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.
Not a summary of these passages: the passages themselves. Read them, then come back to the study below.
The study
What the Scripture says
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The battle is real, but not against people
'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.' Though we walk in the flesh, we don't 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.For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
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,For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)
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;Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:
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;(For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;
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.For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
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:Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;
Watch and pray, that you don’t enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.
When he was at the place, he said to them, “Pray that you don’t enter into temptation.”And when he was at the place, he said unto them, Pray that ye enter not into temptation.
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.Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
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.Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.
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.Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.
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.Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of the Lord unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the Lord of hosts.
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.For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
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;Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:
Be subject therefore to God. But resist the devil, and he will flee from you.Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
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.Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.