When the enemy uses your family

Article by: Sarah Koontz

There is an unseen war raging in our hearts and homes.

This battle began at the dawn of creation, and although victory has been declared, the villain will fight until his final breath.

Scripture teaches us about the heavenly creatures—highly intelligent created beings (Col. 1:16) without physical bodies (Heb. 1:14)—most commonly referred to as angels.

Their original purpose was to glorify God (Is 6:2-3), to carry out His plans on earth, and to provide a helpful example for us.

Yet, somewhere between the time of creation and the fall of man, a rebellion occurred in the heavenly realm (2 Pet. 2:4).

This uprising was led by Satan, a created being who desired to be his own god.

He is the serpent who enticed Eve in the garden. He is the devil who tempted Jesus in the desert, and he is the father of all lies (John 8:44).

Satan and his Demons Exist in Opposition to God, His Angels, and His People.

The ultimate battle of good versus evil rages to this day (Rev 20:10) and our families are being ravaged by this invisible conflict.

Satan and his demons exist in opposition to God, his angels, and his people. Click to Tweet

But if we can’t see it, how do we know it is real? And how can we protect our loved ones from the fallout?

In this article, I will share three steps to help you combat spiritual warfare in your home and five Scripture verses that will equip you to fight courageously when the enemy comes knocking on your door.

Although We Cannot See the Wind…

When my parents built their country home in 1986, they strategically placed it in a sunbathed alcove with a beautiful view of our valley.

This choice location sheltered the two-story stick built dwelling from the harsh northern winds.

I never realized how sheltered my childhood home was until my husband and I built our own house on the fertile land at the farthest edge of my parent’s acreage.

Dreams of a large food garden and wide-open spaces drove our decision to place our home in the heart of the valley.

Spiritual Warfare: Seeing the Unseen

We were so focused on what we could see, we failed to account for the unseen.

So we set our home smack in the middle of wind ally, with nothing to protect us from its bowling-ball force.

The sound of 40, 50, even 60 mph gusts clashing against the steel siding of our home reminds me of the crash of the pins after the lone strike I carded the last time we went bowling.

I’ve watched menacing storm clouds blow in. I’ve listened to the thunderous rain pelt against the north face of our home and reeled at the discovery of shredded cornstalks torn from the soil by the invisible tyrant.

Our tender apple trees bow to the great force of an invisible gust, my children run to me for comfort.

I tell them we are safe in our steel-walled sanctuary, and together we watch the effects of the storm and pray it passes quickly.

Although I cannot see the wind, there is no denying its effects on our valley.

We don’t fight for victory in spiritual warfare, we fight victoriously! Click to Tweet

Spiritual Warfare: The Unseen Demolishing the Seen

I’ve learned to measure wind by its influence on the world around me.

The grass waves, the trees bow, the clouds swiftly roll by.

We cannot see the wind, yet we’d be foolish to deny its existence. Wind has the power to destroy everything and everyone in its path.

The unseen demolishing the seen.

In the same way, we must learn to measure spiritual warfare by its influence on the world around us.

This, sweet friend, is what Paul is trying to help the first-century Christians understand in his letter to the Ephesians.

The final chapters of Ephesians contain the Bible’s most comprehensive teaching on marriage and family. It is followed by a strong warning to beware of the invisible battle.

Ephesians 6:12 says, “For our battle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the world powers of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavens.” (HCSB)

Spiritual Warfare: It Exists in Our Homes

The family unit is a high-value target in Satan’s campaign.

If his lies can destroy our foundational relationships, he can hold us captive in a cage of anger, resentment, and unforgiveness indefinitely.

The tragedy of it all is we are often caught unaware and unprepared—ambushed by an invisible enemy in our own hearts and homes.

It’s time for us to ask God to open our spiritual eyes to see the spiritual warfare in our lives. We need to ask Him to arm us for this invisible battle, and lead us to victory!

But where do we begin this fight to save our families from Satan’s underhanded scare-tactics?

The family unit is a high-value target in Satan’s campaign. It’s time for us to ask God to open our spiritual eyes to see the spiritual warfare in our lives, arm us for this invisible battle, and lead us to victory. Click to Tweet

SPIRITUAL WARFARE STEP ONE: Get To Know the Enemy’s Strategy Against Your Family

“The Lord’s slave must not quarrel, but must be gentle to everyone, able to teach, and patient, instructing his opponents with gentleness. Perhaps God will grant them repentance leading them to the knowledge of the truth. Then they may come to their senses and escape the Devil’s trap, having been captured by him to do his will.”  2 Timothy 2:24-26

Your spouse is not your enemy.
Your wayward child is not your enemy.
Your circumstances are not your enemy.

