Spiritual Warfare and the Three Enemies of the Church

Thesis

Although many Christians do not support the belief in a literal spiritual warfare with Satan, the world and the flesh, Scripture and early Church history validate the existence of these three enemies that oppose the Church its mission and the believer.

Introduction

According to biblical sources, an invisible war is taking place in our universe. This battle happening in the unseen realm is manifested in the physical realm (Eph 6:12–18). Our world is a battleground filled with good and evil spirits at war with one another. Since the beginning of time, this spiritual war has affected the human experience (Gen 3:1–19). For the purpose of this bookspiritual warfare is anything that stands against, opposes, or hinders the gospel and the work and witness of God in a believer’s life and in the church. Numerous authors have written about spiritual warfare and have attempted to explain the difficult doctrine concerning Satan and his angels, the world, the flesh, and their influence in the universe. Libraries contain research papers and books with theories on strategies and ideas for spiritual engagement. This book will define spiritual warfare as applied to the world, the flesh, and Satan (three enemies of believers in Christ).

The following references are direct quotes from Scripture about Satan. His name in the Greek language means, “the accuser or the slanderer” (Job 1:6–11; 2:1–7; Rev 12:10).¹ One Satan exists, and he has many demons under him (Matt 4:5–8, 13:39, 25:41; Luke 4:2–5; John 6:70, 8:44, 13:2; Acts 10:38; Eph 4:27; 1 Tim 3:6). In 1 Timothy 3:11, he is a slanderer; in 2 Timothy 3:3, he is a false accuser. Peter, when tempting Jesus to shun the cross, did Satan’s work and therefore Jesus called him Satan’s name (Matt 16:23). Judas is called a devil when acting on Satan’s behalf (John 6:70). Satan is a liar (John 8:44; Gen 3:4–5), full of malice and a murderer (1 John 3:12; Gen 4:1), and he is prideful (1 Tim 3:6).² According to biblical research, Satan slanders God to man accusing man of his transgressions before God (Gen 3; Zech 3:1).

Psalm 109:6 gives a different meaning for Satan. In this Psalm, the author prays for justice for the wicked. He asks for God to let “saa-tuhn” stand next to his earthly enemies so that he and God can fight against them. This verse references the enemy of mankind. In Numbers 22:22, “saa-tuhn” refers to the angel of the Lord who opposed Balaam (Num 22:22). In this narrative, God’s servant, Balaam, was disobedient. God used the Angel of the Lord to oppose him. The word “oppose” in Hebrew is the word “saa-tuhn,” a direct reference to the adversary. Here God used saa-tuhn to oppose the prophet. Whenever “saa-tuhn” is used as a proper name in the Old Testament, it refers to the great superhuman enemy of God, man, and good (1 Chron 21:1; Job 1:1–2:13).

The word, Satan, in the Old Testament is synonymous with opposition or adversarial activity. According to 1 Chronicles 21, Satan tempts David and deceives him into opposing God’s Word. He stands against David; he is his adversary (Saa-tuhn). His warfare strategy was to oppose Israel and create trouble for them with God. Job 2:3–6 shows that “Satan” in Hebrew is “ha-saa-tuhn.” The prefix “ha” declares that he is the archenemy of good. Saa-tuhn wanted to harm Job and sought God’s permission to assault him.

This use of the word “Satan” also occurs frequently in the New Testament. Satan in the Greek language means the accuser or the slanderer (Rev 12:10). The Revelation narrative reveals that Satan is the kat-ay’-gor-os (the accuser) who was responsible for the accusations against the children of God before the throne of God. As the katay’goros, Satan commits acts of warfare through opposition. The word in the New Testament is pronounced “Satanas,” which means “the accuser” in Aramaic. Jesus being tempted in Matthew’s narrative told Santanas that He will only worship the Lord His God (Matt 4:10).

Satan is also a tempter. In 1 Thessalonians 3:5, Paul declares his concern for the Church of Thessalonica when he had not heard from them. He was concerned that the tempter, “pi-rad’-zo,” had distracted them from following the will of God.

Peter, when tempting Jesus to shun the cross, did Santana’s work and therefore received Satan’s name (Matt 16:23). Satan was in opposition to God’s plan for redeeming humankind and tempted Peter to try to persuade Christ to change His plans. Judas is called a “devil” when acting on Satan’s behalf; he betrayed Jesus into the hands of those who hated him (John 6:70).

