Understanding the Powers

By Dr. Paul L. Cox

Most of us are familiar with angels and demons. However, there are some other spiritual beings that do not get quite as much attention—these are the powers. Scriptural references include:

-I am convinced that neither death nor life…nor any powers…will be able to separate us from the love of God… Romans 8:38-39

-…far above all rule and authority, power and dominion… Ephesians 1:21

-Our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world… Ephesians 6:12

-By him all things were created; things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities… Colossians 1:16

-And having discerned the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross. Colossians 2:15

-…who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the coming age… Hebrews 6:5

-…Jesus Christ, who has gone into heaven and is at God’s right hand—with angels, authorities, and powers in submission to him… 1 Peter 3:21-22

My own awareness of the powers began several years ago during a trip to Argentina when I began experiencing some very strong sensations on my body, as well as a new electrical type of anointing. While I am well-accustomed to my gift of discernment taking the form of unusual sensations, this was something different, and I initially thought it was really strange—it was about to become even stranger.

Needing some cash, I went to a local ATM machine, put in my card, and expected to receive my money. Instead, my card was returned and the display indicated that the machine was out of order. I then went to a second location and tried again—no success. And then a third. Once could be a normal event; twice a strange coincidence; but three times? It was becoming more apparent that something significant was happening.

Next, as we traveled home, I went to the Northwest counter at LAX to deal with a problem with a flight. As I approached a bank of 15 to 20 computer terminals, all of them stopped functioning. The Northwest employees worked desperately to get their equipment working, and my wife commented, “This isn’t funny anymore.” Suddenly, all of the computers came back online except the one directly in front of me. Interestingly, on a subsequent trip back from Minneapolis this happened again.

Additionally, I began experiencing episodes in which streetlights were going off as I drove by. Others have reported occurrences of this phenomenon as well.Prophetically I believe I was experiencing the discernment of righteous powers and the electrical anointing that had come on me.Previous to these new experiences, my teaching about powers was mostly limited to sharing the views of other scholars, including:


-Heinrich Schlier and G.B. Caird—Powers are spiritual entities that operate through structures. (i.e., a spirit that is connected to a school, a government, a court, or some other institution for the purpose of controlling it)”

-Oscar Cullman—“Powers are both human authorities and angelic powers.” (The difficulty here is that while Romans 13:1-7 teaches submission to the powers, Ephesians 6:13 teach us to resist the powers.)

-W. Carr—“Powers are not evil, but are the angelic beings surrounding the throne of God.”

-Walter Wink wrote three volumes on powers. He stated, “Unless the context specifies…we are to take the term for powers…to mean heavenly and earthly, divine and human, good and evil powers.”

As we further investigate the reality of powers, it’s both helpful and interesting to note the definition of powers, parallels from secular science, and observations of Biblical truth.

First, let’s look at some definitions:

-Powers—Greek word is dynameis

-Strongs: dunamis (doo’-nam-is) force (literally or figuratively); specially, miraculous power (usually by implication, a miracle itself)

-KJV: ability, abundance, meaning, might (-ily, -y, -y deed), (worker of) miracle (–s), power, strength, violence, mighty (wonderful) work

-Strongs: stoicheia (stoy-khi’-on); something orderly in arrangement, i.e. (by implication) a serial (basal, fundamental, initial) constituent (literally), proposition (figuratively): Basic elements such as letters of the alphabet or basic elements of universe—earth, air, fire, and water

-Clinton Arnold believes the interpretation of stoichneia as spiritual entities is the most common view

-In the 2nd and 3rd centuries Stoicheia was the term used for astral spirits.

-Vines Expository Dictionary: stoicheion, used in the plural, primarily signifies any first things from which others in a series, or a composite whole take their rise; the word denotes “an element, first principle” (from stoichos, “a row, rank, series.” Copyright 1985, Thomas Nelson Publishers)

-Stoicheia reflects a common Hellenistic and Jewish view that certain cosmic entities or astral powers were set over the four elements, the planets, and the stars.





What does all this mean?

I believe that in creation stewardship over the magnetic fields was given to these powers. Smaller powers affect persons and the larger powers would affect the universe. At the fall, fallen powers began to negatively affect electro-magnetic fields. Of course righteous powers continue to affect electro-magnetic fields in a positive way.

This explanation of the powers may explain why the enemy has people worship the sun, moon and stars. Through this ungodly worship, the magnetic fields of the universe are affected in a negative way. The enemy seems to derive power from ungodly worship which causes disruption of God’s holy order.


