What is Spiritual Warfare?

Spiritual warfare is a Christian concept of the ongoing fight against supernatural evil forces. There are many forms of spiritual warfare, including prayer, decrees and declarations, fasting, laying on of hands, and anointing with oil. Each of these forms serves different purposes and may or may not be seen as elements of “warfare” to those unfamiliar with the concept of spiritual war.

Curt Landry has spoken at length several times about the issue of spiritual warfare. He has, for example, frequently encouraged the local religious community to strive for unity to make its fight in these spiritual battles easier.

Fighting these battles by one’s own self is not necessarily a smart move.

“Many times, something… will be sent by the enemy to frighten, distract and destroy the task that God has intended for us to complete. Touching what we are not assigned to can often have dramatic and sometimes deadly results, because we have chosen to operate outside of alignment of God’s will.”

—Curt Landry

For a better idea of what spiritual warfare is, here is a passage from a letter of Paul to the Ephesians:

“Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints—and for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.”

—Ephesians 6:10-20