What Is Spiritual Warfare
For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places (Ephesians 6:12).
We first need to understand why there is spiritual warfare. Who is fighting who and whose side are we on?
Many Christians think there is only one kingdom, but there are two kingdoms - the kingdom of God and the kingdom of Satan. If Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then will his kingdom stand? (Matthew 12:26). It is highly important, as Christians, that we understand this kingdom and how it operates. "If we are in the kingdom of God, through Christ, we are automatically at war with the kingdom of Satan" (Derek Prince).
Spiritual warfare is a pro-active approach to our faith. It is the pursuit of spiritual discipline to make us stronger and better prepared. It is the resistance of the devil when his demons harass us. It is engaging the enemy actively when people are in spiritual bondage.
For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. (2 Corinthians 10:3-5)
Therefore put on the full armour of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. (Ephesians 6:13)
By Mark Francis