June 2005 E-Newsletter Doing Battle in High Places I have been clearly reminded recently, and so I remind you, of the Word of the Lord: For our struggle is not against a human opponent, but against rulers, against authorities, against cosmic powers in the darkness around us, against evil spiritual forces in high places. Ephesians 6:12 Thousands of years ago, the Israelites were led into the promised land and commanded by Yahweh to destroy all the high places that the pagan inhabitants of the land used for the worship of their false gods. Although those high places were often located on mountain tops, the term describes any place given spiritual significance for the practice of idolatry or other rituals of satanic worship and became the actual dwelling place of those spirits. God's command to destroy the high places implies the use of force and the need to fight and struggle in order to rid the land of evil spiritual influences. This type of fight couldn't be more apparent than when doing apostolic work, i.e. pioneer church planting. Ever since we began targeting the O'Russey Market area late last year, we have become increasingly aware of these evil spiritual forces in high places. They represent the power of Satan which enslaves, steals, kills and destroys people - a kingdom of darkness and death. Because people in this area have forsaken God and turned to the dark side for millennia, these high places have become well established and fortified through the worship, blood sacrifices, and appeasement of evil spirits. They have become strongholds. These evil spirits are our enemies! Yet, how often we mistakenly lash out against people (flesh and blood) in anger, considering them our enemies. Sadly, the enemy of our souls scores a victory every time our focus is diverted from our true enemy to each other. How do we successfully bring the Kingdom of God to the O'Russey Market area? We must battle! We must fight! Our fight, however, is not with flesh and blood, people or local authorities - they are but captives in the camp of the enemy, waiting for good news of deliverance. Our battle is in a different realm - a spiritual plane - and that's where you can have a powerful impact here! One doesn't need to go to the high place to tear it down, the battle can be waged in the spiritual realm from anywhere! What are the high places that need to be destroyed at O'Russey Market? Unlike elsewhere, they are not represented by actual physical locations but by the oppressive dominance of evil spirits over the hearts and lives of people in the area. They include: Neak Ta - a demonic territorial spirit who demands appeasement by blood sacrifice and satanic ritual (Please see our Feb 2005 newsletter) Ancestral Worship - people sacrifice food and burn incense daily to dead ancestors believing that they will help them - in actuality it is demon worship! Witchcraft and Animism - charms, amulets, "devil strings," coining, cupping and a myriad of superstitious practices giving honor to evil spirits and seeking their protection and assistance
For 5 months now we have actively engaged in battling these evil spirits in the O'Russey Market area through intercession and petition to God. We do battle by putting on the full armor of God and by proclaiming his Word (the sword of the Spirit). Nearly every day we spend hours building relationships with sellers in the market and share the gospel with them. At times we have felt war-weary but God continues to sustain us! We have already seen breakthroughs in the openness of people and have had answers to prayer for healing in our own lives. Please stand with us in prayer and intercession against the evil spiritual forces in high places. Uniting in prayer will ensure victory against the devil and deliverance for the people of O'Russey Market! In Him, Dale and Cathleen | 
