Introduction to Spiritual Warfare

Introduction to Spiritual Warfare

Somewhere back in time before even the creation of Man there was, apparently, a war in Heaven. Some angelic creature called Lucifer appears to have been a leader among the angels. Then somewhere back before even time existed there was a rebellion. Pride got the best of Lucifer and he was cast out of heaven with the angels that conspired with him. The story is in the Bible in Isaiah 14:12-17.

"How you are fallen from heaven,
O Lucifer, son of the morning!
How you are cut down to the ground,
You who weakened the nations!
For you have said in your heart:
'I will ascend into heaven,
I will exalt my throne above the stars of God;
I will also sit on the mount of the congregation
On the farthest sides of the north;
I will ascend above the heights of the clouds,
I will be like the Most High.'
Yet you shall be brought down to Sheol,
To the lowest depths of the Pit.
" Those who see you will gaze at you,
And consider you, saying:
'Is this the man who made the earth tremble,
Who shook kingdoms,
Who made the world as a wilderness
And destroyed its cities,
Who did not open the house of his prisoners?'
Isa 14:12-17 NKJV

Man was created after this rebellion. There in the Garden of Eden Lucifer/Satan enters the picture again as the serpent to steal the crown jewel of God’s creation, Adam and Eve. After the fall of Adam and Eve, Satan now has authority on earth and the war is engaged in both Heaven and earth. The book of Revelation describes some of the final stages of this war that we can expect.

Spiritual warfare is a war against sin and sinful personalities. All human beings are victims of spiritual warfare. The primary combatants in this war are God and His angels and children, who are opposed by Satan and his demons. It is a war between the Kingdom of God and the kingdom of the Satan.

When you are engaged in this warfare it is not so much an attack on a person that is against you. More specifically, it is an attack on the demonic forces that have taken ownership on another. Both God and Satan are after the hearts of men and women. It is always a heart issue. As you work in ministry, you should always remember this.

By its very nature, then, the subject of spiritual warfare invites much controversy and differences of opinion. Satan seeks to divide, to deceive, and to destroy.