Going Further in the Spiritual War

Few truths have brought more significance to the life of the renovated Church in this century as the place and power of the prayer warrior. That calling in no way diminishes the conviction that the cross of Jesus Christ has achieved complete victory over the devil (Col. 3:14,15). On the contrary, this call to combat depends on what He has accomplished! Just as the mission to evangelize the world is based on the complete provision of salvation, the task of preparing our evangelistic efforts with the power of prayer, which opens the road to defeat the work of darkness in our time, is based on the blood of the Lamb (Rev. 12:9-12). The author of this study has taught hundreds of thousands of Christians in more that a hundred denominations in different countries to pray with greater effectiveness.

1. The spiritual war (Eph. 6:10-18)
You, yourself, are joining a battle and we are armed to take the offensive in the confrontation.

Paul warns us that we should take all the armor of GOD, in order to stand firm against the forces of hell. There is no room for doubt that our struggle isn't against physical forces, but against invisible powers, which have clearly defined levels of authority within a real sphere, albeit invisible, of activity. However, Paul not only advises us of a well-defined structure in the invisible realm, but urges us also to take all GOD's armor in order to maintain a "combat position" against this invisible satanic structure. All this armor doesn't just constitute a passive protection against the enemy; it should be used as an offensive weapon against satanic forces. Notice Paul's final recommendation: We should pray "all the time with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit" (v. 18). Thus, prayer isn't so much a weapon, nor even a part of the armor, as the means by which we enter into the battle itself and realize the purpose for which we have been aimed. To take the armor of GOD is to prepare ourselves for the battle. Prayer is the battle in itself, with the Word of GOD as our principal weapon, to use in the struggle against Satan.

2. The invisible realm and the victorious war (II Kings 6:8-17)
Seeing the unseen (discerning spiritual things and GOD's perspective) is the key to victorious prayer.

The lesson that Elisha taught to his servant was that to believe the impossible, one should first see the invisible. The text speaks to us of a war between Syria and Israel, where the prophet Elisha through prophetic perception (v. 12), informs his people about the enemy's tactics. Behold the lesson: prayer is the key to discern the strategies of our adversary. Furthermore, the key to overcome the panic of Elisha's servant was permitting him to see the invisible. Notice these crucial words: "Elisha prayed!" Elisha didn't ask GOD to simply do another miracle, but that he would permit him to see within the other dimension. The response came immediately, "Then Jehovah opened the eyes of the servant, and he saw, and behold the mountain was filled with horsemen and chariots of fire around Elisha" (v. 17). Seeing the invisible is the key to victorious prayer, that is, discerning spiritual things from a perspective more divine than human, glimpsing the adversary's plan of attack and perceiving the angelic attack force.

3. Divine revelation and spiritual warfare (Jer. 33:3)
Prayer gives us revelatory perception, which is necessary to triumph in the spiritual war.

GOD promised Jeremiah, that if he called, not only would he answer, but he would reveal "great and hidden things", that couldn't be understood in any other way. The word "hidden", from the Hebrew batsar, is mostly translated as "isolated" or "inaccessible". It suggests that GOD would give Jeremiah "revelatory intuition", by revealing things that otherwise would remain isolated or inaccessible.

Such "revelatory intuition" has always been essential for the clear understanding of a victorious spiritual war. One can't pray effectively without a certain intuition about what to pray for, and also without knowing that GOD is truly anxious for us to seek him in prayer.

4. Intimacy and breaking down barriers (Prov. 3:5,6)
Intimacy with GOD in prayer brings blessings and victories with it.

There are two words of special significance in this passage: "recognize" and "ways". The word "ways" (from the Hebrew derek) means "a way, course or mode of action". It suggests specific opportunities that a person confronts continuously. The most common "portion of opportunity" that we regularly experience is each new day. It's as if this passage reminds us that we should remember GOD every day, who will then direct our paths.

