May 24, 2026

LIFE’S QUESTIONS: IS SPIRITUAL WARFARE REAL?

HOW DO I DEAL WITH IT?

May 24 2026

Senior Pastor Jonathan Falwell

Anytime you have a question about something spiritual, go to the Bible to see what Jesus says about the subject. Today’s sermon is a perfect example. Jesus Himself addressed our constant fight with Satan in passages from the “Lord’s Prayer” to the final days in Revelation. Satan is as real as you or me, and hates humans—made in the image of God—with his entire being. He has significantly more strength, cunning, and evil than we do, plus he has one-third of the angels who left Heaven to do his bidding. The amazing thing is that God is so much more powerful than Satan and has granted us—His children—the power to stand against him, without wavering. In any battle with Satan, God fights on our behalf as long as our eyes are on Him. Memorize the weapons He has given us, in complete trust that He will fight for us. The victory will be God’s! There is nothing we have to fear if we follow the lessons in today’s sermon.

Focal Passages: Ephesians 6:10-18, John 10:10, 2 Cor. 10:3-6.

Know Spiritual Warfare is Real:

  • Read Ephesians 6:12. How many words of Christ do you need before you are convinced that He talked of Satan often, declaring him to be real? Did Jesus know Satan before his fall in Isaiah 14:12-14, in eternity past? In Revelation 20:2, what will happen to him?
  • What does spiritual warfare look like? Is it different from one day to the next? Who does Paul say our struggle in this world is against?
  • Why does Satan hate God so badly? Do you know anyone who hates someone because they desire to be all that person is? Was that Satan’s downfall? Does that explain why he wants to destroy humans, since God loves us so much?
  • What was the result of Satan tempting Eve in the Garden of Eden? How did that ultimately affect you? Although we usually say ‘Satan is really after me today,’ who is generally the one doing his bidding? Does it really matter whether it’s Satan or one of his evil emissaries who is after us?  Why does that not matter?
  • What do Christians do that brings glory to God? Is that enough to put a bullseye on our backs, for Satan to try to ‘kill, or destroy’ us? Read John 10:10. Although destroying man is Satan’s agenda, what can we do to thwart his plans? As Pastor Jonathan states, why is it imperative that we recognize Satan is real and has every desire to bring us down? Spiritual warfare is all around us; are you taking steps to see that you know the Bible well enough that you will not fall for his lies or distractions? Do you love God with all you are?

Know How to be Ready for the War:

See it for what it is:

  • Read Eph. 6:10-11. (Again, as in ‘Is Spiritual Warfare Real,’ all we have to do is go to the Bible, as God doesn’t leave us hanging. He tells us what we need to do.) How do military personnel prepare for a battle that is coming? Are you, in effect, a soldier in God’s army [2 Tim. 2:3-4, Phil. 2:25, Philemon vs. 2]? What has God given you as you get ready for the battle with Satan? Yet where is our ultimate victory coming from?
  • Rather than feeling overwhelmed by Satan, what should be your focus as you mentally prepare yourself? Do you love God enough that it has changed your life and will give you the power to stand in His strength?

See God for who He is:

  • After you have put on the ‘full’ armor, what are you able to do then? Does God give you the option of running? Where will you get the strength that will enable you to stand ‘firm’ without wavering?
  • What is your view of God like? Do you see Him as the great Creator, who has existed since eternity past, will exist forever, who has the power to take down anyone, at any time, and gives you the power to move a mountain if you trust Him? When you face off with Satan, why do you not need to worry? What power do you have? Read 2 Cor. 10:3-6.

Use the Weapons God has given us:

  • Read Eph. 6:14-18. Can you name the weapons of our spiritual warfare without looking at your Bible? What is the belt of truth for? [We need it to detect the difference between lies and truth; it is for honesty and integrity.] What does the breastplate of righteousness do? [To protect our hearts and our emotions. Following God enables us to discern between loving Him and loving the world.] What are the sandals of peace for? [We are always ready to share the gospel of Jesus Christ.]
  • What does the shield of faith do? [Extinguishes those ‘arrows’ Satan shoots at us.] What are the arrows? When you are struck by doubt, fear, worry, or temptation, do you realize instantly these are arrows from Satan? What is the helmet of salvation for? Do you recall last week’s sermon on the Assurance of Salvation? If so, you recall that the assurance that God loves you beyond what you can understand will give your mind and heart protection against Satan’s wiles. What is the sword of the Spirit for? [The Word of God.] How well do you know it? Does it bring peace constantly, whenever you feel worry approaching?
  • Prayer: Without it, you will be hampered by neglecting one of God’s greatest treasures, yet you have not appropriated it. This is beyond sad. P.T. Forsyth said, “The worst sin is prayerlessness.” *

How to Fight Back:

  • TRUTH: Spend time in God’s Word every day. Study it, get familiar with the concepts, the words, the meanings God wants you to understand. Know it well!
  • TALK: Talk to God all day long. He is beside you, inside you, in the environment around you. (“In Him we live, and move, and have our being,” Acts 17:28). He knows what you’re going to say before you say it (Ps. 139:4). He knows your worst thoughts, your times of sarcasm, hatred, snippy comments, so talk to Him about them. You cannot talk to God too much—He will listen to every word!!
  • TRUST: He cannot lie, therefore you can trust His promises. He will keep every promise He makes. He will not leave you, so you won’t make Him mad at you. You can’t sin by doing something He doesn’t know about—and He’s already forgiven you. There is no distance you can go to get away from Him, so don’t even try! Your worries, your anxieties, your frustrations might be spiritual attacks, and He’s already promised He will get you through those—if you have your weapons on and are standing in His strength! Are you?
  • TOGETHER: ISOLATION is a deadly game. It weakens you, takes you away from the power of prayer from other believers, and gives Satan time to destroy you. It is the enemy of spiritual growth, and if you are dealing with spiritual issues, isolation may be the cause. It is also a sin! (Proverbs 18:1. “Whoever isolates himself seeks his own desire; he breaks out against all sound judgment.”) Don’t separate yourself because you don’t like people: that is against all of God’s best for you.

Close:

Put this message into practice, and you will change yourself, your family, and eventually your church! Begin this week!

Sandy Day

May 24, 2026

*Forsyth, P.T., “The Soul of Prayer,” in A Sense of the Holy, p. 13

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