Understanding Spiritual Warfare: Oppression, Possession, and Demonization
Demons are real, but many misunderstand spiritual warfare. This series will expose how they work and show you how to fight back biblically and in confidence.
I’m not done with our Beatitudes series yet, but wanted to go ahead and give you an introduction to the next series.
Spiritual warfare is often misunderstood—some people see demons everywhere, while others deny their existence entirely. Some people see a demon behind every inconvenience—a red light, a lost phone. Others believe demons don’t exist at all, that everything is just coincidence or fate or the plan of God. But the Bible gives us a real framework for understanding our spiritual enemy.
The Reality of Spiritual Warfare
For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places. (Ephesians 6:12 NLT)
Ephesians 6 makes it clear: we are in a battle. Not a physical one, but a spiritual one. And if we don’t understand how the enemy works, we won’t know how to fight.
Karl Payne, a former chaplain for the Seattle Seahawks, learned this firsthand. As a young Christian, he had a neighbor known for performing supernatural healings. The only problem? The man wasn’t a believer. One day, Karl went to share scripture with him, and the man manifested a demon right in front of him—like something out of a horror movie. Karl kept reading the Bible, but it only made things worse. He left feeling defeated, unable to help. Shortly after, his neighbor mysteriously died.
This experience shaped Karl’s understanding of spiritual warfare and led him to write Spiritual Warfare: Christians, Demonization, and Deliverance. In it, he describes three categories of demonic influence: oppression, possession, and demonization. These terms help us recognize the enemy’s work and, more importantly, how to overcome it.
1. Oppression: The Enemy Attacking You
If you’re a Christian, you will face oppression. Period. The enemy comes against those who are living for God. Oppression may look like about of depression, troubling life events, or “people” coming against you because of your stance for Christ. It’s external pressure from the enemy meant to discourage and exhaust you.
2. Possession: When the Enemy Takes Over
This can only happen to non-believers. A Christian cannot be possessed because they already belong to Christ. Possession is when a demon fully takes control of a person’s body and actions, like what we see in extreme cases in the Bible.
3. Demonization: The In-Between Struggle
This is where many believers get stuck. Demonization isn’t possession, but it’s more than just run-of-the-mill oppression. It’s when you’re doing all the right things—quoting scripture, praying, staying in Christian community—but nothing seems to work. It’s like having demonic influences whispering lies in your ear, clawing at your thoughts, trying to steer your life. They can’t take over because the Holy Spirit is in you, but they’re still trying to control you.
Why This Matters
Our enemy is real, and many of us have seen and experienced the spiritual manifesting in the physical world. I know I have—while others may see angels, I’ve seen demons.
It's important to move past the idea that demonic activity is just for horror movies, Halloween, or exaggerated stories. The reality is, it’s real. And we must recognize when it’s the enemy at work so we know how to fight back the way God has designed us to.
Why should you care? If you’ve ever struggled with tormenting thoughts, fear, or doubt, or if you know someone who has, you need to understand the authority you have in Jesus. These things—oppression, hopelessness, powerlessness—are not from the Lord. It’s crucial to know this authority, not just for your own freedom but also to help set others free.
Demonization isn’t just a theological issue; it’s personal and urgent, which is why I feel it needs to be addressed and called out.
Spiritual Warfare: A Battle You Can’t Ignore
I’m going to start a series to explore what spiritual warfare is, how to recognize attacks, how demonization impacts mental health, how the enemy works, how to fight back, and how to walk in Christ’s authority.
The enemy wants to keep you in the dark, but Jesus has already won. It’s time to step into the light.
In Part 2, we’ll go deeper into what it means to give the devil a foothold, how habitual sin and unresolved wounds can become entry points for the enemy, and most importantly, how we can reclaim every inch of ground through the power of Christ. If you’ve ever felt stuck in patterns of sin, spiritual oppression, or emotional strongholds, you won’t want to miss it. Freedom is possible, and Jesus is ready to lead you into it.
Stay tuned—because the next step in this journey could change everything.
Other Posts in the Series:
Part 2: Battle Tactics - Know Your Enemy
Part 3: How the Enemy Gains Ground