There's More Going On Than You Can See: The Spiritual Battle Around You

Meta Description: You're not imagining the opposition. There's a real spiritual battle happening right now — and God's army is bigger than anything coming against you. URL Slug: spiritual-warfare-supernatural-series-week-one Featured Image: A dramatic landscape at dawn or dusk — rolling hills with light breaking through dark clouds, suggesting the unseen breaking into the visible world.

Have you ever noticed that the moment you decide to get serious about God, everything seems to get harder? You start praying more and your mind wanders constantly. You commit to honoring God in your marriage and suddenly you're fighting more than ever. You move toward God and something pushes back.

Is that a coincidence? Probably not.

There Is a Battle You Cannot See

The Bible is clear: there is a very real spiritual battle happening all around us, and most of us are either obsessing over it or ignoring it completely. Both extremes are dangerous.

The Apostle Paul cuts right to the heart of it in Ephesians 6:12:

"For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms."

That word "struggle" in the original Greek describes hand-to-hand combat — not a battle from a distance, but something up close and personal. That's why spiritual warfare feels so personal. It's not just around you; it's directed at you — your thoughts, your peace, your faith, your marriage, your kids, your finances.

I'll be honest with you. Preparing this message was one of the most difficult things I've done in a long time. Seven drafts. Seven. I'm usually done in two or three. It felt like I was in a battle just trying to write it. I won't try to prove what was happening, but I'll tell you — when I started speaking the name of Jesus, the darkness didn't stay. That name is more powerful than anything coming against you.

What You See Is Not All There Is

In 2 Kings 6, the prophet Elisha's servant woke up one morning to find an enemy army surrounding the entire city. He was terrified — and honestly, his facts were right. The threat was real. But his conclusion was wrong.

Elisha prayed a simple prayer: "God, open his eyes that he may see." And suddenly, the servant saw what had been there all along — the hills were full of horses and chariots of fire surrounding Elisha. The army of God was already there. Nothing changed except what the servant could see.

Some of you are in that exact place right now. Your marriage may be struggling. Your kids are making decisions that scare you. The financial pressure is crushing. You're not imagining how difficult things are — but you may be underestimating how powerful your God is.

Don't measure what God can do by what you see. There are more with us than there are with them.

God Hears You — Even When You See Nothing

One of the most personally meaningful passages I've ever sat with is Daniel 10. Daniel was praying and fasting, seeking God — and for twenty-one days, nothing happened. Day one, nothing. Day seven, nothing. Day fourteen, nothing.

Then on day twenty-one, an angel appeared and said something that still stops me in my tracks. Daniel 10:12:

"Since the first day you began to pray, your request has been heard in heaven. I have come in answer to your prayer."

The angel had been sent on day one. But for twenty-one days, a spiritual force — described as the "spirit prince of the kingdom of Persia" — blocked the way. God had to send the archangel Michael as reinforcement before the answer could break through.

I've seen this play out in our own life. Fourteen years ago, my wife Amy felt a clear burden from God to open a ministry home for women coming out of human trafficking, incarceration, and abusive situations. We prayed. We searched. Every door closed. Weeks turned into months. We started wondering if we'd even heard from God correctly.

Then a pastor's wife from another church called. She knew someone — a woman named Janet — who had bought a house to flip for profit. Midway through the renovation, Janet felt prompted by God to furnish it: commercial-grade kitchen, bunk beds, everything. She didn't know why. She just obeyed.

When we walked into that house, it looked custom-built to be a ministry home. We told her we wanted to buy it. She said we couldn't. We said we'd rent it. She said we couldn't do that either — and then she started crying. God had told her to donate it.

From the first day we prayed, God had already heard. He was already moving in someone we didn't even know yet.

If you've been praying for your child, your marriage, someone you love — and nothing seems to be changing — please hear this: don't confuse God's silence with God's absence.

How to Fight a Battle You Can't See

You can't punch the devil. You can't outrun him. You can't fight him in your own strength. Spiritual battles require spiritual weapons.

Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 10:3-4:

"For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world."

And then in Ephesians 6, he tells us exactly what to pick up: the helmet of salvation, the breastplate of righteousness, the shield of faith, the belt of truth, the shoes of the gospel of peace — and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God.

That last one is your offensive weapon. Get in the Word. Let the Word get in you. Memorize it. Believe it. Let it renew your mind. You cannot fight on offense without an offensive weapon.

When you're under attack, stand your ground. Remind yourself: "God has not given me a spirit of fear, but of power, of love, and of a sound mind." Declare it: "No weapon formed against my home will prosper. Greater is he that is in me than he that is in the world."

The devil is defeated. Christ is risen. So stop living like the enemy has won.

You're Not in This Alone

This is bigger than any one of us. Our world doesn't need churches that are afraid, timid, and silent. We need churches full of the supernatural power of God, boldly proclaiming the gospel of Jesus Christ — standing together, united, reminding each other that the tomb is empty.

Jesus promised he would build his church, and the gates of hell will not prevail against it.

Whatever battle you're in today — rise up. Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Greater is Christ in you than the enemy that is in the world.

We're just getting started. This is week one of our five-week series, Supernatural. I'd love for you to join us each week as we go deeper into the Holy Spirit, angels, spiritual opposition, and the God who still does miracles today. Bring someone with you — there's probably someone in your life who needs to hear exactly this.

And if you made a decision to follow Jesus today, I want to celebrate that with you. Scan the QR code on our website to access a free 21-day devotional to help you take your next steps. We're in your corner.

Social Media Excerpt (Facebook/Instagram): Have you ever noticed that the moment you get serious about God, everything seems to get harder? You're not imagining it — there's a real spiritual battle happening around you. But here's what I want you to know: the armies of God were there the whole time. Don't confuse God's silence with God's absence. Read this week's message recap and be encouraged. 👇

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