God, Judges and The Court

This past week, we in America have been treated to what is supposed to be a respectful meeting of the Senate Judiciary Committee, conducting oversight and consideration of nominations to the Supreme Court. I'm not going to comment on the obvious political bias exhibited among the Senate members. That is not my purpose for today's blog post. What I want to discuss is the role of Judges, our Courts, and how they correlate with the Book of Judges and God's Court(s) in Heaven.

It goes without saying that God is the Righteous Judge of all the Earth (Genesis 18:25). And as Believers in Jesus Christ, we have the right and privilege to enter into the courts in Heaven through prayer and spiritual warfare. And before I continue, I want to make the comment that our legal system on earth is modeled after the court system in Heaven. Just as we are entitled to have legal representation in our earthly courts, Jesus is our Advocate and Legal Representative in the Courts of Heaven. 

And just as we have different levels and classifications of courts, there are different courts in Heaven, as well. We declare that the Cross of Christ is our justification before God, but there are times that we need to gain access to the justice system of Heaven in order to receive righteous judgment. We are able to operate in that system because of our intimate relationship with Jesus. Let's consider for a moment the different types of courts to which we have access. To begin, there is the Court of Mediation (or Reconciliation). This is in character with "settling out of court" in our earthly justice system. Just like here on earth, this should always be our preference and the first step we take. When we encounter a dispute with anyone, our legal position should be to reconcile.... But all things are from God, Who through Jesus Christ reconciled us to Himself [received us into favor, brought us into harmony with Himself] and gave to us the ministry of reconciliation [that by word and deed we might aim to bring others into harmony with Him] -- 2 Corinthians 5:18.

Then there is the Court of Petition.  Bringing our prayers before the Father, and presenting our petitions to Him, is in reality entering the Court of Petition... do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God -- Philippians 4:6. And notice, we should appear in this heavenly court with thankfulness, no matter the circumstances.

Next, we have access to God's Throne of Grace.  God holds Court while sitting on His Throne, which is where we approach Him with our prayers, and in intimacy with Him. And we must approach Him with grace and mercy -- for others, as well as ourselves. God's justice finds its origins in His love; and so should ours... Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need -- Hebrews 4:16.

At the center of God's court system is The Court of Mount Zion.  Throughout the Bible, we read of Mount Zion as God's place of justice and judgment. His Throne of Grace and the Court of Petitions are based here, and the heart of Heaven's court system is found here ... But you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem. You have come to thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly, to the church of the firstborn, whose names are written in heaven. You have come to God, the Judge of all, to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel -- Hebrews 12:22-24.

The Court of the Accuser is where Satan appears to lay his case before God for his legal authority to attack us. We should not engage with this court, but rather take our case to the Court of Reconciliation or Court of Petition, where Jesus serves as our Advocate and defense lawyer, if you will. There He can testify that we have come in a spirit of forgiveness and reconciliation ... For the accuser of our brothers and sisters, who accuses them before our God day and night, has been hurled down -- Revelation 12:10.

Finally, we have The Court of The Ancient Of Days (Heaven's Supreme Court). This is the highest court in Heaven, and we cannot enter except by admission through dreams and visions. Just like our Supreme Court, it is the last court a case may be heard; there are lower courts where all legal matters should be attempted to be settled first... As I looked, “thrones were set in place, and the Ancient of Days took his seat. … The court was seated, and the books were opened -- Daniel 7:9-10. 

NOTE: These are the courts that are readily acknowledged in the Bible, but I have been shown, in my spirit, that there are lesser courts that we have access to in times of specific need. But we must always ask for permission before opening a case or entering that specific court. Our first stop in heaven's court system should always be to achieve reconciliation. I have actually heard the Father reprimand mankind; He said, "Stop clogging up My Courts with needless petitions. So many of your problems can be resolved with forgiveness and applying the grace and love I have given each of you." 

So, now I want to approach the Book of Judges in the Bible in light of the purpose of our Supreme Court and what we witnessed this last week. We can surmise from the Book of Judges that the Lord, who is Creator God, is the Judge and King of all the world; no one else holds that title. [NOTE: I approach this truth from the understanding that Jesus and the Father are One (John 10:30)]. And the plan from Genesis to Revelation is to restore man to his original purpose -- to rule the world as God's righteous representative on earth. We also recognize that God rules through His human leaders; but He is the ultimate Judge and King, and those who serve Him do so at His discretion and are supposed to rule as He would rule -- [on earth as it is in Heaven]. 

If man assumed his original purpose for being created, righteousness would reign upon the earth. But as we have seen throughout history, and most certainly today, that is not reality. Christ embodies perfect human ruling and through His crucifixion and resurrection, He sits upon His Throne in Heaven and rules and judges in perfect righteousness. And one day, He will climb down from that Throne and return to render His judgment against all the Evil in this world that has come against His creation. Until then, the idea was that our courts here on earth would be administered by sons and daughters who would share in His righteous rule and judge accordingly. That was the plan in the Book of Judges and nothing has changed [from God's perspective] in the centuries since.

