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The questions/Trail: The Unseen Realm

What is spiritual warfare?

Spiritual warfare is the real but unseen conflict between the kingdom of God and the kingdom of darkness, fought with spiritual weapons: the word of God, prayer, faith, truth, righteousness, and the gospel of peace. Our fight is not against people, and the victory is Christ's.

This question arose from studying Who is Satan, and what does he do?.

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Not a summary of these passages: the passages themselves. Read them, then come back to the study below.

The study

What the Scripture says

The battle is real, but not against people

Our wrestling is not against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, the powers, and the rulers of the darkness of this world. Though we walk in the flesh, we do not wage war according to the flesh. Your enemy is not your neighbor; it is the enemy of your soul.

For our wrestling is not against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the world’s rulers of the darkness of this age, and against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.
Ephesians 6:12
For though we walk in the flesh, we don’t wage war according to the flesh; for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but mighty before God to the throwing down of strongholds,
2 Corinthians 10:3-4

The weapons are spiritual

The armor of God: the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, the shoes of the gospel of peace, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Divine power pulls down arguments and every lofty thing raised against the knowledge of God.

Therefore put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and, having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having the utility belt of truth buckled around your waist, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having fitted your feet with the preparation of the Good News of peace; above all, taking up the shield of faith, with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the evil one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God;
Ephesians 6:13-17
for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but mighty before God to the throwing down of strongholds, throwing down imaginations and every high thing that is exalted against the knowledge of God, and bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ;
2 Corinthians 10:4-5
For the word of God is living, and active, and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing even to the dividing of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and is able to discern the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
Hebrews 4:12

Prayer is the engine

With all prayer and supplication, pray at all times in the Spirit, staying watchful with all perseverance for all the saints. Watch and pray, that you may not enter into temptation. The armor is worn, and it is prayed on.

with all prayer and requests, praying at all times in the Spirit, and being watchful to this end in all perseverance and requests for all the saints:
Ephesians 6:18
Watch and pray, that you don’t enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
Matthew 26:41
When he was at the place, he said to them, “Pray that you don’t enter into temptation.”
Luke 22:40

Submit, resist, and he will flee

Submit to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Resist him, steadfast in your faith, for greater is he who is in you than he who is in the world. Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord. The victory is Christ's, and we fight in it.

Be subject therefore to God. But resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
James 4:7
Be sober and self-controlled. Be watchful. Your adversary, the devil, walks around like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Withstand him steadfast in your faith, knowing that your brothers who are in the world are undergoing the same sufferings.
1 Peter 5:8-9
You are of God, little children, and have overcome them; because greater is he who is in you than he who is in the world.
1 John 4:4
Then he answered and spoke to me, saying, “This is Yahweh’s word to Zerubbabel, saying, ‘Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says Yahweh of Armies.
Zechariah 4:6

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Verses to meditate on

For our wrestling is not against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the world’s rulers of the darkness of this age, and against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.
Ephesians 6:12
Therefore put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and, having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having the utility belt of truth buckled around your waist, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having fitted your feet with the preparation of the Good News of peace; above all, taking up the shield of faith, with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the evil one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God;
Ephesians 6:13-17
Be subject therefore to God. But resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
James 4:7
You are of God, little children, and have overcome them; because greater is he who is in you than he who is in the world.
1 John 4:4

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