In light of my recent book, Ten Lies Satan Loves to Tell, I thought it would be helpful to engage with a few frequently asked questions that the book may raise for readers. This is part two, which addresses questions about spiritual warfare. In part one of my blog series, I address questions about Satan’s identity and actions.
The apostle Paul writes, “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places” (Ephesians 6:12).
These spiritual forces of evil are those who follow Satan. They are referred to by the Scriptures as demons or unclean spirits. The battle between these spiritual forces of evil and God’s angels, along with God’s people, is what is often referred to as “spiritual warfare.”
Some of the biblical references to spiritual warfare are difficult to understand, but here are a few examples where we see or are told about this cosmic spiritual battle taking place.
In 2 Kings chapter 6, Elisha and his servant are in the town of Dothan. As they sleep one night, the Syrian army surrounds them. Upon waking, Elisha’s servant sees thousands upon thousands of enemy soldiers, and he is terrified. Elisha tells his servant, “Do not be afraid, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them” (2 Kings 6:16). Elisha then prays that God would open his servant’s eyes. All of a sudden, the servant sees what has been there all along: thousands of horses and chariots of fire all around them, standing ready to fight for God’s people.
In the book of Daniel, we get a glimpse of this fight. An angel appears to Daniel and tells him, “The prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me twenty-one days, but Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, for I was left there with the kings of Persia” (Daniel 10:13). We know Michael to be an archangel, who appears again in Revelation 12, leading the attack against the great dragon, Satan. This angel messenger who finally arrives to speak to Daniel had been engaged in some sort of battle with the prince of Persia, a battle Michael arrived at and tipped the scales in favor of God’s forces.
And throughout the ministry of Jesus and the book of Acts, we see several people who are possessed by demonic forces. Jesus and His followers confront and cast out these demonic forces.
Spiritual warfare is challenging to describe because, for most people, this is experiential, and not everyone’s experiences are the same. To that end, I can only tell you about my own experiences with spiritual warfare to describe it.
For me, spiritual warfare is often felt as a heaviness, a darkness. Sometimes it makes me feel a bit nauseated. It is often connected to a place, and my most common thought in such places is, “Something is wrong here. I shouldn’t be here.”
The most palpable of these situations I have experienced occurred in places of worship for other religions. The two most memorable for me were at a Hindu temple in India and a Buddhist temple in Thailand. Such places are sometimes referred to as strongholds, places where Satan’s forces have made camp and built up defenses.
There is a difference between the darkness one experiences from spiritual warfare and the darkness one experiences from mental illness. I am not a psychologist or a therapist. I cannot diagnose a mental illness. In my experience, spiritual warfare can change quickly in the movement of place or activity. The darkness and heaviness can change by walking into or out of a room sometimes. Depression, for example, does not go away with such simple changes. Mental illnesses often last for a long time, sometimes for a person’s whole earthly life. They require experts in mental health; they are psychological.
And spiritual warfare is spiritual. It affects one’s ability to pray, read the Scriptures, and attend worship services.
When reading the biblical stories of demonic possession, people often wonder if demonic possession still happens today. The question behind the question is, “Can I be possessed by a demon?”
Demonic possession does still happen, even in the twenty-first century. Exorcisms are still being performed. Your pastor can likely tell you a few stories about encountering demonic activity throughout the course of pastoral care. I know I can.
In my experience, demonic activity is not easy to pin down. Sometimes it causes great fear. It is at its worst when fear of damnation and hell take hold. Sometimes demonic activity is based solely in deception, lies, and false accusations. And sometimes demonic activity takes the form of possession.
I want to be careful not to say more than is abundantly clear and obvious, but certain activities can make a person more susceptible to demonic activity. Participating in activities or games that seek to call upon spiritual forces is dangerous. Tarot cards, Ouija boards, and psychic readings are not things Christians should be participating in. I’m not saying that if you have done these things you are or will be possessed by a demon; however, they are dangerous. Satan uses people’s fascination with the paranormal to his advantage. We must not help Satan gain any ground in our lives.
In Ephesians 6, when the apostle Paul talks about the spiritual battle we face in this present darkness, he also talks about the armor that God has given us for this spiritual battle. The best way to fight against Satan is to put on that armor. What is that armor?
The first piece is the belt of truth. We must be ready to face Satan’s lies with the truth of Jesus. This truth should be fastened upon us at all times. We also put on righteousness, which Jesus gives us as a breastplate. For shoes, we are given the Gospel of peace and a readiness to share that Gospel with others.
For a shield, God gives us faith. Shields in this context would have been covered in soaked leather. Such shields were quite adept at extinguishing flaming arrows fired by the enemy. Satan’s lies are flaming arrows. And the shield of faith protects us both from arrow and fire. Also of note is that shields back then were shaped in such a way that they could be used together to create a wall, a protective layer on the sides and above, for a group of soldiers. An individual shield of faith is good, but many shields used communally are much more useful against Satan’s attacks. We protect others, and others protect us. For a helmet, we are given salvation. So far, each of these is a defensive piece of armor.
But the next piece is both defensive and offensive. It is the sword of the Spirit, also known as the Word of God. If you want to fight back against Satan, drink deeply from the Scriptures. Immerse yourself in God’s Word. When Jesus is assaulted by Satan in Matthew 4, Jesus stands ready with the Word of God to fight back.
The final piece of armor that often goes overlooked is prayer. Prayer, much like the Word of God, is both defense and offense. Prayer calls the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit to our aid in the fight against Satan. Prayer is protective and deals a mighty blow to Satan and all his forces. For, in prayer, we confess that no matter what lies Satan has spewed forth into our ears, we still trust in God. Satan has not won us to his side. We call on God for help.
Scripture: ESV®