Shifting Atmospheres Through Intercession – Understanding Our Authority
Being successful in spiritual warfare is about knowing who you are in Christ.
When Jesus ascended into heaven, He encouraged us with these empowering words, “All authority on heaven and on earth has been given to me.”
When we engage in spiritual warfare, we must do so from the third heaven — where we are seated with Christ in the heavenlies.
“… when he [God]… seated him [Jesus] at his right hand in the heavenly places far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come.” (Ephesians 1:19-21 ESV).
The third heaven is believed to be the spiritual domain where God resides. It represents the highest level of spiritual authority and is the correct position from where we should war.
We get hints of the third heaven in 2 Corinthians. The Apostle Paul writes:
“I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven. Whether it was in the body or out of the body I do not know–God knows.” (2 Corinthians 12:2 NIV).
I have had many people ask me, “Dawna, why didn’t God protect me when I went out and prayed against a regional spirit?”
In my opinion, this happens when we step outside of God’s covering. We should never try to “take on” the enemy in our own strength. We should simply serve as obedient intercessors asking the Lord what He wants to impart over a situation, person, or region. Partnering with the Lord in battle, we can successfully combat the enemy’s influence.
As we worship and intercede from this higher perspective, we come into alignment with the power of heaven and step into our identities as beloved brothers and sisters in Christ. If we truly believe that we are “seated with Christ in the heavenlies” far above every “rule and authority,”, then spiritual warfare should simply be a matter of seeing what God is doing and releasing His goodness over a situation.