Warfare: Alignment and Authority – “Discipleship: The Simplicity and Purity of Devotion” – Chapter 6

Chapter six of “Discipleship: The Simplicity and Purity of Devotion”, on the spiritual battle already won at the cross yet still being fought today, the enemy you’re up against, and how to stand firm in the authority Christ has given every believer.

Print edition available for purchase at cost through Lulu.com. If you’re following along in the workbook, this chapter is split across two sessions, with the second starting at “Setting Captives Free.”

Peeking into The Spirit Realm

Deuteronomy 29:29 ()

[29] “The Lord our God has secrets known to no one. We are not accountable for them, but we and our children are accountable forever for all that he has revealed to us, so that we may obey all the terms of these instructions.

The Bible isn’t a book about Satan. It was given to reveal The Father, His purposes, and connecting our hearts to His through the redemptive plan involving His Son and The Holy Spirit. We’re given what we need for life and godliness (), not a detailed history written to satisfy our curiosity about the spirit realm. This is because the goal isn’t to mentally master the spirit realm, but it’s to walk faithfully with the God who rules it.

That being said, we do glimpses woven throughout the Bible of an unseen war that seems to predate humanity and still continues to this day. Scripture gives us just enough to understand the battles we’re walking into and how to stand firm through them. And yet, many Christians live as though the spiritual realm is a relic of the ancient world, like something that belonged to “Bible times” but doesn’t apply to modern life. Others swing the opposite direction and see a demon behind every inconvenience, giving The Enemy far more attention than he deserves. Per usual, the balance is somewhere in the middle.

2 Corinthians 4:18 ()

[18] So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever.

The spirit realm is more permanent than the one we touch and taste every day. This doesn’t mean we ignore the physical world, but it does mean that what we can’t see is shaping what we can see far more than we typically realize.

Think of it like an iceberg. The visible portion above the waterline is the physical world: circumstances, conversations, decisions, health, relationships. But beneath the surface, massive and largely unseen, is the spiritual reality that influences the shape of everything above it. Ignoring that reality doesn’t make it go away, but it leaves us unaware and unprotected.

One of the clearest pictures of this is when Elisha’s servant saw the enemy army and panicked … understandably so. But Elisha didn’t argue with him or dismiss his fear. He simply asked God to let the servant see what was already there.

2 Kings 6:15–17 ()

[15] When the servant of the man of God got up early the next morning and went outside, there were troops, horses, and chariots everywhere. “Oh, sir, what will we do now?” the young man cried to Elisha. [16] “Don’t be afraid!” Elisha told him. “For there are more on our side than on theirs!” [17] Then Elisha prayed, “O Lord, open his eyes and let him see!” The Lord opened the young man’s eyes, and when he looked up, he saw that the hillside around Elisha was filled with horses and chariots of fire.

The angelic army didn’t happen to show up when Elisha prayed. It was already present, but the servant just couldn’t see it yet. We see something similar with Balaam’s donkey seeing an angel when he couldn’t ().

For a seer (someone gifted by God to see into the spiritual realm in heaven or on earth), moments like this can feel like standing at the shoreline between two worlds. Most of the time life moves along in the ordinary rhythms everyone else experiences. Every so often though, the veil thins just enough to reveal that the spirit realm is not abstract at all, but it’s active, structured, and already in motion. A seer doesn’t live there constantly, nor are they given a complete picture, but they receive flashes of what’s currently happening beyond natural sight. Sometimes it’s the quiet awareness of angelic presence, other times it’s the demonic opposition that explains tensions no physical circumstance could fully account for.

But even these glimpses are not given to satisfy curiosity or elevate the seer’s importance. They often serve the same purpose as Elisha’s servant’s opened eyes: to remind us that heaven’s activity is already surrounding God’s people, that The Father’s authority is never absent, and that the spiritual reality behind our circumstances is far more hopeful than it first appears.

So, whether or not you have a seer gifting, this is the posture Scripture invites us into. Not paranoia, not obsession with the demonic, but a sober awareness that there is more going on than meets the eye. And within that awareness, there’s a confidence that the God who commands angel armies is the same God whose Spirit dwells within us (; ).

Know Your Enemy

Back in chapter two, we discussed the serpent in the Garden of Eden and noted that later identifies him as Satan. We saw how he twisted God’s words, sowed doubt, and lured Adam and Eve into rebellion. But that scene in the garden raises questions we didn’t fully explore: Where did he come from? And what was he before he showed up in Eden?

Scripture doesn’t hand us a neat, linear biography of Satan. Instead, it scatters pieces across the Old and New Testaments, from prophetic poetry to apocalyptic visions. Assembling those pieces takes some care, and scholars have disagreed about certain details for centuries.

Before the Fall: The Anointed Angelic Guardian

Two Old Testament passages are widely understood to describe Satan’s original state, even though they’re addressed on the surface to human kings. If you read these passages only as about human kings, you lose the rich theological insight. By the same token, if you read these passages as only describing Satan, you risk ignoring the historical context. The first is in Ezekiel, directed at the “king of Tyre.”

Ezekiel 28:12c–16a ()

[12] You were the model of perfection, full of wisdom and exquisite in beauty. [13] You were in Eden, the garden of God. Your clothing was adorned with every precious stone … all beautifully crafted for you and set in the finest gold. They were given to you on the day you were created. [14] I ordained and anointed you as the mighty angelic guardian. You had access to the holy mountain of God and walked among the stones of fire. [15] You were blameless in all you did from the day you were created until the day evil was found in you. [16] Your rich commerce led you to violence, and you sinned.

No human king was ever “in Eden” or described as “a mighty angelic guardian” (LSB: “anointed cherub who covers”). The language goes beyond the earthly ruler and describes a created being of extraordinary beauty, wisdom, and position. He was placed on God’s holy mountain, covered in splendor, and walked among the very presence of God. He wasn’t a minor angel, but was in some sense, the pinnacle of created glory.

That was, “until the day evil was found in you.”

Ezekiel 28:16b–18 ()

[16] So I banished you in disgrace from the mountain of God. I expelled you, O mighty guardian, from your place among the stones of fire. [17] Your heart was filled with pride because of all your beauty. Your wisdom was corrupted by your love of splendor. So I threw you to the ground and exposed you to the curious gaze of kings. [18] You defiled your sanctuaries with your many sins and your dishonest trade. So I brought fire out from within you, and it consumed you. I reduced you to ashes on the ground in the sight of all who were watching.

