Spiritual Warfare – Winning The Spiritual Battles
As Christians we must recognize that we are in a spiritual battle against the enemy of God. The Bible tells us that our battle is not against other people, or other political parties, or other nations. Our battle is against a spiritual enemy.
“Finally, be strong in the Lord, and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For our wrestling is not against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the world rulers of this darkness, against the spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. – Ephesians 6:10-12
Spiritual Warfare Against God’s Enemy Satan
God loves all people in the world, and He wants all of them saved. He wants to have a restored personal relationship with all people.
“God who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.” – 1 Timothy 2:4
“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” – John 10:10
The Bible clearly talks about God’s enemy Satan. Satan is also the enemy of all Christians. The enemy of God hates all people. Satan wants to defeat people and keep them in defeat and bondage. And he wants to destroy lives. Like God, Satan also wants to win souls. He wants all people to go to where he is going for eternity.
“The one who does what is sinful is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil’s work.” – 1 John 3:8
“Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.” – 1 Peter 5:8-9Â
Spiritual Warfare – Most Intense When You Commit to Join God In His Kingdom Work & Mission
When we are doing all we can to win souls for Christ and make disciples, the enemy will do all he can to try to stop us. Expect spiritual warfare if you have determined in your heart to join God in His work to win souls and make disciples.
If God has called you to join Him in His kingdom work and mission, then you will experience spiritual warfare. It comes with the privilege of joining God. But you do not need to be afraid or discouraged. God will strengthen you, protect you, and lead you victoriously through the battles and difficulties. And He will do this for His glory.
“Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” – James 4:7
“For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God…” – 2 Corinthians 10:3-5
Paul Experienced A Great Deal of Spiritual Warfare
“Five times I received from the Jews thirty-nine lashes. Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, a night and a day I have spent adrift at sea.  I have been on frequent journeys, in dangers from rivers, dangers from robbers, dangers from my countrymen, dangers from the Gentiles, dangers in the city, dangers in the wilderness, dangers at sea, dangers among false brothers. I have been in labor and hardship, through many sleepless nights, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure.” – 2 Corinthians 11:24-27
“At my first defense no one supported me, but all deserted me. May it not be counted against them. But the Lord stood with me and strengthened me, so that through me the proclamation might be fully accomplished, and that all the Gentiles might hear; and I was rescued out of the lion’s mouth.” – 2 Timothy 4:16-17
Paul experienced a lot of spiritual warfare. And he suffered a great deal for being faithful to Jesus and to His kingdom work and mission. But he remained faithful to the end. And he fully relied on Jesus, and Jesus always provided strength, comfort, and everything else that Paul needed.
Spiritual Warfare In Kingdom Work & Missions
“I know your afflictions and your poverty – yet you are rich ! I know about the slander of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days. Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you life as your victor’s crown.” – Revelation 2:9-10
We experience a lot of spiritual warfare, especially right before we are going to share Christ with a lot of people in a school or event, or immediately after we have seen God win a great victory. In fact, things can get pretty difficult and crazy.
We see a lot of difficulties, such as things breaking in our house or on our car. Or conflicts with people. Sometimes people attack us verbally for no apparent reason. Or all of a sudden we will get sick, in the midst of our evangelistic events. It may be people that are helping us from a church get sick. We have actually seen a pastor from a church helping us have heart problems right at the beginning of a school outreach event. And many times we can feel the very strong oppression of the enemy.
Spiritual Warfare Is Difficult
Don’t get me wrong – we love serving the Lord and sharing Christ with others, and helping churches to make disciples. But at times things get very difficult. That is why missionaries and pastors need your prayers. We are human and we are weak. We get tired, yes even cranky. And we make mistakes. The battle is far too difficult for us, and the enemy is too strong for us.
I can only imagine how difficult it is for people who are serving in places like the Middle East where it is very dangerous to witness for Christ. These precious servants could lose their lives at any moment. I have a great amount of respect and admiration for these faithful servants of the Lord.
Praise God that we serve the One who is far greater than he that is in the world. The more difficult spiritual warfare is, the more grace and strength God gives. The key is to humble yourself and submit to God, and fully rely on God.Â
“Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time.” – 1 Peter 5:6
“You are from God, little children, and have overcome them; because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world.” – 1 John 4:4
Hope And Assurance In The Midst of Battles & Spiritual Warfare
Another reason that we can have hope and assurance in spiritual warfare is that God has given us His Word. He has given us promises that He will lead us to victory. God cannot lose. And we are on God’s winning team.
For us, the strong spiritual warfare we experience is a sign that God is about to do something wonderful and great. And the enemy is not happy about it. Although it can be very difficult, God always comes through and leads us on to victory.
Some of God’s Promises For Spiritual Warfare
Here are some of the many promises concerning the work of sharing Christ with others & making disciples, and the victories that God will give us.
“But thanks be to God, who always leads us victoriously in Christ, and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of Him.” – 2 Corinthians 2:14
” For the Lord your God is the one who goes with you, to fight for you against your enemies to give you victory.” – Deuteronomy 20:4
” Surely, as I have planned, so it will be, and as I have purposed, so it will stand.” – Isaiah 14:24
“The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you.” – Romans 16:20
“So will My word be which goes forth from My mouth; It will not return to Me empty, Without accomplishing what I desire, And without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it.” – Isaiah 55:11
We want to encourage you to fully commit and surrender yourself to God. And join Him in His kingdom work and mission. There is still much to do in the world today. God is mightily at work, and He is waiting for more people to faithfully join Him. You will experience more joy than you ever thought possible. Even despite difficulties, and yes even despite suffering.
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Kevin Bart has been a follower of Jesus for over 40 years. Kevin has taught Bible study classes, small groups, and discipleship classes for many years. He developed Pursuing Intimacy With God Bible studies website and book after many years of seeking God and studying His word. Kevin and his wife Nancy have 3 sons and 2 precious grandchildren.
Kevin is a former business owner, and current international missions ministry leader with more than four decades of combined business and ministry experience. After building and running a successful business for 23 years, with God’s guidance and blessings, he sold his company to dedicate himself to full-time global missions.
For over 20 years, Kevin and his wife Nancy have led a self funded international missions ministry. Utilizing learned business and financial management skills, as well as knowledge and experience in travel points and miles, to date they have had more than 5o mission trips to 36 countries in the Caribbean, Central America, South America, Europe, Africa, and Asia.
After many years of studying the Bible and the Book of Revelation, and writing many Bible studies and articles, Kevin finally finished Unraveling The Mysteries of the Book Of Revelation. Hopefully it will be a blessing to many people.
