Project – Spiritual Warfare, secret of the Church growth
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background to the Study
The Church of Christ has experienced remarkable growth across the globe, with particular acceleration observed in regions such as Africa, Asia, and Latin America. This growth, characterized by increasing congregational sizes, rapid church planting, and heightened spiritual fervor, has prompted scholars and church leaders to explore the underlying causes. While factors such as strategic leadership, missionary efforts, and socio-economic changes are often cited, a deeper spiritual dimension spiritual warfare is frequently overlooked or underestimated. From a biblical standpoint, the church exists within a spiritual battlefield where forces of darkness seek to hinder the advancement of the gospel and the growth of God’s kingdom on earth (Ephesians 6:12).
Spiritual warfare, in the Christian context, refers to the confrontation between the kingdom of God and demonic forces led by Satan. This warfare is not waged with physical weapons but through spiritual means such as prayer, fasting, the Word of God, worship, and the authority believers possess in Christ. According to Apostle Paul, believers contend with “principalities and powers, rulers of darkness and spiritual wickedness in high places” (Ephesians 6:12). These forces aim to blind the minds of unbelievers, oppress believers, and undermine the effectiveness of the Church. Thus, for any church seeking genuine growth—not just numerically but also spiritually—recognizing and engaging in spiritual warfare becomes critical.
Many churches, especially within the Pentecostal and Charismatic movements, have testified to experiencing profound growth and revival through the deliberate practice of spiritual warfare. They engage in intense intercession, aggressive evangelism accompanied by deliverance, and consistent fasting and prayer, which are believed to weaken or eliminate demonic barriers preventing the reception of the gospel. Testimonies from such ministries often include miraculous healings, deliverances from generational curses, and the breaking of spiritual strongholds that have kept entire communities in bondage. Leaders such as Pastor E.A. Adeboye and other African revivalists have emphasized the importance of these practices in fostering environments ripe for spiritual harvest (Adeboye, 2014; Akin-John, 2012).
While many church growth models focus on organizational strategies, modern leadership, innovative outreach programs, and sociological engagement, they often fall short of addressing the spiritual realities that influence human response to the gospel. These models, though effective to a point, must be balanced with the spiritual understanding that certain hindrances to growth are not physical but spiritual. Churches that neglect spiritual warfare often face inexplicable stagnation, conflict, or regression despite their best strategic efforts. It becomes clear, therefore, that spiritual warfare is not a peripheral concern—it is central to sustaining and advancing the mission of the Church.
Moreover, the New Testament Church offers multiple examples of how early Christians dealt with spiritual opposition as part of their growth process. The apostles regularly encountered demonic resistance, false prophets, sorcery, and persecution—yet they overcame through prayer, the anointing of the Holy Spirit, and unwavering commitment to the Word. In Acts 16:16–18, for instance, Paul cast out a spirit of divination from a slave girl, an act which led to the deliverance of many and the expansion of the gospel in that region. This demonstrates that spiritual warfare, when rightly engaged, becomes a powerful tool for evangelism and church expansion.
Therefore, this study seeks to explore spiritual warfare as an often hidden but essential key to church growth. It aims to bridge the gap between spiritual realities and practical church development by examining how spiritual warfare contributes to both the internal strength and external expansion of the Church. By highlighting the biblical foundation and practical application of spiritual warfare, this study will provide church leaders and theologians with a holistic understanding of what truly propels the Church forward—not by might, nor by power, but by the Spirit of the Lord (Zechariah 4:6).
1.2 Statement of the Problem
Despite an increase in evangelism campaigns, church planting initiatives, and modernized outreach strategies, many churches across various denominations continue to face stagnation or even decline in their growth. This pattern is seen in dwindling membership, spiritual apathy, leadership crises, and lack of genuine conversions. While some churches experience short-lived growth due to programs and events, they often struggle with sustainability and long-term spiritual impact. These persistent challenges indicate that church growth cannot be fully explained or addressed by human efforts alone. There are likely deeper spiritual issues impeding the spread of the gospel and the maturity of believers.