The sin wasn’t a momentary lapse. It was pride that was born from gazing at his own majesty, rather than reflecting it back to The One who gave it. When human beings exalt themselves, oppress others, or claim authority over God, they mirror the cosmic rebellion that underlies all sin. This is why (LSB) says, “Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before stumbling.” In this way, we can see how spiritual warfare is not only against a supernatural adversary but also against human systems and hearts aligned with rebellion.

A similar picture appears in Isaiah:

Isaiah 14:12–14 ()

[12] How you have fallen from heaven,
O §star of the morning, son of the dawn!
You have been cut down to the earth,
You who have weakened the nations!
[13] But you said in your heart,
‘I will ascend to heaven;
I will raise my throne above the stars of God,
And I will sit on the mount of assembly
In the recesses of the north.
[14] I will ascend above the heights of the clouds;
I will make myself like the Most High.’

Isaiah 14:12 Heb Helel; lit shining one

Five times: “I will.” Not “I wish” or “I hope.” I will. This is BLATANT rebellion. Likely “the stars of God” here is a reference to the other angels (). So, not only did he want to be above his fellow angels, but he wanted to make himself like God. Sound familiar? It’s virtually identical to the statement he later whispered to Eve in . He sold humanity the very same temptation that’d already ruined him!

This still doesn’t answer the question if timing though. Unfortunately, there isn’t a strong outline in Scripture stating when angels were created or when this rebellion happened.

Some scholars say angels were created during the creation week. They take Moses’ statement in of “the heavens and earth and everything in them” being created in the six days of creation, combined with saying that the “stars” were created on fourth day, plus saying that “stars” symbolically represent angels. The fall of mankind happened before Adam and Eve’s first child was born, but Adam’s age wasn’t stated until he was 130 years old at the birth of their third child (), and this seems to be after their son Cain was old enough to jealously kill Abel. So, maybe that gives us about 100 earthly years for Satan to rebel and appear as a snake in the garden, not to mention the fact that heavenly beings may operate on a different time scale than earthly ones ().

Other scholars hold that “the heavens” aren’t the same thing as “THE Heaven”, that there’s no indication of “the stars” in being symbolic of angels, considering the other natural lights being mentioned, and that all the angels sang together and shouted for joy when God laid the foundation of the world (). Not to mention the fact that the statement about time relativity in seems to apply to God, not all heavenly beings. So, according to those scholars, angels had to have been created sometime in eternity past, and thus Satan’s rebellion would have been then too. Then again, if “ALL the angels” sang together during creation week, this would likely have included Satan as the “anointed cherub” from Ezekiel, right? So, we’re still back to 100 years at most between Satan’s rebellion and the fall of man. Maybe?

The point is: the Bible isn’t clear, because none of that is the point. Arguments can be made various ways, but that’s the key word: arguments. Ironically, debates like this are from The Enemy himself, sent as divisive decoys for The Body. Back to, we need to “keep the main thing the main thing” drawing nearer to God and each other () by focusing on what God has clearly revealed in Scripture.

1 Timothy 1:4–7 ()

[4] Don’t let them waste their time in endless discussion of myths and spiritual pedigrees. These things only lead to meaningless speculations,§ which don’t help people live a life of faith in God.§ [5] The purpose of my instruction is that all believers would be filled with love that comes from a pure heart, a clear conscience, and genuine faith. [6] But some people have missed this whole point. They have turned away from these things and spend their time in meaningless discussions. [7] They want to be known as teachers of the law of Moses, but they don’t know what they are talking about, even though they speak so confidently.

1 Timothy 1:4a Greek in myths and endless genealogies, which cause speculation.
1 Timothy 1:4b Greek a stewardship of God in faith.

The Garden: The Tempting Serpent

As we covered in chapter two, the serpent’s strategy in The Garden was devastatingly effective. He sowed doubt about God’s word and His character, reframed God’s generosity as restriction, and offered a counterfeit version of what God had already given to mankind.

In the aftermath, God gave Adam and Eve an opportunity to come clean, but they didn’t. Many scholars believe that as Adam and Eve denied the chance to take ownership, they abdicated their authority and dominion, handing it over to Satan. So, he gained ground, but his only for a while. You see, the Bible doesn’t show God giving Satan the same courtesy to come clean. Instead, God’s judgment against him includes a promise of his ultimate defeat.

Genesis 3:15 ()

[15] [God to Satan:] “And I will cause hostility between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring. He will strike your head, and you will strike his heel.

From the very first act of sabotage, God declared a coming victory through Jesus. The serpent would wound, but a descendant of the woman would deliver a fatal, crushing blow. The war was made public, and the outcome was already announced.

The Book of Job: Satan Visits Heaven

One of the more startling scenes in all of Scripture comes in the opening chapters of Job, which is often considered one of the oldest books in the Bible. Here, Satan appears, not skulking in shadows, but standing in the presence of God among angelic beings.

Job 1:6–7 ()

[6] Now it was the day that the sons of God came to stand before ⓘYahweh, and §Satan also came among them. [7] And Yahweh said to Satan, “From where do you come?” Then Satan answered Yahweh and said, “From roaming about on the earth and walking around on it.”

Job 1:6a The personal covenant name of God, a form of I Am Who I Am, cf. Ex 3:14–15
Job 1:6b Lit the adversary, so in chs 1 and 2

This is the first time in Scripture that The Devil is explicitly called Satan, as back in The Garden, he was just called The Serpent, as he was tempting people to sin. The Hebrew word “Satan” literally means “The Accuser” or “The Adversary,” because by this point he made it his mission to accuse mankind before God of their sin. Here we see that Satan still had some degree of access to God’s heavenly court. He’d fallen from his former glory, but he wasn’t yet fully expelled. Even still, he operated on a leash, as we see God initiated the conversation and Satan could only touch Job within the limits God permitted (, ). This isn’t the picture of an all-powerful rival, but one of a hamstrung rebel begging for permission from a sovereign King.

The Wilderness: The Devil Tempts Jesus

Fast forward to the New Testament. The first time that he’s explicitly called The Devil is when Satan came to tempt Jesus after His baptism by John.

Matthew 4:1 ()

[1] Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted there by the devil.

