Devo Week 1 – Discerning the Unseen Realm
“Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be as wise as serpents and innocent as doves.” Matt. 10:16 (ESV)
Finding Jesus Among the Neglected – The Nearness of God
“Mr. Frodo, I wonder what kind of tale we have fallen into?” Frodo’s traveling companion, young Sam, in The Lord of the Rings series asked an important question. Can you relate? I’ve walked into rooms or cities and instantly felt a shift – a darkness and heaviness and knew something was taking place spiritually that wasn’t good. The impact of the unseen realm will be a key to fruitfulness in sharing the Gospel with the neglected – the least, the last and the lost. In this spiritual battle, we need to remember who is for us -- God and the heavenly hosts, the angels -- AND who is against us, our adversary -- the devil and his demons.
WHO IS FOR US
First thing’s first: we must remember before we even arrive somewhere, God is already there. This means that the mission of God is His plan, and we join Him as we follow in faith. This is foundational. Each of us can hear the Holy Spirit from our location, wherever we are in the world. (John 10:27) May God give us eyes to see and ears to hear what He is saying and doing in our midst. If we can ‘keep in step’ with His Spirit, we can be assured we are simply joining God in His mission to reach the least, the last and the lost.
Don’t fret. We have a personal GUIDE through the unseen realm: the Holy Spirit. (John 16:13) He knows our coming and going and how to lead us in and out of our circumstances. This does not mean we will not face persecution and suffering, but our Guide is with us through it all.
WHO IS AGAINST US
In this journey, we will face oppression and opposition, mainly from sin and our spiritual adversary in the unseen realm. In II Cor. 4:4, we are reminded that Satan has blinded minds to not see or receive truth – the Gospel. This is a spiritual reality wherever we find ourselves, in laboring to reach the least, the last and the lost. And this is a key understanding as we seek to point people to Jesus and shine the light of the Gospel in dark areas.
PRAYER FOR SPIRITUAL BREAKTHROUGH
Father, open our eyes to where You are working around us. You have gone before us and are already present there. Help us to remember as often as needed – even hourly or daily – that You are already present there before we arrive. May we follow and trust the Holy Spirit, our Guide, who is leading us. Father, we join you in Your mission to reach all peoples. And, Lord, give us wisdom to navigate opposition, keys for breakthrough, and empower us by the Holy Spirit to be your witnesses. In the name of Jesus, Amen.