Pre-Shiloh Teachings (Pt. 1) - Deliverance and Spiritual Warfare
What is spiritual warfare?
It is the ongoing and unending contention against unseen forces that are arrayed against mankind, the believer, the local church, and the body of Christ as a whole.
To clarify, spiritual warfare is slightly different from deliverance.
Spiritual warfare is a state of life. You are always in a season of spiritual warfare.
Spiritual battles are triggered when the enemy considers the timing to be opportune or expedient (Luke 4:13). This is when warfare shifts from dormant to overt.
Deliverance becomes necessary when the enemy has gained some ground over us.
We see this emphasized in several scriptures. Ephesians 6:10-13 makes it clear that there is a warfare going on. Luke 10:17-19, Deuteronomy 28:7 (enemies will rise against you whether you're in obedience or disobedience), Psalm 91:3,5, 1 Peter 5:8, and Matthew 16:18 all affirm the same.
These passages remind us that while many scriptures speak of our victory, the Bible never tells us to ignore the enemy. Choosing not to engage doesn’t make you a bigger person—it makes you an unwise person. No matter how much we grow in the things of God, we will never outgrow spiritual warfare.
Consider Jesus: He addressed Satan more than once. He taught that there are things that won’t enter our lives unless a strong man is bound. He engaged in warfare over Peter. Paul also said multiple times that Satan hindered him.
In short, spiritual warfare is a permanent state of being.
A Common Misconception
One of the misconceptions about spiritual warfare is that it started in the Garden of Eden. But according to Genesis 1:28, God commanded man to subdue and have dominion—before the fall of man. There was already spiritual warfare.
Who Is Involved?
We can broadly categorize the human race into two groups:
Unbelievers
Believers—people who have put their faith in Jesus
It’s also a misconception to think that only believers are in spiritual warfare. The enemy’s strategy differs for believers and unbelievers, but from the moment we’re born, we are born into a state of warfare. The question is: to what end?
The Motivations of Satan
To understand spiritual warfare, we must understand the enemy’s motivations. He doesn’t engage us randomly—he is deeply intentional. These are some of the key reasons:
Dominion Conflict
The enemy is obsessed with dominion and being in control, and we also have a dominion mandate over the territory he wants to control (Isaiah 14:12–14). A clear example is the story of Herod and Jesus.Hatred and Anger
He hates us because we are made in the image of God. Our nature opposes his, and on top of that, we have the love of the Father. Simply put, our nature is at odds with the enemy, and God’s love for us fuels that hatred (Revelation 12:12).Legalities
The spiritual realm has laws just like the physical realm. Some are predetermined, while others are situational. Sometimes the enemy has no choice but to engage us at certain levels because spiritual laws have been broken. He is bound by these legalities to inflict judgment where it is due. In some cases, God allows the enemy to serve as the executor of judgment; in others, God judges directly. If legal grounds have been granted to the enemy, and you happen to be someone he already hates, you’ve placed yourself like a lamb to the slaughter.Our Faith and Salvation
If you're a believer, when the enemy is at work around you, what he’s really after is your faith. He wants your faith to wear thin and fail, so that you no longer trust God. But we must declare: My faith shall never fail.The Purpose of God
God has intentional purpose for our lives—our destiny. Anytime His agenda advances, the enemy suffers loss. We are a direct threat to his mission.
When we don’t understand that the enemy is intentional and has multiple motivating factors behind why he engages us in warfare, we underestimate him.
A Strategic Perspective
To truly grasp Satan’s agenda, we need to draw parallels between the covenant people of God and their enemies. This gives us insight into his strategies and means.
For example, in Exodus 1, the Bible tells us that the children of Israel were in Egypt and began to increase and multiply—and we see the enemy becoming threatened by it.
So, we must learn to ask:
Why did this battle come?
Why did this enemy rise against them?
What was the motivation behind the attack?
What strategy did the enemy use?