One of the key underlying factors often neglected in mainstream church growth discussions is spiritual opposition. The Bible affirms that the gospel faces resistance from demonic forces and spiritual wickedness in high places (Ephesians 6:12). In many parts of the world, particularly in Africa, Asia, and indigenous communities, ancestral covenants, occultic practices, witchcraft, idolatry, and territorial spirits exert strong influences over communities. These spiritual dynamics can hinder church planting efforts, frustrate evangelistic work, and oppose the transformation of lives. As noted by Okafor (2016), without addressing these realities through deliberate spiritual warfare, the church risks building on weak or hostile spiritual foundations that cannot sustain growth.
Unfortunately, many churches either overlook or downplay the significance of spiritual warfare in their ministry. Some adopt purely intellectual or social approaches to ministry, relying on motivational teachings, entertainment, or management techniques while ignoring the spiritual battleground on which the Church operates. Others may acknowledge spiritual warfare but fail to equip their members with the tools and teachings necessary to engage it effectively. As a result, they experience spiritual stagnation, moral compromise, and vulnerability to demonic infiltration, all of which can severely weaken the church’s capacity to grow and fulfill its mission.
Furthermore, in contexts where spiritual warfare is misunderstood or sensationalized, there is often confusion, fear, or abuse of spiritual authority. Some ministries focus excessively on demons without grounding their warfare in biblical truth, thereby leading to unbalanced and unfruitful practices. This imbalance creates the need for a biblically sound, theologically informed, and practically effective understanding of spiritual warfare as it relates to church growth. It is not enough to merely acknowledge the presence of spiritual resistance; churches must develop deliberate strategies—rooted in prayer, fasting, deliverance, and spiritual discernment—to overcome it.
Therefore, there is a compelling need to investigate and highlight how spiritual warfare, when rightly understood and applied, can serve as a vital catalyst for sustainable church growth. This study seeks to address the gap between spiritual engagement and church expansion by examining how churches that embrace spiritual warfare experience transformation and revival. By doing so, it will provide insights and frameworks that can guide churches to confront spiritual obstacles and unlock the full potential of their divine mandate.
1.3 Objectives of the Study
The main objective of this study is to examine the role of spiritual warfare in the growth of the Church. The specific objectives include:
- To explore the biblical basis for spiritual warfare in church growth.
- To analyze how spiritual warfare practices contribute to numerical and spiritual growth.
- To examine the experiences of churches that engage in active spiritual warfare.
- To identify the challenges churches face in implementing spiritual warfare strategies.
1.4 Research Questions
This study seeks to answer the following questions:
- What is the biblical foundation for spiritual warfare in relation to church growth?
- How do spiritual warfare practices affect the spiritual and numerical growth of churches?
- What are the practical examples of churches experiencing growth through spiritual warfare?
- What are the major obstacles faced by churches in engaging in spiritual warfare?
1.5 Significance of the Study
This study is significant primarily because it addresses an often overlooked yet crucial aspect of church growth spiritual warfare. While many growth models focus on leadership, administration, evangelism, and church planting, the spiritual realities that undergird the church’s effectiveness are frequently left out of strategic planning and academic discourse. By exploring the role of spiritual warfare, this study brings to the forefront the invisible battles that influence visible outcomes in church ministry. Pastors, church leaders, and Christian workers will benefit from this study as it equips them with spiritual strategies rooted in biblical truth for engaging the forces that oppose church advancement.
For church leaders and pastors, this research provides a practical framework to assess and improve the spiritual health of their ministries. It offers insights into how prayer, fasting, deliverance, and prophetic intercession can be effectively incorporated into their ministry models to confront spiritual resistance. By integrating spiritual warfare into their leadership approach, church leaders can better support their congregations in overcoming spiritual stagnation, breaking demonic strongholds, and fostering genuine spiritual growth among members. This helps to cultivate spiritually mature congregations that are not only numerically growing but also grounded in the power and authority of Christ.
Theologians and Christian educators will also find value in this study as it contributes to the development of a more holistic theological framework for understanding church growth. Rather than treating spiritual warfare as a fringe concept or relegating it to Pentecostal spirituality alone, the study seeks to present it as a biblically grounded and theologically sound element of ecclesiology. This integration challenges scholars to reevaluate conventional growth models and explore how spiritual dynamics influence the health and vitality of the Church, especially in spiritually hostile environments.
