The spiritual struggle is a constant war of good against evil, of God against Satan. Since it takes place in the spiritual rather than the earthly realm, it is likely easy to ignore it, but the outcome of any battle can have eternal consequences. To carry out the spiritual struggle, it is necessary to understand the nature of the fight, the weapons and defense tools you have at your disposal, and the type of attacks you may receive.
Note: all biblical citations in this article are taken from the CEI 2008 edition of the Bible, available on this site.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Understanding the Struggle
Step 1. Shift the focus to the spiritual realm
As the term suggests, it is a struggle that mostly takes place in the spiritual realm. It can have repercussions in the material world, but if you don't trace a problem back to its transcendental root, you won't be able to fight effectively.
- In Ephesians 6:12, the apostle Paul explains: "For our battle is not against flesh and blood, but against the Principalities and Powers, against the rulers of this dark world, against the spirits of evil who dwell in the celestial regions ". This verse defines the spiritual struggle as a confrontation against powers that are not "made of flesh", that is, against powers that are neither material nor tangible.
- Since the spiritual and material realms are linked, things that happen in the physical world can have spiritual consequences and vice versa. Obedience to God in mortality, for example, strengthens your spirit. Violating God's law in mortality will also weaken the spirit. As James 4: 7 says: "Submit yourselves therefore to God; resist the devil, and he will flee away from you." First you have to submit to God to resist the devil.
Step 2. Trust in the power of God
Only with the power of God can you hope to overcome the enemy. By leaning on His power, you will have to accept the salvation that Christ has offered you. Also, you will need to understand that every victory belongs to God.
- When you condemn the devil, you must do it in Jesus name while relying on God's power over evil. Even the archangel Michael says: "The Lord condemns you!", While fighting with the devil he argued for the body of Moses (Jude 9). If angels must rely on God's name to condemn evil, it is no wonder that Christians too must rely on Christ's name and power to do the same.
- It is also important to understand that simply naming Christ is not enough. You must lean as a Christian on your relationship with Him.
- Acts 19: 13-16 describes the story of the seven sons of Sceva, who used the name of Jesus to cast out evil spirits without having a solid relationship with Christ. One day, an evil spirit reacted and chased them away because they practiced the faith from a wrong perspective: they simply used the name of Jesus, but didn't really know Him.
Step 3. Destroy all thoughts that belong to your pride
You have the power to fight within the great spiritual struggle, but this power is granted to you through Christ. If you begin to take pride in considering this power as your strength, you will need to put pride aside before continuing. During the spiritual struggle, Satan may turn you against the sin that arose from your pride.
- To truly submit to God, you must be humble. You will not be able to submit to the power and will of another if a part of you believes you have equivalent power. If two powers are comparable, it is easy to think that neither of them is stronger than the other.
- You must fully rely on the power of God to fight the spiritual struggle. Let go of any kind of pride about your abilities. As the Bible says, "do not rely on your intelligence; recognize him in all your steps and he will smooth out your paths" (Proverbs 3: 5-6).
Step 4. Demonstrate obedience and self-control
Carrying on the spiritual struggle means obeying God in all circumstances. Often, it is necessary to have tremendous self-control in order to achieve such a level of obedience.
- The apostle Paul instructs believers to "strengthen yourselves in the Lord" (Ephesians 6:10). It is important to note that the term is "in" not "from". It is not enough to rely on the power of God to win spiritual battles, because it is necessary to be in communion with Christ, fighting alongside God in the conflicts that must be faced. Therefore, obedience and self-control are needed.
- You must be obedient to God, follow His commandments, and resist or free yourself from any forces that may be conditioning you to act differently.
- Self-control requires the elimination of any excess. Spiritual balance must be found, resisting the temptation to indulge in evil things or excesses that can lead to spiritual degradation.
Step 5. Stay alert
1 Peter 5: 8 says, "Be sober, stay awake. Your enemy, the devil, goes about like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour." Know that when you least expect it, an offensive can come. In the field of spiritual struggle you must be prepared and continually protect yourself from potential attacks.
- Take the battle seriously. The enemy is always ready to attack, so you too must always be ready to defend yourself.
- When you wake up each morning, take time to prepare yourself spiritually through prayer and meditation. Ask God for his help every day. Here's a good prayer: "God, I can't do this, but you can."
Part 2 of 3: Put on the Armor of God
Step 1. Know what "God's armor" is
Metaphorically speaking, the "armor of God" is the spiritual protection that Christians should always wear to defend themselves from Satan.
- God's armor is described in Ephesians, 6: 10-18.
- The passage reads: "Put on the armor of God to be able to resist the snares of the devil" (Ephesians 6:11). Basically, arming oneself with the protection and weapons that faith in Christ offers allows one to be strong and resist spiritual attacks from evil.
Step 2. Put on the belt of truth
In Ephesians 6:14 it says: "Stand firm, therefore: around the hips, the truth; I wear, the breastplate of righteousness."
- The opposite of truth is a lie, and Satan is often referred to as the "father of the lie". Arming oneself with the "belt of truth" means protecting oneself from the damage of deception, clinging to the truth. In the Bible, Jesus refuted Satan's temptations in the wilderness with truths found in the Holy Scriptures. You can too: quote the scriptures to refute Satan's lies.
