Spiritual Warfare

Chelsy Reed
3 days ago
5 min read

Who is Satan? What are demons?
How do you know if you're experiencing spiritual warfare?
Where do we see spiritual warfare in counseling?
What does it look like to 'resist the devil'?
How do we engage in warfare?

Who is Satan? What are demons?

Satan is an angel created by God. Satan chose to rebel against God and led other angels to rebel against God. One third of all the angels that God created rebelled, and God cast them out of heaven (NIV Bible, 2011, Revelation 12:4, 9).

The enemy is limited by what God will and will not allow (NIV, Job1-2, Luke 22:31-32). He is not omnipresent; not omniscient - he cannot read your thoughts, and he is very limited as a created being. Because we understand so little about spiritual beings, we often forget that he is not like God. He is a fallen angel, created to serve but has chosen to scorn.

The enemy has limited resources and doesn’t waste them on people who are his or are doing what he wants. He attacks God’s children. If you are under attack, it is likely because you're advancing against the gates of hell, and he wants you to stop.

What does the Bible call Satan?

Satan שָׂטָן - this is the Hebrew word that carries the meaning "opponent" or "adversary"
The devil διάβολος (di-ah-bloss) - this is Greek for "devil" and this is Greek for "Satan" Σατανᾶς (say-tan-ahs)
Jesus called Satan Βεελζεβούλ (in Greek) (be-el-ze-bool) בַּעַל זְבוּב, Baal-zevuv, in Hebrew. This was the name of the Philistine god of Ekron - 2 Kings 1:1-2.
'The father of lies' - John 8:44
'The thief' - John 10:10
- job description: to steal, kill, and destroy
'The tempter' - 1 Thessalonians 3:5
'The accuser of our brothers and sisters' - Revelation 12:10
- the who of this name: the children of God
- Satan isn't wasting limited resources accusing the children of darkness
'Ruler of this world' - John 12:31
'The god of this age' - 2 Corinthians 4:4
- Tactic: Satan pretends to be an angel of light- 2 Corinthians 11:14
'Prince of the power of the air' - Ephesians 2:2
(All references are from the NIV Bible, 2011).

How do you know if you are experiencing spiritual warfare?

Very little is ‘too weird’ to be spiritual warfare. The broad categories of spiritual warfare effects are: Physical illness, mental impairment, and the spread of false teaching/doctrine.

People can experience a trance state, dizziness, acute feelings similar to depression or anxiety, feeling a physical presence, feeling a weight on their body, having/hearing accusatory thoughts, having/hearing false thoughts, and more, but a believer who is possessed by the Spirit of God cannot be possessed by an evil spirit. Fear not.

But how do you know?

This will be unsatisfying for those who want a black and white answer.

You may not know.

While spiritual warfare can manifest as physical illness (NIV Bible, 2011, Job 2:1-8), in 1 Corinthians 11:17-34 we understand that partaking of communion in an unworthy manner leads to illness, weakness, and spiritual deadness (NIV Bible, 2011, 1 Corinthians 11:27). Again, in John 9:1-5, Jesus' disciples ask him whose sin caused a man's blindness, and Jesus responds that it was no sin that caused this particular blindness, but rather it was in the will of God to glorify the son through a healing miracle (NIV Bible, 2011, John 9:1-3).

There is no simple test for spiritual warfare, sinful living, or the providence of God. Who can know but the Lord? Who is to say that these three categories are sufficient to cover all causes of illness?

Where do we see spiritual warfare in counseling?

Often, when a new course is set against sin, there will be retaliation from the enemy of your soul. Things can get harder. Relationships can get harder. Circumstances can get harder.

Resist the devil and he will flee from you.

Counselors - you'll also see warfare. Putting on righteousness is one thing; trying to help others put on righteousness brings more trouble to your door, too. There is also a rising level of occult and satanic worship that is rising, particularly in domestic abuse cases. Be on your guard and alert.

What does it look like to 'resist the devil'?

"Resist" means "to exert force in opposition" or "to exert oneself so as to counteract or defeat" or "to withstand the force or effect of" like "a material that resists heat."

To resist well, knowing the tactics and nature of the enemy is crucial if any meaningful 'withstanding' is to be practiced.

Resisting also means opposing. When we are abiding in Christ, living as kingdom people, we are offensively advancing against the gates of Hell.

If you falter in a time of trouble,

how small is your strength!

Rescue those being led away to death;

hold back those staggering toward slaughter.

If you say, “But we knew nothing about this,”

does not he who weighs the heart perceive it?

Does not he who guards your life know it?

Will he not repay everyone according to what they have done? (NIV Bible, 2011, Pr 24:10–12).

Rescue is an act of resistance.

^"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." (NIV Bible, 2011, 2 Corinthians 10:4–5).

How do we engage in warfare?

Never go to war without your sword
- "I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you." (NIV Bible, 2011, Psalm 119:11).
- "For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart." (NIV Bible, 2011, Hebrews 4:12).
"Pray in the spirit on all occasions, with all kinds of prayers and requests" - this includes protective prayer (NIV Bible, 2011, Ephesians 6:18).
Be in regular rhythms and habits of confessing sin, repenting, seeking forgiveness, and making restitution.
Be in regular submission to one another in familial love, humbly accountable to trusted siblings in Christ.
Be regularly in the Bible, praying, and doing other spiritual disciplines that feed your soul.

Lord, I pray for all who will read this and use the tools on spiritual warfare. I pray that you would strengthen them, help them, and uphold them with your righteous right hand. I ask that you would protect their hearts and minds in yourself, that they would not let what is good be snatched away from them, but that they would be sharpened by this offering. I pray that the gates of Hell would rattle all the louder as your children who are called by your name humble themselves and pray, turn from wicked ways, and seek your face. May Jesus be made great! Amen!

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