As a point of reference, we will be referring to content from the following books:
In this series, we are going to deal with the subject of spiritual warfare and bring correct, biblical teaching to this often-misunderstood subject.
There are three different aspects to spiritual warfare:
- Taking control of our minds
- Crucifying the flesh
- Dealing with the enemy
We must always remember that the real battle with Satan was won at the Cross and the resurrection by Jesus Christ.
We must approach spiritual warfare from a place of already obtained victory (by Jesus) instead of us trying to get the victory.
1 John 5:4 NKJV For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world–our faith.
No evil force has ever prevailed over the power of God or the people of God, and never will!
How Real Warfare Begins
Most believers who have fallen in recent times would not have fallen if they had not given the devil some kind of foothold in their mind.
Demon spirits have absolutely no power to bring about destruction unless they can find an open door into a person’s mind.
The Holy Spirit is faithful to convict us of any areas in our lives that leave us vulnerable for attack.
He will urge us to repent and change before the devils builds strongholds in our thinking. However, it is still up to us to see that these opened doors are slammed shut and forever closed.
Demon spirits cannot destroy without an open door into a person’s soul – and such an entrance can only be given by way of permission.
The one thing that the Lord will not let the enemy do is override someone’s will.
Most battles are fought and won because we are faithful to heed the Holy Spirit’s warnings to deal with some area of our lives before it got out of control.
Spiritual warfare is not a momentary gust of emotion to temporarily frighten away the devil. Quite the opposite!
Real spiritual warfare is a specific condition of the mind that involves a lifelong commitment.
2 Corinthians 10:3-5 NKJV (3) For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. (4) For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, (5) casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ,
In verse 5, the word “warfare” is translated from the Greek word “stratos” and is a huge key in defeating the attacks of the enemy. It is where we get the word “strategy”.
Notice that the verse tells is that the weapons are weapons of strategy.
In order for spiritual weapons to work effectively, they must be accompanied with a divine strategy on how to use them.
God has given believers everything they need to defeat the enemy, but they don’t have a strategy on how to use their weapons or what to do when the attack comes.
Weapons absolutely will not be successful if there is no strategy behind them.
We can have a plan for when attacks come from the enemy. We can know what to do when troubles come as they will.
But in these scriptures, Paul is addressing a stronghold that is built up in our minds that becomes a playground for the enemy.
Not every stronghold is the same. Each one will require its own strategy to be overcome.
This mandates that you spend time praying in the Spirit, reading the Word and seeking the mind of God.
In your own strength and wisdom, you will never conceive a plan that will deliver you.
When strongholds become deeply rooted in the mind, only the Holy Spirit can give you a strategy on how to pull them down.
The Holy Spirit will show you how to use your God-given weapons, and He will instruct you on when and what to attack.
2 Corinthians 10:4 NKJV (4) For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds,
Spiritual weapons have absolutely nothing to do with the flesh or activity of the flesh.
Regardless of how good the flesh looks or how loud the flesh roars, it is never intended to fight a spiritual foe.
Many believers try to use outward, physical, fleshly techniques in their attempt to defeat the enemy and call it “spiritual warfare.”
The danger of fleshly weapons is that they produce guilt, condemnation, and legalism because they do not provide the victory many need. These attempts will never “be enough.”
Galatians 5:1 NKJV Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage.
Some “fleshly” warfare techniques include:
Christians needing to be delivered from demons and so they should work themselves up and make themselves vomit in order for demons to come out.
Warring tongues – volume does not scare the devil. Have you heard some of the head banging punk rock music that was out years ago?
It is the authority that Jesus has given you and that resides in your spirit that causes the devil to obey.
Sometimes you have to be loud in prayer and in tongues to overcome the loud voice of your own flesh and mind.
These things become religious in nature and fleshly and are really saying:
- “Let me do something to earn my freedom!”
- “Christ’s work alone surely cannot be enough!”
- “Let me scream from my freedom!”
- “Let me purge myself of demon spirits!”
Remember, we always approach spiritual warfare from a place of victory already obtained for me by Jesus Christ and His finished work.
We can add absolutely nothing to what Jesus did for us at the Cross!
Our goal in life is not to fight for our freedom and deliverance; rather, it is to freely accept our deliverance and freedom that has been procured for us.
