God’s Power Over the Unseen World

The Hidden Reality Around Us

We live in a world of the unseen. You and I go about our daily affairs and rarely think about the world of the unseen the Bible so often refers to. Angels and demons are just after thoughts if they are thought of at all. Most of the time the reality we see is the only one that matters to us. Yet Scripture reminds us that God’s power over the unseen world is real, protecting His people and ultimately working all things according to His will. In Daniel chapter 10 we are introduced to this world and the fact that it influences us, for good or evil, in a very real way.

Daniel’s Vision and the Invisible Battle

In Daniel 10, Daniel has a vision of a "glorious man". Interpretations vary as to who this is but many people believe it is an unnamed angel. Because of Daniel's humility and desire to understand, he was sent to Daniel, a man "greatly beloved." But the angel was delayed by an interaction with the "prince of the kingdom of Persia" who stood against him for 21 days. This demonic ruler had influence over our tangible world.

The Archangel Michael was sent to help the angel so he could be on his way to reveal the meaning of a vision to Daniel. After revealing the vision the angel announced that he must "return to fight with the prince of Persia" and then "the prince of Greece" (Daniel 10:20-21). A real battle was waging that shows us unseen forces can influence our prayers .

“The unseen world may be hidden from our eyes, but nothing escapes the power and authority of God.”

Have you ever experienced a delay in the answer to your prayer? Have you ever wondered why that might be?

Job’s Trial and God’s Sovereign Control

In the Old Testament, the book of Job stands as the most famous example of the unseen world holding sway over us. Here Satan stands before God accusing Job of only being a faithful servant because of the blessings that God has provided for him. God knows who His faithful ones are. He allows Satan to take away these blessings and still Job worships God. Job questions, like we all do at times, but in the end he recognizes that God is sovereign over all. God then restores Job and blesses him even more abundantly than before.

God’s Power Over the Unseen World

More often than we may realize this unseen world is referred to in the New Testament as well. Ephesians 6:10-20 describes the "armor of God." But it seems to me that we often forget why we have to have armor. Ephesians 6:12 explains,

"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."

Notice the enemy isn't people, it's the unseen forces behind the conflict.

When we experience unexpected opposition in ministry, like sudden drops in attendance, or divisions in families caused by flaring tempers, or a spiritual attack meant to discourage us from prayer by distractions, we may be sensing the effects of this unseen struggle. Doors seem to close in our face, tensions flare, or we may feel unfocused when we pray. We are reminded by these struggles that we are not alone. God's Spirit is at work in us even when we don't realize it. The Christian life is a battle but God has prepared us.

Do you feel it? Do you sense in your daily life that your struggle is not against other people but against principalities, powers, rulers of the darkness, and spiritual hosts of wickedness. But what are they? They are beings in the world of the unseen that oppose God and His people. Thankfully, we learn in Romans 8:37-39 that these powers can never separate us from the love of God. God is ruler over everything!

God is sovereign over all that is, whether it is seen or unseen. Colossians 1:16 tells us that "all things were created by Him and for Him." Even the evilness of Satan and his demonic angels are ultimately under God's control. God directs even hostile powers for His purposes. They can be used by Him to fulfill His will (Daniel 4:35; Isaiah 46:10-11).

Christ’s Victory Over the Powers of Darkness

The greatest example of this is the Cross. What Satan meant for defeat, God used for victory. The cross disarmed the principalities and powers of darkness (Colossians 2:15). Jesus' death on the cross ended Satan's power over death,

"...that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage" (Hebrews 2:14-15).

1 John 5:19 declares that the world is under the control of the Devil but also in 1 John 4:4 John tells us the Holy Spirit who lives in us is greater than "the one who is in the world." We don't want to downplay the power of evil in this world, but we also don't want to underestimate our Father.

Have you ever heard someone say the Devil possessed someone to do some great evil? People point to people like Hitler or mass murderers and talk about how Satan influenced them. But what about God? If Satan can influence for evil, how much more can God influence for good? If Satan has power in this world, how much more does the One who created the world have? If Satan can cause us to lose all hope, how much more does the God of hope restore it?

“What Satan intends for harm, God uses for victory—just as the cross turned darkness into eternal light.”

The Church’s Witness to the Heavenly Realms

We have individual battles to fight against Satan which is why we each need to use the armor God has provided for us. But the church as a whole also plays a role in this battle. In Ephesians 3:10-11 Paul explains the church as a whole will show these "principalities and powers" the "manifold wisdom of God." What does Paul mean when he says this?

It is the church as a whole that will display God to the world, both seen and unseen. God's wisdom is manifold, meaning that it is varied and diverse. His people possess different gifts, but all used for one purpose; to show God's wisdom and glory to others, through the Holy Spirit. Because of this the evil principalities and powers of the world will shudder before the power of God's church. We are never alone when we are wrestling against evil.

What sorts of power does Satan actually have? He tempts us, because he knows our nature and understands where our weaknesses lie. He is the father of lies and constantly tries to make us disbelieve God's faithfulness (John 8:44). One of his favorite tools of deception is pride. He would have us, like him, try to place ourselves above God. Examples of pride can be when we insist on being right, or when things are going so well for us we don't think we need God.

Specifically, in Luke 13:11 Jesus tells us that the woman, who had a spirit of infirmity for eighteen years and was unable to stand up straight, had been bound by Satan. When Jesus cured her it was a demonstration that He had power over Satan. And of course, Satan's greatest act of evil was the temptation of Eve which resulted in the fall of Adam and Eve from grace. Again, we understand that Satan will be ultimately defeated.

As Philippians 2:10-11 explains, every knee shall bow and tongue confess that Jesus is Lord; those who are in the world we see and the unseen world alike. And in Ephesians 1:15-21 Paul prays for the believers at Ephesus to know three things. He wants them to know the hope they have in His calling, the glorious riches of His saints' inheritance, and His great power towards believers.

These three great blessings come only through Christ and His sacrifice. Because of this Christ is seated at the right hand of God and here we see that He is "far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come."

Standing Firm in God’s Strength

The unseen world surrounds us whether we are aware or not. The powers in it can influence our walk in this world. They can provoke great evil if they are allowed to. But you and I have a greater Power. We worship One whose name is far above the evil one who currently operates in this world. We have help from His holy angels, the Holy Spirit of God, the Word of God, and the Armor of God. We have the church, our brothers and sisters, to uplift us and encourage us in our fight. Have you reached out for that help? We all need it.

“We fight unseen battles every day, but we never fight alone. God’s strength and presence go before us.”

The unseen world surrounds us, but God’s power over the unseen world ensures we are never without His love or help. We don't face the challenges of Satan alone. When we feel that we are, it is just one of his many lies. When discouragement, temptation or confusion seem overwhelming, remember we aren't fighting flesh and blood. The Holy Spirit is with you. Let us pray to our Father who strengthens us to bring to mind all He has blessed us with and bow before His power and might.

If you’d like to explore how spiritual warfare affects our daily lives and how believers can stand firm today, read The Cross and the Defeat of the Powers of Darkness?