Picture of spiritual warfare is looked at in the Book of Revelation when in the book we see War in Heaven (Rev. 12:7), the beasts and kings of the earth wage war against God’s people (Rev. 19:19), and a final battle ensues with satan and the nations of the earth against God Himself (Rev. 20:8).
The real armor used was a protective covering to prevent damage from being inflicted on an individual by direct contact weapons or projectiles, usually during combat, or from damage caused by a potentially dangerous environment. The armor of God in the Bible is a metaphor for Christians (Ephesians 6:10-18) showing the spiritual battle and the protection we have available to us.
Romans 13:12 The night is almost gone, and the day is near Therefore let us lay aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light.
This Spiritual battle is us against any forces of darkness. The three enemies of the soul in our spiritual warfare are our flesh(sensual-carnal) evil within this earth(worldly), and the evil one(devil) the last two are without which are opposed and very hostile to God. This evil age that we are in has its thoughts seeping into our minds and hearts in little ways, so we need discernment. God gives us great weapons against accusations or temptations. One is the Word of God, it lets us know who God is and truth. The lovely Holy Spirit will bring God’s truth to our minds when it is needed.
We can have victory over satan’s schemes (deceit and lies) by filling our minds with the truth of the Bible. The devil, demons are real constantly seeking to accuse, temptation and deception to bother you in your interactions, hiding
working to undermine with confusion, they work to undermine what God is doing through us but don’t live in fear. Enemy means: adversary, opponent or accuser that’s how he attacks you he also schemes which means he makes a strategy of attacks one after another.
The enemy can’t possess us or snatch us from Jesus but he wants to damage the relationship we have with God and lies continually. We do have authority over him in Christ even though he is stronger. We are called to be God’s holy people and to be separate for Him… and we should ask God for His wisdom. Specific passages describe the spiritual nature of these battles and help us understand how we experience them practically.
Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you. Luke 10:19
- 2 Thessalonians 3:3
“But the Lord is faithful, and He will strengthen you and protect you from the evil one.”
What does it mean to submit to God and resist the devil?
It is said, To submit to God is in itself resisting the devil when we align our lives with God’s will, the answer is a growing resistance to devils temptations and he will lose his foothold and has to flee. To think we can do it in our own strength is ridiculous we must resist humbly our lives and submit to God.
- 2 Timothy 1:7
For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.
Submitting to God means elevating His Word above our own desires, yielding ourselves to Gods revealed will in the Scriptures, and desperately calling to Him in prayer to ask for grace to help in time of need in zealous pursuit of God and the presence of God.
- James 4:7
“Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”
- Hebrews 4:16
Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
- 1 Peter 5:6-7
Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time: Casting all your care upon Him; for He careth for you.
One thing is to resist the devil firm in your faith important in your battling and be calm and collected in attack and be aware.
- 1 Peter 5:8-9
“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.”
Who is it that overcame but Christ are you trusting that He overcame the world.
- John 16:33
“I [Jesus] have told you these things, so that in Me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.We conquer through Christ ask Him to help you conquer every day through trials.
- Romans 8:37-39
“No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
But as with most things, they start with a thought and we should take our thoughts captive which produces feelings and this will stop it before it even gets started. God wants you to trust Him when you face those fiery darts.
For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds; Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ 2 Corinthians 10:4-5
Get rid of those thoughts from satan and place your faith in God’s Word and Him alone. Other attacks can be demonic spiritual and religious experiences you need to be careful of those. There is no doubt that demons oppress and tempt believers, and there are some states of mind that are fertile ground for temptation (Matthew 6:13; 1 Corinthians 7:5; Galatians 6:1). The Charismatic movement, with its emphasis on dreams and visions, feelings and experiences, and new revelation, is one form of Christian mysticism.
Because we have Gods completed Word, we are not to seek after dreams and visions or extra revelation from God. While it is possible for God to reveal Himself in dreams and visions today, we should beware of the subjective nature of feelings and spiritual impressions.It is vital to remember that anything Christian experiences must line up with the truth of the Bible. God will not contradict Himself. He is not the author of confusion (1 Corinthians 14:33). But there is no evidence to suggest that we are in any way bound by demons or rendered helpless in spiritual warfare.
satan is also a spirit and does his evil work by attacking our minds (James 3:14-15), our bodies (Luke 9:42; 2 Corinthians 12:7), and our spirits (Matthew 16:23; 2 Corinthians 10:3-5). There is an unseen battle taking place around us every moment between Gods holy angels and the forces of darkness (Daniel 10:12-14; Ephesians 6:10-17; Jude 1:9).
If we are vigilant as the Lord commands, we will not be caught unprepared by satans attacks (1 Peter 5:8; 2 Corinthians 2:11). And we have the promise of God that His Holy Spirit is stronger than any of satans schemes (1 John 4:4). But don’t give him footholds to attack you when you sin pornography for example. God has given His children everything we need to stand firm against any spiritual attack of our enemy.
Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as He is righteous. 1 John 3:7
The apostle Paul calls this the “armor of God” (Ephesians 6:11). Some people blame every sin, every conflict, and every problem on demons they believe need to be cast out. The apostle Paul instructs Christians to wage war against the sin in themselves (Romans 6) and to wage war against the evil one (Ephesians 6:10-18).
Ministries that focus wholly on breaking demonic bondage often misapply biblical texts to support their teachings. Religion can easily turn into a type of spiritual bondage when we allow our fears of hell, judgment, or demonic activity to control us.
When we adopt a religious mindset that says, If I don’t perform such and such a ritual, there will be bad consequences. This is not biblical truth. Some have delved into an exploration of the spirit world to their own destruction.
We are to stand firm with the belt of truth, buckle on the breastplate of righteousness, wear on our feet the gospel of peace, hold up the shield of faith, wear the helmet of salvation, and wield the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God the only offensive weapon in the whole armory.
The rest are defensive. What do these pieces of spiritual armor represent in spiritual warfare? We are to speak the truth against satans lies (fiery darts). We are to rest in the fact that we are declared righteous because of Christs sacrifice for us. We are to proclaim the gospel no matter how much resistance we receive. We are not to waver in our faith, no matter how fiercely we are attacked.
Our ultimate defense is the assurance (faith) we have of our salvation, an assurance that no spiritual force can take away. Our offensive weapon is the Word of God, not our own opinions and feelings.
Finally, we are to follow Jesus example in recognizing that some spiritual victories are only possible through prayer. Observe how Jesus handled direct attacks from satan when He was tempted by him in the wilderness (Matthew 4:1-11).Each temptation was answered the same way with the words It is written and a quote from the Scriptures. Jesus knew the Word of the living God is the most powerful weapon against the temptations of the devil. If Jesus Himself used the Word to counter the devil, do we dare to use anything less?
Ephesians 6:10-18 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
Prayer is supremely important as we battle by the Spirit
Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God: Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;
1 Thessalonians 5:17 Pray without ceasing. Fight the battle praising God: Praise the Lord with joy and rejoicing
James 1:2-3 My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.
And the Levites, of the children of the Kohathites, and of the children of the Korhites, stood up to praise the LORD God of Israel with a loud voice on high. 2 chronicles 20:19
Extremely necessary spiritual warfare audio
Some material from www.gotquestions.org