God has been teaching Vanessa and I about spiritual territories recently. He's been teaching us about their boundaries, their influences, and especially their gates. There are good and bad territories, and there are good and bad gates. These spiritual territories either belong to God as part of His Kingdom, or they belong to satan as an area of darkness.
These are not areas marked by physical boundaries or gates or fences. Instead, they are marked by rulers, authorities, and powers within this dark world and by spiritual forces in the next (Ephesians 6:12). Territories are either for or against Jesus--there is no middle ground. There is a constant battle at the gates--the Kingdom of Heaven versus the influences of hell.
"Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters." Matthew 12:30
As believers, we have been given spiritual authority to advance the Kingdom and push back darkness. We have been given power to pull down idols and spirits of idols. We have been given the keys to the Kingdom of Heaven. And we have been given the sword of the Spirit, which makes the enemy scatter and brings together the good. This is something Jesus referred to in Matthew 12:30 above. We have been given authority to prove God's cause and cast away anything that opposes it.
"And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect." Romans 12:12
We need to learn "that which is perfect". We need to bring this weapon of truth out into the world. God can work through us to pull down the gates. We can dismantle the manifestations of wickedness which were birthed in the heavenly realms (Ephesians 6:12 again), and prevent these things from continuing to have their way with the earth and it's people. With His Spirit and His power, we can cast down anything contrary to God. We can prepare the way for the Kingdom. We can make way for the Lord, and usher in an environment where He can set up His Kingdom.
As it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet: "A voice of one calling in the wilderness, 'Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.'" John 1:23
This is what John the baptist did, and this is what God wants us to do, each in their appointed way. Through our warfare we should be working through the territories of the enemy and bringing out from within us the Kingdom of God. We too can pave the way for the Lord. We too can push back the gates.
How do we do this? By words of faith and prayers in faith. It takes faith from God to see our words impact the spiritual world. It takes faith to move mountains, faith to move spiritual areas, and faith to remove ruling spirits. Faith is a gift that in itself gives us divine power.
"...for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses. We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God,.." 2 Corinthians 10:4-5
John by his words was speaking for the Holy Spirit. By his words, John the baptist was dismantling religious spirits and changing the spiritual climate in his area. He was fighting against the old way, against the established authorities, against anything that might set itself up against the true knowledge of God. The Light that he pointed towards destroyed hypocritical speculation and hardened hearts.
John himself was blessed by God to be used like He was. His life had such significance--it even served to forcefully advance the Kingdom. Through the spiritual fighting he did, even the darkness resisting Jesus suffered violence.
"From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven has suffered violence, and the violent take it by force" Matthew 11:12
God wants to give us faith, authority, and boldness. He wants to give us divine power. He wants to make us more like Jesus. How? By giving to our lives the fullness of God. By giving to our words some of the power present within His. He wants us to speak with His authority. He wants His glory to back us. He wants to gift to us attributes, character traits, thoughts, prayers and mindsets that make us more like His Son.
We should be full of the power and force of God. We need to reach our potential in Christ Jesus. When were are full of spiritual gifts and spiritual tools from Him, then and only then can we be truly impacting in the spiritual realm. Only when we are full of His Spirit can we speak with enough power to push back darkness and advance the Kingdom.
"How blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them; they will not be ashamed when they speak with their enemies in the gate." Psalm 127:5
These are not areas marked by physical boundaries or gates or fences. Instead, they are marked by rulers, authorities, and powers within this dark world and by spiritual forces in the next (Ephesians 6:12). Territories are either for or against Jesus--there is no middle ground. There is a constant battle at the gates--the Kingdom of Heaven versus the influences of hell.
"Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters." Matthew 12:30
As believers, we have been given spiritual authority to advance the Kingdom and push back darkness. We have been given power to pull down idols and spirits of idols. We have been given the keys to the Kingdom of Heaven. And we have been given the sword of the Spirit, which makes the enemy scatter and brings together the good. This is something Jesus referred to in Matthew 12:30 above. We have been given authority to prove God's cause and cast away anything that opposes it.
"And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect." Romans 12:12
We need to learn "that which is perfect". We need to bring this weapon of truth out into the world. God can work through us to pull down the gates. We can dismantle the manifestations of wickedness which were birthed in the heavenly realms (Ephesians 6:12 again), and prevent these things from continuing to have their way with the earth and it's people. With His Spirit and His power, we can cast down anything contrary to God. We can prepare the way for the Kingdom. We can make way for the Lord, and usher in an environment where He can set up His Kingdom.
As it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet: "A voice of one calling in the wilderness, 'Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.'" John 1:23
This is what John the baptist did, and this is what God wants us to do, each in their appointed way. Through our warfare we should be working through the territories of the enemy and bringing out from within us the Kingdom of God. We too can pave the way for the Lord. We too can push back the gates.
How do we do this? By words of faith and prayers in faith. It takes faith from God to see our words impact the spiritual world. It takes faith to move mountains, faith to move spiritual areas, and faith to remove ruling spirits. Faith is a gift that in itself gives us divine power.
"...for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses. We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God,.." 2 Corinthians 10:4-5
John by his words was speaking for the Holy Spirit. By his words, John the baptist was dismantling religious spirits and changing the spiritual climate in his area. He was fighting against the old way, against the established authorities, against anything that might set itself up against the true knowledge of God. The Light that he pointed towards destroyed hypocritical speculation and hardened hearts.
John himself was blessed by God to be used like He was. His life had such significance--it even served to forcefully advance the Kingdom. Through the spiritual fighting he did, even the darkness resisting Jesus suffered violence.
"From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven has suffered violence, and the violent take it by force" Matthew 11:12
God wants to give us faith, authority, and boldness. He wants to give us divine power. He wants to make us more like Jesus. How? By giving to our lives the fullness of God. By giving to our words some of the power present within His. He wants us to speak with His authority. He wants His glory to back us. He wants to gift to us attributes, character traits, thoughts, prayers and mindsets that make us more like His Son.
We should be full of the power and force of God. We need to reach our potential in Christ Jesus. When were are full of spiritual gifts and spiritual tools from Him, then and only then can we be truly impacting in the spiritual realm. Only when we are full of His Spirit can we speak with enough power to push back darkness and advance the Kingdom.
"How blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them; they will not be ashamed when they speak with their enemies in the gate." Psalm 127:5
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