Spiritual Warfare

I would now like to speak about something every Christian faces: spiritual warfare. This means the struggle we go through against temptation, sin, and the powers of darkness. The Bible shows us that our faith is not only about believing, but also about standing firm against the enemy with God’s help.

Our battle is spiritual, not just physical. Saint Paul writes: “For we are not contending against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the rulers of this present darkness, against the spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places” (Ephesians 6:12). This reminds us that evil is real, but our strength comes from God.

God gives us His armor. Paul tells us to “put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil” (Ephesians 6:11). He describes this armor as truth, righteousness, faith, salvation, the Word of God, and prayer (Ephesians 6:13–18). These are not physical weapons, but the spiritual gifts God gives us to remain strong.

Jesus is our example in resisting temptation. When Jesus was tempted in the wilderness, He answered every attack of the devil with Scripture: “It is written…” (Matthew 4:4, 7, 10). This shows us that knowing and using God’s Word is one of the greatest defenses in spiritual warfare.

Prayer is our shield. Paul tells us to “pray without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:17). In moments of temptation, even a short prayer such as, “Lord, have mercy” or “Lord Jesus Christ, save me,” can bring God’s strength into our weakness.

We are not left to fight alone. God promises: “Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you” (James 4:7–8). The Orthodox Church also teaches that we fight as part of a family. The prayers of the saints, the sacraments of the Church, and the support of other Christians all strengthen us in the battle.

Victory belongs to Christ. The good news is that the battle has already been won in Jesus. On the Cross, “He disarmed the principalities and powers and made a public example of them, triumphing over them in Him” (Colossians 2:15). When we cling to Christ, we share in His victory.

Spiritual warfare is real, but we need not fear. God gives us His armor, His Word, His Spirit, and His Church to help us. Our part is to stay watchful, resist temptation, and keep our eyes fixed on Christ, who has already overcome the world (John 16:33).

With love in Christ,
Fr. Charles

Next Letter: Family