Of similar significance is the word, "recognize" (from Hebrew yada'). In other places yada' is translated as "to know", with the significance of knowing through observation, investigation, reflection or direct experience. But the highest level of yada' is obtained through "direct or intimate contact", as occurs in the marriage. Applied to the spiritual context, it suggests an intimacy with GOD in prayer that grants blessings and victories. By combining these ideas with our text of Proverbs, we can conclude that if we maintain yada' (intimate and direct contact with GOD) all our "days", GOD promises to lead us to vital and fruitful realizations.

5. Faithfulness in prayer and in spiritual warfare (Acts 6:1-4)
The early church quickly understood that it should pray constantly, because the spiritual war doesn't stop.

The early church quickly understood that its prayer had to be continuous because the spiritual struggle is continuous. It came to be the first priority just as Satan's first priority was to defeat those Christians. Thus its first administrative decision after Pentecost, which Acts records, places the ministry of prayer (alongside that of the Word) as the most important.

As the church grew, the circumstances required more of the apostles' time. But, as they realized that they needed more prayer rather than more activity, they chose seven men to serve as deacons and care for the church. This initiative left more free time to the apostles, which they put to use dedicating themselves more concertedly to prayer and the ministry of the Word. Of the two, prayer is properly mentioned as the first. Persevering in prayer is something of which all the Scripture speaks. Some time later, the apostle Paul said to the church in Rome, "Love each other with brotherly love..." and asked its members to be "continual in prayer" (Rom. 12:10,12).

6. Intercession in the spiritual war (Ezek. 22:30)
The intercessor presents himself before GOD on behalf of others, and asks for justice.

It was a very sad day in Israel's history when GOD commanded Ezekiel to prophesy against the sins of Jerusalem, thus declaring that he had no other alternative but to judge the land. This chapter describes a condition so disgraceful that GOD himself cried, "Enough already!" Then the LORD makes a surprising pronouncement: this could have been avoided if only one person had come before his presence to intercede for the land. He succinctly declared, "Search for this man!"

The text says, "And I searched among them for a man to stand in the gap before me, in favor of the land". He clearly identifies this passage as an intercession. No phrase in the Scripture describes the work of an intercessor more surely than the phrase, "before me, in favor of" others.

It's also significant that the intercessor has a double responsibility. Not only to be a fence, which suggests that he not only repair the breach caused by the enemy, but that he "put himself in the breach, that is, to hold off their advance.

7. Standards of prayer and breaking spiritual barriers (Psa. 5:1-3)
Regularity and order in daily prayer are necessary to break spiritual barriers.

In this text, David attempts to show that order and perseverance are necessary in daily prayer. The repetition of the phrase "in the morning" justifies an alternative to the translation: "tomorrow, early in the morning". It's also significant that the psalmist has used the Hebrew word 'arak in his declaration that he said his petitions to GOD daily. 'Arakse is used most frequently in the mosaic writings to refer to the order of the sacrifices that should be offered to the LORD each day by the priests (Exod. 40:4). It is also used to describe an army that is organized for battle (Judges 20:20-22); Such use indicates that the "strategic order" has been prepared to enter into combat. These definitions connote a well-thought-out order in David's prayers, a daily strategy of prayer, with a purpose and a specific intention.

8. Victory of the faith through prayer (Acts 4:31-34)
Prayer brings supernatural boldness, unity, fruits and fullness.

After the healing of the lame man (3:1-6), Peter and John were ordered to cease their preaching in the name of Jesus (4:18). They both recognized the adversity of the situation and returned to their own, the believers (verses 23,24); they then called for a period of prayer that would strengthen their faith amplifying the dimensions of their testimony.

Notice the progression of the acts that followed this prayer (verses 31-35), all of which resulted in a supernatural tremor. From this moment, more power was put into manifestation: 1) A supernatural filling: all those present experienced the fullness of the Holy Spirit; 2) a supernatural fortitude: this prayer led to a baptism of daring courage to proclaim the Word of GOD (v. 31); 3) a supernatural unity: The participants of the prayer were "of one heart and one soul" (v. 32); 4) a supernatural submission; 5) a supernatural productivity: provided with a new power they went forth prepared, and obtained fruit for GOD's glory (v. 33); 6) a supernatural generosity: they were baptized in a spirit of sacrifice and generosity (verses 34,35).

