LIFE Posts - Spiritual Warfare, part 1

We’ve covered a lot of ground so far in our Freedom studies – most recently discussing the fact that God’s Word is Jesus, that God’s Word is immensely powerful, and that we need to choose to believe and obey what it says even if we don’t understand it.  We move now to a topic that has often been avoided in the Western church, which is the reality of the supernatural aspects of Christianity.  As always, we’re continuing to use the Freedom curriculum in this study.^[1]

Gallup polls from 2001 through 2003 show a pulse on spiritual beliefs in the United States over time:

Multi-Year Trends (Gallup Benchmark: 2001–2023)

Gallup's Five Spiritual Entities Trend provides the multi-decade tracking from 2001 to the present: ^[2]

A 2026 survey by the American Bible Society reports that 68% of responders believe in God and 55% believe in the devil, as well as 62% believe in heaven and 53% believe there is a hell.  While the dropping trend in belief in God has been accelerating, the disparate levels of belief in supernatural elements described in the Bible have been existent going back to at least the 1950’s.  

The 1950s vs. Present Comparison

 It is interesting the inconsistency between the spiritual responses – even in the 1950’s there were vastly more people who believed in God than the devil, and more people believed that there is a real heaven than there is a real hell.  Depending on your background, these differences may be surprising – or they may be what you currently believe.  This topic follows the messages about the Living Word of God – the Bible – for a reason.  The Bible describes supernatural spirit beings and eternal destinations everyone must go to. If we allow ourselves, for example, to not believe the Bible when it describes a real hell that is eternal separation from Jesus and is a place of torment, but say that we do believe in Jesus, then isn't the sacrifice the Bible specifically says was to keep us from eternity apart from Him in torment illogical? Standing on the Bible as our basis of spiritual truth, let us take a quick look at some of what the Bible says about the devil.

Genesis 3:15 tells us that the devil is the enemy of man.  Jesus tells us in John 8:44 that the devil is the father of lies and is a murderer.  We’re told in 2 Corinthians 4:4 that the devil does have power and uses it to blind unbelievers to keep them from knowing the truth.  In Ephesians 2:2 Paul tells us that the devil works within those who are worldly and opposes any obedience to God’s Will.  1 Peter 5:8 warns us that the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. 

These scriptures speak of the devil as a specific being, not a general, abstract concept of evil.  Unfortunately, too often this reality hasn’t been taught, and instead Christians are led to think of the devil as a fairy tale or just a conceptual idea instead of an actual spiritual being.  This explains how 68% of Americans can believe in God, yet only 55% believe there is a real devil. 

The supernatural paradox

In Christian history, the belief of Cessationism arose during the protestant reformation.  Cessationism is defined as the “belief that the charismata—the supernatural gifts of the apostolic church—ceased with the death of John, the last apostle, by the end of the first century or with the completion of the canon of the Scripture.”^[3] While often centered on spiritual gifts, this line of thinking has progressed and expanded to cover all supernatural occurrences.  For most Christians in the West, the discussion of supernatural occurrences is nearly entirely focused on the miraculous historical events described in the Bible, completely ignoring any discussion of application or existence of such things happening today.  Ironically, while many in times of need ask God for miracles, their normal-day-to-day expectations of supernatural movement and activity are nearly non-existent.

For non-Christians living in the West, the supernatural is most often categorized as phenomenon that are either a psychological issue within those to testify to experiencing the supernatural or are things that science can explain away.  For non-Christians, supernatural elements are lampooned as fantasy or fodder for horror movies – essentially called “mindless fun.”  Western culture holds science as the highest judge, while at the same time not realizing that it has made science a god that is worshipped.