The ancient Greek word for “devil” used here is “diabolos.” In the Greek-speaking world before the New Testament, it was a legal or social term that described someone who slanders, falsely accuses, or maligns another person’s character. It was commonly used in court settings for someone bringing damaging accusations. Over time it developed the sense of a malicious accuser who seeks to divide people by damaging reputations.

At least 100 years before Jesus was born to Mary, Jewish scholars translated the name “Satan” in as a verb form of “diabolos” in the Septuagint (a widely-used ancient Greek translation of the Old Testament). This translation choice shows how Jewish translators understood the role of Satan and explains why introduced “The Devil” without needing to explain the concept.

Zechariah 3:1–2 ()

[1] Then the angel showed me Jeshua§ the high priest standing before the angel of the Lord. The Accuser, Satan,§ was there at the angel’s right hand, making accusations against Jeshua. [2] And the Lord said to Satan, “I, the Lord, reject your accusations, Satan. Yes, the Lord, who has chosen Jerusalem, rebukes you. This man is like a burning stick that has been snatched from the fire.”

Zechariah 3:1a Hebrew Joshua, a variant spelling of Jeshua; also in 3:3, 4, 6, 8, 9.
Zechariah 3:1b Hebrew The satan; similarly in 3:2.

Back to the New Testament, Satan’s name isn’t the main point of Jesus’ temptation in the wilderness. We see him back to his old habits of trying to tempt perfect beings to distrust God and to sin by offering them what they already have. However, this is the first time in Scripture that we see a person successfully battle Satan. Here’s Luke’s account of it:

Luke 4:3–13 ()

[3] Then the devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, tell this stone to become a loaf of bread.” [4] But Jesus told him, “No! The Scriptures say, ‘People do not live by bread alone.’” [Deuteronomy 8:3] [5] Then the devil took him up and revealed to him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. [6] “I will give you the glory of these kingdoms and authority over them,” the devil said, “because they are mine to give to anyone I please. [7] I will give it all to you if you will worship me.” [8] Jesus replied, “The Scriptures say, ‘You must worship the Lord your God and serve only him.’” [Deuteronomy 6:13] [9] Then the devil took him to Jerusalem, to the highest point of the Temple, and said, “If you are the Son of God, jump off! [10] For the Scriptures say, ‘He will order his angels to protect and guard you. [11] And they will hold you up with their hands so you won’t even hurt your foot on a stone.’” [Psalm 91:11–12] [12] Jesus responded, “The Scriptures also say, ‘You must not test the Lord your God.’” [Deuteronomy 6:16] [13] When the devil had finished tempting Jesus, he left him until the next opportunity came.

Luke presents the temptations in the same order as the apostle John’s description of the worldly things that are “not of The Father” from . First is “the lust of the flesh,” with the temptation to turn stones into bread to appease His appetite after Jesus had fasted and prayed for 40 days. Next is “the lust of the eyes,” as he offers Jesus the power to have authority over many kingdoms. Finally comes “the pride of life,” as he challenges Jesus to prove God’s protection over Him by jumping to His certain death in dramatic display.

Each time, Jesus resisted by using Scripture, even when Satan misused Scripture with an out-of-context half truth. As a side note, Satan conveniently left out the very next verse of Psalm 91 when he partially quoted it, the verse showing his defeat (both as The Serpent from Genesis 3 but also The Lion from ) by The Messiah:

Psalm 91:13 ()

[13] You will tread upon the fierce lion and cobra,
The young lion and the §serpent you will trample down.

Psalms 91:13 Or dragon, sea monster, supernatural foe

Apostles with Authority: Jesus Witnesses Satan’s Fall

Late in Jesus’ earthly ministry, after He’d sent out the twelve apostles (), Jesus sent out another seventy disciples to the cities He was heading toward, telling them to prepare the way by healing the sick and preaching The Kingdom of God before He arrived.

Luke 10:17–20 ()

[17] Now the ‡seventy returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name.” [18] And He said to them, “I was watching Satan fall from heaven like lightning. [19] Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing will injure you. [20] Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are recorded in heaven.”

Luke 10:17 Some mss seventy-two

Jesus, who existed before creation (), is describing something He personally witnessed. Some scholars connect this to Satan’s original fall described in Isaiah 14 and Ezekiel 28, as Jesus was there when it happened. But, notice He says this in the context of the disciples exercising spiritual authority over demons. So, other scholars point out the imperfect tense of “I was watching” used here, determining that Satan was actively accusing in people Heaven, like he did in Zechariah 3, and that he fell back to the earth when the apostles exercised their delegated authority from Jesus.

Either way, the authority Jesus gave them was an early sign that Satan’s dominion was already beginning to fracture. That collapse would reach its decisive turning point at the cross and resurrection. As Jesus later declared, “now the ruler of this world will be cast out” (, LSB). Our sins paid for and The Accuser was shamefully thrown out of court forever. Plus, every time the Kingdom of God advances through His followers, Satan’s dominion loses ground.

Colossians 2:13–15 ()

[13] You were dead because of your sins and because your sinful nature was not yet cut away. Then God made you alive with Christ, for he forgave all our sins. [14] He canceled the record of the charges against us and took it away by nailing it to the cross. [15] In this way, he disarmed§ the spiritual rulers and authorities. He shamed them publicly by his victory over them on the cross.

Colossians 2:15 Or he stripped off.

The Dragon of Revelation: Connecting the Dots

The final and most vivid portrait comes in the Revelation given to the apostle John, where all the threads converge into one sweeping image.

Revelation 12:7–9 ()

[7] Then there was war in heaven. Michael and his angels fought against the dragon and his angels. [8] And the dragon lost the battle, and he and his angels were forced out of heaven. [9] This great dragon—the ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, the one deceiving the whole world—was thrown down to the earth with all his angels.

Here, at last, we get the explicit identification. The Dragon. The Ancient Serpent. The Devil. Satan. All the same being. And his expulsion from heaven is total. He no longer has the courtroom access he had in Job’s day. Michael the archangel and the angelic host he leads physically drive Satan and his angels out.

The timeline, as best we can piece it together, looks something like this:

  1. Created in glory: An anointed cherub, beautiful and wise, who walked in God’s presence ().
  2. Pride and rebellion: Five “I will” declarations, then chose self-exaltation over worship ().
  3. Cast down: Thrown from his position, but not yet fully expelled from God’s presence (, ).
  4. The Garden: First recorded attack on humanity, resulting in the fall of man (Genesis 3).
  5. The Accuser: Still appeared before God to slander the righteous (Job 1–2; ).
  6. The cross and resurrection: Defeated decisively by Christ’s death and resurrection ().
  7. Expelled from heaven: Driven out entirely, confined to the earth for a limited time ().
  8. Final judgment: Cast into the lake of fire forever ().

