God in His Word warned us that there will be wars in this world and rumors of war, as Jesus foretold “You will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, for this must take place, but the end is not yet.” (Matthew 24:6, ESV). The grave consequence of wars is death—many will die, either ready or not. God’s people in the Old Covenant, Israel, endured countless wars and battles. They conquered enemies, suffered great losses, and were even taken into captivity. In the midst of it all, Yahweh was with them to fight on their behalf, as seen when He declared, “The Lord your God who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies, to give you the victory” (Deuteronomy 20:4). Yet, at times of disobedience, He also judged them, as in 2 Kings 17:18: “Therefore the Lord was very angry with Israel and removed them out of his sight.”
Though we do not fight these physical wars and battles today, God’s new covenant people are all at war on a daily basis—a most dangerous war. The Bible makes it clear that the Christian life is a spiritual battle against unseen forces, our own sinful nature, and the temptations of the world. As Paul writes, “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places” (Ephesians 6:12). Yet, we are not left defenseless. God equips us with His armor, His Word, and His Spirit to stand firm.
The Reality of Our War
Scripture paints a vivid picture of the battle we’re in. Paul’s words in Ephesians 6:12 remind us that our struggle isn’t against other people, we are not fighting against the Philistines but against spiritual forces of evil. From the moment we trust in Christ, we become targets of the enemy. Peter warns us, “Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour” (1 Peter 5:8). This isn’t a metaphor, it’s a reality. Satan seeks to steal, kill, and destroy (John 10:10), but Christ came that we might have life and have it abundantly.
The Puritan Thomas Brooks wrote, “Satan’s war against the saints is ceaseless, but so is God’s grace toward us.” We’re not called to fear but to engage in the fight. Jesus Himself faced the devil in the wilderness, showing us that this war is real, but we can win through the power of God’s Word (Matthew 4:1-11). As believers, we must recognize the battle lines and prepare ourselves daily for the fight.
The Enemies We Face
Our war has three primary enemies: the devil, the world, and our own sinful flesh. First, Satan and his forces actively oppose God’s people. Revelation 12:17 tells us, “The dragon became furious with the woman and went off to make war on the rest of her offspring, on those who keep the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesus.” Satan tempts, accuses, and deceives, as he did with Eve in Genesis 3:1-5.
Second, the world pulls us away from God with its values and temptations. John the beloved apostle warns us, “Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him” (1 John 2:15). The world offers fleeting pleasures that war against our souls (1 Peter 2:11), drawing us into pride, greed, and lust.
Finally, our own flesh fights against the Spirit within us. Paul laments, “For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out” (Romans 7:18). The battle within is fierce, but God’s word gives hope: “Walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh” (Galatians 5:16).
Equipped for Battle
Though the war is real, God doesn’t leave us defenseless. Ephesians 6:13-17 instructs us to “put on the whole armor of God” to stand firm. The belt of truth keeps us grounded in Scripture (John 17:17). The breastplate of righteousness guards our hearts through Christ’s imputed righteousness (Philippians 3:9). The gospel of peace prepares our feet to stand firm (Isaiah 52:7), while the shield of faith extinguishes the devil’s fiery darts (Hebrews 11:1). The helmet of salvation protects our minds with assurance (1 Thessalonians 5:8), and the sword of the Spirit, God’s Word, is our weapon (Hebrews 4:12).
Prayer is also essential. We are taught by the Lord to pray “Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil” (Matthew 6:13). Paul echoes this, urging us to “pray at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication” (Ephesians 6:18). Prayer connects us to the power of God, who fights for us (Exodus 14:14). The Puritan John Bunyan wrote, “In prayer, it is better to have a heart without words than words without a heart.”
John MacArthur emphasizes this truth: “The Christian’s greatest weapon in spiritual warfare is a life of prayer and obedience to the Word of God.” When we abide in Christ and His Word abides in us (John 15:7), we can resist the devil, and he will flee (James 4:7).
Fighting the Good Fight
How do we fight this spiritual war practically? First, we must know our enemy and his tactics. Paul warns, “We are not ignorant of his designs” (2 Corinthians 2:11). Satan often tempts us in our weakest areas, as he did with Jesus in the wilderness, but we can counter with Scripture, as Jesus did (Matthew 4:4). Moreover, the writer of Hebrews challenges us: “In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood” (Hebrews 12:4). This call to persevere reminds us that our fight, though fierce, has not yet demanded the ultimate sacrifice, urging us to press on with greater resolve.
Second, we must cling to the cross. Christ’s death and resurrection secured our victory. Colossians 2:15 says, “He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him.” The war is won, but the battles continue until Christ returns. We fight from victory, not for it.
Last, we fight together. The Christian life is not a solitary life; that’s one of the reasons why we must forsake our own assembly (Heb. 10:25), because God places us in community to bear one another’s burdens (Galatians 6:2). When one falls, another lifts them up (Ecclesiastes 4:10). Corporate prayer, worship, fellowship and accountability strengthen us for the battle.
The Hope of Victory
Though the war rages, we have unshakable hope: Romans 16:20 promises, “The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet.” Christ will return to end all evil (Revelation 20:10), and until then, He intercedes for us (Hebrews 7:25). We can say with Paul, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith” (2 Timothy 4:7), knowing that our reward awaits (2 Timothy 4:8).
Stand Firm
We are all at war, but we are not alone. God equips us, Christ leads us, and the Spirit empowers us. Stand firm in the armor of God, wield the sword of the Spirit, and pray without ceasing (1 Thessalonians 5:17). “While the world engages in fleeting physical wars over temporary gains, let us remember that our spiritual battle holds eternal significance.” Memorize a bible verse to combat temptation, pray with a fellow believer, or confess a struggle to a trusted friend. As you do, rest in this truth: “If God is for us, who can be against us?” (Romans 8:31).
