With all that has been going on in the world of late this might be a good time to review some principles of spiritual warfare. Before Jesus was baptized and began his public ministry of destroying the work of the devil (1 John 3:8), there were a number of years where Jesus was in formation, reading and meditating on the scriptures in obscurity.
Jesus knew God. Jesus is God. Jesus knew his enemies. And when Jesus began his public ministry, He did not back down from the diabolic and go on defense. Jesus went on offense. Big difference! We too are called to go on offense for the Lord.
This is why I pray the rosary every day. I’m the little pawn that helps to open up the lanes on the spiritual chessboard to let the Queen of Heaven take over!
Spiritual Warfare is Real
I would prefer the exterior and interior evils we have to combat did not exist, but they do exist, and they’re not going away. On the contrary, spiritual warfare and suffering are unavoidable. We have to accept it, align our will with God’s will, and combat evil.
The greater your faith and wisdom, the better you can successfully combat diabolical influences in your life and provide help for the lives of your loved ones and fellow Christians throughout the world who undergo the same testings and struggles.
This is why I am a member of the Rosary Confraternity. We pray for each other!
Most of the spiritual warfare principles in this post I learned from spiritual warfare expert and exorcist, Fr. Chad Ripperger, Dr. Paul Thigpen, Fr. Vivian Boland, the late Fr. Don Scupoli and others. May God bless them all for their ministry and for fighting the good fight in the name of Our Lord Jesus Christ +
There is an abundance of sacred scripture verses to support the spiritual warfare principles listed below. Our spiritual combat is with the world, the flesh and the devil.
“The difficulties, even the attacks we endure, mean to separate us from our own selfishness and open us more to God. – Fr. Mark Niehaus
12 Spiritual Warfare Principles
The first principle below I think is the most important one, and just to know and understand it, I think it can change your whole paradigm about life and fortify your faith in Christ. The devil is not running around unchecked. God has the final say.
Spiritual Warfare Principle #1 – Christ Controls All Spiritual Warfare
Jesus approached and said to them,
“All power in heaven and on earth has been given to me.
Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.
And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age.” Matthew 28:18-20
- Christ has control over every facet of spiritual warfare, even down to the minutia.
- Minutia – defined as the smallest and finest details of anything (Mt 10:30).
- Christ determines the types of diabolical influences He allows in our lives.
I am the LORD forming the light and creating the darkness, making peace and creating evil. Isaiah 45:6-7
Spiritual Warfare Principle #2 – The Fall of Adam and Eve
Now the snake was the most cunning of all the wild animals that the LORD God had made… Genesis 3:1
When Adam and Eve fell, they seated a certain amount of control over their body to Satan and those under him. In committing the sin, they took themselves out from underneath God and placed themselves under the domination and control of Satan. Demons have access to any aspect of your body. This is an important point. – Fr. Ripperger
CCC 407 The doctrine of original sin, closely connected with that of redemption by Christ, provides lucid discernment of man’s situation and activity in the world. By our first parents’ sin, the devil has acquired a certain domination over man, even though man remains free…
Spiritual Warfare Principle #3 – Divine Economy of Authority
Let every person be subordinate to the higher authorities, for there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been established by God. Therefore, whoever resists authority opposes what God has appointed, and those who oppose it will bring judgment upon themselves. Romans 13:1-2
- When God created the angels, He established the Divine Economy of Authority.
- Divine Economy of Authority has a specific structure, a hierarchy.
- Divine Economy of Authority has set of laws in the ways that if functions.
- The demons know it, they have to obey it and live according to it.
- The demons do not like the structure that is there, but they also make use of it.
Fr. Ripperger has said that when the fallen angles lost their status of hierarchy in heaven and were cast down to earth (Rev 12:12), they know that the saints will take their places in God’s hierarchy arranged in heaven, and they are infuriated about it.
Spiritual Warfare Principle #4 – Types of Diabolical Influences
Be sober and vigilant. Your opponent the devil is prowling around like a roaring lion looking for [someone] to devour. 1 Peter 5:8
There are two (2) types of diabolical influence:
Ordinary Diabolical Influence
- Everyone is subject to it
- The Blessed Virgin Mary was not subject to it.
- This is why the Blessed Virgin Mary is called Mother Inviolate.
Extraordinary Diabolical Influence
Possession
- The most dangerous and most rare form of diabolical influence.
