What Is Spiritual Warfare In The Bible?
Spiritual warfare is an intense struggle between good and evil forces in the unseen spiritual realm that can manifest itself in the physical world. It’s an important concept found in the Bible that highlights the ongoing battle of God against Satan and the forces of evil. Spiritual warfare involves prayer, fasting, and other spiritual weapons, to ultimately protect and reclaim what’s been taken.
The Bible emphasizes the need for believers to be alert to the spiritual warfare that’s raging all around us. Jesus warned us about spiritual warfare in the book of Ephesians when He said, “Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil” (Ephesians 6:11). He then described the various pieces of armor that we are to put on—breastplate of righteousness, shield of faith, and helmet of salvation—to shield us in spiritual battles.
The Bible is full of examples of spiritual warfare. In the Old Testament, the stories of David and Goliath, Elijah’s confrontation with the prophets of Baal, and the Children of Israel’s travels in the wilderness are all examples of spiritual conflict and warfare. In the New Testament, Jesus expelled demons and cast out evil spirits; He constantly berated the Pharisees and Sadducees for setting up barriers between people and God.
It’s important to remember that spiritual warfare is a spiritual battle, not a physical battle. The spiritual forces of evil do not abide by natural laws and cannot be fought with physical weapons. It’s a battle that’s won through prayer, fasting, and spiritual weapons such as the Word of God. The Bible is full of verses that speak of the power of prayer and the importance of spiritual warfare.
Armor Of God
Paul’s description of the spiritual armor of God in Ephesians 6 highlights the need for spiritual protection against the enemy. In 1 Thessalonians 5:8, he encourages believers to “put on the breastplate of faith and love.” We often think of the armor of God as physical armor, but in reality, it’s an outfit of spiritual protection and strength.
The armor of God consists of five pieces: the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit. In addition to these pieces, other items such as the shoes of peace, the breastplate of justice, and the shield of hope can also be included in the armor of God. Each item has a specific purpose and provides spiritual protection to the believer.
The belt of truth helps us to stand against the enemy’s lies, the breastplate of righteousness is a reminder of God’s holiness and justice, the shield of faith provides protection from spiritual attacks, the helmet of salvation protects against the mind games of the enemy, and the sword of the Spirit is the only offensive weapon and is our spiritual weapon against the powers of darkness. Together they represent an armor of protection.
Prayer In Spiritual Warfare
Prayer is one of the most important and effective weapons we have in spiritual warfare. It has the power to not just change situations, but to restore our relationship with God and align us with His will. Jesus warned us to be on constant alert because spiritual warfare is a battle against unseen forces. He said, “Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak” (Matthew 26:41).
We must be alert and faithful in prayer, “praying in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and petitions” (Ephesians 6:18). Praying in the Spirit means to pray in accordance with God’s will and with His guidance. Praying in the flesh is like fighting spiritual battles without God’s help. It’s important to remember that it’s not enough to simply pray – we must pray in faith, acting on God’s promises and trusting that He will hear our prayers and respond.
Fasting In Spiritual Warfare
In spiritual warfare, fasting can be a powerful weapon. The Bible is full of examples of how fasting was used in the face of adversity and to strengthen God’s people. In the book of Daniel, we read how Daniel used fasting to win spiritual battles against the evil forces of his day. He said, “I turned to the Lord God and pleaded with him in prayer and petition” (Daniel 9:3).
Fasting can help us focus on God and remind us of our purpose in life. When we fast, we deny ourselves of the pleasures of this world and instead focus on our spiritual journey. Jesus said, “When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show others they are fasting” (Matthew 6:16). Fasting helps us remember our dependence on God and is an expression of our love and commitment to Him.
Worship And Spiritual Warfare
In spiritual warfare, worship is a powerful tool. Worship helps us align our hearts and minds with God’s will and renews our commitment to Him. David said in the Bible “I will worship you with all of my heart, soul and strength” (Psalm 103:1). We must always remember that we are children of the Most High God and that no matter what the enemy throws our way, we must remain strong and steadfast in our faith in God and in His promises.
Worshiping God also helps us to remember His promises, to stay focused on His will, and to be alert about the spiritual warfare that’s going on all around us. Through worship, we can use our spiritual weapons—our prayer, fasting, and our faith in God—to battle the attacks of the enemy.
Binding And Loosing In Spiritual Warfare
The Bible tells us that the battle between good and evil is real, and that we have a part to play in it. In the book of Matthew, Jesus tells us, “Whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven” (Matthew 16:19). This phrase is known as “binding and loosing” and it refers to the spiritual authority we have to break the power of evil in our lives and to release God’s power to bring healing, wholeness and freedom.
Binding and loosing is not a magical formula, but rather it’s an expression of the power of prayer. When we pray, we are asking God to bring his power, his presence, and his authority into our situations. We are “binding” the enemy’s activities and “loosing” the power of God in our lives. It’s important to remember that prayer has the power to break the spiritual strongholds of the enemy and to bring freedom in every area of our lives.
Prophetic Intercession In Spiritual Warfare
Prophetic intercession is a powerful spiritual weapon that can be used in spiritual warfare. It’s a prayer that speaks directly to the spiritual realm, a call to bring down strongholds and to release God’s power and authority. It’s a prayer of declaration, proclaiming with boldness that God is in control and that He is sovereign over all things.
Prophetic intercession originates in scripture and can be used in any situation. It can also be used to stand in the gap for others and to speak God’s truth into their lives. It’s important to remember that prophetic intercession is not about being in control or manipulating God’s will, but about aligning ourselves with His will and allowing God to work through us in our spiritual battles.
Focusing On Who God Is In Spiritual Warfare
Too often we forget that the battle is really between God and the enemy and not between us and the enemy. It’s important to remember who God is and His greatness in order to keep our focus on Him and not on the enemy. Psalm 77:13-14 says: “Your ways, O God, are holy. What god is as great as our God? You are the God who works miracles; you displayed your power among the peoples.”
God has the ultimate power and authority to break any stronghold and to bring freedom to any situation. It’s important to remember that His power is greater than any other power and He is the one who ultimately wins the battle. We have the privilege to be part of His army and to fight alongside Him but only He is sovereign. Therefore, we must make sure to keep our focus on Him and to trust in His plan.
Pursuing God In Spiritual Warfare
Ultimately, spiritual warfare is about pursuing God and submitting to His plan and His will. As believers, it’s important for us to remember that we are called to be faithful in pursuit of Him and to put our trust in Him, to rest in His promises, and to stand firm on His Word. In the book of Joshua, the Lord said to him, “Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go” (Joshua 1:9).
We must keep in mind that even in our spiritual battles, God is with us and He is just a prayer away. His power and authority surpasses any force of the enemy, and He is ultimately the one who will win the battle. We must keep fighting and stand firm in our faith in Him. As we seek Him, pursue Him and remain faithful to Him, we can be sure that He is with us and He will see us through our spiritual battles and give us the victory.
