The spiritual realm is real. Everything has its origin in God and derives from the spirit realm. If you believe in God the Father, the Son Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit, but you don’t believe in the spiritual realm, then it’s impossible to believe. If the spiritual realm is fiction and not real for you, you can’t believe in God and the creation. Because, if you believe in the creation, you believe that God created the earth and all there is within through His Word by the power of the Spirit. Everything that you perceive in the natural realm or physical realm has its origin in the spiritual realm. Let’s look at the reality and evidence of the spiritual realm.
Are you a Christians through tradition?
There are many Christians, who are raised in a Christian home and inherited their religion and faith from their parents and live according to their tradition. When you ask these Christians about their faith, you soon find out, that their faith and church attendance is only part of their (family) culture and is just a formality instead of a way of life, that is obtained through a personal encounter and relationship with Jesus Christ.
Many Christians say they believe in Jesus Christ and know Jesus, but their lives and actions say something else.
This is mainly because they know a lot about Jesus. They know Jesus after the letter and what is written about Jesus instead of knowing Jesus (the living Word) experientially and having a personal relationship with Him.
Many Christians claim to be born again, while they live after the flesh and do carnal works.
They move in the physical realm and operate from the physical realm. The world formed their carnal mind. Therefore, they speak and live as the world.
They believe the same words and apply the same knowledge and methods and do the same things as unbelievers.
They’re led by their carnal senses, emotions, feelings, thoughts, opinions, etc. They rely on – and trust in their own wisdom and knowledge, instead of relying on- and trusting in God and His Word and being led by the Spirit.
They have a hard time, understanding and believing certain matters in the Bible. That’s because they are carnal and the spiritual realm is hidden to them. As a result, many Christians don’t believe in the spiritual realm and find it scary and don’t want to talk about it or get involved.
But whether you believe in the spiritual or not, the fact is that the spiritual realm is real.
What is the spiritual realm?
The spiritual realm is the unseen realm behind the physical realm.
What did Jesus say about the spiritual realm?
If there is one Person in the Bible, who constantly spoke about the spiritual realm, it was Jesus. Jesus spoke constantly about the spiritual realm and showed the people the existence of the spiritual Kingdom of God, where He came from it, and the kingdom of darkness. . He exposed the (spiritual) kingdom of darkness and demonstrated the authority and power of God’s Kingdom.
Jesus made the spiritual realm and the Kingdom of God visible to the people, through His words and works.
Since the people were carnal, Jesus used natural illustrations from everyday life; parables.
Jesus also made the Kingdom of God and its reality, authority, and power visible to the people through signs and wonders (walking on water, multiplying of food, casting out demons, healing the sick, raising the dead etc.).
Everything Jesus did, He did from the spiritual realm in the power and authority of His Father.
Jesus gave this spiritual authority and power to His body; the church.
Jesus gave His Name to His church. His Name is the highest Name and has the highest authority in heavens and on earth. Everything, that has a name, must bow to the Name of Jesus.
Wherefore God also hath highly exalted Him, and given Him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father
Philemon 2:9-11
The church represents the spiritual Kingdom of God on earth
Jesus is the Head of the church. The church is appointed as the spiritual government of the spiritual Kingdom of God on earth and represents God’s Kingdom. The church acts in the Name of Jesus (the authority of Jesus Christ (the Head)), on earth.
The assembly of believers, who are born again in the spirit and seated in Christ, are the church.
These born again believers have been set apart from the world (the kingdom of darkness). Therefore they don’t belong to the world, but to God. They are God’s people, who live in the world but are not of the world (a.o. John 17:16; Romans 12:2; 1 Corinthians 2:12; Ephesians 2:19; Colossians 1:13-14; 3:2).
The birth of the new man by the Word and the Spirit
The new man is not the result of the works of the old man and created in the physical realm. But the new man is born by the Word and the Spirit in the spiritual realm. Although the person looks the same in the physical realm, in the spiritual realm the person has become in Christ a new creation. The new creation is perfectly created in Him and complete in Him (a.o. Colossians 2:6-10; 1 John 4:17).
The person was a sinner but is no longer a sinner.
Through the baptism in water, the person has identified himself/herself with the crucifixion, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
This means, that the old man with its sinful nature died and the new man is raised from the dead.
The person died to the flesh and his spirit is raised from the dead in Christ by the power of the Holy Spirit and has become a new creation. (Colossians 2:11-12).
The sinful nature of the flesh that kept the person in bondage of the kingdom of darkness died. Therefore the person is no longer held in bondage of the kingdom of darkness.
But you are washed, but you are sanctified, but you are justified in the Name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God
1 Corinthians 6:11
The new creation is raised in Christ and seated in Him
The new creation is raised in Christ and seated in Him in the third heaven. (S)he reigns together with Christ over the kingdom of darkness. The new man lives and reigns out of Jesus Christ; the Word.
Father, I will that they also, whom Thou hast given Me, be with Me where I am; that they may behold My glory, which Thou hast given Me: for Thou lovedst Me before the foundation of the world (John 17:24)
And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: That in the ages to come He might shew the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us through Christ Jesus (Ephesians 2:6-7)
The new creation is spiritually awakened and entered the Kingdom of God
Through regeneration, the person is spiritually awakened and entered the Kingdom of God. The spiritual Kingdom of God has become visible and real to the person. That’s because the spirit of the person, which was death and under the dominion of the darkness is raised from the dead and became alive.
Without regeneration, you will not be able to see nor enter the Kingdom of God. If you cannot see nor enter the Kingdom of God, how will you be able to live after the will of the King of this Kingdom and represent this Kingdom? Exactly, you can’t. Without regeneration, you still belong to the world and the kingdom of darkness and be blind and walk in darkness.
Jesus said, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the Kingdom of God. And except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the Kingdom of God. (John 3:3-5).
God is Spirit and His Kingdom is a spiritual Kingdom
When you”re born again in the spirit and walk as the new creation, you’ll walk after the Spirit and not after the flesh. This means, that you are not led and ruled, by what you perceive in the natural realm with your senses (what you see, hear, smell etc. ), emotions, feelings, thoughts etc. But it means that you are led by the Word and the Holy Spirit.
The Word and the Holy Spirit reveal the spiritual realm to you.
The Word and the Holy Spirit teach and guide you according to the things of God’s Kingdom and reveal the truth to you.
The spiritual realm shall become real to you and you shall act from the spiritual realm.
You shall call those things, which are not, as though they were. Just like the creation.
God, who quickened the dead, and called those things which be not as though they were (Romans 4:17)
You shall live and operate from the spiritual realm, when you seek those things which are above, where Christ is seated, and not upon this earth.
Therefore, it’s important on what things you spend your time; the earthly things or the heavenly things.
God is a Spirit: and they that worship Him must worship him in spirit and in truth
John 4:24
The old creation is carnal and lives from the physical realm
Because as long as you remain the old creation (the old carnal man) or if you become born again but you keep walking after the flesh, you shall still be ruled and led by what your senses, emotions, and thoughts perceive.
You shall live and act out of the physical realm and the spiritual realm shall remain hidden.
You’ll apply the principles of the Bible, which you’ve been taught in your life, but see little or no result. That’s because you apply the principles to the carnal old man from the physical realm and not to the spiritual new man from the spiritual realm.
Your spirit cannot be raised from the dead, unless you freely lay down your flesh and die in Jesus Christ.
We have discussed the spiritual origin of the church, the spiritual origin of the new man, now let’s go back to the beginning and the origin of creation.
What is the origin of creation?
The whole creation originated from the spiritual realm. Everything has its origin in the spiritual realm. Due to the fact, that scientists have no clue about the spiritual realm, they believe in natural science and in a physical ’cause and effect’. Because of their belief, they come with all kinds of ‘foolish’ theories and speculations about the origin of creation and the life of people.
The statement that God created the creation from the spiritual realm, is foolishness to scientists. That’s because they are unspiritual and therefore they can’t comprehend nor understand this statement.
However, to born again believers in Christ, the statement and theory of scientists, for example the evolution theory, is foolishness.
Unfortunately, it happens more and more that Christians doubt the origin of creation and believe the statement of the world above the statement of the Bible.
They believe the words of man above the words of God in the Bible.
That’s because, many churches are unspiritual and carnal. Many churches have allowed the spirit of this world to enter. As a result, many Christians are defiled by the spirit of the world. They doubt the Word of God and the origin of creation.
In the beginning God (El-Elohim) created the heaven and the earth
Genesis 1:1
What does the Bible say about God and creation?
The Bible says about God and creation the following:
The heavens are Thine, the earth also is Thine: as for the world and the fulness thereof, Thou hast founded them (Psalm 89:11)
Thus saith God the Lord, He that created the heavens, and stretched them out; He that spread forth the earth, and that which cometh out of it; He that giveth breath unto the people upon it, and spirit to them that walk therein (Isaiah 42:5)
I have made the earth, and created man upon it: I, even my hands, have stretched out the heavens, and all their host have I commanded (Isaiah 45:12)
For thus saith the Lord that created the heavens; God Himself that formed the earth and made it; He hath established it, He created it not in vain, He formed it to be inhabited: I am the Lord; and there is none else (Isaiah 45:18)
Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for Thou hast created all things, and for Thy pleasure they are and were created (Revelation 4:11)
Science acts from the natural realm
Scientists, philosophers, doctors, therapists, psychiatrists, psychologists, many theologians, and so on, are unspiritual and act from the natural realm; the physical realm. Some of them may say they are Christians and that they act out of faith, but if that would be true, then they wouldn’t carry and rely on their title and wouldn’t apply the philosophies, theories, and methods of the world. If that would be true, they would rely on God. They would believe His Word and apply the methods of the Bible and the Spirit. The fact is, that they live act, and operate in and from the natural realm
They believe, that every natural effect, like climate change, drought, natural disasters, mental or physical problems, sickness, behavioral problems, relationship problems, etc. all have a natural cause.
From this perspective and science, they use natural innovative techniques, methods, and tools, to restore nature and people and make them complete or whole again.
