The Unseen War We Can't Afford to Ignore

Awake and Wrestle: The Unseen War We Can't Afford to Ignore

I fear that most people, even many believers, live their lives completely unaware of the unseen realm. But the Bible doesn't just hint at a spiritual war. It is crystal clear that there is a war happening right now. It’s a spiritual war that impacts everything you see in the physical world, from your family to your finances, from your health to your government.

When we understand that this invisible conflict is real, we are finally positioned to do something about it. We can step into our role as sons and daughters of God, using the Kingdom resources—like wisdom and authority—that He has given us.

An Enemy with a Strategy

The Bible reveals that our enemy is organized. In Ephesians 6:12, Paul writes, "For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places."

These aren't just random spirits. Think of them as self-appointed authorities. They are spiritual "influencers" who have been at this for centuries. They work in a specific region or over a group of people to shape culture, religion, and even governments—all in direct opposition to God's good plan.

We see this in Daniel 10. An angel was delayed for 21 days by a demonic being called the "prince of Persia." This shows us a spiritual power was assigned to a physical nation, fighting to stop God's will. Daniel 10 is a case study in this warfare revealing three critical truths. First, what happens in the unseen realm directly impacts our physical world.

Daniel prayed and fasted for 21 long days, and for 21 days, he heard nothing. Imagine the struggle to stay engaged, to keep believing when heaven seems silent! But his physical persistence was fueling a spiritual battle he couldn't see, proving that our refusal to quit matters.

Second, there is an active heavenly host poised and ready to intervene. An angel was sent on day one, proving our prayers are heard. This is why we must "pray accordingly," knowing the unseen realm is listening. Paul even mentions praying with the "tongues... of angels" (1 Corinthians 13:1) and "praying... in the Spirit" (Ephesians 6:18). Even the Tempter knew angels were assigned to "bear you up" (Matthew 4:6), and Paul noted their presence in our worship (1 Corinthians 11:10).

Third, angels are assigned to active warfare. The angel's visit to Daniel was just one stop on his mission. He was in an ongoing fight with the "prince of Persia" and stated he was moving on to fight the "prince of Greece" (Daniel 10:20). He wasn't just defending; he was on offense, assigned to tear down the very strongholds holding nations captive.

What Is a "Stronghold"?

So how do these "princes" keep control? They build "strongholds."

But a stronghold isn't a stone castle. A stronghold is a lie that has been told so long it is now believed as truth. It’s an idea, a philosophy, or a cultural mindset that keeps people in bondage.

The Apostle Paul explains this perfectly in 2 Corinthians 10:4-5: "For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ."

These "arguments" are the mental prisons that keep people and whole regions trapped. A stronghold is a system of thinking (like greed, racism, or hopelessness) that has become so normal it goes unchallenged.

The Real Problem: No Resistance

Here’s the most unfortunate part. Perhaps the greatest issue in this conflict is that many, if not most, of God's people are not wrestling. Ephesians 6 says to wrestle, but in all too many cases, there is simply no resistance!

The people of God need to be awakened to this conflict and to their call to engage in it.

Why is this happening? Because we have become a passive culture. We are "seeker-friendly" and "politically correct." This soft messaging is leaving the world with little to no counter-messaging, no counter-culture to the powers of darkness!

So how do we start? How do we engage in this fight? We can begin right now in three powerful ways.

First, we must pray with our spirit and with our understanding. Paul said, "I will pray with my spirit, but I will also pray with my understanding" (1 Corinthians 14:15). He also spoke of "tongues... of angels" (1 Corinthians 13:1), reminding us there is a spiritual language that the unseen realm understands. When we pray in the Spirit, we are speaking divine secrets and partnering with heaven. This is how we use the authority Jesus gave us when He said, "whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven" (Matthew 18:18).

Now, we have to be honest here. There has been a massive demonic attempt throughout church history to rip Paul's writings from their context, all to discount and discredit the gifts of the Holy Spirit. Make no mistake: any teaching that tells you the gifts have "passed away" or are "not for today" is a demonic lie. Its goal is to disarm the Church.

