Awakening to the Spiritual Battle Within

Summary

So often, we are so focused on what we can see with our physical eyes that we miss the deeper reality of the spiritual world all around us. Just as in the “monkey business illusion,” where people miss obvious changes because they’re looking for something else, we can be blind to the spiritual battles taking place in our lives. Scripture makes it clear that there is a spiritual realm, filled with both angelic and demonic forces, and that these forces are actively at work—sometimes to hinder, sometimes to help, but always present.

The story of Elisha and his servant in 2 Kings 6 reminds us that what we see is not all there is. When Elisha prayed for his servant’s eyes to be opened, the servant saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire—God’s protection that had been there all along. In the same way, we often underestimate the power and presence of God’s help because we’re only looking at our circumstances.

Prayer is our greatest weapon in this unseen war. The enemy wants us to believe our prayers are ineffective, but the book of Daniel shows us that from the very first day Daniel prayed, God heard him, even though the answer was delayed by spiritual opposition. There is a real battle in the heavenlies, and our prayers matter more than we realize.

We must also recognize who our true enemy is. Too often, we fight the wrong battles—against people, circumstances, or even ourselves—when the real fight is spiritual. The devil is not equal to God; he is a created being, limited in power and knowledge, but he is cunning and knows our weaknesses. He uses pride, temptation, and discouragement to try to defeat us, but when we expose his strategies, he loses his power over us.

The call is to stand firm, put on the full armor of God, and fight the good fight of faith. This battle is not just individual; it’s corporate. We are soldiers in the same army, and we need each other’s prayers and support. No matter what you’re facing—whether it’s a personal crisis, a family struggle, or spiritual discouragement—remember that you are in a battle, but you are not alone. God’s power, His armor, and the prayers of His people are more than enough to help you stand and overcome.

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Key Takeaways

- The Unseen Spiritual Reality: What we perceive with our senses is only a fraction of what truly exists. There is a spiritual world that is just as real as the physical, filled with both angelic and demonic activity. Recognizing this reality changes how we interpret our struggles and reminds us to look beyond the surface of our circumstances. [01:09:36]

- Prayer as Spiritual Warfare: Prayer is not a passive activity; it is the means by which we engage in spiritual warfare. Even when it seems like nothing is happening, our prayers are heard and are making a difference in the spiritual realm. Persistence in prayer is crucial, as there may be unseen resistance delaying the answer, but God is always at work. [01:15:41]

- Knowing and Exposing the Enemy: It is vital to identify who our real enemy is. The devil is not omnipotent or omniscient, but he is observant and manipulative, using our habits and weaknesses against us. When we expose his tactics—especially pride and temptation—we strip him of his power and can resist him more effectively. [01:25:41]

- The Necessity of Spiritual Armor: We are called to put on the full armor of God—truth, righteousness, faith, salvation, and the gospel of peace. This armor is not optional; it is essential for withstanding the attacks of the enemy. Each piece protects a vital part of our lives, and without it, we are vulnerable to spiritual defeat. [01:33:19]

- Standing Firm Together: The battle is not just individual but collective. We are soldiers in the same army, and our prayers and support for one another are vital. When we stand firm in faith, resist the enemy, and pray for each other, we experience God’s strength and victory together, even in the midst of suffering and spiritual attack. [01:19:47]

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Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[01:09:21] - The Monkey Business Illusion and Spiritual Blindness
[01:09:53] - The Reality of the Spiritual World
[01:10:52] - Authority Over Fear and the Enemy
[01:11:38] - Elisha and the Invisible Army
[01:12:46] - Opening Spiritual Eyes
[01:13:38] - The Power of Prayer in Spiritual Warfare
[01:15:21] - Daniel’s Delayed Answer and Spiritual Resistance
[01:16:32] - Regional Spiritual Strongholds
[01:19:12] - The Battle for Souls and the Role of Prayer
[01:20:18] - Corporate Prayer and Spiritual Unity
[01:21:13] - Recognizing Spiritual Attacks
[01:23:24] - Fighting the Right Enemy
[01:25:41] - Exposing the Devil’s Strategies
[01:33:19] - Putting on the Armor of God
[01:34:43] - Prayer for Strength and Victory

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide: The Unseen Battle

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### Bible Reading

- 2 Kings 6:15-17
(Elisha prays for his servant’s eyes to be opened to see God’s protection.)
- Daniel 10:12-14
(Daniel’s prayer is heard, but the answer is delayed by spiritual opposition.)
- Ephesians 6:10-18
(The armor of God and the call to stand firm in spiritual warfare.)

