Articles on Strategic-Level Spiritual Warfare
It is taught, based on the Scriptures below, that believers have authority directly to rebuke and address “territorial spirits”, commanding them in Jesus’ name to leave certain geographic areas.
Ephesians 2:6 And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, 1:21 …far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come.
Colossians 2:13 When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, 14 having canceled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross. 15 And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.
Since we have been raised and are seated with Christ in the heavenly realms, far above all rule, authority, power and dominion, we have the authority to rebuke them directly. Since Christ has already disarmed them through the cross, we can freely drive them out from targeted areas.
However, let us be careful to examine the context of Colossians 2. Jesus disarmed powers and authorities for believers whose sins have been forgiven through faith in Christ who suffered on the cross for us. This does not apply to unbelievers whose sins have not been forgiven, and who are thus still legally under the power of territorial spirits.
Therefore we do not have the authority to rebuke them or to command them to release their captives. Since their sins have not been forgiven they are the legal property of the enemy. The only way for us to set them free is by preaching the gospel to them. If they repent and confess Christ their sins will be forgiven, and only then will they no longer be under the authority of the enemy.
That is the manner Jesus taught and commanded in Scripture. “Heal the sick and tell them, ‘the kingdom of God is near you.'” (Luke 10:9)
When miraculous healings are multiplied as confirmation of the truth of the gospel, souls who never heard will come flocking to Jesus Christ. For them the powers and authorities will have been disarmed.