A surgeon, for example, uses natural techniques to remove or restore something in the body, that is visible affected or damaged.
A psychologist, who treats a person with mental or behavioral problems looks for the (natural) cause of the problem(s) in the life, the past, the family, or the surroundings of the person. From there the psychoogist makes a treatment plan, using scientific knowledge, methods, and techniques.
The natural way of healing vs the spiritual way of healing
This is the natural way of the world to heal and to restore or to remove a disturbance in the life of a person and make a person whole again.
However, this way of healing and restoration is foolishness to God and has nothing to do with His Kingdom. It is the carnal wisdom and knowledge of the world, which are foolishness to God.
Why is it foolishness to God? Because God knows the truth. His Kingdom doesn’t operate from the natural (physical) realm and doesn’t use natural means, tools, techniques, and methods. But His Kingdom is a spiritual Kingdom and acts from the spiritual realm.
The Kingdom of God says, that if something is disturbed in the natural realm, then a disturbance has already been taken place in the spiritual realm.
What happens in the spiritual realm, becomes visible in the natural realm
What happens in the spiritual realm will always become visible in the natural realm. Because the cause is in the spiritual realm and not in the natural realm. Therefore, the effect of the spiritual cause will become visible in the natural realm. We not only see this truth in the creation, that testifies of God’s greatness, but we also see this truth in our everyday lives.
That’s why, you perceive in the natural realm, what took (or takes) place in the spiritual realm.
If something has to change in the natural, then something needs to change in the spiritual. You cannot solve problems in the natural realm from the natural realm by applying carnal methods, principles, and means, as scientists do.
The spiritual cause of a disease according to the Bible
Cancer is a destroying disease and many times a deathly disease, that kills many lives. It almost looks like an epidemic disease. Despite the fact, that medical science and technology constantly discover new things and people live healthier, the amount of cancer patients increases.
When someone is diagnosed with cancer, in many cases the person will have an operation to remove the tumor(s) and/or chemotherapy, depending on the stage of cancer. All the visible results of cancer will be removed from the body.
You might think, that a person, who had an operation and chemotherapy is cured from cancer. However, in many cases, that’s not the case.
In the beginning, it looks like the person is healed. But oftentimes the cancer returns in the same place or in another place in the body. How can this happen? This happens because the cause of the illness of cancer has not been addressed. For the cause, you must be in the spiritual realm and not in the natural realm.
The cause is an evil spirit of death, that operates out of the kingdom of darkness and manifests himself in the body of a person and causes this deathly disease. Because the result of this illness, if you don’t do anything or if the natural methods don’t work, is death.
But because many people don’t believe in the spiritual realm and are not born again, they don’t believe that (deathly) diseases, illnesses, and epidemics originate from the spiritual realm and manifest in the body (the lives of people). Therefore, many people die every year, due to a lack of this spiritual knowledge.
The words of man vs the words of God
Many people, including Christians, have more faith in the words of doctors and scientists, than in the words of God. That’s why believers have more faith in the way of medical science for healing than in the way of God and His way of healing.
Although many confess Jesus as Lord and confess that by His stripes they are healed, but by the way they live and their actions they say something else.
As soon as they notice something unusual in their body or experience pain, many Christians don’t take the Bible and believe and apply the words of God and His truth to their situation.
Many Christians don’t go into battle with their spiritual sword and keep standing on the Word. Instead they take an aspirin or some other kind of natural medicine and/or make an appointment with the doctor. Because, according to them, that’s the (fastest) way of ‘healing’.
Because, if you chose to go the way of the Word, it may take longer before the healing and restoration of the body becomes visible in the natural realm.
The battle between the spirit and the flesh
Many times it’s a spiritual warfare because your flesh believes in medical science and wants to go the way of medical science (the way of the world), but your spirit believes in the Word and wants to go God’s way.
Now it’s all about: who do you obey? The flesh or the spirit?
This is a process and all depends on the fact, how fast you renew your mind with the Word of God, believe in His words, apply them into your life, and walk according to the Word.
But that’s not all. Because when the spiritual realm becomes visible to you through the Word, many times you won’t be happy with the things you see.
When the spiritual realm that’s behind the physical realm becomes visible then the things you considered normal, you suddenly don’t consider normal anymore. As a result, you shall turn away from them and remove them from your life.
Every person is responsible for the decisions (s)he makes in this life. No one else is responsible for that.
God gave every person a free will and knowledge of good and evil. Every person decides whether to believe in what the world and the world system says, or what the Bible (God’s Word) says.
But one thing is certain, the world and the Word can’t go together. It is either the world or the Word; the flesh or the spirit.
Conclusion is the spiritual fiction or real?
Coming back to the question if the spiritual realm is real or fiction. We can conclude, from the facts of the Bible, the Word of God, that the spiritual realm is real and not fiction.
If Christians don’t believe in the spiritual realm, in the creation, the new man (new creation), the church (the assembly of born again believers) as the body of Christ and the spiritual government of the Kingdom of God, then what do they believe?
‘Be the salt of the earth’
