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SPIRITUAL WARFARE
Good morning.
Today I want to speak about something we can’t see with our physical eyes, yet it touches every part of our lives. It can affect our thoughts, our choices, our relationships, our homes and even our walk with God.
I am speaking about spiritual warfare. An invisible battle satan wages against us in order to harm us in so many ways.
The Bible makes it clear that there is a spiritual battle taking place.
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.”
Paul says that we wrestle. That word speaks of a struggle that is close, it’s personal and it’s very real.
When we hear the words spiritual warfare, we may imagine something strange or dramatic. Yet the battle is often experienced in the ordinary circumstances of life. It can affect the way we think, the choices we make, the way we respond to other people and the direction of our walk with God. Although the enemy works in the unseen realm, the effects of that battle can become very real in our everyday lives.
The battle may come when we’ve been hurt and must decide whether to hold onto that hurt or place it in God’s hands. It may come when our prayers seem unanswered and we must decide whether we will continue trusting God. It may come when we know what Scripture says, but another path appears easier so we take that path instead!.
These moments may seem small and trivial, but they can shape the direction of our lives. Spiritual warfare is often a battle over whom we will trust, what we will believe and how we will respond. This is why spiritual warfare must be taken seriously.
At the same time, we need wisdom. Not every problem we face is necessarily a direct attack from the devil. Some difficulties come because we live in a fallen world. Some come from our own poor decisions, and others come through the actions of people around us.
However, the enemy will try to use any difficulty to weaken our faith, disturb our peace and pull us away from God. After all isn’t that Satans plan. A difficult situation can become a place of spiritual warfare when the enemy uses it to plant fear, bitterness, doubt or division within us.
The good news is that God has equipped us to be able to stand our ground.
To understand how we face these battles, let us go back to verse 10, where Paul tells us where our strength comes from.
Ephesians 6:10:
“Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.”
“Remember, Paul tells us to be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Our strength comes from Him. We stand in His strength, depend upon His power and trust in His ability.”This is important because spiritual warfare cannot be fought through human strength alone.
We may have a strong personality. We may be determined. We may tell ourselves that we can handle anything. Yet there will be times when our own strength is simply not enough.
There will be situations we cannot fix, thoughts we cannot simply shake off and burdens that feel too heavy to carry. In those moments, God invites us to depend on His strength.
Perhaps one of the most dangerous thoughts a Christian can have is: “I can handle this by myself.”
When we stop praying, maybe because we think we can manage, we become vulnerable. When we rely only on our own understanding, we can easily lose our way. When we move ahead with plans without first consulting God, we can find ourselves in a pickle and then under attack having to fight a spiritual battle with human strength. We cannot expect to win a spiritual battle using only our own strength. We will most definitely lose.
The Christian life was never meant to be lived apart from God. We need Him every day. Every moment of every day.
Paul has already told us that our struggle is not against flesh and blood. So we also need to understand who our real enemy is.
Let me make this Chrystal clear. People are not the real enemy. People who come against us are simply being used like a chess piece in a game of chess. The devil manipulates and uses people to achieve his own goals often in attacking us.
This can be hard to remember when someone hurts us, speaks against us or makes our life difficult. Our first reaction may be to defend ourselves, we might become angry and fight back with our own hurtful words. Each one of us has a temper and a threshold that can be crossed. An old wise man once said: Bite your tongue, another useful tip, engage your brain before your mouth. From a Christian perspective I would say this, STOP, count to five and ask yourself, what would Jesus say or do!
The enemy is pleased when Christians turn against one another. He knows that a divided church becomes a weakened church. He knows that bitterness can stop us from praying for one another. He knows that unresolved hurt can sit quietly in the heart and mind festering and slowly affect everything we do.
The person in front of us may be part of the problem, but there may also be a spiritual battle happening within us. The enemy may be trying to turn our hurt into bitterness, our disappointment into resentment and our disagreement into division. Often something that is small and inconsequential can rapidly grow into something massive, but most times, only in our mind!
