Be Alert! A Knight's Guide to Spiritual Warfare

“We are human, but we don’t wage war as humans do.” –2 Corinthians 10:3 NLT

There is no other way to say it: we are at war. I never try to be cute with this blog or sugar coat anything. I write adventure fiction, but those tales flow from a heart fully convinced in the reality that is the great controversy between God and our adversary–that old serpent called the devil. I feel compelled this morning to write concerning our role in this war as the battleground of the trial against God’s character. I hope this article will help you in your fight.

The Enemy’s Campaign

“Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour.”

–1 Peter 5:8 NLT

What’s this guy’s deal? The aptly titled father of lies was somehow so utterly entranced by his own beauty that he purposed to rebel against the very God that made him so beautiful. Ironic. He allowed pride to fester in his heart, and began a cosmic avalanche of folly for the hollowest of sakes.

In the twenty-eighth chapter of the book of the prophet Ezekiel, God describes the devil as once being “the model of perfection, full of wisdom and exquisite in beauty.” He had clothes that were “all beautifully crafted for [him]...given to [him] on the day [he] was created.” God personally “ordained and anointed [him] as the mighty angelic guardian (also called cherub)” who even had “access to the holy mountain of God.” He was “blameless…from the day [he] was created until” what?

“Until the day evil was found in you.”

– Ezekiel 28:15b NLT

YHWH, mourning the tragic and total corruption of his beloved creation, reveals the answer to the mystery of iniquity: idolatry of beauty.

“Your heart was filled with pride

    because of all your beauty.

Your wisdom was corrupted

    by your love of splendor.

So I threw you to the ground

    and exposed you to the curious gaze of kings.”

–Ezekiel 28:17 NLT

“Then there was war in heaven. Michael and his angels fought against the dragon and his angels. And the dragon lost the battle, and he and his angels were forced out of heaven. This great dragon—the ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, the one deceiving the whole world—was thrown down to the earth with all his angels.”

–Revelation 12:7-9 NLT

So what’s this guy’s deal? The Bible says when the enemy was thrown down, he came to Earth “in great anger, knowing that he has little time” (Revelation 12:12b).

Now let’s look back at that intel we have from Peter and John about our rather belligerent foe: a “great enemy” and “dragon” who “prowls around”, “looking for someone to devour”. That rotten egg let his entitled rage transform him into a monstrous predator who–when studying the original Greek intent behind using the word “dragon” or “seeing one”–has the ability to spot prey in any hiding place.

I guess it’s a good thing to know he got beat by our Creator who loves us because if it was just us versus him, I’m not sure we’d come out of this thing alive. Nevertheless, before the world was formed we were chosen to be adopted sons and daughters of God all thanks to Jesus’s sacrifice and resurrection. So needless to say it’s good to know we’re on the winning side.

The Soul Arena

But what about our daily lives right now? As we wait for the King’s glorious return on that white horse of absolution, how are we meant to combat the forces of evil? We have our mission to go and make disciples of all nations, but now we understand the perils of our quest. 

“We are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.”

–Ephesians 6:12 NLT

So if our enemy is “unseen”, then what does the fight even look like? How am I supposed to know when I’m in the middle of a spiritual battlefield? Jesus gives us the answer in Luke’s gospel. 

At the start of verse 36 in chapter 21, He says to “keep alert at all times.” All times. The battle is happening right now. Even as you’re reading this, the enemy has likely planted thoughts in the mind in your own voice–sown seeds of temptation from the images you’ve only just seen today to generational vices and/or trauma you inherited from your parents–“like a trap” (Luke 21:35a).

“Watch out!” Jesus warns. “Don’t let your hearts be dulled by carousing and drunkenness, and by the worries of this life” (Luke 21:34a).

See, the thing is we got caught in the middle of something much bigger. This isn’t really a war for our souls. It feels like it because we’re the ones experiencing that part, but with what we’ve learned so far, this war is so much bigger. For the enemy, this is personal. He wants revenge against God for not acquiescing to his selfishness and rebellion. He knows he can’t defeat much less kill His own Creator, so naturally what would a seething punk clinging desperately to his own foolish pride do to go out with a bang when he knows he’s beat? Go after the kids.

Out of spite, the devil tricked humanity into handing dominion over the earth to himself via choosing to disobey the will of their Father and trust in their own understanding. Introducing sin into the world was like signing a fine printed contract in baited blood, rendering God unable on principle to immediately stamp out his accuser. He gave us the freedom to choose because of His great love for us. He didn’t want us to be robots that lifelessly chanted “we love you, we love you.” He wanted sons and daughters made in His image.