The arc of Satan’s existence is one of progressive defeat. He starts at the highest point a created being can occupy and ends in total, permanent ruin. Meanwhile, the arc of God’s people goes in the opposite direction: starting in dust () and ending in glory ().

Knowing this timeline matters, because it tells us where we are right now in the sequence. We live after the decisive victory of the cross, but before the final expulsion. Satan is defeated, but he’s not yet removed. He’s like an invading general whose supply lines have been cut off. His demise is certain, but he can still cause real damage with whatever time and resources he has left (though he’s still ultimately limited by the one and only sovereign God). That’s the tension of the “already, but not yet” that runs throughout the Christian life.

Two Kingdoms at War

With that history in view, the biblical narrative begins to read less like a collection of moral lessons and more like a war correspondence. Popular culture often portrays God and Satan like two rival generals or players in a cosmic chess match, but Scripture doesn’t describe this as a close contest, let alone a struggle between equal forces. It’s more like an occupied territory being liberated by a rightful King who never lost His authority.

1 John 5:4–5, 19 ()

[4] For every child of God defeats this evil world, and we achieve this victory through our faith. [5] And who can win this battle against the world? Only those who believe that Jesus is the Son of God. … [19] We know that we are children of God and that the world around us is under the control of the evil one.

Satan’s kingdom is the one Paul calls “this present darkness” (). It’s the system of rebellion that began with his pride, spread through humanity’s choice in The Garden of Eden, and our sinful choices ever since. It operates through deception, fear, accusation, and the worship of anything other than God. Jesus calls Satan “the ruler of this world” (), and Paul refers to him as “the god of this world” (). It’s not because he has legitimate authority, but because humanity handed him influence when we traded God’s rule for self-rule.

Think of it like a city under occupation. The occupying force didn’t build the city, doesn’t own the city, and doesn’t have the right to govern it. But through a combination of intimidation, propaganda, and the cooperation of some of the citizens, it holds power. The citizens who cooperate don’t necessarily love the occupier, but they’re often convinced that there’s no hope for a better alternative.

John 8:44 ()

[44] For you are the children of your father the devil, and you love to do the evil things he does. He was a murderer from the beginning. He has always hated the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, it is consistent with his character; for he is a liar and the father of lies.

The Kingdom of God, unlike its counterfeiting opponent, is built on truth, light, and love. When Jesus began His public ministry, He announced that victory over the enemy kingdom was in sight, and that the occupied territory was already starting to be reclaimed.

Mark 1:14–15 ()

[14] Later on, after John was arrested, Jesus went into Galilee, where he preached God’s Good News.‡ [15] “The time promised by God has come at last!” he announced. “The Kingdom of God is near! Repent of your sins and believe the Good News!”

Mark 1:14 Some manuscripts read the Good News of the Kingdom of God.

Everywhere Jesus went, the evidence of this liberation was visible. The blind received sight, the lame walked, lepers were cleansed, the dead were raised, and demons were expelled. Every miracle was a territorial advance of God’s Kingdom pushing back the darkness.

Colossians 1:13–14 ()

[13] For he has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of his dear Son, [14] who purchased our freedom‡ and forgave our sins.

Colossians 1:14 Some manuscripts add with his blood.

This was an extraction from one domain and a complete replant into another. We’re already transferred. We’re already citizens of the winning Kingdom. The darkness is real, but The Light has already overcome it (). The question for us is whether we’ll live like people who know that, or like people still huddled under the old occupation, flinching at bullies that no longer have power over us.

The Enemy Army

Deuteronomy 32:16–17a ()

[16] They stirred up his jealousy by worshiping foreign gods; they provoked his fury with detestable deeds. [17] They offered sacrifices to demons, which are not God …

Christians can sometimes shorthand spiritual opposition by attributing it all to Satan. Don’t get me wrong, Satan is powerful, but he isn’t all-knowing, all-powerful, or ever-present like God is. So, Satan can’t and doesn’t work alone. When Revelation 12 describes him being thrown out of Heaven, it says “he and his angels” were cast down with him. Paul gives us one of the most detailed glimpses of this unholy hierarchy.

Ephesians 6:12 ()

[12] For our struggle is not against §flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.

Ephesians 6:12 Lit blood and flesh

Despite all of us having daily conflicts with “flesh and blood” people physically right in front of our eyes, Paul reminds us that it’s a spiritual battle first and foremost. However, this doesn’t mean that anyone who opposes you is an agent of Satan. More often than not, it’s the lies whispered to your heart and mind beyond the physical and apparent circumstances that is truly from The Enemy. This perspective protects believers from turning one another into enemies and instead calls them to spiritual awareness, prayer, and reliance on God’s strength.

In addition to that, Paul describes an imposing spiritual army, meticulously organized with structure and rank:

  • Rulers: High-ranking principalities and chief authorities operating as territorial overlords in the spirit realm.
  • Authorities: Delegated authorities that operate under the rulers.
  • World forces of this darkness: Demonic influence over entire systems, such as governments, economies, cultures, philosophies.
  • Spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places: The broadest category, covering various demonic entities operating in the spirit realm.

This mirrors what Daniel experienced when the angel told him that his prayer was heard on the first day, but it took twenty-one days for the angel to arrive because “the prince of the kingdom of Persia” blocked him. The angel only broke through when Michael, the archangel, came to help (). Let that sink in. An angel dispatched from God’s throne was delayed for three whole weeks by a demonic territorial ruler. This is the record of a real conflict with real resistance.

Below these high-ranking powers are what Scripture simply calls “demons,” “evil spirits,” or “unclean spirits.” Although the Old Testament is a bit sparser about the subject, The Gospels are full of encounters with them. They inhabit people, cause them physical and mental affliction, exhibit various levels of control over them, speak through them. However, they always recognize Jesus immediately for who He is and are almost always concerned about their imminent destruction.

Mark 1:23–24, 27 ()

[23] Suddenly, a man in the synagogue who was possessed by an evil§ spirit cried out, [24] “Why are you interfering with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God!” … [27] Amazement gripped the audience, and they began to discuss what had happened. “What sort of new teaching is this?” they asked excitedly. “It has such authority! Even evil spirits obey his orders!”

