April 8, 2025

​​​​​​​​GROWING TO MATURITY

SPIRITUAL WARFARE:  YOUR FAITH HAS POWER! (PART 2)

Recognizing the Enemy's Tactics

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Background Reading

1 Peter 4:12-19; 2 Corinthians 11:23-28; Ephesians 3:8-21; 2 Thessalonians 2:15; 1 Corinthians 15:58; Ephesians 6:10-24; James 1:2-8; 12-15; Psalm 91:1-16; Matthew 18:18-20

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​Devotional Reading:   Romans 8:1-39   

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Key Terms: 

spiritual warfare:  invisible fight between God's kingdom and Satan's; Spiritual attack is when an evil spiritual force influences, tempts, or oppresses you in any way. It’s also called spiritual warfare, demonic oppression, possession, and spiritual battles, among other things.

Armor of God:  The armor of God consists of a belt, chest plate, shoes, shield, helmet and sword.

faith:  trust, assurance, confidence in God; faith simply means believing that something is true, and then committing our lives to it. In the Bible, “faith” means believing in God, and in what Christ has done for us to make our salvation possible–and then committing ourselves to Him.

power:  The Tyndale Bible Dictionary defines power as the “ability to do things, by virtue of strength, skill, resources, or authorization.” The Bible says a Christian’s power comes from God through the Holy Spirit.

 

​Central/Key Verse(s):

2 Corinthians 10:3-4

For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh:  (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds.)

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1 Peter 5:8-9  

Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:  Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.

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Key Ideas/Learning Aim: 

To understand that our faith has power.

To know the difference between tests, trials, and temptations.

To understand the difference between everyday trials and tests and spiritual warfare.

To recognize the signs of spiritual warfare and the reasons behind it.

To be able to identify the souce of the attack and to know the tricks and strategies of the enemy.

To believe that we have weapons of warfare and to know how to use them.

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Introduction

John 10:10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

The thief Jesus refers to is the devil and much like a virus that attacks our computer, Satan attacks our lives with invasive plots and schemes designed to destroy our homes, our marriages, our children, our finances, our health and especially our relationship with the Lord.

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We might sit in church or attend Bible study and learn amazing truths about God but remain defeated if we don’t learn to resist the Enemy and stand firm in our faith. We can hear testimony after testimony of victory and watch others live out their faith, but all our learning doesn’t help if we don’t put into action what we know. All too often we sit on our proverbial spiritual couches, eating chips and salsa while other people experience victory.

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​To stand firm against the Enemy, we have to engage with truth, not just know the truth. We must put into practice the power and privileges we have as children of God. Many Christians can quote Scripture but do not live it. We must do both if we are going to stand firm in victory.   We will start our discussion on understanding our faith has power and recognizing the strategies of the enemy.

 

How to Stand Firm Against Spiritual Warfare.

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1. Remember… The Battle is the Lord’s!

“Listen, King Jehoshaphat and all who live in Judah and Jerusalem! This is what the LORD says to you: ‘Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God’s.” 2 Chronicles 20:15 When a vast army surrounded God’s people, the Lord told King Jehoshaphat, “The battle is not yours, but God’s.” Likewise, when we face spiritual warfare, we must remember that we do not engage the enemy in our strength or power, but we stand in the victory that Jesus already accomplished. Knowing that we fight from a place of victory is the first key to standing firm. This mental starting point is imperative to victory.

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Spiritual Warfare involves the battles we face with the devil, the world and the old sinful nature. Spiritual warfare is the spiritual process by which ground is taken from the enemy and claimed for the Kingdom of God.  In this lesson, we are going to identify three enemies: ‘The world, the flesh and the devil.” a. The world (1 John 2: 15-17) b. The Flesh or sin nature (1 Peter 2:11) c. The devil (1 Peter 5:8).  

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2.  Put on the Whole Armor of God 

Each piece represents an aspect of our identity and inheritance in Christ. The armor of God is not meant to be just words we memorize, but actual truths that we clothe ourselves in that empower us to resist the schemes strategies of the evil one. The book of Ephesians teaches us that “when the day of evil comes,” we are to stand our ground and “put on the full armor of God.” Do you hear the call to action? There is an engagement that takes place when we utilize the weapons the Lord has given us for victory. We are not passive but active in standing firm!

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3.  Resist the Devil

To resist means to withstand, strive against, or oppose in some manner. Resistance can be a defensive maneuver on our part, such as resisting or withstanding the temptation to sin. Or it can be an action we take to use the only offensive weapon in the full armor of God (Ephesians 6:13-18), the sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God. Using the Scriptures to expose Satan’s lies and temptations is the most effective way to strive against and defeat them.

It is important to read the whole verse: “Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you” (James 4:7). Resisting the devil must be accompanied by submitting to God. A disobedient or unsubmissive believer will not see victory.

