I was an excited young church planter who loved the prophetic, miracles and revival but it seemed like I was living under a cloud! Every time we would make a spiritual advance in our church there would be an immediate backlash. Sometimes the attack would hit my mind. Many times, the attack would be executed by the mouths of people. I noticed that two demons seemed to pop up frequently: Jezebel and religion. Jezebel would manifest by people coming in to infiltrate out prayer and prophetic teams and then manifesting rebellion, accusation and manipulation. Religion would manifest through offense, false belief systems and unending attacks against the move of God.
What was wrong? Why did I keep facing these things? Perhaps I was missing it somewhere. These questions would drive me deep into prayer. It was through prayer that I began to recognize demonic patterns. I then did research on the region and found two things: 1) Witchcraft was very prevalent; 2) There had never been a Spirit-filled revival in the territory.
The region was resisting the move of God. I finally recognized the warfare was not personal! I was in combat against territorial demons and attacks.
Battlefields of Territories
You may be struggling with spiritual resistance that seems to be individualized yet it’s really the powers of darkness in the territory. Strong Spirit-filled ministry creates a canopy that covers and protects the people of God from demonic infusion. It should create an environment that manifests the culture and mindset of the kingdom of God. Therefore, the demons fight so hard. They want to hold the minds of the people in their wicked grip.
“For our fight is not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, and against spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places,” (Eph. 6:12).
Our battle is against the ranks of hell. Each territory has different demons that are assigned to create a polluted culture and climate. They establish ungodly mindsets and belief systems to bind the lives of people within the region. Those who have been sent into the territory with a kingdom mandate stand in direct opposition to the demonic environment and stronghold. A level of warfare erupts that is intense and at times feels very personal. It is critical that kingdom-minded believers recognize the warfare is beyond their own making. It is a battle for dominion!
3 Tools to Overcome Regional Demons
1) Identification: what is the opponent? This is a prophetic function and can be empowered by the gift of discerning of spirits. Ineffective warfare is intended to wear out the people of God. The enemy gets you targeting the wrong thing. Therefore, apostolic and prophetic partnership is so vital. (See Ephesians 2:20.)
2) Prayer and corporate governing. The church has been granted a level of authority and strong governmental prayer is a key component to victory. Without prayer the battle will not be won.
3) Teaching & development. Regional demons establish ungodly mindsets. Those are not changed by prayer alone. They demand teaching. The office of the teacher is vital. Teachers renew the corporate mind of the body of Christ!
“For as he thinks in his heart, so is he,” (Prov. 23:7). It is the inner thought life and belief system that either creates a barrier or a gateway. When the belief system is godly it becomes a gateway through which the power and blessing of God flows. When the mindset is demonic it becomes a wedge and barrier that stand between the believer and the manifestation of God’s power and goodness. Think of a demonic lid! This is a prophetic picture of the many regions and territories.
We mistakenly think that the power of God alone is enough. Make no mistake, we need God’s power! We need demonstrations of miracles, deliverance, revival and breakthrough. We need to experience the rushing flow of God’s Spirit. That will break us out. But in order to occupy our promise with no wavering, we need a renewed mind. Regional warfare is greatly aided by proper teaching and spiritual education.
“You are of your father the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks from his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of lies,” (John 8:44).
6 Weapons of the Enemy’s Arsenal
The cornerstones of the devil’s kingdom are lies and deception. Demons come to paint false pictures. They come to dilute the faith of the believer, distract their minds and exhaust them. Here are the six common lies and weapons of regional demons:
1) False identity: This is one of the key tools of the enemy. He loves to misdirect the pathway of a person. There are people within regions who contain seeds of greatness, yet they are operating under a false identity because of trauma, pain and lack of vision. I have seen people relocate and flourish because they broke away from a false identity connected to a place. Becoming rooted in the Word of God and properly stewarding prophetic words can fuel the revelation of who you really are in God.
2) Misidentified pain: Spiritual attacks are distressing and come to inflict suffering on the victim. When you are in a season of extended attack it tries to bring sorrow. It is easy to begin to think it is your fault when in fact it is a demon! Identifying the source of the challenge will empower you to rise above it.