Mark 1:23 Greek unclean; also in 1:26, 27.

The demons know who Jesus is. They “believe and tremble” (). They fear Him. They must ultimately obey Him. And that same authority that commands demons to flee from Jesus has been delegated to His followers.

1 John 4:3–4 ()

[3] and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, of which you have heard that it is coming, and now it is already in the world. [4] You are from God, little children, and have overcome them; because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world.

Now, can a Christian be influenced or even oppressed by demonic forces? Yes. But what Scripture makes clear is that unclean spirits cannot possess someone who is indwelt by The Holy Spirit in the same way they possess the unsaved.

Matthew 12:43–45b ()

[43] Now when the unclean spirit goes out of a man, it passes through waterless places seeking rest, and does not find it. [44] Then it says, “I will return to my house from which I came”; and when it comes, it finds it unoccupied, swept, and put in order. [45] Then it goes and takes along with it seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there; and the last state of that man becomes worse than the first. …

The Spirit of God and a demonic spirit cannot co-inhabit the throne of a heart. When The Holy Spirit (a.k.a., “living water,” see ) comes to live in us (), He essentially puts out a spiritual “no vacancy” sign. Whereas, an unbeliever may get temporarily freed and set in order through deliverance, but without the protection of the Holy Spirit within them, there’s nothing stopping those demonic forces from coming right back with friends.

Although demonic possession isn’t a threat for Christians, believers can give The Enemy Army a foothold through persistent, unrepentant sin.

Ephesians 4:26–27 ()

[26] And “don’t sin by letting anger control you.” Don’t let the sun go down while you are still angry, [27] for anger gives a foothold to the devil.

That word “foothold” means a place or an opportunity. It’s a beachhead, a point of entry. Unresolved anger, habitual lust, bitterness, unforgiveness, occult involvement, all of these can create openings that give The Enemy Army leverage in a believer’s life. Not ownership. Not possession. But influence, oppression, and harassment.

The good news? Footholds can be reclaimed. Every territory we surrendered through compromise can be taken back through repentance, the authority of Christ, and the power of The Holy Spirit. That’s what the rest of this chapter is about.

Setting Captives Free

The New Testament repeatedly describes humanity as not simply being misguided, but living under various forms of bondage. Because of sin, humanity became enslaved within The Rebel’s domain. Paul goes as far as saying this:

2 Timothy 2:25–26 ()

[25] Gently instruct those who oppose the truth. Perhaps God will change those people’s hearts, and they will learn the truth. [26] Then they will come to their senses and escape from the devil’s trap. For they have been held captive by him to do whatever he wants.

Captive. Taken alive. It’s like prey caught in a snare and kept breathing only because the captor still has some sort of twisted pleasure in keeping it prisoner. And by saying “come to their senses,” it implies that they are out of their senses. Ensnared by the allurement of false freedom. Lulled in by slowly dimming lights until the darkness felt ordinary. This is why Jesus, shortly after leaving the wilderness temptation, started His earthly ministry with this quote from Isaiah 61:

Luke 4:17–19, 21 ()

[17] The scroll of Isaiah the prophet was handed to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where this was written: [18] “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
for he has anointed me to bring Good News to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released,
that the blind will see,
that the oppressed will be set free,
[19] and that the time of the Lord’s favor has come.”‡ … [21] Then he began to speak to them. “The Scripture you’ve just heard has been fulfilled this very day!”

Luke 4:19 Or and to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord. Isa 61:1–2 (Greek version); 58:6.

Captives set free. Charges dismissed. Record cleared. The addiction, the bitterness, the running away from problems? These are the bars of a prison. Our calling isn’t to judge the prisoner for still being inside the prison cell or for loving their captor (), but to stand at the door and tell them the truth: the prison door is already unlocked by Christ and that there is life on the other side of those bars.

Hebrews 2:14–15 ()

[14] Because God’s children are human beings—made of flesh and blood—the Son also became flesh and blood. For only as a human being could he die, and only by dying could he break the power of the devil, who had§ the power of death. [15] Only in this way could he set free all who have lived their lives as slaves to the fear of dying.

Hebrews 2:14 Or has.

We must also be careful that we don’t allow ourselves to be trapped again. One of The Enemy’s favorite weapons is shame. Often, when tempting us with sin, he’ll whisper in our ears, “You’re the only one missing out on this.” It’s our own lustful desires that ultimately draw us to sin (), but he’s the first to whisper, “How could you? You’re the only one who’s done this.” It’s a vicious isolation cycle that he’s very skilled at implementing.

But even apart from the temptation of sin, shame is often still Satan’s tool of choice. Whether we think we should have done something differently or others think so, it’s really the voice of The Accuser desiring to immobilize us by heaping on guilt and shame.

This is why it always comes back to doing whatever God has called you to do. If we know we are doing what God has asked us to do, then we shouldn’t carry the shame of what we haven’t done. Christ has set us free from the burden of having to “do enough” (). The only burden He puts on us is the one He is willing to carry with us ().

1 Corinthians 10:12–13 ()

[12] If you think you are standing strong, be careful not to fall. [13] The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure.

The Victorious News

I’ve been using language like “victory” and “won” and “decided” throughout this chapter. That language isn’t accidental, because it’s baked into the very word we use for the Christian message itself: gospel. Most Christians learn early on that the word “gospel” means “good news.” That’s true, but it’s only half the picture, and the half we usually miss is the half that matters most for a chapter on spiritual warfare.

In the first-century Roman world, the Greek word we translate as “gospel” wasn’t a religious term, but a military one. When a Roman army won a decisive battle, a messenger was dispatched at full speed back to the city with an announcement: “The battle has been fought, and we have won. The enemy is defeated. A new reign has begun.”

The citizens didn’t fight the battle. They didn’t earn the victory. They received the news, and then they reorganized their lives around what had already been accomplished by someone else. THAT’S the “gospel.” It’s a war report.

Isaiah 52:7 ()

[7] How beautiful on the mountains
are the feet of the messenger who brings good news,
the good news of peace and salvation,
the news that the God of Israel§ reigns!

Isaiah 52:7 Hebrew of Zion.

Beautiful feet. Not eloquent lips or brilliant minds, but feet. The feet of the one running to deliver the victory announcement. “The King has conquered, and His Kingdom is now in effect. Your God reigns!” Hallelujah!

