Was that just a random bad day or was that a spiritual attack? Is that person just not into you or is Satan blocking you two from being together? Do you feel this way because of a biological reason or because of a spiritual reason?
It can be hard to know when you are truly under spiritual attack. Therefore, here are 5 biblical signs to watch out for so you can properly identify and fight against spiritual warfare.
1. If Someone Is Overtly Tempting You Into Sexual Sin, This Is a Sign You Are Also Under Spiritual Attack
When a Christian is under spiritual warfare, there’s almost always an allegiance being used between the world, the flesh, and the devil. Christians cannot be directly possessed by demons since the Holy Spirit is in us (1 John 4:4, 2 Corinthians 3:17). Therefore, demons must use other means to pull us into sin rather than just direct control. This is why they always appeal to our sinful flesh and the world.
This is especially true when it comes to sexual temptation. The enemy loves to use sexual temptation because it is very powerful and damaging (1 Corinthians 6:12-20).
So when someone is tempting you sexually (even if that person is on your phone or computer screen) and your sinful flesh wants to give in, just know that demonic influence is always lurking in the background as well, urging you to give into this dark sin. You have to resist it. The storm will pass. Don’t give in.
James 4:7, “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”
2. If Unbelievers Are Influencing You to Live Like Them Even Though You Are Trying to Help Them Live Like You
Even when a Christian unwisely dates an unbeliever and thus becomes unequally yoked despite God’s warnings about this (2 Corinthians 6:14), this is usually done with pure motives.
The hard truth to remember is that our intentions don’t change the fact that we are being disobedient and unwise. God doesn’t warn us to avoid unequally yoked relationships because he wants us to live boring, loveless lives. Rather, God warns us to avoid such relationships because he knows the bad that is going to happen.
If someone is unwilling to follow Christ without you dating them, they will not change their mind by watching you disobey the Bible yourself by becoming unequally yoked. Satan loves when believers get romantically connected with unbelievers because not only is it a bad witness to the unbeliever, but it also brings sin and temptation into the believer’s life.
As James 4:4 states, “You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.”
3. If You’re Getting Too Much Power Before You Are Prepared to Handle that Power, This Is Often a Sign of Spiritual Warfare
Typically, when we get something that we want, we usually thank God for this. But do you know it’s possible that Satan could be the one helping you get what you want because he knows it will destroy you? Proverbs 19:2, “Desire without knowledge is not good, and whoever makes haste with his feet misses his way.”
Of course God is still sovereign and he has the final say. So even if we get something that turns out bad for us, God will have a purpose for this and can turn it for good through his grace and our repentance. But nonetheless, Satan loves it when we rush ahead and grab power before we are ready to use that power properly for the benefit others (Mark 10:43-45).
When talking about the qualifications of spiritual leadership in the church, 1 Timothy 3:6 states, “He must not be a recent convert, or he may become puffed up with conceit and fall into the condemnation of the devil.”
4. If You Are Abusing an Earthly Substance in Hopes of Numbing an Emotional Pain, This Is a Sign You Are Under Spiritual Warfare
Satan loves when we abuse the earth’s natural resources. God has supplied us with medications, food, and drink in order to help ease physical pain, nourish our bodies, and enjoy his provision. But sin occurs when we take a good thing and use it in a bad way and for bad reasons.
Things like porn, illegal drugs, getting drunk, overeating, binge watching your phone – these are like Satan’s tentacles in the common man. When we turn to an earthly substance to numb our pains or to bring us a moment of happiness, we are really just increasing our sorrows because we are walking further away from the Spirit.
Ephesians 5:18 states, “And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit . . .” Notice how Paul states this in an either-or format. You can either be drunk on wine or you can be filled with the Spirit. You need to choose one or the other. And this is key if you want to avoid substance abuse because you can’t just focus on stopping something. You need to also replace it with something better.
Don’t just try to stop watching porn, using drugs, getting drunk, or overeating. You have to stop these things and replace them with good things that are pleasing to the Holy Spirit.
Romans 12:21, “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”
5. When You Are Under Spiritual Attack, You Will Be Ignoring Spiritual Attacks
There are two extremes we need to avoid as Christians. One extreme is that we blame everything on the devil. This is not good because throughout Scripture we are taught to take personal responsibility for our choices (James 1:13-15). However, we are also warned in numerous places to be on guard against the devil (Ephesians 6:11-12, 1 Peter 5:8-9, 2 Corinthians 2:11).
Therefore, if you are ignoring the enemy and you never consider the possibility of spiritual warfare coming against you, it’s highly likely you are under spiritual attack. If you are an easy target who’s not resisting the devil, why wouldn’t he attack you?
However, if you are someone who is actively resisting the devil as you first submit to God (James 4:7), you should not spend your life worrying about spiritual warfare. God will protect you and deliver you if you are doing what the Bible says.
Has Satan tricked you into believing someone is the one who is not really the one? To help you answer this question, you may want to read my article called 3 Signs Satan Is Tricking You to Believe that Person Is The One.