SPIRITUAL WARFARE
What is spiritual warfare? Where and how does it take place? Spiritual warfare is the act of wagging war against evil forces through the power of God. It is real, and it is ongoing all around us.
Now, before I give answers to what spiritual warfare is, how and where it does take place, I want to first introduce the various spiritual realms that exist. Understanding these realms is of paramount importance as it will help unlock the mystery of spiritual warfare. There are three major spiritual realms.
1. THE THIRD HEAVEN
The first realm I will will discuss is known as the Realm Of God or the Third Heaven. This is where the Glory of God resides. It is the place where the Apostle Paul was caught up, which he referred to as Paradise. – “I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago—whether in the body I do not know, or whether out of the body, I do not know, God knows—such a one was caught up to the third heaven… how he was caught up into Paradise and heard inexpressible words….” 2 Corinthians 12:2,4.
It’s also called the realm of Eternity. Why Eternity? Because it’s the past, present and future, all existing in the present. God is present in yesterday and tomorrow just as He is in today, existing in the past as He does in the present. He has no beginning and no end.
“Before the mountains were born Or before You had given birth to the earth and the world, Even from everlasting to everlasting, You are [the eternal] God.” Psalms 90: 2.
I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End [the Eternal One].” Revelation 22:13 (AMP)
2. THE MID-HEAVEN
We then have the second realm, and it’s called the Mid-Heaven. “Then I saw another angel flying in midheaven, with an eternal gospel to preach to the inhabitants of the earth, to every nation and tribe and language and people.” Revelation 14:6 (AMP).
It’s also called the Realm of Spirits. This is where angels or spirits carry out their activities, including warfare. Remember, angels or spirits don’t die. While God created them at a specific point in time, He did not create a physical end for them. Instead, they experience eternal separation. This makes the warfare even more intense, knowing that your enemy does not die. The following Bible passages confirm this:
“Then He will say to those on His left, ‘Leave Me, you cursed ones, into the eternal fire which has been prepared for the devil and his angels (demons).” Matthew 25:41. (AMP)
“And the devil that deceived them was 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.
That’s the fate of Satan and his agents, but for now, they don’t die. Believers can only bind them and weaken their activities through warfare prayers.
3. THE PHYSICAL REALM
This Realm is known as the Earthly Realm also referred to as, The Physical Realm or the Realm of Men. We also refer to it as the Realm of Time. Why? Because humans are subject to time. Man cannot be in tomorrow or go back to yesterday. Man is confined to the present. In this realm, all you can see are physical things: our bodies, our homes, and our cities, including the results of what transpires in the realm of the Spirit.
OUR MAIN FOCUS
“For we are not fighting against people made of flesh and blood, but against persons without bodies—the evil rulers of the unseen world, those mighty satanic beings and great evil princes of darkness who rule this world; and against huge numbers of wicked spirits in the spirit world.” Ephesians 6:12(TLB)
Paul presents a situation of already raging war, though not occurring in the realm of men or the physical realm, but it’s taking place in the spiritual realm – Heavenly Places or the Realm of Spirits. Paul also made another statement that is very instructive on this subject.
He said, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: Ephesians 1:3
This means that we have blessings in heavenly places, and the war Paul is referring to is taking place in those heavenly places. So you see where I’m driving at. The conflict we’re discussing occurs between the realm of humans and the realm of angels, which is the spiritual realm. And it’s through this realm that our blessings are released to us.
Now, we must understand that spiritual blessings are far more important than material blessings. Spiritual blessings are retained in heaven and they are released to the believer according to the Believer’s need, growth, commitment and faith. So whatever is your need, they are brought to fruition through Christ and by Him, according to the level of His power that works in US. “Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us.” Ephesians 3:20
Back to the subject. It’s important to understand that spiritual warfare does not occur between the Realm Of Men and the Realm Of God, also known as the Third Heaven. God is seated far above the realm of the spirits and men. So the warfare is taking place between the realm of men and the realm of spirits, the Mid-Heaven. Where persons without bodies – the evil rulers of the unseen world, those mighty satanic beings, great evil princes of darkness and wicked spirits mentioned in the Bible operate.
POWER OF SPOKEN PRAYER
In Daniel chapter 10, the Bible tells us that as Daniel continued in persistent (warfare) prayer, Gabriel appeared to him and said, “From the first day you set your thoughts to seek understanding…” This is powerful! It wasn’t from the first day Daniel opened his mouth to pray, but from the moment he set his thoughts to seek understanding. This confirms Ephesians 3:20: “Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us.” This means that God knows our thoughts, and when we express faith in our thoughts, He releases the answers immediately.
THE ROLE OF WARFARE PRAYER
But why do we need to pray out loud and persist in our prayers, even when we know that God can hear our thoughts? Sometimes, warfare is necessary to establish our dominance and bind the evil forces that interfere with our blessings. And spiritual warfare requires spoken words. As stated in Acts 22:5 (AMP) – “So Peter was kept in prison, but fervent and persistent prayer for him was being made to God by the church”,
and Ephesians 6:18, “Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints”. All prayer here includes warfare prayer.
So, we see that though God may respond to our thoughts, Daniel’s experience shows spoken and persistent prayer, is necessary to mobilize the heavenly hosts on our behalf. Daniel’s prayers caused God to dispatch the Archangel Michael to intervene when Gabriel, who was bringing Daniel’s answer, was hindered by spiritual forces operating in that realm or region.
Watch out for continuation of this subject in part 2
