This was taken from my sermon notes that I used in preaching at Haven of Hope on Sunday, July 12th, 2009:

It’s time that you and I got our rightful place of authority back! 

Satan’s seat

In Revelations 2:13, John told the Church of Pergamum that he knew that they were living in the city in which Satan’s throne was, but that they were loyal to Him. 

In Ephesians 4:27, we also read that when we allow ourselves to be angry and not deal with it quickly within 24 hours and offence sets in, that Satan then gets a stronghold.

Through these and other examples, we actually allow Satan to get a foothold in our lives.  Throughout history, enough of us have not lived up to God’s plan so Satan and his minions now are sitting in footholds/seats of influence over cities that they have no right to sit over.

Let me ask you this, have you ever been driving and someone cut you off? How did that make you feel?  If you are like me, it gets me pretty fired up!  I had a lane that I was driving in and, because you didn’t want to wait, you felt the need to cut in front of me as if you are better than me?!?  (Wow, getting in my head on a morning commute can be “enlightening”, huh?) 

Here’s the sad truth.  You and I are getting more upset about a 1990 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme cutting us off as we drive, than we are seeing an enemy arrogantly sit in a seat of influence in our city while thumbing their nose at us and at God.  There needs to be a righteous anger that rises in us that says, “Give me my seat back!”

In Genesis 21:22-34, Abraham had dug a well and one of Abimelech (King of the Philistines) had seized the wells.  Upon agreeing this was wrong, the King of the Philistines made Abraham a covenant that this wouldn’t happen again.  Therefore, the well was called Beersheba (the oath).  Historically, when someone dug a well, they were claiming the land surrounding the well.  When Abraham had dug the well of Beersheba, he was saying “this is my land my descendants land”

In Genesis 26:15, the Philistines had stopped up the wells that Abraham dug.  What they were trying to do is hide any evidence that the land belonged to anyone else.  Not only did they fill up the wells with dirt, but also dead animals.  While Israel was sowing the land, he discovered His father’s well.  In verse 18, he gave them back their names.  Isaac came into the land, found what was his, and took ownership again.  Isaac went on to dig 5 more wells in that region.  He reclaimed the land.

There are wells of ownership in New England, in our state, in our city, and in the lives of those around us.  Those wells were originally destined to be dug so that they could be influence by heaven and be possessed by God.  The enemy has filled up those wells with death and covered them up so that we don’t even know that those wells ever existed.  

I challenge you today to redig those wells.  Redig the wells of influence that the enemy wishes we never realized were there in the first place.  As we do that, we will be stamping on relationships, people, cities, and nations that God’s people are again in possession of the land.  AND, we not only want to redig the wells that were forgotten, but we are going to move forward.  Israel not only redig the wells that his (Father) had dug, but he also dug 5 more.  We are going for the jugular! 

I not only want to see the well redug that breaks depression’s hold on the land, but I want to see new wells dug out of protest.  Enemy, you tried to hide the well of ownership over depression so now we want the well of ownership over cancer!

Gates in the Bible were places of influence.  If you could get the gate open to a city, then you would have access to be able to step inside the city.  Likewise, there are gates that need to be opened to us.  Literally doors of influence that are currently shut but will be opening.  While we want to be careful of the influence of things from our past on us, don’t be surprised when you end up having influence in areas you thought were shut off to you (i.e. He makes all things new)

We need to be able to move spirits and demons from things that they are sitting on – this will influence our region and the people in it drastically. 

Isaiah 26:2 speaks of a declaration:  “Open ye the gates (entrance, marketplace, palace, place of influence) that the righteous nation which keepeth (to have charge of, as a watchman, preserve, protect, retain, treasure up) truth may enter in.

Life Application

I hope that you have enjoyed this series on influence.  To wrap things up here, I want to ask you to please seek God and ask Him to influence your life in a greater way.  Open up the doors to places in your heart that you have held back and give Him control of your destiny.  Next, begin to speak to the doors of influence in you, in relationships, in the culture around you, etc. and declare that they are now open to the influence of God!  Speak to the walls that are holding you and others back from experiencing the influence of heaven!  Rise up and throw down the things that are arrogantly sitting in your seat and cutting into your spiritual driving lane! 

Be influenced by God so that you can influence others for the glory of God.  Be influenced to influence.