THE POWER OF REVELATION IN SPIRITUAL WARFARE
2 Kings 6:8-23
By: Edward Barcial
It was 1944 - WW2. Sub-Lieutenant Hiroo Onoda of the Imperial Japanese army was ordered to stay on Lubang Island in the Philippines and hold it for the glory of the Emperor. So he did. The following year, the Allies bombed Hiroshima and Nagasaki and the Japanese surrendered. Shortly after, the war ended, but unfortunately he didn't know. He kept on fighting the next year, and the next year, and was still fighting 29 years after the end of WW2.
He was totally unaware that the war had finished long ago. Even when the police searched through the jungle using megaphones to ask him to surrender and stop shooting the locals, he refused to give up. It wasn't until 1974 when they brought in his wartime commanding officer, to order him to surrender, that he finally stopped fighting. Do you know that it's over for Satan? That he's been defeated? Do you apply the victory of the Cross in your daily life?
If you put soldiers in barracks and leave them there for long enough, they'll eventually start fighting among themselves. – Source unknown. The Church was made for war. But instead of fighting one true enemy satan, we stayed within the comfort of our own church and eventually begin fighting among ourselves. We will be united if we center our spiritual aggression against the works of the devil, our one common enemy. But unfortunately we don’t see him at work because we remain spiritually blind.
To possess the gates of your enemies, you have to go into enemy territory. We can't hide in the safe little cocoon of the church. – Source unknown
Pastor G.F. Watkins founded PowerHouse Christian Center once said, “Jesus' purpose was to destroy the works of the devil. Jesus is gone but we still have the works of the devil. Whose job is it now? “
It’s the church’s job to implement the Rule of God’s Kingdom over the earth today. But how can we fight if we are blind to the reality of the spiritual realm where satan operates? We must therefore seek God and ask for Revelation Power. Revelation Power will open our spiritual eyes to see exactly what is happening. To use our natural eyes only will only bring defeat in our lives. Here are three benefits of revelation power:
1) The Enemy’s Plans Are Revealed
2 Kings 6:8-12 (NKJV)
Now the king of Syria was making war against Israel; and he consulted with his servants, saying, "My camp will be in such and such a place." 9 And the man of God sent to the king of Israel, saying, "Beware that you do not pass this place, for the Syrians are coming down there." 10 Then the king of Israel sent someone to the place of which the man of God had told him. Thus he warned him, and he was watchful there, not just once or twice. 11 Therefore the heart of the king of Syria was greatly troubled by this thing; and he called his servants and said to them, "Will you not show me which of us is for the king of Israel?" 12 And one of his servants said, "None, my lord, O king; but Elisha, the prophet who is in Israel, tells the king of Israel the words that you speak in your bedroom."
Military intelligence and espionage play a vital role in winning a war. The more you learn about the enemy’s plans, the better the chance of victory. Through prayer, we ask God to reveal to us what the enemy is up to. Jeremiah 33:3 promises us that if we call unto Him, He will answer us and show (reveal) us great and mighty things that we do not know. The Holy Spirit is our Heavenly “SPY” who will reveal us all things but only if we ask Him so. Also we communicate our prayers in “code” when we pray in tongues. Only God can understand our heavenly language and the enemy could never decipher it. The devil is so frustrated when we pray in the Spirit. Since he cannot break the code, the devil could not make any plans against it since it is hidden. We are at war, and we cannot afford to leak out vital information to the enemy camp. Always pray in the Spirit.
2) God’s Armies Are Revealed
2 Kings 6:13-17 (NKJV)
13 So he said, "Go and see where he is, that I may send and get him." And it was told him, saying, "Surely he is in Dothan." 14 Therefore he sent horses and chariots and a great army there, and they came by night and surrounded the city. 15 And when the servant of the man of God arose early and went out, there was an army, surrounding the city with horses and chariots. And his servant said to him, "Alas, my master! What shall we do?" 16 So he answered, "Do not fear, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them." 17 And Elisha prayed, and said, "Lord, I pray, open his eyes that he may see." Then 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.
Most of the time we are afraid to fight simply because our fleshly eyes see more of the problem rather than what God has provided for us. The ten spies of Numbers 13 came back with a report that they saw giants in the land. Joshua and Caleb came back with the report of grapes. Which report was true? The ten spies did not see God’s provision (grapes) as they were blind in the spirit (alive in the flesh). Joshua and Caleb were men of faith (they walk by faith and not by sight - 2 Cor. 5:7). They had the revelation from God and declared that “we are well able to overcome the land.” Fear of the enemy brings blindness. Faith opens our spiritual eyes that we can confess that “we are more than conquerors through Jesus Christ,” hallelujah!
