The Spiritual Mirror G.o.d's Word is a spiritual mirror. When you look into it, you see who you are in the spirit. (2 Cor. 3:18.) It always reflects "Christ in you, the hope of glory" (Col. 1:27). This shines additional light on James 1:22-25 (brackets mine): But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a gla.s.s [mirror]: For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty [the Word, especially the New Testament], and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.

As you look in the mirror (G.o.d's Word), discover your ident.i.ty in Christ (who you are in the spirit), and act on that knowledge in faith, you'll see the life of G.o.d within you manifest.

If I told you your hair was messed up, how would you know if it was or not? You can't go by how it feels. The only way you can know is to look in a mirror. Then you just believe it and act accordingly. If some hairs are out of place, you comb them. You trust the mirror to tell you the truth.

However, what you see in a mirror is only a reflection; it's not the real thing. You've never really seen your face before. It's true; think about it! You might have observed your reflection in a mirror, viewed a photograph, or seen a drawing, but you've never looked directly at your own face. How do you know that these representations of your face are accurate? Haven't you seen those funny mirrors at a circus or carnival? Everyone knows that they "doctor" those pictures of people in magazines at the grocery store, and drawing caricatures is even considered a form of art. Therefore, you have to trust that the image you're seeing in the mirror is true.

It's the same when you look into the spiritual mirror of G.o.d's Word. The Word tells you who you are and what you have in Christ. It reveals spiritual truths and what's happening in the spiritual world. If you want to experience life and peace, then you need to be spiritually minded.

"For to be carnally [not necessarily sinfully, but naturally] minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace" (Rom. 8:6, brackets mine).

You'll never move into the supernatural things of G.o.d while being dominated by the natural realm-what you can see, taste, hear, smell, and feel. If you can't believe anything beyond what your five senses can tell you or confirm, then you are carnally minded. If something must be proven in a test tube, scientifically, before you'll believe it exists, then you're trapped in the natural realm. G.o.d is a Spirit, and He moves in the spirit realm. (John 4:24.) In order to flow with G.o.d in the supernatural and enjoy life and peace, you need to become spiritually minded.

CHAPTER 9.

The Spirit Realm Is Real.

Some people see what G.o.d has done in the Scriptures, but then they run into this wall. "The Word says I already have everything, but I don't look blessed, I don't feel healed, and it sure doesn't seem like I have the power and anointing of G.o.d. There's no tingling in my hands or anything! How can you say that I can heal the sick, raise the dead, and so forth?" It's in the spirit, not the physical realm. These are two different worlds.

In 2 Kings 6, the king of Syria was warring against the king of Israel. He would send ambushes out to destroy the king of Israel's army. However, every time he did this, an ambush would be there waiting for him. It was as if the king of Israel knew the king of Syria's battle plans beforehand.

After this happened a number of times, the king of Syria was quite perplexed.

"Therefore the heart of the king of Syria was sore troubled for this thing; and he called his servants, and said unto them, Will ye not shew me which of us is for the king of Israel?" (2 Kings 6:11).

Basically, he asked, "Who's the traitor? Someone here must be a spy!"

"And one of his servants said, None, my lord, O king: but Elisha, the prophet that is in Israel, telleth the king of Israel the words that thou speakest in thy bedchamber" (2 Kings 6:12).

Elisha, who was listening to G.o.d, kept telling the king of Israel what was going on. The king trusted what the prophet was seeing and hearing in the spirit, and acted on his counsel. Therefore, he was able to defeat the Syrian army every single time.

Spiritual Truth vs. vs. Physical Truth Physical Truth

So the king of Syria decided to pursue Elisha.Therefore sent he thither horses, horses, and chariots, and a great host: and they came by night, and compa.s.sed the city about [where Elisha was]. And when the servant of the man of G.o.d was risen early, and gone forth, behold, an host compa.s.sed the city both with horses and chariots. And his servant said unto him, Alas, my master! how shall we do? and chariots, and a great host: and they came by night, and compa.s.sed the city about [where Elisha was]. And when the servant of the man of G.o.d was risen early, and gone forth, behold, an host compa.s.sed the city both with horses and chariots. And his servant said unto him, Alas, my master! how shall we do?2 Kings 6:14, 15, brackets mine Kings 6:14, 15, brackets mine That's just an old English way of saying he panicked.

This man saw the armies, discerned why they were there, and panicked! He knew his master, Elisha, had been giving the king of Syria's battle plans to the king of Israel. But notice the prophet's response: "Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them" (2 Kings 6:16).

Now, people who don't understand that there's more to life than what you can see, taste, hear, smell, and feel would look at Elisha here and say, "He lied!" To them, there's simply no reality

beyond the physical realm. Therefore, they don't understand people who are operating in faith. They think a believer is just saying that they're healed-when they really aren't-in the hope that it'll become so. I once heard a man preach, "You have to say it's so when it isn't so in order for it to become so." Not true! That's just lies, deception, and mind games. The faith person is simply describing what's true in the spirit but hasn't yet manifested in the physical realm.

You need to realize that spiritual truth and physical truth don't always agree. However, if you'll believe, speak, and act on spiritual truth, it'll overcome the physical truth. Your unwavering faith in G.o.d's eternal Word causes the contrary temporal realm to change. That's how what's already true in the spirit becomes true in the physical.

A person who's genuinely operating in faith confesses what G.o.d has already done in the spirit. That's how a person's telling the truth when he says, "I am blessed! I have everything I need. I'm a prosperous person," even though his checkbook is in the red. That's how someone can declare, "By His stripes, I was healed. I've already been healed. Thank You, Jesus!" when her body is wracked with pain and other symptoms. She's not just "fakin' it 'til she makes it." As she continues to believe, what's true in the spirit will eventually manifest itself in the physical realm.

That's what Elisha did! He declared, "Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them" (2 Kings 6:16). The prophet would have been lying if all there was to reality was just this physical world-what you can see, taste, hear, smell, and feel. But, of course, there's a real spiritual realm.

"Lord, Open His Eyes"

However, Elisha's servant wasn't operating in faith the way his master was. Apparently, the prophet's confident answer shocked him. So Elisha prayed: "Lord, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And the Lord Lord opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha" (2 Kings 6:17). opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha" (2 Kings 6:17).

The young man's physical eyes were already wide open. I bet they were as big as saucers, seeing all of those Syrians there to take them! But G.o.d opened the eyes of his heart so he could see in the spirit. That's what enabled him to perceive all of the horses and chariots of fire round about them!

You have the ability to see the unseen. Don't limit yourself only to what you can perceive with your natural eyes. Through G.o.d's Word, look beyond just the mere physical world. With the eyes of your heart you can see in the spirit!

Jesus used this same reasoning when He said, "He that hath ears to hear, let him hear" (Matt. 11:15). Every person listening had physical ears on their head and heard what He was saying. But Jesus was referring to those who would hear Him with their hearts and receive His words into their innermost beings.

In order to walk with G.o.d and do exploits, you need to be able to perceive things in your heart that you cannot perceive with your five natural senses. This is what Elisha prayed for his servant. G.o.d answered and the man's spiritual eyes opened up to see the many angels surrounding them.

When the servant saw them was not when the angels arrived. They were already there. He just wasn't aware of it.

Believing Is Seeing The Word gives us no indication that Elisha had his eyes opened too. He didn't see this, because he didn't need to. He believed it based on the promises of G.o.d.

G.o.d had already given many promises by that time. David was a prophet before then and had written many things, including: "For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways. They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone" (Ps. 91:11, 12).

There were many other promises about angels too. Plus, Elisha had physically seen the horses and chariots of G.o.d before. (2 Kings 2:11, 12.) Apparently, Elisha just believed. He didn't have to see.

As believers we have many spiritual truths and realities in and around us that most of us have never perceived. Dominated by carnal-mindedness, we limit what we believe to what we can perceive with our five natural senses. We must go beyond the physical realm and begin to recognize that there's a real spiritual world!

In the spirit, G.o.d has already healed you. He's already commanded His blessing upon you. You've been given joy, peace, and love. All of these things, and so much more, are in you in abundance-in your born-again spirit. But before you see these things on the outside (physically manifest), you must see them on the inside (with the eyes of your heart).

The spiritual world is not fake. It's not a fantasyland. It's reality! In fact, the spiritual world actually created the physical world. Everything we can see and touch-the visible-was created by the invisible.

"Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of G.o.d, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear" (Heb. 11:3).

G.o.d took spiritual substance-things that were real in the spiritual realm-and made everything in the physical realm. The spiritual realm is the parent force, and the parent force is always greater. The Creator is always greater than the creation. From G.o.d's eternal point of view, the spiritual realm is more real than the natural.

Elisha understood this. Since he believed he had angelic protection surrounding him, he boldly walked out into the midst of the enemy, raised his hand, and smote them with blindness. They immediately began groping around in their darkness. Elisha commanded them to take each other's hands and led them single file directly to the king of Israel. Then he prayed and their eyes were opened. (2 Kings 6:18-20.) Elisha took the entire Syrian army captive because he believed in the power that was available to him in the spirit realm. He knew it was there and drew upon it. Elisha didn't use a single natural weapon to accomplish this-only spiritual. The spirit realm is real!

CHAPTER 10.

Where G.o.d Moves.

Daniel also clearly exemplifies the reality of the spiritual realm. He prayed to receive revelation knowledge concerning Jeremiah's prophecy, which at the time appeared to not be coming to pa.s.s. (Dan. 9:2.) "And this whole land shall be a desolation, and an astonishment; and these nations shall serve the king of Babylon seventy years" (Jer. 25:11).

More than seventy years had already come and gone. However, the Lord showed Daniel later in the chapter that this was really seventy weeks of years (490 years), not seventy years. (Dan. 9:24.) So Daniel asked for this revelation and began to pray.

"And I set my face unto the Lord G.o.d, to seek by prayer and supplications, with fasting, and sackcloth, and ashes: And I prayed unto the Lord Lord my G.o.d, and made my confession, and said..." (Dan. 9:3, 4). my G.o.d, and made my confession, and said..." (Dan. 9:3, 4).

His prayer continues down through verse 19: "O Lord, hear; O Lord, forgive; O Lord, hearken and do; defer not, for thine own sake, O my G.o.d: for thy city and thy people are called by thy name."

Three Minutes

And whiles I was speaking, and praying, and confessing my sin and the sin of my people Israel, and presenting my supplication before the Lord Lord my G.o.d for the holy mountain of my G.o.d; Yea, whiles I was speaking in prayer, even the man Gabriel [the same angel who appeared to Zacharias and Mary in Luke 1:19, 26-28], whom I had seen in the vision at the beginning, being caused to fly swiftly, touched me about the time of the evening oblation. And he informed me, and talked with me, and said, O Daniel, I am now come forth to give thee skill and understanding. my G.o.d for the holy mountain of my G.o.d; Yea, whiles I was speaking in prayer, even the man Gabriel [the same angel who appeared to Zacharias and Mary in Luke 1:19, 26-28], whom I had seen in the vision at the beginning, being caused to fly swiftly, touched me about the time of the evening oblation. And he informed me, and talked with me, and said, O Daniel, I am now come forth to give thee skill and understanding.Daniel 9:20-22, brackets mine It took Daniel about three minutes to pray this prayer. (Dan. 9:4-19.) While he was still praying, the angel Gabriel showed up and announced, "I've come with your answer!" Wouldn't it be wonderful if everything you prayed for manifested itself in three minutes?

Notice when it was that G.o.d actually answered: "At the beginning of thy supplications the commandment came forth, and I am come to shew thee; for thou art greatly beloved: therefore understand the matter, and consider the vision" (Dan. 9:23, emphasis mine). and I am come to shew thee; for thou art greatly beloved: therefore understand the matter, and consider the vision" (Dan. 9:23, emphasis mine).

G.o.d moved in the spiritual world and gave the commandment at the very beginning of Daniel's prayer, yet it took approximately three minutes for Gabriel to show up!

Why Not Not Instantaneous Manifestation? Instantaneous Manifestation?

Most people a.s.sume that G.o.d doesn't have to deal with such things as time, s.p.a.ce, or distance. However, this is a clear biblical example where G.o.d gave a command to one of His angels, and it took approximately three minutes for him to show up. That's not a long period of time, but it plainly reveals that G.o.d moved in the spiritual realm before there was any physical evidence of it.

Most people believe that when G.o.d wills something to happen, the very moment He thinks it-boom-there's instantaneous manifestation in the natural realm. They don't think the Lord has to deal with any restrictions or limits. However, this example shows G.o.d giving the command and it taking approximately three minutes.

The Bible doesn't explain what was happening during that brief period of time. Maybe Gabriel needed to pack. Maybe he was on the other side of the universe and it took him three minutes to cover a hundred billion light years. Who knows what was going on. But it establishes the principle that G.o.d commanded it in the spirit realm before there was physical manifestation.

Daniel prayed again in chapter 10. If anything, his heart should have been encouraged and his faith strengthened after receiving such a powerful and relatively quick answer in chapter 9. Although the same man prayed, the results were much different!

Demonic Opposition I like using Daniel as an example of how G.o.d answers prayer. If I ill.u.s.trated this point with an example from my life, you'd be tempted to dismiss it saying, "Well, Andrew, you're different from me. You must be one of G.o.d's favorites. Some people He just responds to better than others." You can't say that about Daniel! This same man prayed and received two totally different results.