Sadly, we have not experienced that in our nation. True, there have been judges who sat on the highest court in our land who took their assignment seriously. But in the decades of my life, I have seen the nomination of Supreme Court Justices made in the spirit of partisan politics and immoral agendas. This nation under God is in great need of godly leadership, in both our civic institutions and in our courts. Because we seem to have lost our way [and our purpose], Roe v. Wade is the law of our land. Same sex marriage is the law of our land. Our courts are clogged with grievances involving racial discrimination, gender discrimination, and once-guaranteed constitutional tights. Where is the desire for righteousness and  reconciliation? Why do we not see the power of our intimate prayers and petitions before God? 

The Book of Judges is a history of the rebelliousness of Israel, who demanded a human king, rather than submitting their allegiance to the King of the World. Despite the sinful decisions of Israel throughout their history, the Bible promises redemption through King Jesus who will one day be our righteous Judge. We must pray that in and through [and in spite of] the sinful judges who have seemingly destroyed God's redemptive plan, that God can and will heal our land from the rebellious and destructive decisions that our legal "leadership" have imposed upon us. 

My prayer is that Judge Amy Coney Barrett will prove to be a catalyst for that redemption. But we have been fooled in the past. I ask that you join me in prayer and petition before the righteous and rightful Courts of Heaven to deliver us once again into a nation that represents King Jesus's original design for human rule. Lord Jesus, return our nation to a land You can be proud of; one that will uphold the rule and laws of Heaven! And let it start today! Amen!

1 John 2:1    My little children, I write you these things so that you may not violate God’s law and sin. But if anyone should sin, we have an Advocate (One Who will intercede for us) with the Father—[it is] Jesus Christ [the all] righteous [upright, just, Who conforms to the Father’s will in every purpose, thought, and action].

  

Covid and the The Court In Heaven

    

     Have you considered that we have access to the Courts of Heaven, and can ask for a judgment against this Corona virus that has this nation in bondage to spirits of Fear and Constraint? Perhaps the first question I should ask is Did you know the Courts of Heaven even exist?  Perhaps I should address that first... I would venture to guess that a majority of modern Christians would answer "No" to that question.  Yet the Jews returning to Jerusalem from their Babylonian exile knew well the teachings of the prophet Zechariah, among which was this idea of a Heavenly Court.

     In Zechariah, Chapter 3, the prophet receives a vision from a guiding angel of the High Priest, Joshua, standing before God, and Satan stands to his right, as his accuser.  The High Priest Joshua represents disobedient and sinful Israel, who has been brought to the Court of Heaven to receive what Satan thinks will be justified punishment for their sins.  (Remember: He is known as the Accuser). But that isn't what happens!  God rebukes Satan and replaces Joshua's filthy rags with the clean white robes of forgiveness.
     Then it gets even more exciting!  God counsels Joshua, telling him that if he will be faithful and walk in the ways of the Lord, he will be given greater authority to govern God's house and have charge of His earthly courts; and most importantly, Joshua will have free access to the Court in Heaven and to God's presence.  I want you to read that last comment again ... Joshua was promised privileged access into the presence of God. This isn’t a surprising promise for a High Priest, but we have the same promise: Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need. (Hebrews 4:16). And this pandemic of Covid-19 has certainly ushered in a time of great need in our country! So let's consider how we can enter into the presence of God to ask for rulership over it!

     So here is where we start ... when we examine Scripture, there are many references to legal terms in God's relationship with men: judgment, appeals, law, contract, evidence, witnesses, indictment, jurisdiction, debt and debtors, redemption, punishment, condemn, testimony, and verdict.  Starting to get the idea? And we must always keep in mind the admonition of our Lord: Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven.  The judicial system of the ancient Israelites, as well as our own court system, are modeled upon the Courts in Heaven.  Furthermore, the Courts are part of the judicial government of the Kingdom of Heaven, and guess what?  We have access to them as part of His Kingdom here on earth!

     And I want to address, for a moment, the etiquette of entering into our Father's Court. We are to be responsible about entering and maintaining the proper atmosphere of respect, order, authority, and awe. It is an honor to be received into the Father's Court and we should follow protocol. We should be prepared and ready to petition the Court and present our case. We should be dressed appropriately. We stand in respect when The Holy Judge enters the Courtroom. We sit in silence until given permission to speak. We ask for a verdict in our favor, and then we abide by what the Judge rules. So, by now, I hope you are seeing [in the spirit] as we prepare to enter the Court and ask for a judgment regarding this demonic virus.

     But before we can even think about asking for a verdict, we must take note of what the angel spoke to Joshua ... "Thus says the Lord of hosts: If you will walk in My ways and keep My charge, then you shall rule My house and have charge of My courts, and I will give you the right of access among those who are standing here." Based on that requirement, my spirit is grieved; this nation has certainly abandoned many of God's ways, and not kept His laws. And like ancient Israel, I'm sure Satan believes he has a justified argument for punishment with the Corona virus.

