Many believers think of spiritual warfare as “demon busting,” somewhat like the exploits of Dan Aykroyd and Bill Murray in the 1984 film Ghost Busters, except for good measure you must sprinkle in a few well-placed  “in Jesus name.” Too many well-meaning followers of Christ give top billing to the demons rather than the King of kings and the Lord of lords. Sadly, the phrase “spiritual warfare” usually strikes fear and creates an atmosphere of apprehension in the life of most Christians. And—our ancient foe continues to wreak havoc in the life of both church and community.

Spiritual warfare is nothing more than obeying God. When you and I obey God, and fulfill his instructions, the kingdom of darkness is rocked by the impact of a bunker busting bomb in the heart of their camp. Obedience to God destroys all opposition against God.

We often forget the devastating power of a single prayer lifted up in a sentence or two for a kid strung out on drugs, a kind word and a smile to a mother whose baby seem out of control, a cool drink of water to a thirsty worker, a hot meal to someone who is down on their luck, a phone call to a sick friend, or a note of encouragement to an individual navigating the stormy waters of uncertainty. We have forgotten the power of reading, studying, memorizing, and meditating on Holy Scripture. Satan and his demons tremble when one unashamed lover of God shares the powerful story of Jesus with a friend or stranger.

The most effective spiritual warriors concentrate on the simple things they learned when they first came to Christ. They ingest the Word, live out the Word, pray the Word, and most importantly—obey the Word. The spiritual warriors who are the most devastating to the enemy on the battlefield don’t wear tee-shirts emblazoned with “demon buster.” They don’t bind the devil from the roof tops of city skyscrapers. No—they do the simple things God has called all of us to do. They obey and God moves!

So don’t be threatened by the term “spiritual warfare.” Don’t feel inferior just because you don’t know and can’t quote the special lingo, or have holy water extracted from the exact spot in the Jordan River where Jesus was baptized, or hand-squeeze and specially scented olive oil from the Garden of Gethsemane. Strap on your armor (put on Jesus), trust God, depend on the Holy Spirit, stand firm, and obey—and God will decimate your enemy every time!