How to Fight Spiritual Warfare
** Are you experiencing spiritual struggles? Prayer is an effective defense, so please contact a mentor who is ready to pray with you.
“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.” Ephesians 6:12
There are four things we need to do when we are battling spiritual warfare in our lives:
1. Acknowledge the adversary. Satan is real (1 Peter 5:8-9). When you’re being attacked, it’s proof that you’re a believer. The more you make an impact for God, the more the Devil is going to fight you. You never outgrow it; it just gets more intense.
If there were no Devil, why would God send his Son to fight what does not exist? The Bible says in 1 John 3:8, “The Son of God came to destroy these works of the Devil” (NLT).
2. Accept God-given authority. Most believers are very ignorant about the authority they have to use against the Devil. Matthew 28:18-19 says we have all authority in heaven and earth. Then Jesus says, “Therefore go and make disciples …” He transfers the authority to you and me. He does that because he’s given us a specific mission (2 Corinthians 5:20).
3. Put on God’s armor. When Paul wrote about the whole armor of God (Ephesians 6:11-17), he was in prison chained to a Roman guard. Paul used the Roman centurion as a model for spiritual armor. Paul says, just as the Roman soldier is properly dressed to do battle, we also need to be dressed for battle.
For instance, I will often pray, “Lord, I put on the helmet of salvation that will protect me from the thoughts the Devil will try to give me. I don’t want to think the Devil’s thoughts. I don’t want to think my thoughts. I want to think your thoughts, so that that I may be a voice for you. I put on the belt of truth. Lord, I want to share the truth, not falsehood. I want to lead people into righteousness.”
4. Aim the artillery. The battlefield for spiritual warfare is primarily in your thought life, in your mind (2 Corinthians 10:4-5). Paul says the weapons God gives us to use demolish arguments – that’s the way people think; they pull down pretension – that’s the way people think.
We take every thought captive. In this battle for thoughts, we have four weapons: humility, faith, truth, and praise.
Question: According to Ephesians 6:10-18, what is the only offense weapon we have against the Devil’s schemes?
About this Author: Rick Warren
Thank you for your comments Karen! While I understand some of the criticisms levied against Dr Warren, I don’t see anywhere in this devotional where he says that “Being attacked by the devil alone [is] proof that this someone is actually a believer.” This devotional is intended to be read by Christians; certainly many who are not Christians may be attacked, but this devotional is not intended for them. (Where he writes about the “things we need to do” the “we” refers to Christians.)
I wonder too what is wrong with a “seeker friendly Gospel”? As long as the Gospel is there, making it more “seeker friendly” is wrong? Should we try to make a “seeker offensive” version of the Gospel instead? It seems to me that the Gospel is offensive enough; while we can’t dumb it down or remove the offense from it, neither should we add any more offense (or hurdles) that aren’t necessary.
Being attacked by the devil alone is no proof that this someone is actually a believer. There are lots of unbelievers out there that get attacked, yet they are not saved.
I think Mr. Warren needs to apply his spiritual warfare strategies on himself since he himself has been deceived into birthing the “Purpose driven life/church” (seeker friendly Gospel) movement. How sad!
Indeed spiritual warfare is so tiring especially when we become day after day closer to God! But in Jesus name and his holy Cross we’ll always succeed and win the battle!