Spiritual Mapping for Effective Spiritual Warfare

1. What is Spiritual Mapping and How Does It Make for Effective
Spiritual Warfare?

Spiritual mapping is the process of collating and putting spiritual information concerning a region or people on a map. The accumulated data is used in spiritual warfare to seize that region or people group from the enemy. Spiritual mapping is like having a bright light focused on an otherwise dimly lit area. It allows us to see how the enemy is strategizing and exposes Satan’s hidden agenda for that particular region or people group.

“For there is nothing hid, which shall not be manifested; neither was any thing kept secret, but that it should come abroad” Mark 4:22

As a mother, I have spent much time in the waiting rooms of pediatricians and dentists. One of my favorite things to do while waiting rooms was to work on the “hidden picture” in the children’s magazine, Highlights. Spiritual mapping is similar to this activity. In spiritual mapping we are looking for things that are right in front of us, yet hidden. Spiritual mapping may only be accomplished by the Spirit of the Lord, and not by power or might. Unless we are called by God to do this work for the honor of His Name as well as the profit and the increase of His Kingdom, it will not prosper. We must always be quick to recognize our need for the leadership of the Holy Spirit, and be dependent on Him to accomplish the work.

We need to understand that spiritual mapping is NOT spiritual warfare. It is a precursory tactic to warfare. We can gather data, ascertain information, and pin it on a map all we want. However, that in and of itself, will not disperse the darkness. As we submit ourselves unto the Lord, allowing Him to wield us as His weapon, we wage war against the enemy. The only way to be in the perfect timing of the Lord is to wait upon Him - He is our Commander and Chief.

“The Lord is a man of war; the Lord is His Name.” Exodus 15:3

“Thou art my battle ax and weapons of war; for with thee will I break in pieces the nations, and with thee will I destroy kingdoms.” Jeremiah 51:20

A study of the history of the land and its peoples is crucial in spiritual mapping. We must be able to understand the mind set, habits, and customs of the “original” people. When studying the history of our county, the team recognized that its earliest people were a particular tribe of Indians. Later, a certain ethnic group predominated the area. So we concentrated our study on finding out the unrighteous practices and beliefs of these people. Generally, you will be dealing with whatever strongholds the original residents opened the door to through their sin.

Another mapping team discovered in their area that the original Indians of their community were fascinated with tattooing their whole bodies, and considered it to be their clothing. Today public nudity is a real problem in that community. Also, there are unusually large numbers of tattoo parlors there. These facts better equip them to target their warfare.

We especially sought to know what were God’s redemptive purposes and gifts for the county. The goal of spiritual mapping and spiritual warfare is always the saving of souls. Jesus, in giving the Great Commission, did not say go into all the world and spiritually map. This mapping is but a tool to help us accomplish His desire.

“And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, ‘All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and the Son, and of the Holy Ghost; teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.’ Amen.” Matthew 28:18-20

A nation goes to war to protect: itself, valuable principles or commodities. In part, our participation in Desert Storm was to protect a very valuable commodity - oil. As a nation, we don’t produce sufficient oil for our needs and therefore are dependent on having access to purchase that of other nations. Our access to the supply of something we as a nation could not function without was at grave risk. We entered into war.

In World War II, the most precious of principles in free nations were at stake: freedom and liberty. We entered into war.

I am not entering into debate or justifying our nation’s presence in these wars. However, as a holy nation, the church of the Lord Jesus Christ, we must be alert and ready for spiritual war. We must be willing to fight for the most valuable of principles and commodities: the Gospel and the souls for whom Christ died. Had the Lord not intended for us to know spiritual war, He would not have made such statements as, “Fight the good fight of faith...” (I Timothy 6:12), “..the weapons of our warfare are...” (2 Corinthians 10:4), “Thou are my battle ax and weapons of war...” (Jeremiah 51:20) and the list could go on.

2. Why Should You Spiritually Map an Area?

In the following scripture we see that the Lord had Moses send spies into the land to find out specific details concerning the land. He wanted them to possess the land, not just move in and blend.

“And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, ‘ Send thou men, that they may search the land of Canaan, which I give unto the children of Israel; of every tribe of their fathers shall ye send a man, every one a ruler among them. ... And Moses sent them to spy out the land of Canaan, and said unto them, ‘Get you up this way southward, and go up into the mountain; and see the land, what it is and the people that dwelleth therein, whether they be strong [hard, bold, violent ] or weak [slack in mind and body ], few or many; and what the land is that they dwell in, whether it be good [bountiful, better, best ] or bad [in affliction, adversity, calamity ]; and what cities they be that they dwell in, whether in tents [a temporary inhabitant of the land, migrant transient ], or in strong holds [permanent residents ]; and what the land is, whether it be fat or lean, whether there be wood therein, or not. And be ye of good courage and bring of the fruit of the land.’ Now the time was the time of the first ripe grapes.” Numbers 13:1-2, 17-20

They also noted the people groupings and their locations within the land.

“The Amalekites dwell in the land of the south; and the Hittites, and the Jebusites, and the Amorites dwell in the mountains; and the Canaanites dwell by the sea, and by the coast of Jordan. Numbers 13:29

The Apostle Paul did some spiritual reconnaissance while in Athens which revealed to him the city had been given over to idols. The result of his studying and surveying better equipped him for addressing the leaders of the city and later evangelizing the area.

“Now while Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit was stirred in him, when he saw the city wholly given to idolatry. ... Then Paul stood in the midst of Mars’ Hill, and said, ‘ Ye men of Athens, I perceive that in all things ye are too superstitious. For as I passed by, and beheld your devotions, I found an altar with this inscription, TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, Him declare I unto you.” Acts 17:16, 22-23

You need to be firm in your understanding of spiritual mapping and spiritual warfare. In almost anything you do, you will be challenged by someone at some time, as to the work you are doing.