This time it took three weeks-not three minutes-before Daniel saw the manifestation of what he prayed for.

"In those days I Daniel was mourning three full weeks. I ate no pleasant bread, neither came flesh nor wine in my mouth, neither did I anoint myself at all, till three whole weeks were fulfilled" (Dan. 10:2, 3). 3).

Daniel fasted and prayed again, but the results were worse, not better.

And, behold, an hand touched me, which set me upon my knees and upon the palms of my hands. And he said unto me, 0 Daniel, a man greatly beloved, understand the words that 1 speak unto thee, and stand upright: for unto thee am I now sent. And when he had spoken this word unto me, I stood trembling.Daniel 10:10, 11 Why does G.o.d answer some prayers in three minutes and others in three weeks? Have you ever wondered about this? Have you ever seen G.o.d do something quickly for you and on other occasions take weeks, months, even years? Through all that time you stood, believed, and wondered, Cod, why are You doing this? What's taking You so long to answer my prayer? Cod, why are You doing this? What's taking You so long to answer my prayer? That's actually an invalid question. The next verse shows why. That's actually an invalid question. The next verse shows why.

"Then said he unto me, Fear not, Daniel: for from the first day from the first day that thou didst set thine heart to understand, and to chasten thyself before thy G.o.d, that thou didst set thine heart to understand, and to chasten thyself before thy G.o.d, thy words were heard, thy words were heard, and I am come for thy words" (Dan. 10:12, emphasis mine). and I am come for thy words" (Dan. 10:12, emphasis mine).

G.o.d gave the command and answered the very first day, but it didn't manifest until three weeks later. Why? There was demonic opposition!

"But the prince of the kingdom of Persia [a demonic power] withstood me one and twenty days [three weeks]: but, lo, Michael, one of the chief princes [another angel; see Jude 9 and Rev. 12:7], came to help me; and I remained there with the kings of Persia" (Dan. 10:13, brackets mine).

Three weeks and additional help were required for this angelic messenger to break through the demonic opposition and manifest Daniel's answer!

Things That Hinder G.o.d moved instantly both times. It wasn't that He answered in three minutes the first time and three weeks the second. G.o.d answered Daniel's prayer immediately on both occasions. G.o.d wasn't the variable. He didn't change. G.o.d remained constant. In the Old Covenant, Daniel was looking forward in faith to what Jesus would do. Today, as New Testament believers, we look back to what G.o.d has already done through Christ. It's a done deal!

G.o.d doesn't answer some prayers in three minutes and others in three weeks. The Lord answers everything immediately! The supply is already there. It's already been done. The provision was made before you ever had the need. It's not G.o.d moving differently for different people. Rather, it's people who receive differently. G.o.d has already done His part, but there are things that hinder what He's done in the spiritual realm from coming into the physical world.

Many people wrongly a.s.sume that the devil is all-powerful and all-knowing. Functionally, they believe that Satan is more faithful than G.o.d! They aren't sure if the Lord will answer their prayer, even if they do everything just right. But they're absolutely convinced that the devil will devour them if they do even one little thing wrong. They think the devil is always there and never misses a trick. "The enemy's doing this and Satan's doing that. He's saying this and saying that. Blah, blah, blah!"

You need to recognize that there's only one devil, and he's not omnipresent. He can only be in one place at a time. So for every believer to say that Satan has personally spoken to and tempted us each and every day is absolutely incorrect. Sure, the kingdom of darkness is against us, but we give the devil too much credit. He's not all-powerful. He doesn't always do things right.

It's very possible that the devil missed it in Daniel 9. Perhaps he was out licking his wounds, sulking and pouting, and misjudged how dangerous Daniel was. Maybe Satan was on vacation. Maybe he was tired and sleeping. We give the devil too much recognition. Anyone who fights against G.o.d sure isn't bright. I'm not saying he's stupid, just that he misses it sometimes.

The Variable So in chapter 9, Daniel's prayer got through to G.o.d, and Gabriel appeared with the answer in three minutes. Satan wasn't even a factor! But after Daniel received such a powerful revelation and prophesied several important elements concerning the Messiah, the devil marshaled his forces to make sure Daniel didn't pray unopposed ever again.

Satan-not G.o.d or Daniel-was the variable. Sometimes he fights us, sometimes he doesn't. 1 don't know all the reasons for this, but we give the devil way too much credit when we think he's consistent and always does things right. Satan blows it lots of times!