     Before we can even consider entering the Court of Heaven, we must repent for all the ungodly activities of this nation -- the abortion industry; sex trafficking; removing God from our schools and the public square; our greed and arrogance; and any area in which we have personally sinned.

     We must approach the Throne of God with reverence and request that we be added to the docket of the Court. We can then ask God to intervene as we seek to present our petition.  Satan believes he has a pretty good case against us; and based on the ungodly sins mentioned above, I can see why he feels justified in bringing the punishment of Corona virus against us. But I like the way the noted theologian Charles Spurgeon voices his interpretation of this scenario: "When Satan accuses, Christ pleads (our case). He does not wait till the case has gone against us and then express His regret, but He is always a very present help in time of trouble. He knows the heart of Satan, (being omniscient God), and long before Satan can accuse, He puts in the demurrer, the blessed plea on our behalf, and stays the action till He gives an answer which silences forever, [the Accuser's] every accusation." I find it interesting that the definition of the word demurrer is "[in Law], an objection that an opponent's point is irrelevant or invalid, while granting the factual basis of the point".  So, the result is that Satan [rightfully] accuses us of greed, abortion, child sex trade, abandoning God, etc. and Jesus never denies our sin, but instead acts as our Mediator. He receives our judgment and His sacrifice on our behalf makes the case against us invalid, and the case is thrown out of the Court of Heaven. We are innocent by the Blood of the Lamb!

     BUT, I also wonder if Jesus isn't waiting for us to stand up in our Power and Authority as Kingdom citizens and make use of our access to the Father's presence and present our own case! Do we want to be like Job? We know that Satan was allowed to appear before the Court of Heaven, and accuse Job before God, The Judge. But in the first 12 chapters, Job does nothing to defend himself!  He laments the attacks against him, but does nothing to defend himself --- until Chapter 13!  Finally, in this chapter he says, NOW I have prepared my case (verse 18).  So, do you think Job might have saved himself and his family a lot of harm and suffering if he had prepared his case earlier? Have we been humbled enough to repent for our national sins and suffered enough losses of our freedoms to now earnestly prepare our case before the Court? If I may, I would like to suggest the following prayer; that all the Body of Christ come together, following the protocols for appearing before our Judge, and join in presenting the following petition before the Court:

In the Name of Jesus, we ask our Savior to forgive this nation for all the ways we have been disobedient. We acknowledge our rebellion against You and ask to be cleansed by the Blood of Jesus and Your Living Water. We have sought righteousness in Your ways, and lament the actions of those who have offended You. We ask corporately, and individually, that our Savior show us any areas in which we have been ungodly so that we might repent of them before joining together to appear before Christ and entering the Holy Court of Heaven….

(IN THE SPIRIT)  Father, we come before Your throne today, in awe and reverence, asking for Your compassion and mercy, and we request that You convene a session of the Heavenly Court. 

(SEE THE COURT OF HEAVEN AND YOU APPEARING [WITH THE BODY OF CHRIST] BEFORE GOD, THE JUDGE)

Father, the Holy Spirit has shown us that the Adversary has been lying about this Corona Virus, and as the righteous Body of Christ, we ask that Jesus and the Holy Spirit intercede on our behalf before the Court.  As Isaiah 43:26 says, “Let us argue the matter together; state the case for [our] innocence.” So, as the Body of Christ and Kingdom citizens, we are here to state the case for our innocence; the reinstatement of our freedoms; and the release from this demonic virus called Corona. We ask for Your Light and Truth to come into this situation.

We come seeking Your intervention, God, as Judge, and ask that You hear our petition before the Court, and we request a verdict from this Heavenly Court.

Here is our petition: Father, we recognize that the Enemy is lying about Corona having such power over our bodies. We recognize the agreement of powerful men, who are in association with the Enemy to bind and control this nation. Father, we appear before You as righteous citizens of Your Kingdom on earth. And as members of the Ekklesia, we ask that You hear our argument against the deceitful lies and manipulation of the Enemy that would keep us in bondage to this virus. We appear before Your Court in our power and authority as Sons and Daughters of the King and ask for full restoration of all that has been stolen from us, including health, wealth, self-government, and freedom of choice.  

Father, we are asking the Heavenly Court to force the Adversary to reveal his lies about Corona; that it is a lowly virus, subject to the Authority of the Lion of the Tribe of Judah. It will bow at the feet of Jesus Christ! It will not keep this nation and its righteous citizens from receiving their inheritance as children of God. We will receive Your Truth as we present the Gospel of the Kingdom – we will receive all that is due us, including Salvation and the Kingdom, so that we might go forth together as a family of God – equally yoked -- in righteous battle to defeat our Enemy.  We petition the Court to bring these lies about Corona under the blood of Jesus and to establish this nation under the rule and reign of Christ.

So, Father God, as You bring the Court into session, we see the books or scrolls being opened, and as the Ancient of Days, God, we know that You see all days and can render judgment to deliver this nation from the consequences of this demonic virus.