Before you step into a mapping and/or warfare project, you need to know that you have been called by God to do so. Know where you stand scripturally, not as a means of defense, but as a confidence in what you are doing.

Today, when we scout out our land, what are we looking for? What is the spiritual land like? Do we have camps or strongholds of pornography? Does our city have camps of homosexuality, alcohol abuse, drugs? Is our city held by strongholds of poverty, debt, maybe greed? What camps have joined forces in order to accomplish a greater work? Don’t be fooled by thinking that the camps of darkness don’t strategize and even work together. They do!

Our mapping exposed a treaty, of sorts, between two camps. We noticed that everywhere there was the presence of Santeria [an ancient religion with African roots that includes animal sacrifices, prevalent among Cubans], there were a number of places that promoted pornography. One work enabled and strengthened another. To deal in warfare with one camp and not the other would be futile. Similarly ties were exposed between homosexuality and new age works.

We cannot merely go to church services on Sundays, and Bible studies during the week, and know what is going on in our communities. We need to invest the time and energy it takes to scout out the land.

Years ago when my husband and I were weighing renting a particular house, we strongly considered the neighborhood. We first visited to see the house about ten o’clock in the morning. Everything in the neighborhood looked quiet and well manicured. I decided, however, to pay a return visit in the early evening. I found a different picture. Older teenagers congregated in front yards playing loud music, smoking, and girls scantily dressed were hanging on boys. Younger children were playing ball in the street while cursing flowed out of their mouths with no hesitation. Well, we had four small children at that time and felt that this was not the place for us to rear them in their formative years. When we consider a house, don’t we as well consider the school district involved? What stores are close to which our children could bicycle?

God wants us to learn to scout out the land. No neighborhood is perfect. We need to know how the enemy is operating in our area and seek the Lord for His strategy to bring in righteousness.

3. Where Do Territorial Spirits Operate?

One of the major differences that separate Christian beliefs from those of the pagan is our understanding and worship of one God. A religion of monotheism worships one God, versus the worship and the recognition of many gods.

“But the Lord is the true God, He is the living God, and an everlasting king....Thus shall ye say unto them, ‘The gods that have not made the heavens, and the earth, even they shall perish from the earth, and from under these heavens’.” Jeremiah 10:10-11

Many of these gods were recognized as deities that operated over cities or regions. For example:

“And the servants of the king of Syria said unto him, ‘Their gods are gods of the hills; therefore they were stronger than we, but let us fight against them in the plain, and surely we shall be stronger than they’.” I Kings 20:23

“But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me one and twenty days; but, lo Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, and I remained there with the kings of Persia.” Daniel 10:13

We see gods and goddesses over people groupings.

“Because that they have forsaken Me, and have worshipped Ashtoreth the goddess of the Zidonians, Chemosh, the god of the Moabites, and Milcom, the god of the children of Ammon, and have not walked in my ways, to do that which is right in Mine eyes, and to keep My statutes and My judgments, as did David his father.” I Kings 11:33

As we study further, we find gods that were associated with other things.

“The children gather wood, and the fathers kindle the fire, and the women knead their dough, to make cakes to the queen of heaven, and to pour out drink offerings unto other gods, that they may provoke Me to anger.” Jeremiah 7:18

“Then He brought me to the door of the gate of the Lord’s house which was toward the north, and, behold, there sat women weeping for Tammuz.” Ezekiel 8:14

We see the account of God sending Moses to call down plagues upon Egypt. Each plague demonstrated the power of the One true God, and the impotency of the gods of Egypt.

(1) When the Lord called upon Moses, the first sign He gave to him was his rod. His rod, which turned into a serpent, consumed the serpents that had rods of the magicians of Pharaoh. The serpent was the symbol of royal authority to the Egyptians and was even a part of Pharaoh’s crown. (Exodus 7:9) (2) Hapi was the god of the Nile, and he was powerless as God turned the water into blood. (Exodus 7:17) (3) Think of the mocking of Heka, the female deity with a frog’s head, when God brought forth frogs into the land. (Exodus 8:2) (4) Shu, the god of the air, was not able to stand against God’s plague of flies. (Exodus 8:21) (5) The plague against the cattle was a direct assault also, as the Egyptians worshipped cattle. (Exodus 9:3) (6) In the plague where boils resulted as Moses and Aaron threw ashes from the furnace into the air, God blatantly mocked the gods Sutech and Typhon. Their usual offering was the ashes of sacrificial victims. (Exodus 9:18) (7) As hail fell from the sky, none of the gods of heaven could stop it. (Exodus 9:18) (8) Part of Egypt’s beauty was the Sycamore trees. God sent the locust and they were all devoured. (Exodus 10:4) (9) The plague of darkness showed the impotency of Ra, the sun god. (Exodus 10:21) (10) Listen to the declaration of the Lord as He was about to destroy the first born. “For I will pass through the land of Egypt on this night, and will smite all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment; I am the Lord.” (Exodus 12:12)

Every time God had Moses speak to Pharaoh, He had him say, “let My people go, that they may serve Me and worship Me”. Remember, the bottom-line for spiritual mapping and warfare is for the saving of souls, in order that all of God’s creation would be able to “serve and worship Him.”

I feel as if Scripture makes it clear that certain deities or evil spirits work over regions or people groups. I also see in Scripture that God uses His people to come against these deities.