Therefore, here we are center stage in the theater of a cosmic war between good and evil. Thank God, YHWH of hosts and King of the universe, that the blood of Jesus Christ was paid to tear in two that damnable contract. The sin of mankind was covered by Jesus’s sacrifice two thousand years ago, for “when he died, he died once to break the power of sin. But now that he lives, he lives for the glory of God. So you also should consider yourselves to be dead to the power of sin and alive to God through Christ Jesus” (Romans 6:10).

The Tactics of Evil

Understanding now who our enemy is and what the fight looks like, let’s study his historical and modern movements so we can recognize the voice of dark whispers and remember the voice of our Good Shepherd.

Starting from the top with every explicit mention of the enemy’s movements in history:

• Genesis 3:1-6

  • Deposition of mankind in Paradise, convincing them distrust God using a turn of phrase as a half-truth

• 1 Chronicles 21:1

  • Seduction of King David to take a census, disobeying the LORD and choosing to rely on his own measure of Israel’s military strength instead of God’s

• Job 1:6-12; 2:1-7

  • Testing God and the torment of Job (within boundaries)

• Zechariah 3:1-2

  • False accusation of Christ’s namesake in a vision about the coming Messiah

• Matthew 4:1-11; Luke 4:1-13

  • Attempted exploitation of Jesus’ the human nature and physical weakness, further testing the LORD with goading and mockery

Next up, let’s look over the biblical intel:

• Mark 4:15; Luke 8:12

  • Snuffing out the Gospel in the heart to prevent belief and salvation

• Luke 22:3-6

  • Possession of a heart surrendered to selfishness and evil

• John 12:27

  • Troubling of the soul in order to inflame fear

• Matthew 16:22-23

  • Using loved ones to tempt with ignorant perspectives regardless of good intentions

• Luke 22:31-34

  • Shaking our faith with seemingly unstoppable force (within boundaries)

• Acts 5:3

  • Occupation of a heart bent on willful dishonesty towards God Himself

• Acts 13:10

  • Granted claim over those who directly oppose God and His servants

• 1 Corinthians 7:5; 10:9

  • Exploitation of spurred, weakened flesh via lustful cravings and indulgence in self-satisfaction

• 2 Corinthians 2:10-11

  • Trickery of those unwilling to forgive

• 2 Corinthians 11:3,13-15

  • Deception by disguise and impersonation of the benevolent

• 1 Thessalonians 2:18

  • Obstruction of good works

• 2 Thessalonians 2:9-10

  • Deception by illusion and counterfeit power

• 1 Timothy 3:6-7

  • Destruction by pride and consequential disgrace

• 1 Timothy 5:14-15

  • Accusation and seduction of the lonely and brokenhearted

• Hebrews 2:14-15

  • Leveraging the fear of death to lead humanity into sin

• Revelation 2:9-10

  • Causation of suffering even unto death in order to test followers of Christ

• Revelation 12:9; 20:3,8,10

  • Deception of entire nations

All of evil is revealed before you, yet this is hardly a comprehensive list of all that the devil has done across time including this very moment. Above you find the Bible’s record of the enemy’s modus operandi; his MO. This is what he’s always done and still does to this day. It may look different, but it’s still the same old same old. The issue is, so are we. Therefore, we still need help facing our archnemesis, the accuser of our Father in Heaven.

Well, praise the LORD we serve a God who chose us before the earth was formed to be holy and adopted into His family through Jesus Christ. So in order to not stare any longer in the abyss than is necessary, let’s compare the enemy’s power with…

The Power of God

Below you will find a comprehensive yet still not entirely complete list of the Bible’s account of God’s power. This is not meant to be a section read as much as one intended for visual representation of the sheer magnitude of God’s glory. Just gently scroll down and witness the overwhelming evidence that the King of the universe–the Creator of all life who personally breathed life into your lungs while you were still in your mother’s womb–always has, always is, and always will be the winner of this great conflict; the grand romance we call life:

1. Creation Power

Genesis 1:1–31, Genesis 1:26–28, Genesis 2:1–3, Genesis 2:7, Genesis 2:19–20, Genesis 5:1, Genesis 9:6, Exodus 20:11, Exodus 31:17, Leviticus 26:9, Deuteronomy 4:32, Deuteronomy 4:33, Deuteronomy 4:34, Deuteronomy 5:15, Deuteronomy 10:14, Deuteronomy 32:6, Joshua 4:23–24, Job 9:8–10, Job 10:8–12, Job 12:7–10, Job 26:7–14, Job 33:4, Job 34:13–15, Job 35:10–13, Job 38:1–41:34, Psalm 8:1–9, Psalm 19:1–4, Psalm 24:1–2, Psalm 33:6–9, Psalm 65:5–8, Psalm 65:9–13, Psalm 74:12–17, Psalm 89:11–12, Psalm 95:4–5, Psalm 102:25–27, Psalm 104:1–35, Psalm 105:5–7, Psalm 106:22–23, Psalm 136:4–9, Psalm 136:25, Psalm 147:4–5, Psalm 148:1–14, Psalm 150:1, Proverbs 3:19–20, Proverbs 8:22–31, Ecclesiastes 1:4, Isaiah 40:12–26, Isaiah 42:5, Isaiah 44:24, Isaiah 45:12, Isaiah 45:18, Isaiah 48:13, Isaiah 51:13–16, Jeremiah 10:12–13, Jeremiah 27:5, Jeremiah 32:17, Jeremiah 32:27, Lamentations 3:37–38, Ezekiel 1:1 (context of winds/spirit), Daniel 4:34–35, Hosea 11:3–4 (forming and sustaining), Joel 2:21–22, Amos 4:13, Obadiah 1:4 (by extension of sovereign power), Jonah 1:9 (creation name used), Micah 6:4, Nahum 1:3, Habakkuk 3:3–6, Zephaniah 3:5, Haggai 2:6–8, Zechariah 12:1, Malachi 2:10, Malachi 3:6 (immutability tied to creative act), Matthew 19:4 (refers to Creator), Matthew 24:29 (cosmic signs at end), Mark 13:25–26, Luke 1:35 (power of Most High), Luke 3:38 (Adam son of God), John 1:1–3, John 1:10, Acts 4:24–28, Acts 14:15–17, Acts 17:24–25, Romans 1:20, Romans 8:19–22 (creation groaning), 1 Corinthians 8:6, 2 Corinthians 4:6, Galatians 4:4 (the fulness of time—Creator acting in history), Ephesians 3:9, Ephesians 1:11–23 (Creator’s rule), Philippians 2:9–11 (all things under Christ’s name), Colossians 1:15–20, Colossians 1:16–17, 1 Thessalonians 1:9 (turning from idols to serve Creator), 2 Timothy 1:9 (purpose given by Creator), Hebrews 1:2–3, Hebrews 11:3, James 1:17 (every good gift from Father of lights—Creator), 2 Peter 3:5–7 (world by word of God), 1 John 1:1–3 (the Word and creation), Revelation 4:11, Revelation 10:6 (creator of heaven and earth oath), Revelation 14:7 (worship him who made heaven and earth), Revelation 21:1–2 (new heaven and new earth), Revelation 22:13

2. Salvation Power

Exodus 3:20, Exodus 6:6, Exodus 7:5, Exodus 9:16, Exodus 12:12–13, Exodus 12:29–30, Exodus 12:51, Exodus 13:3, Exodus 13:14, Exodus 14:13–14, Exodus 14:21–31, Exodus 15:1–18, Exodus 18:10, Exodus 32:11, Deuteronomy 3:24, Deuteronomy 4:34, Deuteronomy 5:15, Deuteronomy 7:8–9, Deuteronomy 7:18–19, Deuteronomy 9:26, Deuteronomy 11:2–7, Deuteronomy 20:4, Deuteronomy 26:8, Deuteronomy 33:29, Joshua 2:10, Joshua 4:23–24, Joshua 10:11–14, Judges 7:7, Judges 7:19–22, Judges 15:18, 1 Samuel 2:1, 1 Samuel 7:10, 1 Samuel 17:45–47, 2 Samuel 22:1–51, 1 Kings 18:36–39, 2 Kings 19:15–19, 1 Chronicles 29:11, 2 Chronicles 14:11–12, 2 Chronicles 20:6, 2 Chronicles 20:12, 2 Chronicles 32:7–8, Nehemiah 1:10, Nehemiah 9:9–11, Job 5:11, Psalm 18:1–50, Psalm 20:6, Psalm 24:8, Psalm 27:1, Psalm 34:4–7, Psalm 44:1–8, Psalm 59:16, Psalm 62:1–2, Psalm 62:11, Psalm 68:20, Psalm 74:12, Psalm 77:14–20, Psalm 78:12–13, Psalm 78:42–53, Psalm 89:10, Psalm 98:1, Psalm 106:8–12, Psalm 107:19–20, Psalm 136:10–24, Psalm 138:7, Isaiah 12:2, Isaiah 25:9, Isaiah 26:4, Isaiah 33:22, Isaiah 40:10, Isaiah 41:10, Isaiah 43:1–3, Isaiah 43:10–13, Isaiah 49:25–26, Isaiah 52:10, Isaiah 59:1, Isaiah 63:12, Jeremiah 1:19, Jeremiah 15:20–21, Jeremiah 32:21, Daniel 3:16–18, Daniel 3:24–29, Daniel 6:20–27, Hosea 13:4, Micah 7:15, Habakkuk 3:13, Zephaniah 3:17, Zechariah 4:6, Luke 1:51, Luke 1:69, Luke 1:74, Luke 18:27, John 3:16–17, John 10:28–29, Acts 4:12, Acts 4:33, Romans 1:16, Romans 8:31, Romans 8:37–39, 1 Corinthians 1:18, 1 Corinthians 1:24, 2 Corinthians 1:10, 2 Corinthians 6:2, Ephesians 1:19, Ephesians 2:8, Philippians 1:6, 2 Thessalonians 3:3, 2 Timothy 1:8–10, 2 Timothy 4:18, Hebrews 2:14–15, Hebrews 7:25, 1 Peter 1:3–5, 1 Peter 1:23, 1 Peter 5:10–11, Jude 24–25, Revelation 7:10, Revelation 12:10–11, Revelation 19:1–2

