What is spiritual warfare and what are our weapons?
Spiritual warfare is the daily struggle to stand firm in Christ against the devil, the flesh, and the world. Our enemy is real, but our Lord is greater. We fight in the Lord’s strength. We put on the whole armor of God. Truth guards our minds. Righteousness protects our hearts. The gospel readies our feet. Faith shields us from flaming darts. Salvation steadies our hope. The word of God is our sword. Prayer keeps us alert and dependent. See Ephesians 6:10–18; 2 Corinthians 10:3–5.
How do we resist the devil?
Submit to God first. Then resist. The devil will flee. Draw near to God with clean hands and a humble heart. Be sober and watchful. The enemy prowls and lies. Stand firm in the faith, not in feelings. Use Scripture to answer temptation. Standing together with an accountability partner in life helps us to remain faithful to God and worthy of our calling. Stay close to your church family. Isolation makes you vulnerable. See James 4:7–8; 1 Peter 5:8–9. Read the article “How Now Shall We Live”
How do we discern false teaching?
Test every spirit by Scripture. Ask what a message says about Jesus: His deity, His true humanity, His cross, and His resurrection. False teachers twist the gospel and feed pride or license. False teaching often combines some truth with the lie. Compare teaching with the apostolic word. Search the Scriptures daily like the Bereans did as mentioned in the book of Acts. Look for fruit that matches sound doctrine and holy living. See 1 John 4:1–3; Acts 17:11; Matthew 7:15–20.
What role does prayer and Scripture play in battle?
Both prayer and the scriptures are central in spiritual warfare – they are not optional. Jesus answered Satan with “It is written.” quoting scripture each time. So should we. For this reason we hide God’s word in our hearts. Memorize it. Pray it. Speak it when tempted. Pray at all times in the Spirit. Ask for strength, boldness, and endurance. Spiritual battles are often fought on holy ground so pray for your pastors and your church. The word gives light. Prayer gives power. Together they keep us standing. See Matthew 4:1–11; Psalm 119:11; Ephesians 6:18.