- To cling to the truth, you must seek it in all things and tell it to all people, including yourself. Don't be fooled by anything.
Step 3. Put on the breastplate of righteousness
The second part of the Letter to Ephesians 6:14 speaks of the "breastplate of righteousness".
- "Justice" refers to the absolute justice of Christ, not the poor and fallible justice of humanity.
- Through faith, you must rely on Christ's righteousness to protect your heart from spiritual attacks, as if a material armor were protecting your chest during a physical confrontation. If Satan tries to tell you that you are not righteous, quote Romans 3:22: "Righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ, for all who believe."
Step 4. Put on the sandals of the gospel of peace
In Ephesians 6:15 believers are told: "their feet, shod and ready to spread the gospel of peace".
- The "gospel of peace" refers to the gospel or good news of salvation.
- Preparing your feet with the gospel of peace suggests that it is necessary to carry the gospel when traveling into enemy territory. As you continue your journey with this gospel, your soul will be protected at every step. As the Holy Scriptures say, "Seek, first of all, the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you in addition." The words include spiritual protection against Satan.
Step 5. Grab the shield of faith
In Ephesians 6:16 we read the instruction to take "the shield of faith, with which you will be able to quench all the fiery arrows of the Evil One."
It is absolutely essential to have faith when engaged in the spiritual struggle. Like the shield, faith can protect you from the otherwise profound attacks launched by the enemy. When Satan tries to lie about God, remember to trust that God is good and that he has great plans for you
Step 6. Put on the helmet of salvation
In Ephesians 6:17 it says: "Take also the helmet of salvation."
- The salvation reported in this passage refers to the spiritual salvation that Christ offers through his death and resurrection.
- The helmet of salvation can be interpreted as the knowledge of spiritual salvation. Just as a material helmet protects the head, so the helmet of salvation protects the mind from spiritual attacks and false claims that could divert thought from God.
Step 7. Take up the sword of the Spirit
In the second half of the Letter to the Ephesians (6:18) it is said to take "the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God".
- The sword of the Spirit is immediately described in the passage as the Word of God, or the Bible.
- To get the sword of the Spirit, it is necessary to understand the Bible. Knowledge of the Holy Scriptures can be used to refute spiritual attacks. In Hebrews 4:12 it says: "For the word of God is alive, effective, and sharper than any two-edged sword; it pierces to the point where soul and spirit are divided, to the joints and marrow, and discerns the feelings and thoughts of the heart ".
Step 8. Pray in the Spirit
The verses concerning the armor of God end in Ephesians 6:18, which states: "Pray with all manner of prayers and supplications in the Spirit, and to this end watch with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints."
- By choosing these words at the end of the passage on the armor of God, the apostle Paul emphasizes the importance of relying on God to gain spiritual strength through the constant and continuous practice of prayer. The Bible tells us to "pray without ceasing". Continually pray in every situation in your life for God's protection and help.
- The armor of God is a set of tools and defenses that God grants to believers, but it is on the power of God that the believer must ultimately count.
Part 3 of 3: Fighting the Weapons of the Enemy
Step 1. Prepare for offensive and defensive warfare
Offensive warfare requires the believer to tear down the enemy fortresses previously built in his mind. Defensive warfare requires him to protect himself from future attacks.
- An enemy fortress is a lie built inside your mind. It gains strength with deceit and innuendo, and it can make it more difficult for you to resist the power of temptation or to not be fooled by Satan's lies.
- These fortresses become more impregnable when you are alone, so you must actively engage in demolishing them with the spiritual weapons God has granted you. Once they begin to weaken, it will also be easier for you to defend yourself against future attacks.
Step 2. Fight against deception
The enemy uses deception to trick you into believing falsehoods, so that you fall into error and sin.
- A significant example of the deception is the circumstance in which Satan tricked Eve into believing that no harm would happen to her if she ate the forbidden fruit in the Garden of Eden.
- Regarding the armor of God, try to rely on the belt of truth and the sword of the Spirit when you fight against deception: the belt of truth constitutes your defense, while the sword of the Spirit is the weapon with which to fight it..
- In simpler terms, the fight against deception requires understanding the truth. To understand the truth, you will need to have a thorough knowledge of the Holy Scriptures.
Step 3. Fight the temptation
When tempting you, the enemy tries to make evil appear beautiful and captivating, in an effort to seduce you.
- Temptation usually follows deception. For example, Eve was tempted to eat the forbidden fruit after she was tricked into believing that her act would have no negative consequences. An evil deed may seem desirable only if you are led to think that it is good in some way.
- Facing temptation requires you to resist the devil and, at the same time, to draw closer to God. When you put them into practice, both aspects are necessary and, of course, go hand in hand.
- Draw close to God through prayer, Bible study, obedience, and worship. The closer you get to Him, the more you will move away from evil and the less power the temptations will have over you.
Step 4. Face the allegations
The enemy accuses the believer of past sins and guilt, in an attempt to bend him in shame and despair. The Bible defines Satan as "the accuser of the brothers", so he will also try to accuse you. Always remember the verse: "There is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus."
- As for God's armor, one of your best defenses against prosecution is the shield of faith. When the enemy launches an attack on you using your past failures, you need to shield yourself totally by relying on faith in Christ.
- You can also use the breastplate of Christ's righteousness to protect the heart and use the helmet of salvation to defend the mind from attack.
