Spiritual Warefare -The Foundations of Christian Living

7. Spiritual Warfare

Key Scriptures

Ephesians 6:10–18

2 Corinthians 4:4

1 Peter 5:8–9

James 4:7

Revelation 12:10–11 Luke 11:14–26 Ephesians 1:17–23 Colossians 2:15

Introduction

When we are born again we cross over from the kingdom of darkness into the Kingdom of God (or the Kingdom of light). Once we served Satan (John 8:42–47), but now we should serve God because He has rescued us from the dominion of Satan (Colossians 1:12–14). Satan is not pleased that we no longer serve him. In fact, he will try to do everything possible to get us to fall and return to a place under his dominion. This is one part of our spiritual warfare, in that we need to resist Satan’s advances in the power of God and stand in the victory over Satan that Jesus has won for us. The other side of spiritual warfare is that, as disciples of Jesus, we have a commission from God to make disciples of all nations. The people in the world are under the power of Satan (2 Corinthians 4:4) and cannot see the truth, therefore, to make disciples for God, we need to bring people the power of God for salvation, and allow God to deliver people from the kingdom of darkness and place them into His Kingdom, i.e. the Kingdom of God. We do not have to defeat Satan again. Jesus has won a total victory (Colossians 2:15) and we just need to live in the good of it and enforce this victory. This will enable God to use us to win other people into this same place of victory.

What is the Kingdom we have been brought into?

It is the Kingdom of God (or heaven) which is the powerful rule and reign of God over all of life. Jesus preached the Kingdom as His good news (Mark 1:15; Matthew 4:23) and the apostles followed suit (Acts 8:12). God’s Kingdom comes to us with power to save, change, heal and deliver from demons (Matthew 4:23; Matthew 9:35; Matthew 12:28; Mark 16:15–18). This power is the Holy Spirit who brings to us who are in the Kingdom the righteousness, peace and joy of God (Romans 14:17; 1 Corinthians 4:20).

What is the kingdom of darkness? (Begin 23/11/23)

Rebellion by Satan and his angels has produced a kingdom set up in opposition to God, into which he tries to draw all human beings. He has had some measure of success due to his causing sin to enter into the world. As Christians, our fight is against the evil forces of darkness (Ephesians 6:12) and our main adversary is Satan.