Father, on behalf of all people of this nation, we ask that You, as Judge, review the scrolls of every earthly citizen's “Book of Life”—including past generations -- and annul covenants with Plagues and Sickness and any spirits of Pestilence that have given access to demonic powers holding them captive. And we ask that You render a verdict in their favor. Just as in the case of the widow seeking justice from the unjust judge, Father, we ask that you defend this nation and set us free from this virus so that we might worship and praise You.

So, Father, as we rest our case for justice for this nation, we bow in reverence and seek Your face, acknowledging with honor and gratitude our faith in Your vindication, and asking blessings upon this nation, every man, woman, and child.  We thank You, Father, and we will abide by the decision of You and the Court.

(NOW YOU NEED TO TRUST IN THE DECISION OF THE COURT, KNOWING THAT JESUS AND THE HOLY SPIRIT WILL ADVOCATE ON OUR BEHALF. THANK THEM FOR REPRESENTING US, AND NOW DECLARE YOUR FAITH IN GOD’S RIGHTEOUS JUDGMENT!

NOTE:  I decided to share this prayer with you after receiving a request from a Brother in Christ to show him how to go to the Court for his wife and small son, who are struggling with the symptoms of the Corona virus. My spirit recognized that it is time for us ALL to go to the Court on behalf of this nation. The Enemy has been accusing us for too long. We must present our case, or watch our beloved nation continue to suffer his attacks. Please join me in going to the Court!

Job 13:1-3     "Behold, my eye has seen all this, my ear has heard and understood it. What you know, I also know; I am not inferior to you. But I would speak to the Almighty, and I desire to argue my case with God."

What Has Satan Stolen From You?

     The title and thoughts behind today's post come from a conversation I had with a woman whom I have come to greatly admire for the strength of faith that has seen her through the attacks of the Enemy on her life and her destiny. I can't describe how much my spirit rejoices as I see her moving from a defeated child of God to a determined Daughter of the King who is no longer willing to succumb to the bondage of Satan's orchestrated events in her life. She is an Overcomer and I have no doubt she will be victorious in every area of her life.
     Yet, she came to Mark and I with a question she was almost embarrassed to ask. As she looked around at family and friends she wondered what was different about her that she should continue to struggle financially. She knows her Father in Heaven desires to give her all she needs, yet she remains so often in lack. Was there a Biblical principle she was missing?
     I have to admit that this is a question I have asked myself, as I assume many of those who will read this blog have done, as well. So, I made a commitment to find out if God addresses this issue beyond Blessed are the poor [in spirit] for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven; or If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good things to those who ask Him! I have no doubt my friend had expressed her need for more provision many times, only to receive no answer. And we both believed that our Father, whose will for us is always perfect, good and acceptable, would not withhold provision from those He loves. So what else could be going on? NOTE: And I want to make it perfectly clear, I am NOT advocating a Prosperity Gospel!

     Instead, let me introduce you to an article on the KOHA website (Kingdom of Heaven Ambassador) by Tiffany Domena about the unrighteous transactions of Satan that not only caused his fall from Heaven but could possibly be affecting our ability to live in the fullness of our provision from God. First of all, we all have the knowledge that Satan came to "steal, kill, and destroy". It's easier to see what he kills and destroys ... our flesh, our marriages, our faith, the things we once had but are now gone. But we may not know what he has stolen from us because we've never experienced it or seen it. But this article by Tiffany is quite revealing and then, when followed up with the Word of the Lord, I think we can start to get some answers.
     The article points to Ezekiel, Chapter 28 where we get an idea of how we've been denied what is due us. In the first 10 verses of Ezekiel 28, the Lord has a word for the "prince of Tyre", a man who is full of pride, controlling the commerce in the regions of the world and amassing great wealth. Some ancient historians [including Josephus] have suggested that this "prince" of Tyre was Ethbaal, the father of Jezebel. He had originally been King of Sidon, who then killed the King of Tyre and assumed the throne. Baal became the god of Tyre, and Ethbaal served as a high priest of both Baal and Astarte (also known as the Queen of Heaven). When his daughter Jezebel married Ahab, the King of Israel, she persuaded him to worship her gods, and so Ahab worshiped Baal and built an altar and a temple in Israel to this false god. The Bible says he "did more evil in the eyes of the LORD than any of those before him." 
     If Ethbaal is this "princely" leader of Tyre, it is not difficult to discern [from history and Scripture] that he stole the wealth of the land he conquered and sat on his throne, full of pride, thinking of himself as a god. But then there is an interesting shift in Ezekiel 28:11-19, where God has a further [and similar] message for the "king" of Tyre. So why the distinction between prince and king? If you look closely at the Word, the prince of Tyre is clearly assumed to be a man; a human. But let's look closer at how God refers to the king of Tyre. 
     "You were the model of perfection, full of wisdom and exquisite in beauty. You were in Eden, the garden of God". Scripture goes on to describe the precious stones that adorned his clothing; all beautifully crafted and set in the finest gold. "They were given to you on the day you were created. I (God) ordained and anointed you as the mighty angelic guardian (guardian cherub of My throne). You had access to the holy mountain of God and walked among the stones of fire." Scripture then describes this "king" as "blameless until evil was found in him." Just like the prince of Tyre, this king was filled with pride, and his wisdom was corrupted by his "love of splendor". 
     These verses are clearly referring to Lucifer, who became Satan at his fall from Heaven. The prince of Tyre (who was Ethbaal, or a man) walked in the Anti-Christ spirit of Satan, who was the spiritual ruler behind Ethbaal's earthly kingdom. 
     But take a closer look at what's revealed in these verses. Ezekiel 28:16 says that while still a guardian cherub in Heaven, Lucifer's "rich commerce led to violence and he sinned". Furthermore, verse 18 says "he defiled his sanctuaries with his many sins and his dishonest trade". The Amplified Bible says he had an "abundance of commerce" and his "trade was unrighteous." 

