What is Spiritual Mapping?

What is Spiritual Mapping?

“It is an attempt to see our region as it really is and not as it appears to be. It is the discipline of diagnosing the obstacles to revival in a given community through fervent prayer and diligent research.” (George Otis Jr.)

Cindy Jacobs says that spiritual mapping is the researching of a city to discern any inroads Satan has made which prevent the spread of the gospel and its evangelization for Christ.

Victor Lorenzo says that spiritual mapping combines research, divine revelation, and confirmatory evidence in order to provide complete and exact data concerning the identity, strategies, and methods employed by spiritual forces of darkness to influence the people and the churches in a given region.

Harold Caballeros says that “what an X-ray is to a physician, spiritual mapping is to intercessors.”

Modern spiritual mapping involves following Holy Spirit who reveals the roots of darkness which are holding back God’s kingdom of light. When Holy Spirit reveals what we need to repent for, declare, bind and loose, which prophetic acts need to take place, what light to bring in, what redemptive gifts need to be strengthened in the spirit, etc., and we follow through, then the Church grows, people are eager to be saved, healed, delivered, grow and hear from God, and they come willingly and easily. Spiritual mapping can involve transformation of the family, a church, a city, a business, or a region. And it always involves prophetic or transformational intercession. (Melissa Nordell)

Spiritual mapping has been proven and very successful to bring revival/transformation. It is an effective means to bring city change and people to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. Some say that it is not biblical or not effective and not necessary, but those who are skilled in it can attest to its importance and effectiveness. Done correctly and biblically, it always bears fruit.

Promoters of spiritual mapping identify three levels of warfare:

1. “Ground-level” warfare, which involves casting demons out of individuals, repentance, prophetic acts, etc.
2. “Occult-level” warfare, which tackles more organized spiritual wickedness and witchcraft (the most dangerous aspect)
3. “Strategic-level” warfare, which directly battles the “territorial spirits” (rulers of darkness and principalities), larger demons, and demonic structures. Territorial spirits are thought to answer directly to satan and are responsible for coordinating all demonic activities within their sphere of influence.

Scriptures identify the fact that we are to do transformational warfare:

Eph 6:11-12 “Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” We are called to war against principalities, powers, rulers of darkness, etc.

Gen 1:28 “And God blessed them. And God said to them, “’Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”’ We are called to subdue the dark powers and take dominion over evil for God’s kingdom.

Isa 58: read the whole chapter. We are repairers of the breach.

2 Chron 7:13-15 “When I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or command locusts to devour the land or send a plague among my people,  if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land. Now my eyes will be open and my ears attentive to the prayers offered in this place.” We can intercede to “undefile” the land and reverse curses. God is waiting and wanting us to do this. We can change our cities and nations through intercession.

What defiles the land? There are many scriptures which identify what defiles the land and the people on that land. In transformational intercession, we repent, rectify and cleanse past sins in order to bring healing. To “undefile,” we must stand in the gap, renounce and repent for the “first cause” of the sin defilement. God knows where and when this sin started, so just say “back to the first cause” or some say “back to Noah.” After renouncing and repenting, then plead the Blood of Jesus on that land and break the curses. Here are just a few scriptures regarding what defiles the land:

Lev 18:27 “”All these detestable activities are practiced by the people of the land where I am taking you, and this is how the land has become defiled.” Read the whole chapter to see what defiles the land and people.

Ezek 36:18 “So I poured out my wrath on them because they had shed blood in the land and because they had defiled it with their idols.”

Num 35:33-34: “This will ensure that the land where you live will not be polluted, for murder pollutes the land. And no sacrifice except the execution of the murderer can purify the land from murder. You must not defile the land where you live, for I live there myself. I am the Lord, who lives among the people of Israel.” Now, since Jesus purchased for us this ability to do warfare through His death, burial, and resurrection, we can purify the land through standing in the gap, even if we were not involved.

Lev 19:33-34: “Do not take advantage of foreigners who live among you in your land. Treat them like native-born Israelites, and love them as you love yourself. Remember that you were once foreigners living in the land of Egypt. I am the Lord your God.”  This involves the mistreatment of foreigners who abide with you – abuse of foreigners defiles the land.

For full information on what defiles the land indicated in scriptures see: https://strategicprayercommandmin.com/2021/10/23/what-defiles-the-land-and-what-to-do-about-it/

(copyright 2019 SPCM Melissa Nordell)