The Feast of Purim is a powerful reminder of the importance of using spiritual weapons of warfare as your first line of defense against the schemes of the enemy. Now, more than ever before, I believe God is calling you to wake up and “see the unseen” behind every difficulty and struggle that you face, just as Esther did.
Esther was confronted with extremely difficult life circumstances, for example: the annihilation of her people (the Jewish people); whether or not to reveal that she was Jewish; and whether or not to approach the King uninvited (either of the last two could have resulted in her death). However, rather than react with fleshly weapons such as fear, stress, manipulation, deceit, or hiding — she chose to use spiritual weapons and called all the Jews in the area to fast for 3 days.
“Go, gather together all the Jews who are in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my attendants will fast as you do. When this is done, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish.” Esther 4:16
She was able to “see the unseen” spiritual battle behind the difficulties that she faced. In the same way, in order for you to stand strong in these uncertain times, you must be aware of the spiritual battle behind the scenes. It is intensifying every day. You can see it on the news and in your own lives — in your marriage, job, finances, health, children – everywhere! I believe it’s going to continue to get hotter, yet God has given you this “grace period” to wake up to the spiritual battle, to see the unseen, and to learn to use the spiritual weapons of warfare that God has given you to stand strong, no matter how hot it gets!
There are three core realities of spiritual warfare that are essential for you to know. The first is that whether you like it or not, whether you are aware of it or not – you are engaged in spiritual warfare 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. You can chose to ignore it, remain ignorant of it, or be afraid of it but none of those responses will change the reality of the battle or help you to stand strong in the battle. The second is that there is no neutral ground in this battle. In every moment, you are either increasing the enemy’s ground or increasing God’s reign in the situation and on the earth. You have a lot more power in this battle than you think you do! And the third is that your enemy is not the people or circumstances in your life, your enemy is Satan with his demons working behind the scenes through any crack or opening they can find.
When you are aware of those 3 core realities of spiritual warfare, then you can ask God to help you “see the unseen, to reveal the hidden.” In fact, Megillah Esther, the scroll of Esther, means to “reveal the hidden.”
Seeing the unseen spiritual battle behind the struggles that you face both personally and as a nation makes it clear which weapons of warfare will be effective in battle. Responding in fear, stress, frustration, anger, unforgiveness, resentment, blame, shame, self-condemnation, manipulation, control, hiding, apathy, denial, complaining, or retaliation will only increase the enemy’s ground in the situation. However, using spiritual weapons of warfare such as: prayer, fasting, blessing others, declaring scriptures, dealing with strongholds, worshiping and praising, thanking God in advance in accordance with His will, focusing on who He is and how He sees you, and taking your thoughts, emotions, and words captive — all of these will increase God’s reign in the situation and in the world.
Which would you rather do? Increase the enemy’s reign or God’s reign in your lives and in the world? The enemy wants you to feel like a powerless victim in the battle, he doesn’t want you to know how much power you possess with your moment by moment thoughts, emotions, words, attitudes, and actions.
It’s time to take responsibility for your choices, and to see your role in the battle. Only by using spiritual weapons of warfare will you be able to effectively partner with God to release His plans and purposes at this time. Just like with Esther, it’s no mistake that you are alive right now – He’s called you for such a time as this! Will you answer His call? Will you wake up to see the unseen? This Purim, ask God to reveal the hidden behind the battles in your life. Learn to respond with spiritual weapons of warfare, and just like Esther, you’ll stop the enemy in his tracks!