     I do not think it is wrong to surmise that there is trading and commerce going on in Heaven! Psalms 135 and Jeremiah, Chapters 10 and 51, speak of God's "storehouses" in Heaven. And I want you to consider Malachi 3:10 which says, "Bring all the tithes into the storehouse so there will be enough food in my Temple. If you do,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, “I will open the windows of heaven for you. I will pour out a blessing so great you won’t have enough room to take it in!" It is important to understand that the "food" in this case is the portion of the harvest [which is ultimately provided by God] that would support the priests and their families. In ancient times special storehouses were established in the temple to receive the tithes of the harvest. If the people were not faithful to return a portion of the harvest, the priests could not continue to serve and perform their duties. Apparently there were [and are] storehouses on earth and storehouses in Heaven. Depending on our faithfulness to serve Him, God has blessings in His Heavenly storehouse earmarked for us, and they are so great, we won't have room to take them in. He clearly desires to bless the faithful with more than they will ever need.
     So, now see if you can follow me as I try to connect the dots I think I'm seeing ... God has known us since the foundations of the world and our destinies have been written in His Book of Life. He knows who will be faithful and serve Him, and because we are a Priesthood of Believers, we are due abundant blessings due to our faithfulness. But who was in charge of the commerce and trading in Heaven before his fall? Follow this train of thought ... Could it be that Lucifer, in his pride and arrogance, became greedy, corrupt, and unrighteous; stealing the blessings of wealth that were being stored up by God for us? 
     The Word says he profaned [violated, defiled] the sanctuaries by the great quantity of his sins and the enormity of his guilt, and by the unrighteousness of his trade. That's pretty condemning! And if it is so -- that he stole this part of our inheritance, then we can enter into God's heavenly courts and go before His throne, seeking reparations! We can appear before Him demanding justice and asking that our stolen blessings be repaid. 
     As priestly Believers, the Word tells us that if we first seek the Kingdom of God, all these things will be added to us; all that we need and all that is due us as heirs of the Kingdom. Proverbs 13:22 says "the wealth of the wicked is treasured up for the righteous." All that Lucifer/Satan has stolen from us is our birthright, and that includes wealth, which we are meant to enjoy (Proverbs 13:23).
     So, do not buy into the lie from Satan that we Christians are not to possess money or wealth, and do not think that poverty is the benchmark of a righteous life. It is the love of money that is to be avoided! All the Scriptures that warn about being a rich man are aimed at those with unrighteous hearts. And obviously, seeking to serve the Kingdom should be our first priority. But those with great wealth are never hindered from advancing the Kingdom. And if Satan, through his "dishonest trade" and "rich commerce", has stolen provision that God meant for you, then by all means you can go before the Heavenly courts to obtain a decree or judgment for the return of your stolen provision. We have been granted back all of our inheritance in Christ, and we must not settle for "lack" when God's intentions are always "abundance".  

Psalm 35:27    Let them shout for joy and rejoice, who favor my vindication and want what is right for me; Let them say continually, “Let the Lord be magnified, who delights and takes pleasure in the prosperity of His servant.”

The Court of Heaven (Part 2): Do You Know Your Authority In The Court?

   

