"Spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms."

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 6:12 ESV)

A 2013 study showed that 57% of Americans believed that Satan is real. That is a median number, meaning there is almost an even split between believers and non-believers. The remaining either do not think he exists or could go either way. The Gospel Coalition dug a little deeper, and born-again Christians hold the highest belief in the existence of Satan. [1]

Paul warned us of the ongoing spiritual war that exists in our world. This war is far greater and more deeply intrusive than many believe. Many believe that Satan attempts to move us when we are weak, have sinned, or some other thing is at play in our lives. This is far from the truth. The spiritual war against Christians never stops, regardless of where we are spiritually. In fact, those deep in the Lord's service are often targeted with great intensity.

Satan is not alone in his efforts. He has millions of imps and demons at his disposal. Remember, one-third of the angels who followed Lucifer’s rebellion were cast out of heaven with him. These demons control false teachers, and those who do evil works.

I have personally faced evil in a person; it was a very soul-shaking experience. I was unprepared for such a confrontation, so I am telling you we all must be prepared to face evil. It took me over a week to come to terms with what I had experienced, and only prayer and the Holy Spirit helped me to overcome the effects.

Imagine an invisible curtain that shields us from the spiritual war. Much happens behind the curtain, but sometimes, the war spills out in front of us.  This is why in Ephesians 6, Paul wrote, “Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12 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. 13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.”(11-17)

Paul knew, as should we, that we cannot win a spiritual war against Satan and his demons on our own; only God can save us from this war. So, when we rely on the Lord, we are able to stand firm against every attack, every temptation, and every intricately planned attempt to pull us away from Christ. This reliance on God is our source of strength and comfort in the midst of spiritual warfare.

As this is a spiritual war, these attacks are not only physical but also spiritual. When we feel spiritually “flat,” a term used to describe a lack of spiritual energy or enthusiasm, overwhelmed by obligation, or obsessed with a new hobby or association that detracts our attention from God, these subtle but planned attacks can be devastating.

A gap in our prayer life can be an open door to the enemy. Many who have experienced this will tell you that the spiritual attack was resolved when their prayer life returned, and their relationship with God was consistent. This underscores the power of a strong prayer life in equipping us to face spiritual warfare.

Job is a perfect example of spiritual war for two reasons. First, it shows that Satan is subordinate to God, who actually will control the depth of the attack. In Job, Satan wants to attack Job physically, “Skin for skin!” Satan replied. “A man will give all he has for his own life. 5 But now stretch out your hand and strike his flesh and bones, and he will surely curse you to your face.” 6 The Lord said to Satan, “Very well, then, he is in your hands; but you must spare his life.”(2:4-10). God would not allow Satan to take Job’s life. Because of God’s faith in Job, Satan was allowed to push Job to his limits, yet Job's faith in God helped him prevail.

The second reason this is a great example is that Job was a righteous man. Heads above many in his town, Job was known for his devotion to God. Spiritual attacks happen to everyone: those who backslide and the righteous. Satan is an equal-opportunity attacker of the saints.

How do we defend ourselves against these attacks? We must be prepared; from my experience, I can tell you this is crucial. A soldier does not go to war with an untested rifle. We must arm ourselves with God's tested, tried, and true word, like Jesus, who repelled Satan’s temptations with scripture during the forty days. We must acknowledge and believe in the existence of the evil one. We must maintain a constant relationship with God through our prayer lives. We cannot defeat Satan; only God has the power to do so. Trust in the Lord as your defender; walk with Him, and His rod and staff will protect you.

If you do not know Christ as your Savior, you are at the disposal of Satan and his minions. Place your faith in Christ and profess Him as your Savior. Your sins will be forgiven, and He will guard you as you walk through an active spiritual war.

Grace and Peace!

[1] Joe Carter, The Gospel Coalition, Survey: Majority of Americans Believe in the Existence of Satan and Demon Possession, https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/survey-majority-of-americans-believe-in-the-existence-of-satan-and-demon-po/, accessed 2/4/2024.