Courts of Heaven, My Findings

(Please bear in mind, my intent here is not to find fault, but to conform to the Truth. The last thing we need right now is to find ourselves in a ditch. I do believe you will see that my concern is genuine, and my quest for understanding is paramount.)

The more I heard about the “Courts of Heaven”, the more intrigued I became to the validity of it. How can this ‘revelation’ become so popular? Is it scriptural? Why wasn’t this revealed 2000 years ago at the birthing of the Church? Why are some of the major teachers out there silent on this subject?

If it is so important, why didn’t Jesus teach it to his disciples when they asked (Lk 11:1-13) “teach us to pray…..”?  So the digging began. I spent several late nights having conversations with Holy Spirit about this, and gave due diligence to the Word & listening to a multitude of teachings. I can now say I’ve arrived at some conclusions about it.

What has not changed in this ‘Church Age’ is protocol. Namely, doing what is correct and pleasing in approaching the Father. I can clearly see that many in the Church have forgotten (or were never taught) the fundamentals of prayer. And if someone did get a prayer answered, it was a ‘faith accident’.

Prayer is taught by demonstration…… Founded on the Word. John 14:13 says, “And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14If you ask anything in My name, I will do it.” If that is the case, then why do we need the “Courts”, when we have direct access to the Father? Every ‘new’ teaching about the “Courts of Heaven” references Old Testament scriptures. We have to be mindful that some things stopped at the Cross of Christ because, we now live under a new and better Covenant. This I believe, is where there’s great potential for error. Mark 11:22-25 states it again this way: “ 22So Jesus answered and said to them, “Have faith in God. 23For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says. 24Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.

25“And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses. 26But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father in heaven forgive your trespasses.”

The Courts of Heaven is just a new term for something that has always been; and that is access to the Father. The ability to approach His Throne for ourselves, or on behalf of others has always existed. The issue is, we’ve become sloppy (without protocol) in our ‘prayer time’ which has resulted in the short-circuiting of our prayers, and mentally ascending with the assumption that we’re approaching in faith when in reality, we’re not. In a closer look at the Word, the “Courts of Heaven” is not directly referenced in the New Testament. In this season we’re in, we still have to be mindful of anything ‘new’. Just because the “Courts of Heaven” seems to be a new ‘buzz-word’ among some teachers, doesn’t means it’s correct.

Main area of concern are those teachers promoting the idea that satan has access to the Heavenly Court, is tough to swallow, and here’s why. Satan has no more access to heaven. He’s bound to this earth and it’s atmosphere. That accuser of the Brethren accuses us directly, reminding us constantly that we’ve missed the mark and is always condemning us. Satan’s only strength is his continual lying to us that there is no hope!! We have the Throne of |Grace where we seek mercy for ourselves and others Heb 4:16.

The term “Courts of Heaven” has the potential to be misleading and appears (to me) to have a diminishing and confusing effect on our position in Christ and the authority we have in Him, and the finished work of the Cross. I do not believe it is sound doctrine, but is actually, a spin-off from a truth/protocol that the Church has let slip. (2 Tim 3:16).

The late Ken Hagen said in one of his encounters with the Lord pertaining to a particular issue, “Lord, even though you are standing here before me, can you give me scripture for it?.” He stated that the Lord turned and smiled at him & gave him corresponding chapter & verse. We are to test all things and it must agree with the Holy Scriptures.

Another angle to this, is knowing our authority in Christ as Kings & Priests… We just need to take dominion in our area of influence. Running into the “Court” to plead a case that has already been settled at the cross is not right either. We have been given great authority in Jesus Name and we must know what it means to execute that authority.

One very important Word spoken by Jesus: John 16.11 (amp): 11 “About judgment, because the ruler (evil genius, prince) of this world [Satan] is judged and condemned and sentence already is passed upon him.” So, why are “going to the courts” when satan has already been judged?

I’m reminded of the Word of the Lord saying, “I am the same yesterday, today, and forever, I change not. ” So then, who/what has really changed?