How do you know whether you are being whispered to by the evil one?

Spiritual warfare and the unseen battle for our soul has always fascinated theologian Dr. Joel Muddamalle.

He was brought up in a strong Christian household in India and says his grandparents were arguably the strongest influences on his life. As missionaries, he saw first hand how hard you had to work to reach people in marginalised rural communities and the level of joy when you did: "there was a passion for the ministry."

Later his parent moved to America, with him becoming a "Chicago kid, through and through." He went on to study theology, completing his PhD in the subject of St Paul's household language in Ephesians and how it referred to the Old Testament.

Spiritual warfare is a topic that has always interested him and in this interview Muddamalle takes a deep theological dive into how the enemy seeks to trick us. His latest work: The Unseen Battle: Spiritual Warfare, the Three Rebellions, and Christ's Victory Over Dark Powers is about just that.

As well as his life as an author, Muddamalle also works with Proverbs 31 Ministries, a non-denominational, non-profit Christian organization women's ministry.

In this interview with Premier Christianity magazine editor Sam Hailes, Muddamalle talks about the negative influence of celebrity culture in social media, how the devil likes to trick us and the impact his missionary grandparents had on his understanding of The Gospel.

The Profile is brought to you by Premier Christianity, the UK’s leading Christian magazine. Enjoy thought-provoking Christian content, including the latest news, inspiring interviews, and exclusive commentary on all that God is doing in the world today. Grab the next 3 issues for just £6. Subscribe today at premierchristianity.com/subscribe.

Released on 23 May 2026