Obsession
- Interior life – people just cannot keep their mind off things.
Oppression
- Exterior life – demons start destroying the things around you in your world – home, family, relationships, work, etc.
Infestation
- Diabolical activity connected with a place, building or object.
Per spiritual warfare expert and exorcist Msgr. Stephen Rossetti, America is under an unprecedented level of oppression and influence from the diabolic. God help us!
Spiritual Warfare Principle #5 – Sin and its Effects
If we say, “We are without sin,” we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 1 John 1:8
Mortal Sins
It only takes one (1) mortal sin to be subject to extraordinary diabolic influence. Mortal sins are grievous offenses against the law of God.
Venial Sins
Lessen the love of God in our heart, making us less worthy of His help, and the weakening of the power to resist mortal sin.
Capital Sins
Pride, Covetousness, Lust, Anger, Gluttony, Envy, Sloth
Take some time and acknowledge your sins to Jesus in the evenings. Forget about yourself and be done with them. God will forgive you if you acknowledge your sins to Him. This may give you a boost of grace because it takes humility to do that. You could pray the Act of Contrition, Psalm 51, or just pray from the heart.
Spiritual Warfare Principle #6 – Five Types of Diabolical Temptations
Put on the armor of God so that you may be able to stand firm against the tactics of the devil. Ephesians 6:11
1. Deception
The Devil is the father of lies and the heart of his temptations are lies.
….The devil was a murderer from the beginning and does not stand in truth, because there is no truth in him. When he tells a lie, he speaks in character, because he is a liar and the father of lies. John 8:44
2. Accusation
The Devil is the accuser of Christians.
Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say: “Now have salvation and power come, and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Anointed. For the accuser of our brothers is cast out, who accuses them before our God day and night. Revelation 12:10
3. Doubt
Demons seek to diminish your faith and fidelity in God.
Now the snake was the most cunning of all the wild animals that the LORD God had made. He asked the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You shall not eat from any of the trees in the garden’?” Genesis 3:1
4. Enticement
Demons tempt us with attraction to other things, anything but God.
The woman saw that the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eyes, and the tree was desirable for gaining wisdom. So she took some of its fruit and ate it; and she also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it. Genesis 3:6
5. Provocation
Use circumstances to drag us down with pride, anger, lust and despair.
Then his wife said to him, “Are you still holding to your innocence? Curse God and die!” Job 2:9
Spiritual Warfare Principle #7 – Diabolical Warfare Principles
“Every kingdom divided against itself will be laid waste, and no town or house divided against itself will stand. And if Satan drives out Satan, he is divided against himself; how, then, will his kingdom stand? Matthew 12:25-26
Anything but God
Demons will get you to fixate on something to an exaggerated or extreme degree to where it starts to detract you from your relationship with God.
Divide and Conquer
The principal way demons try to get people to divide is getting people to hook on to the perspective they have on what other people are doing or saying, or things of that sort. This is why Christ says do not judge (Mt 7:1)
Anything but Moderation
Demons will make you go from one extreme to another; they don’t care what that extreme is, as long as it is not moderated.
Likeness for Power
Fr. Ripperger noted that during previous sessions, he would find the demons would rather sing the Tantum Ergo than give up any power, grip, or influence they have over someone or some locality (example – a building or territory). Demons even challenged Jesus over their territorial places of influence in the Gospels.
When He got out of the boat, at once a man from the tombs who had an unclean spirit met him. Mark 5:2
Spiritual Warfare Principle #8 – The Levels of Spiritual Warfare
If you belonged to the world, the world would love its own; but because you do not belong to the world, and I have chosen you out of the world, the world hates you. John 15:19
Attacks from the enemy can occur on the following levels:
- Personal level
- Moral level
- Spiritual level
- Social level
- Intellectual level
- Political level
Stop and think about how Jesus and His disciples experienced attacks on these various levels in the Gospels. Contemplate how Jesus orchestrated a Divine demolition job on every one of those attacks from the diabolic. He is an amazing God!
Spiritual Warfare Principle #9 – Jesus Calls His Disciples to be Spiritual Warfare Participants, not Spectators
Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. Matthew 16:24-25
Warfare
For, although we are in the flesh, we do not battle according to the flesh, for the weapons of our battle are not of flesh but are enormously powerful, capable of destroying fortresses. We destroy arguments and every pretension raising itself against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive in obedience to Christ, 2 Corinthians 10:3-5
Struggle
For to you has been granted, for the sake of Christ, not only to believe in him but also to suffer for him. Yours is the same struggles as you saw in me and now hear about me. Philippians 1:29-30
It is he whom we proclaim, admonishing everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone perfect in Christ. For this I labor and struggle, in accord with the exercise of his power working within me. Colossians 1:28-29
Remember the days past when, after you had been enlightened, you endured a great contest of suffering. Hebrews 10:32
Consider how He endured such opposition from sinners, in order that you may not grow weary and lose heart. In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding blood. Hebrews 12:3-4
Fight
I entrust this charge to you, Timothy, my child, in accordance with the prophetic words once spoken about you. Through them may you fight a good fight. 1 Tim 1 :18
Compete
Do you not know that the runners in the stadium all run in the race, but only one wins the prize? Run so as to win. Every athlete exercises discipline in every way. They do it to win a perishable crown, but we an imperishable one. 1 Corinthians 9:24-25
…I do not fight as if I were shadowboxing. No, I drive my body and train it, for fear that, after having preached to others, I myself should be disqualified. 1 Corinthians 9:26-27
Flesh vs. Spirit
…if you live according to the flesh, you will die, but if by the spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. Romans 8:13
Good vs. Evil
…the hour is coming in which all who are in the tombs will hear his voices and will come out, those who have done good deeds to the resurrection of life, but those who have done wicked deeds to the resurrection of condemnation. John 5:28-29
So, then, I discover the principle that when I want to do right, evil is at hand. For I take delight in the law of God, in my inner self, l but I see in my members another principle at war with the law of my mind… Romans 7:21-23
Light vs. Darkness
The lamp of the body is your eye. When your eye is sound, then your whole body is filled with light, but when it is bad, then your body is in darkness. Luke 11:34
Truth vs. Falsehood
Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and am here; I did not come on my own, but he sent me. Why do you not understand what I am saying? Because you cannot bear to hear my word. You belong to your father the devil and you willingly carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning and does not stand in truth, because there is no truth in him. When he tells a lie, he speaks in character, because he is a liar and the father of lies. But because I speak the truth, you do not believe me. John 8:42-45
Life and Death
And do not present the parts of your bodies to sin as weapons for wickedness, but present yourselves to God as raised from the dead to life and the parts of your bodies to God as weapons for righteousness. Romans 6:13
For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:23
Spiritual Warfare Principle #10 – Lovers of the World and Lovers of God
Do not love the world or the things of the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 1 John 2:15
Lovers of the World
…Do you not know that to be a lover of the world means enmity with God? Therefore, whoever wants to be a lover of the world makes himself an enemy of God. James 4:4
- Lust of the flesh – relating to self
- Lust of the eyes – relating to others
- Pride of life – relating to God
Lovers of God
So submit yourselves to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you of two minds. James 4:7-8
Fasting
Relating to self
Almsgiving
Relating to others
Prayer
Relating to God
Spiritual Warfare Principle #11 – Vows of Religion Combat Temptations
Watch and pray that you may not undergo the test. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” Matthew 26:41
- Vow of Chastity – combats lusts of the flesh.
- Vow of Poverty – combats lusts of the eyes.
- Vow of Obedience – combats the pride of life.
Spiritual Warfare Principle #12 – Four Weapons to Combat Against Selfish Human Nature
Better to take refuge in the LORD than to put one’s trust in mortals. Psalms 118:8
Weapon #1 : Distrust in Oneself
Those who trust in themselves are fools, but those who walk in wisdom are safe. Proverbs 28:26
Weapon #2: Trust in God
In all your ways be mindful of him, and he will make straight your paths. Proverbs 3:5
Weapon #3: Spiritual Exercises
…train yourself for devotion, for, while physical training is of limited value, devotion is valuable in every respect, since it holds a promise of life both for the present and for the future. 1 Timothy 4:7-8
Weapon #4: Prayer
Will not God then secure the rights of his chosen ones who call out to him day and night? Will he be slow to answer them? I tell you, he will see to it that justice is done for them speedily. But when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?” Luke 18:7-8
I have a previous post about spiritual warfare principles I learned from Father Mark Goring of the Companions of the Cross: 7 Principles of Spiritual Warfare.
Viva Cristo Rey!!
