The Spiritual Battle

Open Your Eyes to Evil Spiritual Forces

The Old Testament provides relatively few verses on spiritual warfare. The term “devil” does not even appear in the Hebrew Scriptures, and the term “Satan” occurs in only a few references. There are glimpses of the spiritual realm in the Old Testament, but the true understanding came with Jesus and writings of the Apostle Paul.

Jesus truly exposed the devil and his kingdom as had not been understood in the past. Also, as an Apostle of Jesus, Paul brought tremendous understanding of the working of Satan, his schemes, and the spiritual battle.

Ephesians 6:11-12
Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. 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.

When Jesus first called Paul, Jesus spoke to him about this spiritual battle, and that he would suffer in the name of Jesus.

Acts 9:15-16; 26:18
“To open their eyes so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the dominion of Satan to God.”

The revelation in the writings of Paul disclose the dominion of Satan, the god of this age, and this present evil age (1 Cor 2:7-8; 2 Cor 4:3-4; Gal 1:1-4; Eph 2:1-3; Col 1:13).

Paul experienced direct encounters with demons and spiritual forces.
Acts 13:5-12 – Paul confronts Elymas the magician.
Acts 16:16-19 – Paul casts out a spirit of divination.
Acts 19:11-20 – Evil spirits in Ephesus

But Paul also experienced tremendous suffering and tribulation – part of Satan’s schemes. He understood that his struggle was not with flesh and blood, but rather it was a spiritual battle. 2 Cor 11:23-28; 12:7-10 This thorn in the flesh was a messenger of Satan. In his distress and weakness, Paul relied on the grace of Jesus Christ, so that the power of Christ could dwell in him. It is a spiritual battle!
Paul revealed and taught about the devil and his schemes. 1 Cor 7:5; 2 Cor 2:10-11; 11:3, 13-15; 1 Tim 3:7; 6:9-12; 2 Tim 2:24-26

Ephesians 6:10-19 Stand firm against the schemes of the devil!