In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. From the beginning of time and all throughout the old testament and even now, we are presented with the reality that there exists two realms: A physical realm which we live in, and a spiritual realm which we often do not see or are even aware of. The physical realm, earth has an impact on the spiritual realm, heaven, and the spiritual realm has an impact on the physical. All throughout history there has been evidence of these influences. We may use common terms like miracles, supernatural, ghosts, spirits, aliens, otherworldly…but essentially all of these are ways to attempt to explain or label things we don’t understand or cannot fully grasp. The bible has declared throughout its pages that there is a spiritual war that has been waging since before the creation of the world. It started as a rebellion in heaven where Lucifer attempted to elevate himself in pride above the throne of God, but was instead cast out of heaven along with a third of the angels who followed him.  The battle continues in the garden of Eden with mankind, God's greatest creation, caught in the center of it. The tactics of this war are not typical, it is not fought with guns and swords, but with spiritual armor and weapons, which are laid out in Ephesians chapter 6. The tactics of our enemy are lies, deception, cunning and temptation, all wrapped in our fleshly desires and selfish pursuits. The devil comes to steal, kill and destroy any who are his enemy and this mainly are any who are called children of God. You are involved in this spiritual warfare whether you know it or not, or whether you want to be or not. As the famous saying goes, “The only thing needed for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing.” This is true both in the physical realm as well as the spiritual. The good news is that we already know that happens in the end. Lucifer is defeated once and for all and God reigns supreme as He always has. But to those who have been deceived and led astray by Satan, to spend eternity separated from their heavenly father, there is no victory. How many will the Devil pull into hell with him? This is a battle not over ultimate victory, but over casualties… and we play a direct role in this. This is why there is an urgency when it comes to evangelism and building the local church. Jesus Himself even declared that the local church is the greatest hope for a lost and dying world. We, as followers of Christ, are the greatest defense to pull people off the road to eternal separation from God and introduce them to Jesus.

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. Ephesians 6:10-11

But the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen you and protect you from the evil one. 2 Thessalonians 3:3

The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. 2 Corinthians 10:4-5

Be alert and of sober mind. 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 the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings. 1 Peter 5:8-9

No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:37-39

He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. Colossians 1:13-14

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. John 10:10

In this study the weapons and armor of the Christian soldier will be considered with respect to engaging in spiritual warfare. Special attention is given to the reality of the spirit world and the Christian’s response to it. Special emphasis will be put on the theology surrounding the identity and activity of angels and demons (angelology and demonology).

The Invisible War
Chip Ingram

Supernatural
Michael S. Heiser