrupting our society, it is scary just to go out any more in fear of someone going crazy and harming us or our family.
I love the scriptures you have chosen to help us understand about the spirital warfare from Gods own words.Your images are beautiful and inspirational. I thank you for taking the time to share this with me and your other readers
Jeff
Hi Jeff – Many thanks for your kind and inspirational words. Stay tuned for more, as this was part 1 of the series.
Thanks for commenting!
Hi Nathaniel
It really helped me see again that this is not a small side issue for Christians, but a daily reality. I appreciated how you started with the basics—our sinful nature, the need to be born again, and then moved into Ephesians 2 and Ephesians 6. It made the “war” language feel very grounded in Scripture, not dramatic or exaggerated. The way you connected our spiritual rebirth with Satan’s hatred of that rescue made it very clear why the battle even exists in the first place.
Your breakdown of who our real enemy is was also very helpful. It’s easy to forget that people are not the problem—“we wrestle not against flesh and blood”—even when conflict is happening in very human ways. The explanation of principalities, powers, and spiritual wickedness in high places gave me a clearer picture of the structure behind the scenes. I also liked how you showed Satan’s story through Isaiah, Ezekiel, and 1 Timothy: his pride, his fall, and how that same spirit still shows up in people and systems today. It put a lot of what we’re seeing in the world into context.
Some of what you shared about his methods hit close to home. The part about Satan working in our minds and consciences, planting thoughts and using guilt or unforgiveness as a weapon—I’ve experienced that. There have been seasons where I didn’t even realize I was in a spiritual battle; I just felt heavy, confused, or easily offended. Only later did I see how much of it was tied to un-dealt-with thoughts, hurts, or pride. Your reminder that unforgiveness is one of his devices, and that he loves to divide marriages, friendships, and churches, really rang true. I’ve watched that happen more than once.
I also appreciated the balance in what you wrote. You didn’t make Satan bigger than he is—you made it clear he’s powerful but not all-powerful, and that believers cannot be possessed, even though we can be harassed and oppressed. That was reassuring. At the same time, your warning not to “sleep through” the war was needed. The picture of the ostrich with its head in the sand but its backside exposed made me smile—but it was a sharp picture of how unprepared we can be if we pretend nothing is going on.
One question I’m left with is this: in practical, everyday terms, what habits would you recommend so we stay spiritually awake and vigilant without becoming fearful or obsessed with the enemy? You mentioned prayer, the Word (our sword), and being sober and vigilant from 1 Peter 5:8. Are there one or two simple daily practices you’ve found especially helpful for keeping your mind sharp to Satan’s devices, but your heart resting securely in Christ at the same time?
Greetings, Ingrid – I’ve recently updated an article on “Battling Spiritual Warfare” with videos. It should answer your question on ways of dealing with Satan’s devices. The link is below.
https://thechristianadvocate.o…
Thanks for commenting!
I’m happy to see such a thorough article on this subject. I appreciate that you mentioned the three areas where the devil attacks us and what to do about it. Fortunately, I belong to a church where we believe in the ongoing war on Christians, and we are taught to seek discernment through regular prayer and Bible study.
I think it’s especially important to pray for unbelievers because they are blinded and blocked from coming to Christ. If God does not free them, they will be lost forever.
God bless you.
Amen, thanks for commenting, Marsha!
Spiritual warfare might be the most active war ever experienced in life that’s lasted for generations! It can be tough to ever feel 100% confident in what you’re believing in. There’s so many factors that could affect and justify why you’re feeling fickle about your beliefs. You can take that to the bank with me after experiencing Presbyterian teachings, Christianity, and Jehovah Witness. There’s values I believe some cultures are happier with than others. But at this point it’s getting more in touch with my roots of spirituality and not getting lost in the bells or whistles of others. What do you think is the toughest part about this state of union?
Greetings, Adrian – I think the toughest part is weaving through all of the cultural noise that circulates these days. I find the greatest solution is to stick to the Biblical principles God has supplied to us by applying them to our lives.Thanks for commenting!
Thank you for this deep and encouraging exploration of spiritual warfare. I appreciate how you framed it not just as a battle, but as something we can face with clarity, faith, and discernment. So often people feel confused or overwhelmed by this topic, but you’ve made it feel understandable and grounded in truth rather than fear. I especially liked the emphasis on prayer, Scripture, and relying on Christ’s authority as our foundation — that’s such an empowering reminder that we’re not navigating spiritual challenges alone. Do you have a favorite Scripture or daily practice that helps you stay anchored when you’re facing spiritual battles?
Hi Jenne – My favorite Scripture to stay anchored is Ephesians 6:10, which reads, “finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.” It is only by the power of God through His Holy Spirit that we can be victorious. My daily practice is in the following verse 11, which reads, “Put on the full armour of God, that we may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.” We must pray daily for the armour to be placed upon us to overcome the enemy.
For more, view this article: https://thechristianadvocate.o…
Thanks for commenting!