Furthermore, the study will enrich academic discussions on church development by bridging the gap between practical ministry and spiritual theology. Scholars of missiology, practical theology, and ecclesial studies will benefit from a research-based approach that validates spiritual warfare as a legitimate contributor to church growth. It adds a spiritual dimension to what is often a sociological or administrative conversation, encouraging deeper inquiry into how unseen forces impact church mission and expansion.
To the broader Christian community, this study serves as a wake-up call to spiritual vigilance. It underscores the importance of corporate intercession, spiritual sensitivity, and personal holiness in the life of every believer. In a time when many Christians are becoming complacent or distracted by worldly concerns, this research reminds the Church of its calling to spiritual militancy. Through understanding and engaging in spiritual warfare, believers are empowered to take their rightful place as soldiers of Christ who advance the Kingdom of God with authority and purpose.
Ultimately, this study is not only academic but spiritually transformative. It encourages a return to biblical foundations and a rekindling of spiritual fire in the Church. By identifying spiritual warfare as a secret weapon for growth, it provides churches with tools to navigate challenges, reclaim territories, and experience revival. Its significance lies in its ability to restore balance between spiritual depth and strategic action, helping the Church fulfill its divine mandate in a spiritually contested world.
1.6 Scope of the Study
This study focuses on selected churches within Nigeria that actively engage in spiritual warfare as a growth strategy. It will examine their methods, challenges, and growth patterns over a defined period. The theological framework will be drawn primarily from biblical texts and relevant Christian literature.
- Definition of Key Terms
Spiritual Warfare: Spiritual warfare refers to the ongoing, unseen conflict between the Kingdom of God and the forces of darkness led by Satan. It is a central theme in Christian theology that underscores the reality that believers are engaged in a battle not against physical enemies but against spiritual entities. The Apostle Paul in 2 Corinthians 10:3–5 states, “For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world… they have divine power to demolish strongholds.” This warfare involves resisting temptations, tearing down demonic strongholds, and asserting spiritual authority through Christ. Believers engage in spiritual warfare through disciplined practices such as fervent prayer, fasting, scripture declaration, worship, and deliverance. Its purpose is to establish God’s dominion in the lives of individuals, families, churches, and communities by dislodging spiritual hindrances that oppose the gospel and the work of the Church.
Church Growth: Church growth refers to the quantitative and qualitative expansion of the Body of Christ. It includes increases in membership, spiritual maturity, discipleship, and societal influence. Donald McGavran (1980), a pioneer in church growth studies, emphasized the need to understand both the theological and missiological principles that guide church expansion. While numerical growth (attendance and membership) is visible, true church growth also involves spiritual development such as deeper faith, stronger fellowship, increased prayer life, and active engagement in the mission of the Church. Biblically, the early Church demonstrated rapid growth as seen in Acts 2:47, which states, “And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.” This growth was a result of unity, teaching, signs and wonders, and the active presence of the Holy Spirit.
Deliverance Ministry: Deliverance ministry is a spiritual practice within Christian ministry that focuses on casting out demons, breaking curses, healing inner wounds, and freeing individuals from spiritual oppression. It is based on the authority believers have through Jesus Christ, as seen in Luke 10:19 where Jesus declares, “I have given you authority… to overcome all the power of the enemy.” This ministry often involves prayer, fasting, and discernment to identify spiritual strongholds in a person’s life. The goal of deliverance is not merely the expulsion of evil spirits but the restoration of spiritual freedom, emotional wholeness, and alignment with God’s purposes. It plays a significant role in spiritual warfare by confronting and defeating demonic activity that can hinder personal growth and church expansion.
Intercession: Intercession is the act of praying earnestly and persistently on behalf of others. It is a critical dimension of spiritual warfare where believers stand in the gap, pleading with God for mercy, healing, deliverance, or divine intervention in the lives of individuals, the church, or a nation. In Ezekiel 22:30, God says, “I looked for someone among them who would build up the wall and stand before me in the gap on behalf of the land…” Intercession is often characterized by a deep burden for souls, spiritual discernment, and sacrificial commitment to prayer. It breaks spiritual resistance, brings down strongholds, and ushers in revival. Through intercession, God’s will is enforced on earth, and the power of darkness is pushed back, creating room for church growth and spiritual breakthroughs.
Stronghold: A fortified mindset or demonic influence that resists the knowledge of God (2 Corinthians 10:4).