Spiritual warfare is nothing less and nothing more than the Christian life, a life lived in the light of Christ’s definitive victory on the cross. The question may be asked as to how, then, might the Christian deal with the devil? They write, 

“When the NT is surveyed, there are surprisingly few direct instructions in regard to dealing with the devil—seven only in fact: (1) married couples are warned against abstaining from sex, lest the devil takes opportunity of their lack of connection to tempt them (1 Corinthians 7:5); (2) the Ephesians are instructed not to sin in their anger, and so (presumably) not to give a place for the devil in the midst of their congregation (Ephesians 4:27, ‘opportunity’); (3) they are instructed to put on the whole armor of God, so that they might stand against the methods of the devil (Ephesians 6:11); (4) they are instructed to take up “the shield of faith,” which will enable the extinguishing of the evil one’s darts (Ephesians 6:16; cf. Ps. 91:5); James calls upon his readers to submit to God, and to resist the devil, with the promise that he will flee (James 4:7); (6) Peter urges watchfulness, because of the devil’s penchant to wander around like a lion seeking some prey (1 Peter 5:8); and (7) John warns his readers to love and not to be like Cain, who belong to the evil one (1 John 3:12).”

They also persuasively contend that the Christian should not address the devil but should pray to their heavenly Father: “This means that there is no biblical justification at all for the practice in some deliverance ministries of directly conversing with evil spirits.” (I was once asked at a seminar whether I would speak directly to the devil. I replied that we were not on speaking terms.)

Against The Darkness - Graham A. Cole