Battle of the Altars!
Battle of the Altars! 1 Kings 18:30-40 We are living in the dispensation of the battle of the altars—a fierce war between the kingdom of heaven and the kingdom of darkness. Whichever side controls the altar will win the battle that wars for the souls of men.Ephesians 6 makes it clear: this is a spiritual fight. This battle of the altars is taking place in the atmosphere, waged between unseen forces—“against rulers, authorities, cosmic powers of darkness, and spiritual forces of evil in the heavens.”In military combat, there’s a term known as air superiority or air supremacy, the degree to which one side in a conflict dominates the airspace. In other words, the side with control of the air enjoys a significant advantage in defeating its opponent. How does this apply spiritually? Ephesians 2:2 says Satan is the prince of the power of the air, the spirit at work in the sons of disobedience. He exercises this power from a realm Jesus referred to as the gates of hell. These gates symbolize the power of Hades, a well-organized demonic system strategically positioned in the atmosphere. Looking at the juggernaut of evil sweeping over regions of the world, it may seem as if the kingdom of darkness holds air supremacy.But to the true, bona fide believer in Christ, scripture is emphatic: we are seated with Christ in heavenly places, a position of authority, honor, and triumph, not failure or defeat. By default, we hold a superior command post in the heavenlies. Believers in Christ don’t fight for victory; they fight from victory. The victory is already won, but many fail to enforce it.Psalm 24 asks, Who may ascend the hill of the Lord? Who may stand in His holy place? The answer: He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to vanity nor swear deceitfully.This passage is key to wielding power against the kingdom of darkness. Walking in purity is like kryptonite to the devil. When combined with the weapons of fervent, consistent prayer, fasting, and rightly applying the Word of God, it becomes a lethal force!Then, like Elijah, you will have the power to challenge the enemy at your altar: “You call on the name of your god, and I will call on the name of the Lord. The God who answers by fire…He is God!” In the novel If I Had Only Known, Francesca Albury—a powerful and gifted intercessor—is thrust into serious spiritual warfare. She and her husband, both pastors, consistently service the altar of righteousness with fervent prayer. They are so effective that they’ve drawn the attention of the regional powers of darkness. Now, their prayer grotto is under attack and so is their marriage. Part of that attack may be Francesca’s own doing. Head over to Amazon to check out the novel, If I Had Only Known Reflection Questions – Battle of the Altars Which altar are you servicing? Is your life daily building the altar of the Lord or unknowingly feeding the altars of darkness? What “airspace” over your life needs reclaiming for God? Are there thoughts, habits, or environments where the enemy still holds influence? Are your hands clean and your heart pure? In what areas might God be calling you to deeper repentance or cleansing? Do you approach spiritual battles from victory—or striving for it? How does understanding your position “seated with Christ in heavenly places” change how you pray and live? Head over to my Facebook page for all the highlights! Click Here