People are becoming more aware of spiritual warfare, but there is often lots of confusion and wrong information about it. We can be sure Satan is behind that for it keeps Christians from being able to wage war against him and win. Here are some errors to avid to stay on the right path.
THINK THAT IF WE IGNORE IT, IT WILL GO AWAY. This is the way Christians in the West have approached Satan and demons. They see them as something from Biblical times, or made up by Pentecostals. But by ignoring this part of their life, they give evil a foothold. For believers who ignore spiritual warfare, the devil can hide overt demonstrations and continually whisper in their ear, keeping them from growing closer to the Lord by obsessing over the things of this world. “Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world” (1 Peter 5:8-9).
TEMPTATION TO SEE A DEMON BEHIND EVERY BUSH. This is the opposite of the first mistake. While we have battles and challenges most every day, many come from the world and the flesh, not just from demons. Demons have much to do so to assume all they do all day is attack me is unrealistic. Believing this gives them too much attention. We face challenges each day we live in this earthly body, but don’t assume they are all demonic attacks. “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake” (Psalm 23:1-3).
EXPECTING IMMEDIATE VICTORY. Too often people assume one counseling session will solve everything, but that isn’t so. It took time for these things to develop and it often takes time to grow through them. God allows them to stretch our faith and make us more like Jesus. He lets them continue so we learn about them and grow through them. Spiritual warfare can be long and drawn out. Daniel prayed for weeks, unaware that a demon was fighting the angel God had sent to answer his prayer (Daniel 10:12-13).
FEARING THE WORST. Assuming defeat is the opposite of the mistake of expecting immediate victory. Demons are awful, terrifying creatures, but they are limited by God’s power. Don’t think fighting them will be like some terrible horror show. God’s power is greater than theirs. We have nothing to fear. “As we were going to the place of prayer, we were met by a slave girl who had a spirit of divination and brought her owners much gain by fortune-telling. She followed Paul and us, crying out, ‘These men are servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to you the way of salvation.’ And this she kept doing for many days. Paul, having become greatly annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, ‘I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.’ And it came out that very hour” (Acts 16:16-18).
FORGETTING THE VICTORY IS ALREADY WON. Sometimes prayers are not answered the way we would like, whether because it is not God’s will or because the one we are praying for is allowing sin in their lives. Other spiritual battles take years to be resolved, especially if it is a spiritual stronghold. The Bible provides great assurance that Jesus has the final victory, and it is guaranteed. He has defeated sin, death, the grave and will return to rule and reign for forever. When entering into a spiritual battle, it is important to enter it knowing the God of Angel Armies, the One who holds all things in His hand and has the final victory, is in the battle too. “But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians 15:57).
The key is to keep a balance concerning spiritual warfare. It is something, but it isn’t everything. C.S. Lewis wrote: “There are two equal and opposite errors into which our race can fall about demons. One is to disbelieve in their existence. The other is to believe, and to feel an excessive and unhealthy interest in them.” Satan does care which extreme you go to, just so you don’t keep a Biblical balance.
James 4:7: “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”
Which extreme are you more likely to go to?
Which of the mistakes listed above do you fall into? What should you do instead?
cto Rev. Dr. JERRY SCHMOYER
Christian Training Organization
Jerry@ChristianTrainingOrganization.org
(India, Africa & Spanish Outreach, Spiritual Warfare, Family Ministries, Counseling, World View)
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