Spiritual warfare as conflict

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The warfare believers must fight is spiritual, personal, intense and continual. It calls for courage, determination and prayer, and therefore believers must stand in God’s strength and use the armour he has provided.

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General descriptions of spiritual conflict

It is spiritual

Ephesians 6:12 NASB95

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.

See also Ga 5:17; 1 Pe 2:11; Zec 4:6; 2 Co 10:3–4

It is personal

Luke 22:31–32 NASB95

“Simon, Simon, behold, Satan has demanded permission to sift you like wheat; but I have prayed for you, that your faith may not fail; and you, when once you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.”

It is strenuous

Hebrews 12:4 NASB95

You have not yet resisted to the point of shedding blood in your striving against sin;

See also Jn 16:33; Php 1:27–30; 1 Pe 4:12–13

It is continual

Ephesians 6:13 NASB95

Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm.

How believers are to fight

With courage

1 Corinthians 16:13 NASB95

Be on the alert, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong.

See also Jos 1:9; Jos 10:25; 2 Ch 32:6–8

With determination

1 Timothy 6:12 NASB95

Fight the good fight of faith; take hold of the eternal life to which you were called, and you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.

See also Heb 10:23; 2 Th 1:4; 1 Pe 5:9–10

With watchfulness

1 Peter 5:8 NASB95

Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.

With prayer

Ephesians 6:18 NASB95

With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints,

See also Mt 6:13; Mt 26:41; Ex 17:11; Ac 12:5; 2 Th 3:2

Standing in God’s strength

Ephesians 6:10 NASB95

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might.

See also Php 4:13; Eph 3:16; 2 Ti 2:1; Ps 118:8; 1 Sa 17:45; 2 Sa 22:40; Ps 18:32–36

Using the armour of God

Ephesians 6:11 NASB95

Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil.