Victory in Spiritual Warfare

As we go about our day-to-day lives, it’s easy to forget that, as Christians, we are actively engaged in a spiritual battle. In fact, even those who do not yet believe are caught in this battle—they just don’t realize it. When it comes to spiritual warfare, there is no such thing as sitting on the sidelines. Scripture calls us to be watchful and to stand firm in the victory that Christ has already won for us.

This week, let’s take a closer look at who our true enemy is and how we can live with confidence in Christ’s triumph.

Satan is often misrepresented in culture—either as a comical figure or as an all-powerful force of darkness—but neither depiction aligns with what Scripture reveals. He is not God’s equal; he is a created being, and unlike God, he is neither omniscient, omnipotent, nor omnipresent. He does not have all power, he does not know everything, and he cannot be everywhere at once. Instead, Scripture describes him as a deceiver, disruptor, and accuser—a master of distortion who manipulates truth to lead people away from God.

From the very beginning, in the Garden of Eden, Satan deceived Eve by twisting God’s words, planting doubt in her heart: “Did God really say…?” (Genesis 3:1). His deception led to the fall, separating humanity from God. He used the same strategy against Jesus in the wilderness, twisting Scripture to tempt Him away from His mission (Matthew 4:1-11). He blinds people to the truth (2 Corinthians 4:4), disguises himself as an angel of light (2 Corinthians 11:14), and falsely accuses believers before God, just as he did with Job (Job 1:9-11).

His goal remains the same: to distort God’s truth, instill doubt, and burden believers with guilt and shame. But his power is limited, and his defeat is certain. As Colossians 2:15 declares:

“And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.”

The cross was not a moment of defeat—it was Christ’s ultimate victory over sin, death, and the devil.

One of Satan’s primary tactics is to attack our identity and distract us from God. He whispers lies into our hearts, convincing us that we are unworthy, unloved, or defined by our past mistakes. Sometimes, these lies come from within—self-doubt, shame, and the narratives we tell ourselves. Other times, they come from external sources—words spoken over us that we begin to believe.

Satan’s foothold in our lives is sin. However, only our sin—not Satan—can condemn us. He does not have the power to send us to hell; our sin does that. This is why spiritual warfare is a battle against sin. As Romans 7:17-20, 24-25 reminds us:

“For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing… Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!”

One of the clearest examples of spiritual warfare in Scripture is the account of the demon-possessed man in Mark 5:1-13. This man was tormented, living among the tombs, completely out of control—until Jesus arrived. The demons, recognizing Jesus’ authority, pleaded with Him. Jesus cast them out, restoring the man to his right mind.

This story is a powerful reflection of our own battles. While we may not be possessed by a legion of demons, each of us faces an internal war. Romans 7 captures this struggle perfectly. Like the man in Mark 5, we cannot defeat our own sin—our only hope is Jesus. His power alone sets us free.

Even Paul, often seen as a spiritual giant, wrestled deeply with sin. He wasn’t closer to Jesus because of his righteousness; he was aware of his sin because of his closeness to Jesus. The more we walk with Christ, the more we recognize our need for Him.

Satan’s lies are most effective when we are distracted from God’s truth. That’s why Ephesians 6:10-18 calls us to put on the full armor of God, equipping us to stand against the enemy’s attacks:

• The Belt of Truth – Grounding ourselves in Scripture to combat lies.
• The Breastplate of Righteousness – Trusting in Christ’s righteousness, not our own.
• The Shield of Faith – Deflecting the enemy’s accusations with God’s promises.
• The Sword of the Spirit – Using God’s Word to fight against deception.

We do not fight alone. Confession, forgiveness, and Christian community help us wage this war. Martin Luther understood this well—when accused by Satan, he didn’t try to defend himself. Instead, he added to the list of accusations, then wrote over them in red: “Covered in the blood of Christ.”

Spiritual warfare is not about fear—it’s about faith in Christ’s finished work. Are you honestly sharing your struggles with someone? Do you have a dead-to-life testimony of how Jesus set you free? True victory comes not from fighting harder but from surrendering to Christ’s power.

Posture yourself in awareness—not awe or fear—of Satan. We stand firm, not in our own strength, but in Christ’s victory. Let us press on, rejecting the enemy’s lies, walking in truth, and standing firm in the righteousness that is ours through Jesus alone.

Spiritual warfare isn’t a journey you need to face alone. There are ways to connect, grow, and be supported in your faith as you stand firm in Christ.

CG Cares
At Christ Greenfield, we’re here to equip and encourage you as you face life’s battles. Our CG Cares resources are designed to help you stand firm in your faith and find strength through God’s power.

Small Groups for Community
Victory in spiritual battles comes through connection and unity. Join a small group where you can share your experiences, find encouragement, and build relationships rooted in prayer and God’s Word.

Prayer Request:
Facing spiritual battles? Let us pray with you. Submit your prayer request below, and our team will lift your needs to God