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### Observation Questions

1. In 2 Kings 6:15-17, what did Elisha’s servant see after Elisha prayed for his eyes to be opened? How did this change his perspective on their situation?
2. According to Daniel 10:12-14, when did God hear Daniel’s prayer, and what caused the delay in the answer?
3. What are the different pieces of the “armor of God” listed in Ephesians 6:10-18, and what does each one protect?
4. The sermon compared spiritual blindness to the “monkey business illusion.” What was the point of this illustration? [[01:09:21]]

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### Interpretation Questions

1. Why is it important for believers to recognize that there is a spiritual world beyond what we can see? How might this change the way someone interprets their struggles? [[01:09:36]]
2. The sermon says prayer is our greatest weapon in the unseen war. Why do you think the enemy wants us to believe our prayers are ineffective? [[01:15:04]]
3. What does it mean to “fight the right enemy,” and how can misunderstanding who the real enemy is lead to wasted energy or even more problems? [[01:23:24]]
4. Why is it necessary to put on the “full armor of God” and not just some pieces? What might happen if a believer leaves part of their armor off? [[01:33:19]]

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### Application Questions

1. The sermon talked about being spiritually blind to what’s really happening around us. Can you think of a time when you were so focused on your circumstances that you missed what God was doing behind the scenes? What would it look like to ask God to “open your eyes” in your current situation? [[01:09:36]]
2. Daniel’s story shows that sometimes answers to prayer are delayed because of spiritual resistance. Have you ever felt like your prayers weren’t being answered? How does knowing about the spiritual battle change the way you wait or persist in prayer? [[01:15:41]]
3. The sermon said, “An enemy exposed is an enemy defeated.” What are some ways the enemy has tried to attack you recently (pride, temptation, discouragement, etc.)? How can you expose and resist those strategies this week? [[01:25:41]]
4. Ephesians 6 lists the armor of God. Which piece do you feel you most often forget or neglect? What is one practical step you can take this week to “put on” that piece of armor? [[01:33:19]]
5. The message emphasized that the battle is not just individual but corporate. Who in your life can you pray for or support this week as a fellow “soldier” in God’s army? How can you ask for prayer or support from others? [[01:19:47]]
6. The pastor mentioned that sometimes we fight the wrong battles—against people or circumstances instead of the real spiritual enemy. Is there a situation in your life right now where you might be fighting the wrong battle? What would it look like to shift your focus to the spiritual side? [[01:23:24]]
7. When you face discouragement, loss, or spiritual attack, what is your first response? How can you make prayer and God’s truth your “go-to” response instead of giving in to fear or frustration? [[01:14:30]]

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Devotional

Day 1: Open Your Eyes to the Spiritual Realm
There is more to reality than what we see with our physical eyes; a spiritual world exists all around us, filled with both demonic opposition and God’s power. If you could glimpse into this unseen realm, you would realize that spiritual forces are at work, sometimes trying to hinder your faith, your prayers, and even your daily walk with God. But as a believer, you do not need to fear, for the power of God within you is greater than anything in the world. The story of Elisha and his servant reminds us that, even when we feel surrounded by trouble, God’s protection and presence are far greater than any enemy we face. [01:13:59]

2 Kings 6:15-17 (ESV)
When the servant of the man of God rose early in the morning and went out, behold, an army with horses and chariots was all around the city. And the servant said, “Alas, my master! What shall we do?” He said, “Do not be afraid, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” Then Elisha prayed and said, “O Lord, please open his eyes that he may see.” So the Lord opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw, and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.

Reflection: Where in your life do you need to ask God to open your spiritual eyes so you can see His presence and protection at work, even when you feel surrounded by problems?

Day 2: Prayer Is Your Spiritual Weapon
Prayer is not just a ritual or a last resort; it is your most powerful weapon in the spiritual battle. When you pray, things happen in the spiritual realm—even if you don’t see immediate results. The enemy wants you to believe your prayers are insignificant, but the truth is, every sincere prayer shakes the unseen world. Like Daniel, you may not see answers right away, but God hears you from the very first moment you pray, and there is a battle in the heavenlies for your breakthrough. [01:16:14]

Daniel 10:12-13 (ESV)
Then he said to me, “Fear not, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart to understand and humbled yourself before your God, your words have been heard, and I have come because of your words. The prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me twenty-one days, but Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, for I was left there with the kings of Persia.”

Reflection: What is one area where you’ve stopped praying because you felt nothing was happening? Will you commit to pray again, trusting that God is working even when you can’t see it?

Day 3: Know Your Real Enemy
Many times, we fight the wrong battles and blame the wrong people, forgetting that our true enemy is not flesh and blood but spiritual forces of darkness. The devil is real, but he is not equal to God—he cannot read your mind, but he can tempt, influence, and lay traps based on your habits and weaknesses. Recognizing the enemy’s strategies is the first step to defeating him; once you expose his tactics, he loses his power over you. Don’t let pride or ignorance make you easy prey—stand alert and know who you’re really fighting. [01:28:44]

Ephesians 6:12 (ESV)
For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.

Reflection: Is there a conflict or struggle in your life where you’ve been fighting the wrong enemy? How can you shift your focus to address the real spiritual battle behind it?

Day 4: Stand Firm and Resist the Devil
The enemy is always looking for someone to devour, but you are called to be alert, stand firm in your faith, and resist him. You are not alone in your struggles—believers everywhere face the same attacks. The devil may roar, but he is living on borrowed time, and Jesus has already come to destroy his works. Standing firm means refusing to let discouragement, temptation, or spiritual attacks push you around; instead, you resist with faith, knowing that God’s strength is available to you. [01:31:21]

1 Peter 5:8-9 (ESV)
Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world.

Reflection: What is one practical way you can stand firm and resist the enemy’s attacks today, instead of giving in to discouragement or fear?

Day 5: Put On the Whole Armor of God
Victory in the spiritual battle requires more than willpower; you must put on the full armor of God. This means daily clothing yourself with truth, righteousness, the gospel of peace, faith, salvation, and the Word of God, and covering everything in prayer. The armor protects your mind, heart, and soul from the enemy’s attacks, and prayer activates your spiritual defenses. Don’t try to fight spiritual battles in your own strength—stand in God’s power and let His armor equip you for victory. [01:34:30]

Ephesians 6:13-18 (ESV)
Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints.

Reflection: Which piece of God’s armor do you most need to “put on” today, and how will you intentionally do that as you face your battles?

Quotes

So what you see is not all there is. And so we have to learn this important principle. What we see with our physical eyes is not all there is. There is another world. There's a spiritual world. And you can you may not be able to see it, but it is in existence. In fact, as we're sitting in this room today, you may see everyone around us. You may see the chairs. You may see me standing up here. And we may think, "Well, that's all there is." But I believe as we if we were able to look into the spiritual world, there are demonic forces trying to hinder you from hearing this message. [01:09:36]

There are demonic forces coming against your mind and your soul even as I speak right now. And so, we don't understand. If you could see a glimpse into the spiritual world and you will find even according to scripture that there is the demonic force all around us and we need to remember this that again even as we're and I say this to you not for not to cause fear in you because as believers we got the power of God in us uh that God has not given us a spirit of fear but a power and of love and of a sound mind. So when you have the authority of Jesus, you have nothing to fear. [01:10:15]

He wasn't worried about the devil. He wasn't worried about fear. He understood who's in greater is he that's in you than he that is in the world. Right? So a great example of this is found in the story of a particular prophet of Elisha tells the story of Israel is at war against the king of Syria. And there was a servant by the name of Elijah the prophet. And Syria sent an army to go kill Elisha the prophet. Could you imagine? They sent a whole army to get this guy. [01:11:19]

And so he goes, "Oh my Lord, what shall we do?" And so this servant takes a walk. He's up early before the prophet of God is up. He see there's an army that surrounded them. And he goes to the man of God and he says, "What are we going to do now?" And verse 16 said, Elisha said, "Don't be afraid." I love this. The prophet answered, "Those who are with us are more than those that are with them." [01:12:46]

