Breaking Strongholds in Your City

I get this book, should be in good condition, it's got sticker tape in the pages, pages highlighted (hate that) The sticker price on back of book says $ 2.49... I paid $6.59 LOUSY QUALITY CHECK SHAMEFUL POOR

This book consists of nine independent, though complementary, chapters penned by nine authors on strategic spiritual mapping's theology, methodology, and case studies. These multiple authors speak with one voice, enriched by their varied perspectives. Much overlapping in substance exists across chapters. The book's tone is informal throughout, like a series of "prep talks". George Otis, Jr. defines "spiritual mapping" as superimposing Christian "understanding of forces and events in the spiritual domain" to see beneath geographical patterns of evil and spiritual oppression. This assumes in the practitioner "a keen understanding of the spiritual domain" and "a skill born out of a right relationship with God and a love for his world". Spiritual mapping's conclusions, to be verified by the Bible and sociological-historical observation, can enhance the effectiveness of ministry. George Otis, Jr. further describes a "territorial stronghold" as an evil spiritual being ruling over an explicitly proscribed area (e.g. a home, a village, a city, a valley, or a nation), possibly with hierarchies of deities and spirits. Such a territorial spirit may exercise extraordinary power over the area's local people. A "territorial stronghold" wards off divine influence and may invade unprotected targets abroad. A territorial stronghold, allowed into an area by earlier generations' misplaced choices, may be consciously affirmed in the contemporary generation's religious festivals and ceremonials and pilgrimages. Cindy Jacobs (of a prayer networking organization called Generals of Intercession) enumerates nine additional strongholds, where Satan exalts himself against human knowledge of God and against God's plans. A personal stronghold (such as personal sin, pride, selfishness or desire for power) needs be repented of. A hopeless mindset stronghold "causes the believer to accept as unchangeable something he or she knows is contrary to the will of God." A sectarian stronghold causes pride in doctrines, idolatry of denominations, and divisions among churches. Moreover, instead of a church's "us versus them" mentality, the church should lend itself as a helpful resource to its local population. A social stronghold exists when poverty or oppression (such as injustice, racism) causes "people to believe God does not care about their needs". An ideological stronghold influences entire cultures and societies. An occultic stronghold (such as witchcraft, Satanism, and New Age religions) is "an overt evil application of many ideological strongholds". Cindy Jacobs cited her experience in breaking occultic strongholds: once through corporate repentance among Christians in the Argentine city of Rosario of earlier generations' worship of the Queen of Heaven, and once through Christians' intercession against a "curse" on Cindy Jacobs' personal health. A "seat of Satan" is a "highly oppressed and demonically controlled" geographical location from which Satan wars against a larger

Our battle is not against flesh and blood but against spiritual forces in high places, to paraphrase the apostle Paul. Salvation comes from the heart action of faith, not the mental grasp of facts. This is a spiritual process, and there are spiritual enemies obstructing that process.C. Peter Wagner's great book, Breaking Strongholds in Your City, offers critical insight into "breaking the backs" of the enemies of the great commission. Illustrating to us the process of "spiritual mapping," Wagner shows how we can lay siege to the demonic garrisons that have ravaged the attempts to take our cities for Christ. Reading this book will allow you to glimpse at the "hidden war" in the heavenlies. You will see how the "ruling spirit" in an Argentinean city was taken down. You will learn about common hideouts of demonic entrenchment. These places were often established by secret societies that have designed and built many of our cities, thus shaping our spiritual history. You will gain insight in how to gather information to perform spiritual mapping--mapping the strategic spiritual strongholds. Finally you will learn through example how to overcome these strongholds through prayer walks, prophetic prayer actions (PPAs), and strategic intercessory spiritual warfare.Attempting to advance the kingdom of God without attacking on the spiritual level is like feeling for the light switch in a dark room while being punched at. I wouldn't advise it.

In the seven volumes of the "Prayer Warrior" series, C. Peter Wagner introduces the reader to what is happening on the front lines of the international prayer movement. This volume deals with "spiritual mapping", which uses a combination of research and spiritual gifts to identify demonic forces and patterns of sinful behavior that keep a city or region in spiritual bondage. This knowledge can then be used by intercessors to target their prayers to weaken and overcome these hindrances to God's work. Wagner acknowledges that, while there are biblical passages that support this approach, the real proof is in the results. In particular, Wagner cites tremendous breakthroughs in evangelism and church planting in regions formerly resistant to the gospel that result from spiritual mapping followed by targeted intercessory prayer. A fascinating, compelling book that should be read by anyone interested in missions, evangelism, or intercessory prayer.

Wagner has once again contributed useful information to the body of Christ. Let's continue to keep HIM in our prayers so that the Lord will continue to use HIM as He's used him to write this book.

I found this book to be very helpful in becomming more strategical in my prayers. Dr. Wagner has once again taken a chance to break away from the status quo and serve the body with practical information. He will always have his critics, yet it is unmistakable that he is being used to further the great commission in obvious ways. Jonathan Edwards once said something to the effect of genuine works of the Spirit being accompanied by friction. Praise God for fresh strategies that will help us to get the job done!