Unseen , livre ebook

© 2013 by Jack Graham
Published by Bethany House Publishers
11400 Hampshire Avenue South
Bloomington, Minnesota 55438
www.bethanyhouse.com
Bethany House Publishers is a division of
Baker Publishing Group, Grand Rapids, Michigan
www.bakerpublishinggroup.com
Ebook edition created 2013
Ebook corrections 09.26.2014
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means for example, electronic, photocopy, recording without the prior written permission of the publisher. The only exception is brief quotations in printed reviews.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is on file at the Library of Congress, Washington, DC.
ISBN 978-1-4412-6229-5
Unless otherwise noted, Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. ESV Text Edition: 2007
Scripture quotations marked KJV are from the King James Version of the Bible.
Scripture quotations marked THE MESSAGE are from The Message by Eugene H. Peterson, copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 2000, 2001, 2002. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations marked NCV are from the New Century Version®. Copyright © 1987, 1988, 1991 by Word Publishing, a division of Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations marked NIV are from the Holy Bible, New International Version®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com
Author is represented by Wolgemuth and Associates.
Cover design by Lookout Design, Inc.
“We sometimes forget that the real powers in this world are spiritual rather than physical. I’m thrilled that in Unseen Jack Graham reminds us of the hidden battles we face and instills hope and assurance that believers will emerge victorious. I highly recommend this insightful, biblical, and very personal book.”
Mark Batterson, New York Times bestselling author, The Circle Maker
“I was captivated by Unseen from start to finish. Dr. Graham has powerfully addressed some of the greatest questions and concerns of our day. We must all recognize that we are in a spiritual battle. This book will help you to not only understand what is going on, but how God has equipped each and every one of us to live a victorious, overcoming Christian life as light in the midst of darkness. This book is a must-read for every Christian.”
Christine Caine, founder, The A21 Campaign, bestselling author, Undaunted
“Good and evil, heaven and hell, God and Satan, angels and demons the Bible says they are real. But what should we really do practically to live a Spirit-empowered life like Jesus? That is the very important theme of this timely book.”
Pastor Mark Driscoll, founding and preaching pastor, Mars Hill Church, founder, Resurgence and co-founder, Acts 29
“Jack Graham is a man of God who understands the spirit world. Our battle isn’t against people. It’s against Satan and demonic spirits. Jesus’ conquest over those evil forces enables us to walk victoriously as we prayerfully put on God’s armor and appropriate His Word. Unseen is a mandatory manual for every spiritual warrior!”
Steve Gaines, PhD, senior pastor, Bellevue Baptist Church, Memphis, TN
“What you see is not all there is. Unfortunately, too many people are losing battles they don’t even know are being fought. In his timely book, Unseen , Dr. Jack Graham equips and empowers us to fight and win spiritual battles God’s way. If you are longing for more spiritual power and understanding, read this book.”
Craig Groeschel, senior pastor, LifeChurch.tv, author, Altar Ego: Becoming Who God Says You Are
“The key word that comes to mind concerning Jack Graham’s new book Unseen is needed . There is a war in the heavenlies that touches this earth, but the good news is that we can win the war. Read, be instructed, embrace its truth, and win the battle.”
Johnny Hunt, pastor, First Baptist Church, Woodstock, GA
“Lift your eyes from the urgent and set your sights on eternity, where a hundred years from today you will be alive and fully aware. Jack Graham calls us not just to finish the race to eternity, but to break the tape accelerating, and his insightful book Unseen tells us why and how!”
James MacDonald, senior pastor, Harvest Bible Chapel , author, Vertical Church
“The unseen aspects of the spiritual life are the most important and often most difficult to understand. But our lack of understanding doesn’t negate the reality. Jack Graham’s words in Unseen will open your eyes to the spiritual battle that surrounds us, and most important, a clear direction to our victory in Christ. Allow Dr. Graham to lead you on a life-changing journey into the unseen.”
Gregg Matte, pastor, Houston’s First Baptist Church, author, I AM Changes Who i Am
“Pastor Jack Graham presents a tactical manual every Christ-follower needs for winning the spiritual conflict with unseen forces of evil.”
