Spiritual Warfare

When we hear the word warfare, we usually think of battles between nations, soldiers on the battlefield, or visible conflict involving weapons, violence, and a clear enemy. It’s physical, it’s obvious, and it demands a response. When I first heard the term at church and among fellow believers, my imagination began to run wild. How I do I fight an unseen enemy? How do I wage war with an unseen foe? Especially when the unseen enemy can see me and knows all about me, but I can’t even see him or sense his next move. This is unfair!!

With time, and having spent some time in God’s Word, and drawing closer to God, I began to understand. Spiritual warfare is a battle of a different kind—one that takes place in the unseen realm. It’s a conflict not of flesh and blood, but of the spirit. It involves the ongoing fight between God’s Kingdom and the forces of darkness led by Satan, whose goal is to destroy, deceive, and devour (John 10:10, 1 Peter 5:8). Unlike physical war, spiritual warfare doesn’t use guns or bombs—it uses lies, fear, temptation, discouragement, confusion, and sin as its weapons. And while the battlefield may not be visible to the naked eye, the effects are felt every day in our minds, our relationships, our peace, and our choices.

The danger is that many Christians don’t even realize this war is happening, or they underestimate its seriousness. Because the enemy is invisible, it’s easy to forget there’s a real fight going on. They are too distracted by the world’s glamour (what they can see and sense). But just like in any war, ignoring the battle doesn’t make it go away—it just makes you more vulnerable.

This brings us to a powerful picture of what spiritual captivity can look like…

A bear was confined in a small 10-foot cage in a zoo for years. Each day, he paced 10 feet forward and 10 feet back. When he was finally rescued and brought to the wild, the cage door was opened. But instead of running free, the bear continued his 10-foot pacing, stuck in the rhythm of his old captivity. Even after he was sedated and the cage was removed, his behavior remained unchanged—because although the bear was free, his mind was still imprisoned and crippled.

This is sometimes a picture of how many of us live. We have been set free by Christ—“Whom the Son sets free is free indeed” (John 8:36)—but we continue to live as though we are still bound. Why? Because our minds have been crippled by long battles, tragic experiences, or painful relationships. The enemy uses these strongholds to make us feel powerless, even though the prison gate has been flung open.

God calls us to break free! He invites us to step out in faith and embrace the wide-open spaces of His promises. Like the bear, we must stop walking within the limits of our past and trust that God’s power can renew our minds and set us on a new path.

Breaking Free from the Cage

To live free and victorious and to break free from the cages of our minds, we must first recognize that the prison gates are open. Our Lord has already set us free and given us authority to trample on snakes and scorpions (Luke 10:19). We are not powerless; we are victorious through Christ.

Therefore, let us stop living as though we are still bound by sin, fear, or past regrets.

Secondly, we must engage in the spiritual battle and wrestle to win. Victory doesn’t come by watching from the sidelines. It comes through prayer, worship, fasting, standing on the Word, and walking in truth. Jesus has already won the war, but we must occupy and defend the territory He gave us. In the Old Testament, although God rescued the Hebrews from slavery in Egypt and gave them the promised land, the Hebrews had to fight many battles to secure the God given land.

Since we are in no prison, let us dare to dream, believe, and live beyond the limits of fear. Let’s step out with boldness knowing that God is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all we ask or think (Ephesians 3:20). You don’t have to be chained to past trauma or live under the shadow of defeat. The cage is gone. You are free!

This Is War – A Real One

As we turn on the news, we often see heartbreaking images of war—innocent lives lost, families torn apart. These battles are real and devastating, but there is an even greater war happening in the spiritual realm. Satan is destroying countless souls every day, and many don’t even notice.

The Christian life is not a playground; it is a battleground. Paul reminds us in Ephesians 6:12 that we are not wrestling against flesh and blood but against spiritual forces of darkness. This means your struggle is not merely against difficult people, financial challenges, health issues, or relational tensions—these are often just the physical manifestations of a deeper, spiritual war.

The question is: Are you even wrestling?

Because the battle is fierce, and there is no room for passivity. A believer who isn’t alert becomes easy prey for the enemy. If we do not wrestle to win, we risk losing ground to the enemy.

We Are Armed and Dangerous (In Christ)

The good news is that we are not left defenseless. God has given us mighty weapons to tear down the strongholds of the enemy (2 Corinthians 10:4). These weapons are not carnal or earthly—they are powerful through God.
Some of the most powerful weapons include:

• The Word of God – our sword (Ephesians 6:17)
• Prayer and fasting – strategies Jesus Himself used to break chains (Matthew 17:21)
• Faith – our shield against the enemy’s flaming arrows (Ephesians 6:16)
• The Holy Spirit – our guide, comforter, and source of our power
• Obedience – resisting the devil by submitting to God (James 4:7)

All of the above needs to be intentional and disciplined actions in our daily walk with the Lord. And it starts off with regular Bible Study. Without the knowledge of the Word of God, we start off the battle without a sword in hand. With regular bible study, praying without ceasing, and obedience to the Word of God even when we don’t understand, we can bring every thought captive to the obedience of Christ and stand firm against the devil’s schemes.

Many Christians carry the banner of “Peace, No War” and choose to remain passive in their spiritual journey. In the context of our world today, this banner is noble and admirable—calling for nonviolence, reconciliation, and harmony among people. But when it comes to the unseen realm of spiritual warfare, that same mindset can actually become a serious hindrance to spiritual growth.

Why? Because the Bible doesn’t present the Christian life as a peaceful stroll through the park, but as a spiritual battleground. We are constantly engaged in an invisible war against forces of darkness that seek to steal our joy, weaken our faith, and destroy our witness. When we choose to be passive—believing that “peace” means avoiding confrontation, denying spiritual attack, or refusing to engage—we are unknowingly surrendering ground to the enemy.

Just imagine a soldier standing in the middle of a warzone, waving a white flag, hoping the bullets won’t hit him because he chooses not to fight. That’s what it’s like when Christians choose spiritual passivity. The enemy doesn’t stop attacking just because we stop resisting. In fact, it makes his work easier.

We are not called to be passive. We are called to put on the armor of God (Ephesians 6:10–18), to resist the devil (James 4:7), and to fight the good fight of faith (1 Timothy 6:12). Spiritual peace is not the absence of battle—it is the presence of God in the battle. It is the assurance that no matter how fierce the fight, we have already overcome through Christ.

So yes, carry the banner of peace when dealing with people. But when it comes to the spiritual realm, drop the banner of passivity and pick up the sword of the Spirit. Engage. Fight. Stand firm. Only then will we grow stronger in faith and walk in the victory Christ has won for us.

Let Your Life Be A Fight Worth Watching

A Christian soldier who stands firm despite storms, who prays even when answers are delayed, who worships through tears, and who loves even when hated—such a life is a testimony to the victory of Christ.

You are no longer bound. The cage is gone. The door is open.
It’s time to stop pacing within the limits of your imaginary prison and start living in the freedom Christ has purchased for you.

And as you walk in that freedom, don’t forget that you are also a soldier in a war for souls. Stay alert, fight the good fight, and claim the victory that is already yours in Jesus Christ.