Satan and his demons are your enemies. And they will use everyone and everything they can to distract, discourage, and destroy you.

Even the people you love most.

No, let me rephrase that…

Especially the people you love most.

Satan does not want us to live in unity and he adores discord, especially in the family unit.

He wants us to view our family members as our opponents, so we are so busy firing at one another, we fail to form a united front against our true foe.

When you know you are being targeted, you won’t fall for his schemes.

When you understand the enemy’s strategy, you are equipped to fight for your family rather than with your family.

Satan does not want us to live in unity and he adores discord, especially in the family unit. Click to Tweet

SPIRITUAL WARFARE STEP 2: Sharpen Your Spiritual Weapons to Protect Your Family

“Be strengthened by the Lord and by His vast strength. Put on the full armor of God so that you can stand against the tactics of the Devil.” Ephesians 6:10

The Bible teaches us that our Heavenly Father has given us everything we need to live a godly life (2 Pet. 1:3).

He has given us a whole armory of spiritual weapons to protect our families from spiritual warfare, but we must diligently care for those weapons.

You wouldn’t want to defend yourself against a home invader with a rusty gun, a dull knife, or a blunt arrow, would you?

The same goes for our spiritual weapons.

A whole arsenal full of dull, blunt, rusty spiritual weapons will not protect you when the enemy busts down your front door. Click to Tweet

If we desire to fight for our families, we must make certain we are faithfully sharpening, cleaning, and inspecting our spiritual cache of weapons.

SPIRITUAL WARFARE STEP 3: Follow the Orders of Your Commanding Officer

“For this is what love for God is: to keep His commands. Now His commands are not a burden, because whatever has been born of God conquers the world. This is the victory that has conquered the world: our faith. And who is the one who conquers the world but the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?” 1 John 5:3-5

Jesus Christ walked this planet with absolute authority over the fallen beings.

They feared Him then and fear Him still!

Because of His sacrifice on the cross, you and I have unlimited access to His power through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.

In order to access this power, we must faithfully follow God’s commands.

His instructions are there to protect and guide us, but without obedience, we are ill-equipped for the battle.

If there’s one thing I’ve learned from my military friends, it’s this: military discipline and effectiveness are built on the foundation of obedience to order.

As a member of God’s family, we are expected to follow His orders.

Our obedience is a sign of our faith in God, and our faith in God forces our enemy to flee.

Our obedience is a sign of our faith in God, and our faith in God forces our enemy to flee. Click to Tweet

Our Weapons of Warfare

As parents, we must diligently fortify our homes and families against the enemy’s attacks.

God has given us everything we need to fight victoriously.

But we must train vigorously, study our enemy diligently, and pray fervently.

I have found it extremely helpful to commit these five Scriptures to memory over the past few months. Even if you just memorize (or take note of) the bolded sections, you’ll discover how valuable a tool God’s Word is as we prepare to fight for our families!

Five Bible Verses to Help Equip You For Spiritual Warfare on the Homefront

1 – ” Be serious! Be alert! Your adversary the Devil is prowling around like a roaring lion, looking for anyone he can devour. Resist him and be firm in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are being experienced by your fellow believers throughout the world.” 1 Peter 5:8-9 HCSB

2 – “‘No weapon formed against you will succeed, and you will refute any accusation raised against you in court. This is the heritage of the Lord’s servants, and their righteousness is from Me.’ This is the Lord’s declaration.” Isaiah 54:17 HCSB

3 – “Put on the full armor of God so that you can stand against the tactics of the Devil. For our battle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the world powers of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavens.” Ephesians 6:11-12 HCSB

4 – “The salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of His Messiah have now come, because the accuser of our brothers has been thrown out: the one who accuses them before our God day and night. They conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they did not love their lives in the face of death. Therefore rejoice, you heavens, and you who dwell in them! Woe to the earth and the sea, for the Devil has come down to you with great fury, because he knows he has a short time.” Revelation 12:10-12 HCSB

5 – ” I have told you these things so that in Me you may have peace. You will have suffering in this world. Be courageous! I have conquered the world.” John 16:33 HCSB

We Can Walk in Victory Despite the Spiritual Battle in Our Homes

When we take the time to write God’s Word on our hearts, we experience the power of God’s Word in our circumstances.

It is my prayer for you today that God would give you eyes to see the spiritual battle, so you can see the enemy’s strategies against your family, and grab hold of the mighty spiritual weapons at your disposal!

When we take the time to write God’s Word on our hearts, we experience the power of God’s Word in our circumstances. Click to Tweet

And never forget: We don’t fight for victory in spiritual warfare, we fight victoriously!

When your family is the enemy?

What does the Bible say about enemies in your own household?

What does the Bible say about walking away from toxic family?

What does the Bible say about family against family?