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Our Faith Has Power

1.  Believers have the strength of God. None of us can match Satan on our own; he’s too strong. He has been deceiving humans a long time, and he knows what tools and tricks to use. Our responsibility is to “be strong [continually empowered] in the Lord” (Eph. 6:10). We overcome in God’s strength, not ours.  Earlier in Ephesians, Paul wrote, “I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know … the boundless greatness of His power toward us who believe. [This is] in accordance with the working of the strength of His might which He brought about in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead” (1:18-20). In otherwords, God’s mighty power, which was strong enough to bring Jesus from death back to life, enables us to overcome sin. He also equips us through the Holy Spirit to share the gospel (Acts 1:8; see Matthew 28:18-20). Truly, “greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world” (1 John 4:4).

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2.  We have the authority of God. A police officer directs traffic using the government’s authority, not his or her own physical power. Similarly, you aren’t facing Satan alone; you can resist him in the power of Jesus’ authority. When we are walking according to the Spirit, we can command Satan to leave us in the power of Jesus’ name.

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3.  As believers, we can be strong in our armor and watch God fight our battles. We are called to put on our spiritual armor and then “stand firm” (Eph. 6:11). This is similar to what the Lord told Moses (Ex. 14:13), and centuries later, King Jehoshaphat: “You need not fight in this battle; take your position, stand and watch the salvation of the Lord” (2 Chron. 20:17). Although we are in a spiritual war, God doesn’t call us to fight with the devil. We are simply to be strong in the Lord and watch the miracles unfold.

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Discussion

Spiritual warfare consists of struggling against evil forces in our minds. The Bible is clear that this is not a battle which is fought on a physical plane at all, but rather a spiritual one: Ephesians 6:12, "For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places." Who are those principalities, powers, rulers or darkness and such? They all stem from Satan's kingdom, but since Satan is not omnipresent (can be everywhere at once), he works through a network or an army of demon spirits. When a person says, "The devil is on my trail!" it is highly unlikely that Satan himself is assigned to the job, but rather one of the troops in his army, which would be a demonic spirit.

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I. The Reality of Spiritual Warfare

Ephesians 6:12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

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A. Our Three Enemies:

As Christians, we have three primary enemies: the world, our flesh and the devil. Note what Paul wrote in chapter 2 –

Ephesians 2:2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: 3 Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.

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1. The course of this world is the world system. It’s the mindset and philosophy by which much of this world runs.  Satan uses the world to attack and influence the believer.

2. The lusts of our flesh and mind which is a reference to our fallen, sinful nature.  

The term flesh is not talking about our physical bodies but instead, our sinful nature inherited from Adam. Even if you’re born again and have the Holy Spirit dwelling inside you, the Spirit and the flesh war against one another. Satan will use our flesh to try to nullify our Christian witness and service to Christ.

3. The prince of the power of the air is a reference to the devil.  

The third category is the focus of our study: the devil. The world is our enemy, and the flesh is our enemy, but the devil is behind all three. He uses both the world and the flesh to attack us.

Now, before we go further, it’s important to note Satan cannot rob you of your salvation. But he can nullify your sanctification and keep you from serving the Lord.

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​Defensive spiritual warfare

There are two kinds of spiritual warfare, offensive and defensive. In defensive spiritual warfare, demonic spirits (under Satan's command) are launched what is known as fiery darts, as Ephesians 6:16 tells us: "Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked." These fiery darts come in one of three forms; temptations, deceptions and accusations. I will briefly cover each of these in this teaching.

 

Spiritual warfare dart #1: Temptations

Satan couldn't freely play havoc on Eve's life because he had no rights to her, so what did he do? He went about trying to get her to give him those rights. He tempted her to sin because sin gives the devil a foothold in our lives. Ephesians 4 is telling us to put off our old sinful nature and in verse 27, it tells us that we can give the devil a foothold in our lives through sin: "Neither give place to the devil." The devil tempted Eve in the garden because he had no 'place' in Eve's life, but he wanted one! If Satan wants more legal grounds in our lives, you can expect some temptations to come your way. That's his way of getting you to fall and give him a place to operate. The moment we fail and sin, it is important to quickly turn from those sins and repent so that we can be forgiven and the legal ground removed.

 

Spiritual warfare dart #2: Deception

Countless believers are living in defeat because they have been deceived. The enemy has deceived them and caused them to believe and live a lie. If we allow deception to take hold, strongholds can then be formed in our minds. Strongholds are incorrect thinking patterns based on falsehood. Demonic spirits love to use these strongholds to their advantage against a child of God. Strongholds have tremendous power to affect our feelings and emotions. Many blood-bought children of God Almighty feel guilt-ridden and worthless because they don't see themselves the way they ought to. Many Christians feel unloved and not good enough to be accepted by God because they see Him wrongly. Their perception of Him has been damaged and causes them to see Him as a distant and cruel taskmaster instead of a close loving Father who longs (deeply desires) to have an intimate loving relationship with them! 2 Corinthians 11:3, "But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled (deceived) Eve through his subtlety, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ."

