Our Spiritual Warfare

      In our spiritual warfare, we our not using physical weapons but spiritual ones against strongholds which are false reasonings, arguments and opinions. 2 Corinthians 10:4-5 "For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ," We do our best to use God's word so to open people's eyes to the error of their ways so lead them to repentance of their sins. The apostle Paul told us we should correct our opponents with gentleness. 2 Timothy 2:25-26 "correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth, and they may come to their senses and escape from the snares of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will."
     Jesus at the very beginning of Paul's ministry, he told him to go to the gentiles and open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness. Acts 26:18 "to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me." In our spiritual warfare, people's minds are becoming open to the truth and starting to see Satan was the one who hid the truth from them. Why did Satan try to hide the truth because he is the father of lies. John 8:44 "....He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies."
     In Revelation, Satan is called the deceiver of the whole world. Revelation 12:9 "And the great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world--he was thrown down to earth, and his angels were thrown down with him." This is why our warfare is a spiritual one because Satan is a spirit and so are his angels. Ephesians 6:12 "For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places."
     The apostle Paul tells us in Ephesians 6:11 to fight against the devil, we need to put on the whole armor of God. In Ephesians 6:14-17, he tells us what those pieces of armor are, the belt of truth, breastplate of righteousness, shoes of readiness, shield of faith, helmet of salvation and sword of the spirit, which is the word of God. He tells us also to pray and keep alert with all perseverance. 
     Even though our fight against the devil is an ongoing one, there will be a time when the Lord will return and have the devil cast into the abyss. Revelations 20:1-2 "Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, holding in his hand the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain. And he seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years."