Another name for Satan in the New Testament is Devil. It too means false accuser or slanderer. Christ selected Judas to be a disciple even though He knew that the Devil would use him in his plan to kill Jesus (John 6:70). An additional Greek name for Satan is “Beelzebub” (Matt 12:24), or “the Lord of the flies.” Satan in the New Testament is also called “the wicked one” (Matt 13:19, 38); “the ruler of this world” (John 12:31); “the god of this age” (2 Cor 4:4); “Belial” (2 Cor 6:15), “the prince of the power of the air” (Eph 2:2); and “the accuser of our brethren” (Rev 12:10).

These Scripture narratives reveal the character and agenda of Satan. Jesus calls Satan “the wicked one” because he comes to take the Word of God from the hearts of men after it has been proclaimed (Matt 13:19, 38). Satan opposes the gospel and those that desire to hear it. He is also known for placing enemies inside of the church that appear to look like believers. They are called children of the wicked one.

Jesus declares in John 12:31 that Satan is the god of this world. He is ruler of earth. In Jesus’ prayer to His Father, He announces that the prince of this world is now to be judged (John 16:11). In 2 Corinthians 4:4, the Apostle Paul declares that Satan is the god of this age, and he has blinded the minds of humanity so that they cannot see the glorious gospel of the light of Christ. Satan is the enemy of man and opposes him and God, refusing to allow man access to God. His name is also known as Belial, the worthless one (2 Cor 6:15).

According to Paul, Satan is the chief architect of chaos and warfare against God, man and the angels (Eph 2:2). Paul says to the Church of Ephesus that at one time when they were living in sin, they followed the prince and power of this world, a spirit who works and lives in the children of disobedience. This describes the influence and superior nature of Satan, the archenemy of good, man and God.
Though this enemy and fallen being has many names, he only has one objective: to fight against the believer and the work of God on the earth. This is spiritual warfare. Ephesians 6:11 explains that spiritual war is fought against spiritual powers and beings with authority in unseen places. Scripture affirms that an evil personality is in the universe who opposes the children and the kingdom of God. This personality has a name and an agenda. Modern scholars and practitioners have published journals, books, and resources that attest to the truth of the ancient writers. Evangelicals ascribe to these generations of thinkers. The following section examines two other enemies just as deadly as Satan. They are called the world and the flesh.

¹ James Strong, Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of The Bible (Madison, NJ: Abington Press, Inc., 1980), 1180.
² Scripture quotations in this paper are taken from the New King James version of the Bible unless otherwise noted.

The world (fallen-humanity) has a system of beliefs that operates under the god of this world and the direction of its leader, Satan (John 12:31). He leads by deception and destruction and stands against truth, righteousness, godliness, holiness, and the good news of Jesus Christ. In this system of beliefs (with human leaders) and governments, there is great opposition to Christianity and to Jesus Christ as Lord. Jesus says that Christians are the light of the world (Matt 5:14), meaning Christians are the righteousness of God that shines amidst the darkness of this world.

Christ charges believers to be in the world (cosmos) but not of the world (wicked-humanity) (John 17:14–18). Spiritual warfare comes in many forms: from the world, through humans, and through the influence of sin and Satan. This is a fallen world, that is influenced by an evil spirit who has a strategic plan to oppose all those who love God and are a part of his heavenly kingdom.

First John says that believers can know they are of God, and the whole world is under the control of the evil one. Christians can identify with this because the world is in a battle with them. It is a hostile enemy, who seeks to destroy them (John 15:18).

The Psalmist describes the world as men of the world having their portion in this life (Ps 17:14). “World” may also denote the fleeting character of life’s riches and pleasures and the folly of making them centrally important in life: “Will a person gain anything if he wins the whole world, but loses his life?” (Matt 16:26). The “world” in this sense is not a person but things and objects to be worshiped.

Jesus states, “You belong to the world here below but I come from above” (John 8:23). Jesus was living in this world, but He was separated from its temporal and worldly influence in his own life. “World” also denotes the condition of human affairs with man alienated from and opposed to God. Jesus wants His followers to live in the world to serve and to witness but not to be caught up in its godless pleasures and perversities.

In His high priestly prayer to His Father, Jesus requests protection for His disciples: “I do not ask you to keep them out of the world, but I do ask you to keep them safe from the Evil One” (John 17:15). The narrative reveals that “world” has two meanings but one pronunciation, “kos-mous.”

