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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This topic most appropriately falls after last month’s discussion on prayer<\/a> 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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

^{*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<\/a>. 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.<\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Spiritual Realm<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

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? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Well, we know that there are angels:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

  We know that there are demons: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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  • Matthew 7, 8, 9, 10, 12, 17 <\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Mark 1, 2, 6, 7, 9, 16 <\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Luke 9, 11, 13, 20 <\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • John 6, 9, 12 <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

    We know that there is a heaven and a “lake of fire” (i.e., hell)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

          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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

          Based on these truths, I would say that the spiritual realm is alive and kicking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

          Who Is Satan<\/h2>\n\n\n\n