“You’re Too Focused on the Invisible Realm.” Really?

“I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one.”—John 17:15

“Set your minds on things above, not on things that are on earth.”—Colossians 3:2

Critics often say, “You're too focused on the invisible realm.” But what if our problem is the opposite—we’ve stopped seeing the world the way Jesus did?

When Christ prays, “deliver them from the evil one,” He’s not being figurative. He’s being faithful. He sees what we often ignore: the greatest threats we face are not physical, but spiritual. And Scripture calls us—repeatedly—to fix our minds on the unseen. The question isn’t whether we talk about spiritual reality too much. The real question is:Do we talk about it enough?

1. Jesus Prayed for Our Protection from the Evil One

In His High Priestly Prayer (John 17), Jesus pours out His heart to the Father on the eve of His crucifixion. And among the many things He prays, one request stands out:

“I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one.” (John 17:15)

This is not poetry—it’s intercession. Jesus is not asking for escape, but for spiritual preservation from a real, personal enemy: Satan.

Christ’s prayer assumes something modern Western minds often deny: the spiritual realm is real, dangerous, and active. To ignore it isn’t wisdom—it’s spiritual amnesia.

2. Jesus Commands Us to Pray the Same Way

In the Lord’s Prayer, Jesus teaches us to pray:

“Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.” (Matthew 6:13)

Again, this isn’t metaphor. Jesus gives us a daily pattern of spiritual warfare. We are to ask the Father for protection from demonic deception, temptation, and accusation. He places that request on our lips, every day.

So why are we embarrassed to talk about it?

3. Scripture Tells Us to Fix Our Eyes on the Unseen

Jesus didn’t invent this way of thinking—it saturates the Bible:

• Colossians 3:2 – “Set your minds on things above…”

• 2 Corinthians 4:18 – “We look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen…”

• Ephesians 6:12 – “We wrestle not against flesh and blood…”

• Romans 8:6 – “To set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace.”

These aren’t suggestions for the spiritually inclined. They’re commands for all believers. The Christian life is not merely about behavior—it’s about vision. You must see what can’t be seen.

4. Faith Is Anchored in the Invisible

The writer of Hebrews defines faith this way:

“Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” (Hebrews 11:1)

This isn’t abstract. The heroes of the faith endured hardship precisely because they had spiritual sight:

• Moses “endured as seeing Him who is invisible” (Heb. 11:27).

• Abraham looked forward to “a city that has foundations” (Heb. 11:10).

• The saints “desired a better country—that is, a heavenly one” (Heb. 11:16).

This is the biblical pattern: faith looks beyond the veil.

5. The Spirit Opens Our Eyes to Spiritual Reality

Paul writes in Ephesians 1:

“...having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know… the immeasurable greatness of His power…” (Eph. 1:18–19)

This “power” is not philosophical—it is cosmic, rooted in Christ’s victory over spiritual rulers and authorities (Eph. 1:20–21; Col. 2:15).

Paul wants the church to see reality as it truly is: Christ enthroned, spiritual enemies subdued, and the church called to walk in that victory.

6. Ignoring the Invisible Is a Form of Worldliness

Let’s be honest: some of the discomfort with spiritual warfare or the divine council worldview isn’t about theology—it’s about comfort. It’s easier to talk about virtues, strategies, or cultural engagement than it is to admit we live in a supernatural war zone.

But the moment we minimize the unseen realm, we step out of step with Scripture.

“Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion…” (1 Peter 5:8)“Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” (James 4:7)“Put on the whole armor of God…” (Ephesians 6:11)

The early church was alert. Why aren’t we?

7. Jesus Wasn’t Over-Spiritual. He Was Awake.

Jesus healed bodies, fed crowds, and walked dusty roads. He wasn’t detached from the world—but He never lost sight of the spiritual realm.

He saw Satan fall like lightning (Luke 10:18). He rebuked unclean spirits. He taught about angels, demons, and the age to come. And at the center of His prayer life was this plea: “Deliver them from the evil one.”

If that’s how Jesus saw the world, then that’s how we must see the world.

Conclusion: If Jesus Focused on the Invisible Realm, So Should We

You’re not being extreme when you emphasize spiritual warfare, divine protection, or the unseen realm. You’re being biblical.

The invisible is not a distraction—it’s the battlefield. And the more we pretend it’s not there, the more vulnerable we become.

“Set your minds on things above.”“Deliver us from the evil one.”“We look to the things that are unseen.”“Keep them from the evil one.”

This is how Jesus taught us to pray, to think, and to live. So don’t apologize for taking the unseen realm seriously.