The Battle Still Continues

If Jesus defeated Satan at the cross (), then why is there still a war? Why do believers still struggle with temptation, oppression, and spiritual attack? Why doesn’t it feel like victory?

I’m no history buff, but between every decisive military victory and the final surrender, there’s a season of continued fighting. Think of it like D-Day during World War II. The invasion of Normandy in June 1944 was the turning point that determined the outcome of the war. From that moment forward, the Allied victory was certain. And yet, the war in Europe didn’t officially end for nearly another full year. Some of the bloodiest battles came after the deciding blow had already been struck. The outcome was settled, but the enemy refused to lay down arms.

That’s where we live in redemptive history. The cross is D-Day and the resurrection confirmed it. The outcome is decided, but we’re still in the trenches of the “not yet.”

Hebrews 2:6, 8 ()

[6] For in one place the Scriptures say,“What are mere mortals that you should think about them,
or a son of man§ that you should care for him?
… [8] You gave them authority over all things.”Now when it says “all things,” it means nothing is left out. But we have not yet seen all things put under their authority.

Hebrews 2:6 Or the Son of Man.

This passage captures the tension of the Christian life. All authority already belongs to Jesus (). Every knee will bow (). But right now, in this in-between season, the enemy is still thrashing.

1 Peter 5:8–9 ()

[8] Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. [9] Stand firm against him, and be strong in your faith. Remember that your family of believers§ all over the world is going through the same kind of suffering you are.

1 Peter 5:9 Greek your brotherhood.

A roaring lion. Lions—especially older ones—roar to intimidate, create fear, and to make themselves seem larger and more powerful. Peter’s command isn’t “run” or “hide,” but to “stand firm.” It’s the same language Paul uses in Ephesians 6. Stand. Resist. Hold your ground. Because the ground has already been won for you.

This means our daily spiritual life isn’t passive. We don’t drift into spiritual health any more than we drift into physical health. A soldier behind enemy lines doesn’t get to take a day off just because the war’s outcome has been determined. The awareness of victory should fuel the soldier’s courage, not replace the soldier’s vigilance. And in this war, we are the ones that take captives. Yet, not people, but our own thoughts.

2 Corinthians 10:3–5 ()

[3] We are human, but we don’t wage war as humans do. [4] ⓘWe use God’s mighty weapons, not worldly weapons, to knock down the strongholds of human reasoning and to destroy false arguments. [5] We destroy every proud obstacle that keeps people from knowing God. We capture their rebellious thoughts and teach them to obey Christ.

2 Corinthians 10:4 English translations divide verses 4 and 5 in various ways.

Armoring Up Daily

Since the battle is still going, preparation can’t be a one-time event. You wouldn’t expect a soldier to put on armor once at the beginning of their career and then never maintain it, never check the straps, never replace what’s been damaged. A soldier who did that would be walking around in equipment that no longer protects.

Spiritual armor works the same way. It must be put on intentionally. Daily. It’s a covering of protection and alignment that shields you from all the accusations, deceptions, and distractions that The Enemy Army throws at you throughout the day.

Ephesians 6:13–17 ()

[13] Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. [14] Stand firm therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, [15] and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace. [16] §In addition to all, having taken up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one, [17] also receive the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God,

Ephesians 6:16 Lit In all

Paul wrote these verses while living under tense Roman rule, drawing symbolically from nearby soldiers to describe the spiritual armor Christians need for warfare. Let’s walk through these one at a time, because each piece addresses a specific vulnerability.

The Belt of Truth

Roman soldiers’ belts held everything together. Without it, the breastplate was out of place, the sword couldn’t be sheathed, and movement became clumsy. Truth is what holds our entire spiritual life in place, both God’s truth about reality and our truthfulness before Him. When we deny what’s real, minimize our sin, or believe The Enemy’s lies about who God is or who we are, the belt comes loose and everything else starts falling apart.

The Breastplate of Righteousness

This guards the heart, which is the throne of desire, loyalty, and worship. Righteousness here isn’t self-generated moral perfection (). It’s the righteousness of Christ, placed on us through faith (). Living in alignment with that identity, making choices that reflect who God says we are, protects the heart from guilt, shame, and the enemy’s accusations.

Feet Shod with the Victorious News of Peace

Roman soldiers wore studded sandals designed for traction, not for running away from battle, but for standing firm in it. The victorious news of peace, that we are reconciled to God through Christ (), gives us sure footing even on unstable ground. Because of this readiness, we can walk into hostile territory with confidence, carrying a message of peace that the darkness cannot overpower.

The Shield of Faith

Roman shields were large, full-body coverings that were often soaked in water before battle to extinguish flaming arrows. Faith doesn’t mean you won’t face fiery darts from The Enemy Army, but their flames fizzle on contact when you hold up your trust in God’s character, promises, and track record. Doubt, accusation, fear, lust, despair: these are the arrows. Faith is what absorbs them.

The Helmet of Salvation

The helmet protects the mind. Knowing that you are saved, that your identity is secure in Christ, that nothing can separate you from the love of God ()—this is what guards your thoughts against The Enemy’s other favorite weapon: condemnation. He loves to whisper, “You’re not really saved. You’ve gone too far. God has given up on you.” The helmet of salvation silences that lie.

The Sword of the Spirit

Every other piece of equipment in this list is defensive, but the sword is the one offensive weapon. It represents the word of God. Some people interpret this as being either Jesus Himself or the Bible in general. You may remember back in the chapter on prayer, we talked about Biblical Greek having two terms for “word”: logos (LAW-goss) and rhema (RAY-mah). There we discussed how “logos” is generally a broader message for a wider audience that’s used for God’s revealed message, His written truth (the Bible), and even as a title for Jesus Himself. However, the word used in this verse is “rhema,” which is a spoken word, describing God speaking directly and personally into someone’s life, usually during prayer.

So, yes, the Bible is “alive and powerful” and “sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword” (). And when Jesus was tempted by Satan in the wilderness, each time He responded with “It is written” (). He wielded Scripture and it’s the same weapon available to every believer who knows God’s Word. But, the Bible isn’t a mystical incantation that we just hit replay on in the moment of conflict. The written Word becomes a living weapon when The Holy Spirit brings God’s truth to mind and believers speak it in faith. In this way, the sword of the Spirit is not merely possessing Scripture, but wielding God’s spoken truth against deception and darkness.