     As we continue yesterday's discussion on the Court of Heaven, I would like to state some foundational points on this topic:  1) Scripture makes it clear there is a Court in Heaven; 2) Satan goes to the Courtroom to accuse us; 3) Satan looks for any legal loophole (any opening by which he has been given authority to attack our lives). He wants to steal, kill, and destroy and let's face it, it has been made easier for him because we haven’t known about the Courtroom. 4) We have been invited to take part in the Courtroom, just as the High Priest Joshua was in Zechariah 3:7.  5)  We don’t need to be clean to go to the courtroom. We are made clean when we go there! Joshua was given new garments in the courtroom.  6) We are able to defeat the devil and any of his principalities and powers.  We have real authority in the Court of Heaven!  And that authority is backed by Jesus, Himself, who has given us the power to bind on earth what has been bound in Heaven.  And when the verdict is handed down that the Accuser has no case against us because we are washed in the blood of Jesus, all of heaven backs that verdict including angels and the Ancient of Days Himself! Isn't that a powerful image?
    And here is a very important and exciting concept to consider... It is written in Proverbs 6:30-31, People do not despise a thief if he steals to satisfy himself when he is hungry; But when he is found, he must repay seven times [what he stole]; he must give all the property of his house [if necessary, to meet his fine] ... God says he must restore what has been stolen SEVENFOLD, even if it bankrupts him.  Now that’s just if he steals because he is in severe lack, and he’s hungry.  What about a thief who steals just because he enjoys stealing from people?  Would God require any less of him?  No.  He still has to repay.  Ah, but the thief we are talking about here is Satan, and he’s a spirit.  How can we make him pay?  We can’t haul him to the Judge and make him pay us back.  OR CAN WE??
      Who says that your spirit can't appear before the Court in Heaven with a list of what the devil has stolen from you and demand restoration?  The King of Kings, and LORD of Lords, will acknowledge your list and make restoration for you, with life abundant ... The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly (John 10:10) .  We need to stop being passive and letting the devil steal from us!  Remember, Satan is a spirit, and it is our spirits that must appear in the spiritual Court of Heaven to make our case. I know some of you may be wondering how that can even be possible.  But, remember ... Scripture tells us in Ephesians 2 that by God's grace, we are saved, and we are raised up with Christ and seated with Him in the Heavenly realms.  We were once far away and now we have been brought near.  The Bible is talking about our spirits!  Made in the image of God, we are spirits in physical bodies. And through the gift of salvation, our spirits are able to commune with Jesus in the heavenly realms and we are not limited by time, distance, or space.
     And here is what we all need to understand... to be seated with Christ is a clear picture of our Authority!  And by faith, we need to see ourselves in that Courtroom, and see the verdict of our innocence in Jesus being announced. It really is a matter of our physical senses catching up to our spirits.  Our spirits are already there... just let your spirit (which is in heaven) speak to you through the images in your mind and show you what appearing in the Court of Heaven looks like.  Ask the Holy Spirit (which resides in your heart) to help your mind receive what your spirit wants to share.
     And I can imagine that it is not much different than how a Courtroom here on earth is conducted.  On earth as it is in Heaven, remember?  You enter the Courtroom, paying respect and honor to the Judge.  You are apprised of the charges against you, and you enter a plea.  Since the Accuser will be bringing charges based on the actions of your flesh, you will confess your human sins, and ask for forgiveness from the Court.  It is at that point that you can rely on Jesus, as your Advocate, to pronounce that you have been cleansed by His blood, and the Blood will be speaking on your behalf.
     Then, just like Job, you prepare your case and present it.  Whether your Accuser brings charges of sickness, poverty, sexual immorality, or any other region of captivity that you need to be set free from, you present your evidence from Scripture ... "By Jesus's stripes I am healed"; "Blessed am I because I am poor, for mine is the Kingdom of God"; "I have confessed my sin (of sexual immorality) and He is faithful and just to forgive me my sins and to cleanse me from all unrighteousness"; "Out of my distress I called on the Lord; the Lord answered me and set me free".  There is not a charge or sin that the Accuser can bring forth that cannot be disputed with Scripture.  Simply build your case and present it to the Judge.
     And don't expect that this will be your last appearance before the Court.  As you display your Authority in this heavenly Courtroom, the Accuser will become more determined to beat you the next time.  But now you are building a history and a reputation in the Heavenly Courtroom.  The Judge sees that you are using your Authority well in representing yourself and His Kingdom, and will (just like with the High Priest Joshua we referenced yesterday) give you greater authority to conduct His government on earth.
     And here's the really cool thing!  Your actions in the Court of Heaven can have very real consequences and effect change here on earth.  You can go to the Court of Heaven on behalf of a loved one!  If you see someone's life spiraling out of control, you can appeal to the Court on their behalf.  You can go to the Court as a witness and for the benefit of another, declaring Scripture in their defense, and seeing the Accuser's case against them crumble. While Satan brings accusations against us stating that we all deserve punishment, we can present our case before the Judge, countering with the argument that the Blood of Jesus [and repentance] brings “legal” forgiveness or justification.