3. Resurrection Power

Job 19:25–27, Psalm 16:10, Isaiah 25:8, Isaiah 26:19, Ezekiel 37:1–14, Daniel 12:2, Hosea 6:2, Matthew 9:25, Matthew 10:8, Matthew 16:21, Matthew 17:9, Matthew 17:23, Matthew 20:19, Matthew 22:29–32, Matthew 27:52–53, Matthew 28:5–7, Matthew 28:18–20, Mark 5:41–42, Mark 8:31, Mark 9:9–10, Mark 9:31, Mark 10:34, Mark 12:24–27, Mark 16:6, Luke 7:14–15, Luke 8:54–55, Luke 9:22, Luke 14:14, Luke 18:33, Luke 20:35–36, Luke 24:5–7, Luke 24:26–27, Luke 24:46, John 2:19–22, John 5:21, John 5:25–29, John 6:39–40, John 6:44, John 6:54, John 10:17–18, John 11:23–27, John 11:43–44, John 20:9, John 20:19–20, Acts 2:24, Acts 2:31–33, Acts 3:15, Acts 3:26, Acts 4:2, Acts 4:10, Acts 4:33, Acts 5:30–31, Acts 10:40–41, Acts 13:30, Acts 13:32–34, Acts 17:3, Acts 17:18, Acts 17:31–32, Romans 1:4, Romans 4:17, Romans 4:24–25, Romans 5:10, Romans 6:4–5, Romans 6:8–9, Romans 7:4, Romans 8:11, Romans 8:34, 1 Corinthians 6:14, 1 Corinthians 15:3–4, 1 Corinthians 15:12–22, 1 Corinthians 15:35–49, 1 Corinthians 15:51–57, 2 Corinthians 1:9, 2 Corinthians 4:7, 2 Corinthians 4:14, Galatians 1:1, Galatians 2:20, Ephesians 1:18–20, Philippians 3:10–11, Philippians 3:20–21, Colossians 2:12, Colossians 3:1, 1 Thessalonians 1:9–10, 1 Thessalonians 4:14–17, 2 Timothy 1:10, 2 Timothy 2:8, Hebrews 6:2, Hebrews 11:17–19, Hebrews 11:35, Hebrews 13:20–21, 1 Peter 1:3, 1 Peter 1:21, 1 Peter 3:18, Revelation 1:5, Revelation 1:18, Revelation 2:8, Revelation 20:4–6, Revelation 20:12–13

