High Places

I want to take a moment to share some things from the Word of God that is many times overlooked. They are there, but sometimes people just go over them without taking the time to "think" what is really being said. There is a reason that the followers of demons and false religions many times built their most important temples and altars on the "high places". There is a reason that they would take them to the highest mountain and build them there. There is a reason that in the annals of the Old Testament, that one of the major things that would be done in a time of revival is that they would go up to the "high places" and tear down the pagan altars, and then Yahweh would bless. There is a reason that "high places" are important spiritually in influencing the land that it overlooks. This is biblical, and we are going to look at the biblical and then apply it to where we might happen to live.

The above mountain is Mt. Hermon in Israel. It is on the current Israel-Lebanon border, and it is important both in biblical history and in politics today. This is the original mountain that was called "ZION". Zion means the "heights", and Mt. Hermon is the highest mountain in all of Israel! It is most likely the mountain that Jesus was on when God revealed His glory at the event we call, "the Mount of Transfiguration." Mt. Hermon feeds the majority of the water that makes up the Jordan River. It is an island of limestone rock floating on the basaltic Golan Heights. According to non-canonical books such as 1 Enoch (which is quoted in both 2 Peter and Jude), Mt. Hermon is the place where the "Watchers", or the angels were sent that oversaw mankind in its infancy that taught man the fundamentals of life and knowledge. They came down in the time of "Jared", and they were supposed to have come down on Mt. Hermon.

Mt. Zion has become synonymous with Jerusalem and its surrounding mountains including Mt. Moriah. There is a Mt. Zion in the extradimensional realm of the 3rd Heaven, but that is literally the "heights of heaven." So today, Mt. Zion is connected with the heights of God, or the mountains all around Jerusalem. But the original Mt. Zion was the highest Zion (or height) in Israel, and that was Mt. Hermon. The interesting thing about Mt. Hermon is that later, it would be renamed Baal-Hermon for the worship of the Canaanites of Baal there. It became a "pagan high place", and drew evil people to worship evil spirits. WHY?

You see a pattern in idolatry and demon worship religions, and that is either worshiping these wicked spirits in crossroads, or in groves (sexual female goddesses such as Astarte or Ishtar or Hecate), or on mountain tops or high places (such as Baal). WHY?

In the USA today, you can see the tactical reason why government might build radar towers on tall mountains, or even build facilities or bases underneath them (such as what is supposed to be under mountains such as Mt. Shasta or even the one that overshadows my home, Big Black Mountain on the Kentucky-Virginia border). The limestone mountains

such as Black Mountain makes a pretty good natural fortification against nuclear war, or emergencies from cosmic events such as impacting meteors and falling comet fragments. It gives a nice natural hiding place with a natural cave network already there that can be easily networked through a tunnel system. BUT WHY do occultists still persist on going and claiming the high places for their demonic lords and even the Devil himself? Why do the mountains in the 21st Century still draw everything from witches to New Agers today? Why the high places?

If we look at some biblical evidence that both God (Yahweh) and the devil are interested in the high places of the Earth, then should that mean something to us as well? Why is it so specifically spoken of in the Bible?

QUESTIONS HAVE BEEN ASKED. The bible has the answer. Let's take a look at what God's Word has to say about it.

After the flood waters receded, the first thing that Noah did was to build an altar unto the Lord upon the Mountains of Ararat. Abram (Abraham) would go up to what is Mount Moriah to offer his son, Isaac to Yahweh. Yahweh would stop him and provide a ram in the thicket for the sacrifice and Abraham would name the place Yahweh Yireh (transliterated Jehovah Jireh), or the provision of the Lord shall be seen. This very mountain altar that Abraham built would be the traditional site that they would later build the Temple at Jerusalem on.

The Temple at Jerusalem was built upon Zion or the High Place of Jerusalem to give honor to Yahweh. The presence of the Lord would for many years overshadow Judah from the heights of Jerusalem.

