40 Bible Verses about Spiritual Warfare, Causes Of
Most Relevant Verses
for since God did not spare the angels, who had sinned, but having precipitated them to hell, confin'd them to chains of darkness, where they are reserv'd for judgment:
nor must he be a new convert; for fear he should be elated with pride, and so involve himself in the same ruin as the devil.
for our conflict is not barely with men, but with principalities, with potentates, with the princes of darkness, with wicked aereal spirits.
who has deliver'd you from the state of darkness, and has translated you into the kingdom of his beloved son.
and having divested principalitys and powers, he made them an example of obedience, and caus'd them to triumph in Christ.
Then there was war in heaven; Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; on the other side fought the dragon with his angels: but these were defeated, they lost their place in heaven: the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, call'd the devil or satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast down to the earth, and his angels were precipitated with him.
no one can enter into a strong man's house, and plunder his goods, unless the man be first secur'd.
besides, how could any one enter into the house of a man of might to rob him of his goods, except he first master the strong man? and then indeed he might plunder his house.
now is this world condemn'd: now shall the prince of this world be cast out.
Since then the children were made subject to a state of mortality, so he himself likewise was subject to the same condition: that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;
he that lives in sin, imitates the devil; for the devil was a sinner from the beginning. for this purpose the son of God appeared, that he might destroy the works of the devil.
The dragon then finding that he was precipitated to the earth, persecuted the woman, who brought forth the man-child.
fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.
he was permitted to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all the tribes, and provinces, and nations.
to those unbelievers, whose minds the God of this world has so blinded, that the glorious lustre of the gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, does not enlighten them.
when any one heareth the doctrine of the gospel, and considers it not, then comes the wicked one, and catches away what was sown in his heart: he is the person meant by the high-way, where some of the seed was sown: but the stony ground,
they who receiv'd seed by the wayside, are those in whom the word is sown, who no sooner have heard it, but satan comes and takes away the word that was sown in their hearts.
by the beaten road is meant, they who only hear: the word, by the lurking wiles of the devil, being hinder'd from taking root in their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved.
the field is the world: the good seed are the children of the kingdom: but the tares are the children of the wicked one: the enemy that sowed them is the devil: the harvest is the conclusion of the age: and the reapers are the angels.
on the contrary, notwithstanding the outrages, you know we suffer'd at Philippi, we had still the resolution, by the divine assistance, to preach the gospel of God to you without reserve against all opposition.
Now Stephen full of grace and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people. when some out of the several synagogues, belonging to the freed men, to the Cyrenians, Alexandrians, and to those of Cilicia, and of Asia, came to dispute with Stephen. but as they were not able to withstand the force of that sublime knowledge which appeared in his discourse,read more.
they suborned men, who said, we have heard him speak irreverently of Moses, and of God. and they stirred up the people, the senators, and the doctors of law, who came and seiz'd him, and brought him to the council, where they produc'd false witnesses, who said, this man is continually inveighing against the holy place, and against the law. for we have heard him say, that Jesus the Nazarene shall destroy this place, and change the customs which Moses delivered us.
When they heard these things, they were transported with rage, and gnashed their teeth against him. but he, full of the holy spirit, fix'd his eyes towards heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. and he said, there I see the heavens open, and the son of man standing on the right hand of God.read more.
then they broke out into a loud cry, and stopping their ears, fell upon him all at once. then they dragg'd him out of the city, and stoned him: the false witnesses having laid down their clothes at a young man's feet, whose name was Saul.
and Saul was accessory to his death. At that time the persecution was so violent against the church at Jerusalem, they were all dispers'd through the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles, and some devout men who carried Stephen to his burial, making great lamentation over him. as for Saul, he made havock of the Church, entring into their houses, whence he dragg'd away both men and women, to throw them into prison.
Having travers'd the isle as far as to Paphos, they found a Jew there nam'd Barjesus, who was a false prophet and magician: he was with the proconsul Sergius Paulus, a man of prudence: who sent for Barnabas and Saul, desiring to hear the word of God. but Elymas (a name which signifies Magus) opposed them, endeavouring to seduce the proconsul from the faith.read more.
then Saul, who was nam'd likewise Paul, full of the holy spirit, look'd fixedly upon him, and said, "thou heap of imposture and mischief, offspring of the devil, and enemy to all justice, wilt thou not cease to pervers men from the right ways of the Lord? his hand is falling upon thee, thou shalt be blind, and not see the sun for some time." immediately his eyes were covered with obscurity and darkness; so that he grop'd about for somebody to lead him by the hand. the proconsul seeing the fact, embraced the faith, being struck with admiration of the christian doctrine.
but when the Jews of Thessalonica were inform'd that Paul had preached the word of God at Berea, they went thither to stir up the populace.