So we need to ask ourselves some honest questions.
Is this situation drawing me closer to God or pulling me away from Him?
Is my response showing the character of Christ?
Am I seeking peace, or am I feeding the conflict and making the situation worse?
Am I praying about this, or am I only talking about it?
These are simple questions, but they can reveal what is happening in our hearts.
Peter also warns us that the enemy looks for an opportunity.
1 Peter 5:8:
“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.”
Peter tells us to be sober and vigilant. In other words, we are to be clear-minded, watchful and awake to what is happening around us.
A lion looks for the animal that has wandered away from the group. It watches for weakness and the opportunity to attack. In the same way, the enemy looks for areas of our lives that have been left unguarded.
Perhaps it is an old hurt that has never been dealt with. Perhaps it is a temptation we keep returning to. It may be pride, anger, jealousy or the need to always be right.
Sometimes it is simple spiritual neglect. Prayer becomes less frequent. The Bible remains unopened. Church attendance becomes irregular. Fellowship with other Christians begins to feel unimportant.
These changes may happen slowly. We rarely wake up one morning and decide we’re going to walk away from God. More often, we just slowly drift away a little at a time.
Think of a boat tied to a jetty. While the rope is secure, the boat remains where it should be. If that rope comes loose, the boat is carried away. The wind and the current will slowly move it. At first, the distance may seem small. But given enough time, that boat can drift a long way away from where it began.
The same thing can happen in our walk with God. We miss prayer once and think nothing of it. Then it becomes easier to miss it again. We stop reading the Bible for a few days, then a few weeks, and slowly our connection with God becomes weaker. We may still believe, but we are drifting away.
That is why Peter tells us to remain watchful.
Being watchful does not mean living in fear of the devil. It means staying close to God, paying attention to our spiritual condition and dealing with problems before they take hold and overwhelm us.
God has given us everything we need to stand firm, but Paul tells us to put on the armour.
Ephesians 6:11 it say’s:
“Put on the whole armour of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.”
The word “wiles” means schemes, tricks or carefully planned attacks.
The enemy often works through deception. He tries to make what is wrong appear harmless. He makes temptation appear attractive. He makes bitterness feel like it’s justified.
He makes pride feel like confidence and fear sound like wisdom. He can make gossip sound like a genuine concern for someone’s well being when that is not the real motive behind sharing what is not theirs to share.
This is why we need the whole armour of God.
A soldier would never prepare for battle by putting on only half his armour. Every piece has a purpose. In the same way, every part of the armour of God is important.
Ephesians 6:13:
“Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.”
Notice how often Paul uses the word stand.
Sometimes spiritual victory means refusing to move away from what we know is true. We remain faithful. We continue praying. We keep trusting God. We resist the temptation to give up.
We stand strong.
Paul begins with the belt of truth.
Ephesians 6:14:
“Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness,”
The belt helped hold a Roman soldier’s clothing and equipment in place. It prepared him to move freely and stand securely.
Truth holds our lives together.
We live in a world filled with opinions. We hear one thing on television, another thing on social media and something else from the people around us. People are often encouraged to create their own truth and live according to whatever feels right.
Yet feelings can change. Opinions can change. But God’s truth remains steady.
The enemy wants us to question what God has said. That is the same approach he used in the garden of Eden when he caused Eve to doubt God’s word.
So how do we put on the belt of truth?
We learn what God has said. We read His Word. We allow Scripture to shape our thinking. We also choose to live truthfully, even when at times dishonesty would be easier.
When the enemy says, “God has abandoned you,” truth reminds us that God will never leave us nor forsake us. When the enemy says, “You are beyond forgiveness,” truth reminds us that the blood of Jesus cleanses us from all sin. When the enemy says, “You have no value,” truth reminds us that we belong to Christ and we were purchased at a great price.
Truth helps us recognise a lie before that lie finds a home in our hearts.
In the same verse, Paul speaks about the breastplate of righteousness.