I appreciated how you broke down spiritual warfare in a way that feels grounded and inviting for readers who might be new to the topic; your tone makes a serious subject feel accessible rather than intimidating. One thing I’m curious about is what specific practices or scripture passages have helped you personally feel stronger in spiritual battles, and how you apply them in everyday life? Sharing that kind of personal insight could really encourage readers to engage and share their own experiences. Overall, it’s a thoughtful, encouraging guide that opens the door for deeper conversation!
Greetings, Lori – The Scripture passage that I rely on regarding Spiritual battles is Ephesians 6:10-17
10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.
11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;
15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.
17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: KJV
This passage encourages us to be strong and tells us how to do it.
For more on practical ways to deal with this battle, this article will help: Battling Spiritual Warfare.
Thanks for commenting, Lori!
This is a very inspirational article that is important to every person, Nathaniel. You mentioned individuals who were once “dead in sins” and trespasses, being spiritually born. I believe that is one purpose of Holy Baptism. Through Baptism and the Holy Spirit, water immersion represents “dying to sin” (burial in Christ) and emerging from the water represents being cleansed from our sins, symbolizing a new, holy life in Christ (His resurrection). Baptism publicly declares faith in Jesus Christ.
You also mentioned Satan, whose original name is Lucifer, means morning star. Yes, God created ALL things, GOOD, not evil. My point is Lucifer was a “good” angel “at first” until, as you mentioned, became full of pride and rebelled against God. This created the “spiritual war” with God AND us!! Thank you for a very well-written article that is crucial to all of us!!!
Best wishes,
Kent
Indeed, Ken, every individual needs to recognize that they are engaged in a Spiritual War. You are correct about baptism (immersion). It is a public confession.
I’m glad you enjoyed the article. Part 2 is coming soon!
Thanks for commenting!
Thank you for this powerful and thorough introduction to spiritual warfare! ???? I appreciate how you clearly laid out the reality of the battle we face as believers, from our spiritual rebirth to the strategies Satan uses to deceive, harass, and divide.
Your breakdown of Satan’s methods—through the mind, conscience, and body—really brings clarity to a topic that can often feel overwhelming or invisible. I’m especially encouraged by the reminder that, though the war is real, we are equipped in Christ and not left defenseless.
Excited to dive into Part 2 and learn more about guarding the mind and walking in victory!
Amen, Monica – It is so important to first recognize the issue, and second, there is a remedy if we accept it. Part 2 is coming!
Thanks for commenting!
This article explains spiritual warfare clearly, especially how the battle is not against people but against spiritual forces, as explained in Ephesians 6. I appreciate how it talks about deception, pride, and how spiritual attacks often begin in the mind. The strong use of Bible verses helps explain why prayer and awareness are important in daily life. Thank you for sharing—please keep teaching and keep praying.
Thanks, AJ, and thanks for commenting! Part 2 is coming!
I really appreciated this article and how clearly it explained a topic that can feel mysterious or even intimidating. Spiritual warfare is something I’ve heard about in different church contexts, but your breakdown of what it is and how believers can approach it in a grounded, faith-centered way made it much more understandable for me.
I’m curious how others have experienced this in their own lives. Do you find that recognizing spiritual battles changes the way you pray or interact with challenges day to day? And are there particular practices you’ve found especially helpful for staying spiritually grounded when life gets tough?
Greetings, Kevin – When recognizing spiritual battles, I lean on the Word of God. In particular, Eph 6:10-11
10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.
11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. NKJV
This passage draws a line in the sand!
I also lean on the Word when things get tough. There is Scripture for every situation! There is also a prayer for every situation, as the Scripture says in James 5:16, “The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.”
Thanks for commenting!
Hello!
Thank you for this article — it brought clarity to a topic that can easily feel overwhelming or mysterious. I liked how you explained spiritual warfare in a way that felt grounded and accessible, not scary or confusing. It helped me see that it’s not just about dramatic spiritual battles but about being aware of the everyday struggles between what we feel and what God calls us to. That perspective made the whole idea feel more relevant to real life instead of something distant or abstract.
As I read, I found myself wondering how you recommend keeping that awareness without becoming anxious or overly focused on the enemy. What practices or habits help you stay rooted in Christ’s strength and peace even when spiritual battles feel intense? And when the fight feels heavy, are there particular verses or prayers you return to that help bring clarity and comfort? Thank you again for breaking this down in such a meaningful way — it gave me both understanding and encouragement.
Angela M 🙂
Greetings, Angela – When it comes to Spiritual battles, my go-to verse is Eph 6:10-11, “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. (11) Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. We can overcome only through the power of God in Spiritual battles. I use this as a basis for prayer.
As the series continues, part five will address more of the practical ways of overcoming Spiritual Warfare. Part two is coming soon!
Thanks for commenting!
This blog was very insightful with good, helpful illustrations and content which gave a good overview of what spiritual warfare is and why it is important. Too many people do not even realize that they are in a war and and that they don’t get a choice, hence they must learn to fight, to take every negative thought captive and use the truth of Word of God to stamp out negative thinking.
Amen, Micah! Thanks for commenting!