David Yarbrough
2 Corinthians 10:3–4 (CSB)
For although we live in the flesh, we do not wage war according to the flesh, since the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but are powerful through God for the demolition of strongholds.
Imagine what it would be like if you were on a battlefield, marching towards an unavoidable clash with your enemy. When you get close enough to see the enemy across the field, they are defeated and unarmed. Their weapons are lying on the field of battle, and their powers have been totally stripped away. This is the reality in the spiritual realm for all those in Christ Jesus.
The concept of your involvement in Kingdom warfare can be challenging and hard to understand because Jesus has already won the victory. This is supported with Scriptures like Colossians 2:14–15 (CSB), “He [Jesus] erased the certificate of debt, with its obligations, that was against us and opposed to us, and has taken it away by nailing it to the cross. He disarmed the rulers and authorities and disgraced them publicly; he triumphed over them in him.” We see here that the devil is totally defeated and powerless against us.
Your enemies (the devil, along with the world and the flesh) have been defeated in the sense that they have lost their authority over all who are positioned in Christ Jesus. Which begs the question: If our enemies are defeated, then why are we still struggling with them?
One of the reasons we still find ourselves fighting in this war is because we give access to our enemies. Their authority over us has been destroyed, so now they're fighting to gain strongholds in our minds so they can influence and tempt us (2 Cor. 10:4). The primary way we allow access is by harboring unconfessed, unrepentant sins. When we do so, we open the door for the world's influence, our flesh's weakness, and the devil's deception to wreak havoc in our minds. This is why Paul says in 2 Corinthians 10:5 that "we take every thought captive to obey Christ."
Your enemies (the world, your flesh, and the devil) are always trying to get you to stop seeking the Kingdom of God and start stressing about yourself and your worldly, temporary stuff. The deception is always that you will be better off if you put yourself first. The enemy knows that when you focus too much on yourself, your family, and your stuff, you can easily fall into the trap of idol worship.
Your goal in spiritual warfare is not to defeat the enemy again but to maintain your position in Christ. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus said your primary goal is to “seek first the Kingdom of God and his righteousness (Matt. 6:33)." So be careful in spiritual warfare not to focus too much on your enemy, but keep your primary focus on Kingdom living.
God will allow you to go through battles to strengthen and fortify your faith and cultivate your devotion. The struggles that you face are not intended to destroy you but to develop your Kingdom grit. Always remember that everything (the good, the bad, the joyful, and the sad) will all work together to serve God's Kingdom purpose when you're seeking first the Kingdom of God (Romans 8:28).
Romans 8:37 (CSB)
No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.