but as they oppos'd him with invectives, he shook his garment, and said, "you your selves be answerable for your own destruction, I am clear: and for the future I shall address my self to the Gentiles."
upon this the Gentiles and the Jews, supported by their magistrates, made an insurrection in order to use violence against them, and even to stone them:
One day as we went to the oratory, we happen'd to meet a slave, who had the spirit Python, and was very gainful to her masters by telling of fortunes. as she followed Paul and the rest of us, she cried out, these men are the servants of the most high God, who show you the way to salvation. this she did for several days, till Paul tir'd with it turn'd about, and said to the spirit, in the name of Jesus Christ I command you to quit her; and instantly he came out.read more.
her masters finding they had lost such a prospect of gain, seized upon Paul and Silas, and hawl'd them to the publick place before the magistrates. having presented them to the Officers, they said, these men, who are Jews, raise great disorders in our city, and preach such maxims, as it is not lawful for Romans, as we are, to admit or practise. upon this the populace rose upon them, and the Officers order'd them to be stript and scourg'd. after they had been severely lash'd, they were thrown into prison, the jayler being charg'd to keep them safe. in consequence of this order he thrust them into the inner prison, and made their feet fast in the stocks.
but the unbelieving Jews thro' envy, by the assistance of some loose strolers, rais'd a mob, set the whole city in an uproar, and attack'd Jason's house, thinking to find them there, and deliver them up to the populace. but not finding them, they dragg'd Jason and some of the brethren to the magistrates, crying out, these that have been every where the disturbers of the publick peace, are come hither also, and have been entertain'd by Jason.
It was then a tumult happen'd at Ephesus upon account of the christian sect. for one Demetrius, a silver-smith, who made little models of Diana's temple, and so furnish'd a deal of employment to the workmen in that trade, summon'd the company, and thus address'd them, "tho' you know, sirs, it is by this craft that we are in such plight,read more.
yet your own eyes and ears have inform'd you, that not only at Ephesus, but almost throughout all Asia, this Paul by his persuasions has turn'd the heads of a world of people, asserting, that these are Gods of our own making, and not really such. so that not only our profession runs the risk of being vilified; but the temple of the great goddess Diana will be depreciated, and her majesty, so rever'd thro' all Asia, and the whole world, will be discarded." at these words, they were fir'd with indignation, and cry'd out, "great is Diana of the Ephesians." and the whole city was fill'd with confusion: all crouded in a body to the theatre, dragging with them Gaius and Aristarchus, both of Macedonia, who had travell'd with Paul.
there he stay'd three months; and then the Jews conspiring to surprize him at his embarkation for Syria, it was thought adviseable he should return thro' Macedonia. Sopater of Berea,
The seven days being almost expir'd, the Asiatic Jews seeing him in the temple, rais'd a tumult, and fell upon him, bawling out, "men of Israel, help: this is the man that every where inveighs upon all occasions against the people, against the law, and against this place, where they have brought Greeks too to profane this holy place." (for having seen Trophimus an Ephesian with him in the city, they imagin'd Paul had conducted him into the temple.)read more.
the whole city was in an uproar, the people crouded together: they seized Paul, dragg'd him out of the temple, and then shut the gates. as they were busy upon his execution, news came to the commander of the cohort, that the whole city was in an uproar. immediately he headed a detachment, with his centurions, and march'd briskly to them; who, upon seeing the officer and his men, left off beating Paul. the commander advanc'd, seiz'd him, and order'd to load him with two chains: then demanded who he was, and what he had done. in the hubbub some cry'd one thing, some another: so that not being able to get any information for the tumult, he order'd him to be carried to the castle. as he was mounting the stairs, the soldiers bore him up thro' the violence of the people, who were all pressing after, roaring out, "away with him."
when it was day, some Jews, that had form'd a conspiracy, engag'd themselves by an oath, not to eat, or drink, till they had kill'd Paul. the conspirators, who were above forty in number, went to the chief priests and senators, and said, "we have bound our selves by oath not to eat till we have slain Paul.read more.
if you will move it then to the tribune in the name of the Sanhedrim, to send him here to-morrow, under colour of examining his affair with more solemnity, we shall take care to dispatch him, and make a short end of his journey."
"desiring the favour he might be sent for to Jerusalem." they having prepar'd measures to assassinate him upon the road.
which so enrag'd the dragon against the woman, that he went to make war with the rest of her race, who keep the commandments of God, and bear testimony to Jesus.
Then said Jesus, Simon, Simon, satan has demanded to shake you, and my disciples, like wheat in a sieve. but as for thee, I have pray'd that you faith may not fail. do you in return establish thy brethren.
Be temperate, be vigilant: for your adversary the Devil goes about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.
Bible Theasaurus
- Causes (150 instances)