     Too many times we argue with ourselves and others, trying to prove our innocence, when we can just go straight to the Judge of heaven and earth to plead our case.  We need to realize that the Court of Heaven is heavily stacked in our favor -- especially when we know the Authority we have in the Courtroom.  And it is imperative that we understand that the "Accuser of the Brethren" is always there to accuse us before the Judge; accusing us day and night. All we have to do is show up covered in the Blood, having already repented, and present our case. If the Enemy tries to bring up our past, or any past sins in our life that have already been repented of and forgiven, the Judge will overrule him and won’t allow them to be used against us as evidence.
     Here's a thought for you to consider ... Most Christians lose battles in their lives simply because they do not discern that the battles are spiritual, and that they can appear before the Court of Heaven to present their case. The devil is a legalist and tries to find a loophole to win his case. When you don't show up in Court, he wins by default, and lives to accuse you [on that matter] for another day. But when He hears that gavel pound, and the final verdict of "Not Guilty", the Accuser is convinced of your Authority in the Court of Heaven.  The powers of darkness know they have no more legal authority to attack you, and all heaven has witnessed it and will back it up.
     And here are a couple of final thoughts I want you to take away from this discussion:  First, when we bring God’s Word as part of our defense and cry out to God in the Courtroom of Heaven, bringing again and again before Him the Truth of what He says in Scripture, victory will come. God cannot deny His Word, and Satan cannot defeat it.  Scripture is our legal evidence in the Court of Heaven, and with Jesus as our Advocate, and our Authority as our credentials, we are assured acquittal every time!
     But here is my final thought and one that has profound implications ... Remember in Part 1, when I pointed out that God gave the High Priest Joshua access to His Presence in the Court of Heaven PLUS told him that he would be given greater authority to handle God's affairs in His earthly Kingdom?  And remember that I wrote that this was a promise for all of us?  Now, apply that concept to what Paul wrote to the Corinthian church in 1 Corinthians 6: Do you not know that the saints (God’s people) will [one day] judge the world? If the world is to be judged by you, are you not competent to try trivial (insignificant, petty) cases? Do you not know that we [believers] will judge angels? How much more then [as to] matters of this life?
     Did you get that?  One day, we will be administering God's justice upon the whole world, and as Believers in Heaven, we will judge the fallen angels!  But those who will be entrusted with that awesome responsibility must be spiritually mature, and I believe that means we must begin to start representing ourselves in the Court of Heaven now; to practice trying the "trivial cases in the matters of this life" that the Accuser brings against us today... i.e., those cases where he accuses us of being unlovable, rejected, abandoned, sexually immoral, and any number of lies that he says points to our unworthiness in Jesus's eyes.  But that requires us to administrate His Kingdom here on earth from our seats of authority in Heaven.  As Job discovered, no one can present our case like we can!  And the only way to get the practice and to mature our skills is to experience it firsthand.  The Heavenly Court is open and in session ... Jesus and God are waiting for your first Court appearance!

Job 13:3     “But I desire to speak to the Almighty and to argue my case with God.”

The Court of Heaven (Part 1): Do You Know You Have Access To It?

     Perhaps the first question I should ask is Did you know the Court of Heaven even exists?  I would venture to guess that a majority of modern Christians would answer "No" to that question.  Yet the Jews returning to Jerusalem from their Babylonian exile knew well the teachings of the prophet Zechariah, among which was this idea of a Heavenly Court.
     And when we examine Scripture, there are many references to legal terms in God's relationship with men:  judgment, appeals, law, contract, evidence, witnesses, indictment, jurisdiction, debt and debtors, redemption, punishment, condemn, testimony, and verdict.  Starting to get the idea?  And we must always keep in mind the admonition of our Lord: Thy Kingdom come, on earth as it is in Heaven.  The judicial system of the ancient Israelites, as well as our own court system, are modeled upon the Court in Heaven.  Furthermore, the Court is part of the judicial government of the Kingdom of Heaven, and guess what?  We have access to it as part of His Kingdom here on earth!
     First, I want us to understand that there are really two aspects of the Court of Heaven for Believers:  1) Jesus as our legal defender, and 2) our ability to prepare a case for our own defense.  In both instances, we can be present and have access to God in this heavenly Courtroom.
     Let me see if I can paint a picture for you from Scripture... In Zechariah, Chapter 3, the prophet receives a vision from a guiding angel of the High Priest, Joshua, standing before God, and Satan stands to his right, as his accuser.  The High Priest Joshua represents disobedient and sinful Israel, who has been brought to the Court of Heaven to receive what Satan thinks will be justified punishment for their sins.  (Remember: He is known as the Accuser). But that isn't what happens!  God rebukes Satan and replaces Joshua's filthy rags with the clean white robes of forgiveness.
     Then it gets even more exciting!  God counsels Joshua, telling him that if he will be faithful and walk in the ways of the Lord, he will be given greater authority to govern His house and have charge of His earthly courts, and most importantly, Joshua will have free access to the Court in Heaven and to God's presence.  I want you to read that last comment again ... God promised Joshua privileged access into the presence of God. This isn’t a surprising promise for a High Priest, but we have the same promise: Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need. (Hebrews 4:16).
     NOTE:  I am currently seeking revelation from God about whether the Court of Heaven takes place in the Throne Room of God.  At this time, I am seeing Daniel 7:9-10 as confirming this, but I have asked some notable Bible scholars for their opinion, and I will give you their feedback as I receive it.  But for your own discernment and determination, here is the passage in Daniel:  As I looked, thrones were placed, and the Ancient of Days took his seat; His clothing was white as snow, and the hair of His head like pure wool; His throne was fiery flames; its wheels were burning fire. A stream of fire issued and came out from before Him; a thousand thousands served him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before Him; the court sat in judgment, and the books were opened.  I see both the Throne Room and the Court of Judgment pictured in this Scripture, but as to whether they always coincide together, I am not prepared to say.  And perhaps the Court appears in the Throne Room only when God (The Judge) calls the Court into session.  What do you think?  

