We have spent these days looking at the finished work of the cross and the victory that is already ours in Christ Jesus. Today we close the series by answering real questions that many believers ask about spiritual warfare and how to live in that victory day by day. The New Testament does not leave us in confusion. It gives us clear, practical truth so we can stand fast in the liberty Christ has purchased.
Discerning the Source of the Struggle
As it is written in James 4:7, “Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.”
People often ask how they can tell if a struggle is spiritual warfare, their own flesh, or simply their own thoughts. The honest answer is that these things rarely operate independently. It is usually a mixture of all three. Satan works through the mind, dropping suggestions that feel like our own thoughts. The flesh has legitimate appetites and desires that can pull us in the wrong direction if left unchecked. Our job is not to spend endless time analyzing the exact source. Our job is to respond biblically to all of it.
I take authority over the enemy in the name of Jesus. I speak the Word: “It is written.” At the same time I take charge of my flesh. I do not shout at my body or treat it as an enemy. I simply acknowledge its desires and tell it who is in charge. Just as I would never let my fifteen-year-old son run our household, I do not let my flesh dictate my decisions. I decide for my body, not the other way around. This is practical daily discipleship. Stand in the victory of Jesus and refuse to be moved.
Why Attacks Come After Progress
As it is written in Mark 4:17, “and they have no root in themselves, and so endure only for a time. Afterward, when tribulation or persecution arises for the word’s sake, immediately they stumble.”
Another common question is why attacks seem to come right after prayer, breakthrough, or fresh revelation. Jesus explained this in the parable of the sower. When the Word is sown, Satan immediately comes to steal it. He does not attack you because of who you are in the natural. He attacks for the Word’s sake. The moment you begin to lay hold of truth, he moves to distract, discourage, or cause you to let go.
If you have experienced a season of blessing followed by sudden pressure, nothing has gone wrong. Something has gone right. The enemy is not stronger than you thought. He is simply threatened by the Word taking root in your life. The answer is not to shrink back or hide until it passes. The answer is to grab hold of God’s Word tighter than ever. This is the time for bulldog faith. Refuse to release what God has spoken. Stand on it. Speak it. Believe it. The attack is proof that the seed is alive.
Responding to Human and Satanic Opposition
As it is written in Romans 12:18, “If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men.”
How do we tell the difference between attacks that come through people and attacks that are satanic? I learned years ago a simple, helpful distinction. When people attack or wound us, we move into grace. When Satan attacks, we move into authority. Mixing these up causes endless trouble. We often try to use authority on people and grace on the devil. That never works.
When people hurt us, it becomes an opportunity to grow in grace and forgiveness. When the enemy comes against us, our family, or those we love, we take authority in the name of Jesus and drive him off our territory. We do not ask for grace for the devil. We resist him. We submit to God first, then stand in the authority that belongs to us in Christ.
A Healthy View of the Enemy
As it is written in 1 Peter 5:8, “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.”
Someone asked if it is wrong to be afraid of Satan. I do not believe God wants us living in fear of him. At the same time, we should not treat him lightly. He is a defeated foe, yet he still kills, steals, and destroys. I have a healthy respect for what he can do in the lives of people who do not know their authority in Christ, just as I have a healthy respect for a loaded gun. I do not juggle it or play with it, but I am not terrified of it either. It sits in my drawer for weeks and I rarely think about it.
Satan is under our feet. He is afraid of the Word of God coming out of our mouths. He is afraid of a believer who knows who he is in Christ. We do not need to fear him. We need to respect the damage he can do and refuse to give him any place. We are the head and he is not.
The True Purpose and Power of Fasting
As it is written in Matthew 17:21, “However, this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting.”
A final question concerns the role of fasting in spiritual warfare. Many have been taught that fasting gives us more authority over Satan or forces God to act. I believe that is a misunderstanding of the passage. Jesus told the disciples they could not cast out the demon because of unbelief. Then He said this kind of unbelief goes out by prayer and fasting.
Fasting does not give us more authority. Jesus has already given us all authority in heaven and on earth. We cannot earn more. Fasting changes us. It helps us deal with unbelief, doubt, and fear. When we set aside food and replace it with prayer and time in the Word, we strengthen our spirit man and put the flesh under. We declare war on unbelief. We position ourselves to receive and walk in what is already ours in Christ.
Fasting is powerful, but it is not a tool to twist God’s arm or purchase greater power. It is a discipline of grace that helps us believe what God has already said.
Living in the Victory Every Day
I believe the New Testament calls us to a balanced, biblical view. Satan is real. The battle is real. Yet the victory is more real. We do not fight for victory. We stand in victory. We resist the devil by submitting to God and speaking the Word. We renew our minds. We keep our flesh under control. We walk in grace toward people and in authority toward the enemy. When attacks come, we hold tighter to the promises of God.
You already have everything you need in Christ Jesus. Learn to live from that reality. Stand fast. Speak the truth. Refuse to be moved. This is the normal Christian life.
Selah.
Scriptures for Study
James 4:7, Mark 4:13-20, Ephesians 6:10-18, 2 Corinthians 10:3-5, 1 Peter 5:8-9, Romans 12:18-21, Colossians 2:15, Luke 10:19, Matthew 28:18-20, Romans 8:37, 1 John 4:4, 1 John 5:4-5, Galatians 5:16-25, Romans 6:11-14, Ephesians 2:6, Philippians 4:8, 2 Corinthians 2:14, Hebrews 2:14-15, Romans 16:20, Matthew 17:14-21, Isaiah 58:6-7, Joel 2:12-13, Acts 13:2-3, 1 Corinthians 9:27, 2 Timothy 2:3-4
10 Questions for Reflection
- In my current struggles, how can I respond with both resistance to the enemy and discipline over my flesh?
- When attacks come after spiritual progress, am I holding tighter to the Word or letting go?
- Where am I mixing up grace and authority in my relationships with people and the enemy?
- Do I carry a healthy respect for the enemy without living in fear of him?
- What unbelief might the Lord be dealing with in my heart right now?
- How can I better distinguish between my own thoughts and the enemy’s suggestions?
- In what practical ways can I take charge of my flesh this week?
- When persecution arises for the Word’s sake, what is my first response?
- How regularly am I using fasting as a tool to strengthen faith and overcome unbelief?
- Am I living more from the finished work of the cross or still trying to earn victory?