4. Judgment Power

Genesis 3:14–19, Genesis 6:5–7, Genesis 6:13, Genesis 7:11–24, Genesis 11:7–9, Genesis 18:20–21, Genesis 19:24–25, Genesis 19:28, Exodus 7:4–5, Exodus 9:14, Exodus 12:12, Exodus 14:27–28, Leviticus 10:1–2, Numbers 11:1–3, Numbers 12:9–10, Numbers 14:22–23, Numbers 16:30–35, Numbers 21:6, Deuteronomy 4:24, Deuteronomy 7:23, Deuteronomy 9:7, Deuteronomy 28:15–68, Deuteronomy 32:35, Joshua 10:11, Joshua 24:20, Judges 2:14, Judges 10:13–14, 1 Samuel 5:6–12, 1 Samuel 6:19, 1 Samuel 15:23, 2 Samuel 6:7, 2 Samuel 24:15–16, 1 Kings 13:4, 1 Kings 18:38–40, 2 Kings 1:10–12, 2 Kings 17:18, 2 Kings 19:35, 2 Chronicles 7:19–22, 2 Chronicles 20:22–24, 2 Chronicles 36:16–17, Nehemiah 9:30, Job 34:21–25, Psalm 2:5–9, Psalm 9:7–8, Psalm 11:6, Psalm 18:7–15, Psalm 21:8–9, Psalm 37:9–15, Psalm 50:3–6, Psalm 68:1–2, Psalm 76:7–9, Psalm 96:13, Psalm 97:2–5, Psalm 98:9, Psalm 110:5–6, Psalm 135:8–10, Psalm 136:15–20, Psalm 145:20, Proverbs 11:21, Proverbs 16:4, Isaiah 2:10–21, Isaiah 10:12, Isaiah 13:6–13, Isaiah 24:1–23, Isaiah 26:20–21, Isaiah 34:1–4, Isaiah 40:23–24, Isaiah 66:15–16, Jeremiah 10:10, Jeremiah 23:19–20, Jeremiah 25:31–33, Jeremiah 32:18–19, Jeremiah 50:31–32, Ezekiel 5:8–17, Ezekiel 7:3–9, Ezekiel 18:4, Ezekiel 25:17, Ezekiel 28:22, Ezekiel 30:25, Daniel 4:35, Daniel 5:22–30, Daniel 7:9–11, Daniel 9:14, Hosea 13:7–8, Joel 2:1–11, Amos 1:3–15, Amos 4:12, Amos 9:8, Obadiah 1:15–16, Nahum 1:2–6, Nahum 3:5–7, Habakkuk 1:6–11, Zephaniah 1:14–18, Zephaniah 3:8, Zechariah 9:14, Malachi 3:2–5, Malachi 4:1, Matthew 3:10–12, Matthew 7:22–23, Matthew 10:15, Matthew 11:21–24, Matthew 13:41–42, Matthew 13:49–50, Matthew 16:27, Matthew 21:41–44, Matthew 22:7, Matthew 23:33–36, Matthew 24:29–31, Matthew 25:31–46, Mark 13:24–27, Luke 10:12–15, Luke 12:5, Luke 17:26–30, Luke 19:27, Luke 21:25–27, John 5:22–29, Acts 5:1–11, Acts 12:23, Acts 17:31, Romans 1:18, Romans 2:5–8, Romans 11:22, Romans 12:19, Romans 14:10–12, 1 Corinthians 3:13–15, 1 Corinthians 5:5, 2 Corinthians 5:10, 2 Thessalonians 1:7–10, 2 Thessalonians 2:8, Hebrews 9:27, Hebrews 10:26–31, Hebrews 12:29, James 5:9, 1 Peter 4:5, 2 Peter 2:4–9, 2 Peter 3:7–13, Jude 5–7, Jude 14–15, Revelation 6:12–17, Revelation 8:5–13, Revelation 9:1–21, Revelation 11:17–18, Revelation 14:7–20, Revelation 15:1, Revelation 16:1–21, Revelation 18:8, Revelation 19:1–3, Revelation 19:11–21, Revelation 20:10–15

5. Healing & Miracle Power

Genesis 18:10–14, Genesis 20:17, Exodus 4:6–7, Exodus 14:21–22, Exodus 15:25–26, Exodus 16:13–15, Exodus 17:5–7, Numbers 11:31–32, Numbers 12:13–15, Numbers 17:8, Numbers 21:8–9, Deuteronomy 8:3–4, Deuteronomy 29:5, Joshua 3:14–17, Joshua 6:20, Judges 6:36–40, Judges 13:3–24, 1 Samuel 1:19–20, 1 Samuel 7:9–10, 1 Samuel 12:16–18, 1 Kings 13:3–6, 1 Kings 17:14–16, 1 Kings 17:21–22, 1 Kings 18:36–39, 2 Kings 2:8, 2 Kings 2:19–22, 2 Kings 4:4–7, 2 Kings 4:32–37, 2 Kings 5:10–14, 2 Kings 6:6, 2 Kings 13:21, 2 Chronicles 7:14, 2 Chronicles 20:22, Nehemiah 9:20–21, Job 42:10, Psalm 30:2, Psalm 41:3, Psalm 77:14, Psalm 103:2–3, Psalm 107:19–20, Psalm 147:3, Isaiah 35:5–6, Isaiah 38:1–8, Isaiah 53:4–5, Jeremiah 17:14, Jeremiah 30:17, Daniel 3:24–27, Daniel 6:22, Hosea 6:1, Malachi 4:2, Matthew 4:23–24, Matthew 8:2–3, Matthew 8:5–13, Matthew 8:14–15, Matthew 8:16, Matthew 8:23–27, Matthew 8:28–34, Matthew 9:2–8, Matthew 9:18–26, Matthew 9:27–31, Matthew 9:32–33, Matthew 10:1, Matthew 10:7–8, Matthew 11:5, Matthew 12:10–13, Matthew 12:22, Matthew 14:13–21, Matthew 14:25–33, Matthew 15:30–31, Matthew 15:32–39, Matthew 17:14–18, Matthew 19:2, Matthew 20:29–34, Matthew 21:14, Mark 1:23–27, Mark 1:29–34, Mark 1:40–42, Mark 2:1–12, Mark 3:1–5, Mark 4:39–41, Mark 5:1–20, Mark 5:21–43, Mark 6:41–44, Mark 6:56, Mark 7:32–35, Mark 8:22–25, Mark 8:1–9, Mark 9:17–27, Mark 10:46–52, Luke 4:31–36, Luke 4:38–41, Luke 5:4–11, Luke 5:12–13, Luke 5:17–26, Luke 6:6–10, Luke 6:18–19, Luke 7:11–15, Luke 7:21–22, Luke 8:22–25, Luke 8:26–39, Luke 8:40–56, Luke 9:11, Luke 9:16–17, Luke 9:37–43, Luke 10:9, Luke 11:14, Luke 13:11–13, Luke 14:1–4, Luke 17:12–19, Luke 18:35–43, Luke 22:50–51, John 2:1–11, John 4:46–54, John 5:1–9, John 6:5–14, John 6:19–21, John 9:1–7, John 9:32–33, John 11:1–44, John 20:30–31, Acts 3:6–10, Acts 4:16, Acts 5:12–16, Acts 5:19, Acts 8:6–8, Acts 8:39, Acts 9:32–35, Acts 9:36–42, Acts 12:7–10, Acts 13:11–12, Acts 14:3, Acts 14:8–10, Acts 15:12, Acts 16:26, Acts 19:11–12, Acts 20:9–12, Acts 28:3–6, Acts 28:8–9, Romans 15:18–19, 1 Corinthians 12:9–10, 1 Corinthians 12:28–30, 2 Corinthians 12:12, Galatians 3:5, Hebrews 2:4, James 5:14–15, Revelation 11:6