God is very interested in High Places, and they are mentioned in prophetic passages in the Bible especially in dealing with the Last Days. Remember that Jesus will return and land at the Mount of Olives and will split the land. But look at this:

2 Chronicles 33:15-17 (KJV) " 15 And he took away the strange gods, and the idol out of the house of the LORD, and all the altars that he had built in the mount of the house of the LORD, and in Jerusalem, and cast them out of the city. 16 And he repaired the altar of the LORD, and sacrificed thereon peace offerings and thank offerings, and commanded Judah to serve the LORD God of Israel. 17 Nevertheless the people did sacrifice still in the high places, yet unto the LORD their God only.

Amos 4:13 (KJV) " For, lo, he that formeth the mountains, and createth the wind, and declareth unto man what is his thought, that maketh the morning darkness, and treadeth upon the high places of the earth, The LORD, The God of hosts, is his name. "

Micah 1:3-5 (KJV) " 3 For, behold, the LORD cometh forth out of his place, and will come down, and tread upon the high places of the earth. 4 And the mountains shall be molten under him, and the valleys shall be cleft, as wax before the fire, and as the waters that are poured down a steep place. 5 For the transgression of Jacob is all this, and for the sins of the house of Israel. What is the transgression of Jacob? is it not Samaria? and what are the high places of Judah? are they not Jerusalem? "

You see, God has Principalities and Powers that sit on the high places and their angelic influence are felt over the land. I recognize that there are Satanic strongholds where Fallen Angelic Principalities (Arch angels) and Powers sit, and those high places need to be brought down by the power of God in the name of Jesus Christ, the Son of God!

Ephesians 6:10-13 (KJV) " 10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. 11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. 13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. "

WHEN REVIVAL WOULD COME AFTER A TIME OF APOSTASY AND IDOLATRY, THEY WOULD THROW DOWN THE PAGAN HIGH PLACES, AND TURN BACK TO THE LORD!

Look at the example of Gideon who threw down the altars of Baal and was anointed to lead his people out of bondage.

Looking at one of the most important revivals in Israel’s history in Judges, Gideon was used of God to lead God’s people into revival. The people of God had fallen into sin and idolatry, and the high places and groves had pagan altars as the people of God turned to other demonic gods and turned from truth. Their iniquity had brought an oppressor upon them and they had been captives to the Midianites. This is the pattern that turning from God brings. It will bring captivity always.

But the people of God had repented and cried out for a deliverer. And God had raised up an unlikely deliverer. The Lord literally revealed Himself to Gideon, and although he pulled down the high places in the dark, he soon had his faith built up to stand before the people.

Judges 6:25-27" And it came to pass the same night, that the LORD said unto him, Take thy father's young bullock, even the second bullock of seven years old, and throw down the altar of Baal that thy father hath, and cut down the grove that [is] by it: 26 And build an altar unto the LORD thy God upon the top of this rock, in the ordered place, and take the second bullock, and offer a burnt sacrifice with the wood of the grove which thou shalt cut down. 27 Then Gideon took ten men of his servants, and did as the LORD had said unto him: and [so] it was, because he feared his father's household, and the men of the city, that he could not do [it] by day, that he did [it] by night. “

I recognize that Gideon was hesitant at first, and that he needed a fleece to boost his faith and that at first, he was covert in his dealing with the idolatry. But God had anointed him for this task and he obeyed the Lord, and God used him and a small number of his men to defeat a vastly more powerful enemy. Israel would enjoy a generation of revival because the high places were thrown down.

You see, God is not looking for the bravest and the greatest necessarily, He is looking for willing vessels that will obey Him even when they feel inadequate in themselves. The truth is that we are inadequate in ourselves, but we can do all things through Christ. Philippians 4:13 “ I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. “

Gideon and his family had fallen into idolatry with the rest of the land. Many times when God allows turmoil to come to the land, it is in a direct response to spiritual compromise.

