APOSTOLIC PRINCIPALITIES

Ephesians 6:12, KJV – “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.”

We’ve all read this verse. We are in a war, but our war is not against man (flesh and blood), but against spiritual forces (principalities, powers, rulers of the darkness, spiritual wickedness in high places).

What is a principality? For the sake of simplicity, let’s define a principality as a high level spiritual force that exercises control, or at least influence, over a person, a church, a city, a region, or even a country. In other words, there can be controlling principalities operating in a person’s life, and exercising control or influence over them. And there can just as well be controlling principalities operating in a larger arena, such as a church, city, etc., exercising control or influence over them. Therefore, another word for “principality” is “authority”. In fact, in the New International Version, the word “principality” is translated as “authority” or “power” or “ruler” in Ephesians 6:12, as well as Luke 12:11, Ephesians 3:10, Colossians 1:16, Colossians 2:15, and Titus 3:1. The word in the Greek is “arche”, literally “beginning or origin”, which speaks of high level authority.

Now, our goal is not just to defeat the principality (high level authority). Our goal is to have peace. From the natural, we learn that peace is not attained by just defeating the enemy, but by actually displacing the “evil” rulers, and setting up “good” rulers, so that the evil rulers no longer have any place of influence. In the same way, to have peace in the spiritual realm, we must not just pray and win the war over the “evil” principalities or authorities, we must displace them, and actually set up “godly” principalities or authorities.

And this is where the apostolic ministry comes in. In Luke 9:1, NASB, “… He called the twelve [apostles] together, and gave them power and authority over all the demons, and to heal diseases.” In Luke 10:1, NASB, “… after this the Lord appointed seventy others, and sent [“apostled”; Greek = apostello] them two and two ahead of Him to every city and place where He Himself was going to come.” Whether these men could be called “lesser apostles” is a discussion for the theologians, but it is clear from the Greek that Jesus appointed a very select seventy men, and “apostled” (sent) them out with authority, and said to them, in Luke 10:19, NASB, “I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you.” All the power of the enemy? Even the high level power (principalities)?

Jesus sent His 12 apostles, and these 70 other select men, and “apostled” them, and gave them authority over all of the power of the enemy, and authority to pronounce peace over the homes they entered (Luke 10:5). Therefore, because of this special authority given by Christ, “… the seventy returned with joy, saying, ‘Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name.’” (Luke 10:17, NASB).  And Jesus basically replied to them, “It wasn’t just the demons who were being displaced, you were displacing high level principalities”. In fact, “… He said to them, ‘I was watching Satan fall from heaven [Greek = “ouranos” = “the heavenlies, the heavens, the sky, the air”] like lightning.’” Incredible! Even Satan was displaced from his place of power over the cities that these men went into!

In Acts 20, as Paul was on his way to Jerusalem, to be captured, and bound in chains, he first called for the Elders of Ephesus, where there had in the past been some pretty high level principalities operating and exercising influence over that city. In Acts 20:29, NASB, Paul said something very interesting. “I know that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock.” Now, why did these wolves have to wait until AFTER Paul had left? Because Paul was the apostolic authority or principality that had displaced the demonic principalities, and as long as God’s principality (Paul) was exercising authority over that city, the demonic principalities were displaced, and could not operate! Referring back to Luke 10, when Jesus had “apostled” the 70 with authority to other cities, Jesus told them, in Luke 10:3, NASB – “Go your ways; behold, I send you out as lambs in the midst of wolves.” And as they went, the apostolic principalities (peace-bringing lambs) displaced the wolves, so that the wolves were not able to exercise influence in those cities. But when Paul left Ephesus, and he was no longer functioning as an apostolic principality in Ephesus, he knew that the wolves would be able to come back in, and regain influence over the city!

From Paul’s statement, it becomes obvious that two things must be done, if the church is truly to displace the high level Satanic principalities over every city. First, the apostolic ministry, those men and women “apostled” by God must be raised up, recognized, and allowed to be established as spiritual authorities in every city. Second, they must STAY in those cities, so that the Satanic principalities stay displaced.

God is not just re-establishing the apostolic to bring order back to the church. He is re-establishing the apostolic so that we can take whole cities for the kingdom – city by city by city! As Mark 3:27, NASB says, “… no one can enter a strong man's house and carry off his possessions unless he first ties up the strong man. …” In these last days, God is wanting to raise up apostles in every city and region to tie up “the strong man” (the Satanic principalities), displace them, and establish apostolic strong men in those cities, so that entire cities can be taken for the glory of God. Then, and only then, when the apostolic “… strong man, fully armed, guards his own house [city church], his possessions are safe.” (Luke 11:21, NASB).

Can we envision a day when the apostles in every city are able to stand up and boldly declare, “We no longer fight against principalities in this city, for WE are the principalities, and so this city belongs to the kingdom of God!”

David Hibbert – December 2003