3) Offense: Is a spiritual cancer. When plans are delayed, with the mind under siege and emotions stirred, it is easy to take offense. This is dangerous. Some believers get offended with one another and others may even get offended with the Lord feeling like He has let them down. Offense is a thief! It halts spiritual growth and progress and opens the doors for contamination and bitterness.
4) Strife: Comes to stop the work of the Lord! There are demons that are assigned to break up strong ministries and shut down breakthrough voices in territories. They understand the power of unity and they will war against it. Strife acts as a demonic portal and creates an opening for evil spirits to travel back and forth. It is particularly active in the attempt to dismantle ministries that hold the potential to bring transformation in a region. It will work to disrupt or abort covenant relationships. It will work in a heinous effort to break apart companies of believers contending for reformation and the move of God. Discern it! Pray against it and place your heart before the Lord to judge, correct and mend.
5) Weariness: One of the real aims of all spiritual warfare. The devil comes to wear out the saints. Demons target you to bring exhaustion so that you will collapse under the weight of the pressure.
6) Delay: According to Webster’s online dictionary the word delay means: the act of postponing, hindering, or causing something to occur more slowly than normal. There are spirits of delay that are strategically designed to wear believers and ministers out in regions. They want to bring frustration, second guessing prophetic purpose and irritation. They want to cause the people of God to give up! They are evil demons attempting to block the full release of heaven’s purpose. “Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son,” (Col. 1:13).
A Vision for Victory
Now that we have identified some of the tactics of territorial spirits, let’s examine victory keys. Begin with the understanding that we are victoriously positioned in the kingdom of God! This means that we have the divine ability to soar above the works of hell. While it is helpful to discern the operation of demonic forces, we don’t have to be fearful of their lies and attacks. We war from the place of victory!
These regional battles and victories belong to the church! Jesus empowered us to win individually and corporately. He aligned us with His will and kingdom. The kingdom of darkness holds no power over us.
I believe God is raising up strong apostolic hubs, churches and ministry centers to operate as kingdom bases of operation. The enemy will fight and resist the establishment and development of these centers because they represent transformation and breakthrough.
One of the tools we need to combat the forces of hell in a region is strong apostolic spirit. What do I mean by this? An apostle is a sent one. An apostolic ministry is a sent ministry. Apostolic people are sent. When we look at the early church it moved with intensity and momentum even though regional demons tried to block it. Apostolic people govern, train, send and activate. They also have patience to wait upon the promise.
Regional transformation requires a healthy prophetic community to identify the opposition and the promise. We need accurate diagnosis and insight.
Worship and intercession are critical keys to combat the darkness. “And the key of the house of David will I lay upon his shoulder; so he shall open, and none shall shut; and he shall shut, and none shall open. And I will fasten him as a nail in a sure place; and he shall be for a glorious throne to his father’s house,” (Isa. 22:22-23).
Teaching is to sustain the move of God and dismantle the lies of the enemy corporately along with renewing our minds individually. As we dive deep into the words of the Bible, we will disconnect from false belief systems and build a strong foundation of faith. Let’s also remember that Jesus stood on Scripture when fighting the devil. The word works!
Our Charge for the Battle
We need to heed the words of Paul and make war with the prophecies! What is God saying over the place and the people? What has God said over your life? What has been the nature of your prophetic history?
“This command I commit to you, my son Timothy, according to the prophecies that were previously given to you, that by them you might fight a good fight,” (1 Tim. 1:18). Combat the lies being hurled at your mind with the Word of the Lord. Stand on what God said about you and to you. This will stir your faith and starve your doubt.
God is assigning His people to territories to make a kingdom impact! Sure, the enemy is fighting to keep the ground, but we have been given tools to plunder, succeed and overcome. Let’s stand against the forces of hell and see God’s glory sweep the earth.
Ryan LeStrange is an apostolic and prophetic revolutionary, founder of Global Hub, and senior leader of the ATL Hub. Ryan is also active in the business arena with LeStrange Global, LLC., a digital media company. Ryan and his wife, Joy, currently reside in the Atlanta area.