     But back to the High Priest Joshua ... as Christians, we, too, can appear before God's Throne and the Court of Heaven.  And I really like the way the noted theologian Charles Spurgeon voices his interpretation of this scenario:  "When Satan accuses, Christ pleads (our case). He does not wait till the case has gone against us and then express His regret, but He is always a very present help in time of trouble. He knows the heart of Satan, (being omniscient God), and long before Satan can accuse He puts in the demurrer, the blessed plea on our behalf, and stays the action till He gives an answer which silences forever, [the Accuser's] every accusation."  I found it interesting that the definition of the word demurrer is "[in Law], an objection that an opponent's point is irrelevant or invalid, while granting the factual basis of the point".  So, the result is that Satan accuses us, and Jesus never denies our sin, but instead acts as our Mediator. His sacrifice on our behalf makes the case against us invalid, and the case is thrown out of the Court of Heaven.  We are innocent by the Blood of the Lamb!
     But I don't want us to skip over another very important fact ... God's promise wasn’t just that we can go to the Court of Heaven to petition, making a formal request for a Judicial decision, but if we  will follow God's commandments and live in obedience, then we can oversee the affairs of the Judge  (God), and make the decisions!! That is a realm of authority in the Kingdom Government on earth that is available to all of us! So it’s not just about us being able to appear in Court to plead our case, (it starts there, of course), but we are given the authority to rule and reign and be part of God's justice system in His earthly Kingdom. In that particular responsibility, there is a significant aspect of our position in the Kingdom of God that I'm afraid most Christians don't fully understand... We are Kings and priests of our God, and He intends for us to participate as the government of heaven will increasingly invade the earth.
     There are other obvious views of the Court of Heaven in the Bible.  Perhaps the most familiar one is in the story of Job ... One day when the angels came to report to God, Satan who was his designated Accuser came along with him. We also see that the Court in Heaven is where Satan got permission to curse Job and strike him with severe sores and other misfortune.  It is important for us to understand, as in this case with Job, God does allow Satan to attack and harass His people, but He always strictly regulates what Satan is allowed to do.  And whether we realize it or not, Satan has been going to the Heavenly Courtroom, (just like he did with Job), to get permission to steal from all of our lives. And because we Christians haven't known that we can go into Court and say, "NO, I want to present my case and oppose what the Accuser is saying", we have experienced defeat after defeat! How often have Believers perished for lack of this knowledge?!?
     And I don't want to leave this topic without pointing out one of the strongest visions of the Court of Heaven, which takes place in Revelation 12:10:  Then I heard a strong (loud) voice in heaven, saying, Now it has come—the salvation and the power and the kingdom (the dominion, the reign) of our God, and the power (and the authority) of His Christ (the Messiah); for the Accuser of our brethren, he who keeps bringing before our God charges against them day and night, has been cast out.

     But here's the good news!  We have an Advocate in the Heavenly Courtroom!  This is a legal term describing someone who has received some legal training which allows him or her to represent another in a courtroom; an Advocate is someone who speaks on behalf of someone else.  So we should see a picture of Jesus as our Advocate in 1 John 2:1, “My little children, I write you these things so that you may not violate God’s law and sin. But if anyone should sin, we have an Advocate (One Who will intercede for us) with the Father—[it is] Jesus Christ [the all] righteous [upright and just, Who conforms to the Father’s will in every purpose, thought, and action].”  We know, from this Scripture, that Jesus is legally trained and knows how to represent us in the Court of Heaven!
     But here's something we must also consider ... in the instance of Job, we know that Satan was allowed to appear before the Court of Heaven, and accuse Job before God, The Judge.  But in the first 12 chapters, Job does nothing to defend himself.  He laments the attacks against him, but does nothing to defend himself --- until Chapter 13!  Finally, in this chapter he says, NOW I have prepared my case (verse 18).  So, do you think Job might have saved himself and his family a lot of harm and suffering if he had prepared his case earlier?  Would he have been able to block Satan's attempt to destroy him and his family in the Court?  No one can say for sure, but Job makes it quite evident that now that he's prepared his case, he knows he will be vindicated!
     Can we perhaps learn a lesson from Job and be prepared to make our own cases in the Court of Heaven against our Accuser? Stay tuned for the next post as I present how the whole Heavenly Court system is rigged on our behalf, and how we can go to the Court on behalf of ourselves and our families, with the knowledge that Jesus stands with us.  It's time we begin to prepare our own defense against the lies and accusations of our Adversary!

Thank you to the notes of Steven McKie, David Herzog, and Terry Spencer of New Horizon Community Church for their helpful insight on this topic.  They pointed me to Scripture on the Court of Heaven, which contributed to my understanding of this Biblical concept.

Psalm 35:1   "Plead my cause, O Lord, with those who strive with me; Fight against those who fight against me".