Spiritual Warfare


Introduction

Spiritual warfare is the Christian’s lifelong battle against the world, the flesh, and the devil. Richard Baxter warns that Satan is a subtle enemy, seeking to devour souls not only through gross sins but through discouragement, distraction, and deceit. To deny the reality of this conflict is to live unarmed. Baxter describes the believer’s life as a constant watch, a soldier’s station under Christ our Captain. Yet he also stresses that the devil’s power is limited: he can tempt, but he cannot compel. Christ has conquered him at the cross, and in the strength of that victory believers are called to resist steadfast in the faith.


Scripture Focus

“Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.” (Ephesians 6:11, KJV)
“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: whom resist stedfast in the faith.” (1 Peter 5:8–9, KJV)
“For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds.” (2 Corinthians 10:4, KJV)


List of Relevant Scriptures

  • Genesis 3:1–6 – Satan’s first deceit in Eden.
  • Job 1:6–12 – Satan’s accusations and God’s sovereign limits.
  • Zechariah 3:1–2 – The Lord rebukes Satan.
  • Matthew 4:1–11 – Christ’s victory over Satan in the wilderness.
  • John 8:44 – The devil is a liar and murderer from the beginning.
  • 2 Corinthians 2:11 – We are not ignorant of his devices.
  • James 4:7 – Resist the devil, and he will flee.
  • Revelation 12:10–11 – Believers overcome by the blood of the Lamb.


Overview of the Biblical Teaching on This Issue

The Bible presents the Christian life as warfare under Christ’s banner. Our enemies are not merely human but spiritual: “principalities and powers” and “spiritual wickedness in high places.” Yet Christ has already triumphed over them, making an open show at the cross. Believers are therefore called to vigilance, prayer, and the use of the whole armour of God — truth, righteousness, the gospel of peace, faith, salvation, the Word, and prayer. The Christian’s warfare is defensive (standing against the devil’s wiles) and offensive (casting down strongholds by God’s truth). Victory is not in our strength but in Christ, who supplies grace for the fight.


Pastoral Guidance

Baxter’s Counsel:

  • Recognise the enemy’s devices: Baxter warned that Satan tempts not only to open sin but to extremes — to presumption on one side or despair on the other. We must learn to discern his “wiles,” which are often cloaked in half-truths.
  • Stand watchfully: He urges constant vigilance: “He that standeth careless in the midst of enemies, is likeliest to be surprised and wounded.” Watch over your thoughts, affections, company, and occasions of sin.
  • Fight with the armour of God: Baxter draws from Ephesians 6, insisting that the Christian must be armed with truth to counter lies, righteousness to withstand accusation, faith to quench fiery darts, and prayer to draw strength from heaven.
  • Depend on Christ’s victory: “We overcome not by disputing with Satan, but by flying to our victorious Head.” Resist not in your own strength but by pleading the blood of Christ and trusting His intercession.
  • Use fellowship as defence: Baxter urges believers not to fight alone. God has given His people the church as a band of soldiers, to encourage one another and bear each other’s burdens in the fight.
  • Take comfort in God’s sovereignty: Satan is on a chain. He may rage, but he is restrained. Afflictions he brings can serve for the believer’s good, driving us closer to Christ and loosening our grip on the world.


Further Reading

  • Richard Baxter, A Christian Directory, Part I, ch. viii (“Directions against Sinful Thoughts and Temptations”) and Part IV, ch. ix (“Directions against Wrath, Malice, and Revenge” — on resisting Satan’s work).
  • William Gurnall, The Christian in Complete Armour.
  • John Owen, Of Temptation and The Mortification of Sin.
  • Thomas Brooks, Precious Remedies against Satan’s Devices.
  • John Bunyan, The Holy War.