The people of Israel cried out to the God of their fathers for deliverance. And God heard them and chose Gideon. Gideon’s daddy owned the local pagan worship grove and idol. God loves to reach into people’s lives that are corrupt and destroyed and deliver them, clean them, and anoint them! Luke 7:47 “ Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, [the same] loveth little. “

SOMETIMES WHEN WE ARE PRAYING THAT GOD WILL MOVE AND BRING DELIVERANCE... HE TURNS AROUND AND SAYS, OK, I AM ANOINTING YOU... YOU RISE AND OBEY!

POWER POINT: Deliverance can never come to a cursed land and oppressed people until

repentance comes and the High Places are given back to God! God will not bring revival until the people of God repent and turn back to Him! 2 Chronicles 7:14 (KJV) “ 14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. “

In reality, the Earth is already the Lord’s and the fullness thereof. But God has given the Earth’s dominion into the hands of mankind. If man worship evil, then evil dominates man. If man worships God, then the liberty of the Spirit dominates the land. Notice that Yahweh had Gideon take the fragments of the cut down grove (to Astarte and make it part of the sacrifice to Him. The High Places was taken back for Yahweh, and because of that, Yahweh (Jehovah God) by His power set them free from their oppressors.

Gideon said, where are all of God’s miracles and is He really with us or not? God, won’t you deliver us? And God says... I will do it through your hand! Many times we want God to help this one or that one or stop the Devil from doing this or that... but Jesus said, I give you power, church!

Luke 10:19 “ Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you. “

Matthew 16:19 “ And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. “

Revival before it set the land free has to start at home... we have to throw down our idols before God can deliver our land! 1 Corinthians 10:20-22 “ 20 But I [say], that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils, and not to God: and I would not that ye should have fellowship with devils. 21 Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord's table, and of the table of devils. 22 Do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? are we stronger than he? “

This is a 2-LEVEL MESSAGE that applies to us on a personal level, and also on a wider scope to those of us who live under a High Place.

First, there is a call to repentance and revival. Our land does not need political change, but it needs a “move of God”. We need revival, and that only comes through repentance and throwing down our idols and calling out on Jesus Christ as Lord once again!

Matthew 11:11-12 (KJV) “ 11 Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist: notwithstanding he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. 12 And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force. “

James 4:7 (KJV) “ 7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. “

1 Peter 5:8-9 (KJV) “ 8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: 9 Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world. “

Ephesians 6:12 “ For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. “

After we have torn down our own strongholds through the power of God, then we are to come together as the people of God, and take back the land for God in Jesus’ name! We are to come and pray and wrestle against the principalities and powers and throw down the high places.

WHY SHOULD WE JUST LET EVIL HAVE THE HIGH PLACES? WHY SHOULD WE JUST LET THE OCCULTISTS CLAIM THE HIGH PLACES? THE REALITY IS THAT GOD IS GREATER IN US THAN THE ONE THAT IS IN THE WORLD. WHY SHOULD WE JUST PUT OUR HEADS IN THE SAND AND PRETEND THAT ALL IS WELL WHEN EVIL RAISES ITS UGLY HEAD? WE SHOULD NOT!

Hear this! Jesus said to the church in Matthew 16, that the Gates of Hell would not prevail against His church! The strongholds of Hell do not have the power to withstand the onslaught of the church when we use the keys (authority) of the Kingdom of Heaven that Jesus Christ gave to us. The gates will fail when we move in the power of Jesus Christ.

Matthew 16:18-19 (KJV) “ 18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. 19 And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. “

There are evil principalities and powers in high places that are fearful that the CHURCH will some day WAKE UP and walk in the power and authority of the Body of Christ! They are afraid that some day we might quit fighting one another and this denomination and that church and come together in the unity of the Spirit of God and love, and stand for Jesus Christ and tear down strongholds. Jesus would tell His disciples that the same works that He did that they would do also, and greater than these would they do. Acts 10:38 speaks of the works that Jesus did… Acts 10:38 (KJV) “ 38 How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him. “

Once we have put Christ on the throne of our own lives and torn down any idols that we find in our lives, then it is time to come together with the Body of Christ as One in Christ, and take back the High Places for Jesus Christ! We are to tear down the strong holds and pray for revival together. God will HEAL OUR LAND AND BRING REVIVAL if we will just seek God’s face together!