“Thou art my battle axe and weapons of war; for with thee will I break in pieces the nations, and with thee will I destroy kingdoms; and with thee will I break in pieces the horse and his rider, and with thee will I break in pieces the chariot and his rider.” Jeremiah 51:20-21

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

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

In the book of Judges, God gave clear instruction to Gideon to bring down the stronghold of Baal, his father’s god, and to establish the area as the Lord’s. The KJV uses the term “altar of Baal”, which simply means the place from which that deity was operating.

“Then Gideon built an altar there unto the Lord, and called it Jehovah-shalom; unto this day it is yet in Ophrah of the Abiezrites. 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 they father hath, and cut down the grove that is by it; and build an altar unto the Lord they God upon the top of this rock in the ordered place, and take the second bullock, and offer a burn sacrifice with the wood of the grove which thou shalt cut down.” Judges 6:24-26

In this passage and those that precede it, we understand that Gideon was in awe of God and grateful for His working power. So much so that he built an altar to the Lord. However, as pleased as I imagine the Lord was with Gideon’s devotion, God asked more of him. He wanted the altar of another god brought down.

We attend worship service and give testimony of God’s love and faithfulness to us. We then drive home passing an abortion clinic and probably two or three places that sell pornography. Is God not requiring of us the same that He did of Gideon? Does He not want us to bring down the altars and groves of pornography, abortion, Masonic works, etc?

God does not intend for us to “serve and worship Him” as we live amiably in the midst of other gods. He is a jealous God and wants us actively working against that which is an abomination to His holiness and truth.

4. How Do You Form A Spiritual Mapping Team?

A spiritual mapping project for a city or a good size neighborhood would usually need to be comprised of about ten to twelve people. The work load would most likely be too heavy for any smaller size group. A mapping project will also be a long term project. Depending on the geographical size and population of a region, an average project will demand about a two year time investment. Team members should be ready for the duration. Know that God has called you!

Some of the work will be exciting and exhilarating, while yet other aspects will appear to be boring and laborious. As a team you will need to pray much for one another and encourage one another. Of the utmost importance is the need to be dependent upon the Lord. You will need to spend much time waiting upon Him for counsel and revelation on how to proceed.

There are various aspects to any mapping project. Prayer is an area that all members should be skilled in and willing to do. Your prayer closet time is invaluable. However, you must also have a consistent and disciplined plan for corporate prayer.

Your project will require many hours of research. There will be those that really enjoy doing library or historical society research. Although everyone may do some reading on the area, some will be more skilled in finding those “nuggets of gold” that will prosper the work. Others will have the patience and enjoyment of going carefully through the newspapers and keeping up on the current events of the area. It is necessary to keep organized files and to document all your work.

Still other members will be very good at interviewing. There will be people in the community that have the information you need. Perhaps they are “old-timers” and the treasure you seek is only to be found in the archives of their hearts and memories. Not everyone is skilled or comfortable in sitting down with someone and “picking his/her brain”, or listening to that person “walk down memory lane”. Remember to take good notes, with their permission, and to be a good listener.

Your project will require individuals that have the anointing and boldness to go into places that “good Christians” do not go. We have walked streets that “ladies” would not walk. I believe that the “Light” is greater than the darkness, and therefore my protection is provided for by my God. There are those on our team who do not feel comfortable or called to that aspect of the work, so they do not do it, someone else does.

I want to stress that there will be situations in your work when the Lord will say, “Do not pursue this any further” or “leave this alone”. Despite what liberty you have known in operating at other times, when the Lord puts the reins on, STOP. I believe our safety and supply of grace is balanced on scales with our obedience to the Lord. I am in no way negating the mercies of the Lord, simply being mindful of our call to obedience. I am a person of great boldness. I have learned that this part of my nature can only be a blessing to the Lord and a profit to His work when I am obedient to His voice in each situation.

“And Samuel said, ‘Hath the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams’.” I Samuel 15:22

A necessary qualification for every team member is knowing their authority and position in Jesus Christ. I want to communicate to you that the warfare in this work is intense. Often you will have to resist the enemy and stand your ground.

“I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in Him will I trust.” Psalm 91:2

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

As with any team, you will need a leader. That leader must know how to operate in his or her gifts, while being part of a team. The team must be comprised of saints that know how to work in their gifts and callings under the direction of that leadership. Everyone on the team would operate as directed in God’s Word.

“Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.” Ephesians 5:21

“Let nothing be done through strife or vain-glory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than themselves. Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. Philippians 2:3-4

Remember that the purpose of Spiritual Mapping is to help in the work of harvesting souls. With that being the case, each person involved needs to share a burden for the saving of those souls. Each team member should bear the fruit of compassion and love towards the lost. We should always remember that love is what best represents Christ.

Before I close this section, I want to talk about spiritual accountability. Your team needs to have a number of pastors/elders, or leaders that back up your work. Remember, God ordained the shepherds to care for the sheep. He set the elders or leaders at the city gates for judging and counsel. You will be confronted with many decisions and many questions in your work. You and the work will prosper when proper counsel is in place. Make sure that those shepherds and elders that come along side of you have clear understanding, and are in agreement with what you are going to be doing.

“Without wise leadership, a nation is in trouble; but with good counselors there is safety.” Proverbs 11:14

“Every purpose is established by counsel; and with good advice make war.” Proverbs 20:18

“For by wise counsel thou shalt make thy war; and in multitude of counselors there is safety.” Proverbs 24:6

Recognize that embarking in this work will take you behind enemy lines. I found it beneficial to have wise and trusted counsel with someone not involved in the project. Saints who knew I was behind the enemy’s line, prayed for me while I was there, and watched to be sure I came out safely.

5. With The Foundation In Place - Let’s Begin To Work

I want to start by reiterating that the following is how the Lord led me in the Battle Axe Brigade. There are perhaps aspects in this work that the Lord will want you to duplicate. There may be other aspects that He will have you to do differently. The best counsel I can give you is to “wait upon the Lord,” and then be obedient to how and what directives He gives you.

I always stress to mapping teams, that their work is not a secret work, but that they do need to be discreet about it. Remember, it is the Holy Spirit who is giving you everything you need, therefore, you want to be a wise steward of what He gives you. Also, you are actually plotting all the locations where Satan has his troops assigned. Reconnaissance work in any war is best kept private.

Equally important is the reason we are preparing for and ultimately going to war, the salvation of souls. Certainly we have to stay focused on the war, but at the same time we must never forget WHY we are at war, and what our goal for that war is.

The Lord instructed me to get a map. On this map we placed colored pins with each color representing certain categories of unrighteous works. Each colored pin is numbered with a corresponding file. In the file we simply list the name of the place and its address. We have no individual names on the list. Remember, we’re not against people.

Example: RED FILE (Cult and Occult Churches)

First Church of Strangeness
5732 Pine Street
Church of the Divine Master
13426 SW 90 Av.
Unification Church of the South
2160 NW 100 Ln.

GREEN FILE ((Pornography)

Downtown Video City
111 Stick Rd.
XXX Adult Bookstore
27 Pine Mesa Dr.
Harbor Gas & Food Spot
9076 Harbor Place

Our first map we call our “camp” map. It shows what spiritual camps are present, what their size is, and who they’re working with. It is inclusive of seven categories.

Cult and Occult Churches (Red Pin)
These would include Jehovah’s Witness Kingdom Halls, Mormon Temples, Bahia, Unity, Unitarian, Christian Science, etc. NOTE: We are not out praying against flesh and blood but locating the stronghold place that holds men’s heart and mind in deception.
Cult and Occult Establishments (Blue Pin)
These would be businesses involved in the cult or occult. Places that do metaphysical healings, Reiki teaching, reincarnation and past life therapy, astrologers, chakra and energy works, I Chang. Places that don’t seem obvious, comic book and baseball card shops. Many of them sell magic cards, Dungeons & Dragons as well. Large chain toy stores in malls sell all sorts of spiritual garbage. This list seems endless.

The mapping exposed that in our county there was a greater commitment to money than devotion to a god or belief. We have about 120 cult and occult churches but about 350 cult and occult businesses.
Pornography (Green Pin)
This could include any place from the very obvious XXX bookstore or lounge that has nude dancers, to a gas station or a small food stop store that sells pornographic magazines. Large chain bookstores carry a lot of pornography, as do airports, some lingerie shops, neighborhood video stores.

The only way to verify the less-than-obvious is to visit or call. If you call with disdain or judgment in your voice or attitude, chances are they’ll simply lie to you if they do carry it. Remember, your goal is reconnaissance, to find out the fullness of this “camp’s” work. When you call you might simply ask what their store hours are and do they sell adult magazines, have an adult room, or rent adult videos. If they say yes, you could then share your disappointment with them and assure them you’ll not be patronizing their store. If they say no, you could commend them for not supporting such unrighteousness. The point is - get your information first.
Freemasonry [Including Easter Star] Orange Pin)
Their temples/shrines or any Blue Lodges.
Abortuaries (Purple Pin)
Here again, perhaps some covert reconnaissance will be required.

There’s always the obvious “Clinic-Pregnancy Termination’s” but what about clinics that aren’t quite so obvious. It has been our experience that the large HMO clinics do not do abortions. There are however, many smaller clinics that do. In ascertaining the reality of the less obvious, you must once again be wise. Two of us would go in and I would go up to the receptionist’s window, maybe lower my voice or wring my hands as if I were nervous or embarrassed. I would ask the receptionist if they terminate pregnancies. If she says yes, it’s usually quickly followed with “would you like to come in?” I would ask if I could bring my friend. They’ve always said “yes”, understanding that a woman of my obvious age must be very distressed. I’ve never said I was pregnant. Here again most people are quick to make assumptions.

NOTE: We never lie, NEVER! If they should directly ask me if I am pregnant or how many weeks I am along, I would tell them I’m not pregnant but am looking into this clinic for a friend. That’s true - I am looking into the clinic for any number of friends with whom I am working.

It has always been my experience that whatever information the Father wants you to have He’s well able to help you get. There’s no need for striving, maybe some spying but no striving. Here again, if God is not requiring this of you, don’t let man require it of you. The Lord will always give you an anointing (which brings peace and confidence) to do what He wants you to do.
Homosexual Works (Yellow Pins)
In this category, we pinned only places that were owned and/or operated by the homosexual community.

It is so important to know that we are not against people. We believe God loves the sinner but hates the sin. We are determining the structure and strength of this principality however. We included homosexual churches on this list and not under cult and occult churches. Typically the homosexual church in America will be called MCC, Metropolitan Community Church, example Rainbow MCC.
Prostitution Works (White Pins)
The obvious, street locations where prostitution is heavy were pinned. Some lingerie shops are fronts for prostitution rings, or some “escort” services are prostitution rings. Once again, you have to depend on the Lord getting you the information He wants you to have. With this particular work there’s usually only a phone number and they come to you. Usually there are specific hotels or motels they favor.

I will share with you one account of our adventures in tracking prostitution. Every week for several weeks in a row I came across an ad (in one of our really low-class newspapers) wanting models for an escort service. The Holy Spirit just kept quickening me about this one. So, in my most seductive voice, I called and said I saw their ad. That got me initially in the door so-to-speak because they figured if I were reading that newspaper I must be of their mindset.

