Latest / CraveMore / Is The Spiritual Realm Real?
Transcript
- Victoria: you you Victoria Grant: I'm Victoria Grant alongside my husband Mark, and we want to welcome you to Cravemore. We're going to be talking today about spiritual realms and are they real? Not only are we going to discover that they are real, but who has victory over them. And Mark, we've been looking at biblical evidence. What do we see? Sure. So we see in Scripture when you start at the book of Genesis, the very first chapter. That God created both the heavens and the earth. They are two separate creations, they are two separate realms. Also, we see in Genesis that there is a separation between the two. So we know within Genesis, clearly, there is a earthly realm and a heavenly realm. I like what we see in Job as well. In Job two, two, there's a scene going on between some really important people. So let's talk about what do we see in Job two. Job too is is just a secondary version of what happens in the first chapter of Job, but what's occurring is God has all the sons of God, is what scripture says. It's a lowercase s. It means angelic beings appear before him. Satan is one of those beings that must appear before him. This is not optional to Satan. He is required to appear before the Lord. And God asks Satan, Where have you been? What have you been doing? It's not because God doesn't know, it's because Satan must answer. So there's a clear distinction of authority there. God has the authority. Correct. Satan's response was, I was roaming to and fro around the earth. So in that communication, which is repeated in chapter two, verse two, we see Satan is on the earth, Satan is now up in heaven before God. Two distinct realms that Satan is able to go between. Absolutely. We also want to look at Ephesians 6. Mark, would you read that for us? Ephesians 6. Verse 12, what do we see? So those familiar with Ephesians know chapter six is about spiritual warfare and the armor of God, but specifically in verse 12, Paul writes this: Our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. So, what Paul's saying is, Yes, we are going to have battles and trials and struggles here on earth. But the source of those is from a spiritual realm, darkness that exists within a spiritual realm. So the forces of darkness, we're gonna get into that. And before we do, we just want to say that we are giving no glory, we are giving no honor to Satan or his demons. They have power, and we acknowledge that we see that in scripture, but we give no honor and no glory. Right. What we are gonna do is look at Ezekiel 28 and Isaiah 14, because both of these. These passages describe who Satan was, who Lucifer was, and when he became Satan, how is he described? So, Mark, let's look at Ezekiel 28 and how do we see him described? Sure. So we'll go there first. Ezekiel 28 is a prophetic verse and it describes Satan So as we go through it starting in verse 11 and dropping on down several verses, we will see twice noted that Satan was created. created by God. So that's a very clear distinction. And his name was Lucifer, right? Correct. As we go through that though, we'll see that how he was created was with beauty. He was given different colors and beautiful stones as described with just radiant color. Also described is that he has tambourines and flutes and timbrels, meaning music. So this created being was both full of color and full of music, absolute beauty. and we find that he was Created as worship. He was music around the throne. Yes. But as you drop further down, in that passage in Ezekiel, which will get echoed in Isaiah here in a second, God speaks to Satan and says, But you became prideful and you have fallen and I've cast you to the earth. That's right. We see this in another part of scripture where it says that pride comes before a fall. And we'll see that in Isaiah. Yes. So Isaiah chapter fourteen. Starting in verse 12 God speaking to Satan, and God is looking into Satan's heart, and he says to Satan, How you have fallen, O star of the morning, and he says, Pride has welled up in you. That's right. And you have said in your heart, I will ascend above the stars of heaven, I will raise my throne above the stars of God, I will ascend to the highest heights of the clouds, and I will make myself like the most high God. So We're seeing that Lucifer has become so enamored with himself, so prideful, that he is equating himself with God. And God is gonna cast him down and out of heaven. Yes. So we see that he was beautiful and we see what happens after pride fills him. But what we want to say is that we know from scripture that Satan is not equal to God, to Jesus Christ, to the Holy Spirit. He was a created being. He cannot read our thoughts. He is not all powerful. He is not all knowing. He is not all present. And we also know that he is an accuser of the brethren. We know him from scripture to be a deceiver. as we see in 2 Corinthians. So we see how Satan is described. But what we know is that he is our adversary, and he also has to submit himself to Jesus. Right. And we see that in the book of Luke in chapter 22. And this is as we've really progressed into Jesus' ministry here on earth. And in that scene, the disciples actually, after Jesus is presenting what's going to happen to him in the coming time. The disciples are arguing amongst themselves as to who's the greater? Yeah. Who's the better? You know, who's the best? and they're letting pride come into their hearts, right? And Jesus looks at Peter and he says, Simon, Simon, Satan has demanded permission to sift you as wheat. Now, a couple things that go on there. Number one, what happens is Satan is demanding, asking permission. Satan must have permission to do this. He does not have authority to do it on his own. Secondly, when Jesus says you, it's a plural you. That's right. So he's talking about all the disciples, when they were just in the midst of saying who's better, who's the best. So pride again is welling in. But note that Satan had to ask permission, and Jesus said, But I have prayed for you. So thank you, God. The spoken prayers of Jesus. override anything that Satan is is asking. Correct. So we talked about Satan and his demons. We know this for a fact because when Lucifer fell, he took with him a third of the angels. And we see this in Revelation twelve and we see that the demons were swept away and we see that in Jude six as well. And also we see that in the New Testament Demons are mentioned 67 times. These are deceptive spirits. We know that from 1 Timothy 4:1. And so the question we want to ask, since we have defined that yes, there is a spiritual and a physical realm, how do these demons operate in the physical realm? So we'll see that in various places throughout. the Old Testament, you'll see it in New Testament. In the Gospels specifically, Mark chapter 5, we have situation where Jesus encounters a man who is possessed as he approaches an area called the Garasines. and this man is so tormented by demons that he is being thrown against the rocks. the people of that area shackle him in chains. He breaks the chains. But as Jesus approaches him This man cries out, the demons within say, What do we have to do with you, O son of the most high God? So they immediately know that Jesus is God. They know who he is, even though Jesus has not declared his ministry. and they say, We implore you, we beg you, do not torment us. So they know that Jesus has the ability to cast them out. But Jesus speaks to them and asks them, what's your name? Jesus didn't know? No, Jesus knew. Yes, of course. He definitely knew. But what he was doing is that he was demonstrating to the demons and to the people around, I have authority. This demonic force must yield to me and it must obey me. And so once that occurs, Jesus casts the demons out. But it's a very clear example of how demons operate within the Physical realm. We also see in Mark 9 where a little boy who was possessed at birth, he was foaming at the mouth, he was convulsing, and that spirit as well gets cast out. We also see where Paul he casts out an evil spirit from a slave girl. She was a fortune-telling slave girl, in Acts 16, he too casts that out. So we see in the New Testament where we are given authority to cast. Cast out demons. And so, Mark, where do we find that? So in Luke, again, the book of Luke, chapter 10, what has occurred is Jesus has sent out his disciples, and then he sent out another seventy to go into the communities nearby and proclaim the gospel. They came back and they were rejoicing, saying that, Lord, the even the demons. Have to submit to us in your name. And Jesus said, I have given you all authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and overcome all the power of the enemy. Amen. Again, that wasn't to the twelve, that was to the seventy, but we see beyond that that expands to even more of us. We see in First Corinthians twelve, ten, that one of the spiritual gifts is the distinguishing and the discerning of spirits. And so we have been. given that ability to do that, not so that those spirits can stay within God's people, but so that they can be cast out. Right. There's another way that demons operate in the physical realm and they are looking for an opportune moment. We see this in Matthew. So Mark, what do we see there? So in Matthew sixteen just as within Luke, this is leading into the final days of Jesus and he's telling the disciples what's going to happen. And as he describes that Peter, being Peter, steps up and he says, That's not gonna happen. I won't allow that to happen. but Jesus is seeing through that, and he is seeing that Peter is not operating in a spiritual mindset, is he? He is not. He is seeing things from the physical aspect. He doesn't want Jesus to suffer. And so he blurts this out, and Jesus has to say, get the behind me, Satan. So Satan is looking for opportunities. moments to speak into our lives and we have to be on our guard. Absolutely. So the question we want to ask and answer is That was then. What about now? Is there biblical authority in the modern church for today? And we see no evidence where scripture has revoked that from the church. As a matter of fact, we see something just the opposite in Mark. In Mark's Gospel, chapter sixteen, verse seventeen, Jesus is speaking to the disciples, and he says that. All that he has done, the signs and wonders that he has done are for all who believe in his name, and it specifically says the casting out of demons. So that authority, some may say, well, that passed with the end of the first century church or with the twelve disciples. That's not what happens in the Gospel of Mark. Very clearly. It says these signs will accompany believers. Mark, could you get us to John fourteen and let's take a look at that? so John chapter 14 again this is Jesus speaking to his disciples and this is really important because he is indicating not just the power but the level that we will have and he says this Truly, truly I say to you, he who believes in me, the works that I do, he shall do also, and greater works than these shall he do because I go to the Father. So what we have is Jesus saying, Everything he has done, we will do, and greater, because he is with the Father, praying for us and interceding for us. Correct. So, and it says, That is a promise from Jesus. And Jesus cast out demons, therefore we have that same authority. That's right. That's right. So we know from Job 1, 7. In Job 2 2, that Satan is moving across the earth. It says that he is looking to prowl around to devour, looking for someone to devour. What is Satan looking for? Well, I like the word prowl reminds me of you know a burglar or what we used to call a prowler, right? Okay, we're a little bit older, but he looks around looking for just as a burglar would an open door or an open window, some evil. The access point for him to be able to come in and begin to establish a presence or to steal or take from us. Ephesians 4:27 says this anger is a foothold and it's an open door to the evil one. This is what Satan is looking for. These are open doors, and when we leave these doors open, they really change the trajectory of our lives. Things happen, and they're not happening according to God's will, but we've left some doors. Doors open and Satan comes in to prowl and devour. A long time ago when Mark was traveling and he did a lot of traveling, he would pray for our family because we were a young family and young believers at the time and he traveled his entire career actually. And he would pray for us when he would leave. Mark, how did you pray for us? We wanted access shut to the evil one. Right. So I would pray that one, the blood of Jesus would cover the whole house. Two, I would call upon the Lord to send angels with With flaming swords to stand post around the doors in the windows and the perimeter of the property so that there would be no access point. Because that passage in Ephesians speaks to actually giving land or dirt or a place for him to build or plant. Something to grow in. Absolutely not. So these open doors, they can come in various ways. And so in a lot of ways we were praying for like physical protection. Right? But these open doors come through temptation. They can come through lying and stealing and cheating. And and here's another one we have to be so very careful of. Mark, what is that? Doubt. Doubt. Doubting God, if you go back to the fall. What did Satan say to Eve? Did God really say? And when you think about how Satan tempted Christ. in the wilderness. He went to him with scripture, but it wasn't properly applied. And so Jesus responded with scripture, So when Satan got Eve to doubt God, she actually doubted his goodness. Right. And when we doubt God's goodness, we are leaving the door open for the evil one to come in and speak things that oppose God, and He won't do it blatantly. Right. He's a deceiver. We talked about that. There are other ways we open the door, and those are through fleshly desires like lust and greed and bitterness and fear and unforgiveness. And Fear specifically, we know is a gateway to anger. And we know that these are all access points to the evil one. Yes, they are. So as we look at those different access points, especially when we talk about lust or greed or anything else, entertainment is a huge open door for us to be attacked. It certainly is. Entertainment, music. We know this from what we just talked about, Ezekiel twenty eight. If Satan or Lucifer was worship around the throne, what does he want to do in the entertainment and music industry today? What he's gonna use it to cause worship to go to him. Right. musical acts in different artists and different entertainers. But Satan's goal was to equate himself with God and he was cast down. So Satan now wants our worship. If he cannot get our worship directly, he's going to make sure that we do not give worship to God. And he's going to do everything in his power through these different sources to draw worship away from God towards something that is so ungodly. So he is distorted The music industry. And so many of us are following it. There's also another area that we have concern about, with good reason: horoscopes and astrology, seances, dungeons and dragons. And here we are walking into Halloween and this period, this season, where we see a lot about. Horror films. my son, who likes to watch football and he wanted to watch with his five-year-old son, there are so many commercials for horror films that he has to be very, very careful about what he is taking in. And here's why. I asked all of my our sons, not just mine, our sons. Our sons. Do you watch horror films? And they said, We do not. Independently, they answered, we do not. But my oldest son, David, said this. He wanted to share his thoughts. He said, Horror films are are designed for you to absorb pain, misery and fear. Designed to absorb these feelings. And these feelings, this fear darkens the heart and it darkens the soul. And these things were never meant for us as believers. He also said that we are filled with life, and horror and darkness cannot coexist in that life. And so we just have to recognize horror films. are an open door. Fear is an open door. And why so much on the horror part of it? What happens in our bodies? It's biological. What happens? It very much is. And so fear, when that moment occurs, it triggers basically a cascade of different chemicals rushing through our body. So we'll have adrenaline, we'll have endorphin, we'll have dopamine effects. And this massive rush creates basically a high that is rewarding. We yeah we actually our body physically likes that. And so in that moment, what occurs is we have that sense of fear, but then once we acknowledge this isn't real, I'm just watching a movie, that release becomes something that is euphoric. And actually we become addicted to that wanting more. So what occurs? We just crave more. Yes. We crave more of the wrong thing, of the wrong spirit, harming our bodies, harming our spiritual walk. We mentioned Astrology, horoscopes, games, right? So I was about 13 years old growing up in Southern California, and I was invited to my best friend's birthday party, and she lived right next door. So growing up in Southern California in the summer, we were out by the pool, but as it got darker and darker, and later into the night, my friend takes out a Ouija board and Instantly there was something inside of me that made me afraid. I can't even tell you what that was, but I was afraid. And I wasn't walking with Jesus at the time. I didn't know what it was, but he did. So I said to my friend, I said, Listen, I'm gonna sleep at home. I'm gonna walk back to my house and I'm gonna sleep at home. I'll come over in the morning. Well, I did that, and the next morning she said, You missed the best part. You can't believe what you missed. levitated one of the girls right off of the picnic table. Wow. And this is not harmless fun. No, no. This is serious spiritual business and that put all of those girls at risk. Sure, because that was not Holy Spirit. That clearly was a spiritual force. Creating that levitation, but Holy Spirit will only do things that are going to point us to Christ, that will glorify Christ. And Christ would not have been glorified in that. But we talked about an opportune time and what better time for a demonic force to instill fear and create a sense of euphoria, which your friend had. Right. But to get a group of young people together without any spiritual oversight from a spiritual authority to protect them and the enemy. Took advantage of it. So, what we know from the Pew Research Centers, 27 to 30 percent of self-identifying Christians still participate. They call it dabbling. There's no such thing. You are either in it or you are not. If you are dabbling in the spiritual realm, looking at your horoscope, trying to know your future through other spiritual entities, other than asking the Holy Spirit, you have put yourself and your family and your Your future at risk. At risk. These doors are open. So how do we close open doors? Well, first thing you have to do is identify the what's open, right? That's right. And so we have to pray and we ask Holy Spirit to reveal those things to us. And once we see those through his revelation, then we go to closing them first by recognizing them as sin, and we confess that. But we have to do Do something further because what's in us needs to come out into the light. So the book of James speaks that we confess one to another because that brings about healing. That's right. That's right. So once we've done that, we're not done just yet. We need to invite the Holy Spirit to come and bring his presence into the places that were once dark. And we see that in Luke 11, 25. And Mark, we see it in Matthew as well. What's going on there? So that's That's description of when someone has been freed from demonic forces. Right. Jesus describes it as a house being cleaned. Clean, spotless, but it's left empty. And he says that the demonic force will search for a place to reside, come back, see that this is now empty, and he's gonna bring seven more worse than him. So we have to fill it with something, that empty void, and we fill it with Holy Spirit, we fill it with Jesus' presence, we fill it with his word, amen, and worship. Amen. We also need to develop and strengthen our spiritual life. And you're doing that right now. If you were watching This podcast, you are developing and strengthening your spiritual life. So stick with us as we keep pointing you to the word of God and we are encouraging you to pray. We want to see you do that in community in your local church. We also want you to do that in community as crave more. We also need to do something really, really important. And Matthew 4 shows us this. We need to pray the word out loud. Satan doesn't know our thoughts, but we are going to resist the enemy. We are going To stand firm and we are going to pray right according to First Peter, but we're going to do it out loud. What do we do Mark? Well, we're going to stand firm, we're going to resist, and it's not a one and done. It's not a one and done. We're going to do it continually. And then what we're going to do is we're going to put on the full armor of God. That's right. And what we will do, going back to Ephesians 6, when you look at that scripture from verse 10 on through the armor, the very first thing Paul says it were to do, and the order. Of things in Greek text is really important. Absolutely. So the very first thing he says is stand in the strength and might of the Lord. Not our own. Right. But in the might of the Lord. And he says, then put on the armor. And then he goes into verse 12, what we described earlier. Recognize your enemy is spiritual. So correct. Stand in the strength of the Lord. That's right. We see a great example of this as the archangel is having a conversation with Satan. Satan has Power, but what does the angel do? What is Michael? So Michael, is arguing with Satan in the book of Jude, and Satan wants to know where Moses' body was buried. God buried Moses' body, and no one knew or knows where it was buried. So there's an argument going on. And Michael, rather than taking this in his own authority, simply but powerfully looks and says to Satan, the Lord rebuke you. The Lord rebuke you. Did he shout? No. Did he taunt? No. Did he make fun of? No. Did he mock him? Not at all. The Lord rebuke you. Stand in the power and the strength of the Lord. Yes. So we know from the text that we've just read that we have authority. And when Jesus gave us authority, he gave it to us to trample on snakes and scorpions. Right. But where does that authority come from? He said it, but we stand. Behind the cross That's where in the blood of Jesus Satan has no claim against us. No. He cannot. In the life, death, and resurrection power of Jesus Christ. We stand in his blood, and Satan has no answer to the blood. Mark, what do we see in Colossians? So Colossians, Paul is writing to the church there, and he's talking about the things that Satan has against us, the sin and the accusations that he has and the decrees. And he tells the church those were all nailed to the cross. So any time that Satan wants to bring up all those sins, he has to look at the cross. Correct. And he sees that they've been paid for. He has no accusation against us. Jesus has conquered death and grave. He has triumphed over fear, over death, over darkness. We see that in 2 Corinthians 2, 14, So here we are. We have said from a spiritual standpoint, there is a spiritual realm. And Jesus has conquered the grave. Yes. Every bit of it. Yes. Satan, every demon. There is all power in the blood of Christ. And that is where we stand. Yes. So we stand covered by his blood. We stand in the authority of Christ, and we stand in his power and name. Absolutely. Absolutely. Well, thank you for joining us today. We want to let you know that we'll be following up this podcast very shortly with the topic of Christians and Halloween? We know that Halloween is not specifically mentioned in the Bible, but we're gonna bring some scripture about pagan worship and we're gonna let you pray. But we're going to have a great discussion about Halloween and Christian involvement. Right. So we look forward to you joining us for that. But in the meantime, we like to end things by saying what? Follow us as we follow Christ. Amen. Victoria: Bye!