Understanding Spiritual Warfare

 The spiritual warfare movement developed rapidly and become one of the major focuses in twenty first century Christendom. The movement gets attention from different denomination by its tangible instant results. Spiritual warfare has become a prominent feature in some Pentecostal and charismatic churches. The movement is mainly focuses on instant result in ministry and Christian life.

                First, Spiritual warfare deal with spiritual oppression caused by a combination of personal sin and demonic influenced. The obstacles are then removed through prayer, delivering a parishioner from demonic possession, and breaking down demonic power so that the church and believers will grow. Therefore, in spiritual warfare perspective every Christian and even some pastors need deliverance from demons.

               Second characteristic of spiritual ware fare in ministry is discovering the demonic hierarchy. This belief assumed that different demons possess different power and they are functioning according to their power. Therefore, one must know well what sort of demon is at work in order to break their power more effectively. In recent years, C Peter Wagner and Charles kraft  has came up with a supernatualistic paradigm which is to understand Satan and his missions. Therefore, the concept of prayer is no more a way to building relationship with God rather it become a tool to fight against demons.

                The third characteristic of the movement is identifying demonic strongholds. The idea is that different people have various barriers to embrace the gospel. Because demons have their own territory and they hold sway over cites, regions and countries. On the other hand different spirit will cause diverse barriers and control people’s spiritual receptiveness. In responding to the idea of demonic strongholds, spiritual wayfarers need to do spiritual mapping which is to define the power and the kind of which spirit is dominating the certain city, region, and country.       

                 We need to aware that spiritual warfare is not a onetime battle but daily wrestling with our self desire and temptation from the evil one. However, even if we can overcome one inducement from the evil one, without doubt he will come up with a newer form of deception (e.g. temptation of Jesus Matthew 4:1-11). Therefore, we must focus upon God not on the evil one.