Fully Surrendered

Of all the tactical instructions Scripture gives for spiritual warfare, one passage captures the core strategy better than any other:

James 4:7–8, 10 ()

[7] Be subject therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. [8] Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. … [10] Humble yourselves in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you.

Two commands. One promise. Submit to God. Resist the devil. He will flee.

But notice the order. James doesn’t say “resist the devil and then try to submit to God.” Submission comes first. The authority to resist flows from the surrender. A soldier who deserts their assignment doesn’t get to invoke the authority of the army. It’s only because you are under authority that you can exercise authority.

Jesus modeled this perfectly. In the garden of Gethsemane, facing the cross, He prayed:

Luke 22:42 ()

[42] “Father, if you are willing, please take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.”

From that place of total submission, Jesus walked into the most decisive battle in history and won. You see, surrender in The Kingdom of God is the opposite of weakness. It’s the very thing that unlocks divine power. When we keep corners of our hearts off-limits to God, we create gaps in our armor. Those gaps become the footholds we talked about earlier.

In some extreme cases, this humbling of self and submittal to God must also include fasting. We already talked about fasting in the chapter on prayer, so I won’t rehash it too much here. However, Jesus explicitly connected prayer and fasting with spiritual warfare.

Mark 9:17–18, 28–29 ()

[17] One of the multitude answered, “Teacher, I brought to you my son, who has a mute spirit; [18] and wherever it seizes him, it throws him down; and he foams at the mouth, grinds his teeth, and becomes rigid. I asked your disciples to cast it out, and they weren’t able.” … [28] When he had come into the house, his disciples asked him privately, “Why couldn’t we cast it out?” [29] He said to them, “This kind can come out by nothing but by prayer and fasting.”

Many modern translations drop the “and fasting” part of this verse due to it not being in the oldest discovered New Testament manuscripts. However, it’s worth noting that 99.7% of the ancient Greek manuscripts do contain it. Rather than focusing on the manuscript debate, however, it’s helpful to notice that the Bible consistently shows God’s people praying and fasting when they seek breakthrough, guidance, or deliverance (; ; ).

Whether you’re called to fast or not, it’s about fully submitting to God and relying on Him to take care of it. Full surrender means “every room in the house” is open to the Holy Spirit. Every closet with hidden sin. Every locked drawer of unforgiveness. Every attic full of pride. We invite God into all of it, because “partial surrender” is a contradiction of terms.

Romans 12:1–2 ()

[1] And so, dear brothers and sisters,§ I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him.§ [2] Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.

Romans 12:1a Greek brothers.
Romans 12:1b Or This is your spiritual worship; or This is your reasonable service.

Dead sacrifices stay on the altar, but living ones have a tendency to work their way off of it. And that’s the daily challenge: staying surrendered. It’s climbing back on the altar when we realize we’ve wandered off. When a believer is fully surrendered to God, submitted in heart and mind and will, The Enemy has no legal ground to stand on. He can accuse, but the blood of Christ answers. He can tempt, but the Spirit within is greater. He can intimidate, but the Name above every name outranks him.

Binding and Loosing

The language of “binding and loosing” comes directly from the teachings of Jesus and was originally familiar to Jewish audiences. In rabbinic discussions, these terms described forbidding or permitting something, or declaring what was restrained or released under God’s authority. Jesus used that language to describe the authority given to His followers in matters connected to The Kingdom of God.

Matthew 16:19 ()

[19] I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; and whatever you bind on earth §shall have been bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth §shall have been loosed in heaven.”

Matthew 16:19a Gr fut. pft. pass. tense
Matthew 16:19b Gr fut. pft. pass. tense

Both binding and loosing were common everyday terms used for tying or untying things, respectively, but they were also used metaphorically for restricting or freeing someone from a condition or obligation. It’s also worth noting that the phrasing here “shall have been bound/loosed” suggests that the authority exercised on Earth aligns with what God has already determined in Heaven, rather than humans initiating something independently. In other words, believers are not commanding Heaven, but agreeing with Heaven’s authority.

Regardless, some teachers caution against the way binding and loosing is sometimes practiced, mainly because the passage in Matthew 16 (and similarly in chapter 18) are about authority and discipline in the community of believers. Also, the language originally related to rabbinic decisions about applying God’s law, instead of spiritual warfare. However, a few chapters earlier, Jesus directly ties the concept of binding to spiritual warfare. The imagery used here suggests restraining an oppressive power (demon) before freedom can occur.

Matthew 12:28–29 ()

[28] But if I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you. [29] Or how can anyone enter the strong man’s house and carry off his property, unless he first binds the strong man? And then he will plunder his house.

Binding and loosing are two sides of the same action. Binding is a deliberate prayer that restrains something spiritually, while loosing releases something spiritually. Binding restricts demonic interference by the authority of Jesus, while loosing is removing a restraint, breaking a hold, or tearing down a stronghold by His authority.

Jesus used the same imagery of loosing when describing freedom from oppression (translated here as “released”). The idea here is literally breaking free from a spiritual restraint.

Luke 13:16 ()

[16] And this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has bound for—behold—eighteen years, should she not have been released from this bond on the Sabbath day?”

Binding prayer can look like this:

  • Binding spiritual confusion before teaching or preaching.
  • Binding demonic harassment during prayer.
  • Binding a specific temptation in moments of weakness.
  • Binding spiritual interference in ministry or evangelism.

Loosing prayer can look like this:

  • Loosing freedom from addiction.
  • Loosing peace in a contentious situation.
  • Loosing clarity and boldness.
  • Loosing the grip of oppression.

When practiced biblically, binding and loosing are less about commanding spiritual forces by personal authority and more about standing in alignment with God’s will. It’s incapacitating what opposes God’s will and releasing what aligns with God’s will, both of which only come through His Son.

Exorcisms in the Bible

The Old Testament doesn’t use the word “exorcism,” but it records encounters with evil spirits that reveal how God’s authority operates over the demonic.

One of the earliest examples is found with King Saul. After Saul’s continued disobedience, God’s Spirit departed from him, and the text tells us that “a tormenting spirit from the Lord” troubled him (). David was brought in to play the harp, and when he did, the tormenting spirit would leave. The music itself didn’t have magical power, but worship directed toward God created an atmosphere the unclean spirit couldn’t tolerate.