We have been given divinely empowered weapons to resist the enemy’s attacks and MAINTAIN the blessings of our salvation that are ours.
A correct view of redemption will clear up many wrong ideas about the devil and spiritual warfare.
There are four Greek words that are used to denote “redemption” in the New Testament:
- “Agoridzo” – slave marketplace
These were grossly inhuman place where people were treated in a disgusting way. They were paraded in front of potential buyers where the “merchandise” could be beat upon, slapped, spat upon to see if the slaves could take it. Slaves had no personal worth; viewed no better than animals.
Because of sin, the world had sunk to a place where the world was a global slave market, where Satan had gripped the hearts of men and filled their natures with violence and destruction.
The world Jesus was born into was a world of complete captivity.
Romans 5:12 NKJV Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned—
Romans 7:14 NKJV For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am carnal, sold under sin. (transfer of property)
Because we were the “merchandise” of the slave market, Satan would slap, kick, beat, spit upon us and abuse us in every way that he could.
Once that treatment was over, he would place us back on the auction block and sell us again to some other form of bondage.
God sent His Son into the enemy’s “slave market” with one purpose in mind: so Jesus could secure man’s deliverance from Satan’s bondage once and for all.
1 Corinthians 6:20 NKJV (20) For you were bought at a price (agoridzo); therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.
1 Corinthians 7:23 NKJV (23) You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of men.
Revelation 5:9 NKJV And they sang a new song, saying: “You are worthy to take the scroll, And to open its seals; For You were slain, And have redeemed us to God by Your blood Out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation,
- “Exagoridzo” – one who has come to purchase a slave OUT OF the slave market.
This word signifies the purchase of a slave in order to permanently set that slave FREE from that heinous place, NEVER to be put on the trading block of slavery again.
Galatians 3:13 NKJV Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, “CURSED IS EVERYONE WHO HANGS ON A TREE”),
Paul is saying to us that not only did Jesus’ sacrificial death not only paid the penalty for our sin, but His death also removed us from living under the curse forever.
Galatians 4:4-5 NKJV But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, (5) to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.
Slaves did not come cheaply. If the auctioneer knew that a buyer really wanted a particular slave, he could demand unbelievably high prices. We must therefore ask, “What price did Jesus pay for our freedom from Satan’s power.
- “Lutroo” – captive set free by the payment of a ransom.
By using this word, Paul is telling is that our salvation is not free. On the contrary, our freedom from Satan’s power was extremely expensive.
What was the ransom that Jesus paid to procure our freedom from Satan’s bondage and ownership? His own blood!
In fact, the price Jesus paid for us was the highest price ever paid for a slave in the history of mankind.
Ephesians 1:7 NKJV In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace
Colossians 1:13-14 NKJV (13) He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, (14) in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.
Colossians 1:20 NKJV and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross.
Hebrews 9:12 NKJV Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption.
1 Peter 1:18-19 NKJV knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, (19) but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.
- “Apolutrosis” – to ransom or redeem and return us to the condition we were in before our captivity began.
Jesus paid the price to permanently free and restore us to the full status of sons!
Ephesians 1:7 NKJV In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace
In using the word here for “redemption” Paul declares that we were forever delivered from Satan’s power – we were forever removed from that dreadful place of slavery – and now we have been fully restored by the blood of Jesus Christ and placed back into a right-standing with God.
We are fully restored and fully set free from Satan’s former grip over us!
Galatians 4:7 NKJV Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.
Romans 8:16-17 NKJV The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, (17) and if children, then heirs–heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.
- “Agoridzo” – tells us that Jesus Christ came to earth to locate us in our depravity and to personally inspect our slavery to Satan.
- “Exagoridzo” – declares that Jesus not only came to inspect our condition but to permanently remove us from Satan’s power.
- “Lutroo” – tells us that Jesus was so dedicated to delivering us from Satan’s dominion that He was willing to pay the ransom price of His own blood in order to break the devil’s ownership over us.
- “Apolutrosis” – tells us that, in addition to permanently setting us from Satan’s hold, Jesus also restored us to the position of “sons of God”. Now we are fully restored and made joint-heirs with Jesus Christ Himself!