The breastplate protected the soldier’s chest and vital organs. In spiritual terms, righteousness guards the heart.
Our confidence does not come from believing that we have lived perfect lives. Our confidence comes from knowing that we have been made right with God through Jesus Christ.
2 Corinthians 5:21:
“For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.”
Jesus took our sin upon Himself, and through faith in Him we are made right with God.
The enemy will often bring old failures back to our minds. He wants us to live under guilt and condemnation. He wants us to believe that our past has made us useless to God.
When we have confessed our sin and received God’s forgiveness, we can stand in the righteousness of Christ. We can say, “That sin has been forgiven. Jesus paid for it at Calvary. I belong to Him.”
Putting on the breastplate also means choosing to live in a way that pleases God. When we knowingly hold onto sin, we leave an area of our lives exposed. Obedience brings protection because it keeps our hearts close to God.
Paul then speaks about the shoes of the gospel of peace.
Ephesians 6:15:
“And having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace;”
A soldier needed firm shoes. Without good footing, he could easily slip or be pushed over.
The gospel gives us firm footing because through Jesus Christ we have peace with God.
Romans 5:1:
“Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,”
This peace is deeper than a calm feeling. It is the knowledge that we have been brought back into a right relationship with God.
When life becomes uncertain, we can stand on that truth. We belong to God. We have been forgiven. Our future is secure in Christ.
The gospel of peace also changes how we treat other people. We carry the peace of Christ into our homes, our workplaces and our church.
Before responding in anger, we can stop and pray. Before passing on something we have heard, we can ask whether it will bring healing or harm. Before allowing a disagreement to grow, we can seek peace.
Imagine what could happen in a church where every person made a firm decision to protect unity, forgive quickly and refuse to feed gossip. The enemy would find far fewer places to work.
The next piece Paul mentions is the shield of faith.
Ephesians 6:16:
“Above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one.”
The Roman shield was large enough to protect much of the soldier’s body. Soldiers could also stand together and join their shields, creating a wall of protection.
The enemy’s fiery darts may come as fear, doubt, temptation, accusation or discouragement.
Faith does not mean pretending that the problem is absent. Faith means choosing to trust God while the problem is still present. Faith says, “I cannot see the answer yet, but I know God is faithful. I may feel afraid, but I will still trust Him. I have been disappointed, but I will continue praying.”
Sometimes our shield feels heavy. That is when we need other Christians around us. There may be times when someone else’s faith helps us to stand. A phone call, a prayer, a word of encouragement or a Scripture shared at the right moment can help lift our shield again.
We were never meant to fight alone.
Paul then tells us to take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit.
Ephesians 6:17:
“And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God;”
A helmet protects the head. Spiritually, we need our minds guarded by the assurance and hope of salvation.
Many Spiritual battles begin in the mind.
A thought enters, and we begin mulling it over. We imagine what might happen. We may replay a conversation. We assume the worst. Before long, our peace is gone, although nothing around us has actually changed. How funny is that!
The helmet of salvation reminds us who we are. We are saved by the grace of God, we belong to Jesus and our sins are forgiven. Our lives have purpose and our future is secure in Christ.
We need to be careful about what we allow to remain in our minds. We cannot always stop a thought from arriving, but we can decide whether we will give it somewhere to live.
When a thought comes, ask: Is this true? Is this from God? Does this agree with His Word? Will dwelling on this help me follow Jesus?
The helmet of salvation brings our minds back under the truth of what Christ has done for us.
Ephesians 6:17 also tells us that the sword of the Spirit is the Word of God.
This is why knowing Scripture is so important. We cannot use a sword that we have never learned to handle.
Jesus showed us this when He was tempted in the wilderness.
Matthew 4:1:
“Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.”
Each time Satan tempted Him, Jesus answered with the Word of God.
Matthew 4:4:
“But He answered and said, ‘It is written, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.”’”