The young woman on the other end of the line, after confirming they were still looking for “girls”, told me that they were unique in that they specialize in “slapping”, “bondage”, and “domination”. She wanted to know if I had any experience in these areas. Well, in that split second of time my mind went blank. The Holy Spirit quickly explained to me what she meant. (I’ll let Him explain it to you.) In that split second of time He gave me a response - a truthful response. I said to her that although I had never had any experience with slapping, I had, however, in the past had plenty of experience with bondage and domination. She took that one way. The truth is, prior to Christ in me, I was in bondage and under domination. She mailed me an application to be filled out and returned as a result of my answer.

The final result was that I had the return address. The white pin went in place on the map, and one more part of the picture of the structure and strength of that “camp” was done.

These seven categories (with their designated color pins) are what the Lord has had us do. He may have you deal with different categories or designate them with different colors. Do what He wants you to do.

Some of our biggest challenges were from the “Body of Christ” telling us “this needs to be done” or “this should be covered”. This may be true, but the Father didn’t give us that as our portion. Stay within your portion. That’s where your safety will be, your grace and your anointing.

The Lord stressed to us that every pin on our maps represents two things. He keeps us aware of this fact. First, that pin represents souls. People who are created in His image and likeness; people for whom He sent His Son to die on the cross for. People He wants to come to repentance and into salvation. We stand in the gap for people we do not know anything about. We war on their behalf, petitioning the Lord to bring them out of the darkness, and into His marvelous Light. We ask for their salvation as part of our heritage, as opposed to seeing them as our enemies.

Ask of Me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, ... Psalms 2:8

For we wrestle not against flesh and blood.. Ephesians 6:12

Secondly, we know that at that location, a spiritual strongman is operating. We will go to the location and pray in whatever way the Lord directs us. Sometimes we are impressed to anoint the ground or building with oil. Maybe we’ll plant a Bible there. We bind and loose as led by the Spirit of the Lord, always releasing grace into the area, because grace teaches godliness. We appropriate the work of the Blood of Jesus because the blood redeems individuals, draws them close to God, and cleanses their consciences.

“For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world.” Titus 2:11-12

“In Whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;” Ephesians 1:7

“But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.” Ephesians 2:13

“How much more shall the blood of Christ, who though the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?” Ephesians 9:14

I am not inferring that effective warfare can’t be done from the prayer closet. There are times, however, when “being on location” affords better discernment; therefore, bringing about greater results. I believe God wants us to be open to do both.

We now have a total of four maps pinned with corresponding files. The second map has the city parks, public attractions, public schools, and areas of transportation (bus stations, boat marinas, airports, etc.) leading into or out of the county. The Lord specifically gave us these categories with directives on how to pray concerning each one. These were not areas where there was darkness necessarily , just areas for which He was asking us to take spiritual accountability.

The third map is our historic map. It is pinned with corresponding files noting locations where there was an original act of unrighteousness, or trauma to the area. Here’s where many hours are logged at the library, historical society, or film strip rooms at the newspaper office. Regarding the unrighteous acts of our area, we started the study of our county’s history from the middle 1500’s. Some of what is included on this map are: war sites, massacre locations, Indian burial mounds, race riots, and original houses of prostitution. We also tracked the major traumas to the people and the land. For example, things like major hurricanes, the fall of Eastern Airlines, or maybe a particularly bizarre murder.

Our fourth map is our Church map. As we would visit (not necessarily for a Sunday service) and pray for a church, we would pin them according to denomination and their major ethnos group. It proved interesting to compare this map with our “camp” map to see where churches weren’t prospering or where neighborhoods, because of life-giving congregations, were prospering.

Just a quick tip - Don’t put too many categories on one map! If the map gets too crowded, you will lose focus and miss any strategies the mapping is revealing. Never pin any place on your maps that your team has not verified personally. You should know for certain that what you are pinning, is what you think it is, and that it is operating where you think it is. This will afford you a clear conscience when sharing your work with leaders in your area and at the same time produce a work of excellence.

To assist you in beginning your project, I have listed some of the resources we used in finding the locations of our categories.

Yellow Pages - Look under Churches, Religious Organizations, Religious Goods, Metaphysicians, Clubs, Nightclubs, Bookstores, Video Stores, News Dealers, Clinics (Abortion), Psychics, Palmists. Remember to verify by making a phone call or visit. Maybe some have closed up shop or moved.
City Newspaper - Also smaller neighborhood papers, newspapers put out by the New Age Movement or the gay and lesbian community. Some of these will not be casual reading material, but none the less will provide you with valuable information.
Bulletin Boards - Check health food stores, New Age bookstores, college campuses.
Libraries and historical societies.
City Halls or Chambers of Commerce - Many of them have compiled “New Resident” packets, which have a wealth of information.
Reconnaissance - Drive around various sections (not to be done by one person - remember the enemy knows you are invading his territory).

We secured a post office box with the name D. Buker (not known to be a male or female). This was the address that we gave for any literature or subscriptions mailed to us. Remember! Your focus at this point is not evangelism. You are locating and infiltrating the enemy’s camp for the purpose of ultimately breaking up his works.

Any army would be foolish to go to war without first knowing where the enemy’s communications sites, their ammo depots, etc. are located. The Bible never suggests that we be “a fool for Jesus”. The Lord raises us up to be alert, wise, and skillful.

There were many times we would go right into the enemy’s camp. For instance, the homosexual agenda in our county has its own Chamber of Commerce meetings at a certain time each month. Two of us would always attend. We were just two women sitting and listening (infiltrating). No one ever asked us our sexual preference. They simply made an assumption. Announcements regarding the opening of new ‘bed and breakfast’ locations, what clubs were active, etc., are made at these meetings.

We go into the Satanic and New Age bookstores in our county. Our Christian bookstores put up flyers and notices about what Christian speakers, musicians, or conferences are going to be in town and where. The bookstores of darkness do the same thing. Chances are your local church bulletin will not announce when coven meetings are being held, what psychic fairs or events are coming to town, etc.

The Father asked me once, if I knew for certain that a thief was coming to my home on a particular day and time, would I leave it unattended? I, of course responded, “No Sir, I would not.” He then said to me that whenever I know a thief (an assignment from the kingdom of darkness) is coming into my county that I (someone in the army of the Lord) should be there. For instance, when the Nation of Islam, or the singing group, the Grateful Dead, or a New Age or Psychic Fair comes to our county, we are there. (Note: We do not necessarily attend the event, but are for the most part on the grounds implementing whatever word the Father has given us for that specific event) Does this take of your time and energy? Yes! The Lord however has asked us to be committed to our cities and her peoples.

We need to stop being intimidated by darkness. The Word tells us:

“As the bird by wandering, as the swallow by flying, so the curse causeless shall not come.” Proverbs 26:2

“Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him that loved us.” Romans 8:37

Read afresh what “all these things” are that we are more than conquerors over.

“...greater is He that is in you, than he that is in the world.” I John 4:4

In other words, if we’re in right standing before the Lord, no demons are going to jump on us because we’ve gone into some store.

A point of liberty: there are a variety of gifts and callings in Christ. There will be some on your team who will be confident (in Christ) and skilled at going into abortion clinics or satanic stores, etc. There are others who are not comfortable in doing that. If God doesn’t require if of you, don’t let man. Let each one’s gift be properly placed in the work by the Holy Spirit.

There is no room in any part of the Father’s work for spiritual temperature taking. Whether one excels at archival studies or is good at reconnaissance or has skills for infiltration, all are needed to make up the army of the Lord.

You need to know what area you are to map. It could be a neighborhood (a fairly large region, but not an incorporated area), a city, or a county. At this point, your team members and spiritual covering should already be established. Corporate prayer times should be agreed upon then kept. Never forsake personal time in your prayer closet.

This project will demand a fair amount of finances. The preliminary expenses will include the purchase of maps, clear contact paper to cover them, foam boards to mount them, straight pins with colored paper flags, and file folders. We found it important to laminate the maps as they must endure a substantial amount of “wear and tear”. The foam boards are the most secure means of supporting the maps. We used double sided tape to adhere the maps to the boards. The straight pins hold small labels, enabling us to distinguish various items or categories. (The smaller push pins are not recommended.) It is amazing how it all adds up so quickly. After evaluating what each member of the team can contribute, consider asking those in agreement with the work if they would contribute monthly for a season.

Please do not be overwhelmed with what you perceive the work to be in a spiritual mapping project. God is well able to uphold you and anoint you to do the work. God will give you everything you need step by step; then one day, you will “look up” and be amazed at what great and mighty things He has done.

6. “Prophesying To” and “Praying Over” Your City

What does it mean to prophesy? Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance says “to speak or sing by inspiration in prediction or simple discourse”, “Something fulfilled, an abundance (of produce) fruit, fullness.” Merriam Webster’s Dictionary says to prophesy is “to declare or predict something by or as by the influence of divine guidance, to predict something.”

Let us first look at some examples from the Holy Scriptures concerning prophesying to various places. As we study these accounts of the Lord and the prophets speaking not only to people, but also to places, we ascertain a secure foundation for praying in this manner and fashion.

The Lord told Jeremiah

“Go and shout this in Jerusalem’s streets...” Jeremiah 2:2 (TLB)

Isaiah prophesied to Israel

“Arise, shine; for thy light is come and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee. For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth and gross darkness the people; but the Lord shall arise upon thee, and His glory shall be seen upon thee.” Isaiah 60:1-2

In the book of Ezekiel we see

“Also, thou son of man, prophesy unto the mountains of Israel, hear the word of the Lord:” Ezekiel 36:1

And in the New Testament, Matthew 11 reads

“Then began He (Jesus) to upbraid the cities wherein most of His mighty works were done, because they repented not. ‘Woe unto thee, Chorazin! woe unto thee, Bethsaida! for if the mighty works, which were don in you, had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes.” Matthew 11:20-21

The Word of God ensures us that the Lord has not changed (Malachi 3:6), and that He shows no partiality towards any nation (Acts 10:34). We can be confident that if we walk uprightly, the Lord will give grace and glory to our cities, and withhold no good thing from us (Psalms 84:11). Therefore, as His ambassadors, in our cities we may prophesy in His name, as inspired by the Holy Spirit as we see it done in Scripture.

One act of prophesying is the declaration of something by divine inspiration. To receive divine inspiration concerning our cities, we must first spend time before the Lord, seeking His heart for that place (Jeremiah 33:3). He already has plans and purposes for every place He created (Jeremiah 29:11). Strong’s Exhaustive concordance says that prophesying is also speaking something that is fulfilled. When I speak to my city; I say to it, “Miami, as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so the Son of Man was lifted up, that, if you, Miami, believe in Jesus, you will not perish but have eternal life through Him.” or perhaps I might say, “Miami, it was God who commanded the Light to shine out of the darkness, and He will shine in your heart also, to give the Light of the knowledge of the glory of Himself in the face of Christ Jesus.” I declare that, “Jesus Christ is the resurrection and the life, and all in Miami who believe in Jesus, though you were dead, you shall never die.” “Miami, you can have redemption through Jesus Christ’s blood and the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace.” (The Scripture portions for the above declarations came from: John 3:14-15, 11:25-26, II Corinthians 4:6 and Ephesians 1:7.)

I believe we can speak as was spoken in Isaiah 43:6, “I will say to the north, ‘Give them up!’ and to the south, ‘Do not keep them back!’ Bring My sons from afar, and My daughters from the ends of the earth.” Since God is no respecter of persons, and His Word is the same yesterday, today and forever, we can be confident as Ezekiel was when he prophesied to the dry bones (Ezekiel 37:4). Think of the great harvest in our cities as we stand and believe for verses 11-14 of Ezekiel 37.

As the righteous, we can have the promise God spoke to Job, “Thou shalt make thy prayer unto Him, He shall hear thee, and thou shalt pay thy vows. Thou shalt also decree a thing, and it shall be established unto thee; and the light shall shine upon thy ways. When men are cast down, then thou shalt say, ‘There is lifting up; and He shall save the humble person. He shall deliver the island of the innocent; and it is delivered by the pureness of thine hands (Job 22:27-30).

As I walk or drive around my city and pray, I loose these spiritual truths. I also bind the works of the kingdom of darkness sent on assignment to my city. I am convinced of God’s promise to back up with His authority what I bind and loose from the earth (Matthew 16:19); and of the power and authority in the name of Jesus Christ (Matthew 28:18).

I believe Jesus’ word in Luke 10:19 is for me, and for now. I also take great heed of His Word in Luke 10:20. I keep my rejoicing fixed upon Him and His grace that has saved me. The Bible tells us that “life and death are in the power of the tongue” (Proverbs 18:21). We can choose to speak life to our cities and have them partake of the fruit of it, or we can speak death over our cities and eat the fruit of that.

7. The Work of Grace in Your City

In recognizing God’s promise to bind and loose from heaven those things that we bind and loose from the earth, we must consider the responsibility that presents to us in our praying. What can we loose in our cities that will bring honor to the Name of the Lord and work to bring about an increase and profit for the Body of Christ?

Let us consider the work of Grace:

According to New Testament Greek, grace is favor done without expectation of return; the absolutely free expressing of the loving kindness of God to men, finding its only motive in the bounty and benevolence of the Giver; unearned and unmerited favor. Webster’s Dictionary says, “grace is the free unmerited love and favor of God, divine influence acting in man to restrain him from sin.”

In Titus we read: “For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, teaching (educating, disciplining, chastening and instructing) us that, denying (disavowing, rejecting and refusing) ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly (wit sound mind, moderately and self-controlled), righteously, and godly, in this present world.” Titus 2:11-12 [All the preceding definitions in parentheses come from Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance.]

As we, the righteous, in covenant with our God, loose grace to the souls in our cities, we are giving them that which will instruct them and enable them to say NO to ungodliness and worldly lust, to live soberly, uprightly and godly.

Romans 5:20 states that “..where sin abounded, grace did much more abound”. I Peter 4:10 speaks of God’s grace being manifold, meaning that His grace is diverse in its character. Despite the fact that sin is a work, we can be assured that grace is an even greater work. If the work of lust or greed or witchcraft is operating in the souls in our cities, we can still be encouraged because we know that God’s great grace is diverse in its working character.

The Lord assured Paul that in whatever hard place, “My grace is sufficient for thee..” (II Corinthians 12:9). Is not this grace still sufficient for the needs of today?

When the Lord sent His apostles out to the lost of the House of Israel, He told them that whatever He had so freely given them, they were in turn to give it out freely (Matthew 10:8). Have we not been given much grace from our God? Should we not be freely giving it to the lost? Remember, the more that come into salvation, the more the Lord is glorified. “For by grace are ye saved through faith..” (Ephesians 2:8) The Living Bible says: “And the more of you of you that are won to Christ, the more there are to thank Him for His great kindness, and the more the Lord is glorified.” (II Corinthians 4:15)

Let us look at the work of grace in Zechariah 4:7: “Who art thou, O great mountain! before Zerubbabel thou shalt become a plain: and he shall bring forth the headstone thereof with shoutings, crying, Grace, grace unto it.” The capstone speaks of the finishing of the work. As we press in during these last days, we can be confident that the grace of God is enough to prepare our cities to come into the Kingdom of God. I like the way Matthew Henry’s Commentary speaks of the grace of God in this passage: “all the difficulties and oppositions that lie in the way shall be removed, even those that seem insuperable”. The enemy of the Jews (or the people in our cities today) are proud and hard as great mountains; but, when God has work to do, the mountains dwindle into mole hills. Faith will remove mountains and make them plains. Christ is our Zerubbabel, nothing is too hard for His grace to accomplish.

Being reminded that the purpose for spiritual mapping and warfare is for the saving of souls, and the increase of the Body of Christ, let us move about our cities shouting, “Grace! grace!” to them.

8. Appropriating the Work of the Blood of Christ on Behalf of Our
Cities

In the book of Exodus we see the Lord declaring to Moses that whatever household they put the blood of a lamb over, it would be spared from the work of the plague. “And the blood shall be to you for a token upon the houses where ye are; and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy you, when I smite the land of Egypt. (Exodus 12:13)

In this verse the King James Version uses the word token instead of sign. Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance defines token as a signal, flag, beacon, evidence or mark. The Lord says that the blood would be a “token” for them. In other words, the blood was to be evidence for them of His promise. In the same verse the word “see” means to consider, approve or advise self. Just think, when the Lord saw the blood on the door He advised Himself to pass over or spare them. WOW!

We are clearly taught in Scripture that the Blood of Christ far surpasses the work of the blood of lambs and goats. If the Lord paid such attention to the blood of an earthly lamb, how much more attention is He paying to and honoring the presence of the Blood of His Only Begotten Son?

