What is behind most of the struggles we face? Pastor Joel Engel answers with precision, stressing out that what happens in the physical world is a mere reflection of what is happening in the spiritual world.

“The spiritual world is more real than the natural world. Try this: as soon as you wake up, pay attention to your first thoughts. How many times, before you even start your day, do negative thoughts already arise?”, asked the pastor during a sermon.

“This is a reflection of the spiritual struggle surrounding our mind,” he clarifies.

Engel pointed out that one of the greatest examples of this was experienced by the prophet Elisha. During a war against the Syrian army, the king of Syria believed that there was a spy among his officers, since his plans were always thwarted. However, it was Elisha who, through revelations from God, saw beforehand the enemy’s strategies against the people of Israel. 

The prophet was once surrounded by the enemy in Dothan (2 Kings 6:13). His servant was terrified, but Elisha responded with a powerful statement: “Don’t be afraid. Those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” (2 Kings 6:16) Pastor Engel explained: “In the face of this situation, Elisha made two unusual prayers that teach us profound lessons about the spiritual world.” 

Prayer One: Open the eyes to the supernatural

“Open his eyes, Lord, so that he may see”, he asked (2 Kings 6:17). Then, the servant saw something extraordinary: the surrounding mountains were filled with horses and chariots of fire. There was a heavenly army defending Israel. 

“Often the natural eyes are the greatest enemies of spiritual vision,” Engel observed. “True vision is that which comes through the spirit, by the eyes of faith. When we look only at what is visible, we are overcome by fear and doubt. But faith allows us to see beyond the natural and see what God is doing in the unseen.”

Second prayer: Strike the enemies with blindness

Elisha then prayed again: “Strike this people with blindness.” (2 Kings 6:18)

“This passage teaches us that there are two worlds: the physical, which we see, and the spiritual, we do not see,” teaches Engel. “And the spiritual is much more real than the material.”

According to the pastor, Elisha trusted God because he was fully aware of the supernatural. “He saw by faith and knew that the heavenly army was greater than any enemy. If you could open your spiritual eyes today, you would see that there are many more angels beside you than there are forces against you.”

Keeping this in mind, what is the best way to fight the enemy? “By confrontation,” answers Engel. “If you are paralyzed by fear, you already lost. But if you throw yourself into it, with the conviction of who God is, you will win!”

Finally, the pastor encourages: “2025 will be the year of the supernatural! God is calling us to see beyond what our eyes see and live by faith.”

Watch the full sermon: