God Says You Have All Authority

The bridal paradigm message is shouting out that each believer as the bride of Christ has an inheritance and where that authority through our inheritance begins.

God gave humans the ability to make choices. This is a great act of devotion towards the human race. God is looking for voluntary lovers and followers who will operate in the dominion that God has given them. Dominion simply means you have all authority. What power and glory was given to humanity! Our greatest source of power and authority rests on the shoulders of intercession.

First Century Authority and Power Has Not Changed

As the bride of Christ, we must embrace the spirit of intercession through Jesus, the Chief Intercessor. Jesus’ job description in heaven is that of the premier intercessor. It could be said that this is what Jesus lives for. Up to this point in history, the bride of Christ has seldom stepped into her role as an intercessor. As the bride of Christ, we need to know that all of our authority and protection rests on the shoulders of our intercession.  This is why God is raising up houses of prayer throughout the earth.

The first century church apostles ignited a devotion to prayer and the Word of God (see Acts 2:42; 6:4). If the church apostles spent a normal eight-hour day in ministry, they spent 4 hours per day in prayer. It is amazing that we currently see little authority and power over the Enemy. The difference between the Church of today and the early Church is one thing: prayer! Prayer was the fuel that catapulted Peter from the upper room to preaching so that 3000 people received salvation (see Acts 1:14; 2:41-42).

My Daughter-In-Law Julissa

Today we are less concerned about church leadership having a deep devotion to God’s word and intercession and more concerned that church leaders are organized, are counselors, and are individuals with soul-winning charm and personalities that draw people to the church.

Jesus Speaks of Night-and-Day Prayer

In Luke 18, Jesus provokes His disciples by challenging their traditions. He asks, “When the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on the earth?” (Luke 18:8). His question is a warning to Christians who would limit the power of God at the end of the age. Jesus is calling us to resist our powerless traditions; He is asking us individually, “Will I find faith in you?”

Jesus clearly states in Luke 18 that night-and-day prayer is the fuel that will drive His justice. Jesus deliberately equates “faith” with “night-and-day prayer.” To Jesus, they are inseparable. Jesus did not ask, “Will I find programs implemented? Will you be in board meetings? Will I find your doctrine correct?” What we believe is quite important, but it never rises above the spirit of intercession.

If we are going to step into the authority that we have been given then we can expect the supernatural move of God to be imparted on our behalf as we encounter night-and-day prayer and in particular when we do “not lose heart” (see Luke 18:1).

Jesus demonstrates the importance of our authority through intercession by giving a parable about a widow who petitioned a judge who had no respect for man, much less God (see Luke 18:1-8). Because she continued to cry out, the judge gave her the legal protection that was legally hers. God gives us legal right to wear Him out (see Luke 18:5). Jesus concluded by saying, And the Lord said, “Listen to what the unjust judge says. And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly (Luke 18:6-8).

I Must Have More of God

It is significant that Jesus compared His elect to a widow harassed by an Enemy. The widow has legitimate reasons to quit, but she prevails instead. She refuses to remove herself from her highest potential simply because of her lowly state. She makes no apologies for her lack of finances, wisdom, or charisma. Giving herself no reason to fail, she boldly states her case before the judge where she pleads for and receives what is hers: legal protection from her opponent.

Being Desperate Defines Your Authority.

How did a common widow gain such authority? We can imagine that there must have been a time when, under the relentless pressure of her adversary, she became desperate, and desperation worked to her advantage. Desperation is God’s mallet. It demolishes the stronghold of fear and shatters the chains of our excuses. When our desperation exceeds our fears, the kingdom of God advances.

Your desperation for God provides the legal protection that the widow pleaded for. You are the widow who has now received all power and authority to defeat the enemy of God. As we are relentless through intercession, we will see the justice of God released on our behalf into all the earth! As we persevere, let us keep praying and never settle for failure. For, this is what the bride of Christ does. She stays on the wall of intercession moving in her authority and prays for justice!

Focus Your Authority

Through the spirit of intercession and boldness, the church is beginning to take our position seriously as we stand against the enemy of God. The problem, historically, has been where we place our focus. We place our time, energy, and spiritual resources on the devil instead of on the majesty and beauty of God. You have to admire the admonition that James gives us.

Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you (James 4:7-8 NIV).

