Thoughts for Life: #131 Win the Invisible War First

Dr. Wesley L. Duewel: (7). Behind
every visible hindrance, opposition, and roadblock that Satan throws up
against you is the invisible reality of his demonic opposition.

Although you are most aware of the visible, the greater reality is the invisible. The visible is but the expression of the invisible. (Google image, Prayer warrior).

"Our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark would and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms" (Eph. 6:12).

The all-important standing against Satan is in the invisible. The shield of faith is in the invisible. The skillful wielding of the sword of the Spirit is in the invisible.

You may be led to quote Scripture a lot to Satan, but echoes through the realm of the Spirit far more loudly than in the place where you raise your audible voice.

You must overthrow the invisible forces of Satan if you would see things and lives changed visibly before you. The mountains must be moved in the invisible before their being forced aside is evident in the visible.

You must bind Satan and his demons before you see his helpless captives freed. Jesus must put Satan under your feet invisibly before things are under Jesus' feet visibly.

This is not romantic Christian fiction but awesome and glorious spiritual reality. Prayer warfare is real. It is costly. It is waged on earth, but it is also in an even greater sense waged in the heavenlies.

In truest reality, you fight not for victory but from the position of victory. (Mathews, Born for Battle, 27-28). And yet the war continues. Christ routs Satan invisibly by your prayer warfare, in the face of the visible hostility and opposition that Satan motivates.

F. J. Huegel, battle-trained missionary veteran, writes,

"Praise God, it is all real, real because God who cannot
lie says it is so, real though ten thousand circumstances
and feelings thunder and say it is not."
(Huegel, Enthroned Christian, 29).

When you have won the victory in the invisible and taken your seat with Christ invisibly on His throne, when by your invisible victory Christ has placed Satan under your feet (Rom. 16:20), then you can reign already with Christ and watch God bring the invisible victory into visible reality.

Arthur Mathews, veteran missionary, told of God's placing a burden on his heart for two specific areas in Southeast Asia. Strong opposition to the progress of the gospel was being faced there.

The prayer burden continued as Mathews prayed on.

"So asserting my position with Christ in the heavenlies on
the basis of God's Word and strengthened by His might, I
took unto me the whole armor of God in order to stand
against the wiles of the devil and to withstand his opposition
to the gospel."

As Mathews held on, news from both places began to change.

"The resisting powers in both cases were weakened, making
possible victories for the Lord." (Mathews, Born for Battle, 47).

Do you know the joy of having the Spirit give you the invisible victory in prayer that puts things under your feet? What a new perspective! What new liberty of spirit! Mountains that overwhelmed you before now seem as small as molehills.

You sense the power of the Spirit upon you and in you. Throne life has begun. Nothing so terrifies and enrages Satan. This form of resistance truly makes Satan run.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Used by permission of the author and Duewel Literature Trust, Inc., Greenwood, Indiana, (with Jean's impressions added).

Mighty Prevailing Prayer
#131 Win the Invisible War First
by Dr. Wesley L. Duewel
(pp.247- 249) Zondervan

Prayer-

Man praying in church

Father, help us understand that Satan does throw up invisible demonic opposition to our warfare praying.
May we remember that our all-important stand against Satan's attacks is to use the shield of faith and wield the sword of the Spirit, so we'll be strengthened by Christ's might on the basis of Your Word.
As we assert our position with Christ in the heavenlies, we see this as an awesome and glorious spiritual reality in our warfare efforts, and though it is a costly battle on earth, it is even in a greater sense being waged in heaven.
We pray for Your help to accomplish all Your will for us in what You've asked us to do. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.

Today's quote-

Paul E. Miller- "We can't pray effectively until we get in touch with our inner brat. When we see our own self-will, it opens the door to doing things through God. Instead of singing Frank Sinatra's song "My Way," we enter into God's story and watch him do it his way. No one works like him."

Today's questions-

Are you willing to trust the God who does impossible things for His children? Did you know that He desires to interact with you? Will you present your "impossibles" to Him, trusting that He can work things out for your betterment, and for His glory?

God cares for you, my friend, even when you make foolish decisions, as we all do. Jesus has the power to heal as well as to forgive, so-

~ Acknowledge to Him what you're facing.

~ Guard what you say about the challenge facing you.

~ Avoid doubting that God can help.

~ Listen to what Scripture says:

Psalm 25:4 (NKJV)“Show me Your ways, O Lord; teach me Your paths.”

Psalm 17:7 (NKJV)“Show Your marvelous lovingkindness by Your right hand, O You who save those who trust in You from those who rise up against them.”

Psalm 86:17 (NKJV)“Show me a sign for good, that those who hate me may see it and be ashamed, because You, Lord, have helped me and comforted me.”