We can never understand spiritual warfare without anchoring our souls in the absolute supremacy of Jesus Christ. Where pride and disobedience ruled the enemy, Jesus came in humility and obedience—clothed in human flesh, the very "earth-suit" of dust—and humbled Himself even to the death of the cross. Therefore God has highly exalted Him and given Him the name above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee must bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord (Philippians 2:6-11).
In Ephesians 1:20-23, Scripture declares that God raised Christ from the dead and "seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked." Notice the tense: God has ALREADY seated Christ far above every principality, power, and demonic force. We are not waiting for a future day to see whether Christ will win. When He ascended on high, "He led captivity captive"—He took captive those who had captured us (Ephesians 4:8; Matthew 27:52-53). Spiritual warfare is a DONE DEAL, accomplished over two thousand years ago through the blood of JESUS CHRIST on the cross.
What, then, is spiritual warfare for the Christian? Spiritual warfare is NOT stepping into the ring in our own strength to fight for a new victory; apart from Christ and the power of His Spirit, we are no match for the enemy. Rather, spiritual warfare is CLAIMING AND ENFORCING THE VICTORY that Christ has already won through His finished work!
Together with our victory, God gave us a Constitution—His written Word—and commissioned us as spiritual law-enforcement officers to enforce that triumph in prayer and obedience. When Jesus faced Satan face-to-face after forty days of fasting in the wilderness (Matthew 4:1-11), He did not use carnal weapons. Having spent thirty years immersing Himself in the Scriptures, Jesus defeated every temptation with three words from the Constitution: "It is written! It is written! It is written!"
That is why a believer can watch entertainment for hours wide awake, yet the moment he opens the Bible, spiritual drowsiness tries to close his eyelids—because the enemy knows that once you discover your legal inheritance in the Word (1 Corinthians 2:12), your captivity ends! Like a young heir begging on the streets while a wicked uncle hides the key to his father's millions, believers suffer when they remain ignorant of what God has freely given them in Christ.
True victory also transforms our perspective on trials. Paul wrote many of his epistles from prison, yet rejoiced in triumph because the saints overcome "by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death" (Revelation 12:11).
At the same time, spiritual maturity requires practical personal responsibility. Not every hardship is a demon! If we drive recklessly, neglect our health, or refuse medical checkups and wise lifestyle habits, we cannot simply blame the devil. We must exercise practical wisdom with our bodies, families, and work, while bringing our bodies under discipline to read the Word, gather in corporate worship, and tarry in fervent prayer—standing firm in the finished work of Christ, "not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit, says the Lord" (Zechariah 4:6).
That brings the message to its practical commission:
Christ has already won the triumph; our responsibility is to know His Word, enforce
His victory, and walk by His Spirit.
"Who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow... and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."
"He raised Christ from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. And God placed all things under His feet and appointed Him to be head over everything for the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills everything in every way."
"Therefore He says: 'When He ascended on high, He led captivity captive, and gave gifts to men.'" / "When He went to the highest place, He took captive those who had captured us and gave gifts to people."
"And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised; and coming out of the graves after His resurrection, they went into the holy city and appeared to many."
"But He answered and said, 'It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.' ... 'It is written again, You shall not tempt the LORD your God.' ... 'Away with you, Satan! For it is written, You shall worship the LORD your God, and Him only you shall serve.'"
"Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God."
"And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death."
Matthew 11:28 - "Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I
will give you rest."
Zechariah 4:6 - "Not by might, nor by power, but by
my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts."
Spiritual warfare is not fighting in human strength for an uncertain outcome.
It is claiming and enforcing the finished victory of Jesus Christ through His written
Word and Holy Spirit.
Know your inheritance in Scripture, walk in practical wisdom, and stand firm in the Lord.