1. The Meaning of Spiritual Warfare (note: v.11b-12 )
* Spiritual Warfare is the engagement and/or activities that take place in the unseen realm of existence between God and those who are his and the forces of Satan and his demons. (note: Gen. 3:15)
* Spiritual Warfare takes place in 3 “realms”
1) Spiritual World - An unseen domain where angels, demons, and divine interactions occur.
2) Physical World - The tangible realm of human existence where spiritual battles manifest through effects like sin, deception, or calamities, influenced by spiritual beings.
3) Inner World - The internal realm of human desires and volition where spiritual warfare unfolds as a struggle against sin’s influence
2. The Means of Battle (note: v.11-12)
* Know our Enemy: to Recognize that our true battle is against spiritual forces of evil, including Satan’s schemes, which can manifest through direct attacks, worldly influences, or sin, requiring awareness to avoid being caught unprepared.
* Provisions from the Lord: We rely on the full armor of God, a permanent spiritual equipping provided by God’s strength, and engage in spiritual disciplines like Bible reading, prayer, worship, fasting, and service to grow in faith and stand firm in the spiritual battle.
3. The Method of Victory (note: v. 13 )
* The method of victory in spiritual warfare is to stand firm in faith, trusting in God’s provision of His full armor to resist Satan’s schemes and the world’s deceit, allowing God’s righteousness to prevail through us without needing to personally defeat evil forces.
So now what?
Get Serious: Develop the spiritual disciplines necessary to aid you to stand firm.
