Volume 2  Issue 8  

New birth gives us an immediate awareness of our spiritual nature, but praying in the spirit we exercise spiritual authority over the spiritual elements of this world. 

The days we are living in demand for the church to be consistent in prayer for the sake of those souls who are blinded by spiritual influence of the god of this world.  Paul said, "But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost:  In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.   2 Cor 4:3-4  

·        Consistent daily prayer exercises spiritual authority over the 
spiritual dominion whose goal is to blind the minds of men.

Before man was created the heavens were occupied by a host of spiritual beings we call angels.  Mans estate was a little lower than these spiritual beings because of the restrictions and limitations of the flesh.  These spiritual beings were given order and authority by the God of Heaven.  Authority is always delegated or given by a greater authority.  God being the supreme or greatest authority gave Lucifer, whom He created a high rank or position of authority.  It was God who by his infinite wisdom created and designed this great host to be structured with authority and have a place of accountability.  We will give scriptures to support this later in this chapter.  One third of this host was cast to the earth when Lucifer rebelled and fell from heaven.  From this understanding we will discuss the concept of Spiritual Government.  Paul wrote to the church at Ephesus to tell them, “We wrestle not against flesh and blood…” and then gave them a description of rank and order in spiritual government or authorities that seek to influence mankind on the earth.  He stated each differently as principalities, powers, rulers of the darkness and spiritual wickedness in high places.  A study of the Greek root words for these terms Paul selected to teach this principle, define the various levels of influence or authority.  An interesting thing to note is that all authorities are subservient one to another.  In other words, there is order of authority within the structure of this spiritual government.  Scripture declares who these authorities are and where they came from.

            Luke 10:18  “I beheld Satan, as lightning fall from heaven.”

Rev. 12:4  “And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to the earth.”

These are the spiritual ruling authorities or powers in this world system. “…The god of this world.”  Here are a few other scriptures to support this statement.

Matt 4:8  “Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them;”

John 12:31  "Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out."

Paul warned us in his writing to the church at Corinth of participating in activities, which would actually cause us to be involved in spiritual interaction with these unclean and evil spirits.  He used the term, “fellowshipping devils”.

1 Cor 10:20-21  “But I say, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils, and not to God: and I would not that ye should have fellowship with devils.  21 Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord's Table, and of the table of devils.”

Lifestyle and activities that we have called “preservation of culture” is in truth fellowshipping the spirit of this world.  This spiritual interaction is the source of blindness that hinders people from believing the gospel.  These spirits of influence often work in harmony with our own fleshly lusts. 

Eph 2:2-3  "Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:  3 Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others."

Activities derived from spiritual inspiration serve to further promote and strengthen the influence of a spiritual dominion.  This continued spiritual influence blinds the minds of men.  Because the blindness is spiritual and not intellectual, the act to remove the blindness will need to be a work of the spirit, and not just an increase of knowledge and understanding about the problem.  Consistent daily intercessory prayer is the spiritual work that will make the difference.  We are all aware of the toll on our individual walk with  

God when we do not pray, but the greatest loss in the cause of Christ for his kingdom is the ongoing spiritual blindness of lost souls.  There is little hope of their deliverance until the body of Christ postures itself to exercise spiritual authority over this blinding influence through daily prayer.

Levels of Authority – In the book of Daniel, chapter ten we see levels of authority exercised by these spiritual beings we call angels.  Daniel began fasting and praying because he had a need from God.  Twenty-one days later an angel appears to him.  The angel speaks to Daniel in a vision and begins by telling him, “I am come for thy words” and “To thee am I now sent.”  This pattern is often repeated in scripture.  When the church prays, there is angelic activity and movement on our behalf.  The angel then explains the reason for his delay in coming.  He tells of an encounter of being withstood by the Prince of Persia for twenty-one days, before Michael a higher-ranking angel or spiritual authority, came and help him.  He was then released to come to Daniels aid.  Michael is also referred to here as a Prince (spiritual rank), which would be equal in rank to the Prince of Persia.  Authority is delegated, but prayer seems to be the overriding factor in God’s kingdom to bring assistance from the host of heaven to the church on earth.  I personally do not promote praying to angels, but rather praying to God and trusting him to command the heavens.  When the Apostle Peter was in prison the church prayed, then an angel appeared to Peter and led him out of the prison.  While the angel was present, the iron chains fell from Peter’s wrist and feet.  Gates that were locked tight just opened when the angel and Peter approached them.  This was interaction between the spiritual host and God’s church in the New Testament with the relating factor being that of prayer.  When the church prays, the angels of God take action.  This becomes increasingly important as we approach the end of harvest and the soon return of Christ for his bride.

Spiritual Government - Earthly governments are often a reflection of the spiritual authority or influence of a given region or nation of people.  What we have called national culture is a reflection of the spiritual influence they are under of the ruling dominion.  A major shift in the political scheme is evidence in a change of spiritual authority.  Sometimes a weakening of spiritual influence is seen in the breakdown of earthly government, (i.e. Fall of the Berlin Wall, breakup of the Soviet Union).  These spiritual powers have one goal in mind, TO BLIND THE MINDS OF MEN, so they won’t receive the gospel!  In prayer we interact with the Prince of Peace, who is the supreme authority in heaven, and in earth.

Col 2:9-10  "For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. 10 And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:"

Where do we the church come in?  What can we do as believers when the world’s population is under such great spiritual oppression resulting in blindness?

Mark 3:27  “No man can enter into a strong mans house, except he will first bind the strong man: and then he will spoil his house.

Jesus said; “Whatsoever you bind on earth is bound in heaven, and whatsoever you loose on earth…”

Jesus said; “Behold, I give unto you power (delegated authority) …over all the power of the enemy.”

Psalms 49:14  “…and the upright shall have dominion over them in the morning.

The opening of the understanding of men, or the releasing of them from blindness is a spiritual work that will come when the church exercises spiritual authority over the ruling dominions through daily consistent prayer.  When the strong man of the house is bound, the subservient ruling spiritual authorities will be loosed of their blinding influence over mankind.  The results will be an innumerable harvest of souls into the body of Christ.  This is what we have traditionally called, “Unprecedented Revival”.  Men and women everywhere will see clearly for the first time, the simplicity of the gospel and believe.  The devices of the enemy will be greatly exposed for all to see as deception and lies.

            Paul described elements of his calling in this way… Acts 26:18  "To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness (blindness) to light, and from the power (influence) of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me."

Conclusion:  Prayer postures me to exercise spiritual authority over the god of this world and loose the minds of men from blindness, so they can hear the gospel, believe, obey and be saved. 
  

Read about our upcoming trip to China here!