It is important that as Christians we deeply evaluate how much we’ve allowed modern culture to shape our worldview, and to pray for the Holy Spirit’s revelation.  He will open our eyes when we sincerely ask Him to do so.  Societal influences that are constant from birth steer our understanding and belief systems – and certainly the Western way of thought does not view the supernatural as common or real.  The Bible, when you allow it to say what it says and not filter it through a modern worldview, tells us that in creation there are both physical realms and spiritual realms.  There is both God and the devil.  Angels and demons.  Heaven and hell.  Humanity has a supernatural enemy, the devil, who hates it.

Ignoring an enemy is folly

In our regular everyday life, if we knew someone hated us and intended to steal our most valuable possessions from us, kill us , or destroy us and our family, we would not ignore that person if they entered the room we were in.  In fact, if we knew that enemy was nearby, we would stay alert for danger throughout the day and even the night.  We would take steps to protect ourselves and our loved ones, such as locking doors and windows and using security monitoring.  When we were out, we would remain aware of our surroundings.  We might even seek training and licensing to carry a weapon for protection.

In the same way that it would be unwise to take no precautions against a known physical enemy who wanted to kill us and our loved ones, it is foolish to ignore God’s Word when it tells us the devil is real and seeks to destroy us.  We need to understand three things:

1. The devil and demons are real spiritual entities, not a fairy tale or myth.
2. These enemies want to destroy you and your family.  (John 10:10)
3. These enemies, however, must respond to a higher spiritual authority.

• The highest authority is the Name of Jesus.  (Luke 10:17)
• The authority of Jesus’ in the Word.  (Matthew 4:4, 7, 10)
• The authority of Jesus’ Blood shed on the cross.  (Revelation 12:11)

We will continue to dig into this topic over the coming messages, but if this subject is one that makes you uncomfortable or incredulous, spend some time in the Word reading the scriptures above, asking the Holy Spirit to reveal any reason for any disbelief or discomfort you may have.  Also know that we as believers in Christ do not need to fear the devil or his demonic forces, because as children of God we have the Holy Spirit living in us, and as 1 John 4:4 tells us, “…the Spirit who lives in you is greater than the spirit who lives in the world [the devil].” 

Three daily steps we should take to walk under the authority of Jesus in the process of our ongoing sanctification are:

1. Submit to God, first thing every day (James 4:7-8)
2. Close any open doors (areas of sin) that give the devil a foothold in your life, i.e., unrepented sin, willful disobedience, unforgiveness, anger.  (2 Corinthians 2:10-11; Ephesians 4:26-27)
3. Confront the enemy.  (2 Corinthians 10:3-5)

Prayerfully consider the following, journaling your thoughts and responses.  Share with a brother or sister in Christ one on one, or at a small group meeting.

Application/Questions/Journal your thoughts

• When you hear the term “spiritual warfare,” what immediately comes to mind?  Does imagery of Hollywood movies come first, or does the instruction and description of spiritual warfare from the Bible?  Perhaps teaching from a church that the supernatural aspects of the Bible (spiritual attacks from the devil/demons, spiritual gifts or even miracles from God) ceased after the first generation of Christians.  The Western world has been programmed to not believe in a real devil, which would be a great strategy for any enemy to use, wouldn’t it?  A highly recommended scholarly resource that discusses worldviews and places emphasis on allowing the Bible to say what it says without filtering through a modern, Western worldview is the late Dr. Michael Heiser's The Unseen Realm.
• In 2 Corinthians 10:3-5 Paul explains that the weapons of (spiritual) warfare aren’t worldly; this means spiritual warfare is engaged on a spiritual level.  We don’t hold crosses in our hand or toss holy water at a demon like the movies would have us think, instead we battle the thoughts in our or other’s minds (2 Corinthians 10:5) and stay strong in God’s might putting on and using the whole spiritual armor He’s given us (Ephesians 6:10-18).  Read Ephesians 6:10-18.  What must we do to wear the armor of God that Paul describes?  Which portions of the armor are defensive, and which are offensive weapons? 

