Blind to the Battle (Parts 1 & 2)
October 6 & 20 2024
Dr. Bradford Reaves
Crossway Christian Fellowship
2 Kings 8-17
The bloodiest Day in U.S. history was Sept. 17, 1862, when about 4,700 Union and Confederate soldiers died in the Civil War battle of Antietam. Pearl Harbor killed 2,388 Americans, and the first Day of the Normandy invasion on June 6, 1944, killed 1,465. September 11 killed 2,997 people. (Mark Hensley, Sermon Central)
Operation Overlord, as the invasion of Normandy has been called, was the largest amphibious invasion in history, involving 12 allied nations using eight different navies comprised of 6939 vessels. In addition, it involved 13,000 fighter bombers and transport aircraft, 5700 tons of supplies, and nearly 1,000,000 men. It was the beginning of the end for the Nazi Reich. (Billy Crone, Get-a-Life Ministries).
September 11th, 2001, was a beautiful Tuesday. People living on the East Coast woke up that morning doing their normal routine, unaware that anything was about to happen. Reality sank in as the four airliners crashed into the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, and a field in Shanksville, PA. The result of 9/11 would be a complete reshaping of the way Americans live our lives, two decades of war in Iraq and Afghanistan, and the realization of major intelligence failures in our government. The 9/11 Commission Identified several key factors that contributed to the loss of nearly 3000 American lives:
1. The lack of intelligence sharing between intelligence agencies due to bureaucratic infighting,
2. Missed opportunities to thwart the hijacking plot in the 1990s,
3. The failure to add the key al-Qaida militants to terrorist watch lists and,
4. Underestimating the threat of US enemies.
Nearly all of us have heard of the Battle of Normandy. Most of us have lived through the fateful Day of September 11th. But even with the stories of heroism on 9/11 or the immense bravery and fortitude of the men who stormed Normandy beach that fateful Day in June 1944. The losses of these battles pale to the reality of the spiritual battle happening all around us and the casualties of Satan’s army agaiGod’sod’s people.
The reality is that most Christians live in spiritual blindness, which is like the intelligence blindness that led to the destruction of 3,000 lives on 9/11. Churches look at each other as competitors instead of allies, we miss opportunities to stop the schemes of the enemy before they happen, we don't look at the demonic forces as threats. We therefore are unaware of their schemes, and we underestimate the power and influence of Satan over our lives. The Bible says that spiritual blindness is not only dangerous but unnecessary.
Once, when the king of Syria was warring against Israel, he took counsel with his servants, saying, “At such and such a place shall be my camp.” 9 But the man God sent word to the king of Israel, “Beware that you do not pass this place, for the Syrians are going down there.” 10 And the king of Israel sent to the place about which the man God told him. Thus, he used to warn him, so he saved himself there more than once or twice. 11 And the mind of the king of Syria was greatly troubled because of this thing, and he called his servants and said to them, “Will you not show me who of us is for the king of Israel?” 12 And one of his servants said, “None, my lord, O king; but Elisha, the prophet who is in Israel, tells the king of Israel the words that you speak in your bedroom.” 13 And he said, “Go and see where he is, that I may send and seize him.” It was told him, “Behold, he is in Dothan.” 14 So he sent there horses and chariots and a great army, and they came by night and surrounded the city. 15 When the servant of the man God rose early in the morning and went out, behold, an army with horses and chariots was all around the city. And the servant said, “Alas, my master! What shall we do?” 16 He said, “Do not be afraid, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” 17 Then Elisha prayed and said, “O Lord, please open his eyes that he may see.” So the Lord opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw, and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha. (2 Kings 6:8-17)
I. There is an Enemy at War with You
The first thing we need to understand is that most Christians are not aware they are at war. The enemy God is the enemy of every man and woman. The moment you become a Christian, the intensity of that fight increases. Too many Christians are fighting a defensive or a reactive battle against the enemy. We are fighting from an inferior position, giving us an unnecessary disadvantage. God has given us all the intelligence, weaponry, and armor we need to withstand the enemies’ attacks but be overcome.
Ron Rhodes lists several times in a Christian’s life when Satan will ramp up his attacks:
• When you take significant steps toward growing spiritually,
• When you invade enemy territory through evangelism or a missions trip,
• When you expose Satan’s tactics to others,
• When you repent of sins or are baptized,
• WGod God is preparing you for greater work in the kingdom.
One of the things we need to know is the nature of our enemy, and the Bible gives us all sorts of truths regarding the enemy’s nature, tactics, and plans. Believe it or not, many Christians don't think that anything is happening to them. Today, we are witnessing higher levels of demonic activities among believers than ever before. We are blind to the enemy's tactics and don't even realize it. It's the fruit of being a Laodicean church.
For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked. (Revelation 3:17)
While 95% of Americans consider themselves religious people, and just as many Americans believe in angels and heaven, only 31% of Americans say they believe in Satan and hell. 65% of Americans say he is not real and Satan and hell are just a mere symbol of evil (Billy Crone). One of the reasons, which we will talk about later, is that Hollywood has made evil accessible and entertaining. For most people, they just view demonic activity as something to be entertained by.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from [the evil one]. (Matthew 6:13)
Submit yourselves, therefore God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. (James 4:7)
The leader of the war against us is commonly referred to as Satan. But Satan is not his name, it describes what he does, meaning as an enemyGod God he is a murderer slanderer, adversary, accuser, and in oppositionGod God. In fact, might I say at this point that Satan operates in the inversion of God god operates? Yet, he deceives many with his opposition. Just like how we prepare for a big game or a challenging project at work, we need to be ready for the spiritual battles we face every Day.
For if someone comes and proclaims another Jesus than the one we proclaimed, or if you receive a different spirit from the one you received, or if you accept a different gospel from the one you accepted, you put up with it readily enough. (2 Corinthians 11:4)
His real name is ‘Halel ben Shakhar,’ which means ‘Son of the Morning Dawn.” So, we understand at this point that he is created and not eternal. That's a common heresy of Mormon teaching. Look at Ezekiel’s description of him:
“Son of man, raise a lamentation over the king of Tyre, and say to him, Thus says the Lord God: “You were the signet of perfection, full of wisdom and perfect in beauty. 13 You were in Eden, the gardenGod God; every precious stone was your covering, sardius, topaz, and diamond, beryl, onyx, and jasper, sapphire, emerald, and carbuncle; and crafted in gold were your settings and your engravings. On the Day that you were created, they were prepared.
14 You were an anointed guardian cherub. I placed you; you were on the holy mountainGod God; amid the stones of fire you walked. 15 You were blameless in your ways from the Day you were created, till unrighteousness was found in you. (Ezekiel 28:12-15)
So, Satan was made as one of the most beautiful, powerful angels. But oGod God has infinite wisdom, infinite power, infinite beauty. He was involved in leading the worship in heaven, but at some point desired to be worshipped himself. And in doing so, he led a rebellion against God in heaven. That's critical to understanding warfare today Because his tactics are still the same and he is enticing you a believer to worship him insteadGod God. Why? Because he desires praise for God’s highest part of creation, man made in His Image
Little children, you are of God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. (1 John 4:4)
Therefore, rejoice, O heavens and you who dwell in them! But woe to you, O earth and sea, for the devil has come down to you in great wrath, because he knows that his time is short!” (Revelation 12:12)
II. The Epidemic of Spiritual Blindness
Elijah was an anointed prophet of God. He had a great ability to see the world not through the eyes of man but through the eyes of the Lord. When Israel and Elijah's servants saw the great army around them, they saw impossible circumstances. Elijah, however, saw the spiritual battle that was taking place behind the physical battle.
Likewise, Jesus rebuked the Pharisees and Sadducees for being spiritually blind. They were so obsessed with worldly power that they had no perception of the spiritual events taking place all around them, namely the presence of Messiah.
Jesus said to them, “If you were blind, you would have no guilt; but now that you say, ‘We see,’ your guilt remains. (John 9:41)
they are blind guides. And if the blind lead the blind, both will fall into a pit.” (Matthew 15:14)
The fact of the matterGod God never intended for the believer to be spiritually blind; it is both unnecessary and sinful. This was part of the description of the Laodicean Church in Revelation 3. The problem is people refuse to recognize their blindness, which is the result of pride. The idea is that we do not need God's revelation to live. This too is a deception of Satan in the garden:
But the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. 5 For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” 6 So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate. 7 Then the eyes of both were opened, and they knew that they were naked. And they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loincloths. (Genesis 3:4–7)
One of the main reasons people fall into spiritual blindness is because they allow the presence of sin to enter their lives. Sin appeals to the flesh, and we no longer even care for spiritual matters or to be spiritually discerning.
In their case, God, god of this world, has blinded the minds of the unbelievers to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. (2 Corinthians 4:4)
Who is the “god of this world”? It’s Satan. He’s not just running around scaring people with pitchforks and red suits; he’s much more subtle. He’s like a master magician who distracts you with one hand while the other hand is making you miss the truth.
And here’s the thing: he’s not just blinding unbelievers—he’s trying to blind US, the church! He doesn’t need to get you to reject God outright. All he needs is for you to focus on anything but Christ. He’ll blind us with busyness, distractions, and the pursuit of comfort. He’ll blind the church with divisions within the church or complaints about the pastor, the carpet, or the music. Sometimes, we get so focused on living the “Christian life” that we forget to live with Christ in the center. How has that happened? Demonic worship is normalized in our culture.
You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies. (John 8:44)
C.S. Lewis once said, “The greatest trick the devil ever pulled was convincing the world he doesn’t exist.” How true is that? We’ve become so sophisticated in our thinking, so “enlightened,” that we forget we have a real spiritual enemy working to deceive us.
III. The Normalization of Demonic Worship in Our Culture
Now, let’s get practical. How does Satan deceive Christians today? Well, he loves to take half-truths and twist them just enough so we can’t see the danger. For example, “God wants you to be happy.” Is that true? Well, yes and no. God wants you to have joy in Him, but Satan will twist that truth and make you think that “happiness” means indulging in whatever makes you feel good. And suddenly, we find ourselves justifying sin because, after all, “God just wants me to be happy.”
Or how about this one: “It’s just entertainment.” We binge-watch show after show filled with immorality, violence, and greed, or witchcraft, convincing ourselves it’s no big deal. But you know what Satan is doing? He’s numbing us. What once made us feel uncomfortable, now seems normal and entertaining. That’s spiritual blindness!
Hollywood is filled with the occult. There are more and more revelations coming out of many performers, actors and actresses who are involved in occult practices, including selling their soul to the devil, demonic worship, and human trafficking.
P. Diddy was recently arrested for human sex trafficking for demonic orgies and bizzarre parties he called “Freek Offs” The list of celebrities connected to these freekoff’s may include Prince Harry, Leonardo DiCaprio, JHay-Z, Beyoncé, Howard Stern, Russel Brand, Mirah Carey, Jennifer Lopez, Usher, 7 Megan Fox (just to name a few). (https://www.newsweek.com/celebrities-named-diddy-lawsuit-1883698)
Sam Smith's Grammy performance of "Unholy" is proof that the Hollywood music scene is ripe with satanic rituals.
Jack Black offered up a prayer to satan himself at an MTV awards show where he urged the audience to join hands and pray to the “Dark Lord Satan.”
Taylor Swift’s show frequently portray witchcraft and satanic worship as part of her routine.
Lady Gaga recounts how she sold her soul to the devil to become a famous singer.
How many Disney movies include some form of sorcery, witchcraft, or magic? Nearly all of them!
Hollywood sells and people flock to movies meant to scare and thrill, but they do it using making the satanic and the demonic entertaining and fun, like riding a roller coaster at Hershey Park.
This time of year we trivialize what is centered around the occult. Witches, ghosts, demons, spells, anything that is dark and centered around the occult.
You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons. You cannot partake of the table of the Lord and the table of demons. (1 Cor 10:21)
Wicca is the evil practices of witchcraft renamed. It's just old-fashioned witchcraft repackaged into something new to make it look like it's something good for the environment and people are falling for, left and right, especially teenagers. Witchcraft says that to contact the gods of this world, (demons), you need to practice astrology, divination, psychic power, crystals, and speaking to the dead.