9. Physical actions in the prayer war (II Kings 19:8-19)
Some physical actions accompany the establishment of spiritual authority in the invisible realm.

The king Sennacherib wrote a letter suggesting that GOD couldn't oppose him. Upon receiving the letter, the king Hezekiah took it and presented it to the LORD in prayer (v. 14). This is an example in which a physical act seems to establish spiritual authority in the invisible realm. In other words, a physical act becomes a spiritual symbol of a reality that impacts the invisible, while it is acted out in the visible world.

Hezekiah's attitude, in presenting his case (letter) before the LORD, represented an expression of confidence and a manifestation of the faith with which he raised his prayer. The king was convinced that GOD would hear his prayer and the LORD sent an angel that night to destroy 185,000 enemy soldiers (II Kings 19:35; Isaiah 37:14-20,36).

Other people's physical acts recorded in the Scripture include vocal praise and shouts (I Sam. 4:5,6; I Kings 1:40), lifting the hands and inclining the head (Neh. 8:6), jumping or dancing (Psa. 149:3; Luke 6:23), laments in prayer (Rom. 8:26; Gal. 4:19), trembling or shaking (Acts 16:29; Heb. 12:21), the intense cry (Ezra 3:13; Lam. 1:16,20) and many occasions in which people prostrated themselves (Ezek. 1:26-28; Matt. 17:6; Acts 9:1-9; 10:9-14). Impelled by faith, and motivated by a genuine and intense passion for prayer, these are not superstitious actions. They treat the invisible as something real, and thus gain many victories.

10. Effectiveness in the spiritual war (James 5:13-18)
The Holy Spirit energizes the prayer of a righteous man and he will see results.

James describes a level of prayer which is beyond the normal capacity of any believer. The prayer is strengthened by the direct participation of the Holy Spirit. The Greek word for "fervent" doesn't appear in the original text. This constitutes an extension of the word "effective", which is in the Greek text. The Greek word energeo means "efficient, or that which is effective". To fully understand the word energeo another passage where it is used needs to be examined. Paul used it to describe the power of the Word of GOD, which works in a special way in those who believe (I Thes. 2:13). The basic premise of the Greek word energeo is that something "works effectively". Applied to the text, it suggests that our prayer, when it's filled with the power of the Holy Spirit, makes things happen. Our prayers themselves are effective!

(MY NOTE: Energeo is the source of our word "energy". It is translated as "powerful" in Hebrews 4:12, "For the Word of GOD is quick and powerful...", and "to be mighty in" in Gal. 2:8. Think of its verb form as "to energize" which Webster's Dictionary defines thus: "to make energetic, vigorous or active; to impart energy to".)

11. Seeking GOD and the spiritual war (Jer. 29:11-14)
Seriousness, intensity and diligence are some of the things that GOD demands from those who pray.

Throughout the Scripture we encounter numerous references to the seeking of GOD by his people. In this passage it is implicit that seeking GOD entails a level of intensity that is superior to what could be called ordinary prayer. The word "seek" along with the phrase "with all your heart", suggests an almost vehement fervor. "Seek", from the Hebrew darash, suggests the pursuit of a desired object. It also implies diligence in the same process. In II Chron. 15:2, where Azariah promises that the LORD will be with his people if they "seek" (darash) him, we have another example of the divine emphasis on intensity and diligence in prayer.

12. Fasting to break spiritual barriers (Ezra 8:21-23)
The fast is a sacrificial method of prayer that achieves results.

While the exiled Jews prepared to return to Jerusalem, Ezra called on all the nation to fast (v. 21). He encouraged them for a triple purpose: First, to ask GOD to guide them to "the right way". The emphasis for this fast was direction. Second, they asked GOD to protect the children. The emphasis of this fast was help. Finally, they asked GOD to protect their possessions. The emphasis of this fast was material.

