In the writer’s book, Christian meditation: Returning to Biblical Meditation, the Key to Fruitfulness in the Christian life, he walks his readers through a brief biblical theology of meditation. First, he examines the Old Testament and second, he examines the New Testament. He shows his readers places in each testament where meditation is either commanded or encouraged. He also shows key characters in each testament practicing meditation. Third, in addition, he briefly introduces the reader to meditation by key figures throughout church history to the contemporary period. Resting on solid biblical theology, he works out a systematic theology statement on Christian meditation for his readers arguing that meditation is the key to fruitfulness in the Christian life today. The same can be shown of roles that angels, demons, the flesh, and the world play in spiritual warfare.
Any keen student of the Bible can point out biblical passages in both old and new testament that illustrate angels, demons, the flesh, and spiritual warfare. There are hundreds of books on spiritual warfare and spiritual formation today that show what contemporary scholars believe about spiritual warfare. The writer has a few dozens in his library and has consumed many. This writer believes that spiritual formation prepares the believer and lays the foundation for effective spiritual warfare and the two are intertwined, though not the same thing.
In an effort to keep this brief, below, this writer will briefly list scriptures from the Old Testament and New Testament on spiritual warfare and the role of angels, demons, and the flesh. The reader will briefly mention some literature on Spiritual warfare that he has read or listened to that shows the views of contemporary writers on the subject. Many of these books catalog the role of spiritual warfare in the early church and throughout church history. For the sake of brevity, this writer will not go into that. But the professor grading this work is encouraged to ask for further information if they desire.
Verses in the Old Testament that illustrate the roles that angels, demons, the flesh, and the world play in spiritual warfare.
-Moses and Pharoah. The ten plagues that led to the release of the Israelites from Egypt (Exodus 7-12)
–God with Satan over Job. God gives permission to Satan to test Job (Job 1-2). Notice that Satan is a fallen angel.
–Daniel’s vision (Daniel 10) especially verses 10-14 which says, “And behold, a hand touched me and set me trembling on my hands and knees. And he said to me, “O Daniel, man greatly loved, understand the words that I speak to you, and stand upright, for now I have been sent to you.” And when he had spoken this word to me, I stood up trembling. Then he said to me, “Fear not, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart to understand and humbled yourself before your God, your words have been heard, and I have come because of your words. The prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me twenty-one days, but Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, for I was left there with the kings of Persia, and came to make you understand what is to happen to your people in the latter days. For the vision is for days yet to come” Daniel 10:10-14. This passage shows angels including Michael in spiritual warfare against fallen angels (demons). The prayer of a righteous man, Daniel, is at the heart of it and cannot be resisted forever.
-Horses and Chariots of Fire surround Elisha. The prophet is besieged by the Aramean army. He prays to God to open his servant’s eyes to see the angelic army of chariots of fire that are in their defense, which is larger than the Aramean army against them (2 Kings 6:8-23). The solution Elisha chooses to fight this spiritual warfare is amazing. He has a tremendous army of angels backing him. Yet, he asks God to make the Aramean army blind. Which God does. Then he leads them into Samaria to have the King throw a feast for those people and set them loose to go to their master is amazing. It truly reflects the scripture, “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.”
In the 2 Kings passage, we also see angels involved. We also see the fleshly desires of the Arameans being used by the Devil to control them and use them to attack God’s chosen people.
-Satan (a spirit, fallen angel) tempts Adam and Eve. Gen. 3.
-Satan’s fall: Isaiah 14:12–20 and Ezekiel 28:11–19
There are many other ways that the devil does his work in the OT that for brevity, we won’t try to list.
Verses in the New Testament that illustrate the roles that angels, demons, the flesh, and the world play in spiritual warfare.
-The Whole Armor of God (Ephesians 6:10-20). This passage talks about standing firm and resisting the attacks of the devil (and his demons), who are all fallen angels.
-James 4:7 says, “Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” Again, the devil is an angel.
-“Do 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 desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.” 1 John 2:1-17 ESV.
-Romans 7, is a great passage in which Paul shows the struggle with the flesh.
“This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice. But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere.” James 3:15-17
-“But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.” Galatians 5:16-18
-“Since therefore Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves with the same way of thinking, for whoever has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, so as to live for the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for human passions but for the will of God.” 1 Peter 4:1-2
-Angel Gabriel tells Mary about Jesus’ birth (Luke 1).
-Jesus is tempted by Satan Luke 4:1-13. This was spiritual warfare that Jesus fought. Notice that Satan is the one who tempted Jesus, not one of his demons. Also, notice how Jesus uses the word of God to resist the devil. He says it is written… Notice also how in Ephesians Chapter 6, one of the pieces of the armor of God Paul tells us to use is the word of God which is the sword of the spirit.
-Satan puts thoughts in Peter’s head to try to stop Jesus from going to the cross. Mark 8:31-33
-Jesus casts out demons, heals the sick, releasing captives from the strong man (Matt 12:22-29). -In Matthew 8:28-34 (cf Mark 5:1-21), Jesus went to the country of the Gadarenes and cast out demons out of two demon-possessed people. The demons begged Jesus to be sent into the pigs. This passage shows the authority of Jesus and the desire of the demons.
-Satan entered Judas (Luke 22:3-6). And leads him to go and betray Jesus.
-Paul and the pagan fortune-teller (Acts 16:16–18).
-Satan prevented Paul from going to Thessalonica. “Therefore we wanted to come to you—even I, Paul, time and again—but Satan hindered us” (1 Thess 2:18).
-“And the great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world—he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him.” Rev 12:9 ESV
The writer recently read Chip Ingram’s book, The Invisible War. In section 4 of the book, he illustrates how the early church regularly engaged in spiritual warfare (Acts 8: 9–13; 13: 8–11; 16: 16–18) as well as the early church leaders Justin Martyr (ca. 100-165), Tertullian (ca. 160-225), Origen (ca. 185-254), and Athanasius (ca. 296-373.
Commenting on Ephesians 6, Dr. Dave Earley of Liberty University in his article, “This is War”, says, “‘Against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places’ – Spiritual warfare involves evil fallen angels commonly called demons. These terms, ‘principalities,’ ‘powers,’ ‘rulers,’ ‘spiritual hosts of wickedness’ are descriptions of the possible ranks, roles, and strata of demons and the evil, supernatural empire they control.”
One of the Spiritual warfare books that this writer has read and enjoyed Jerry Rankin book, Spiritual Warfare, Spiritual Warfare: The Battle for God’s Glory. Rankin’s book runs ten chapters. In chapter 1, he introduces the reader to the reality of spiritual warfare. In chapters 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6, he covers what he calls our tripartite enemy. The devil (in ch 2&3), the world (ch.4), and the flesh(ch 5&6). In chapters 7 and 8, he shows us Satan’s favorite fiery darts and weapons. He closes the book by showing us how to gain victory in Christ. His book is one of the best treatments this writer has read on the roles that angels, demons, the flesh, and the world play in spiritual warfare.
This following quote by from Rankin’s book summarizes nicely the role of angels and demons, the world, and the flesh in spiritual warfare
“Satan is against us, seeking to defeat us; the flesh is within us, seeking to defile us; and the world is around us, seeking to distract us. They are all in collaboration, influencing us to choose selfish and carnal values and deprive God of His glory in our lives.”