Spiritual Warfare or Divine Discipline…

This topic can be tricky. Spiritual warfare: demons, evil spirits, temptations designed to pull us into the darkness, and Satan can all feel a little hinky. Even as Christians, there is a spectrum of beliefs on the subject. Some of us would rather not acknowledge or dwell on things like unseen evil forces, and others believe every bad day, bad mood, or bad luck is the direct result of a demonic force trying to trip us up and ruin our day. Who is right? I fall somewhere in the middle.

This topic most appropriately falls after last month’s discussion on prayer because prayer is one of the main ways we combat spiritual warfare. I want to approach it not by parsing out beliefs but by shining a light on the battle. Whether you believe you are in a battle for your soul* or not, you are in one. If you choose to acknowledge that, how can you best fight against it? I also want to contrast warfare with divine discipline so we can grow in discernment.

^{*Disclaimer: If you are a Christian, your soul is no longer up for grabs. The moment you accept that you are a sinner in need of a savior, and that savior is Jesus, you are sealed with the Holy Spirit, Ephesians 1:13. While you may feel the push and pull of spiritual warfare, you can never be overtaken by it, because the war was fought and the devil did not win.}

The Spiritual Realm

To talk about spiritual warfare, you first have to believe in the spiritual realm. This is where people either leave the conversation or go a little too far. To believe in God but not in a spiritual realm is to not believe in God at all. I mean, one-third of the Godhead is a spirit – The Holy Spirit. It is implied in His name that a spiritual realm exists. To what level does it exist?

Well, we know that there are angels:

• Genesis 16, 21, 22
• Exodus 3:2
• Number 22,
• Judges 2, 6, 13
• 1 Kings 13, 19
• 2 Kings 1
• 1 Chronicles 21
• Isaiah 37
• Zechariah 1, 3, 6, 12
• Matthew 1, 2
• Luke 1, 2
• Acts 5:19, 8:26, 12:7, 12:23
• Revelation 11:15, 22:6

We know that there are demons:

• Matthew 7, 8, 9, 10, 12, 17
• Mark 1, 2, 6, 7, 9, 16
• Luke 9, 11, 13, 20
• John 6, 9, 12

We know that there is a heaven and a “lake of fire” (i.e., hell)

• Heaven is mentioned 276 times throughout the New Testament
  • It is most vividly described in Revelation 21
• Hell is mentioned in:
  • Revelation 20 and 21
  • Matthew 12, 18:9, 22:13, and 25:41
  • Mark 9:43
  • Luke 16:24

We can contrast the Gospel’s description of the birth of Jesus to the picture painted in Revelation. The tangible, Earthly view was much less dramatic than the Heavenly perspective. I say that to say this… If we only believe in what we can see, then we miss an active and vibrant world that is not only intertwined with ours but also influencing our world.

Based on these truths, I would say that the spiritual realm is alive and kicking.

Who Is Satan

Satan is an angel, Lucifer. He was one of the most beautiful angels created by God. Somehow, somewhere along the way, Lucifer’s beauty went to his head, and he began to desire God’s glory and sought to be worshiped like God and even above God, Ezekiel 28:11-17, Isaiah 14:12-15. So, God cast Lucifer out of Heaven, and he took one-third of the angels with him as he fell to Earth, Revelation 12:4. Lucifer is now known as Satan, a Hebrew word meaning “accuser” or “adversary,” or the devil, a Greek word meaning “to slander.” The fallen angels that rebelled with Lucifer are now known as demons.

Satan and his demons now look to destroy the work of God and deceive anyone they can (1 Peter 5:8; 2 Corinthians 11:14–15). The demons are described as evil spirits (Matthew 10:1), unclean spirits (Mark 1:27), lying spirits (1 Kings 22:23), and angels of Satan (Revelation 12:9). Satan and his demons deceive the world (2 Corinthians 4:4), promulgate false doctrine (1 Timothy 4:1), attack Christians (2 Corinthians 12:7; 1 Peter 5:8), and combat the holy angels (Revelation 12:4–9).

https://www.gotquestions.org/demons-Bible.html

Spiritual Warfare, Godly Discipline, or Just Bad Luck

Warfare

The devil’s primary goal in this war is to destroy our relationship with God and the glory we bring Him. So, how do you discern between spiritual warfare, godly discipline, or just bad luck? Questions to ask yourself.

• Does this attack pull your affections from an eternal focus of God to the fleeting sparkly things of the world?
• Does this attack cause you to question God’s love for you?
• Does this attack cause you to withdraw or isolate yourself from God?
• Does this attack stir up thoughts and feelings of inadequacy, shame, and/or guilt?

“Yes” to these questions likely points to warfare. The devil wants you self preoccupied (Galatians 5:16-26). He wants you isolated and doubting. He wants you frustrated and confused about God.

Remember, Dear Friend, we all fall short of the glory of God. Everyone has sinned. Everyone has something to be ashamed of, but the blood of Jesus covers those sins. Believing the lies of the devil questions the sufficiency of the cross.