 

Spiritual warfare dart #3: Accusations

Satan is known to be the accuser of the brethren. Not the accuser of the sinners or the world, but the children of God. He could care less about badgering those who are in his kingdom, but he loves to pick on the children of God. Revelations 12:10, "...the accuser of our brethren..." He accuses us by reminding us of our past sins and failures. If we listen to his accusations against us, we will begin to meditate on our pasts and it isn't long before we begin to feel guilt-ridden and see ourselves as failures. Both of which has been dealt with on the cross! Has not the blood of Jesus washed away our sin? Then we ought not to be thinking about it anymore. Satan loves to take a child of the Almighty God, who's been washed clean in the blood of Jesus and is without spot nor blemish, and make them feel dirty, worthless and see themselves as a failure. If we pay attention to the devil's accusations, they too can form strongholds in our minds that need to be torn back down before we can experience freedom. 

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Offensive spiritual warfare

Then we have offensive spiritual warfare, which usually consists of tearing down strongholds that have been formed in our minds when we have taken the bait and accepted the deceptions and lies of the devil. Since strongholds are incorrect thinking patterns based on error, the correct weapon we are supposed to use to tear down such strongholds is through meditating on and applying the truth, which is found in the Word of God. Ephesians 6 speaks of the weapons that we are to use in spiritual warfare, and in verse 17 we are told to take up the sword of the Spirit, the offensive piece of weaponry: "...the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God." A sword is an offensive weapon meant to tear down and destroy the enemy. This is exactly what meditating on the truth in God's Word does to strongholds, it tears them down! Strongholds are built on error, and torn down through truth. The devil tells you: "You're a failure! Look at your past!" God's Word tells you: "What past? The blood of Jesus has washed it away!" If you meditate on the error, you will begin to feel guilty and see yourself as a failure, but if you mediate on God's Word, you begin to feel clean and victorious!" In a nutshell, spiritual warfare is a battle that goes on in our minds between error and truth. If we can know the truth and focus on it, while at the same time ignoring the error, we will be successful in spiritual battles.

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Recognizing the Tactics of the Enemy

Understanding the enemy's tactics is crucial in effective spiritual warfare. Satan and his demonic forces employ various strategies to undermine our faith and lead us away from God. These include:

• Deception: Satan is a master of disguise, often presenting sin as alluring and beneficial. 2 Corinthians 11:14 (KJV) warns, "And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light."

• Accusation and Condemnation: The enemy seeks to discourage and defeat us by reminding us of our past failures and magnifying our shortcomings. This aligns with his role as the accuser in Revelation 12:10 (KJV).

• Distraction and Worldly Desires: Satan diverts our attention from spiritual matters through worldly pleasures and ambitions, leading us away from God's will. 1 John 2:16 (KJV) states, "For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world."

• Fear and Anxiety: The enemy uses fear and anxiety to paralyze us and prevent us from acting in faith. 2 Timothy 1:7 (KJV) reassures us, "For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind."

   

