What is spiritual warfare?
Everything seems to hit at once: your mind, your home, your health, your faith. You’re starting to wonder if this is more than bad luck.
Spiritual warfare is the real battle between God’s kingdom and the forces of darkness, and every believer is in it. “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this world’s darkness, and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms” (Ephesians 6:12). The enemy attacks with lies, temptation, fear and accusation. But the fight is not even: Jesus has already won at the cross (Colossians 2:15), and believers fight from His victory, not for it. “Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you” (James 4:7).
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Daniel’s answer was delayed 21 days
Daniel prayed and fasted for three weeks with no answer. Then an angel appeared and told him that God had heard him on the very first day, and he had been sent with the answer at once. But “the prince of the kingdom of Persia opposed me for twenty-one days,” until Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help (Daniel 10:12–13). Daniel couldn’t see the battle. He just kept praying, and the answer came.
How the enemy attacks
Lies about God and about you (John 8:44). Temptation aimed at your weak spots (1 Peter 5:8). Fear and discouragement. Accusation about your past (Revelation 12:10). Division between believers.
How believers fight
The Word: Jesus answered every temptation with “It is written” (Matthew 4:1–11).
Prayer, including prayer in the Spirit (Ephesians 6:18).
The name of Jesus: believers have authority in His name (Luke 10:19; Mark 16:17).
Praise: worship shifts the atmosphere (2 Chronicles 20:21–22).
Obedience: close the doors sin opens (Ephesians 4:27).
Fellowship: don’t fight alone.
Keep it in balance
Not every problem is a demon; some are poor sleep, bad choices or a broken world. But don’t ignore the spiritual either. A Christian cannot be possessed, but can be attacked, and wins by standing in Christ.
What the Bible says
- 01
Our struggle.
“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can make your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this world’s darkness, and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore take up the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you will be able to stand your ground, and having done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness arrayed, and with your feet fitted with the readiness of the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. And take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Pray in the Spirit at all times, with every kind of prayer and petition. To this end, stay alert with all perseverance in your prayers for all the saints.”
Ephesians 6:10–18 - 02
Resist the devil.
“Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”
James 4:7 - 03
Demolishing strongholds.
“For though we live in the flesh, we do not wage war according to the flesh. The weapons of our warfare are not the weapons of the flesh. Instead, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every presumption set up against the knowledge of God; and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.”
2 Corinthians 10:3–5 - 04
Jesus disarmed them.
“And having disarmed the powers and authorities, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.”
Colossians 2:15 - 05
The delayed answer.
““Do not be afraid, Daniel,” he said, “for from the first day that you purposed to understand and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response to them. However, the prince of the kingdom of Persia opposed me for twenty-one days. Then Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, for I had been left there with the kings of Persia.”
Daniel 10:12–13 - 06
Greater is He.
“You, little children, are from God and have overcome them, because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world.”
1 John 4:4
Scripture from the Berean Standard Bible.
Write down the lie you’ve been hearing most. Find one verse that answers it, and speak that verse out loud every morning this week.
Common questions
Can a Christian be demon-possessed?
No. A believer belongs to God and is sealed by the Holy Spirit. Christians can be tempted and attacked, but not possessed.
Should I talk to the devil?
Jesus spoke to demons with authority, briefly. Most of your words belong to God. Resist the enemy in Jesus’ name, then turn to worship.
How do I know if it’s spiritual warfare?
Patterns of sudden fear, confusion, accusation or temptation, especially around obedience to God, often are. Pray, and ask mature believers to pray with you.
Pray with people, not alone.
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