God knew that only He could bridge the gap for us. He doesn’t expect you to be perfect. He expects you to trust that He loves you and has only the best for you. So, stand firm, knowing that with God, what Satan means for evil, God will use for good (Genesis 50:20).

Discipline

God does discipline His children, as any loving parent would. God’s discipline is designed to refine us and keep us from destruction. Questions to ask yourself:

• Does this event highlight an area of my life that I am trying to control?
• Does this event highlight an area of my life that I am unwilling to lose?
• Does this event highlight an area of my life where I find worth and identity apart from God?
• Does this event highlight an area of my life where I do not trust God?
• Does this event highlight an area of my life where I feel no need to talk to God or hide from God?

“Yes” to these questions point toward Godly discipline. God most often allows the natural consequences of our actions as a means of refining us.

Stepping into discipline is a choice. A choice often riddled with spiritual warfare. Will you dig your heels in and hide? Or will you risk the consequences, be fully known, and step into the light? To hide or ignore the call to own your mistakes, bad behavior, or short comings is a step into the shadows where the devil will make you feel unlovable. Devine discipline is not easy, comfortable, or without consequence, but you will always be better for it.

Does Everyone Experience Spiritual Warfare

The short answer is, Yes.

If the goal is to pull glory from God, is there any need to afflict the unbeliever? Yes. The most enraging thing to Satan is a conversion to Christianity because then you become a threat to his plan.

At the base of all sin, you will find pride. Pride is either self-conceited or self-deprecating; both say to God, “I don’t believe you are enough for me.” We all bend one way or another in our pride. The devil will use that pride to twist and turn the truth.

1. He will tempt us with ideas of what we “deserve.”
2. He will stroke our pride through idols of enlightenment or intellect
3. He uses false Christians to spread unbiblical doctrines
4. He afflicts our loved ones or us with sickness, tragedy, oppression, and persecution.

The devil will use these tactics to fuel anger or frustration towards an “unjust,” “unfair,” or “unloving” God. We all experience this. He whispers lies about God and me in my ear all the time.

Another way we experience spiritual warfare is almost more sinister. I have recently heard it called “sleepwalking,” where you experience enough comfort, success, or ease that your need for God is unfelt, 2 Corinthians 4:4.

If devils exist, their first aim is to give you an anesthetic — to put you off your guard. Only if that fails, do you become aware of them.

C.S. Lewis

While “sleepwalking” is a new term to me, it is not new. In Ephesians 5:14, Paul refers this phrase where he says, “wake up, sleeper.” He urges the Ephesian church to live a life in the light because only then can you heal and move forward. Instead, Satan wants us to live fearfully, ashamed, and/or asleep in the dark.

Now, if you are starting to feel the tension inside of you regarding God and His existence, goodness, or worthiness to receive your affections – be on guard. New believers are easy prey. The more you know about who God is, the more equipt you are to speak truth to yourself as Satan attempts to pull you back into the shadows. Every time Satan shows up in the Bible, he uses misinterpreted scripture to manipulate the person – including Jesus. So, to the new believer, I urge you to find a mentor that is deep and wide in their knowledge of God. Someone that can help pace your spiritual marathon.

Misinformation About Satan

He Doesn’t Exist… Anymore

So you believe in God, read your Bible, and believe those people dealt with demons. But much like miracles, all that doesn’t exist anymore. Awake, oh, Sleeper! That is the biggest lie of all. Satan and his beasts are still very active today.

The Christians of the Bible, about 70 A.D., were ripped from their homes, dipped in oil, strung up on large poles, and lit on fire to light the streets. That is unthinkable for many of us in the United States. Unfortunately, there is still real persecution and blatant evil in many countries around the world today. Places where Christians are hunted and murdered for their beliefs.

In countries with decent health care, longer life spans, and ample opportunity to succeed, we become so capable that we get lulled to sleep by the push and pull life and don’t see the evil all around us. For us, the danger lies in the idols of comfort, power, control, and approval.

“Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” 1 Peter 5:8. Lions are patient and wait for their prey to let their guard down – to stop worrying about the potential lion attack.

These distractions keep us focused on ourselves and our small circle of family and/or friends. To fight the battle could mean losing our things, and we’d rather not rock the boat.

Equals

Another big lie believed by many is that Satan and God are equals. God created Satan; therefore, he is not equal to God. Satan is given boundaries by God that he cannot cross in at least two instances in the Bible, Job 1:9-12 and Luke 22:31. Satan has the power to afflict us on earth, but God can simply speak and release us of those afflictions. Luke 13:10-17, Jesus released the bonds of Satan in a woman by simply saying she is now free from her bondage. The devil’s power can seem insurmountable to us, but God simply has to speak “I AM,” and Satan’s power vanishes.