Fasting is mentioned repetitively in the Scriptures as a sacrificial form of combative prayer, which produces results that can't be achieved in any other way. This is manifested particularly with the expulsion of demons in the time of Christ (Mark 9:14-29). The fast involves renouncing necessary sustenance while our attention is centered, during this period, in seeking GOD. A fast can last as long as 40 days, as in the case of Moses (Deut. 9:18-21), or be as short as part of a day, as in the case of Israel (II Sam. 1:11,12).

13. Angelic activity in the spiritual war (Rev. 12:7-11)
GOD can use angels to provide victory to the saints who participate in the spiritual war.

Satan's thrust results in a great battle between the heavenly hosts and the hordes of hell. In this battle, the heavenly warriors expel Satan and his demons from the celestial kingdom. But it should be noted that the victory isn't exclusively due to the angels, but that they also win through the use of the believers' spiritual weapons. The angels battle, but the saints of GOD provide "the firepower". This is clearly seen in verse 11, "And they have defeated him through the blood of the Lamb and the word of their testimony". The angels don't defeat the accuser by themselves alone; the saints participate through our battle prayers; the angels make up the means used by GOD to administer the victory, which is reinforced by prayer.

Notice the mention of Michael, the archangel (v. 7, one of the four places in the Scriptures where he is spoken of). In each of these references, the spiritual war is clearly implied. This is certain in Daniel 10, where Michael's participation in the battle and the victory is the direct result of Daniel's fast and prayer (see Dan. 10:1-4,12,13).

14. Taking authority in the spiritual war (Mark 11:20-24)
It's necessary to assume authority in the spiritual terrain to impact the natural order.

Our Savior's action of cursing the fig tree indicates a passion in prayer and faith that we need to learn. When the surprised disciples later noted that the fig tree had dried up from the roots (v. 20), Jesus responded with a clear enough order: "Have faith in GOD". And then, when he called his followers to "order the mountain to be cast into the sea", he urged them to prepare themselves for situations in which they would have to assume direct authority in the spiritual sphere, in order to affect things in the natural sphere.

15. Trumpets and spiritual warfare (Num. 10:1-10)
Trumpets hold a unique place in proclaiming spiritual authority.

The use of trumpets maintains a singular relationship with the exercise of spiritual authority in prayer. On this occasion, two silver trumpets are consecrated for the use of Israel's spiritual leaders. One was appointed for the convocation of the assembly and the other for the mobilization of the camp when they were about to begin a journey (v. 2). Therefore, the first trumpet served primarily to gather the people, while the second ordered the camps to begin moving, generally to go "to war". In the case of the second trumpet's use, notice the words of verse 9, "blow an alarm with the trumpets...and you shall be saved from your enemies".

The sound of the trumpets during the victorious spiritual battle has particular importance for the divine plan in the end times (Rev. 8-12). All the crucial successes of Rev. 12 occur at the sound of the seventh trumpet. Later, the sound of the seven trumpets isn't heard until the prayers of the saints, like incense (symbolizing worship), are lifted up before GOD's throne (see Rev. 8:1-6), which possibly indicates that the prayers of GOD's people make the seventh trumpet sound, which announces the arrival and establishment of Christ's eternal reign on Earth. Hearing the clear sound of the trumpet communicates to us the Holy Spirit's calling to battle (see I Cor. 14:8).

16. Tears and brokenness in the victorious war (Psa. 126:5,6)
Tears of sorrow, joy, compassion, exertion and repentance are present in spiritual warfare.

In Scripture, tears fulfill a unique purpose in spiritual growth. We discover here that when tears are sown, not only is a spiritual harvest collected, but it leaves a spirit of rejoicing in the sower. This passage, along with others in Scripture that relate to a suffering spirit, describes various purposes and roles connected to what can be called "the ministry of tears", a ministry that Charles Spurgeon defined as "liquid prayer". There are tears of pain or suffering (II Kings 20:5); tears of joy (Gen. 33:4); tears of compassion (John 11:35); tears of desperation (Esther 4:1,3); tears of agony or labor (Isaiah 42:14); tears of repentance (Joel 2:12,13). Clearly, passion is necessary in spiritual warfare.

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GOING FURTHER IN THE SPIRITUAL WAR(WAR OF THE FAITH)