But then verse 17, Elisha prays the prayer so he could see the spiritual world. And Elisha prayed, "Oh Lord, open his eyes." He's talking about his spiritual eyes that he may see. Then the Lord opened the servant's eyes and he looked and he saw the heels full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha. So it was for just a few moments the servants got a glimpse of the spiritual world. [01:13:28]

And so, it's important to understand that because there are spiritual forces, you have to fight them in spiritual ways. And one of those ways is prayer. We don't pray enough. We don't value prayer important enough. We don't realize how much spiritual power prayer gives you. That that's your ammunition. That is your weapon that you can pray. And we often do not pray with sincerity. We don't realize. We think that our prayers are just hitting the ceiling that that they're not making any impact. [01:14:24]

And the truth is we live in an individualistic world. This why we think it it's just an individual. But believe it or not, uh we are soldiers in the same army. I said we're soldiers in the same army. And so he's not only coming against your life individually, but he's coming against the whole church. This is why we often in every service before service, we have a prayer room. And I encourage people to go in and pray. We pray before every service. We have a prayer meeting on Saturdays because again, we don't min minimize the power of prayer. [01:19:49]

And here's what I want to say to God's people. Jesus has the plan for us to bless us, but Satan has the plan to undermine the blessing. And we have to realize that God is more than a motivational coach. Did you hear me? He's not just here to give you tips and not here to give you advice and, you know, bless your life all the time. We're not here for God to serve us. We're here to serve God. [01:20:54]

But you could tell that this particular things that are happening in your life, this is demonic. Are you with me? This is man, this is this is something. This is more than menopause. This is bigger than that. This is bigger than that. This is these this is way bigger than all of that. Okay, I'm not going to get the ladies mad here, but I'm just saying it's more than that. It's bigger than all of these emotional things. [01:21:33]

And it's those moments, if we're not careful, where we begin to question God. Where's God in all of this? I thought God was going to provide for me. And people will go all kinds of different directions and they don't realize this is the time that you need to begin to pray. This time where you need to get a hold of God and really get focused because there's a demonic force against your life and you need to fight it spiritually. [01:22:43]

Because you are in a battle. You ever felt like you're in a war? Because you are in a war. And this is why I'm saying to you today, and it's not easy for any of us today. All of us are in a battle. We're in a war. This is why Paul said this in 1 Timothy 6:12. He said, "Fight the good fight." In other words, there's all kinds of fights that we can get involved in, but a lot of times we're fighting the wrong battle. [01:23:14]

But let me just tell you, you need to know who your enemy is. And write this down. An enemy exposed is an enemy defeated. Let me take a drink of tea here. Oh, let me drink it again then. Hold on. Or a devil exposed. Is the devil defeated? Amen. This is why we're talking about exposing the opposition. Now, here's what I need you to understand. That Satan doesn't have the same power as God does. [01:25:10]

But the devil can't read your mind, but he could read your body language. He could read what you do and look at your habits so he knows what to throw at you. All I need to know is hang around with you for a couple days and I know what your habits are. I know what you're addicted to. I know what you do. The devil just he he knows you. He's been watching you. His de demons know what draws you. [01:26:31]

This is why the Bible says we wrestle not against flesh and blood. So, this is a wrestling. There are time spiritually where you're going to be wrestling. Anybody here ever wrestle? Anybody wrestle in high school or Okay, we got some wrestlers here. I've learned something about wrestling. Wrestling is exhausting, man. I'm telling you. One thing I found out when you fight, they usually ends up in a wrestling match. [01:28:44]

And so when we are praying, when we are walking with God, you're going to be wrestling with the enemy. There going to be times where you still feel like, man, I'm wrestling with the devil. You are. There's a lot of things you're wrestling with in your mind, in your heart, in your family, in your commitment to God. It's going to be a wrestle. The issue is, is the devil pinning you down or are you pinning the devil down? [01:29:31]

Be alert. Be on watch. It says, "Be alert. Be on watch." Your enemy, the devil, roams around like what? A roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. He's looking to eat you up, swallow you up. be firm in your faith and resist him because you know that your fellow believers around the world are going through the same kind of suffering. [01:30:59]

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Transcript

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