What We Need To Know In 2013 - Interfering In The Natural

As we look at the bible, so many times we can find the supernatural interrupting the natural, or having an impact on the natural.

If we, like many others in this world, try and live by what makes sense only, then these occurrences will be explained away as “acts of God” or some kind of judgements, or just plain freakish events.

However, when I hear of intense storms,
abnormal weather patterns, and specifically out-of-the-blue events, I am immediately reminded of the biblical accounts when clashes and warfare took place in the spirit realm, in the heavenlies, and the resulting natural consequences.

As we journey through this world, it is a hard thing many time to be conscious of the fact that “we wrestle NOT with flesh and blood”, in other words not with men, but with principalities, powers, rulers of the darkness of this world, and spiritual wickedness in high places. Through these different levels of rank and file of Satan’s kingdom, Satan influences our world. Now as believers, as light, as righteousness, and as Christ in the world (2 Cor 6:14-15), we exercise our authority, pray, speak the Word of God, and represent the Lord Jesus in our daily lives, we can stir up tremendous shifts within the heavenly atmosphere. But when Satan through his representation on the earth finds “doors” of influence into mankind, into countries and regions and there is a resistance in the spirit realm against the family of God, huge clashes take place that manifest on earth.

Now, I’m not going to try and explain all the ways Satan can gain access, but needless to say it could include what people say and do and the way they behave personally, collectively, governmentally, and culturally.

What I am trying to say is the knowledge of these things should challenge us to peer into what the bible tells us about the realm of the spirit and begin to use the weapons God has equipped us with. You understand, it’s not just about our careers, our businesses, our families, our ministries, and the hassles and problems and crises we experience daily in these areas, but it is about what is transpiring in the arenas we cannot see.

Now faith is the …evidence of things not seen. Heb11:1

There is an unseen realm. And we are engaged daily in this realm.

This unseen realm of the spirit influences us in many ways, and we can give expression to it through our strife, our carnal outbursts, our words etc.

Let us look again at another incident in the Word where a ‘clash’ in the heavenlies results in a manifestation in the natural.

Act 4:31  And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.

After being threatened by the leaders, Peter and John went back to their company and shared what had happened. The church got together and began to fervently pray against these threats by asking God to do signs and wonders in the name of Jesus. Now, you have got to know, this is war words to the kingdom of darkness. Their prayer released tremendous authority and the presence of God into the atmosphere.

Remember, it’s not against flesh and blood we wrestle so when we read,

Act 4:6  And Annas the high priest, and Caiaphas, and John, and Alexander, and as many as were of the kindred of the high priest, were gathered together at Jerusalem.

Act 4:15-18  But when they had commanded them to go aside out of the council, they conferred among themselves, Saying, What shall we do to these men? for that indeed a notable miracle hath been done by them is manifest to all them that dwell in Jerusalem; and we cannot deny it. But that it spread no further among the people, let us straitly threaten them, that they speak henceforth to no man in this name. And they called them, and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus.

We must realise where such threats come from. Who or what would inspire and influence men to engage such actions and to speak such words? Then you know what they were really dealing with. Their response of course was to pray as a community of believers.

Act 4:23-30  And being let go, they went to their own company, and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said unto them. And when they heard that, they lifted up their voice to God with one accord, and said, Lord, thou art God, which hast made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all that in them is: Who by the mouth of thy servant David hast said, Why did the heathen rage, and the people imagine vain things? The kings of the earth stood up, and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord, and against his Christ. For of a truth against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, were gathered together, For to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel determined before to be done. And now, Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word, By stretching forth thine hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done by the name of thy holy child Jesus.

Their response is to quote the word and confess that Jesus was the Anointed Lord sent by the Father. Right there is warfare. Not only that, but they ask for the anointing, authority from God to do more works, more signs and wonders, more of God in the earth realm. This is war talk. The result of course was that the place was shaken where they were meeting.

Now we could just say it was the Holy Spirit coming in and filling them. Well, that’s right, it was!

But there had to a clash of light and darkness, truth and the lie, one kingdom against another in answer to their prayer. It was a clear, natural occurrence, in response to the spiritual conflict that took place.

The leaders revealed some of that clash by being threatened and therefore threatening the apostles after seeing a man healed.

That too was a miracle, and a clash of huge proportions. Miracles are supernatural interventions of God’s power interfering with the normal course of nature. The ‘normal’ course of nature was hindering this man who was crippled from being the testimony that he was meant to be, from fulfilling his purpose. This miracle absolutely astounded everyone who saw it and gave the apostles Peter and John clear, significant opportunity to preach the Word and speak about the Jesus the Anointed One and to testify to His works. Again, this is warfare, an onslaught against the works of darkness.

Doesn’t the Word of God tell us that,

 1Jn 3:8  For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil. ?

The leaders in response try and quench this testimony, the evidence, the preaching of Christ as Lord. There is definitely a battle going on here beyond what we can see evident in the natural realm.

2Co 4:18  While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.

Personally, I believe the disciples were possibly very aware of the realm of the spirit, and as they engaged themselves as a community, for the preaching of the Word, (Act 4:29  And now, Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word, …) by praying and calling on the Lord in one accord. The result is revealed in the natural event that took place after that.

The place is shaken, and all are filled with the Holy Spirit.

We cannot quietly stand by and ‘let’ things happen. The spiritual influences of Satan’s kingdom is still working today, more than ever to quiet the testimony of Jesus Christ and His Lordship, and the preaching of the Word. Still they will work to stop, threaten or hinder the work of God, the miracles of the Lord, and the ministry of the Spirit through us, to take place.

But as in the book of Acts, as we engage the spirit realm by being vigilant, alert, and committed to whatever it takes to see the Word of God preached in the earth and not to be intimidated, we will see significant doors of opportunity to preach the Gospel and see the church moving forward in power and more authority to testify of Who Jesus Christ really is.

We will see more signs and wonders; and don’t be surprised when you experience supernatural events manifested in the natural realm.

Eph 6:18  Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel, For which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.