There’s also the account of a lying spirit in , where God permitted a spirit to deceive King Ahab’s prophets. It’s a strange and uncomfortable passage, but it reinforces the same principle we saw in Job: demonic spirits never act independently of God’s sovereign oversight.

The New Testament, however, is where the encounters exploded into full view. When Jesus arrived on the scene, demons started showing up everywhere. Not because they weren’t active before, but because The Light was now present, and darkness couldn’t help but be exposed.

Mark 5:2, 6–13, 15 ()

[2] And when [Jesus] got out of the boat, immediately a man from the tombs with an unclean spirit … … [6] seeing Jesus from a distance, he ran up and bowed down before Him; [7] and crying out with a loud voice, he said, “What do I have to do with You, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I implore You by God, do not torment me!” [8] For He had been saying to him, “Come out of the man, you unclean spirit!” [9] And He was asking him, “What is your name?” And he said to Him, “My name is Legion; for we are many.” [10] And he began pleading with Him earnestly not to send them out of the region. [11] Now there was a large herd of swine feeding nearby on the mountain. [12] And the demons pleaded with Him, saying, “Send us into the swine so that we may enter them.” [13] And Jesus gave them permission. And coming out, the unclean spirits entered the swine; and the herd rushed down the steep bank into the sea, about two thousand of them; and they were drowned in the sea. … … [15] And [people] came to Jesus and observed the demon-possessed man sitting down, clothed and in his right mind, the very man who had the “legion”; and they became frightened.

A man beyond all human help. Chains couldn’t hold him. Society had given up on him. He lived among the dead, screaming and mutilating himself. But, the mere presence of Jesus changed everything. Not a ritual. Not an incantation. Just the authority of the Son of God.

Notice that the demons beg Jesus, not the other way around. They know exactly who He is. They ask His permission before entering the pigs. The entire exchange reveals that Jesus has absolute authority over every unclean spirit, no matter how many there are.

And this authority didn’t stay with Jesus alone. As mentioned earlier, we saw in Luke 9 that He delegated it to His twelve disciples. Then, in Luke 10, He extended it to seventy more. After His resurrection, He broadened it even further.

Mark 16:17–18 ()

[17] These miraculous signs will accompany those who believe: They will cast out demons in my name, and they will speak in new languages.‡ [18] They will be able to handle snakes with safety, and if they drink anything poisonous, it won’t hurt them. They will be able to place their hands on the sick, and they will be healed.”

Mark 16:17 Or new tongues; some manuscripts do not include new.

“Those who believe.” Not “those with seminary degrees.” Not “a special class of super-Christians.” Those who believe. As stated before, it wasn’t their belief, but The One in whom they believed.

The book of Acts gives us a front-row seat to the early church doing exactly this. Paul cast out a spirit of divination from a slave girl (). Philip drove out unclean spirits in Samaria:

Acts 8:6–8 ()

[6] Crowds listened intently to Philip because they were eager to hear his message and see the miraculous signs he did. [7] Many evil§ spirits were cast out, screaming as they left their victims. And many who had been paralyzed or lame were healed. [8] So there was great joy in that city.

Acts 8:7 Greek unclean.

Of course, we also get a cautionary tale about trying to do this without genuine relationship with God:

Acts 19:13–16 ()

[13] A group of Jews was traveling from town to town casting out evil spirits. They tried to use the name of the Lord Jesus in their incantation, saying, “I command you in the name of Jesus, whom Paul preaches, to come out!” [14] Seven sons of Sceva, a leading priest, were doing this. [15] But one time when they tried it, the evil spirit replied, “I know Jesus, and I know Paul, but who are you?” [16] Then the man with the evil spirit leaped on them, overpowered them, and attacked them with such violence that they fled from the house, naked and battered.

The sons of Sceva had the right vocabulary but the wrong relationship. They treated Jesus’ name like a magic formula, rather than the authority of a King with whom they had a personal covenant. The demon’s response has a mocking undertone: “I know Jesus, and I know Paul, but who are you?” Authority in spiritual warfare doesn’t come from repeating the right words. It flows from genuinely belonging to The One whose name carries the authority.

2 Thessalonians 3:3 ()

[3] But the Lord is faithful; he will strengthen you and guard you from the evil one.§

2 Thessalonians 3:3 Or from evil.

Chapter Resources

Deliver Us from Evil: A Pastor’s Reluctant Encounters with the Powers of Darkness by Don Basham is a helpful companion to this chapter because it addresses the reality of demonic influence with both biblical seriousness and pastoral warmth. Originally published in 1972, the book grew out of Basham’s own unexpected encounters with deliverance ministry during an era when many churches avoided the subject entirely.

He writes honestly about his initial skepticism, the scriptural convictions that changed his mind, and the practical wisdom he gained through years of helping believers find freedom. It’s a grounded and accessible introduction for anyone who wants to better understand practical spiritual warfare.

Psalm 144:1–2 ()

[1] Praise the Lord, who is my rock.
He trains my hands for war
and gives my fingers skill for battle.
[2] He is my loving ally and my fortress,
my tower of safety, my rescuer.
He is my shield, and I take refuge in him.
He makes the nations‡ submit to me.

Psalms 144:2 Some manuscripts read my people.

A prayer:

Father God,

Cleanse me and those who You’ve entrusted to me from any unrighteousness, illness, unclean spirits, and the sins that so easily entangle us.

[Optionally name specific things that you’re aware of and listen for Him to bring things up.]

Instead of those things in our lives, fill us with Your Holy Spirit. Saturate us down through our deepest, darkest parts and all the way up to the point of overflowing with your grace, mercy, gifts, and fruit.

Remind us, Lord, that we don’t wrestle against flesh and blood, but against powers, principalities, unclean spirits, and our own sinful desires.

So, we put on your armor today, God:

The belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, feet shod with the preparedness of the victorious news of peace, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit.

We do this so that we can stand firm in the strength of Your might, and not our own. We submit ourselves fully to You in everything, resisting The Devil and his minions, so that they will flee and nothing can come against us, because greater are You who are in us, than all of creation combined!

By the blood of Jesus Christ, through the power of The Spirit working within us, to the glory of The Father.

Amen.

The Workbook

The free Discipleship companion workbook PDF gives this chapter two sessions rather than one, The Enemy Army and then The Victorious News, so neither half gets rushed. Each has thought-provoking questions, relatable activities, and practical exercises for making it real.