What in the Wold is going on?
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Nothing!
Nothing!
For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.
As we see the disintegration of morality and the rule of God in the world today, many are inclined to ask, “What in the world is going on?”
The question is a valid one but shows the wrong perspective!
Our opening Scripture puts the focus exactly where it should be…the unseen world!
First we notice that the Apostle reminds us that we are in a fight
The Greek word used here is the word meaning to “be engaged in a conflict; the practice of a warrior;”
We are told that there are 2 kingdoms in conflict on planet earth.
One is the Kingdom of Darkness; the other the Kingdom of Light
Every struggle we face, ever immorality we witness must be seen in perspective
Billy Graham made the statement,
We live in a perpetual battlefield ...The wars among the nations on earth are mere popgun affairs compared to the fierceness of battle in the spiritual unseen world. This invisible spiritual conflict is waged around us incessantly and unremittingly. Where the Lord works, Satan's forces hinder; where angel beings carry out divine directives, the devils rage. All this comes about because the powers of darkness press their counterattack to recapture the ground held for the glory of God...
Battles are about control of territories, power, resources, but the Spiritual battle is for the control of men’s souls!
What we see played out on the earth is a reflection of what is happening in the heavenlies
Therefore, rejoice, O heavens! And you who live in the heavens, rejoice! But terror will come on the earth and the sea, for the devil has come down to you in great anger, knowing that he has little time.”
The increase in evil and the upheaval of the physical world all point of this fact!
It is Satan who is at work to bring about this chaos
Satan, who is the god of this world, has blinded the minds of those who don’t believe. They are unable to see the glorious light of the Good News. They don’t understand this message about the glory of Christ, who is the exact likeness of God.
The reflection of the god of this world is obvious
For you are the children of your father the devil, and you love to do the evil things he does. He was a murderer from the beginning. He has always hated the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, it is consistent with his character; for he is a liar and the father of lies.
So the problem isn’t the person but rather the course! The condition is a result of the cause. Like any good doctor, treat the cause and the symptoms will go away!
But how to deal with the unseen world of the enemy?
Use the tools that the warrior has been given to fight!
For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh.
For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds,
casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ,
The believer must choose to loose their mind from the confines of the natural world and embrace the truth of GOd’s Word about the supernatural world!
According to this verse we have been given authority to “pull down” mighty strongholds.
The word used here for “pulling down” is the word meaning total destruction or to obliterate” something
That means an offensive must be undertaken in order for the victory to be seized!
The wise conquer the city of the strong and level the fortress in which they trust.
Many times we operate in the flesh limited by our experience and what we perceive as reality but this operation requires that one “believe in the One who is sending us!”
In Matthew we read of Jesus giving authority to the disciples
Jesus called his twelve disciples together and gave them authority to cast out evil spirits and to heal every kind of disease and illness.
One might say that this is limited engagement given only to them?
These miraculous signs will accompany those who believe: They will cast out demons in my name, and they will speak in new languages.
Did He lie?
And it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him.
Remember that the authority we have is not vested in us but rather in the name of Jesus
that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
and every tongue declare that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
How were people to know that the unseen Kingdom of God was now among them?
And the news about Jesus spread throughout Judea and the surrounding countryside.
The disciples of John the Baptist told John about everything Jesus was doing. So John called for two of his disciples,
and he sent them to the Lord to ask him, “Are you the Messiah we’ve been expecting, or should we keep looking for someone else?”
John’s two disciples found Jesus and said to him, “John the Baptist sent us to ask, ‘Are you the Messiah we’ve been expecting, or should we keep looking for someone else?’ ”
At that very time, Jesus cured many people of their diseases, illnesses, and evil spirits, and he restored sight to many who were blind.
Then he told John’s disciples, “Go back to John and tell him what you have seen and heard—the blind see, the lame walk, those with leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised to life, and the Good News is being preached to the poor.”
And he added, “God blesses those who do not turn away because of me.”
Notice that as we move in the truth of God’s Word it is the Holy Spirit who confirms
how shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation, which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed to us by those who heard Him,
God also bearing witness both with signs and wonders, with various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit, according to His own will?
Our job is to announce - His job is to confirm
There is power, power, wonder working power, in the blood of the Lamb!
And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power,
that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.
If we are to battle in the unseen world of the spirits we must have the proper tools to be effective…that’s why the gifts of the Holy Spirit are so important!
Those coupled with prayer and fasting can change the destiny of nations!
In an unsuccessful encounter with the demonic Jesus told His disciples
Then the disciples came to Jesus and asked privately, Why could we not drive it out?
He said to them, Because of the littleness of your faith [that is, your lack of firmly relying trust]. For truly I say to you, if you have faith [that is living] like a grain of mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, Move from here to yonder place, and it will move; and nothing will be impossible to you.
But this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting.
Just as a solider trains for the battle knowing his or her life depends on it, we too should have the same understanding.
Like Peter, Jesus is calling His people out of the bat and to walk on the water in the middle of this storm!