Kerry Shook, founding pastor, Woodlands Church
“There is a spiritual realm. It is real. I’m thankful that Jack Graham has given us a peek behind the curtain. His words and spiritual insights will challenge and encourage you to live this physical life with spiritual eyes.”
Pastor Dave Stone, Southeast Christian Church, Louisville, KY
“In a day when there is so much talk about heaven and hell, you may wonder, What is fact and what is fiction? In this marvelous book, my pastor, Jack Graham, takes us right to the source, to the Word of God, and brings us the truth with clarity and hope.”
Sheila Walsh, author, God Loves Broken People
To David McKinley and Mike Buster, two godly men who have shared a lifetime of ministry with me. Your love and faithfulness encourage me daily.
I thank my God in all my remembrance of you. (Philippians 1:3)
Contents
Cover 1
Title Page 2
Copyright Page 3
Endorsements 4
Dedication 5
Acknowledgments 9
Introduction 11
1. Pressing Questions We Can’t Help but Ask 17
2. The Dark Angel 35
3. Heaven’s (Mostly) Unseen Warriors 57
4. Battle Gear 77
5. Mind Matters 97
6. More Than Conquerors 123
7. Warfare Prayer 145
8. The Soulish Stakes of War 171
9. An Appointment We Cannot Break 195
10. Where Goodness Goes to Die 215
11. Paradise Found 239
12. We Win 265
Notes 293
About the Author 301
Back Cover 303
Acknowledgments
A shley Wiersma, thank you for enabling me to develop the message of this book for shaping my words and working diligently to deliver the manuscript. Your love for God’s truth inspires me.
Robert Wolgemuth and Associates, your encouragement challenged me to offer my best efforts and what I believe is my best book yet.
The privilege of publishing my messages in book form has been given to me by my friends at Bethany House. Thank you for the partnership and for believing in me.
Prestonwood, you are the most loving and supportive church imaginable. I am beyond blessed to be your pastor. Thank you for always believing the best is yet to come.
Thank you to my daughter, Kelly, and her husband, Jason Flores, and to my sons, Jason and Josh, and their wives, Toby and Kaytie. There really is no greater earthly joy than to know your children walk in truth.
What can I say about our grandchildren, Ian, Levi, and Dylan Claire? You are my living legacy; of such is the kingdom of heaven.
And to the love of my life, Deb Graham. God has melted our hearts together forever, in what truly is a marriage made in heaven.
Introduction
M y fondness for baseball began when I was three years old. My dad placed a glove on the tiny fingers of one hand, a ball in the other, and effectively sealed the deal: I’d love the game all of my days.
In the small Arkansas town where I grew up, neighborhood kids would wake with the sun and immediately head over to the sandlot we’d configured with primitive bases and something approximating a pitcher’s mound. We’d stop for ten minutes around lunchtime for a snowball cupcake and a carton of milk, but otherwise, from daybreak until nightfall, all we’d do is play ball. I learned the game by playing the game, and I loved playing that game.
Hall of Famer Ted Williams once said that hitting a baseball is the most difficult thing to do in sport, and I would have to agree. To hit a round ball with a rounded bat is one thing, but to do it when that ball happens to be careening toward you at ninety-five miles per hour is quite another. It’s so difficult, in fact, that you hit it successfully even three times out of ten, and you just might land yourself right next to Ted in the Baseball Hall of Fame. For the twenty years I played ball, I was nearly addicted to the rush that comes from taking someone’s fastball and turning it around. The suspense of being at the plate with runners on base Will it be a fastball or a curve ball? Will I strike out or drive in those runs? What’s going to happen next? the windup of the guy on the mound, the whoosh of the ball as it speeds through the air, the crack of the bat as contact is gloriously made . . . what’s not to love about this game?
Years ago, the late great comedian George Carlin used to spend part of his stand-up act poking a little fun at my beloved sport. “The Difference between Baseball and Football,” it was called, and live audiences always went wild. He mocked the fact that in baseball, for instance, managers must wear the same uniform as the players. “Can you picture [then-head coach] Bill Parcells in his New York Giants uniform?” he asked.
He talked about how baseball is played on a diamond in a park in the springtime , when all is fresh and new, versus football, which is played on a gridiron (insert manly grunt), in a stadium (yet another grunt), in the season when everything dies (further grunting, coupled with snarled