Scriptures suggest that the world is against both the believer and the rule of God. It rejects Christ, His Word, His bride, and uplifts all those who stand in opposition to Christianity.

According to Scripture, the believer is commanded to not love the world or the things in the world: “If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world, and the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever (1 John 2:15–17).”

These Scriptures indicate a hostile presence from people who are of the world or who oppose Jesus and the church. These humans are also under the sway or influence of the evil one who is in battle with Christ and his disciples. Spiritual warfare with the world, the flesh and the devil, are intertwined, and these enemies are poised to attack those who are not of this world. The world hates the believer and is at odds with the faith (John.15:18). It serves the prince and the power of the air.

The flesh, or the sinful nature discussed in Scripture is often called the fallen nature of man, or the sinful nature of man. It is also known as that which has been conformed to the world and embraces carnal living and sinful activity and rebellion against God (Gal 5:16–19).

Biblical writers thought of the flesh as weak in that it could not withstand sinful attitudes and behavior. The Psalmist sang, “In God I have put my trust; I will not fear. What can flesh do to me?” (Ps 56:4). In the New Testament, “flesh” has the same two-fold meaning. The word for flesh in the New Testament is “sarx.” The Apostle Paul spoke of the flesh of men, beasts, fish, and birds (1 Cor 15:39). It is considered the skin of the created creature, which houses the intellect and the will.

In Scripture, the weakness of the flesh was blamed for the disciples’ inability to keep watch with Jesus in Gethsemane on the eve of His crucifixion (Mark 14:38). In an even stronger sense, flesh is the earthly part of man representing lusts and desires (Eph 2:3). According to Paul, the flesh is contrary to the Spirit (Gal 5:17). It has the ability to war against the new nature of the Christian. Paul, in this narrative, explains how powerful the flesh is and that there is an internal battle happening inside of the believer.

Paul says those who are in the flesh cannot please God (Rom 8:8) because the flesh opposes God, and it is fallen. Galatians 5:19–23 shows the exegetical contrasts between the works of the flesh and the fruit of the Spirit. The two are at odds and war continuously.

The flesh in and of itself is not completely condemned for Christ was described as being in the flesh (1 John 4:2). Christ alone is salvation, since the works of the law cannot justify the flesh (Gal 2:16).The Spirit is able to tame the flesh, control its pulses, crucify its desires, and control its nature, but the Spirit must be stronger than its foe.

According to Romans 3:23, the flesh has sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. No one is righteous and able to please a Holy God (Rom 3:10). This is a picture of man’s sinful status before God and evidence that human nature (flesh) is contrary to the things of God. Jesus said in a conversation with Nicodemus (a religious leader) that for a man to see God, he must be born again. He must receive a new birth that will give him a new nature (John 3:3). The Christian with a new nature lives in an old body inhabited by an old nature. This new nature wars with the old nature and brings the believer into a struggle with their walk with God.

Paul the Apostle believed in an internal war for the believer. According to Paul, there is a war that is evident in the Christian. The works of the flesh (old nature) fight against the new nature, and this brings on internal spiritual warfare in the heart. This is not satanic possession but is the work of the sin nature of man, which is bowed toward the god of this world (Satan) (Rom 7:18–25).

Galatians 5:19–23 identifies the sinful nature of man that wars against God’s new birth inside of the believer. Galatians says that the activities of the sinful nature are: “adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God” (Gal 5:16–21).

The sinful nature of born again believers opposes the work of the gospel in the life of the Christian and the earth. It is deceitful, wicked, and extremely dangerous. The sinful nature affects the believer’s joy, hinders their level of effectiveness in the kingdom and destroys the work of ministry in the church. This internal struggle has been the fight of every believer who has ever lived. Each born-again generation has to learn to master the flesh. The next section will examine several ideas from this perspective.

Scripture affirms that Satan can also use the sin nature. For example, Jesus warns Peter that Satan demanded permission to “sift you like wheat” (Luke 22:31). Peter later warns believers to be of sober spirit and to be on the alert: “Your adversary,

the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour” (1 Pet 5:8). The Apostle Paul, who experienced a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan (2 Cor 12:7), likewise admonished believers to put on the full armor of God, so that they would be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil (Eph 6:11). James also called believers to resist the devil presupposing that the enemy would attack (Jas 4:7).

The sinful nature longs to oppose the Spirit. Under the swaying influence of Satan, the world desires to live lawlessly against God. The sinful nature is always awake; it attempts to pull the believer into a direction that will cause great pain and because of this enemy believers are in need of assistance. God has provided a resource that is extremely valuable, it is the Word of God, and it opposes the sinful nature.

In summation of this paper, the war is between Satan, the world, and the flesh. Scripture declares the reality of the battle and the resources needed to be victorious in the war. God uses preaching to save men from captivity and to save them from sinful behaviors (Mark 16:15).

This paper affirms that the battle is real and the believer must be prepared to deal with all three of these as they journey in this life. I am grateful for the readings and the information I have obtained.

Events in church history show that demonstrations of God’s power often lead some to believe, but they also excite the enemy (the world and Satan) to greater opposition leading to persecution and death. In the Book of Acts, persecution, imprisonment, and death were given to those who did great works for Christ on earth. The reality of persecution as spiritual warfare is the perspective that is recorded in biblical history and came to the first century church. Satan being the god of this age was able to use this system to persecute believers of the church. Christianity suffered great persecution from the world during this time period.

According to Scripture, the followers of Jesus and early church fathers endured spiritual warfare with the world. Satan, the prince and power of the air, convinced men that Christianity was evil and that it must be silenced on earth (Acts 7:12).

The first church Martyr was Stephen in Acts 7:57–58. He was stoned to death because of his faith. Judaism tried to destroy the works of the church. World religion was at war with Christianity. Since that day, world governments and religions have attempted to wipe out the gospel.³

The second martyr of the church was James, the son of Zebedee, the elder brother of John, and a relative of the Lord. His martyrdom took place ten years after the death of Stephen (Acts 12:2). Clemens Alexandrinus recounts that as James was led to the place of martyrdom, his accuser was brought to testify, and because of the apostle’s courage, his accuser fell down at James’ feet to request his pardon, professing himself a Christian, and resolving that James should not receive the crown of martyrdom alone. As a result, they were both beheaded at the same time. These events took place 44 AD. The world ruler and emperor under the influence of the evil one sought to kill followers of Christ.⁴

Another Martyr of the church and victim of spiritual warfare was Phillip the Apostle. According to Scripture, he was born in Bethsaida, Galilee and was the first “disciple.” He labored diligently in Upper Asia and suffered martyrdom at Heliopolis, in Phrygia. He was scourged, thrown into prison, and afterwards crucified (A.D. 54). Because of his faith in Christ, he was executed in spiritual warfare.⁵

The fourth apostle to face martyrdom was Matthew. He was a toll-gatherer born in Nazareth, and he wrote his Gospel in Hebrew, served the Lord in Ethiopia and was slain for the gospel in A.D. 60.⁶ The world in the first century was thirsty for the blood of the saints, and opposition to the gospel was prevalent in the ancient world. All men that followed Jesus were subject to death and persecution because of their faith. There was warfare against the church, yet those Christ called followed Him into battle. ⁷Another apostle and victim of spiritual warfare with the world was James the less. He was elected to oversee the churches in Jerusalem and was the author of the Epistle ascribed to James. At the age of ninety-four, the Jews stoned and beat him; finally, they dashed out his brains with a fuller’s club.⁸ This too was an act of spiritual warfare.

According to John Winston, Matthias was the next Apostle to be killed for the sake of the gospel. Matthais took Judas the betrayer’s place as a disciple. Very little is known of him, but his death was recorded as that of a stoning for his faith. These events took place in Jerusalem where he was beheaded. ⁹

Andrew was the younger brother of Peter, a follower of Jesus. According to Winston, he preached the gospel to many Asiatic nations, but on his arrival at Edessa, he was taken and crucified on a cross, the two ends of which were fixed transversely in the ground. He was killed for his faith and for following Christ.¹⁰

Mark, the writer of the Gospel of Mark, was supposedly converted to Christianity by Peter and taught the ways of Christ. According to historians, the people of Alexandria dragged him to death, because he opposed the gods of Egypt.¹¹The world and spiritual warfare during the first and second century was hostile towards the gospel. Those who followed Christ were willing sufferers who endured hardship and death as good soldiers of Jesus Christ.