The church talks a lot about revival, but the reality is that we need God to bring a time of visitation to our land to break strongholds and set captives free. Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. We need the liberty of the Spirit to flow in our land again. We need our land healed. We need to throw down the strongholds of the high places and pray for revival.

THE CHURCH IS THE MOST POWERFUL ENTITY ON PLANET EARTH FOR

WE OPERATE AS THE BODY OF CHRIST! The keys to the kingdom of heaven has been given to the church. The power of God flows with that authority when we come together in unity in the name of Jesus Christ (in His Word) and stand together.

The first goal of personal revival must be done on an individual level. Only I can repent and turn to God and tear down any potential idols in my life that has tried to come between me and God. And the same is true for you.

But the second goal of taking the land back and revival in the land comes when the people of God wake up and come together in unity and pray.

The problem is that many that are a part of church will never

do this. There is too much tradition and too much paranoia from churches working together who have different (and sometimes the same) denominational name. People forget that the true church is the Body of Christ or those believers who have by faith believed upon the Lord Jesus Christ and have been born again. Many around us might not understand or want to come together in passion and love and power, but be interested in the petty little things that many churches fall into these days (trying to get their own little piece of the pie or be their own little king of their mountain).

BUT THERE WILL BE A REMNANT IN MANY CHURCHES WHO WANT MORE OF GOD AND WANT REVIVAL IN THE LAND AND ARE SICK OF JUST SITTING BY AND LETTING EVIL LOOSE TO DO WHATEVER EVIL WANTS TO DO. LIKE DAVID WHEN SEEING GOLIATH, THEIR OWN ANOINTING WILL RISE UP IN THEM AND STIR THEM INTO BEING THE PEOPLE OF GOD THAT GOD HAS CALLED THEM TO BE.

It is time to start praying and seeking God... NOW! It is time to start interceding for your communities and churches and the families in your church. It is time to start praying for other churches in the area and not be so selfishly centered in on just where you worship. If you do live near a high place, it is time to start praying about leadership from God about praying and claiming the land back for Jesus Christ.

BUT REMEMBER! We must conquer the high places in our lives before we ever step into the ring and try to take back the land for Jesus Christ! We have to belong to Jesus Christ ourselves before we make a stand for Jesus. We have to get rid of compromise first!

Then we can stand as the people of God with other believers and take back the land!

There is an outpouring revival going on right now in the 3rd World. God is no respecter of persons. He wants to pour it out on Canada and the USA and Europe just as much as He is in South America and Asia and Eastern Europe and Africa! God wants to, but what do we want?

What do we want? What are we really hungry for? What will be ultimately be fed with? Will it be the good things from God's table, or will it be worldly things that feed the flesh that brings spiritual death? What do we really want? What are we willing to do to get what we want?

Are we willing to get past our own pride and admit that "I" need to repent and "I" need revival? Am I? Are you?

Are we willing to come together with other believers and put petty worldly concerns about the others not being a part of our "click" or "group" or "denomination"? Or is God important enough in our lives to do that?

I guarantee that the occultists have come together enough to claim the high places for their dark forces, but are we sold out to Jesus enough to do the same. We have power to throw down those evil strongholds through Jesus Christ's name and the power of the Holy Spirit, but we only have that when we are operating in the Word and Power of God! Are we willing to come together with other believers, or will be arrogant and feel smug that we are too good to associate with that church down the road?

ARE WE GOING TO GO UP TO TEAR DOWN THE DARK ALTARS AND PROCLAIM THE LIBERTY OF THE HOLY SPIRIT OVER OUR LAND? ARE WE WILLING TO COME TOGETHER AND PRAY FOR REVIVAL? ARE WE?