Invisible Warfare pt 1

The Invisible War pt 1

Pastor Tom Mitchell

In the late 1800’s scientists and doctors believed in spontaneous generation. Spontaneous generation was the belief that living organisms could pop up anywhere from non-living organisms. And this belief system explained that out of nowhere diseases could occur. Suddenly a disease could pop up on anyone’s body and in many cases diseases swept through families, communities, and whole countries and killed thousands of people. At that time there were no studies to see if diseases were related or how diseases were spread because it was assumed diseases were caused by spontaneous generation.

Then Louis Pasteur came along and said, that the belief system of spontaneous generation was not correct. He said that there were these invisible organisms that you cannot see that actually carry these diseases. He believed these living organisms could actually live on skin, in the air, and be passed from person to person. These diseases were NOT just popping up randomly from non-living organisms, but they are living organisms. He believed there was a invisible world of organisms that was impacting the visible world. This invisible world of germs is everywhere but you can’t see them. And this unseen world is impacting the seen world and has the potential of destroying lives, families, communities and even thousands in different countries. All because of something you can’t see. He put forth the germ theory of disease, the idea that invisible germs could impact the visible world.

This belief system caught on with a small group of people in the medical community and they began washing their hands and sterilizing equipment, and quarantining sick people from each other. But many people inside and outside the medical and scientific community thought it was a crazy idea, a ridicules belief system.

Many said, “You want us to believe that there is something you can’t see that impacts what we can see?

You want us to believe that something that is invisible can float through the air and land on a person’s skin and this invisible thing can impact that person’s health? Are you telling me that some invisible germ can be transmitted to someone else’s skin through a handshake or a cough? Are you telling me that there are these invisible things that I cannot see that can and do impact the world I can see?”

Louis Pasteur said, “Ya, sure. You batch ah.” I bet you didn’t know Louis was from Minnesota did you?

Now days Louis Pasteur’s theory is a given fact. We believe in germs. We believe there is an invisible world that impacts our visible world. And that is why so many of us have one of these (Hand sanitizers) in our homes, our churches, our hospitals, our schools, our restaurants, and our places of work. These hand sanitizers are everywhere, especially since the H1N1 outbreak.

Hand sanitizers are everywhere because we believe in germs. We believe there are things we can’t see that impact what we can see. We believe that these things that we can’t see are dangerous and can be life threatening. Why? Because there is an invisible world of germs out there!

Two weeks ago I spent four days in the hospital with my parents. I put this stuff on my hands dozens of times. I also saw doctors, nurses, administrators, blood takers, x-rayers, room cleaners, social workers, food delivery people all put this stuff on their hands. We all did this because we all believe in the invisible world of germs. We believe that what is invisible can become visible under the right circumstances and it can be dangerous.

Now listen as I take some of you from what you know to what you don’t know but is just as real as what you do know. The Bible says that there is another invisible world out there. And this other invisible world doesn’t just impact us physically. It impacts us spiritually and relationally. It impacts our thinking, it impacts our worldview, our attitudes toward morality.

It impacts our attitude toward finances, toward our families, our marriages, our schools, our government. It impacts everything we do.

This morning I am beginning as series of messages on “The Invisible War”. As we look at what the Bible says, some of you will be skeptical and resistant to what the Bible teaches. Some of you will be like the people who lived in the 1800’s who said, “Are you trying to tell me that there is something I can’t see that impacts what I can see? Are you trying to tell me that there is something that is all around me that I can’t see, that effects what I can see? And the answer is…. YES!

What we are going to talk about for the coming weeks will be a little difficult for some of you to believe. But the same Bible that says, “love one another,” the same bible that says, “forgive one another,” the same Bible that says, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” The same Bible says this: “For we are not fighting against flesh and blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.”(Eph 6:12 NLT)

The Bible says there is an invisible world that impacts our visible world, every single day.

Some people DON”T believe in this invisible world where Satan works. Some think the whole idea is silly. Some think the concept is archaic. Some think that believing in the invisible world of the Devil is in the same as believing in weir wolves, ghosts, vampires, and witches. Modern, educated people certainly should know better.

Let me show you what Jesus said about the devil in Jn 8:44-45: “For you are the children of your father the devil, and you love to do the evil things he does. He was a murderer from the beginning. He has always hated the truth, because there is no truth in him.

When he lies, it is consistent with his character; for he is a liar and the father of lies. So when I tell the truth, you just naturally don’t believe me!”

As I read this some of you maybe thinking, “I like when Jesus says, “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.” (LK 11:9-10)

But I don’t like that other thing that Jesus said about the devil and this invisible war thing.

Hear this: You can’t pick the parts of the Bible you like and disregard others. It doesn’t work that way. You must also consider the parts of the Bible that are more difficult to understand.

Then there are other people who really really believe in Satan. They are obsessed with him and they are preoccupied with him. Not only are they convinced that he exists but that he is everywhere and in everything. They interpret all human events in terms of Satan - - - he is the primary cause of every crime, the strategist behind every war, the cause of every disease, the reason for every divorce, the explanation for every problem. We must be careful of both extremes: the devil doesn’t exist or the devil is behind every snow bank.

Let me read again what the Apostle Paul had to say about this invisible world. He said: “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For we are not fighting against flesh and blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.”(Eph 6:10-12 NLT)

There is a devil who is fighting an Invisible War against Christians. He has “schemes”, plans, methods, and strategy. In the coming weeks we will look at the Invisible War and the power behind it.

We will look at what the bible says about how to prepare to do spiritual battle with this invisible enemy and win! “For we are not fighting against flesh and blood enemies,… You see it’s not just you that is the problem, it’s not just your son or daughter or parents who are the problem, and it’s not just your boss or your pastor who is the problem. There is an unseen, invisible world that is at war with us.

The Apostle Paul calls them: “…evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.”(Eph 6:12 NLT) This is the same Paul who wrote: “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud…. You know those verses that are read at so many weddings. Paul seems like such a smart guy, but he too believes in the devil, who is a liar, a deceiver, and a murder.

Some of you may be thinking, Pastor Tom this evil invisible world idea is kind of hard to grasp. But listen to me. Aren’t there times when you look at world events and you think, that is just evil?

On October 2, 2006, Charles Carl Roberts entered the one-room West Nickel Mines School with a 9 mm handgun, 12 gauge shotgun, .30-06 rifle, about 600 rounds of ammunition, a stun gun, and two knives. After he had released a few people he ordered ten female students hostages to line up against the chalkboard. Roberts shot all ten and killed himself. Three of the girls died at the scene, with two more died the next morning. Five girls were in the hospital in critical condition. Reports have stated that the girls were shot execution style in the head. The ages of the victims ranged from 6 to 13. There is evil in our world!

Or what about the men who carried out a detailed plan to hijack planes four and fly them into buildings, why? So they could make their god happy by killing as many people as possible.

There is an Invisible War that impacts our visible world every single day. I would like us to be aware of and be prepared to do battle and win.