In the book of Leviticus the fourteenth chapter, we read of the instructions given to the priests in order to cleanse the leper. Leprosy was not only a severe disease but in Scripture is also representative of sin. The Levitical account shows the sprinkling of blood being used to bring about cleansing. As we sprinkle or apply the blood of Christ in prayer, His blood does the even greater work.

We read of the prophetic word concerning the work of the blood of Jesus in the book of Isaiah. “So shall He sprinkle many nations, the kings shall shut their mouths at Him; for that which had not been told them shall they see; and that which they had not heard shall they consider.

The word translated “sprinkle” in this passage is also defined as “startle”. Just as if you were to take water with your fingers and flick it in someone’s face, they would be startled, you would have their attention. That is what Christ did with His Blood. He got the attention of nations and kings, and the Blood caused them to see and hear that which they had not previously seen or heard. As we stand in the gap for our cities and apply the Blood of Jesus, we are loosing to them that which will get their attention. We can not do the work of the Blood, but with faith we can appropriate the work of the Blood so that it can do what it was shed to do.

The following Scriptures tell us of the work of the Blood of Christ:

“That at time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world: but now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the Blood of Christ.” Ephesians 2:12-13

“And having made peace through the blood of His cross, by Him to reconcile all things unto Himself, by Him I say, whether they be things in earth or things in heaven.” Colossians 1:20

“How much more shall the Blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? (Hebrews 9:14)

“For as much as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; but with the precious Blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.” (I Peter 1:18-19)

As we apply the Blood of Jesus over the souls in our cities, we are covering them with that which will draw them nigh to God, cleanse their consciences so they can serve the living God, and sanctify, redeem and reconcile them. One last Scripture on the work of the Blood is found in the book of Hebrews.

“And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the Blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel.” (Hebrews 12:24)

The word “speaketh” in the King James Version means to talk, to utter words, preach and tell. The word “better” means stronger, nobler, dominion, might, power and strength. The Blood of Jesus preaches, it tells, it utters, the dominion, the power and the nobility of Christ. As I apply the Blood over souls, the blood speaks to them and over them.

During work in our county, I have interviewed many leaders in the New Age Movement. They have told me things like, “I never go to a mall that I don’t first drive around it with my crystals and DRIVE OUT the negative energy.” Those bound in the deception of the kingdom of darkness are busy doing what they think is effective for the betterment of themselves and all men.

As God’s people we possess the Truth. We hold the real weapons to bring down strongholds. Are we working as diligently as the enemy’s camp? Are we appropriating the works of the Blood of Jesus as we go into grocery stores, parks, hospitals or our children’s schools? Are we diligently DOING what Scripture has taught us for the betterment of ourselves and all men?

We can do all things through Christ Jesus! That includes praying and warring on behalf of our (God’s) cities.

9. The Wonderful Work of God’s Wisdom

First, let us study wisdom. Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance says that wisdom is: to be wise in mind, word or act, intelligent, skillful or artful, to have good sense. Webster’s Dictionary defines wisdom as: the quality of being wise, the faculty of making the best use of knowledge, experience, understanding, etc., good judgment, sagacity [penetrating intelligence, quickness or acuteness of discernment].

Wisdom sounds like something that we all need!

For those that are not in Christ, they are under the influence of earthly wisdom. This wisdom is deceitful and oppressive. It affects the way they think in every arena of life. God’s Word gives us a clear description of this wisdom.

“This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly (worldly, in earth, terrestrial), sensual (soulish, the part of the immaterial life held in common with animals, as contrasted to our spirit, which enables us to communicate with God), and devilish (demon-like, a supernatural spirit of a bad nature).” James 3:15

As we pray on behalf of our cities or neighborhoods, we need to bind up earthly wisdom and loose God’s wisdom. When we do this we provide an environment (at least for a period of time) for souls there to be out from under the unrighteous counsel of the world, the soul, and demons and be able to hear the message the Spirit of Wisdom is preaching.

Does this great wisdom have a message that she preaches? In studying the following passage from Proverbs we can see that she does.

“Wisdom crieth [through the idea of accosting a person, to call a person by name, preach, publish] without [outdoors, in fields, in the highways]: she uttereth [to give (with a great deal of latitude), bestow, grant, distribute appoint, command, require] her voice in the streets; She crieth in the chief place of concourse [any place that is in great commotion or tumult, where there is rage, war, clamor], in the openings of the gates; in the city she uttereth her words, saying, ‘How long, ye simple ones [silly, seducible, foolish] , will ye love simplicity? and the scorners [ to make mouth at, to scoff, mock (have in derision)], delight in their scorning, and fools [stupid, silly, foolish] hate knowledge? Turn [turn back, repent, be restored, convert, say nay] at my reproof [chastisement, correction, refutation, proof]: behold, I will pour out my spirit unto you, I will make known my words unto you.’” Proverbs 1:20-23

We can see from this Scripture that Wisdom preaches to all people the same message: repent and be restored to God. She goes boldly and aggressively (with the idea of accosting a person) to all places (open places, the streets, where there’s riots, gates) where there are souls. She speaks to many classes of people, simple ones, fools, scorners and, of course, to the saints.

In the book of James we see evidence of God’s mercy as we read that He gives to all men and that He doesn’t rail at or chide them as He gives out His gifts.

“If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.” James 1:5

Let us rejoice as we read a description of this wonderful wisdom that the Father has given.

“But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.” James 3:17

To think that when we loose this wisdom into our cities, that the souls therein are going to be confronted (each one being called by their own name [Note from the word “crieth” from Proverbs 1:20]). They will be confronted with something that is perfect, something that speaks of reconciliation, something that is so good that it will be easy to yield to, and easy to comply with. It will have mercy with it and be willing to give good fruits. It won’t refuse any.