2 Corinthians 10:3-4 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds…

What is Spiritual Warfare?

We as humans understand warfare. This goes back to our beginnings in the clan mentality. We have to defend what is ours. This warfare started with sticks and stones. Then graduated to bows and swords, until today with the oncoming of smart bombs. We see the images that come from war. The buildings destroyed, pestilence and disease that start until one side is conquered. It is ugly and cruel, leaving death in its wake.

Spiritual warfare is on a grander scale than the worst fighting on this earth. This kind of warfare pertains to everyone and has eternal consequence. Where do the ideas we see on television today come from? Trans, gay rights, pedophilia and other immoral ideas are introduced by satan. Why? To destroy the family. The basis of God’s plan for the world. God said man and woman should be married and become one flesh. The family is the basis for the civilization. Hence the attack on this institution. This is just one example of spiritual warfare.

Signs You Are Experiencing Spiritual Warfare

What does spiritual warfare look like? The first is a stronghold. A stronghold is a well defended belief. Even if the belief is against the word of God. What are some strongholds? Let us turn to the gospels. Matthew 5 is what we call the beatitudes. Jesus, list eight ways people will be blessed. The things he encourages us to conform to are humbleness, mourning over sin, meekness, people seeking God’s way, the merciful, peacemakers, the poor in spirit and pure in heart. So, the inference is that the opposite of these can be considered strongholds.

The other signs relate to people who try and exalt themselves over God. We must cast down the arguments for these spiritual warfare principles. We not only see this in our culture today but also in our churches. People who preach gay rights from the pulpit. Others preach there is more than one way to heaven. Still others use the feel-good gospel of God blessing us with riches to make our lives easier. These are all false teachings. It only takes a few hours to read the gospels, and you will see the contrast to what these false teachers are using in their spiritual warfare battles.

Effective Strategies to Combat Spiritual Warfare

How do we as Christians combat this type of warfare against God? First, we need to speak the truth plainly and out of love. Joshua 1:1-5 is an example we need to use. Moses had passed on to heaven. Joshua was the chosen leader. He was just as nervous as we would be. God spoke to him in truth, “Moses my servant is dead. Now therefore, arise, go over this Jordan, you and all this people, to the land which I am giving to them-the children of Israel.” This was God speaking plainly to Joshua. No fluff, no judgement, just the plain truth.

We should not be holier than though, but we do need to let people know there is a time where we will be judged. But we will be judged by the One who sees and knows all. John 8:3 Then the scribes and pharisees brought to him a woman caught in adultery. The setup was in and the religious elite knew they had Jesus set in a trap. Their self-righteousness was on display as they tried to claim their power. They had set up this woman to be caught in the very act of adultery for this very purpose. The did not care about this woman or what could happen to her. They just wanted to prove their point.

How did Jesus respond to this? With one simple question from the point of showing grace and love. Verse7 “He who is without sin among you, let him cast the first stone.” One by one the accusers walked away. We all are saved by the blood of Jesus. We all were born into sin. Can we cast the first stone? But should we overlook sin? Verse 10, “Woman, where are those accusers of yours? Has no one condemned you?” Verse 11, she said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said to her, “Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more.” Sin condemned but the sinner is not. We need to keep this in mind.

Strengthening Your Faith During Spiritual Warfare

Always keep this lesson in mind when you are facing people who test you the most during sharing Jesus. Or facing the people who reflects the sin that you struggle with the most. We do not need to persecute them. No, we need to love them. Why? Because Jesus came and hung on that cruel cross for each of us. We love because He first loved us.