6. Protection & Deliverance Power

Genesis 7:16, Genesis 19:16, Genesis 28:15, Genesis 50:20, Exodus 3:7–8, Exodus 12:27, Exodus 14:13–14, Exodus 14:19–20, Exodus 14:29–30, Exodus 15:1–2, Exodus 23:20, Numbers 23:23, Deuteronomy 1:30–31, Deuteronomy 20:4, Deuteronomy 23:14, Deuteronomy 31:6, Deuteronomy 33:27, Joshua 1:5, Joshua 10:11, Judges 3:9, Judges 6:12–14, 1 Samuel 7:10–12, 1 Samuel 17:37, 2 Samuel 22:2–4, 2 Samuel 22:17–20, 2 Kings 6:16–17, 2 Kings 6:18, 2 Kings 19:35, 1 Chronicles 16:35, 2 Chronicles 14:11–12, 2 Chronicles 20:15–17, 2 Chronicles 32:7–8, Ezra 8:22–23, Nehemiah 4:20, Job 5:19, Job 36:15, Psalm 3:3, Psalm 9:9–10, Psalm 12:5, Psalm 18:2, Psalm 18:16–19, Psalm 27:1, Psalm 31:2–4, Psalm 32:7, Psalm 34:7, Psalm 34:17–19, Psalm 37:39–40, Psalm 40:1–2, Psalm 41:1–2, Psalm 46:1–2, Psalm 55:16–18, Psalm 59:16–17, Psalm 62:6–8, Psalm 71:2–3, Psalm 91:1–16, Psalm 97:10, Psalm 107:6, Psalm 107:13, Psalm 107:19, Psalm 107:28, Psalm 121:7–8, Psalm 124:7–8, Psalm 138:7, Proverbs 18:10, Isaiah 25:4, Isaiah 26:3, Isaiah 31:5, Isaiah 41:10, Isaiah 43:2, Isaiah 46:4, Isaiah 49:25, Isaiah 54:17, Jeremiah 1:8, Jeremiah 15:20–21, Jeremiah 20:11, Jeremiah 39:17–18, Daniel 3:17, Daniel 3:24–25, Daniel 3:28–29, Daniel 6:22–23, Hosea 13:14, Nahum 1:7, Zephaniah 3:17, Zechariah 2:5, Matthew 6:13, Matthew 8:25–26, Matthew 10:29–31, Matthew 14:30–31, Matthew 18:10, Matthew 28:20, Mark 4:38–39, Luke 1:74, Luke 8:24, Luke 12:4–7, Luke 21:18, John 10:28–29, John 17:11–12, John 17:15, Acts 5:19, Acts 12:6–11, Acts 16:25–26, Acts 18:9–10, Acts 23:11, Acts 27:23–24, Acts 27:44, Romans 8:31, Romans 8:35–39, 1 Corinthians 10:13, 2 Corinthians 1:10, 2 Thessalonians 3:3, 2 Timothy 3:11, 2 Timothy 4:17–18, Hebrews 2:15, Hebrews 13:6, 2 Peter 2:9, Revelation 3:10, Revelation 7:3, Revelation 7:14–17, Revelation 12:11, Revelation 12:14–16

