Have you ever engaged in spiritual warfare? If your answer is a hard “no,” you might need to think again. The truth is, spiritual warfare is something we all experience – and it happens more often than you think.
Spiritual warfare involves both everyday life and otherworldly battles. Theologians have historically described it in terms of three arenas: the world, the flesh, and the devil. This framework comes from Paul’s letter to the Ephesians:
Ephesians 2:1-3 (ESV) And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.
We’ll use this framework throughout this series, defining the terms as we go and finishing with the concept of the armor of God from Ephesians 6. But for this first lesson we simply want to outline three principles that are true of all spiritual warfare.
Spiritual warfare uses footholds to establish strongholds.
According to the Oxford dictionary, a foothold is “a secure position from which further progress may be made.” Satan and his demons do everything they can to establish these footholds, and they’re more patient than you think. They know that small victories can lead to major destruction. Paul gives an example:
Ephesians 4:26-27 (NLT) And “don’t sin by letting anger control you.” Don’t let the sun go down while you are still angry, for anger gives a foothold to the devil.
The devil knows that a foothold of anger can turn into a stronghold of bitterness and resentment. Oxford defines a stronghold as “a place that has been fortified so as to protect it against attack.” Footholds are about gaining ground, and they’re used when we’re on the offensive. Strongholds are about protecting ground already taken – a defensive position. If you’re not alert to the footholds that the enemy wants to establish, you’ll be prone to allowing him to establish strongholds that are much harder to tear down.
But this principle works both ways in spiritual warfare. As Christians, we can work to establish godly footholds in our lives through spiritual disciplines such as prayer and Bible study. Those footholds lead to defensive strongholds from which we experience spiritual victory.
[Related Series: Breakthrough Disciplines]
But what do these footholds look like? How can we stay on the lookout?
Spiritual warfare is a battle waged most often in our minds.
While the heavenly realm exists – a place with angels and demons and even Satan himself – it’s a mistake to think that spiritual battles are exclusively fought there. A close reading of the Bible tells a different story: that spiritual warfare is waged in the thought realm more than anywhere else. Paul explained it like this to the church in Corinth:
2 Corinthians 10:3-5 (NLT) We are human, but we don’t wage war as humans do. We use God’s mighty weapons, not worldly weapons, to knock down the strongholds of human reasoning and to destroy false arguments. We destroy every proud obstacle that keeps people from knowing God. We capture their rebellious thoughts and teach them to obey Christ.
“Human reasoning,” “false arguments,” and “rebellious thoughts” – these are all weapons that are used against our minds. Spiritual warfare is a battle for our beliefs, memories, insecurities, fears, and fantasies. Satan uses bad ideas to establish a foothold in our lives, and he’s been doing it since the beginning of time (Genesis 3:1-6).
Spiritual warfare is ongoing, but it’s already won in Christ.
Now some of you are going to start looking for demons behind every bush. Don’t do it. Others are going to struggle falling asleep tonight. Have no fear. Though spiritual warfare is more common than you once thought, there’s good news for every Christian: the battle has already been won. Jesus dealt Satan the decisive blow at the cross:
Colossians 2:14-15 (NLT) He canceled the record of the charges against us and took it away by nailing it to the cross. In this way, he disarmed the spiritual rulers and authorities. He shamed them publicly by his victory over them on the cross.
Satan has already lost, but he still has the ability to establish footholds in our lives. The question is not IF we have victory in Christ, it’s WHETHER we will access the victory that has already been won. Our task is to come under the authority of Jesus, who is more powerful than Satan and all of his demons combined.
Ephesians 1:21-22 (NLT) Now he is far above any ruler or authority or power or leader or anything else—not only in this world but also in the world to come. God has put all things under the authority of Christ and has made him head over all things for the benefit of the church.
Spiritual warfare is real, and you experience it far more often than you realize. Pay attention to footholds that can become strongholds. Expect that battle to be fought in your mind. And remember that the victory is already yours.
