Seeing the Unseen- Week 10
How DO God’s People- DEAD AND ALIVE- Help us in this fight?

Does this week’s title make you wonder what in the world I have been sniffing???? It probably sounds a little weird to hear that DEAD people can be a part of the living’s spiritual battles. But, we will take a look at it today and see what we find out. But first, let’s start with the easy part…..THE LIVING RIGHTEOUS!

What are some ways that God’s people help each other in their spiritual walks and fights?

Just being there for each other is a HUGE tool. In my line of work, I am often called (literally and figuratively) to be there for people when they are struggling spiritually. I am sure all of you have experienced this. It isn’t always so fun really is it? Taking time to talk and listen is never convenient. Hearing the pain of another makes us a participant in that pain! But we do it, because God wants us to do it. I believe that HE intended for every Christian to help other Christians regardless. This is the 1st tool that other Christians bring to our fight that I want us to look at:

COMFORT

As Christians, we have undoubtedly been comforted by our God many many times. He comforts us so that we may comfort others! READ II COR. 1:3-4
God wants us to use our experiences to comfort others ion the same struggles. Why is this so effective? Those who have received comfort in a specific area at MUCH better at giving it than those who haven’t!!!!! Think about your own life. Is there some comfort that God has given you in any way through some sin or struggle in your life? HE WANTS YOU TO USE THAT TO COMFORT OTHERS! We are here for one another…..do NOT withhold what God has given you.

PRAYER

I think this is the best way that Christians help each other! Our prayers affect each others lives! READ II COR. 1:8-11
Paul was in a cruddy place! God delivered him. What part did his fellow believers play in that deliverance? He said that they helped him with their prayers. You would think a man as spiritually strong as Paul wouldn’t need others prayers for help! But in reading this we learn otherwise. He implies that deliverance might not have even come had it not been for the prayers of others!
One way we can greatly help each other in this spiritual fight is to pray for one another!!! How does this help? Do you think our prayers affect God and what He does?
****There are times when OUR prayers are the only spiritual defense a person has! They may be the ONLY prayers on their behalf! We all have times of great spiritual weakness when we cannot even find the strength to pray……but if others are praying for us, then we have something fighting for us! I JOHN 5:16
I believe when Christians pray in mass quantities that the power of God is unleashed in great magnitudes! Prayer is one of our biggest weapons in this fight, and we could use as much as we can get!!!!!!!! PRAY FOR EACH OTHER!

HONESTY and TRUST

Our honesty will help bring healing. As powerful as any prayer is, we can make them more effective when we know specific weaknesses, struggles or sins to pray about. But let’s be honest, we church folk seldom reveal any weakness. Why is this? It is simple. We don’t want to appear to be the weak one of the bunch! So, we sit and smile through church, sing all the songs, know all the key verses etc…and hide our pains and trials from our brothers and sisters. But, the truth is that ALL CHRISTIANS are tempted, and sin and suffers!!!!!!!!!

We desperately need to trust one another enough to be honest about our lives! We will never win these fights completely alone! What I am talking about is a word we have long abandoned: CONFESSION Read James 5:13-16

If other Christians do not know about our problems and struggles, they cannot use their powerful prayers to bring God’s power on us! What are we most scared of? If we are confessing to real righteous warriors of the Lord, we will find strength!

Confrontation

Have you ever had the courage to confront a brother or sister in sin? Sometimes we help others in this fight not by waiting for them to confess but by CONFRONTING them! When do you think are appropriate times to do this? The 2 best reasons to confront someone in my opinion are when they are stuck in a dangerous sin they refuse to acknowledge or when their sin is threatening other innocent Christians!

One reason God gave us his written word is to use it to cal l Christians back to Godly behavior! Read II Tim. 3:16 and Titus 2:15

Could this action be abused? I SAY ABSOLUTELY! There are some very misguided people who believe their mission on earth is to find fault in others and rebuke them! We must be careful of this and be reminiscent of what God says in Matt. 7:3-5! God designed this spiritual tool/weapon to be used for good! It is very effective in shaping spiritual lives when correctly used.
A good soldier needs others to sharpen him (Prov. 27:17). Sin that is hurting a fellow believer or others cannot be ignored and MUST be confronted and corrected!
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Now, let’s get to the freaky stuff! I want an honest answer. What are your thoughts here? Can the righteous dead affect the spiritual battles of those living?

I think there just may be some of God’s people who are active in this war, but they cannot confront and or rebuke us, or even comfort us…because they are God’s people who have already gone home. They fight from heaven, helping us here as best they can………. maybe…just maybe!

Let’s think about it. There are Biblical accounts of righteous dead activity. In each account, these spirits (for lack of better term) knew what was going on in the world! They knew and were concerned! Let me give you 3 Biblical examples:

1-Samuel and Saul
Read I Sam. 28:3-19

Samuel was very familiar with what was going on in the world. He knew who Saul was fighting and what was going on his life. He even knew what was about to happen predicting Saul’s death. Samuel was dead, no longer living on earth, but he knew what was happening among the living.

2-Moses and Elijah
Read Luke 9:28-31

This is a story where Moses and Elijah come to speak to Jesus about his upcoming death. They BOTH knew what was happening on earth. Both knew Jesus was about to bring the law to fulfillment. Though living in Heaven, they too knew what was happening here.

3-Righteous Dead Praying in Heaven
Read Rev. 6:9-11

The martyrs knew that they had not been yet avenged on earth. Once again..the dead were fully aware of what was happening on earth!


Getting the picture? These 3 examples are pretty clear that the righteous dead have a working knowledge of the activities on earth. I have no idea how. Maybe the can see us? Maybe they read the daily Heavenly News? But there is a clear awareness. Read Hebrews 12:1 What does this verse mean to you? Many believe this is further proof of the things we have been talking about. I’d personally like to think that we literally have a real cloud of witnesses watching me and knowing what I do!

Revelation 6 shows them crying out to, basically praying to God. I’d \like to believe this is not an isolated event and that they pray for much more than just vengeance. Since they know what is happening here, I’d like to think that they pray for us. While I cannot prove this completely, I can believe it anyway. What do you think?

Regardless….I do know this: ALL OF GOD’S CHILDREN ARE IN THIS TOGETHER!!!!! When Christians act like Christians should…we have the power to find otherworldly strength that the world can’t understand. We have access to power and peace beyond human comprehension!
 

CHRISTIANS are great weapons for one another in this great fight. I strongly suggest you surround yourselves with some today! I’d be glad to sign up!