According to church historians, Nero sought Peter to put him to death, which when the people perceived Nero’s actions, they pleaded with Peter to leave the city: “Peter, being persuaded by them is said to have prepared to leave but when he came to the gate of the city, he saw the Lord Christ come to meet him. He said, ‘Lord, where are you going’? Jesus said I am come again to be crucified. By this Peter, understood his suffering was to be in the city too.” Church Historian, Jerome, says that Peter was crucified with his head being down and his feet upward, because he said, “I am unworthy to be crucified after the same form and manner as the Lord was.”¹²

According to Jerome, Paul also suffered under Nero. Under this world ruler, spiritual warfare against the church was elevated. The soldiers led Paul out of the city to the place of execution where he, after his prayers, gave his neck to the sword.¹³

These martyrs’ testimonies prove that because of faith in Christ, the world and its rulers in opposition to Christianity persecute believers. The prophetic warnings and words of Christ ring true that the world is in opposition to the church. Jude, the brother of James, was commonly called Thaddeus. He was crucified at Edessa, because of his affection and obedience to Jesus Christ. His charge was that he was Christ’s disciple. This happened in A.D. 72. ¹⁴

Bartholomew, the disciple and servant of Jesus Christ, was also killed in spiritual warfare. Before his death, he preached in several countries and translated the Gospel of Matthew into Indian language.¹⁵ Because of his ministry in India, he was cruelly beaten and then crucified by idolaters. Thomas, called Didymus, preached the gospel in Parthia and India where, exciting the rage of the pagan priests, he was martyred with a spear.¹⁶

According to Winston, the idolatrous priests of Greece hanged Luke the evangelist who travelled with Paul supposedly on an olive tree. Simon, surnamed Zelotes, preached the gospel in Mauritania, Africa, and even in Britain, where he was later crucified for the faith of the saints in A.D. 74. ¹⁷

John, the beloved disciple, was brother to James the Great, and he founded the churches of Smyrna, Pergamos, Sardis, Philadelphia, Laodicea, and Thyatira (Rev 2:3). From Ephesus, he was sent to Rome where he was cast into a cauldron of boiling oil. He escaped by miracle without injury. Roman Emperor Domitian afterwards banished him to the Isle of Patmos, where he wrote the Book of Revelation. He was the only apostle who escaped a violent death.

Barnabas, the son of encouragement and a faithful disciple was from Cyprus. He was killed in A.D. 73. He too suffered because of spiritual warfare and the world.¹⁸

These persecutions and deaths did not prevent the gospel from being spread across the world. The church did not cease but rather daily increased, deeply rooted in the doctrine of the apostles and the faith of Jesus Christ. These foundational years of spiritual warfare in early Church history set the course of action for spiritual battle with Satan and his angels. Believers since that time have endured death, prison, physical torture, and other hostilities. Jesus forewarned believers that they would experience such warfare and persecution because of His Name (John 15:19). He informed them of the battle that was ahead of them; they all embraced the cross and endured spiritual warfare and persecution.

³Some examples in Acts can be found in 4:3, 7:58, 8:1, 9:23, 11:2, 12:2, 14:19, 16:23, 17:5, 18:12, 21:27, 22:22, 23:2, 24:5–27, 25:2.
⁴ John Winston, Foxe's Book of Martyrs (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1978), 2.
⁵ Ibid 3
⁶ Ibid
⁷ Ibid
⁸ Ibid
⁹ Ibid
¹⁰ Ibid
¹¹ Ibid
¹² Ibid
¹³ Ibid. 6
¹⁴ Ibid. 7
¹⁵ Ibid 80
¹⁶ Ibid. 9
¹⁷ Ibid
¹⁸ Ibid

Scripture affirms that Satan continues to use the sin nature. For example, Jesus warns Peter that Satan demanded permission to “sift you like wheat” (Luke 22:31). Peter later warns believers to be of sober spirit and to be on the alert: “Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour” (1 Pet 5:8). The Apostle Paul, who experienced a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan (2 Cor 12:7), likewise admonished believers to put on the full armor of God, so that they would be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil (Eph 6:11). James also called believers to resist the devil presupposing that the enemy would attack (Jas 4:7). Samuel Wilson says, “Christians are forced, given the nature of evangelism and spiritual struggle associated with it, to a military metaphor...This is the language of scripture, because it is the reality of our engagement with real spiritual enemies.” Believers are in a war. ¹⁹

A. Scott Moreau believes Satan’s strategy is to beat up sinners who fail to comprehend the meaning of real grace. Moreau affirms that this method often leads to a cycle of defeat and discouragement.²⁰ Moreau’s observation is consistent with warfare views of the Scripture. According to John 10:10, the adversary attacks and harms and seeks to steal, kill and destroy.