Scripture of the week

1 John 4:4 (NASB 2020) ^4:4 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. ^[4]

1 John 5:18 (NASB 2020) ^5:18 We know that no one who has been born of God sins; but He who was born of God keeps him, and the evil one does not touch him. ^[5]

2 Thessalonians 3:3 (NASB 2020) ^3:3 But the Lord is faithful, and He will strengthen and protect you from the evil one. ^[6]

John 10:28–29 (NASB 2020) ^10:28 and I give them eternal life, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand. ^10:29 My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. ^[7]

Weekly prayer

Dear Jesus,

Thank You for the victory over the enemy You purchased for me by Your sacrifice on the cross!  Thank You for Your Word’s instruction in not only the reality that I have a real enemy, but also that You’ve won the war for me.  Holy Spirit, please reveal to me any area of spiritual ignorance that I have due to the world’s influence in my life and lead me into all truth.  May I walk by Your Spirit, and daily keep the armor You’ve given me on, ready for every battle!   Amen.

Freedom Facet

The supernatural realm is real, and the spiritual warfare that comes from it is too.  The devil works overtime to convince us that he is only a myth.  The Word, Jesus Himself, informs us of this reality, which is why we must embrace and believe what the Word says even if we don’t understand it.  Wearing the spiritual armor of God described in Ephesians 6:10-18 is critical to “… be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.”

Jesus's Freedom is for those who call Him Lord - those who believe in Him. If you’ve not yet accepted Christ Jesus as Your Lord, and would like to, say the following prayer aloud.

Lord Jesus, I confess and realize that I am a sinner, and without You, I am lost and separated from God.  Thank You for going to the cross and dying for my sins – I ask for Your forgiveness for my sins, and I thank you and receive the forgiveness of my sins Your Word says is now mine!  Holy Spirit, I thank You that You now reside within me.  I lay down my will for Yours and ask for Your daily guidance and direction to make me more and more like You.  Amen!

The Bible tells us that if we confess Jesus as Lord with our mouth and believe in our hearts that God resurrected Jesus from the dead, we are saved for eternity.  If you’ve just accepted Jesus as Lord, know that heaven is celebrating right now (Luke 15:10)!  Rejoice because you are a new creation in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17), and now have begun the process of sanctification becoming like Him. Keep coming back, as we explore Freedom facets and what our Identity in Christ truly is. Share this joyous news with a brother or sister in Christ and get connected in your local church!  LIFE is yours!

Small Group Invitations - Week of September 27, 2026

Below are invitations to just a couple of Men's Small Groups that are happening this week, both a part of Celebration Church, Georgetown, Texas. If these don't work for you, or if you're not a Celebration Church, TX attendee - regardless of the church you attend - being a part of small group is immensely important! If you're not involved in one, I pray that you find one that works for your schedule and you get plugged in. Being connected in the local church will bless you immeasurably! Also - with the fall semester starting, many churches are offering Freedom small group classes. If one is available near you, I pray you plug in to it - the Freedom Small Groups are life changing!

Tuesday Morning Men's Fellowship Group: 6am - 7am at Rudy's BBQ in Round Rock, Texas. Join us for a time of fellowship where we'll discuss the message from the Pastors on Sunday, the newsletter contents, or whatever is going on in the lives of the brothers meeting.

Friday Morning Celebration Men: We're back at the Georgetown Campus Annex - Join us at 6:30 am at for fellowship, a message from one of our pastors, and a discussion about God's Word. We'll conclude at 8am so people can get to work.

^[1] Freedom Church of the Highlands, Birmingham, AL; Freedom – Celebration Church, Georgetown, TX

^[2]  Gallup Polls

^[3] Kurian, George Thomas. 2001. In Nelson’s New Christian Dictionary: The Authoritative Resource on the Christian World. Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers.

^[4]  New American Standard Bible. 2020. La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.

^[5]  New American Standard Bible. 2020. La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.

^[6]  New American Standard Bible. 2020. La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.

^[7]  New American Standard Bible. 2020. La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.