On Sunday we heard from Jari Koivu on what was going on in Ukraine, not just what was happening in the physical realm but what was happening in the Spiritual realm. People who had left Ukraine for safety were coming back to help those they left behind because of a call from God, soldiers and military personnel were abandoning their stations and leaving their tanks with no visible reason. There was something happening in the unseen that was causing a shift in the atmosphere.
2 Corinthians 10:3-4 (NIV)
3 For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. 4 The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds.
I am reminded of the verse in 2 Corinthians 10:3-4, that we do not wage war like the world does and the weapons we fight with are not the same as those of the world. Whether we acknowledge it or not, there is a spiritual battle that is happening all around us. There are times where the physical battles we face require a spiritual response and there are other times where a spiritual battle we face might require a physical response.
The reality is we need both a physical and spiritual response to the enemy. God’s response to the enemy was both a physical and spiritual response – the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
As a church family, let us not just respond to the war that is going on in the physical realm but let us also respond in the spiritual realm. Let us answer the call for justice by putting on the full armor of God with the sword of the Spirit (the word of God) and Prayer as our weapons of choice.
Ephesians 6:10-18 (NIV)
10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.
May we be a church that responds just as much in the spiritual as we do in the physical.
Let us join our brothers and sisters in this war by standing in the gap with the word of God and our prayers in our hands, declaring these prayer points over the Ukraine & Russia:
- Protection (cities, civilians, refugees and Ukrainian soldiers)
- More angels released to minister, heal & protect
- Ukraine’s president & leaders
- Divine wisdom, skill & protection for Ukrainians fighting to defend their country and families
- The downfall of the spiritual principality that is working through Russian leaders
- The removal of Putin as Russia’s leader
- Revival in Ukraine & Russia
- World leaders to make the best decisions in this crisis