The Invisible War Series

The Invisible War: Spiritual Warfare 101

Thesis: Every believer needs to know that there is an invisible war raging around you each day and night. The Bible says it’s a spiritual war between good = God and His army and Evil = Satan and his demons.

Quote: “There are two equal and opposite errors into which our race can fall about the devils (demons). One is to disbelieve in their existence. The other is to believe, and to feel an excessive and unhealthy interest in them. C. S. Lewis

Scripture Text: Ephesians 6:10-12:

“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.”

Note: This sermon is inspired, quoted and gleamed from Ingram, Chip. The Invisible War Baker Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.

Case In point from Scripture revealing the Invisible war: 2 Kings 6:8–23: The story of Elisha, prophet of the Lord and the invisible war!

Elisha Traps Blinded Arameans

8Now the king of Aram was at war with Israel. After conferring with his officers, he said, “I will set up my camp in such and such a place.”

9The man of God sent word to the king of Israel: “Beware of passing that place, because the Arameans are going down there.”

10So the king of Israel checked on the place indicated by the man of God. Time and again Elisha warned the king, so that he was on his guard in such places.

Point to note: Elisha who is in tune with the Lord knows through the power of the Holy Spirit what the King and his army is planning and warns the king of Israel and defeat their ambushes.

11This enraged the king of Aram. He summoned his officers and demanded of them, “Will you not tell me which of us is on the side of the king of Israel?”

12“None of us, my lord the king,” said one of his officers, “but Elisha, the prophet who is in Israel, tells the king of Israel the very words you speak in your bedroom.”

13“Go, find out where he is,” the king ordered, “so I can send men and capture him.” The report came back: “He is in Dothan.”

The king of Aram enraged figuring they have a spy discovers it’s not a spy, but a prophet of God named Elisha who keeps informing the king of Israel of their plans! So, he sends an army out to capture him so he can fulfill his plan to defeat Israel’s King and steal, kill and destroy them.

14Then he sent horses and chariots and a strong force there. They went by night and surrounded the city.

15When the servant of the man of God got up and went out early the next morning, an army with horses and chariots had surrounded the city. “Oh, my lord, what shall we do?” the servant asked.

Elisha’s servant wakes up in the morning to discover them surrounded by these enemy soldiers. But Elisha seems unshaken by the whole event. The reason he knows who he is in the Lord and who is on his side!

16“Don’t be afraid,” the prophet answered. “Those who are with us are more than those who are with them.”

17And Elisha prayed, “O LORD, open his eyes so he may see.” Then the LORD opened the servant’s eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.

Elisha has learned to see into the spiritual realm by having a deep connection with the Lord. Whereas his servant does not have this spiritual depth– so Elisha asks the Lord to open his eyes – The Lord does open his eyes and he sees, the fiery host of spiritual soldiers on their side. By the way this army outnumber the enemy forces! I have a prayer this month for each of you listening to this message “I pray the Lord would open your eyes into the Invisible realm of spiritual warfare and you would see things you never saw before to build your faith and boldness in Jesus.”

18As the enemy came down toward him, Elisha prayed to the LORD, “Strike these people with blindness.” So he struck them with blindness, as Elisha had asked.

19Elisha told them, “This is not the road and this is not the city. Follow me, and I will lead you to the man you are looking for.” And he led them to Samaria.

20After they entered the city, Elisha said, “LORD, open the eyes of these men so they can see.” Then the LORD opened their eyes and they looked, and there they were, inside Samaria.