Most people in world these days are living in cities, some upwards of 30 million individuals as in case of Tokyo, Japan. Chances are you are in a city right now, as this type of living has become prominent choice for those of us on Earth, especially in developed countries. That is not to say that there aren’t many other ways of existing in our world, but for now this seems to be structure that we adhere to. In tribal times we lived at one with nature surrounded by trees, plants, and animals within a close-knit community where everyone was very familiar with everybody else. Now, we are still surrounded by aspects of nature, but it is people that mainly represent living energy around us in daily life. One imperfection that I have become aware of within this social scenario has to do with how humans now see and treat each other.

O.K., you are surrounded by people in suits and business attire rushing to get to their jobs. There are so many faces that admittedly if you tried to take time to connect with all of them you would either go crazy or be completely drained of all your available mental energies. However, we have reacted to this situation in quite a questionable manner. We have begun to treat each other like we treat our livestock, (also a questionable relationship) as if we are just a mass of faceless, nameless bodies. In many moments of our modern technological lifestyle we are now being faced with prospect of talking to machines on phones, being referred to as a customer number rather than our given names, and having conversations with each other that are totally devoid of all real meaning and caring.

Terry Dashner…..Faith Fellowship Church in Broken Arrow, OK 74013

In early 1990s Dr. C. Peter Wagner wrote a book entitled, Breaking Strongholds in Your City with subtitle, How to use spiritual mapping to make your prayers more strategic, effective and targeted (Regal Books). To finish out my series on why some hate more than others, I’m going to highlight some of Dr. Wagner’s insights, which at time of book’s publication were prophetic but, nevertheless, unproven; however, today these insights are being employed worldwide with great results. I believe you will benefit from this brief study.

In book’s introduction Dr. Wagner answers this question: What good is spiritual mapping? Says Wagner, “As many of our contributors stress, we do not regard spiritual mapping as an end in itself. However, we do believe it is God’s desire for us to pray, ‘Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven’ (Matt. 6:10). We also see a cause-and-effect relationship between faithfulness of God’s people in prayer and coming of His Kingdom. When God’s will is done on earth we see lost people saved; sick people healed; poor people with sufficient essentials; and end to wars, fighting and bloodshed; oppressed people liberated; just governments; fair and equitable business practices; harmony among races, just to mention some of benefits.”

Then Dr. Wagner tackles big question: Is spiritual mapping Biblical? Again Dr. Wagner writes, “An example of spiritual mapping is seen in Ezekiel 4: 1-3 where God instructs Ezekiel to make a map of city of Jerusalem on a clay tablet, then ‘lay siege against it.’ Obviously, this refers to spiritual, not conventional, warfare.

“I mention this because some research has turned up what is regarded by archaeologists as first known map of a city, city of Nippur, ancient cultural center of Sumer. It is on a well-preserved clay tablet, undoubtedly similar to one Ezekiel used. The features on map, drawn around 1500 B.C., constitute what we today would call spiritual mapping. In center of city is written ‘the place of Enlil.’ It is said that in city ‘dwelt air god, Enlil, leading deity of Sumerian pantheon.’ We would identify it as territorial spirit over Sumer.”

With any activity that targets one phase of ministry over another, one must be cautious and aware that Satan is very deceptive. He can take believers to extremes and bury them there if they do not “watch and pray.” When a believer maps out a spiritual territory over which to intercede and bind up “strong man,” believer must stand firm in prayer and Word of God. The believer’s authority over devil is name Jesus and power of Holy Spirit. When this is understood, spiritual warfare becomes work of God through us and not because of us.