Territorial Spirits

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" rowspan="2" width=210 BGCOLOR="#111111" TEXT="#F7F7FF"> <div> <A HREF="id47.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="RG HOME"><U><B>HOME</B></U></A></div> <div> <B>  </B><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="Arial" ><B> --------------------------</B></FONT></div> <div> <A HREF="id116.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="_"><U><B>About THE OCCULT, SPIRITS, GHOSTS, SEANCES ETC</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id53.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Ghosts Hauntings"><U><B>Ghosts & Hauntings</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id144.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Satanism"><U><B>Satanism</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id145.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Demon Possession"><U><B>Demon Possession</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id146.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Demonic Spirits Today"><U><B>Demonic Spirits Today</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id147.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Demon Object Possession"><U><B>Demon Object Possession</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id148.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Territorial Spirits"><U><B>Territorial Spirits</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id149.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Familiar Spirits"><U><B>Familiar Spirits</B></U></A></div> <div> <B>  </B><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="Arial" ><B> --------------------------</B></FONT></div> <div> <A HREF="id122.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="BEING SAVED"><U><B>HOW TO LIVE FOREVER AND AVOID HELL</B></U></A></div> <div> <B> </B><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="Arial" ><B> --------------------------</B></FONT></div> <div> <A HREF="id113.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="ABOUT SATAN"><U><B>About SATAN</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id114.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="DEMONS / FALLEN ANGELS"><U><B>About DEMONS</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id115.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="HELL"><U><B>About HELL</B></U></A></div> <div>  <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="Arial" > --------------------------</FONT></div> <div> <A HREF="id119.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="GOD"><U><B>About GOD </B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id120.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Angels"><U><B>About ANGELS</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id121.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="HEAVEN"><U><B>About HEAVEN </B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id123.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="FREEWILL"><U><B>About FREEWILL</B></U></A><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#A6CAF0" FACE="Arial" >  </FONT></div> <div>   <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="Arial" > --------------------------</FONT><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#A6CAF0" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="id121.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="HEAVEN"><U> </U></A></FONT></div> <div> <A HREF="id170.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Other Religions"><U><B>OTHER RELIGIONS</B></U></A></div> <div>   <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="Arial" > --------------------------</FONT></div> <div> <A HREF="id168.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="NEED HELP??"><U><B>NEED HELP??</B></U></A></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id168.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="NEED HELP??"><U><B>.</B></U></A></div> <bR> <bR> </td> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=82 BGCOLOR="#111111" TEXT="#F7F7FF"> <div> <B><U>TERRITORIAL SPIRITS</U></B></div> <div> </div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" height=398 colspan=2 BGCOLOR="#262626" TEXT="#F7F7FF"> <div> <IMG SRC="14642d80.jpg" border=0 width="322" height="216" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> <B>Question: "What are territorial spirits?"</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Answer: </B>“Territorial spirits” is a term some Christians use to identify demonic occupation of a specific geographic location. Interestingly enough, and perhaps ironically, it is also a term pagans use to describe an otherworldly presence believed to be residing in a specific geographical location.</div> <bR> <div> The Christian concept of territorial spirits comes from passages such as Daniel 10; <A HREF="http://bible.logos.com/passage/niv/John%2012.31" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://bible.logos.com/passage/niv/John%"><U><U>John 12:31</U></U></A>; <A HREF="http://bible.logos.com/passage/niv/John%2014.30" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://bible.logos.com/passage/niv/John%"><U><U>John 14:30</U></U></A>; <A HREF="http://bible.logos.com/passage/niv/John%2016.11" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://bible.logos.com/passage/niv/John%"><U><U>John 16:11</U></U></A>; <A HREF="http://bible.logos.com/passage/niv/Mark%205.10" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://bible.logos.com/passage/niv/Mark%"><U><U>Mark 5:10</U></U></A>; and <A HREF="http://bible.logos.com/passage/niv/Ephesians%206.12" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://bible.logos.com/passage/niv/Ephes"><U><U>Ephesians 6:12</U></U></A>. All of these passages imply that <A HREF="http://www.gotquestions.org/fallen-angels.html" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.gotquestions.org/fallen-angel"><U><U>fallen angels</U></U></A> have been given some type of responsibility over a certain area. Thus, they seem to be territorial. However, we need to remember that this is by inference; the Bible never explicitly defines a hierarchy of demonic authority and control in the world. What the Bible is clear about is that demons are definitely at work in the spiritual realm and that believers are very much involved in a battle against them.</div> <bR> <div> In Daniel 10, for example, the angel struggled against a demonic adversary the entire time Daniel was praying and fasting. It wasn't until the resolution of Daniel's spiritually focused time that the angel could finally break away and come to Daniel. Ephesians 6 exhorts believers to stand firm against our spiritual adversaries and to remain alert and ready for battle. So there is no doubt that our struggle on earth is mirrored in some way in the spiritual realm.</div> <bR> <div> The problem that comes with the use of the term “territorial spirits” is that some Christians believe it is their duty to engage territorial demons in spiritual warfare. This, however, cannot be justified by Scripture. There is not a single instance in the Bible where someone actively sought out a demon in order to engage it. Demon-possessed individuals were encountered, and even brought to Jesus and His disciples for healing, but the disciples didn't go out looking for demons to cast out of people. Nobody in the Bible ever prayed that the demon princes of their town be bound from working their will against the residents of that town.</div> <bR> <div> Territorial spirits, although not a scriptural idea, may very well exist, as seen in the previous passages. Such a term as "territorial spirits" is really not that important, though. What is important is our response. A believer in Christ has no biblical support to engage in prayer-led <A HREF="http://www.gotquestions.org/spiritual-warfare.html" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.gotquestions.org/spiritual-wa"><U><U>spiritual warfare</U></U></A> against demons. Rather, a believer needs to be aware that there is a spiritual battle and to take it seriously (<A HREF="http://bible.logos.com/passage/niv/1%20Peter%205.8" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://bible.logos.com/passage/niv/1%20P"><U><U>1 Peter 5:8</U></U></A>). Our lives need to be focused on prayer and on growing in faith. Should we ever encounter a demon, we definitely have the Christ-given authority to deal with it, but we should not go looking for them, territorial or otherwise.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>This information has been used with permission from GOTQUESTIONS.ORG - see copyright, waiver & release details below .</B></div> <bR> <div> This particular pasage minus the brief description & picture at the top which I have added can be found in its original form by clicking this link : -</div> <div> <A HREF="http://www.gotquestions.org/territorial-spirits.html" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.gotquestions.org/territorial-"><U><U>http://www.gotquestions.org/territorial-spirits.html</U></U></A></div> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" ><B> <A NAME="copyright"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></B></FONT><B>Copyright Policy:</B> While all of the material on the GotQuestions.org website is under copyright protection, the only purpose of our copyright is to make sure people copy it right. As long as you always clearly reference and/or link to www.gotquestions.org as the source of the material, you have our permission to copy, print, and distribute our material.</div> <bR> <div> <B>Waiver and Release:</B> GotQuestions.org exists to provide biblical answers to life’s various questions. That’s it! No web page or email response should be construed as counseling, therapy, legal, or other professional advice IN ANY WAY WHATSOEVER. As such, in consideration for using the service of GotQuestions.org, you hereby RELEASE Got Questions Ministries, Inc. (and any of its officers, directors, or representatives) from any liability for any decision you might make in your life.</div> </td> </tr></table></body>