A word from God has come forth: now is the time where His children may have to put on the armor and stand against what the enemy is trying to bring into this world. We need to look to the Word of God and see what He says about the armor of God and standing against the enemy and if we should use this to attack principalities. Paul wrote a letter to Christians in Ephesus explaining a few foundational principles and the need for the spiritual armor and what we must stand against in our lives as children of God.
We need to keep the
instructions about the armor of God and “standing” in the proper context of the
letter to the new believers so here is a brief summary about the prior
chapters.
The
Letter to Ephesians
Chapter 1
opening of Paul’s
letters serves to reinforce a basic teaching to those who will receive this
letter. The newly converted Gentiles are that in and through Christ, they have
received:
- all spiritual blessings -
everything we need to be spiritually holy and righteous unto God in love
(v 3 -4)
- adoption as children of God
and granted us forgiveness of sins through the blood (v 5-7)
- wisdom and good judgment and
revealed His mysteries to us (v 8-9)
- an inheritance in Heaven to
the glory of God (v 10-12)
- have been sealed (stamp of
promise) as we have received the Holy Spirit who is the sign of the full
promise to come (v 13-14)
After reminding them
of the benefits of accepting Jesus as Lord after hearing the Gospel, the
Apostle Paul includes a copy of the prayer he prays for them. This is a
powerful prayer for wisdom that makes a great daily prayer for every Christian!
(Ephesians 1 17 - 23)
Chapter 2
There are no chapter
breaks in the original letter. It was one very long message! The next part of
the letter addresses the difference between Gentiles and Israel. Gentiles were
those without access to God. They are under the rule and power of Satan: the prince
of the air (the spirit realm surrounding the earth) and destined to the wrath
of God. (v 1-3)
However, the
sacrifice of Christ has made Gentiles and God’s people one new man. This is the
righteousness with God that is accomplished through faith in Jesus as the Son
of God by the grace of God. It is so that by the Holy Spirit that we can have
access to God because we are the temple of God in which the Holy Spirit can
reside. (v 4-22)
Chapter 3
Paul continues to
speak about the Gentiles being equal with the Jewish brethren. It is
interesting that he mentions that only now is this mystery (revelation,
insight) being revealed to the apostles and prophets: proof that God still uses
prophets. (v 1-9) God continually brings revelation about His plans, if we will
listen.
It is in this chapter
that principalities and powers in heavenly places is first mentioned:
(I.) To the intent (II.) that now (III.)
unto the principalities (IV.) and (V.) powers (VI.) in
(VII.) heavenly places (VIII.) might be known (IX.) by (X)
the church (XI.) the manifold (XII.) wisdom of (XIII.) God
(Ephesians 3:10 KJV)
Here is what the Holy
Spirit brought me about the way the original Greek words should be translated:
(I.) In order that (II.) at this present time (III.)
dominion (IV.) and (V.) the power of judicial decisions (VI.) among (VII.)
things taking place in Heaven (VIII.) will be known (IX.) through (X.) the
church: (XI.) The manifold (XII.) wisdom of (XIII.) God evinced in the forming
and executing of His counsels.
Each Roman numeral
indicates a word and an alternate definition according to Strong’s Concordance.
Translated this way, it flows seamlessly into the next paragraph:
This is in accordance with [the terms of] the eternal
purpose which He carried out in Christ Jesus our Lord, in whom we have boldness
and confident access through faith in Him [that is, our faith gives us
sufficient courage to freely and openly approach God through Christ].
(Ephesians 3:11-12 APMC)
This states that the
eternal purpose of what Jesus did was to give us access to the throne of God
where judgments are rendered. The body of Christ has failed to take full
advantage of this access. The full correlation of the Greek words can be found
in the free book “Destroying Curses in the Courts of Heaven” in the index.
After this statement,
Paul goes on to ask that they be strengthened in the inner man and to be rooted
and grounded in love. (v 13-17) As well as to fully understand the love of the
Lord so that we can do more than we ever thought possible. (v 18-21)
Chapter 4
Up to this point,
Paul has given much encouragement, but this chapter takes a turn toward
correction. This is the second time he begins a chapter by reminding them that
he is a prisoner, as part of his job for the Lord. It is important to remember
that being a Christian does not mean we will not suffer. However, if we have a
relationship with the Lord we should know what He will expect of us, just as
both Peter and Paul knew when the hour of their death was close.
