Journal: Journal of Ministry and Theology
Volume: JMAT 11:2 (Fall 2007)
Article: Contemporary Spiritual Warfare And Missiology
Author: Ken L. Davis

JMAT 11:2 (Fall 2007) p. 77

Contemporary Spiritual Warfare And Missiology1

Ken L. Davis

Director of Church Planting

Baptist Bible Seminary, Clarks Summit, Pennsylvania

Throughout church history, the people of God have recognized that they need a strategy for overcoming opposition from Satan and his army of fallen angels, generally called demons, or evil spirits. This struggle is most commonly referred to as “spiritual warfare.” Spiritual warfare is generally considered to be the Christian encounter with these evil supernatural powers.

The original spiritual conflict was between Satan and God. On earth, conflict began in the Garden of Eden as recorded in Genesis 3 and will continue until the fulfillment of events predicted in Revelation 20. Christians recognize that on the level of the heavenlies, the war has already been won decisively by God through the death, resurrection, and exaltation of Christ (Col 2:15; 1 John 3:8). Yet, on earth the battle continues as believers in Christ face fierce and certain attacks from the Evil One and his helpers. In God’s sovereign plan, our daily battles are not for the purpose of determining who will win, but to demonstrate whether as God’s people we will appropriate the victory already won for us by Christ.

Spiritual conflict should be viewed as the normal experience for all obedient, maturing Christians. Jesus’ life is portrayed in the Gospels as one of constant conflict with Satan, evil spirits, and sinful human beings. As Jesus introduced the kingdom of God in power to a fallen and darkened world, the kingdom of Satan resisted him at every point. Christians who are obedient to Christ’s command in Matthew 28:19 to make disciples of all nations will encounter many similar types of spiritual conflict. Godly missionaries, whether in the two-thirds world or in the “developed” world, will inevitably experience this ongoing opposition.

The apostles of the NT experienced spiritual conflict as they made disciples and started new churches in pioneer areas. It is

JMAT 11:2 (Fall 2007) p. 78

significant that as Dr. Luke summarized Paul’s church planting efforts on his first missionary journey (Acts 14:21–23), he makes the statement (v. 22) “through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God.” As a missionary church planter, Paul encou...