Lewis Sperry Chafer explains one of Satan’s purposes in attacking believers. The believer is the object of satanic attack because the children of God are committed to the great ministry of reconciliation.²¹ He says that this testimony in life, word and prayer give the facts of redemption to the world. If Satan can cripple believers’ services, he accomplishes much in resisting the present purpose of God. No other explanations are adequate for the dark pages of church history, the appalling failure of the church in worldwide evangelism, or her present sectarian divisions and selfish indifference.²² Divided believers offer little hope to an already fractured world. The sinful nature is at the beckoning call to the Evil One; he works in diligent ways to get the believer to fail to obey the Spirit of God. The empowered flesh is difficult to resist.²³

Chafer’s conclusion that no other explanation (other than satanic attacks) adequately explains the church’s failures is perhaps overstated, but his point remains valid. One reason that Satan attacks believers is to weaken their testimony in life and word. When believers fail under spiritual attack, the witness of God’s people is hindered. For this reason, the enemy most carefully aims his arrows at believers whose lives are God-honoring.²⁴

Conclusion

In summation of this book spiritual warfare is anything that stands against, opposes, or hinders the gospel and the work and witness of God in a believer’s life and in the church. This book affirms that God is the supreme and final authority on spiritual warfare the world and the sinful nature. He has provided Scripture to establish doctrine and theology. The above-mentioned scripture agrees that Satan, the prince and power of the air, is strategically responsible for evil on earth. The reality of spiritual warfare war is between God, angels, and the Christian versus Satan, the world, and the flesh. Scripture declares the reality of the battle and the resources needed to be victorious in the war. God uses scripture to reveal to men their sinful behaviors and spiritual enemies (Mark 16:15).

According to this book there is a ongoing battle that is taking place inside of believers between the old and the new nature, and it is manifested in believers’ behavior and attitudes. The Apostle Paul writes, “I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, my sinful nature, for I have desired to do what it is good but I cannot carry it out. For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do—This I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I doing it but the sin that lives in me that does it” (Rom 7:18-20).

Paul’s message to the Christian is to inform them of the spiritual struggle and activity inside of every believer. This book attempts to reveal how this too is a portion of spiritual warfare in Christian life.

Events in church history show that the world and Satan delivered persecution and death to members of the Church. In the Book of Acts, persecution, imprisonment, and death were given to those who did great works for Christ on earth. The reality of persecution as spiritual warfare is the perspective that is recorded in biblical history and came to the first century church. Satan being the god of this age was able to use this system to persecute believers of the church. Christianity suffered great persecution from the world during this time period.

This book examines satanic existence, worldly opposition and the believers’ sinful nature, which opposes the Christian believer’s mission in the earth. These three enemies are at war attempting to stop, frustrate, confuse, and thwart the good news of Jesus Christ.

As the reality of this battle is continues to unfold in human history it is the prayer of this researcher that I may be able to conduct further research on these three enemies of the Church (the world, the sinful nature, and Satan). I pray to expose them in a sermon series titled, “The Reality of Spiritual warfare.”

¹⁹ Samuel Wilson, “Evangelism and Spiritual Warfare,” Journal of the Academy for Evangelism in Theological Education 10 (1994-95): 39.
²⁰ A. Scott Moreau, Essentials of Spiritual Warfare: Equipped to Win the Battle (Wheaton, IL: Harold Shaw, 1997), 85.
²¹ Lewis Sperry Chafer, Satan: His Motives and Methods, rev. ed. (Grand Rapids, MI: Kregel, 1990), 70
²² Ibid
²³ Ibid
²⁴ Ibid

Bibliography

• Arnold, Clinton. “Three Questions about Spiritual Warfare. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Publishing, 1997.
• Chafer, Lewis Sperry. Satan: His Motives and Methods. Revised edition. Grand Rapids, MI: Kregel, 1990.
• Epp, Theodore H. How to Resist Satan. Lincoln, NE: Good News Broadcasting Association, 1958.
• Evans, Tony. The Battle is the Lords: Waging Victorious Spiritual Warfare. Chicago, IL: Moody Press, 1998.
• Hiebert, Paul. “Spiritual Warfare and World Views.” Direction Journal, A Mennonite Brethren Forum 29, No. 2 (Fall 2000): 114–24.
• Strong, James Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of The Bible (Madison, NJ: Abington Press, Inc., 1980), 1180.
• Winston, John Foxe's Book of Martyrs (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1978), 2.