Today, we live in an evil world. That is why Ephesians 6:12 tells us that “we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities and the powers of darkness, of wicked forces in high places.” As familiar as this verse may be, we need to be reminded of it daily. Why? Because we forget…and when we do, we fail to pray. When we forget, we default to thinking that our battles are within the natural realm of life – and fail to take action in the spirit.
Daily, we witness the downward trends in our society. We see the constant decline in morality, integrity, honesty, and uprightness in our nation, state, and throughout the world. Evil is on the rise! In recent years, we have witnessed horrific acts of violence in every area of life. Since many of our leaders have rejected God and His Word, they only see it as the result of mental illness or the proliferation of weapons. The truth is, behind every evil act, every slanderous and malicious confrontation, every form of disorder and chaos, are the unseen forces of evil that are determined to kill, steal, and destroy everything good.
Those forces can never be defeated by the human efforts of law enforcement, the FBI, or any other natural agency created to maintain order. Our human resources and weapons have no power against the spiritual wickedness in heavenly places! However, those forces can be contained, pushed back, and defeated by the spiritual weapons of prayer, fasting, and intercession. In 2 Corinthians 10:3-5, Scripture says, “For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. 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.”
God has called the Church to rule and reign with Him, as the Ekklesia (local authority). The true Church of Jesus Christ has been given power and authority to fight and overcome all of the powers of darkness! (Luke 10:19; Ephesians 2:6) However, we must use the weapons God has given us; we must rise up and fight! Our prayers, when inspired and led by the Holy Spirit, are the most powerful weapons in the universe. Prayer is vital in bringing God’s kingdom to earth. If that was not true, Jesus would never have told His disciples to pray: “Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.”
Saints, this is our mission! It has always been our mission, and yet, often we have failed to understand that it is through prayer that God rules the earth. The Church is called to impose the rule of heaven by: (1.) praying in agreement – Matthew 18:19 “If two of you agree here on earth (create a symphony in prayer) concerning anything you ask, my Father in heaven will do it for you;” and (2.) by binding and loosing the will of God on earth – Matthew 18:18 “I tell you the truth, whatever you forbid on earth will be forbidden in heaven, and whatever you permit on earth will be permitted in heaven.”
The only power that controls the invisible powers of darkness is the power of the Holy Spirit released through the prayers of the saints! We have been given that power, but we must use it to enforce Christ’s victory on the cross and bring the will of God to earth. Our good intentions and earnest thoughts will not deter the work of the enemy. WE MUST PRAY OUT!
James 5:16b says, “The effective, fervent prayer of the righteous will avails much.” Saints, let’s pray as though our life depends on it, as thought our nation, state and city depend on it.
