The Unseen War

Don Wiehe

6This is NOT a time to shrink back in fear and discouragement due to the seemingly insurmountable challenges engulfing today’s society, but it is a time to rise in faith and obedience, hearing the voice of the precious Holy Spirit and move forward with the message of power and hope. The Holy Spirit will lead and guide you into what needs to be done, ministry strategies for your area of responsibility (and they will be different from ministry to ministry). Don’t feel bad or intimidated if your “pandemic ministry and protocols” are different from your peers!

The Apostle Paul was frustrated with the rhetoric of his day, hearing message after message but not seeing anyone’s life change. The wise men of his day would gather to debate one another but no one willing to feed the hungry or care for the down trodden. No demonstration of power. No miracles. No one encouraged. No practical ministry. They would hear good speech after good speech but with nothing happening. (postings after postings from so called “experts”)

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. 1 Corinthians 2:4, 5 NKJV

So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised. For,

“In just a little while, he who is coming will come and will not delay.” “But my righteous one will live by faith. And I take no pleasure in the one who shrinks back.” Hebrews 10:35-38 NIV

There is nothing more frustrating than not having the right tool for the job, or having the right tool for the job but not knowing how to use it. During my lifetime I’ve done different jobs in order to pay bills and put food on the table; yard work, electrical construction helper, grocery store worker, clothing factory worker and school teacher. In each of these jobs there were skills that needed to be learned in order to make the job easier and more productive. Whether it was unloading a truck with a fork lift, bending conduit for a commercial electrical job or learning how to play and teach all of the band instruments, each learned skill made the job easier and more productive.

The Apostle Paul says that our battle (our daily struggle) is not against flesh and blood but against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly realms and that we need special tools in order to successfully live life. (Ephesians 6) The good news is Jesus purchased the tools we need and He is willing to equip us with them.

His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires. 2 Peter 1:3, 4 NIV

When I was hired as an electricians helper my grandmother in West Texas gave me access to my late grandfather’s tool shed and then she wrote a check to help purchase the tools that she didn’t have. So very kind. This is what the Lord did for us. The Risen Lord has provided every tool we need for life and godliness!

You have to put yourself in the right place to get the tools from the Lord; His Word, His Body, fellowship, prayer, obedience. It won’t just happen, we must step out in obedience!

When we begin to fight our battles in the natural we lose and the enemy of our soul laughs at us. Nothing gets solved, we get frustrated and we do not overcome our situation. When we blame others for our situation instead of taking personal responsibility then we get frustrated and do not overcome. It’s like fighting a massive brush fire with a water pistol. But when we begin to pray, fast, repent, take personal responsibility and begin to do the things God wants us to do then we overcome and we have peace in our heart. Victory is ours, we see lives changed and we lay the foundation for lasting change within our culture. God’s power and strategy is like fighting a candle fire with a fire extinguisher. The Lord puts everything back into perspective. There is the demonstration of power and life change.

And when he was come into the house, his disciples asked him privately, Why could not we cast him out? And he said unto them, This kind can come forth by nothing, but by prayer and fasting. Mark 9:28, 29

For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)

Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; 2 Corinthians 10:3-5

“Then Elisha prayed, “O Lord, open his eyes and let him see!” The Lord opened the young man’s eyes, and when he looked up, he saw that the hillside around Elisha was filled with horses and chariots of fire. As the Aramean army advanced toward him, Elisha prayed, 2 Kings 6:17-20 NLT

“A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. 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.” Ephesians 6:10-12 NLT

When I don’t know what to pray with my mind the Lord has given us a powerful tool in praying with my spirit, praying in an unknown tongue. A powerful prayer weapon!

Our battles are won in prayer. Our battles are won when we worship the Lord. Our battles are won when we have a heart of thanksgiving. Our battles are won when we bless those who persecute us and say evil against us. Our battles are won in the spirit. Our battles are won when we give our minds, bodies and spirit to the Lord. Our battles are won we we become doers of God’s Word. Our battles are won when we renew our minds according the God’s Word.

“Lord, my body is your temple, the temple of the Holy Spirit. It does not belong to me. My spirit and soul are Yours. This battle is Yours O Lord! Amen.”

Don Wiehe