3) The Enemy’s Defeat Is Revealed
2 Kings 6:18-20 (NKJV)
18 So when the Syrians came down to him, Elisha prayed to the Lord, and said, "Strike this people, I pray, with blindness." And He struck them with blindness according to the word of Elisha. 19 Now Elisha said to them, "This is not the way, nor is this the city. Follow me, and I will bring you to the man whom you seek." But he led them to Samaria. 20 So it was, when they had come to Samaria, that Elisha said, "Lord, open the eyes of these men, that they may see." And the Lord opened their eyes, and they saw; and there they were, inside Samaria!
Not only should God open the eyes of His chosen people, He must also open the eyes of the enemy to see that we are victorious over them. Normally we cast out demons out of people. How many of us realize that we don’t have to cast out the devil out of the church? The reason for this is found in Romans 16:20:
Romans 16:20 (NKJV)
And the God of peace will crush Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.
How can then crush satan if he is not under our feet? The only reason why God allows the devil to come to church if for us to dance over his head! If you are not dancing, you are not crushing him. Dancing is our way of showing that we have the victory as in the days of Miriam when she saw the Egyptians defeated in the Red Sea. Paul also mentioned that the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ is with us. His grace (God’s enablement) will give us the power over him). May the Lord open our eyes to see that the enemy is defeated within the church!
Psalms 23:5a (NKJV) You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies…
God prepares the victory table for all champions of Christ! But only in the presence of our enemies. Satan is invited to the banquet table only to watch us triumph over him. Esther invited Haman to a banquet to declare herself to be part of God’s people that will eventually defeat his evil plans. This is what Elisha suggested to the King of Israel:
2 Kings 6:21-23a (NKJV)
21 Now when the king of Israel saw them, he said to Elisha, "My father, shall I kill them? Shall I kill them?" 22 But he answered, "You shall not kill them. Would you kill those whom you have taken captive with your sword and your bow? Set food and water before them, that they may eat and drink and go to their master." 23 Then he prepared a great feast for them; and after they ate and drank, he sent them away and they went to their master.
Conclusion:
2 Kings 6:23b (NKJV) So the bands of Syrian raiders came no more into the land of Israel.
Our spiritual enemy will no longer trouble us if our eyes of revelation power are always open. What marvelous joy we will have if we see the truth behind every problem that besets us everyday! To be honest, we are more open to see our brothers and sisters in the church to be the source of our problems. Sadly, the enemy is working secretly behind them (as in the case of Peter – Matt 16:23). We wrestle not against flesh and blood (Eph 6:12). Let us pray that the Lord will open our eyes and give us revelation power to defeat our true enemy in the Name of The Lord!
God will win the battle for us, but we have to show up for the fight.
Deut 31:3 (NKJV)
The Lord your God Himself crosses over before you; He will destroy these nations from before you, and you shall dispossess them. Joshua himself crosses over before you, just as the Lord has said.
God moves if we move. The Holy Spirit is called alongside us to help. He won’t do anything unless we do something. We are God’s co-laborers. We must work alongside Him, not before, not after. We must collaborate with His Spirit and receive revelations. Without revelations, we are blind like the Syrian raiders and will end up defeated. Remember, WITH God (not FOR God) nothing is impossible!
Luke 1:37 (NKJV) For with God nothing will be impossible
In order for Hiroo Onoda to surrender, someone must tell him that the war was over and his army was defeated 30 years ago. He finally realized (revelation) this when his former commander, Major Taniguchi on March 9, 1974, read the orders that stated all combat activity was to be ceased. Onoda was shocked and, at first, disbelieving. It took some time for the news to sink in. After formally surrendering to Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos, Marcos pardoned Onoda for his crimes while in hiding. (http://philpetty.com/2012/05/
In order for satan to surrender today in the name of Jesus, the Church must tell him that he lost the war and he was defeated 2,000 years ago! The only reason why the devil still hangs around is because of his stubborn ignorance and rebellion against the truth that Jesus Christ has won the battle on the cross.
Col 2:14-15 (NKJV)
…having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. 15 Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it.
Onward, Christian soldiers, marching as to war,
With the cross of Jesus going on before.
Christ, the royal Master, leads against the foe;
Forward into battle see His banners go!
Onward, Christian soldiers, marching as to war,
With the cross of Jesus going on before.
Text: Sabine Baring-Gould, 1834-1924
Music: Arthur S. Sullivan, 1842-1900
Tune: ST. GERTRUDE, Meter: 65.65 D with Refrain
Music: Arthur S. Sullivan, 1842-1900
Tune: ST. GERTRUDE, Meter: 65.65 D with Refrain
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