The High Places

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

I listened as Bob read out of the Bible some scriptures and the word High Places echoed in my mind and wondered what it meant…

This morning I was praying and I was holding my Bible and I opened it to read and I found myself in Ezekiel 43 verses 1 through 7. I get to the end of verse 7 and it there it is it jumps out at me ‘High Places.’

Ezekiel 43:1-7 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

Return of the Lord’s Glory

He led me to the gate, the one that faces east,  and I saw the glory of the God of Israel coming from the east. His voice sounded like the roar of mighty waters, and the earth shone with His glory. The vision I saw was like the one I had seen when He came to destroy the city, and like the ones I had seen by the Chebar Canal. I fell facedown. The glory of the Lord entered the temple by way of the gate that faced east. Then the Spirit lifted me up and brought me to the inner court, and the glory of the Lord filled the temple.

While the man was standing beside me, I heard someone speaking to me from the temple. He said to me: “Son of man, this is the place of My throne and the place for the soles of My feet, where I will dwell among the Israelites forever. The house of Israel and their kings will no longer defile My holy name by their religious prostitution and by the corpses of their kings at their high places. 

So I stopped reading and did a little research and this is what I found. There is so much more to it than this, but this is what God put on my heart.

High places, in biblical times, were places of worship on elevated pieces of ground. High places were originally dedicated to idol worship. (Numbers 33:52; Leviticus 26:30)

But I also found that not all high places were dedicated to idol worship. They played a major role in Israelite worship. The earliest biblical mention of a site of worship, later called a “high place,” is found in Genesis 12:6-8. Where Abram took his son to be sacrificed and traditionally it later is said to be the place where this “high place” was where the temple of Jerusalem was built.

Jacob set up a pillar to the Lord at Bethel. Genesis 28:18-19, and Moses met God on Mt. Sinai Exodus 19:1-3.

Joshua set up a stone pillar after crossing the Jordan. Joshua 4:20. They “came up.”

I Samuel 7:16, Samuel the prophet visited the high places regularly.

God’s people would forget what God said, and would begin to practice pagan ways of worship. The Canaanite’s would worship idols in high places. (Judges 3:19.)

When something is elevated and lifted high everyone can see it from a distance. On a hill or tower or high-rise, a mountain-top or, like, people of authority in high positions they make decisions for the masses. Leaders, nations, kings, these are seated in high places. Lets take a more personal look. What are some of the high places, idols, in our own lives?

Self, money, position, materialism, dreams for self-gratification, politics. Maybe it’s a sport or an animal, we just have to have. Or maybe it’s a person, an actor, or a celebrity. A car, or a home, or food, or drugs and alcohol, something that controls us, something we put before everything and everyone. What is it that we idolize that has become our god?

I’m writing those who say they are followers of Christ Jesus. When is the last time you took inventory of your heart? When is the last time you did something for someone else with no strings attached? When is the last time you gave up some of your time or money to help someone or a cause, without anyone knowing about it, but God? What are our  high places, of worship?

Scripture says that our body is the temple of the Holy Spirit. (1 Corinthians 6:19-20)

Is our body clean, do we have pure thoughts and motives? Is our heart humble before God and man? Are we seeking our own glory? Do we cause pain and shout obscenities to those we are supposed to love and cherish? Do we cut people off in traffic and feel superior to those less fortunate? Worse, are we killing the unsaved thinking we are doing God a service? Is lust and pride the high places we hide thinking no one will see? Are we loving our neighbor as our own selves?

What are your high places? Ephesians says we aren’t wrestling against flesh and blood, that would be, people. We are wrestling against principalities, against powers, against rulers of darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in HIGH PLACES. (It’s a spiritual battle)

You can’t see them with your natural eyes, you are not even aware they are there whispering in your ears, but they are there. The prejudice, hate, murder, curses, envy, and strife against one another, jealousy, injustice, and it goes on and on. We are being manipulated and deceived not by who we can see, but by those evil ones that we can’t see. Jesus gave us the power by the Holy Spirit to discern them and to bind them and cast them out. We the “Christians” must be aware of this war…Praying and fasting, is the only way we are going to win this battle. The lost are not going to do it. They are the ones we are to be praying for, fasting for, so that their hearts will turn to God.

WAKE UP! It’s past time to get in the fight. You are in this war whether you won’t to be or not…search your own heart before God and see if there is anything that displeases Him…then get rid of it and pray a heart pounding, earth shattering, repentant prayer before God so that he will hear you and turn his wrath away from you and your family and turn it on the evil forces that are raging…If you could see into the invisible realm you’d see a war more fierce than anything in this world…it is real!!

The only way our Country is going to change for the better, is if we the people, bow our hearts to the living God and turn back to him and live a life that Honors God. Then God will hear our cry and answer! We have been born for a purpose, many are called but few are chosen…are you one of the chosen? You can only know that if you seek God. The reaper’s are reaping…the sickle has been swung…please heed the call…

This is how we fight the evil in the High Places…

Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; 2 Corinthians 10:4-5 King James Version (KJV)

And…

Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.

Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

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.

Wherefore take unto you the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;

And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;

Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.

And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:

Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints; Ephesians 6:10-19 King James Version (KJV)

 Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.) 1 Corinthians 6:19-20New International Version (NIV)

I love you, but most of all God loves you and wants the very best for you, his children. Be alert, be aware. Let the High Places of your heart exalt the living God and follow Him! Amen!

When you look to the High Places, let it be the place where Jesus dwells and makes intercessory prayer for us. Then join Him in prayer and fast and pray for all human kind.

~Marla Shaw O’Neill August 21, 2017