Then we add Hollywood entertainment to trivialize it to make it look like it's something cool. We have TV shows like “crossing over”, “long island medium”, “charmed”, “twilight”, not to mention the entire Harry Potter series, which is making witchcraft look like candy to the kids and Satan is drawing them in full steam. It is literally a cult and of itself and what's even more surprising the number of kids within churches that won't pick up a Bible, but they will spend hours and hours consuming what is being taught through Harry Potter.
open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, (Acts 26:18)
Jesus said, “For judgment I came into this world, that those who do not see may see, and those who see may become blind.” (John 9:39)
But we are now paying the price. We are paying the price in our relationship with God, our families, our children, and our culture is far from the blessings God God. For instance, Fox News reported that a 17-year-old boy in Houston will be charged as an adult for the rape and human sacrifice of a 15-year-old classmate who he killed in a satanic ritual.
Just a couple of weeks ago, authorities in New York City are reporting an alarming increase in animal sacrifice including dogs and pigs
The alarm in Springfield, Ohio, was raised when animals were reported missing. Interestingly, the media tried to hide the story and play down the rhetoric.
But one of the greatest satanic rituals happens in all of our nearly all of our cities daily. I'm talking about abortion. The blood of infants is the most valuable to satanic ritual. To them, it gives them the greatest power. Maybe this is why they satanic temple is one of the leading groups fighting to keep abortion legal.
But all of this is not to create satanic panic or for entertainment purposes, the real reason behind all of this is because of the Satanic War on the Believer.
IV. The Satanic War on the Believer
Then Elisha prayed and said, “O Lord, please open his eyes that he may see.” So the Lord opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw, and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha. (2 Kings 6:17)
for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (Ephesians 5:8)
Church, this is the call: to open our eyes and live as children of light. Spiritual blindness doesn’t go away on its own. It requires the light of Christ to shine in. It requires us to wake up and recognize the areas where we’ve allowed the enemy to deceive us.
So, how do we do that? It starts with honesty and humility—being real with God and asking Him to reveal where we’ve been blind. We pray like David in Psalm 139: “Search me of God, and know my heart; try me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.”
And then, it takes action. It’s not enough to just see; we have to do something about it! Maybe it means turning off certain media that’s leading you away from God. Maybe it means reordering your priorities so that Christ is truly first, not just in word but in practice. It might mean stepping out in faith where you’ve been holding back, afraid of losing control.
You see, just like in the Garden, Satan wants to convince you there is something better out there than with God has to offer. He paints a rosy picture of what he has to offer, just like the fruit of the tree. That’s the deception of the enemy, because it might look alluring, like entertainment, or an addiction, or adultery, or pornography but the result is spiritual death and decay, loss of fellowship. What is important for us to understand is the primary motus operendi that satan attacks believers is through deception.
Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. (1 Peter 5:8)
Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world. (1 John 4:1)
And he said, “See that you are not led astray. For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am he!’ and, ‘The time is at hand!’ Do not go after them. (Luke 21:8)
See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ. (Colossians 2:8)
V. Signs of Spiritual Warfare
Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. 17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. (Ephesians 5:15-17)
• At an intersection, the green light changes to yellow;
• At the theater the house lights flash;
• At the airport terminal the boarding call comes over the intercom;
• At a railroad crossing the lights begin to flash;
• In a small midwestern town the tornado siren screams;
• On the football field the two minute warning sounds;
What do each of these have in common? They are signs or warnings that we need to prepare ourselves for what is about to happen. The Bible is clear about how we can overcome a spiritual attack, but first let me share with you some signs that you are experiencing a spiritual attack.
1. Increased Division in a Family or Church
I appeal to you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them. 18 For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naive. (Romans 16:17-18)
If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. 25 And if a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand. 26 And if Satan has risen up against himself and is divided, he cannot stand, but is coming to an end (Mark 3:24-26)
2. Increased Temptation and Luring Towards Sin
No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it. (1 Cor 10:13)
Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” (Mark 14:38)
3. Increased Sense of Condemnation
There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. (Romans 8:1)
God God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. (John 3:17)
4. Increased Physical Danger, Illness, and Loss
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. (Psalm 23:4)
But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty (2 Tim 3:1)
5. Increased Sense of Fear, Despair, and Darkness
God God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control. (2 Timothy 1:7)
Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” (Joshua 1:9)
Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. (John 14:1)
6. Increased Confusion or Fogginess About a Person or Circumstance
God God is not a God of confusion but of peace. As in all the churches of the saints, (1 Cor 14:33)
7. Increased and Unexplained Anger Toward a Person or Circumstance
Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. (Ephesians 4:31)
Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the livGod God. (Heb 3:12)
VI. Overcoming a Spiritual Attack
Use Scripture. That’s what Jesus did. Every time Satan gave Him a temptation, Jesus answered with Scripture. So whatever area it is that you’re being attacked in, try to memorize some Bible verses to help. That way, when those thoughts come into your head, you can hit them with Bible verses
I think it would have been easy for Peter to leave the church after denying Christ because he probably felt like a failure. Or for Paul to quit because the pressure was too great. Animals who leave their packs are vulnerable to attack, and we’re also more vulnerable to attack when we’re not in regular fellowship with other believers. Close relationships with people you can share everything with is important. In other words, stand firm in your faith in Jesus Christ and use the tools and gifts God’s already given you to resist the Devil.
For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. 4 For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. 5 We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ, (2 Cor 10:3-5)
Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil Day, and having done all, to stand firm. 14 Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. 16 In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; 17 and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, 18 praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, (Eph 6:13-18)
Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. (Jam 4:7)
As Charles Spurgeon once said, 'By perseverance, the snail reached the ark.' When you are able to endure and overcome a spiritual attack, you will be suddenly aware of the magnificent presence of God. It is not that He suddenly appears, but you realize that He’s been with you the entire time. Whether it's through the beauty of nature, a deep sense of peace and security, or just the reassurance of his presence you were suddenly aware that he is there. As you are more aware of his presence, you are also more aware of his guidance. He reveals the path that he prepared for you and there is a renewed sense of certainty of the direction you need to go. In other words, instead of walking aimlessly through life you begin to walk confidently beside God.
With that deepened and renewed relationship wGod God, and your spiritual eyes open, your intimacy with God deepens as you experience a closer communion with him. Your prayer life becomes more vibrant and your hunger for the word grows exponentially. With that, you see people differently also because you are seeing them with the eyesGod God. You see them with a heart of compassion and understanding.
Conclusion
As we close today, I want to challenge you to think about this: spiritual blindness isn’t something we overcome alone. Satan’s number one strategy is to separate you from God’s protection and the community of other believers. He wants to convince you that you are all alone and no one else will understand what you are going through. He will do everything he can to keep you away from church because he know that the community of saints is what makes the believer strong and the church strong. God didn’t design the Christian life to be a solo mission. We need each other. We need the body of Christ. That’s why the church matters.
And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, 25 not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near. (Hebrews 10:24-25)
Church attendance isn’t about checking off a religious duty—it’s about coming together, week after week, to remind each other of what’s true, to encourage one another, and to grow together in Christ. When we isolate ourselves, we’re more vulnerable to the enemy’s deceptions. But when we gather as the body, we sharpen one another, we expose spiritual blindness, and we help each other keep our eyes on Jesus.
So, here’s my challenge: if you’ve been on the fringes, attending sporadically, or treating church as optional, it’s time to re-engage. And if you know someone who’s struggling with that spiritual blindness, invite them back. Invite them to experience the light, the fellowship, and the truth that comes from walking with Christ and His people.
This week, reach out to someone who’s been missing from church and invite them back. It could be a text, a phone call, or a coffee invitation. You might be the God God uses to open their eyes and draw them back into the community of believers. Because church isn’t just something we attend—it’s something we’re a part of and together we walk in the light.
We’re not going to let him steal our families.
We’re not going to let him affect our health.
We’re not going to let him control our finances.
He can’t have our schools.
He can’t have our government.
He can’t have our church.
