Spring 1996
Spiritual Authority
Wade E Taylor

None of us are exempt from problems in our lives. Job 5:7 tells us,

"Man is born to trouble, as the sparks fly upward."

Troubles are neither accidental nor coincidental, but rather, they are an integral part of God's program. He will have a people who choose to choose Him, not because it is easy, but because they are determined to push through life's problems in order to apprehend Him.

Many however, take the easier route and give-in when trials come their way. Thus, the promise and reward is to those who OVERcome.

The Lord created us for a definite purpose. Through the new birth, we have become a new creation. Each of us who have fully committed our lives to the Lord have placed their old creation, the Adamic nature, upon the cross. We have "reckoned ourselves to be dead unto sin and alive to God" (Rom 6:11). Now the Lord desires to bring this new creation that we have become into spiritual maturity, that we may fulfill this high calling.

"Desire the sincere milk of the word, as newborn
babes, so that you may grow by it" I Peter 2:2.

This "growth process" requires that we partake of His life and cooperate with the Holy Spirit in the application of the Word to our lives.

"If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the
good of the land; but if you refuse and rebel, you
shall be devoured with the sword" Isa 1:19-20a.

Although this opportunity is given to all who are saved, not everyone is willing to adjust to a "diet" which is conducive to spiritual growth. Therefore, Jesus said, "For many are called, but few chosen" Matt 22:14.

In other words, "Few will pay the price in order to be chosen." This process of qualifying begins after we have received the free gift of salvation, which has been specifically provided for us by Jesus upon Calvary's cross.

"For by grace are ye saved through faith;
and that not of yourselves: it is the gift
of God" Eph 2:8.

The outworking of this gift of salvation requires that we not only acknowledge that we will face problems and difficulties in our lives, but of greater consequence, that we view them rightly. Only then will we be able to embrace them, and appropriately respond to the Lord in the midst of them.

We mature spiritually by becoming actively involved with the Lord in the outworking of this process. Therefore, there are levels of experience and increasing responsibility in our spiritual growth. For this process to be fully accomplished, we must seek after and maintain an abiding anointing upon our lives in order to develop a sensitivity to His presence, that we might rightly respond to Him. A significant part of this is to be discerning in the realm of the supernatural.

Our problems and difficulties come from two main sources, human and satanic; and these have their source in mankind's rejection of the rule of the Kingdom of God. Because we have now embraced the cross, died to our own ways, and have submitted ourselves to His governmental Kingdom rule, a personal application of the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ to our inner being, and to our circumstances, will affect each of these problem areas and bring a resultant correction.

Jesus said we are to (1) "preach the Word," (2) "heal the sick" and (3) "cast out devils" (Mark 3:13-15). A better understanding of this third area of ministry is needed, as there presently is a marked increase in satanic, demonic activity.

Demons are one form of being; principalities are yet another. The Bible is silent concerning the origin of demons, but we know they are disembodied spirits, for they seek to inhabit living beings. Jesus has given us the authority and power to cast them out.

But as to principalities, something quite different is said.

"For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but
against principalities, against powers, against the
world's rulers, of the darkness of this age, against
spiritual wickedness in high places" Eph 6:12.

Notice the difference,

Demons - we are to cast them out.

Principalities - we are to wrestle against them.

Thus, we must identify our enemies, and then approach them accordingly.

These principalities are enthroned in the heavenlies. They control mankind and rule nations, Isaiah speaks of these as causing all the agony of wars, hatred, sin, and strife.

"He who smote the people in wrath with a continual stroke,
he that ruled the nations in anger, is persecuted, and
none hindereth ... How art thou fallen, O Lucifer son of
the morning! How art thou cut down to the ground, which
didst weaken the nations!" Isa 14:6,12.

These, who weakened others, are to be dealt with through wrestling. That is, we must become so strong that they are weakened and displaced. To accomplish this, we must have an overcoming strength in our lives, which we receive through an overcoming obedience, and the maintenance of a quality relationship with the Lord. By this means we will gain prophetic authority and power for this spiritual battle.

"And he who overcomes and keeps My works to the
end, to him I will give power over the nations.
And he will rule them with a rod of iron, as the
vessels of a potter they will be broken to pieces,
even as I received from my Father" Rev 2:26-27.

"To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me
in My throne, even as I also overcame, and have
sat down with My Father in His throne" Rev 3:21.

We will never be qualified to rule nations until we have first brought into subjection the "nations" that reside within us. As we overcome in our struggles with the problems created by our Adamic nature in every-day life situations, we will be experientially seated with Christ in heavenly places, and thus take on spiritual authority.

When this overcoming authority begins to displace and bring down these principalities and powers, then tribulation will result on the earth.

This time of tribulation is not a date that we should look for, but an occurrence. This is taking place as overcomers are increasingly caught up to the Throne (seated with Him in His Throne, Rev 3:21) and "wrestle" in intercessory anointing and authority. As these principalities are brought down, all the calamities and judgments mentioned in Revelation will begin to unfold.

While the children of Israel were in Egypt it was easy for them to exercise positive thinking and say, "Canaan is ours, a land flowing with milk and honey!" But upon their arrival, they encountered giants and walled cities. When the walls of Jericho were brought down through obedience to a Divine directive, it was a type of the spiritual warfare that will result in a mighty defeat of principalities.

"So that now to the rulers and powers in the
heavenlies might be known by the church the
manifold wisdom of God" Eph 3:10.

This is the wisdom of the Lord, using the very humanity that Satan defeated in the Garden of Eden to bring down his kingdom.

Christians often recite Ephesians 2:6,

"And has raised us up together and made us sit
together in the heavenlies in Christ Jesus."

But the enemy is entrenched in the heavenlies, and must be confronted through actual warfare before we will be able to experientially enter into our place with the Lord.

For us to wrestle against these principalities means that there is to be a present, active warfare. Just reciting that we are seated with Christ in heavenly places does not transport us there. We must have an overcoming quality in our lives wherein we enter into a relationship with our Lord in prophetic intercessory authority - "a wrestling authority" - whereby victory may be won in our present circumstances.

Today, our Lord is looking for a people who actively seek to grow into a level of spiritual maturity which will enable them to assume this prophetic role of spiritual authority, and begin to wrestle present principalities.

Just as the children of Israel walked together around Jericho in obedience to the Word of the Lord, so also, we must become part of a prophetic army that will function in total harmony and unity. Then principalities will be brought down with a resultant open heaven. This will release a moving of the Spirit of God on the earth in visitation as never before.

The Lord is calling us to arise and come up into the heavenlies with Him. Only as we fully avail ourselves to Him, reject the path of least resistance, and begin to walk in the Spirit, will this be possible.