After the brief
reminder of the sacrifice he is making, Paul reminds Christians that we must
all choose to walk in the fruits of the Spirit: humility, long suffering and
love because we are united as one in Christ. (v 1-6) The official list of
offices are given (apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers) with
the reminder that each part of the body is important because we are to work
together to build one another up so that we may reach full maturity in God. (v
7-15)
This chapter closes
with a reminder of what it means to walk in love: urging us to deal honestly
with one another and let go of any anger so Satan will not be able to attack
us. (v 26-27) An important list of items that grieve the Holy Spirit is also
given:
Let all bitterness and indignation and wrath (passion,
rage, bad temper) and resentment (anger, animosity) and quarreling (brawling,
clamor, contention) and slander (evil-speaking, abusive or blasphemous
language) be banished from you, with all malice (spite, ill will, or baseness
of any kind). (v 31 AMPC)
If we continue to
grieve the Holy Spirit, He may withdraw and His voice may be quieted in our
lives. The Holy Spirit flows through us when we (v 32 AMPC):
- are useful and helpful and
kind to one another
- tenderhearted
(compassionate, understanding, loving-hearted)
- forgiving one another
[readily and freely], as God in Christ forgave us.
Chapter 5
Paul continues to
encourage Christians to walk in love and give up certain behaviors (v 1-4 AMPC)
- immorality (sexual vice)
- impurity of lustful, rich,
wasteful living
- greediness
- filthiness (obscenity,
indecency)
- foolish and sinful (silly
and corrupt) talk
- coarse jesting
To be a “saint” of
God we should remove these from our life and instead voice your thankfulness to
God.
Two of these items
are listed as idolatry (v 5):
- sexual vice or impurity in
thought or in life
- covetousness [who has
lustful desire for the property of others and is greedy for gain]
Anyone who continues
to habitually do these will see God’s wrath, missing the rapture. A one time
sin is not what Paul is talking about, but a habit of doing any of these is not
good! We are not to “delude” or fool ourselves into thinking we can continue on
acting this way. We should not continue to associate with those encouraging
these behaviors, or continuing in them. (v 6-7)
God does tell us what we should be doing. Each child of God should look carefully then at how we walk (v 15-21 AMPC):
- live purposefully and worthily and accurately
- making the very most of the time [buying up each opportunity]
- understanding and firmly grasping what the will of the Lord is
- do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery
- but ever be filled and stimulated with the [Holy] Spirit.
- speak out to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs
- making melody with all your heart to the Lord
- giving thanks in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God the Father
Some final instructions are given about submitting to
authority (v 22-33 AMPC):
- wives to husband (within the family unit)
- husband to wives (giving to them as Christ gave to the Church)
Chapter 6
The list of
submitting to authority continues with (v 1-9):
- children to parents
- fathers not provoking children to wrath
- slaves to masters (employees
to your boss)
- even when they are not looking at you
- masters to the Lord
(bosses and business owners to the Lord)
Submitting to those
over you can only be done with the help of the Lord for Paul encourages
believers to “be strong in the Lord,” after giving this list. (v 10) We are to
“put on the whole armor of God to withstand the “strategies and deceits” of the
devil. (v 11) It doesn’t say put on the armor to attack, only to stand against
what may be brought against us.
For our wrestling is not against flesh and blood, but
against the principalities, against the powers, against the world-rulers of
this darkness, against the spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly
places. (v 12)
In other words, our
fight isn’t with man, but it is a spiritual battle. This statement comes with a
second reminder:
Wherefore take up the whole armor of God, that ye may
be able to withstand in the evil day, and, having done all, to stand. (v 13
AKJV)
If we were supposed
to attack, then it would have told us to attack, not to stand. As a Pharisee
Paul knew what the Old Testament says:
The heaven, even the heavens, are the LORD's: but the
earth has he given to the children of men. (Psalms 115:16 AKJV)
Or do you think that I cannot now pray to My Father,
and He will provide Me with more than twelve legions of angels? (Matthew 26:53
AKJV)
It is not our place
to attack those who reside in Heaven: Principalities, powers, spiritual hosts
in heavenly places. Even the Lord had to call upon His Father when He was here
on the Earth as a man. Paul knew this which is why he didn’t tell them to attack,
only to stand. We are not to fear, though because our Lord has equipped us
well. Let’s look at each piece of spiritual armor (v 14-17):
Belt of Truth: to keep our walk
protected, we must tighten this around us. In order to come before the Father,
we must have our belt in place:
Jesus said to him, I am the way, the truth, and the
life: no man comes to the Father, but by me. (John 14:6 AKJV)
Our Lord is the
truth. We must walk with Him in order to come before God and to stay on the
right path. This letter speaks of one particular truth:
In whom you also trusted, after that you heard the
word of truth, the gospel of your salvation (Ephesians 1:13 AKJV)
The Gospel is the
message of Jesus through which we obtain salvation. This is the very first item
that must be in place. If you do not know Jesus as your Lord through the
Gospel, then you are not equipped for this battle.
