Do you ever feel like you are in a constant battle? Fighting lies against your identity, or questioning your self-worth and your abilities? Instead of walking victorious as the Bible says you are, you feel defeated, discouraged, and worn down from the battle?
As a Christian, when you are seeking to draw near to Jesus and be used for his purposes, you will face spiritual warfare. You need to know how to fight spiritual warfare.
Our enemy, Satan, is real and we need to acknowledge him for who he is; a liar, destroyer, a stealer, etc. You need to know, though, that as a child of God you have the weapons to defeat him each and every day.
You can walk in the victory you have in Christ. This is a fact; you don’t have to feel powerless, ever. Jesus has shown you in the Bible and equipped you with the weapons to win, but you have to know them and use them.
What Is Spiritual Warfare?
Spiritual warfare is when you are under attack by supernatural forces; the Bible makes this clear.
“For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.” (Ephesians 6:12, NLT)
What is a spiritual attack? It’s a specific attack. As a Christian, Satan doesn’t want you to accomplish the things God is calling you to; he doesn’t want you to have a closer relationship with him. This is how he tries to stop you, attacking you in the moment to deter you from walking in God’s will.
Knowing the power and authority you have through him is important—the only way to win the war is through the weapons that Jesus has given you, as described in the Bible.
You have already won the battle by being his child, but you have to claim it by acknowledging it. Know the meaning of spiritual warfare and your weapons to defeat him. You have to know your enemy… but know your God more.
Signs of Spiritual Warfare
Now that you know you are in a battle, you need to know what the signs of spiritual warfare are so you know how to fight spiritual warfare.
When you are struggling with fear, doubt, confusion, anxiety, worry, lies against your identity, etc.—these are examples of spiritual warfare from the enemy and are some signs that you are in a battle.
Jesus gives us peace; things that keep you from living in the freedom he died to give you are from the enemy. When something is nagging at you, it is because the enemy got a way in; you need to use your weapons against him.
If you don’t do it, it can become a stronghold: the same attack that is constant. Your mind is the battlefield, so you need to learn to take thoughts captive as Paul instructs in 2 Corinthians 10:5. Renew your mind in the truth from the Bible.
How to Fight Spiritual Warfare
In order to live the victorious life Jesus wants for you, he has given you spiritual warfare tools that are described in the Bible to live in his triumph daily. You need to know you are empowered and don’t have to feel defeated by any types of spiritual warfare, like the enemy wants you to. Be on guard and don’t give him any way in.
What Is the Whole Armor of God?
God has given you protection and defense against the enemy and it’s the armor of God described in Ephesians 6:11–17. It consists of 6 pieces of spiritual armor—belt, breastplate, shoes, shield, helmet and sword—that God commands you to put on.
“Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.” (Ephesians 6:11, NIV)
If you do this, then God’s word promises you will stand strong.
“Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm.” (Ephesians 6:13, NLT)
Knowing this and putting the armor of God on daily is crucial to winning the battle over spiritual warfare. The enemy is relentless; we need to be prepared.
How to Put on the Armor of God
You need to know how to put on the armor of God; the Bible tells you how. Putting on each piece of armor will help you deflect the enemy’s attacks and win.
Having these truths in your mind is needed to engage in the battle and emerge victorious:
- You have the power of the Holy Spirit within you.
- God is all-powerful, and mightier than the enemy.
- It’s important to be persistent and keep fighting.
1. Armor of God: Belt
One of Satan’s attacks is speaking lies to you. Jesus speaks of this in the book of John.
“You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.” (John 8:44, NIV)
Putting on the belt of truth allows you to stand strong in God’s Truth, which defeats the enemy’s lies in our hearts and minds.
You can find the truth in the Bible. You must read the Bible daily, and memorize scriptures that specifically pertain to the attacks against you in order to make sure you are always putting on the belt of truth.
2. Armor of God: Breastplate
The enemy’s tactics include attacking your moral compass making you question yourself. You need to make decisions not based on emotions, such as anger, but instead be clear minded.