7. Sustaining Power

Genesis 8:22, Genesis 45:7, Exodus 16:4, Exodus 16:35, Deuteronomy 8:3–4, Deuteronomy 8:16–18, Deuteronomy 33:12, Deuteronomy 33:25, 1 Samuel 2:8–9, 1 Kings 17:4–6, Nehemiah 9:6, Nehemiah 9:21, Job 5:11, Job 12:10, Job 23:10, Job 34:14–15, Job 36:27–31, Job 38:12–13, Job 38:33, Job 41:11, Psalm 23:1–3, Psalm 27:13–14, Psalm 29:10–11, Psalm 33:6, Psalm 33:9, Psalm 36:6, Psalm 37:17, Psalm 37:23–25, Psalm 40:17, Psalm 54:4, Psalm 55:22, Psalm 63:8, Psalm 66:9, Psalm 68:9–10, Psalm 68:19, Psalm 71:6, Psalm 72:16, Psalm 73:23–26, Psalm 74:16–17, Psalm 75:3, Psalm 84:11, Psalm 89:9, Psalm 90:1–2, Psalm 91:4–5, Psalm 92:12–14, Psalm 94:18, Psalm 104:10–30, Psalm 119:116–117, Psalm 121:3–6, Psalm 127:1–2, Psalm 136:25, Psalm 145:14–16, Psalm 146:5–9, Proverbs 3:5–6, Proverbs 10:3, Proverbs 16:9, Isaiah 26:4, Isaiah 27:3, Isaiah 40:29–31, Isaiah 41:13, Isaiah 44:24, Isaiah 46:4, Isaiah 50:9, Isaiah 54:10, Isaiah 55:10–11, Jeremiah 10:12–13, Jeremiah 31:25, Jeremiah 32:17, Lamentations 3:22–24, Daniel 2:21, Hosea 11:3, Habakkuk 3:17–19, Matthew 5:45, Matthew 6:11, Matthew 6:25–34, Matthew 10:29–31, Matthew 11:28–30, Matthew 28:20, Mark 6:41–43, Luke 1:37, Luke 12:24, Luke 21:33, John 1:3, John 3:27, John 6:27, John 6:35, John 15:5, John 15:16, John 16:33, Acts 17:25–28, Romans 8:28, Romans 11:36, 1 Corinthians 1:8, 1 Corinthians 8:6, 1 Corinthians 10:13, 1 Corinthians 15:10, 2 Corinthians 1:21, 2 Corinthians 3:5, 2 Corinthians 4:16, 2 Corinthians 9:8–10, 2 Corinthians 12:9–10, Galatians 2:20, Ephesians 1:11, Ephesians 3:16, Philippians 1:6, Philippians 2:13, Philippians 4:13, Philippians 4:19, Colossians 1:16–17, Colossians 1:29, 1 Thessalonians 5:23–24, 2 Thessalonians 2:16–17, 2 Thessalonians 3:3, 1 Timothy 6:13, 2 Timothy 1:12, Hebrews 1:3, Hebrews 4:16, Hebrews 7:25, Hebrews 13:20–21, James 1:17, 1 Peter 1:5, 1 Peter 5:10, 2 Peter 1:3, Jude 24–25, Revelation 3:8, Revelation 21:6, Revelation 22:1–2

8. Power Over Nations & History

Genesis 12:3, Genesis 15:16, Genesis 17:20, Genesis 50:20, Exodus 7:3–5, Exodus 9:16, Exodus 12:12, Exodus 15:18, Exodus 19:5–6, Deuteronomy 2:30, Deuteronomy 4:34, Deuteronomy 7:7–9, Deuteronomy 28:1–68, Deuteronomy 32:8–9, Joshua 2:10, Joshua 4:24, Joshua 10:11–14, Judges 4:14–16, 1 Samuel 2:10, 1 Samuel 4:8, 1 Samuel 8:7, 1 Samuel 10:1–27, 1 Samuel 17:47, 2 Samuel 7:14–16, 2 Samuel 22:47–51, 1 Kings 3:12–14, 1 Kings 8:56, 1 Kings 18:36–39, 2 Kings 19:15–19, 2 Chronicles 7:14–15, 2 Chronicles 20:6–17, Nehemiah 9:6–21, Job 12:23–25, Psalm 2:1–12, Psalm 9:16, Psalm 22:28, Psalm 33:10–11, Psalm 66:7, Psalm 75:6–7, Psalm 89:14–16, Psalm 110:1–2, Psalm 146:3–10, Proverbs 21:1, Isaiah 10:5–7, Isaiah 14:24–27, Isaiah 37:16–20, Isaiah 41:2–4, Isaiah 46:9–10, Isaiah 47:6, Jeremiah 27:5, Jeremiah 32:17, Daniel 2:21, Daniel 4:17, Daniel 4:25–26, Daniel 4:35, Daniel 5:18–21, Daniel 7:27, Daniel 8:25, Daniel 11:36–37, Joel 3:16, Amos 9:8–9, Obadiah 1:4–7, Jonah 1:1–2, Nahum 1:3, Habakkuk 1:5, Zechariah 1:12, Zechariah 10:12, Matthew 5:18, Matthew 10:29–31, Matthew 28:18, Luke 1:52, Luke 1:51–53, John 19:11, Acts 17:26, Romans 13:1, 1 Corinthians 15:24, Ephesians 1:20–21, Colossians 1:16–18, 1 Thessalonians 4:15–16, Revelation 1:5, Revelation 11:15, Revelation 16:14–16, Revelation 17:17, Revelation 19:19–21, Revelation 20:1–3, Revelation 20:7–10, Revelation 21:24–26

