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.

The psychology of human mind is ultra complex when compared to any other species on earth, so why does it love to tangle itself up in a destructive mode? Once more, why would it seemingly feel right to be in this place in life?

Let’s drill down and put addictions in a separate folder. Psychological addictions are much more prevalent then physical ones; however, people can have both. When someone is psychologically addicted, they are obsessed with doing, having, and idea of a specific concept swirls within.

If one is physically addicted, actual body craves, but mind can easily be trained that it also must “have it” in order to function properly.

Two main reasons behind psychology of addictions are fairly simplistic human emotions that we all have. Self worth and security are primary root reasons for our propensity to become addicted.

Example: An invitation lands inside your mailbox and many people that you know and don’t know are going to be there. Feeling unsecure about your abilities, you summon up courage to consume three or four drinks to take off edge and loosen yourself before event takes place.

This concept seems to work and now you don’t just do it for regular functions, you begin to use it as a crutch more frequently. Your workplace may be next testing ground or home.

Another example is when women seek out same type of man as a patterned behavior because they feel within themselves that they simply do not deserve better. This self worth can manifest itself into many variations of an addictive personality or patterned behavior.

What would happen if we completely abolished all of our addictions, whether big or small, serious or not? Would we be forfeiting a part of our very fiber, weave that keeps us together?