The Unseen Battle: Navigating the Spiritual Realm as Believers!

Spiritual Discernment in a Secular World!

In our daily lives, we often focus exclusively on what we can see with our physical eyes—the tangible world around us filled with people, places, and things. Yet Scripture consistently reminds us that beyond this visible realm exists another dimension—a spiritual realm where forces of good and evil wage a continuous battle. This unseen reality impacts our lives more than we may realise.

Introduction to the Spiritual Realm

The Bible speaks clearly about a spiritual dimension that exists alongside our material world. This realm, invisible to human eyes, is nonetheless real and active. The Apostle Paul reminds us: "For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places" (Ephesians 6:12 KJV).

This spiritual realm is not distant or detached from our physical world. Rather, these two dimensions intersect and interact continuously. When Elisha's servant feared the surrounding enemy army, Elisha prayed, "Lord, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And the Lord opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha" (2 Kings 6:17 KJV). What appeared to be overwhelming odds in the physical realm was actually a position of strength when viewed from the spiritual perspective.

The Nature of Angels

Angels serve as God's messengers and ministers, created to serve His purposes. "Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?" (Hebrews 1:14 KJV). These powerful beings carry out God's commands and often serve as protectors of believers.

Angels possess remarkable power but are not to be worshipped. When John fell at the feet of an angel in worship, he was quickly corrected: "See thou do it not: I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God" (Revelation 19:10 KJV).

Scripture reveals that angels rejoice at the salvation of sinners (Luke 15:10 KJV), deliver messages from God (Luke 1:26-38 KJV), and provide protection (Psalm 91:11 KJV). They are organised in ranks and hierarchies, with archangels like Michael who is described as "the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people" (Daniel 12:1 KJV).

The Reality of Demons

Just as angels serve God's purposes, demons work against them. These fallen angels, led by Satan, rebelled against God and now seek to undermine His work in the world and in believers' lives. Jesus frequently encountered and cast out demons during His earthly ministry, demonstrating both their reality and His authority over them.

"And when he had called unto him his twelve disciples, he gave them power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease" (Matthew 10:1 KJV).

Demons seek to deceive, distort truth, and bring destruction. They promote false teaching as Paul warns: "Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils" (1 Timothy 4:1 KJV). Their influence extends to temptation, spiritual oppression, and spreading lies about God's character and intentions.

The Ongoing Battle Between Good & Evil

This cosmic conflict began before human history when Lucifer (Satan) rebelled against God: "How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations!" (Isaiah 14:12 KJV). Since then, and particularly after mankind's fall in Eden, this battle has raged across both spiritual and earthly realms.

We see this battle manifested throughout Scripture—from Job's trials to Jesus' temptation in the wilderness. Satan is described as "your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour" (1 Peter 5:8 KJV).

While this conflict is intense, its outcome is not in doubt. Satan's defeat was secured at the cross where Jesus "spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it" (Colossians 2:15 KJV). The final victory will be consummated when Satan is cast "into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever" (Revelation 20:10 KJV).

Implications for Believers

Understanding the reality of this spiritual battle has profound implications for our daily lives as Christians:

• We must be vigilant: "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour" (1 Peter 5:8 KJV).
• We need spiritual armour: "Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil" (Ephesians 6:11 KJV).
• We have authority in Christ: "Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you" (Luke 10:19 KJV).
• We must resist temptation: "Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you" (James 4:7 KJV).
• We should test spiritual influences: "Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world" (1 John 4:1 KJV).

Perhaps most importantly, we must remember that this battle, though fierce, has already been decided. Christ's victory on the cross secured the ultimate defeat of Satan and all his forces. "And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it" (Colossians 2:15 KJV).

As believers, we do not fight for victory but from victory. We stand firm in the knowledge that "greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world" (1 John 4:4 KJV). Though we may face spiritual opposition, we have the assurance that nothing "shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 8:39 KJV).

The unseen battle continues around us daily, but we need not fear. Instead, we can walk confidently, equipped with God's armour, standing firm in faith, and resting in the assurance that the final victory belongs to our Lord. For "thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ" (1 Corinthians 15:57 KJV).

Key Takeaways:

• The spiritual realm is real and active, existing alongside our material world
• Angels serve as God's messengers and ministers, protecting believers and carrying out God's commands
• Demons are fallen angels who work against God's purposes, seeking to deceive and destroy
• The cosmic battle between good and evil has already been decided through Christ's victory on the cross
• Believers must be vigilant, equipped with spiritual armour, and exercise their authority in Christ
• We don't fight for victory but from victory—"greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world"