Introduction 

In a recent post, I wrote of the strategic value of high places in the Old Testament. I explained these as intersections of Heaven and Earth, where the Creator met with people to further His plan to make the whole Earth like Heaven. This time, I want to explain how the Creator’s Son embodied Heaven on Earth, His people are His dwelling place on Earth, and we work to subdue the principalities and powers that inhabit the high places in earthly society. I want to explain the strategic value of high places in the New Testament.

Jesus Became the Source of Heaven’s Benefits

In his story of the birth of the Messiah (Matthew 2:1-12), Matthew told of astrologers coming from an eastern country (Babylon?). Biblical scholars believe these magi had studied the stars as taught by Danial. Two years before, they had observed Jupiter, the king planet, pass from the constellation Virgo, the Virgin, into the constellation Leo, the Lion, the zodiac sign of Israel. Because of apparent retrograde motion, they watched Jupiter pass three times by Regulus, the king star.

These observations caused the Wise Men to seek the One born King of the Jews. Once they received direction from Old Testament prophecy (Micah 5:2), the astrologers headed for Bethlehem and they saw “the star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was” (Matt 2:9). Matthew used this wording of the story to show that the presence of Yahweh left the Temple in Jerusalem to abide in the tabernacle (John 1:14) of Jesus.

Grown into His calling as a rabbi, Jesus taught Kingdom living. He called for trust and obedience to the Father, reliance on the Father’s provision, living as Kingdom citizens.

Jesus gave His life in sacrificial worship. He trusted in the promise of resurrection and obeyed the voice of Holy Spirit. After His ascension back to the throne of the King of Heaven and Earth, Jesus sent Holy Spirit to dwell in His body, His governing assembly on Earth.

Paul’s High Places

The apostle wrote to the assembly in Ephesus that Jesus is the source of benefits in high places (Ephesians 1:3). He also wrote about the principalities and powers in high places, who still rule in people’s hearts and minds. He said that the governing assemblies of King Jesus show God’s multifaceted wisdom (Ephesians 3:10) to those spiritual beings. Believers are to wrestle against those spiritual forces – hosts of wickedness in high places (Ephesians 6:12). We are able to succeed in this because “having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.” (Colossians 2:15).

The Work of Governing Assembly of Jesus in High Places

We are to speak the truth of Jesus’ victory, not only to those principalities and powers, but also to the rulers (people) of Earth. We are to spread the truth of His reign over the heavens and the Earth. We are to oppose the lies, the accusations from those evil spiritual beings, as spoken by unbelievers. We are to call all to surrender to King Jesus.

God’s people are to solve earthly problems God’s way with Heaven’s benefits, not with solutions produced by people without His input.