Breastplate of
Righteousness: Our right standing
with God comes from Jesus. It will keep us humble when we are firmly aware of
this fact so that our heart is protected from pride.
Pride goes before destruction, and an haughty spirit
before a fall. (Proverbs 16:18 AKJV)
This letter speaks
specifically about being equipped with righteousness:
That you put off concerning the former
conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful
lusts; And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; And that you put on the new
man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness. (Ephesians
4:22-24)
We must “put on” the
new person we have become in the Lord. Strapping on a breastplate takes effort.
King Solomon taught about this:
Keep your heart with all diligence; for out of it are
the issues of life. Put away from you a fraudulent mouth, and perverse lips put
far from you. (Proverbs 4:23-24 AKJV)
Our words can poison
our hearts. We need to put away even speaking in the defiled way we used to, in
order to keep the breastplate of righteousness in place.
Shoes of the Gospel
of Peace: The “gospel” is
the message that we are no longer estranged from God, but adopted as sons and
daughters through the sacrifice of Jesus. It is through Him that we have peace.
And that He might reconcile both to God in one body by
the cross, having slain the enmity thereby: And came and preached peace to
you which were afar off, and to them that were near. For through Him we both
have access by one Spirit to the Father. (Ephesians 2:16-18 AKJV)
Jesus is our peace,
it is through Him that we have access by the Spirit to God. We must walk with
Jesus in order to remain at peace.
Shield of Faith: We are told to
“lift up” this shield “upon which you can quench all the flaming missiles of
the wicked one.” In the Word of God, projectiles are words. These are accusations
of Satan against us. Paul mentioned faith before when he spoke of
principalities:
In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by
the faith of him… (Ephesians 3:12 AKJV)
A shield is a
defense, we can defend ourselves in the Courts of Heaven because of what Jesus
has done. Our access to the Throne of God is through Him! Knowing that we have
access to God as Judge over Heaven and Earth to defend against the accusations
of the enemy is a powerful defense.
Helmet of
Salvation: We
are saved through Jesus.
In whom you also trusted, after that you heard the
word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that you
believed, you were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise… (Ephesians 1:13
AKJV)
A helmet sits on your
head. What the Lord has done for us must always be a part of our thinking. It
cannot be only on Sunday that we consider the fact that we are sworn to Jesus
as Lord, ruler of our life. We must subject every thought, every idea, to the
Word of God.
For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but
mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds: Casting down
imaginations, and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of
God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ… (2
Corinthians 10:4-5 AKJV)
The real battle isn’t
with what exists in this world (carnal) but what is happening in the spirit.
There are spiritual strongholds that need to be removed or prevented from
developing by “placing” the helmet of salvation on our heads.
Sword of the Spirit
which is the Word of God: Jesus is the Word, He is our defender. This letter
speaks of the Word and Spirit in another scripture:
Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved
the church, and gave himself for it; That he might sanctify and cleanse it with
the washing of water by the word, That he might present it to
himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but
that it should be holy and without blemish… (Ephesians 5:25-27)
The Holy Spirit is
often referred to as “water” when speaking about Christians (John 7:38).
Physical water cannot clean or sanctify us, but the Holy Spirit can. He does
this by revelation in the Word of God. The point of the Word is to reveal sin
which keeps us from deeper fellowship with our Heavenly Father.
Though we have a
sword, this verse doesn’t tell us to attack the enemy with it, but to rely upon
the Word. There is another place where the Word of God is a sword.
For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and
sharper than any two edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul
and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts
and intents of the heart. (Hebrews 4:12 AKJV)
The Word of God will
tell us what is right and wrong and will reveal anything that we need to be
separated from so that the attacks of the enemy can be removed. A few verses
later we see that this is indeed the purpose of the sword of the Spirit:
Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace,
that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. (Hebrews 4:16
AKJV)
If we were not under
an attack, we would not need help. We must be equipped with the Word of God
when we approach His throne. When Job was suffering, he stated:
Behold now, I have prepared my case; I know that I
shall be justified and vindicated. (Job 13:18 AMPC)
Through Jesus we have
access to the throne of God where we can remove the fiery darts of the enemy
with the shield of faith. Nevertheless we must know the Word of God and be
ready to let it remove any sin that may be allowing Satan to attack us.
After having all of
these items in place, then we are told what to do:
with all prayer and supplication praying at all
seasons in the Spirit, and watching thereunto in all perseverance and
supplication for all the saints… (v 18)
When the Holy Spirit
prays through us, then God is speaking. If the saints (those devoted to God)
are strengthened, then God can move more through them. This is the way we
combat principalities, powers and wickedness in Heavenly places.
The armor of God
contains all that the Lord has done for us. It enables us to approach the
throne of grace and receive mercy. Not because we deserve it, but because our
Lord paid the entry fee for us. We must equip ourselves in the armor in order
to be able to stand against the wiles of the enemy.
Our Position in
Heaven
…and raised us up together, and made us sit together
in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus. (Ephesians 2:6)
This verse is quoted
and a huge leap is taken when we say that because we are seated with Him, that
we have the same authority He has. Then many people take it even further
claiming that since we are seated in Heavenly places we have the right to
command things in Heaven.
Nowhere in the Bible
does it say anything about us having ALL the authority Jesus has, and there are
zero examples from the Bible of people commanding things in the Heavens. We
only have what our Lord gives us, what is stated in the Bible, and what He did
on this Earth. You must keep reading to find out what this verse is speaking
of:
That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding
riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. For by
grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of
God... (Ephesians 2:7-8)
The position we hold
in Christ isn’t that we have all the authority that He has. It is saying that
God’s grace is being displayed in our right standing in Heaven by what Jesus
did! To add to that verse and say we have the same and equal authority He has,
is very presumptuous. Think about it:
If the millions of Christians on this planet could
actually see what all the demons, principalities, and dominions were doing in
the heavens, would we really know what to do with them? If everyone tried to
bind and loose them, there would be total chaos.
Likewise with God’s armies and powers. They belong to
God so why would we think we know better than Him how and when to command them.
Would we know if they already had another assignment? We would create so much
chaos in the spirit realm. Our authority is here on the planet earth. We must
remember that, and stop trying to tamper with the spirit realm.
Many people pair the
previous verse with this one:
For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but
against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of
this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. (Ephesians 6:12)
They claim that this
is proof that we occupy the same position with God as Jesus does, so we need to
take authority over things in the heavens. We must first understand what a
principality is and how it is appointed. Then, when we put this into context,
our authority will be clear.
In Jeremiah, Chapter
17, we see that God sets rulers in place according to the hearts of men in a
region. If the majority of men are evil, it is an evil ruler. If men are
looking toward God, then a good ruler is in place. The word “principality” is
from the Greek word archē, meaning rule or magistracy. Paul is
making it very clear that there is a hierarchy in the “high places” or heavens
by listing the order of the armies, and he shows us what to do about it.
The chapter before
this in Ephesians (and all five verses prior to this one) talk about submitting
to those in authority over us on this earth. There is nothing that speaks of us
attacking anything. Quite the opposite. It says to walk in love, knowing that
our battle isn’t with flesh and blood. If we keep reading in Ephesians, it will
tell us what we can do against things in the heavens.
Combatting
Principalities
First, Paul, who is
writing to God’s people, tells us to put on the armor of God and not to attack,
but to STAND. A couple of verses later, we are told what to do while we stand:
Pray at all times (on every occasion, in every season)
in the Spirit, with all [manner of] prayer and entreaty. To that end keep alert
and watch with strong purpose and perseverance, interceding on behalf of all
the saints (God’s consecrated people). (Ephesians 6:18)
Praying in the Spirit
is when we give the Holy Spirit, who is God, permission to pray through our
mouths in a heavenly language we do not understand. We are not attacking, but
God may be doing whatever He sees fit through us! Interceding for the saints
means to pray for God’s people to be strengthened, against the principality who
may be assaulting the area in which they reside. When we do our job for the
kingdom then the hearts of men will be changed. When the majority of the hearts
in a given area are good, then God will appoint a new principality.
Where is there an example
in the Bible of a man taking authority over things in the heavens? Did Jesus
ever do it when He was acting as a man on this Earth. Did the disciples? The
Bible says no such thing! If the disciples could have prayed and dispersed the
evil powers controlling Israel, wouldn’t they have done that when they were
being crucified? Yet nowhere in the New Testament is there an example of them
attacking principalities, pulling down strongholds in Heaven or loosing the
hosts of heaven to come and battle on their behalf.
Some are claiming we
can move against principalities because the “legion” of demons inside the man
which Jesus cast out into the pigs (Matthew 8) would constitute a principality
because it was a military unit. We need to stick to the facts stated in the
Bible instead of presuming things:
- The Legion was in a man—we
have authority to cast out what is inside someone
- “Principalities, powers and
spiritual wickedness in High Places” The High Places are in the heavens,
so principalities are in the heavens.
We cannot mix the two
things together. These spirits were inside a man who was on Earth, so it wasn’t
a principality. We cannot attack what is Heaven, but when the Holy Spirit tells
us to, we can cast out what is touching someone on this earth.
Unauthorized
authority is wrong wherever it is done:
- by individuals
- in group prayer meetings
- in prayer marches around
cities
Any time we come
against a spirit over a territory, a city, or a country, we are attacking
something that resides in the heavens. If you joined in by saying “amen,” you
will be held accountable. Some examples of principalities we attack are:
- the spirit of abortion
- spirit of violence
- spirit of adultery
- spirit of witchcraft
If you have been
involved in any of these things, you are guilty of unauthorized authority. You
will need to confess that you overstepped your bounds, plead the blood over the
sin, and ask God to remove the attack of the enemy.
The Holy Spirit
brought a revelation about a consequence of unauthorized authority in the
Courts of Heaven in a miraculous way. Here’s what happened:
After entering the Courts of Heaven, we asked that the
accuser step forth and state the charges. There were a plethora of charges…
more than twenty-five. The petitioner, let’s call her Jill, has been an intercessor
for many years. she said, “I believe I know where a section of these charges
are coming from… they are exactly what I have been interceding for.”
I replied, “These charges are against you… I’ve never
heard of charges being stated against someone else when you come before the
Courts. Is there any way that these could apply to your ancestors?”
As Jill thought, the Holy Spirit spoke to me so I
asked, “Have you ever come against principalities or powers in heavenly
places.”
Jill admitted, “I did, then the Lord stopped me from
doing it. I didn’t know why until I read your book, ‘Destroying Curses in the
Courts of Heaven.’”
“Did you repent for your actions and plead the blood?”
I asked.
“No,” she said.
“This is what the Holy Spirit is saying,” I told her:
“When you tried to take authority in the heavens that you didn’t have, Satan
was allowed a counter attack. He placed upon you the charges you were praying
against for other people. If you are ready, you can confess that you were wrong
and plead the blood over them in the Court today.”
After Jill did this, I asked that all the cases
connected to this sin be dismissed. Jill felt a wave of the Holy Spirit wash
over her and tingled from head to toe for the remainder of the call! Praise God
for the witness that we had heard and acted according to His instructions!
If you have ever
taken authority over principalities or powers in heavenly places, stand firm in
the knowledge you now have that this is wrong. You have to know what is against
you, but not the exact specific situation, just that you have done this type of
action and it was wrong. When you confess the sin (see this the way God does
according to His word), and plead the blood over it. You can then have the
cases overturned, even if you don’t know exactly when and where you did these
things!
Messages from God
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Believers' Boot Camp series
Many people think of boot camp as a place you train for combat. Any veteran will tell you that basic training is about three things:
- Knowing what weapons are available
- Learning how to use those weapons
- Receiving orders and following them
Volume 1: Why Doesn't God Speak to Me?
Eager hearts cry out, hoping for a single word to confirm that He hears us. Yet, many times the only sound is silence. Over the years I have heard several reasons why God speaks to some and not to others. One night, as I tossed and turned, I brought each of these reasons before the Lord, stating why each of them did not line up with who I thought He was.
Words rose from my soul, pleading for Him to reveal why He has remained silent when a single word from Him would mean so much to so many. For the next few hours, God used things I learned about years ago and things I had just discovered to show why He talks to some and why He doesn’t, and in demonstrative ways.
In His grace, He also showed me how people could hear more from Him. Basic instructions on how to hear more from God and how to be led by Him are included in this book. Thank you for taking time to consider the answers I received and share with you now.
Keys to Authority for Every Believer
There is untapped power that is easy for every Christian to access in the form of authority. The keys to this authority will unlock weapons we can use to free ourselves from the attacks of the enemy. We must be intimately aware of the bounds and limitations of our weapon if they are to be used effectively.
Find out about your authority:- Why you need it.
- Where it comes from.
- What you can do with it.
- How to get more.

- Why you need it.
- Where it comes from.
- What you can do with it.
- How to get more.
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