“Enemy-occupied territory—that is what this world is. Christianity is the story of how the rightful king has landed, you might say landed in disguise, and is calling us to take part in a great campaign of sabotage.” —C.S. Lewis
Even though we didn’t sign up for it, you and I are caught in the middle of a spiritual battle whether we realize it or not! The age-old war in the unseen realm has profound effects on the world in which we live. From individual struggles with sin and addiction to international geopolitical subterfuge, to covert planning by high-powered figures influenced by the occult—there is a prolific and direct war being waged all around us. We are in enemy territory.
The Christian life is not a playground, it is a battleground.
If we tune into the latest news on any given day, it is a witness to the cosmic battle that affects all of us. The Bible does not pull punches, but warns us about this in clear terms. For example, in 1 Peter 5:8 we read, “Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour”.
The worst thing we can do is to ignore the raging war or deny its reality. That would be like standing in a boxing ring with your hands down and your back to your opponent. Mills Lane can’t help you there. We need to protect ourselves at all times. We have to fight!
When you peel back the layers of world history and conflict you will find a deeper evil lurking in the darkest of places. The Nazis, for example, were not just a twisted political group—they were steeped in the occult at the highest levels of their ranks. Radical Islam is not just an aberrant off-shoot of their religion—it is a demonically inspired deception (Galatians 1:8) designed to steal, kill, and destroy (John 10:10).
The battle all around us is very real, but the good news is that Satan and God are not equal opposites.
God is omniscient, omnipresent, and omnipotent. That means he knows all, sees all (is present everywhere at once), and is all-powerful.
Satan is omni-nothing. He can only be in one place at a time, has broad but limited knowledge, and immense but limited power. Yet in his own self-deception he thinks he can outwit God. While Satan and his demonic horde are individually limited, together they form a twisted global network that attempts to mimic God’s omni attributes.
While there are levels of authority and power within this present darkness, the believer—if faced with such evil—has authority over all of them. This is not based on our own strength, but grounded in the power of Christ. We can rebuke the enemy in the name and power of Jesus Christ. When we who know Christ as Savior and claim his name, we’re like Mills Lane standing in the boxing ring with an authority much bigger than our own.
Though we are weak and sinful, he is not. The one who is in us is much greater than the one who is in the world. Through the cross we can be forgiven. Then we stand in the power and authority of Christ.
If you are a believer, you have switched sides. You have been rescued from the power of the enemy. You have gone from darkness to light (Acts 26:18). When you did that, you were marked by the enemy—but you are now sealed and protected by the Holy Spirit!
This article is adapted from my book The Non-Prophet’s Guide to Spiritual Warfare.