General Idea on Spiritual Warfare

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The subject of spiritual warfare remains disregarded or rarely discussed in many churches today while it has been a notable factor in the Pentecostal and Charismatic traditions. In fact, it appears in our ordinary lives in various forms, sometimes simple, but often very intense. We must recognize spiritual warfare if we are to rise spiritually victorious.

Spiritual warfare is originated when the Lucifer rebelled against God. Satan betrayed God. Spiritual warfare is the Christian view of battling against the activities of evil forces. It is a phenomenon in our sinful world, and it is not something we should avoid. It doesn't have to be some mysterious, bewildering, overly sacred thing. 

Spiritual warfare often occurs prior to the unprecedented times of God's blessing. Especially, the spiritual warfare battles are strong especially when a man determines to live for God. Spiritual warfare is to be practiced within the context of holiness, humility, and love of God, and it must develop spiritual sanctification. Often spiritual warfare has been the Satanic attacks to eliminate our confidence in God and to destroy what God has prepared for our lives. The "triumph" in Spiritual Warfare is to declare God's name and proclaim what Christ has already done for us. Prayer and worship (like Jehoshaphat in 2 Chronicles 20 and Elisha’s prayer for his servant in 2 Kings 6:17-20) are the common forms of spiritual warfare among the Christians.

Christians must be equipped with God’s power to be empowered to fight against the spiritual forces. We must stand strong against lawlessness, fraud, and disobedience, armed with the Spirit's power. Biblical Understanding of the Spiritual Warfare battle will provide us a base on where, how, and what the battles look like in our activities. As we start understanding the spiritual world in the spiritual warfare, we start understanding the enemies' activities in the spiritual and physical realm.

But Spiritual warfare is not all about what most people think about--Satan, Satan, and Satan. Some Bible interpreters often interpret 1 Peter 5:8 out of the context and apply it to present Satan as almost equal to God, which are highly unbiblical.

Some people fail at perceiving spiritual warfare, and even some people have gone to extremely thinking about the enemy. 

Moreover, the spiritual warfare issue became the study of a Christian Medical Association discussion that was brought in 1975. 

Any view on the spiritual warfare must be highly rooted in Scripture. Yes, evil forces are strong and certain in the spiritual warfare, but they are not strong enough. Paul explained about spiritual warfare in Ephesians 6. 

Most Christians lack the concept of understanding spiritual warfare. Charles Kraft's book on Spiritual warfare deals with comprehensive issues on understanding how to fight against the enemies strategically, it challenges us to rethink the warfare theologically and re-engage practically. Jesus is the ultimate model of experiencing victorious life in spiritual warfare. Among the evangelical revivalists such as D. L. Moody, Billy Sunday, R. A. Torrey and Billy Graham have all acknowledged the demonic existences and their aggressive mission and vision to destroy the Christians. 

The Christians' challenge to victory is prayer, Scripture, knowledge, faith, and holy lifestyle.


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