I keep running into Christians who do not take spiritual warfare seriously. Their position is that since the devil has been defeated he has no real power to come against believers. The notion of demonic attack and, especially, the demonization of a believer sound hyper-charasmatic, unsophisticated, antiquated, and even superstitious to them. They tend to relegate all demonic activity to the first century in the same way that cessationists confine the miraculous works of the church to the “age of the apostles.”

It is true that scripture tells us that Jesus triumphed over Satan, judged him, and rendered him powerless. We have to understand those statements, however, in the context of all of God’s word. Look at the following passages that were all written after the resurrection and the announced defeat of Satan and see what you sense about Satan’s activities in the life of believers and his threat to their welfare.

 Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Ephesians 6:11

For we wanted to come to you—certainly I, Paul, did, again and again—but Satan stopped us. 1 Thessalonians 2:18

Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings. 1 Peter 5:8-9

Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days. Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life. Revelation 2:10

However we understand the triumph of Christ over Satan that rendered him powerless, it clearly does not rule out Satan’s ability to wage war against the saints. We are told clearly that we still have a struggle and that struggle is against rulers, authorities, and powers in this dark world and in the heavenly realms. That phrase doesn’t sound as if the dominion of darkness has been totally stripped of all power and authority. It is such a struggle that we must put on spiritual armor and learn to use divine weapons in order to take our stand. We are instructed to be self-controlled and alert because the devil still prowls around looking to devour those who apparently lack self-control and are oblivious to Satan’s activities. Paul also lets us know that Satan can block the plans of Christians and, perhaps, the will of God on this planet. Paul complained that Satan had prevented him from visiting the church at Thessalonica on multiple occasions. Finally, we are told that Satan can launch persecution, imprisonment, and even martyrdom against God’s people.

These verses are written to believers not unbelievers. The warnings are issued to the saints, not to those outside of Christ. Spiritual warfare then is a very real component of the Christian life and must be taken seriously. We are not to be afraid or paranoid but we are to be cautious and wise about Satan’s strategies. The resurrection cancelled Satan’s claim on our eternal souls. It cancelled the power of the law in our lives that brought condemnation. It rendered Satan powerless in terms of his dominion over those who are in Christ and his claim on us but has not taken away his ability to wage war.

Notice that these attacks are from external sources. Jesus promised that all those who were righteous would experience persecution, so external attacks from people who are being directed by Satan are normal in the lives of those who serve Jesus. Temptations from demons who are outside of us and just dropping by to see what can be accomplished are normal as well. We see that dynamic when Satan showed up to tempt Jesus after forty days in the wilderness. Satan tempted Jesus with ungodly promises and taunts three times, but after Jesus resisted him he left with the intention of returning later and trying again at a more opportune time.

However, Satan not only wants to attack God’s people from the outside but would love to get on the inside as well. That is why we are warned, “In your anger do not sin: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold” (Eph. 4:26-27). Here the warning is not to leave your anger, resentment, and bitterness unattended. To remain in a state of unforgiveness gives the enemy the opportunity to gain a foothold or a place or some standing in our lives. This happens not because the victory of Jesus has failed but because we willingly opened the door and invited the enemy inside by some prolonged disobedience to the commands of God.

Many other verses warn us to be aware of Satan’s schemes and traps so that we don’t give him some legal right to assign demons to us on a permanent basis. When crazy relatives drop by for a few days, we can bear that and still be on our best behavior. But if they move in, after a while their actions and attitudes will wear us down, rob us of our peace, and maybe cause us to act out in ungodly ways. When demons gain a permanent assignment through our actions they can have the same effect. A friend of mine who had years of experience in deliverance ministry used to say, “It’s one thing to wake up in the middle of the night to discover that someone is trying to get into your house. It is another thing to wake up and realize that someone is already in your house.” We want to keep the enemy out by refusing to give him even a foot in the door. Of course, even when the enemy has gained entrance, he can be still dislodged by our repentance and the authority of Christ. But it is best not to go down that road at all.

Ultimately, scripture is very clear that spiritual warfare is the condition of every Christian life whether we know it or not. We are most vulnerable if we are not sensitive to the attacks of Satan and write them off as simply the normal bumps and bruises of life. That is like an individual who does not know that cancer has assaulted his or her body and thinks the accumulating symptoms are simply normal signs of wear and tear on the body. Catching the assault early is immensely better than discovering if after is has a foothold in your entire body. Preventing it in the first place is even better. Every Christian then should be equipped for spiritual warfare and equipped in the use of divine weapons by which we wage war in the heavenly realms. Those who do not receive that instruction are most vulnerable and even helpless in the face of the enemy.   So, to every believer…be wise, be equipped, and be victorious.