Spiritual Warfare: The World, The Flesh, The Devil
Have you ever noticed something that was right in front of you all along, but you never saw it before?
Years ago at youth camp, a speaker showed us the FedEx logo and asked, "How many of you have ever noticed the arrow in the FedEx logo?" I stared at it, confused. Then he highlighted it—the arrow hidden between the E and the x—and suddenly I couldn't unsee it. Now, every time I pass a FedEx truck, that arrow is the first thing I notice.
Sometimes these discoveries are just fun. But other times, they reveal dangers we've been walking past without realizing it. There's an invisible spiritual warfare happening all around us that we may not even be aware of—forces looking to cause destruction and harm in our lives.
Understanding Spiritual Warfare
The apostle Paul warns us in Ephesians 6:12:
"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."
When we dive into Scripture and examine spiritual warfare, we see three main forces at work: the Devil, the World, and the Flesh. Paul references all three in Ephesians 2:1-3, describing how we "followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air" while "gratifying the cravings of our flesh."
Let's examine each enemy in this spiritual warfare so we can recognize and resist them.
The Devil: Understanding Our Adversary in Spiritual Warfare
Who Is Satan?
In the New Testament, Satan appears over 35 times under various names: the tempter, ruler of demons, the evil one, father of lies, a murderer, ruler of this world, angel of light, an adversary, a deceiver, and an accuser. These names reveal his character and tactics in spiritual warfare.
According to Ezekiel 28, Satan was originally a guardian cherub of unparalleled wisdom and beauty. But his heart became proud, and he wanted to be like God. God banished him from heaven, and he became the adversary of God—the chief enemy in our spiritual warfare.
Satan's Power and Limitations
As a created being, Satan is not omnipresent, omniscient, or omnipotent. He has real limitations in this spiritual warfare. However, we shouldn't overlook his influence. Jesus warned in John 10:10 that "the thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy." Peter adds: "Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour" (1 Peter 5:8-9).
Satan actively works to cause destruction and rob us of the abundant life Christ offers. For unbelievers, Paul says in 2 Corinthians 4:4 that "the god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel."
But here's the good news: Jesus is greater than Satan and can break through the darkness.
The World: Satan's System in Spiritual Warfare
What "The World" Means
In Scripture, "the world" (Greek: cosmos) can refer to God's creation or the people in it. But it also describes an orderly system that functions apart from God. First John 2:16 explains: "For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world."
Jesus himself called Satan "the ruler of this world" (John 12:31, 14:30, 16:11). This is a crucial aspect of spiritual warfare: Satan operates through worldly systems.
Author John Mark Comer defines the world as "a system of ideas, values, morals, practices, and social norms that are integrated into the mainstream and eventually institutionalized in a culture corrupted by the twin sins of rebellion against God and the redefinition of good and evil."
The Attractive Deception
Satan makes his system seem attractive. Consider the "American Dream": life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness through wealth, fame, and power. It sounds good and feels right.
But God didn't design us to be "self-made." He didn't create us to find happiness in wealth, fame, or power. Those who "achieve the American dream" often discover they still aren't truly happy.
God alone is our life and joy. Satan knows this, so he creates systems that point us away from God and the life found only in Him. This spiritual warfare manifests through politics, cultural values, and countless other areas designed to keep us from God.
The Flesh: Living Independently of God
Paul said in Ephesians 2:3: "All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts."
What Is "The Flesh"?
In spiritual warfare, the flesh represents living independently of God, relying on our own power and strength. Before becoming Christians, it's all we have. Romans 7:5 explains: "When we were in the realm of the flesh, the sinful passions aroused by the law were at work in us, so that we bore fruit for death."
Before Christ, we're spiritually dead (Ephesians 2:1), unable to draw on Jesus as our Source. We try finding life through controlling, manipulating, winning, achieving morality on our own—all expressions of the flesh in spiritual warfare.
Victory in Spiritual Warfare
If you've put your faith in Jesus, you're in a radically different position in this spiritual warfare. Romans 6:6-7 declares: "We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin."
Your old self died. Ephesians 2:4 announces, "But God...made us alive with Christ!" And Colossians 1:13 adds: "He has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves."
When Jesus gives you a new nature, He snatches you from Satan's hands. You're free from enslavement to sin and Satan's worldly system. This is the gospel—the good news of Jesus and what He's accomplished in spiritual warfare on our behalf.
The Ongoing Battle
Here's the reality of spiritual warfare: Satan knows he's lost you to Jesus. But he doesn't want you experiencing all you have in Christ.
He'll still work to deceive you, whisper lies, convince you the world's ways are right, and tempt you to find life apart from Jesus. When you fall into sin, he'll pile on guilt and shame, trying to isolate you.
Even though we have victory in spiritual warfare, we must stay aware of his tactics and recognize when he's at work.
Finding Balance in Spiritual Warfare
C.S. Lewis wrote: "There are two equal and opposite errors into which our race can fall about the devils. One is to disbelieve in their existence. The other is to believe and to feel an excessive and unhealthy interest in them."
We shouldn't ignore Satan's existence or obsess over him. Both extremes represent victories for him in spiritual warfare.
My hope is that you'll recognize spiritual warfare activity in your life without becoming consumed by it. Peter says to "be alert," but we're repeatedly told to fix our eyes on Jesus.
Hebrews 12:2 reminds us: "Let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith."
Colossians 3:1-2 adds: "Set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things."
Your Next Step
For believers, this is our call in spiritual warfare: stay alert but keep your eyes fixed on Jesus.
For those who haven't said yes to Jesus: Satan wants to keep you from knowing Him, but Jesus loves you so much that He died for your sin. He came to rescue you from sin, Satan, and this fallen world.
If you'll turn to Him and place your faith in Him as your Lord and Savior, He will forgive you, give you a new heart, and bring you into His Kingdom of light. Then you'll experience real freedom, real joy, and real abundant life.
Understanding spiritual warfare—the world, the flesh, and the devil—is the first step toward victory. Will you take that step today?