I love the picture painted in Revelation 12. What’s happening here is a picture of the night Jesus was born, but from Heaven’s perspective. His birth fulfilled God’s promise to the serpent (or Satan) in the Garden after Adam and Eve ate the forbidden fruit, Genesis 3:14-15. Knowing this, Satan – the dragon – did everything he could to prevent Jesus’ birth. But God and Satan are not equals. So, Satan is hurled out of Heaven to Earth.

Verse 12 says, “Therefore rejoice, you heavens and you who dwell in them! But woe to the earth and the sea because the devil has gone down to you! He is filled with fury because he knows that his time is short.” Verse 17 says, “Then the dragon was enraged at the woman and went off to wage war against the rest of her offspring—those who keep God’s commands and hold fast their testimony about Jesus.” Thus the spiritual war we find ourselves in today.

God Is Oppressive, and the Devil Gives You Freedom

The book of Revelation, taught well, single-handedly transformed my view of spiritual warfare. Revelation is a book written to a specific group of people with a specific message for them, which is still meaningful for us today. But, it cannot mean for us what it did not mean for them. So, again, context is everything. Revelation is also prophetic apocalyptic writing, meaning it is symbolic by nature and designed to elicit a strong emotional response.

So, you will not find a literal dragon running around trying to devour a woman and her child or two literal beasts scouring the earth with a prostitute on the back of one. You will not see four horsemen literally riding through town, bringing sickness, strife, confusion, and death. That does not mean that the entire book is fictional and should be overly simplified. It means that the imagery throughout is designed to be convicting.

The book of Revelation opened my eyes to the battle of deception that silently rages in the shadows of our hearts and minds daily. But ultimately, the book of Revelation is a book of hope. God created all things in the best possible state of good. He is working all things for your good. And only through rightly putting God on the throne and taking yourself off will you be able to lay down the crushing weight of things we were never meant to carry.

3 Ways to Combat Spiritual Warfare

1. Study the Bible.
   • You can’t learn about anything without taking the time to study. The more you know, the easier it is to spot misinformation, an emotionally charged statement of fiction over fact, or things taken out of context and twisted to fit a popular or false narrative.
2. Pray
   • You have access to God himself. All you have to do is talk to Him. Ask Him to give you the eyes to see the battle. Ask Him to be with you in your day. Ask Him to send an army of angels to protect you from the things that want to scare you or steal your affection for Him. We do it every night in our house – after doing a thorough monster check in all closets and under all beds. Psalm 34:7, 2 Kings 6:15-17
3. Find a community of people that know you, love you, and where you can bring things into the light. Isolation, fear, and anxiety are all diminished and called out in the light.

In Conclusion

Writing this blog has been challenging—more challenging than most months. Sometimes writing is difficult because of time, or there is so much I want to say that I struggle to hone in on my main point. This month was hard because I experienced a lot of spiritual warfare, believe it or not. For example, writing is nearly impossible if I am in conflict with my husband or kids. This month had it all.

• High stress over life stuff lead to every hurt feeling and negative interpretation of every conversation.
• My daughter turned a corner in her development, leading to a hateful attitude, carelessness towards consequences, and tears for both of us.
• My other daughter is now old enough that we have to correct the undesirable behaviors, but we did not realize that under her explosive personality, she is so sensitive. Navigating how to convey our seriousness without completely crushing her is like trying to toss an egg without breaking the shell.
  • Satan used these three points above as a foothold to whisper lies about my worth. “Who am I to write such things?”, “My words are just as disposable as I am.” And then, every shameful piece of my life repeatedly plays through my mind until I am completely in my head and totally isolated.
• Our puppy regressed in her training, and we entered the dining room to find her on top of the kitchen table, finishing off dinner one night. All dog owners know this leads to a multi-day case of horrible room clearing gas and diarrhea.
• I received doctor’s appointment reminders for the wrong time. Meaning I had to load up all my kids and unload them all twice in one day – during the flash flooding event North Texas just had.
• And finally… Every time I get in the car, one of my dome lights has been left on, and my gas tank is almost empty.

All kidding aside, do you feel like everything feels a little more hopeless year after year? Like good is losing, and all this division, hatred, and polarization (evil) is winning? Do you feel like you see more stories about school shootings, human trafficking, child pornography, and civil unrest? Do you find yourself asking, “what is happening?” often? Do you ever want to sell everything and go off the grid to some remote place where the darkness can’t touch you? That is the weight of spiritual warfare pressing against you.

Evil is actively at work in our lives, trying to normalize the not normal, disorder the ordered, and isolate us all. I pray we can get over the hinkiness and start to see the darkness for what it is.

There is a catchy little song out right now by Josh Wilson that says,

“I walked through the valley of shadows
And it scared me half to death
But You’re with me ev’rywhere I go
So I won’t give up yet
My fears would surely kill me
If I didn’t know the truth
The things that I’m afraid of
Are afraid of You”

Remember, Jesus calmed a storm with one rebuke, one firm “stop!” The wind and seas immediately stopped. Satan and God are not equals. “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” John 1:5.