Matthew 4:7:
“Jesus said to him, ‘It is written again, “You shall not tempt the LORD your God.”’”
Matthew 4:10:
“Then Jesus said to him, ‘Away with you, Satan! For it is written, “You shall worship the LORD your God, and Him only you shall serve.”’”
Jesus knew the Word, understood the Word and used the Word correctly.
It is possible to own several Bibles and still be unprepared. The Bible shapes our thinking when we open it, read it and allow its truth to settle within us. When fear, temptation or confusion comes, we need to know what God has said. His Word brings light into places where the enemy tries to bring darkness.
Paul does not finish his teaching after describing the armour. He goes on to speak about prayer.
Ephesians 6:18:
“Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints—”
Prayer keeps us close to the One who gives the armour its strength.
Paul says to pray always. This means prayer should become a natural part of our daily lives.
We can pray when we wake up. We can pray while driving. We can pray before a difficult conversation. We can pray when temptation comes. We can pray when someone’s name suddenly enters our mind. Think about this! Why did that persons name enter your mind?
Prayer does not need to contain impressive words. Sometimes the most honest prayer is simple, as simple as: “Lord, help me.”
Paul also tells us to pray for all the saints. Do you know who all the Saints are? You and I, all the followers of Christ are the Saints.
Romans 1:7:
“To all who are in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.”
In the Bible, the saints are all those who belong to Jesus Christ. Paul was writing to ordinary Christians in Rome and called them saints. The word refers to people who have been set apart for God through faith in Christ.
Spiritual warfare is not only about protecting ourselves. We are called to stand with one another.
When someone is suffering, pray for them. When someone is discouraged, pray for them. When a marriage is under pressure, pray for that family. When the church is facing difficulty, pray for unity, wisdom and protection.
There may be people sitting near us who are fighting battles we know nothing about. A person can smile, shake our hand and say that everything is fine while carrying a very heavy burden inside.
Our prayers for one another matter.
Spiritual warfare is real, but we do not need to live in fear.
Our attention should always be on Jesus. He is greater than the enemy. He has given us His truth, His righteousness, His peace, faith, salvation, His Word and the privilege of prayer.
James 4:7:
“Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.”
Notice the order. First, submit to God. Then resist the devil.
Standing firm begins by drawing close to God and placing every part of our lives under His direction and authority.
Perhaps today there is an area of life that has been left unguarded. Perhaps discouragement has found a place in the heart. Perhaps fear has been controlling decisions. Perhaps an old hurt is slowly becoming bitterness. Perhaps prayer has become less important than it once was.
God is inviting us to come close again.
We can bring those things into His light. We can ask for His help. We can put on the whole armour of God and take our stand.
When the enemy brings lies, stand in truth. When he brings accusations, stand in the righteousness of Christ. When he brings confusion, stand in the peace of the gospel. When he throws fiery darts, raise the shield of faith. When he attacks the mind, remember our hope of salvation. When temptation comes, answer it with the Word of God. Through every part of the battle, keep praying.
The battle is real, but so is the power of God.
So let us remain watchful. Let us remain prayerful. Let us stay close to Jesus, support one another and continue standing firm.
Remember this, satan has already lost the battle, we know how it all ends, our Lord is victorious.
Let us pray.
Closing Prayer
Heavenly Father, thank You for giving us everything we need to stand strong. Help us to recognise the enemy’s schemes and remain close to You. Guard our hearts and minds, strengthen our faith and teach us to use Your Word correctly. Help us to pray for one another and to stand together in the strength of Jesus. In Jesus name I pray, Amen.
Scripture References NKJV
Ephesians 6:12
Ephesians 6:10
1 Peter 5:8
Ephesians 6:11
Ephesians 6:13
Ephesians 6:14
2 Corinthians 5:21
Ephesians 6:15
Romans 5:1
Ephesians 6:16
Ephesians 6:17
Matthew 4:1
Matthew 4:4
Matthew 4:7
Matthew 4:10
Ephesians 6:18
James 4:7
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