9. Power in Weakness / Spiritual Strength

Exodus 14:13–14, Judges 7:2–22, 1 Samuel 17:45–47, 2 Corinthians 12:9–10, 1 Corinthians 1:25–27, 1 Corinthians 2:4–5, 2 Corinthians 4:7, 2 Corinthians 6:4–10, 2 Corinthians 10:3–4, Philippians 2:13, Philippians 4:13, Hebrews 11:32–34, Hebrews 11:35–38, James 4:6, 1 Peter 5:6–7, 2 Corinthians 3:5, Isaiah 40:29–31, Zechariah 4:6, Matthew 11:28–30, Luke 1:37, Luke 10:19–20, Romans 8:31–32, Romans 8:37–39, Ephesians 6:10–18, 1 Timothy 6:12, Revelation 12:11

10. Power Praised & Doxology

Exodus 15:1–18, Deuteronomy 10:21, 1 Chronicles 16:25–27, 1 Chronicles 29:11–13, 2 Chronicles 5:13–14, 2 Chronicles 20:21–22, Nehemiah 9:5–6, Job 26:7–14, Psalm 18:1–50, Psalm 21:13–14, Psalm 29:1–11, Psalm 33:6–9, Psalm 47:1–9, Psalm 66:1–9, Psalm 68:1–35, Psalm 71:18, Psalm 72:18–19, Psalm 77:13–15, Psalm 89:6–18, Psalm 96:1–13, Psalm 98:1–9, Psalm 99:1–5, Psalm 104:1–35, Psalm 105:1–45, Psalm 106:1–48, Psalm 136:1–26, Psalm 145:1–21, Psalm 146:1–10, Psalm 150:1–6, Proverbs 21:31, Isaiah 12:2–6, Isaiah 25:1–12, Isaiah 26:7–19, Isaiah 42:8–12, Isaiah 52:7–10, Isaiah 53:1, Jeremiah 10:6–7, Daniel 2:20–23, Daniel 4:34–35, Habakkuk 3:2–19, Zephaniah 3:17, Luke 1:46–55, Luke 1:68–75, Luke 2:13–14, Luke 19:38, John 1:14–18, Romans 11:33–36, 1 Corinthians 1:31, 2 Corinthians 4:7, 2 Corinthians 12:9, Ephesians 1:19–23, Ephesians 3:16–21, Philippians 2:9–11, Colossians 1:16–20, 1 Thessalonians 5:24, Revelation 4:11, Revelation 5:12–13, Revelation 7:12, Revelation 11:17–18, Revelation 15:3–4, Revelation 19:1–6, Revelation 21:22–27, Revelation 22:12–13

That’s well over a thousand verses to combat the best our enemy can throw at us. If you read just one of the passages listed above per day, it would take you over a year and a half to finish them all. If you took one of those passages a week to study and meditate on, it would take you nearly twelve years. Over a decade of study material in regards to the power of our God stacked next to all there is to know about how the enemy works in one single article.

So be encouraged! Your Father in heaven is unmatched, no matter how troubled you may feel in life, no matter how much you suffer. No matter how powerful you feel like evil is in this world, the LORD is more powerful.

Starting Arsenal

I would like to leave you with a sort of standard issue kit for doing battle with the enemy. It’ll happen today if it hasn’t already, so–since it’s quite dangerous to go alone–take this:

When you’re discouraged…

Isaiah 41:10 - “Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.”

When you’re being tempted…

1 Corinthians 10:13 - “The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure.”

Tip: You can also claim Psalm 119:115 in the name of Jesus:

“Depart from me, you evildoers, For I will keep the commandments of my God!”

When you need saving…

Psalm 50:15 - “Call upon Me on the day of trouble; I will rescue you, and you will honor Me.”

Tip: Remember also that Joel 2:32 and Romans 10:13 say “everyone who calls on the name of the LORD will be saved.”

I’d call that a regular sor-tie, good buddy :) May the LORD’s face shine upon you. Take up your sword and shield. They are the LORD your God.

Peace.

–Cristian