By Steve Lyston
Ephesians 6: 12-13 reminds us, “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore, take up the whole armour of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.”
This Scripture alone shows us that spiritual warfare is real and there are spirits that control territories – territorial spirits. Being ignorant of these principalities gives the enemy an advantage over us.
The Bible tells us that we must withstand. Withstand means “to stand vigorously opposing, resisting, or standing face-to-face against an adversary; to hold out against and stand your ground; to offer strong resistance against.”
Spiritual Struggle
One of the Church’s greatest demands is to discern between spiritual struggle and other personal, social and/or political differences. We must not waste time wrestling with the human adversary; we must instead employ our spiritual resources to deal with evil and to break cycles. Spiritual resources are the Word of God, the Blood of Jesus, prayer, worship, praise, praying in tongues, tithing, and sowing seed.
Fallen Angels
When we look at our nation and see high levels of crime, violence, and corruption, they are the result of the principalities over the regions. These principalities are not demons, but they are fallen angels. They are the ones influencing the various sectors of society, and that gets them the authority and power to carry out their mandates and motives. Whoever rules the territories, will control the doors and the keys, which will only open to those who are in covenant with them. That means it will become harder to find good leaders and managers. It means that there will be a fight against those people God wants to put in place to bring the right results for all. These fallen angels are there to oppose God’s work and bring evil to nations. They oppose God’s servants, as is seen in the Book of Daniel. Daniel had to fast for 21 days in order to get a breakthrough.
Many are struggling for a breakthrough today, and many want to give up. What it means is that you are up against principalities and powers that want to stop your advancement. Remember, the fallen angels only want to come in agreement with those who work for them, or can facilitate their plans and agenda. Remember, they do not want any resistance; they want to operate freely in a region. They operate from the second heaven. We must arise and fight with the angels God has given us to deal with them, if we want to see change come.
Shift Our Focus
We are spending too much time focusing on the varying failures in society by human beings, and very little time identifying what is influencing these actions – meanwhile, our youth now have a greater desire for evil. This is a clear indication of what is now controlling our territory.
The forces of darkness oppose true churches that understand spiritual warfare. We must understand that in the same way that there are varying ranks of angels – Archangels, Seraphim, Cherubim, thrones and so on trade and development to public administration, statistical systems, data protection, non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, war crimes, terrorism and violent
extremism, illicit trade in drugs, cybersecurity and cybercrime, law enforcement,
education, health, food security, water, social inclusiveness, youth, culture, investment and financial systems, environmental protection, climate change, marine resources, tax, human rights, democracy, gender equality, peace and security, migration, remittances, human trafficking there are ranks in the evil world.
When we fully understand and begin to fight with spiritual weapons, certain access, breakthroughs, and domination of territories will begin for us and we will begin to see light, less struggles, and the goodness of God.
Prayer
The following is a prayer for those experiencing delays and denials. It is also a prayer to prevent untimely death, failure at the edge of miracles, attack against their purpose, reproach, embarrassment, no growth, no progression, and lack.
Father, in the name of Jesus, every opportunity that has left me, I call them back now, in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth. I invoke the Blood of Jesus and claim restitution and restoration now of all assets, money, and other resources. I declare the Blood of Jesus against every spirit of infirmity, affliction, abortion, loss, death, and debt, in Jesus’ name. My place in life and my destiny cannot be hijacked or duplicated. It cannot be undermined, in Jesus’ name. I break every cycle and negative occurrence, and I invoke the Blood of Jesus and cancel all plots and plans. I declare that every evil altar is broken down and everywhere my name is written for defeat, I declare that success replaces and is my portion. Everyone who sits on my seat and in my position and is being backed by evil forces and principalities must and shall move now, in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth.
I sanctify my dreams and visions – no more manipulation! Every spirit that enters my dreams to monitor in any human or animal form, I destroy you by the Holy Ghost and fire! Every spirit that would drive away those whom God has sent to bless me, I invoke the Blood of Jesus. Every spirit that is standing in the way of me going to the next level, I command the angels assigned to me to shift them out now, in the name of Jesus.
Every anti-Christ spirit in my life – Absalom, Jezebel, Ahab, Pharisees, the lying spirits, standing against my destiny, I invoke the Blood of Jesus against them now. Every spirit that comes to take my increase, release it all to me now, in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, without delay. I command victory, in Jesus’ name. Amen.
