A Spiritual World with Spiritual Weapons

Imagine this: You wake up one morning, and as you look outside, you’re surrounded. An entire army—horses, chariots, weapons—all closing in on just you and one friend alongside you. No escape. No defense. Everything in you starts to panic. 

But then your friend looks at you and calmly says, “Don’t be afraid. Those who are with us are more than those who are with them.”

You’d probably stare at your friend and think, “What are you talking about? It’s just us. There’s no one else.”

That’s exactly what happened in 2 Kings 6 as Elisha and his servant were surrounded by their enemies, and Elisha prayed:

“’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.” (2 Kings 6:17)

In this moment, Elisha’s servant got a glimpse of the spiritual world and realized that the Syrian army that surrounded them was indeed outnumbered, not physically, but spiritually. And in this moment when the invisible became visible, everything changed.

The Weapon of Prayer

“And when the Syrians came down against him, Elisha prayed to the Lord and said, ‘Please strike this people with blindness.’ So he struck them with blindness in accordance with the prayer of Elisha. And Elisha said to them, «This is not the way, and this is not the city. Follow me, and I will bring you to the man whom you seek.» And he led them to Samaria.” (2 Kings 6:18–19)

Elisha led this army straight to Samaria to be captured by the King of Israel! That’s amazing. How did that happen? 

They saw the spiritual world, and they fought with a spiritual weapon. All he did was pray!

This is my question for you today: Do you believe that our prayers have power to affect the movement of armies in this world? 

The Unseen Battle Raging Now

Stories like this are all over the rest of Scripture. God makes it clear that there is an invisible, spiritual world around us that is just as real as the visible, physical world, but it is far more powerful. 

At this moment, there are glorious beings that would take our breath away if we could see them. Just ask Daniel in the Bible, who saw one of them and fell on his hands and knees, shaking and barely able to breathe—and that was when he saw one of the good guys! 

God tells us in Ephesians 6 that there are rulers, authorities, cosmic powers over darkness, and spiritual forces of evil at work in our lives and around the world at all times. There are evil beings all around us that would send the toughest of us terrified and trembling to the floor if we could see them.

To most of us, what I just wrote sounds crazy. Most of us live with a worldview that explains most everything by what we can see, touch, taste, smell, or hear. To say that you believe in the existence of angels and demons is like saying you believe in dragons and elves. But God tells us in His Word that we live in a spiritual world, and that reality should change everything about the way we live. 

Suiting Up for Battle

I encourage you to read Ephesians 6:10–20 and reflect for a moment on how you can engage the spiritual world with spiritual weapons in your life and in the world around you: 

“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. 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. 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, and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak.”

This article first appeared in The Commission, Radical’s biweekly newsletter featuring global gospel stories and encouragement from David Platt and others to help you follow Jesus and make him known. Subscribe today.