The first thing that we are commanded to do is to submit to God. Remember the word submit means to agree with God.

When, in the midst of spiritual warfare, there are 10 minutes devoted to Satan and 2 minutes given to declare who God is, this is not submitting to God. But, as you engage in the beauty of God, remember that He will, from time to time, prompt us to speak directly to the Enemy. But, this is not our focus and concentration.

All of our protection and authority rest on intercession and meditation as we draw near to God and focus on His nature and character.

Given Protection and Authority

When Christ died on the cross, heaven made a declaration of truth. The debt that we owed was canceled, and we were brought from death into life. Along with our sins being forgiven, this decree also declared and guaranteed protection for the bride of Christ. This eternal shield provides guaranteed protection from the enemy of God. What does this mean? This means that we not only have eternal protection from the enemy of God but we have complete and full authority over him.

When you were dead in your sins and in the un-circumcision of your flesh God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the written code, with its regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us; he took it away, nailing it to the cross. And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross (Colossians 2:13-15).

We, as believers and followers of God, stand on Jesus’ “ceiling.” The things that Jesus contended to bring from heaven to earth have become the foundation that we stand upon. Jesus’ death on the cross, and His ascension from the dead, have given us the ability to stand on His power and authority. We have been given ultimate authority to engage in spiritual warfare against the enemy of God. Our greatest and most powerful source of spiritual warfare is declaring God’s word of truth against all evil and ushering in God’s justice to the earth through intercession.

God Believes in You!

God gave Himself to you because He loves you and He desires you to partner with Him in recapturing the earth for His namesake. God has plenty to say about you. One of the greatest messages in all of scripture speaking of us as the bride to Jesus, is the bridal paradigm message from Song of Solomon 1:15. How beautiful you are, my darling! Oh, how beautiful! Your eyes are doves. (NIV).

Jesus declares that we have “dove eyes”. 

A fascinating aspect of doves is they are single-minded; a dove has no peripheral vision. It only sees straight ahead. It is not distracted by what is happening at its right or left. An additional aspect of doves is that they are very loyal. A dove will mate once in their life. If their mate dies, they never mate again. This speaks symbolically of loyalty. God claims this about you! To Him you are focused on Him and Him alone and you are loyal. Your commitment to Him as a voluntary lover is sealed. The revelation of being loved and beautiful to God is to see with dove’s eyes. God’s eternal message to each of us is that we are glorious and full of power to Him.

 

The Old Man and His Son

An old man and his beloved son lived together in a beautiful home. Their home was adorned with priceless paintings that would fetch millions of dollars. They hosted paintings from some of the most famous painters in history—Pablo Picasso, Vincent Van Gogh, Georgia O’Keefe, and many others. The man and his son had a great love for these paintings and they would sit around the house admiring these priceless works of art on a daily basis.

One spring day, the son was drafted by their nation’s military. While the father would miss his son, he was very proud of him. Early in December, the father received word from the military that his son had died serving his country. Additional words came that the Enemy had killed his son as he rescued men from the front line. His life was given for the lives of his comrades.

One day shortly before Christmas, as the father was sitting in the living room flanked by his priceless array of paintings, he began to weep. The father knew he would never again be with his son and they would never celebrate Christmas together again.

Later, there was a knock at the door. As the father opened the door, a tall slender young man stood at the doorway. The young man introduced himself as one of his son’s military friends. The father invited the young man in and noticed the young man carrying a rather large, wrapped package. As the father and the young man were enjoying a cup of tea, the visitor told the father that he was one of the survivors his son had given his life for.

The young man added, “As a matter a fact, your son saved multiple lives; his life was not given in vain. I brought this gift for you in remembrance of your son. I am a painter and a great lover of art, and your son shared that you both loved art.”

As the father opened the package, it revealed a stunning painting of his son’s face. The likeness was striking. The young man told the father that he was not the best painter, but that his son meant everything to him.

The father commented, “This painting is glorious, and I thank you from the bottom of my heart. This means everything to me, and I will display it with love and honor.”

As the father and the young man finished their time together, and after an emotional goodbye, the father placed the painting of his son in the most prominent place in the house. He removed the most valuable and famous of the paintings from above the fireplace and hung the painting of his son there instead. This was now his most prized painting.

Shortly after the first of the year, the father took ill and passed away. Art collectors from all over the world were eager because the man had no other heirs and these priceless works of art would now be auctioned off. Art dealers from around the world were ecstatic.

The day of the auction finally arrived, and the auction room was full of buzz. Finally these art collectors would have opportunity to bid on these fine works of art.

As the auction began, the auctioneer lifted up the first piece of art to be bid on. All of the art collectors realized that this was not one of the famous pieces.

Someone in the crowd shouted out, “What is this painting? What is this? This is not what we have come to bid on!”

The auctioneer moved out onto the auction floor and replied:

“Who will bid on this piece of art?”

There was no response.

The auctioneer repeated, “Who will bid on this piece of art?”

The auctioneer continued, “Who will give $100.00 for this piece of art?”

Still there was no response.

The auctioneer stated, “Who will give me $75.00?”

Still, there was no response.

The auctioneer was stunned but said, “Who will give me $50.00?”

The crowd was stirring with wonderment.

Then a shout from the crowd came, “Why this painting first?”

Finally someone in the crowd shouted out “I know who the subject of that painting is. That is the owner’s son who died in the war.”

All of the art collectors were stunned and remained silent for a few moments.

The man who recognized the painting shouted out, “I only have $10.00 for the painting, will you take that?”

The auctioneer shouted, “Will anyone go higher?” The auctioneer waited a moment before he said, “Going once. Going twice. Sold to this man for $10.00.”

Then the auctioneer calmly stated: “The auction is now over.”

Bellows could be heard throughout the auction hall.

“Hey! We did not come here to purchase some cheap painting!”

Others clamored: “There are millions of dollars of paintings yet to be auctioned! What do you mean the auction is now over?”

The auctioneer replied: “It’s simple. According to the father’s will, whoever who takes the portrait of the son gets it all!”

We Get It All

God believes in you so much that you get the entire kingdom because you are His beloved sons and daughters. You have received Jesus’ eternal sacrifice. He gave himself to you because He loves you and He desires you to partner with Him in recapturing the earth for His namesake! Our Father has placed you at His banqueting table. All of the gifts are resident at the banqueting table: all the anointing, power, and strength of heaven. There is hope, purpose for life, water that will never let you be thirsty again, and eternal food that will sustain you; in fact, the entire kingdom of God is resident at the table of God.

After hearing the bridal paradigm teaching multiple times, Kari, a leader at the Chico YWAM Discipleship Training School, said:

“Ken, each time I hear you teach Bridal Paradigm I am re-energized and reminded one more time that I am His beloved. But every time you begin to teach the banqueting table part of Bridal Paradigm I get a little confused.”

I replied, “What is it that is confusing?”

Kari said, “Well, all of your teaching is right from Scripture and it tells me that I am already holy, and that I am already and always will be at the banqueting table. Yet, you teach that we need to remember who we are, and if we forget who we are, we need to come back to the banqueting table.”

I responded, “Well, yes, that is true”.

Kari said, “No. That is not true.”

This of course provided me with a great moment to remember who I am. Kari was challenging the teacher!

I carefully said, “Kari, tell me how my teaching is not true concerning the banqueting table?”

Kari gently stated, “Well, if I am already holy, righteous, redeemed, a saint, and a new creation then I am always at the banqueting table. The new me, my new spirit, who you and the Scriptures say that I am, am always at the banqueting table. You need to remind people that they are already, and always will be, there! We just need to remember this truth!”

I said, “Wow! You are right. We are always there; we simply forget that we are there. It’s like when we sin: we simply forgot who we are and we need to remember that we are always His saints and that we are always at His table.”

So God gave the both of us fresh revelation on who we are and where we reside!

Scripture backs up the banqueting table reality:

For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ (Philippians 3:20 NKJV).

We are citizens of heaven: our home is now and forever in heaven. As a matter of fact, Scripture tells us that we are currently seated in heavenly places.

…and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus (Ephesians 2:6 NASB).

God Gives Tools

God does not give the church things; He gives the church His Son Jesus. God not only “gave’ His son to each of us but He has given tools to each of us so that we can discover fresh wisdom and revelation into His Son.

Do you know why the word of God is true? Because it is true! God cannot and does not lie! Titus speaks this truth:

…a faith and knowledge resting on the hope of eternal life, which God, who does not lie, promised before the beginning of time (Titus 1:2 NIV).

God makes eternal promises and there is nothing more profound than the promises of a God who never lies. You can trust every word that He has spoken.

       

When we become consumed with God, there is nothing more rewarding than meditating on Him. Meditation is by far one of the most important life principles we can ever learn. God’s Word is His true and eternal thoughts written on paper for our study and consideration. His Word is how He thinks about every situation and subject.

Do not be afraid of meditation because it sounds like it is part of the New Age movement. Satan is the great imposter. He has never created anything. He will introduce his own thoughts (which are all lies) and twist them from God’s original intent. Satan will not only twist what God is doing by perverting it (New Age meditation), but he will keep well-meaning believers from experiencing these powerful tools out of fear. Some believers are convinced that mediation is only an apparatus of the New Age movement.

God says to meditate on His word day and night so we will obey it (see Josh. 1:8 NIV). The psalmist says, his delight is in the Law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates day and night (see Ps. 1:2 NIV). Actually, the Bible mentions meditate or meditation 20 times. My encouragement and my exhortation to you is to not meditate on the word of God with the goal of finishing, but with the goal of being with Him! In other words, don’t feel like you have to finish a particular passage of Scripture during your meditation. If you find yourself completely absorbed in meditating on the first verse of a passage, and that is all you read, then you have accomplished your passionate goal of meeting with Him.

The Beauty of Meditation

Meditating on God’s word is an extremely valuable tool in your identity. We take on the attributes of the things we focus on. When we become consumed with God, there is nothing more rewarding than meditating on Him. I am intrigued with David’s thoughts as he meditated on God and penned this psalm:

The Lord is my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear? The Lord is the defense of my life; Whom shall I dread? When evildoers came upon me to devour my flesh, my adversaries and my enemies, they stumbled and fell. Though a host encamps against me, my heart will not fear; though wars arise against me, In spite of this I shall be confident (Psalm 27:1-3 NASB).

In verse one, David professes and agrees that God is his light and salvation. When he understands and agrees with this truth, he fears no one and nothing. When David does not remember who God is (his light and salvation) he then agrees with fear.

This really drives home the truth that God’s perfect love casts out all fear (see 1 John 4:18). Did you notice that His love casts out ALL fear! When you are experiencing fear, you are not experiencing His light. When you are not drawing your life from God, you are walking in the darkness. Darkness is simply the absence of light. When God is welcomed in and steps into the darkness, the darkness leaves, because the light of God is present and all fear is gone.

Next, David believes that God is the great defender of his life, and because of this reality he dreads no one. This means that Jesus defends David (and you) in the courtroom of all eternity. Lies from the Enemy are toothless.

In verse two, David comments that when we remember who God is, and who we are, our enemies will stumble and fall. In other words, darkness has no power when we remember who God is and who He says we are. In reality, darkness is a lie. Even when my enemies attempt to come back again and again, they are revealed by God’s light and they vanish. And with this reality my heart will not fear; I will be secure in God! One thing I have asked from the Lord, that I shall seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord and to meditate in His temple (Psalm 27:4 NASB). 

In Psalms 27:4 I am struck by what David did not say: “Lord there are ten really important items in my life, but you are the most important item in my life.” He actually stated that nothing else in his life mattered. Jesus, and Jesus alone, is my passion and my desire. He is my fascination. In other words, nothing else matters when I have Him, because in Him I have all things.

Supernatural revelation is released from God’s realm when we meditate on His very thoughts and intentions. An incredible obsession for the kingdom of heaven occurs when you meditate on the Beautiful One. This verse will be familiar to many of you, “But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you” (Matthew 6:33 NASB). As we meditate on Him, His presence will increase in our hearts. To behold God is to know God.

The Song of All Songs

I would like to encourage you to meditate on passages such as this:

Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth—for your love is more delightful than wine. Pleasing is the fragrance of your perfumes; your name is like perfume poured out. No wonder the maidens love you! Take me away with you—let us hurry! Let the king bring me into his chambers (Song of Solomon 1:2-4 NIV).

Song of Solomon illustrates the bride’s spiritual journey as she draws near to Jesus in intimacy and then runs in deep partnership with Him in ministry. She matures in these two realities as she experiences the intimacy of God’s word touching her heart. The paradox of our faith is that we are dark in our soul, yet we are lovely to God. God has the divine perspective of the finished bride, complete and holy. Both truths must be held in tension to understand who we are before God.

Some emphasize how sinful we are and others emphasize how beautiful we are. While we need to understand that we sin and forget who we are, the deeper revelation is that we are beautiful, powerful, and lovely to God. There is nothing we can do to make God love us more and there is nothing we can do to lose His love for us.

The bride has a desperate cry to have more of Jesus. She wants Him to personally feed her spirit.

Tell me, O You whom I love, where You feed your flock…For why should I be as one who veils herself by the flocks of Your companions? (Song of Solomon 1:7 NKJV).

Mike Bickle, director International House of Prayer in Kansas City, teaches that there are four reasons why God is passionate towards us, even in our weakness.

1. God’s personality is filled with tender and loving emotions for His people.

2. With the gift of righteousness, we also freely receive the beauty of Jesus’ righteousness.

For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him (2 Corinthians 5:21 NKJV).

3. The Spirit imparts a sincere and willing spirit of obedience that cries for God; it is not a fully mature obedience, but it is a very willing spirit of obedience.

You received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry, “Abba, Father” (Romans 8:15 NKJV).

4. We have an eternal destiny as Jesus’ Bride. God sees the end from the beginning. He sees us as the finished bride.

Let Me Illustrate

Kirk Bennett, from the International House of Prayer in Kansas City, Missouri, tells a beautiful story that affirms the power of meditating on God’s word.

After teaching about meditating on the word of God, a young gal (we will call her Mary) came up to Kirk. She was so excited about beginning her journey of mediating on God. Mary said that God had really ignited her heart towards mediation, and she was looking forward to the process.

About three weeks later, Kirk was walking in the halls, and he noticed Mary was walking briskly towards him. As she got closer and closer to him, she was beginning to bounce and dance. Mary was so filled with the Spirit. Mary’s smile was so contagious and her eyes were beaming with joy.

Kirk said, “Wow! What is going on with you?”

Mary began to tell Kirk that she had spent the last three weeks mediating on the word of God.

Kirk responded, “That’s awesome! What verses have you been meditating on?”

Mary said, “John 3:16!”

Kirk said, “That’s so cool. What part of John 3:16 have you been meditating on?”

Mary said with much exhilaration…”For God!”

Mary had spent three weeks on only two words from John 3:16, but she had found such deep revelation from God. The point is not to be in a rush. The goal of meditation is not to finish, but to be with the One who loves you. God has such divine revelation that He wants to give us and this revelation can even be found in only “two words” from Scripture. The truth is that we can be intimate with a beautiful and completely unfathomable God.

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Is There a Battle?

Remember, the kingdom of God is about agreement. We either are in agreement with lies or we are in agreement with truth and truth does set us free! But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh (Galatians 5:16 NASB).

According to Paul’s letter to the Galatians, we are called to walk by the Spirit (to remember who we are and who He is) and that will empower us to not carry out the desires of the flesh. I appreciate Paul reminding us to walk by the Spirit, because he reminds us of an additional reality in the next two verses: we are in a battle.

For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law (Galatians 5:17-18 NASB).

My Son Josh and His Wife Sara

The flesh is in direct opposition to the things of the Spirit, the things of God. Remember the flesh is simply looking for life but does not know where to find it. Since we are led by the Spirit (remembering who we are to Him), then we will find life in that truth and there is no law that can help find life. The Law was never given by God to help us to find life, but to reveal and convict us of sin. Paul then describes the way those living according the flesh conduct themselves:

Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God (Galatians 5:19-21 NASB).

Paul then tells us “those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God” (Gal. 5:21 NASB). Wow! Is Paul serious? Does this mean that when I forget who I am and I function in the things of the flesh, such as idolatry, strife, jealousy, and outbursts of anger, I will not inherit the kingdom of God? Can I lose my salvation each time I sin and conduct myself according to the flesh?

Paul is communicating an eternal reality. Each time you attempt to get life out of dead things such as disputes, envying, drunkenness, and things like these, you are currently not walking in the Spirit. You are currently forgetting who you are, and you are not enjoying the freedom that Christ has given you. You are choosing to get your worth, value, and acceptance from things and people instead of from God. You have not suddenly lost your salvation, but you are not presently walking in the fruit of the Spirit; thus, you are not presently inheriting the kingdom of God. Paul then goes on to remind us of the fruit of the Spirit. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires (Galatians 5:22-24 NASB)

Paul tells us, “Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires “ (Galatians 5:24 NIV). Since you have crucified the flesh, and since at one moment in time you were co-crucified with Christ (see Rom. 6:6), this makes you a saint who walks by the Spirit. The fruit of the Spirit is what you were destined for. It makes sense that someone as awesome as you are (because of Jesus) would experience the fruit of the Spirit such as love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, and all of the fruit of the kingdom.

The efforts of the flesh, simply speaking, can never give you life, because they are dead. Conversely the fruit of the Spirit is an outgrowth of God reminding you that you are His.

Carefully consider Romans 8:14: “For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God” (NASB). Paul is telling us that we are sons of God because we have been completely redeemed by God. Those that have been redeemed by God flow in the fruit of the Spirit. So keep remembering that you are His kid!

Where is the Gettysburg? Where is the battlefield? The battlefield is in the soul realm. The mind is the battlefield: the place where our fight is won or lost. The mind is the gateway to heaven and truth; and, it can also be the gateway to hell or lies.

Strongholds

Strongholds park themselves in the soul realm. Spiritually speaking, Paul defines strongholds as an “argument or high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God” (1 Cor. 10:5 NKJV).

Note in the previous illustration that strongholds are not destroyed by outward changes. In other words, simply changing your actions or mustering a self-generated change of actions is nothing more than self-effort or your own works. This will have no eternal effect and transformation will not occur. God always works from the inside out. The tearing down of strongholds occurs when our spirit, the brand-new creation that God has established in you, releases victory into your soul.

A stronghold is a point of operation from where Satan can keep a believer or unbeliever captive or incapacitated. A stronghold is a habitual sin or area of your life that seems to be caught in a cycle of ungodliness. Strongholds introduce shame, especially in someone who does not experience God’s power to overcome the stronghold. Whether physical, emotional, psychological, or spiritual in origin, strongholds are real and dominate individuals. Strongholds are established on lies and they are strengthened solely by deception.

Signs of Strongholds

Compulsions, obsessions, fears, lusts, jealousies, violent tempers, and uncontrolled appetites of all kinds are often signs of a stronghold that is either being built or is firmly established in the soul. In most cases, the individual will recognize that something is out of control, but he or she will almost always say, “I’ve tried to control or stop that, but I can’t seem to get on top of it.”

Striking Down Strongholds

Your greatest weapons against the strongholds in your soul are intercessory worship, fasting, and exposing them to the truth! Let’s take a look at an episode in the life of King Jehoshaphat, King of Israel.

After this, the Moabites and Ammonites with some of the Meunites came to wage war against Jehoshaphat. Some people came and told Jehoshaphat, “A vast army is coming against you from Edom, from the other side of the Dead Sea. It is already in Hazezon Tamar” (that is, En Gedi) (2 Chronicles 20:1-2 NIV).

What did Jehoshaphat do? Like any of us, “Jehoshaphat feared” (2 Chron. 20:3 NKJV). But, his fear motivated him to seek the Lord, and he proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah. So Judah gathered together to ask help from the Lord; and from all the cities of Judah they came to fast, worship, intercede, and proclaim the truth.

When we read Jehoshaphat’s prayer, it ends with these words, “We have no power against this great multitude that is coming against us; nor do we know what to do, but our eyes are upon You” (2 Chron. 20:12 NKJV). Their eyes were solely on God, and they knew that there was nothing that they could do to defeat their enemies. I am convinced that God heard their cry as they interceded, worshipped, and proclaimed the theme and truth “Give thanks to the LORD, for his love endures forever” (2 Chron. 20:21 NIV).

God sent Jahaziel, a prophet to King Jehoshaphat, to assure him of the Lord’s help. Listen, all you of Judah and you inhabitants of Jerusalem, and you, King Jehoshaphat! Thus says the Lord to you, “Do not be afraid nor dismayed because of this vast armies, for the battle is not yours, but God’s (2 Chronicles 20:15 NKJV).

And then Jahaziel said:

You will not need to fight in this battle. Position yourselves, stand still and see the salvation of the Lord, who is with you, O Judah and Jerusalem! Do not fear or be dismayed; tomorrow go out against them, for the Lord is with you (2 Chronicles 20:17 NKJV).

The King and the people were singing and praising before they won the victory! They knew that their God was greater than their enemy! They accepted the reality that their God was mighty and they stood on the truth that Jahaziel proclaimed to them: the battle was not theirs, but it was God’s.

Then, we read how the enemies turned on each other and destroyed each other. King Jehoshaphat and his army did not have to lift a physical sword! The result? The fear of God was on all the kingdoms of those countries when they heard that the Lord had fought against the enemies of Israel (2 Chronicles 20:29 NKJV).

Note what happened next, “Then the realm of Jehoshaphat was quiet, for his God gave him rest all around” (2 Chronicles 20:30 NKJV). God can deliver us from strongholds and give us peace and spiritual rest.

It’s Time to Ask God for Help!

I know that certain strongholds have haunted you for many years. It is now time to ask your God for help and agree with Him and His truth. It is okay if you are afraid (just like Jehoshaphat). As you begin to pray and ask Him for help, as you worship him and pronounce his truth, as you mediate on His attributes, and as you fast, He will deliver you. Deliverance is His very nature.

Remember this battle is not yours but God’s. He is simply asking you to cooperate with Him by remembering that you have the breastplate of righteousness (see Eph. 6:14) and that you are guarded on all sides with truth! You will begin to experience your faith. You will see God work in you and on your behalf. God will destroy the strongholds in your soul. It is time to stop being tormented by the flaming arrows of the Enemy. 

Paul reminds us in Ephesians 6:14-16 to “Stand firm” which means remembering to stand on the truth of God and what He has promised. Next it says, “having girded…having put on…having shod” (NKJV) The truths you stand on are already true about you. Paul is simply exhorting you to remember that you already have the victory. Finally, Paul tells you to “take up the shield of faith with which you will be able to stand” (NKJV). This is God’s promise. God will be able to deliver you from the strongholds in your soul realm! This means you are victorious!

Stand firm therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one (Ephesians 6:14-16 NASB).

Rising Above The Clouds

My good friends, Eddie and Chara Boasso, live in Kansas City, Missouri. Eddie is a part of the senior leadership at The International House of Prayer in Kansas City. He agrees that the battle is between truth and lies and shared a powerful story about the battle we are in at a conference we hosted at The Prayer House in Chico, California.

Eddie and Chara were leaving Kansas City International Airport. It was extremely rainy, and the sky was full of dark clouds and it looked very gloomy everywhere. As they boarded the plane, Eddie was beginning to feel the strain and oppression of the shadowy skies. As the plane began to take off, Eddie was discerning that the dark skies were a reflection of a heavy spiritual darkness over the city. He began to pray and ask for God’s help.

Just as Eddie began to pray for help and proclaim God’s goodness over Kansas City, the plane broke through the dark clouds. Instantly, there were clear blue skies as far as the eye could see. The sun was shining with crystal clarity and the turbulence that the plane was experiencing because of the storm clouds was gone. Eddie shared that God gave him great revelation at that moment. “It dawned on me that the sun was always shinning bright and sending forth it’s warmth.”

He added, “I had simply forgotten that the sun was always shinning. I was consumed with the misrepresentation the clouds were bringing. I was only looking at the natural and not gazing on the supernatural truth that the sun was always shinning.”

When we are focused on what we can see in the natural realm, we will succumb to lies and experience the depression and ravage of them. But, when our gaze is fixed on the always-shinning light of heaven, we will walk in the truth and experience the boldness and the strength of the light. So remember, the Son of God is always shinning. And therefore, so are you!

How Do You Remain in Me?

My spiritual daughter, Kari Adams, shared something with me once that has stuck with me. It may help you to remember who you are while in the process of God destroying strongholds and renewing your mind.

"How do you remain in me? By making yourself constantly aware of who I am and who you are in me. I am God. You are my kid. I am grace. You are full of my grace. I am your provider. You are my heir. I am sovereign. You are made righteous in my sight. I am Holy. You are blameless. I am love. You are loved. Stay in the truth. Never limit your perspective to yourself, but find yourself in me".

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