OTHER TACTICS OF THE ENEMY

1. Appeals to Fleshly Desires, Ambition, Covetousness, and Pride - Genesis 3 & 1 John 2:16–17

2. Steals Away Earthly Possessions, Positions, and People - Job 1:10–11

3. Attacks Physical, Emotional, and Mental Health - Job 2:4–5

4. Enters God’s Presence to Attack Godly Followers - Zechariah 3:1

5. Actively Tempts Us Away from Following God - Matthew 4:1-11 & 2 Corinthians 2:11

6. Distracts Believers’ Minds Towards Earthly Things - Matthew 16:22–23

7. Persistently Tempts by Twisting Scripture - Mark 1:13

8. Prevents the Gospel from Being Understood and Believed - Mark 4:14–15

9. Offers Shortcuts Away from God’s Provision - Luke 4:3

10. Baits You Towards Seeking Possessions, Power, and Prestige - Luke 4:6–7

11. Enters Into (Possesses) Humans for His Purposes - Luke 22:3–6

12. Spreads Hatred and Lies - John 8:44

13. Works Against God’s Work - Acts 13:10

14. Spiritually Blinds Unbelievers - Acts 26:18 & 2 Corinthians 4:4

15. Entraps in Lust & Sexual Sin - 1 Corinthians 7:5

16. Enslaves with Bitterness and Unforgiveness - 2 Corinthians 2:10–11

17. Leads People to an Insincere & Impure Faith - 2 Corinthians 11:3

18. Attracts Us to His False Appearance - 2 Corinthians 11:14

19. Tricks People to Believing He is All-Powerful, All-Knowing, and Good - 2 Corinthians 11:13–15

20. Harasses Believers - 2 Corinthians 12:7

21. Encourages Anger, Laziness and Stinginess - Ephesians 4:26–28

22. Intentionally Plans for His Next Attack - Ephesians 6:11

23. Wrestles Against Believers Indirectly through Others - Ephesians 6:12

24. Leads People Into Gluttony, Worldliness, & Shamefulness - Philippians 3:18–19

25. Stops Mission Work - 1 Thessalonians 2:17–18

26. Empowers False Miracles - 2 Thessalonians 2:9–10

27. Condemns through Pride and Arrogance - 1 Timothy 3:6

28. Seeks to Dishonor the Name and Reputation of Believers - 1 Timothy 3:7

29. Encourages Laziness, Gossip, and Nosiness - 1 Timothy 5:13–15

30. Manipulates and Controls Unbelievers for His Purpose - 2 Timothy 2:26

31. Enslaves Humanity Under a Fear of Death - Hebrews 2:14–15

32. Flees from Faithful Resistance - James 4:7

33. Brings Suffering Against Saints - 1 Peter 5:8–9

34. Appeals to Our Eyes, Flesh, and Pride - 1 John 2:16

35. Desires Us to Sin By Acting (Commission or Omission) On the Temptation - 1 John 3:8

36. Wants His Followers to Imitate His Example of Disobedience - 1 John 3:10

37. Imprisons and Kills Faithful Saints - Revelation 2:10

38. Births, Grows, and Encourages All False Religions & Cults - Revelation 2:12–13, 1 Corinthians 10:20

39. Deceives the Whole World - Revelation 12:9

40. Suffers Forever - Revelation 20:10

 

The Armor of God: Practical Strategies for Spiritual Warfare

Ephesians 6:13-18 (KJV) outlines the "whole armour of God," providing practical strategies for resisting spiritual attacks:

• The Belt of Truth: Grounding ourselves in God's Word, accepting His truth as our foundation.

• The Breastplate of Righteousness: Living a life of integrity and obedience to God's commands.

• The Shoes of the Gospel of Peace: Sharing the message of salvation and living in peace with others.

• The Shield of Faith: Using faith as a shield to deflect the fiery darts of the enemy.

• The Helmet of Salvation: Keeping our minds focused on the hope of salvation and eternal life.

• The Sword of the Spirit: Using God's Word as a weapon to combat deception and temptation.

• Prayer: Constant communication with God, seeking His guidance and strength.

 

Cultivating Spiritual Disciplines

Spiritual disciplines are essential for effective spiritual warfare, strengthening our resistance to attacks. They build spiritual resilience and deepen our relationship with God. These key disciplines include:

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• Prayer: Consistent, heartfelt communication with God builds a strong connection, providing strength, guidance, and protection against spiritual attacks (Luke 18:1 KJV).

• Bible Study: Regular study equips us with God's truth, enabling discernment and effective resistance to temptation (Psalm 119:105 KJV).

• Fasting: Voluntary abstinence creates space for focused prayer and spiritual growth, strengthening resolve (Matthew 6:16-18 KJV).

• Fellowship: Community support and accountability strengthen faith and provide a network of prayer during spiritual struggles (Hebrews 10:24-25 KJV).

• Worship: Acts of praise and thanksgiving elevate our hearts to God, fostering gratitude and resilience against attacks.

• Confession and Repentance: Acknowledging and repenting of sins maintains spiritual health, preventing vulnerabilities to enemy attacks (1 John 1:9 KJV).

 

Consistent practice of these disciplines builds resilience, strengthens faith, and fosters a closer relationship with God, empowering us against spiritual attacks.

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Spiritual Warfare in the Bible

Reasons for Spiritual Warfare

Spiritual Warfare Verses for Victory in Christ

1. Jesus Will Deliver You

2. No Attack Is Too Big for Jesus

3. Nothing Can Separate You From Jesus

4. Jesus Will Protect You

5. Through Jesus the Enemy Will Not Win

6. Jesus Is With You

7. You Have the Authority

8. Jesus Is Faithful

9. Jesus’s Strength Is Mightier

10. Jesus Keeps His Promises

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Conclusion

When presented with the reality of Satan, you might struggle with confusion or even fear, but that is not what God wants for his children. 1 John 4:4 “Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.” We have everything we need to live in victory over the devil. 2 Peter 1:3 “According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:” In Christ, we do not have to let him have the victory in our lives. And In Christ, we have been given all the armor and the weapons to fight this battle.​​

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ESSENTIAL QUESTION:

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WOW CHALLENGE FOR THIS WEEK: