In the late 1990’s, Cheryl and I travelled to Argentina with team organized by Ed Silvoso. We had a truly awesome time and we learned so many things that remain a part of our ministry philosophy.
One of the principles we learned is that of “spiritual mapping”. Spiritual mapping involves a study of any given area and understanding what Lucifer has done to defile the area thus limiting the flow of God to bless the given area. Both God and Lucifer are into real estate and there is a cosmic battle raging for control of the area. Lucifer first waged war in Heaven then according to John in the Book of Revelation, chapter 12 was cast down to the earth; verses 7-12 (ESV)
Now war arose in heaven, Michael and his angels fighting against the dragon. And the dragon and his angels fought back, 8 but he was defeated, and there was no longer any place for them in heaven. 9 And the great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world—he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him. 10 And I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, “Now the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ have come, for the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our God.
Our friend, Arthur Burk of “Sapphire Ministries” helped develop this principle in the many times he came to Cornerstone. Whether the ground is a nation, a state, a city or a person, there are basically 5 things that defile ground…
1. Shedding of innocent blood such as murder
2. War
3. Sexual Immorality such as adultery, premarital sex, homosexuality, incest, bestiality, etc.
4. Breaking of a vow or covenant such as divorce
5. Witchcraft or the occult.
Anytime any of the above 5 take place on the ground, it brings defilement. The writer of Exodus describes the perpetuality of these sins by defining their consequences going to the 3rd and 4th generations; Exodus 20:5-6 (ESV)
“I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.3 “You shall have no other gods before me. 4 “You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. 5 You shall not bow down to them or serve them, for I the Lord your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and the fourth generation of those who hate me, 6 but showing steadfast love to thousands of those who love me and keep my commandments.
So how does one examine and heal the defilement that they might be walking in? First, the scriptures tell us to examine ourselves. The Apostle Paul wrote this in 1 Corinthians 11:28 (ESV)
Let a person examine himself, then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup.
And again in 2 Corinthians 13:5 (ESV)
5 Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you fail to meet the test!
The Holy Spirit is more than willing to expose the point of entrance which brought the defilement in. Once He has exposed it (wait on Him), step into the place of a priest by doing identifying yourself with the ancestor or transgression. The Prophet Daniel gives us a great example of this when he joined himself the rebellious nation; Daniel 9:1-8 (ESV)
In the first year of Darius the son of Ahasuerus, by descent a Mede, who was made king over the realm of the Chaldeans— 2 in the first year of his reign, I, Daniel, perceived in the books the number of years that, according to the word of the Lord to Jeremiah the prophet, must pass before the end of the desolations of Jerusalem, namely, seventy years.
3 Then I turned my face to the Lord God, seeking him by prayer and pleas for mercy with fasting and sackcloth and ashes. 4 I prayed to the Lord my God and made confession, saying, “O Lord, the great and awesome God, who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments, 5 we have sinned and done wrong and acted wickedly and rebelled, turning aside from your commandments and rules. 6 We have not listened to your servants the prophets, who spoke in your name to our kings, our princes, and our fathers, and to all the people of the land. 7 To you, O Lord, belongs righteousness, but to us open shame, as at this day, to the men of Judah, to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and to all Israel, those who are near and those who are far away, in all the lands to which you have driven them, because of the treachery that they have committed against you. 8 To us, O Lord, belongs open shame, to our kings, to our princes, and to our fathers, because we have sinned against you.
Notice Daniel said “we” and not “they”. Once prayer and petitions are made, then stand in the place of a priest and ask the Lord for forgiveness and cleansing by the blood of the Lamb. This follows exactly what the Apostle John told us in Revelation 12 in how to overcome. Revelation 12:11-12 (ESV)
“11 And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death. 12 Therefore, rejoice, O heavens and you who dwell in them! But woe to you, O earth and sea, for the devil has come down to you in great wrath, because he knows that his time is short!”
Once these actions have been taken, expect God to move and bring favor to the area which was previously defiled. See what the Lord will do when we are willing to step out and do what He is calling us to. All creation is waiting for the arrival of mature sons of God who know how to bring restoration to all things. Let take our place and do it.
God Bless