Think about it. The enemy loves to twist 1 Corinthians 14. People use that chapter to try and silence the gifts, but Paul was correcting their misuse in a public service, not their use. In that same exact chapter, Paul says, "I thank my God I speak with tongues more than you all" (1 Corinthians 14:18) and "do not forbid to speak in tongues" (1 Corinthians 14:39). He wasn't telling them to stop; he was telling them to grow up and use the gifts in an orderly way. Why would the enemy fight so hard to stop us from using these gifts? Because there is incredible power in them. They are weapons for this spiritual war, and the enemy is terrified of a believer who knows how to use them.

Second, we must pray for one another. We are a family and an army; we have to cover each other. The Bible says, "if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven" (Matthew 18:19). Think of the power in that! The Bible also says, "The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective" (James 5:16). When you pray for your brother or sister, you are bringing the power of God directly into their personal battle.

This isn't just a nice idea; it's a core battle strategy. We see it in action in Acts 12. When Peter was thrown in prison, guarded by soldiers and locked behind iron gates, the enemy thought he had silenced Peter. But what did the church do? The Bible says, "prayer was made without ceasing by the church to God for him" (Acts 12:5).

What happened? An angel of the Lord walked right into that prison, his chains fell off, and he walked out free! That’s the kind of power that is unleashed when the Church stops complaining and starts praying together. Their united prayers dispatched an angel and physically broke that region's stronghold. 

We see another angelic collaboration in Acts 5, the apostles were arrested and thrown into the public jail. But what happened? The Bible says, "during the night an angel of the Lord opened the doors of the jail and brought them out," telling them to go right back to the temple and keep preaching (Acts 5:19-20). The prison was found securely locked, but the prisoners were gone!

The Apostle Paul understood this. He was constantly begging the churches to pray for him. He wrote, "pray... for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly" (Ephesians 6:19). He knew their prayers would give him the spiritual ammo and the courage he needed to pierce the darkness. When we pray for our leaders, our families, and our fellow believers, we are doing active spiritual warfare on their behalf. We are standing in the gap, dispatching angels, and enforcing the victory of Jesus in their lives. Don’t for a moment discount the power of a praying momma warrior.

Third, we must exercise our Sonship authority. We are not just defending; we are called to take ground! Jesus gave us His authority to act. He commanded us, "they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover" (Mark 16:18). This is what "the prayer of faith" in James 5:15 is all about. We are not just asking God to do something; we are acting as His sons and daughters to enforce His will, bringing His Kingdom to earth right now.

The Call to Pierce the Night

But our fight doesn't stop with prayer. We must take the offensive by actively sharing the Gospel. Here are three ways to do it.

First, you must testify of Him and all He has done! Your personal story is a weapon. The Bible says they "overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony" (Revelation 12:11). When you tell someone what Jesus has done for you—how He saved you, healed you, or set you free—you are releasing the power of God. You are giving living proof that He is real. Jesus commanded the man He delivered, "Go... and tell them how much the Lord has done for you" (Mark 5:19). Your story is designed to break strongholds in someone else's life.

Second, live your faith out loud, especially in your business. This is a huge trend right now, and this is the time to be boldly Christian in the marketplace. We are called to be "the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden" (Matthew 5:14). Your business is your city on a hill! When you operate with integrity, serve with excellence, and aren't afraid to give God the glory, you are making your testimony heard. You are doing your work "with all your heart, as working for the Lord" (Colossians 3:23), and people will see your good deeds and "glorify your Father in heaven" (Matthew 5:16).

Third, be given to hospitality. This is a powerful, relational weapon. Invite your co-workers, neighbors, and peers into your home for dinner. Buy them lunch. I think Jesus did this all the time; He was "a friend of tax collectors and sinners" (Luke 7:34). Jesus is that dinner guest that you just anticipate may bring a plus one. That plus one may well be the panhandler from the market. He will challenge you to share your fish and loaves. The Bible commands us to "practice hospitality" (Romans 12:13). Why? Because hospitality, connection, and service are how we insert ourselves into the enemy's strongholds. We sit at the table with people, build real relationships, and bring the Light of the Kingdom right into their lives. This is how we take back territory, one person at a time.

 The greatest need in the world today is for a community of believers who know and preach the same Kingdom culture and Gospel that Jesus initiated.

Strongholds only exist where there is little or no LIGHT. When the Gospel is silenced or reduced to a whisper, the darkness takes over. In that silence, minds are captured, and people become desperately hopeless.

We are not victims. We are SONS of God. We have access to Kingdom resources to engage in this fight.

We must cry aloud. We must pierce the night with truth. Because that truth is LIGHT!