It is such a blessing that as believers we can continuously grow in wisdom, revelation, knowledge and understanding. As it relates to growing in the Word of God.
2 Peter 3:18
18 But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen.
I was so grateful when I discovered and started to learn about the “Courts of Heaven”. I must admit that I grew up in church and for the majority of my life. I never heard anything mentioned or taught about the “Courts of Heaven”.
As we study the Word of God we can clearly see in scripture that the Courts of Heaven are very real! Not only are the courts real. Not knowing that the courts are real, does not exempt us from the affects of what happens in the courts. For example, in the natural realm. You could be sued by a person and accused of doing something illegal. You could then be issued a summons to court for the case. You also could say that, "I refuse to go" or "I don't believe in the court system", and decide not to go. And so due to your failure to believe in and show up for court. The police could then come to your house, arrest you and take you to jail. The truth is if we do not have knowledge of a particular thing, we still can be greatly affected by what we do or do not know. Likewise, it is this way with the Courts of Heaven and how it operates.
Satan actually presents himself in the courts and brings cases against us, accusing us of committing sin and breaking the Laws of God.
Revelation 12:10 (King James Version)
10 And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.
Every believer in Jesus Christ should know that the Courts of Heaven are very real and understand how to go to God for themselves in the courts. Taking very specific issues that they have in their life to be judged by God.
When we look in the seventh chapter of the book of Daniel. Daniel had special ability to interpret visions and dreams. He gives an account of a vision that God gave him in the book of Daniel chapter seven. The vision was about the Courts of Heaven.
Daniel 7:10 (Amplified Bible)
10 A stream of fire came forth from before Him; a thousand thousands ministered to Him and ten thousand times ten thousand rose up and stood before Him; the Judge was seated [the court was in session] and the books were opened.
There is another account that we can see in scripture that speaks about the Courts of Heaven.
Psalm 82:1 (New Living Translation)
1 God presides over heaven’s court; he pronounces judgment on the heavenly beings:
The 3 Dimensions of Prayer
It is also very important to understand that there are basically three dimensions of prayer that Jesus taught. They are when we pray, going to God as Father, Friend and Righteous Judge.
The first dimension of prayer is when we go to God as our “Heavenly Father” that meets our personal needs and desires.
Luke 11:2-3 (King James Version)
2 And he said unto them, When ye pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth.
3 Give us day by day our daily bread.
The second dimension of prayer is when we go to God as a “Friend”, praying on the behalf of and for the benefit of another person or people. Jesus taught on this dimension of prayer by using a parable about a man who had a person to come visit his home. The man did not have anything to give his guest to eat. So the man went to his friend and asked for some bread so he could give it to his guest.
Luke 11:5-6 (King James Version)
5 And he said unto them, Which of you shall have a friend, and shall go unto him at midnight, and say unto him, Friend, lend me three loaves;
6 For a friend of mine in his journey is come to me, and I have nothing to set before him?
James 2:23 (King James Version)
23 And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.
Intercession is the second dimension of prayer. When we pray and intercede for others. This is when we use our walk, friendship and relationship with God to pray for someone else.
The third dimension of prayer is when we go to God as the “Righteous Judge”. We come before God the Father for our own needs and our own desires. We come before God as Friend for the needs of others. But we come before God as Judge when we’re dealing with an adversary. Jesus teaches on this third dimension of prayer using a parable that he gave in the book of Luke and the eighteenth chapter. In this parable, he talks about a woman that went to a Judge wanting to be avenged because of an adversary that was coming against her.
Luke 18:1-8 (King James Version)
1 And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;
2 Saying, There was in a city a judge, which feared not God, neither regarded man:
3 And there was a widow in that city; and she came unto him, saying, Avenge me of mine adversary.
4 And he would not for a while: but afterward he said within himself, Though I fear not God, nor regard man;
5 Yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.
6 And the Lord said, Hear what the unjust judge saith.
7 And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them?
8 I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?
In this parable, Jesus is not referring to God as an unjust judge. He is making a point that if an unjust natural judge will avenge someone of their adversary. How much more will God, the Righteous Judge avenge his own people that cry out to him in prayer.
As believers we can go to the Courts of Heaven in prayer by faith. Having an understanding and revelation that God is not only is our Heavenly Father be he also is our Friend and he is the Righteous Judge.
There may be an area in your life where you know that the devil has been oppressing you, hindering you, stealing from you, causing harm to you, delaying you or causing destruction in your life. Any spirit operating in your life this way is absolutely an adversary to you!
There may be a number of different ways that spirits could have gained access to your life to do these things. Sometimes it is through sin and disobedience, blood-line and generational curses, iniquity, ungodly oaths and covenants, and even trauma and abuse. The devil looks for access points in our life and will use any of these things to gain entrance.
The devil only seeks to do three things. He only desires to steal, kill and destroy! This is what he desires to do in our lives if he is allowed to.
Regardless of how a spirit gained access to a person’s life. When a person receives Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, demonic spirits no longer have a legal right to remain and operate in a person’s life. The problem is that demon spirits will absolutely work and operate illegally if allowed to. Their biggest weapon against us is ignorance. These spirits count on us not knowing that they are real, in operation and are the very root of much of the trouble that we have in life.
Hosea 4:6 (King James Version)
6 My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children.
When we receive the revelation that these spirits are causing much harm to us and are actually operating illegally against us as believers in Christ. We identify them as adversaries and can literally bring a case to the Righteous Judge against them in prayer.
How do we prepare to take our case to the courts?
(We should go through these steps to appropriately go to the Courts of Heaven in prayer.)
First spend time in thanksgiving and praise to God.
Psalm 100:4 (Amplified Bible)
4 Enter into His gates with thanksgiving and a thank offering and into His courts with praise! Be thankful and say so to Him, bless and affectionately praise His name!
Secondly, confess and repent for any areas of sin that may be in your life. Plead the blood of Jesus over yourself, asking to enter the court by the blood of Jesus. Pleading the blood of Jesus is similar to when a natural judge asks you in court. "How do you plead?" In a natural court you would say, "I plead guilty or not guilty." When we say that we plead the blood. We are actually saying that the blood of Jesus has paid the price for any sin, transgression or iniquity that we have committed and no further price has to be paid for those sins. The blood covers it and cleanses us from it.
Psalm 24:3-4 (Amplified Bible)
3 Who may ascend onto the]mountain of the Lord?And who may stand in His holy place?4 He who has clean hands and a pure heart,Who has not lifted up his soul to what is false,Nor has sworn [oaths] deceitfully.
Thirdly, bring your case in detail before the righteous Judge. Clearly state what your adversary has done or is doing that should not be happening in the life of a born again believer in Jesus Christ. Give specific scripture that shows that your adversary is illegally working in your life.
Isaiah 43:26 (Amplified Bible)
26 Put Me in remembrance [remind Me of your merits]; let us plead and argue together. Set forth your case, that you may be justified (proved right).
Forth, by faith thank and praise God (The Righteous Judge) for hearing you and for speedily avenging you and judging your adversary.
Luke 18:7-8 (King James Version)
7 And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them?
8 I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?
The dimension of prayer when we take our case to God, the Righteous Judge, is a powerful thing! It is past time for any adversary that has been operating in our life to be taking to the courts, judged and cast out of our life in Jesus name!
Pastor Kenneth Hollins