Satan wants to steer you away from following and obeying the will of God. He wants to corrupt your heart and mind so your actions become sinful. He doesn’t want you walking in integrity.
Putting on the breastplate allows you to walk in the righteousness you have in Christ, which is how the Father sees you.
“Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes.” (Ephesians 1:4, NLT)
God’s breastplate allows you to be who you are—a new creation in him—defending your heart and mind from moral defeat. You need to know how to live a life of righteousness by remembering what the scriptures say and by walking in the Spirit; allowing the Spirit to show you the right way to live.
Read the Bible and pray to walk in the Spirit. Also, you need to repent of your sins; turn away from them to walk in righteousness. Choose this way of life daily and desire to walk in his righteousness in word and deed.
3. Armor of God: Shoes
When you are confident in the good news of the gospel, you can walk in the shoes of peace that you have in Christ. This peace can allow you to be steadfast in Christ during hard times when the enemy wants you to feel defeated, fearful, and distrustful of God.
“I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.” (John 14:27, NLT)
When you live in the certainty of this peace, you can freely share the gospel with others. This is the enemy’s worst nightmare—Satan doesn’t want you sharing the good news.
He doesn’t want you walking through trials with confidence in Christ, which the shoes of peace bring. Peace gives you the ability to know you have won the battle without feeling overwhelmed.
Peace can be obtained by surrendering the battle to Jesus, and knowing the truth that he has it in his hands. Give Jesus control; just trust him by resting in peace.
4. Armor of God: Shield
Satan wants you to doubt who God is, that he can’t do great things in your life. He doesn’t want you to stand strong in Jesus; he wants you to question him when you don’t see your circumstances changing.
But putting on the shield of faith protects you from these thoughts, allowing you to walk unflustered… knowing that even when you don’t see it, God is working.
“For we live by faith, not by sight.” (2 Corinthians 5:7, NIV)
He is moving and working on your behalf. Having faith allows you to stand strong in Jesus in hard times and not succumb to the enemy’s attacks. It allows you to not doubt God, but stand unwavering in him.
“In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.” (Ephesians 6:16, NIV)
It deflects the arrows of the evil one, allowing you to remain rooted in the truth of who Jesus is and maintain the correct stance in your heart and mind.
Keep the faith by remembering what Jesus has done in your life and what he did in the Bible. He is still that God who performs miracles.
5. Armor of God: Helmet
Your mind is the main battlefield on which the enemy launches his attacks. Therefore, you need to protect your mind with the helmet by standing confidently in your salvation—never questioning it at all.
“If you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9, NIV)
Satan wants you to doubt it because uncertainty is a tactic he uses to get a foothold in your mind. However, your salvation is secure when you have accepted Jesus. When you know this, you can stand unmoved when spiritual warfare comes.
Remaining completely secure in your salvation is a foundational piece of the armor; it brings all the rest of them together.
You can put on the helmet daily by praising Jesus for what your salvation means: eternity with him and freedom from sin. And by remembering the many testimonies of how he has worked in your life. Praise and remembrance are powerful tools to stand in your salvation.
6. Armor of God: Sword
The other pieces of the armor of God are for protection, but the sword provides offense against the enemy. It allows you to attack Satan with the word of God. The word of God is all powerful and a mighty weapon to defeat spiritual attacks in the moment.
“For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires.” (Hebrews 4:12, NLT)
When Jesus was attacked in the wilderness by the enemy, he used the word of God to win the battle… and so should you. Know its power and use it.
Keep scriptures in your mind on topics that the enemy uses to attack you, and say them as a weapon. This combats the lies. Be persistent in it, as Jesus was, and never forget the word’s power: it is alive.
Prayer
It is also important that you pray. Prayer is so powerful and allows God to direct you.
“And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.” (Ephesians 6:18, NIV)
Be praying when you are under spiritual attack and always.
We still deal with spiritual warfare today. That’s why it’s so important that you know how to fight spiritual warfare. Put on the whole armor of God and stand unmoved and victorious in Jesus. Love yourself: you are a mighty warrior; he has given you everything you need. You are victorious and his power is greater! Be empowered!