We have observed through discernment that unrighteous powers are positioned at the front and back of a person. (We have used a compass to confirm that these powers are there.) Generational sin gives these powers the right to function. My theory is that when the enemy perverts these magnetic fields, the mental and physical conditions of people are affected. We have noticed that after we deal with these ungodly powers there is often improvement in a person’s emotional and physical condition. This is especially true for those suffering from depression. [1]


There seems to be some scientific support for this observation. In his book, Body Electric, Robert O. Becker, MD examines the impact of magnetic fields on the human body [2]. His extensive research includes the following observations and/or conclusions:


-“…all living things…share the common experience of being plugged into the electromagnetic fields of the earth, which in turn vary in response to the moon and the sun.”


-“We’ve concluded that this frequency in the micro pulsations of the earth’s electromagnetic field was the prime timer of bio-cycles…every creature is hooked up to the earth electro-magnetically through its DC system.”


-Studies of the pineal gland have shown it to be “more than the vaguely defined ‘third eye’ of the mystics. It produces melatonin and seratonin, two neurohormones that…directly control all of the biocycles” and “…very small magnetic fields influence the pineal gland.”


-A study to determine any correlation between the disturbances in the earth’s field caused by magnetic storms on the sun showed increased admissions to a Virginia psychiatric hospital as well as behavioral changes among the patients already hospitalized. Becker states, “…we suspected that the earth’s normal field played a major role in keeping the DC systems control of bodily functions within normal bounds.”


-“About every eight days [due to] the sun’s rotation…the earth’s field is slightly changed in response to the flip-flop in polarity.” (This is an interesting correlation to the 7-day week, with a new week beginning every 8th day)


-Correlations have been discovered between activity in the sun’s magnetic field and major flu epidemics, the growth of Escherichia coli in our intestines, and severity of symptoms in patients suffering from neurological disorders. “Life’s geometric coupling in heaven and earth is apparently more like a web than a simple cord and socket. We might suspect, therefore, that many creatures would use magnetic information for their sense of place.”


-“The existence of magnetic sensors in such diverse creatures as bacteria, bees, and birds…suggests that a magnetic sense has existed from the very beginning of life…”


From a study of scriptures (Ephesians 1: 15-23, Ephesians 4:8, Colossians 2:13-15), we learn these truths:


-Christ has supremacy over the powers


-Christ’s power and authority is cosmic in scope. “His name alone, and not his name in addition to others, is sufficient for a successor confrontation with the powers of evil…Christ’s power and authority is exceeding superior to all ‘powers’ indeed, every name that is named.” (Clinton E. Arnold)


-The “captives” of Ephesians 4:8 are very likely the “enemies” of Ephesians 1:20


-Jesus Christ has disarmed the powers



So what can we do? As with any other scheme of the enemy, we can pray and ask God to prevail. In this case, we ask God to disconnect us from the ruler of the air—from the 2nd heaven. We have crafted a prayer from Gal 4:3-7, 9-10, and Colossians 2.



I declare that once I was a child in slavery under the elemental spirits of the world. But when the time has fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under law to redeem me who was under the law that I might receive the full rights of a son (note that a man is part of the Bride of Christ, so a woman can be a son who receives the inheritance of the first-born son). Because I am a son, God sent the Spirit of His Son into my heart, the Spirit who calls out, “Abba, Father.” So I am no longer a slave, but a son, and since I am a son, God has made me also an heir.

I repent for all current and generational religious activities, and the belief in and practice of all human philosophies and traditions including any ungodly reliance on the law. I now demand that all ungodly powers leave and you will remove all spiritual devices you have placed on me.

I ask, Father, that you will remove all dominions, rulers, and thrones that are aligned with these powers. I renounce and repent for the ungodly magical belief in the four basic elements of the creation— earth, air, fire, and water (in Asian cultures, there is the addition of resources; i.e. metals, etc.)

Lord, will you now bring all magnetic fields into correct alignment and balance.

Father, will you now send your fire to consume all the evil associated with these powers.

Lord, will you now return to me everything the enemy has stolen. I now declare that I am seated with Christ in heavenly places and that the enemy will be under my feet. I now ask, Father, that you will release into me my generational birthright.



-Special thanks to Barbara Parker for assistance in writing this article-




[1] In a recent Scientific American article, it was noted that doctors have seen an improvement in a person’s depression while they are undergoing MRI scans.

[2]I am aware that Dr. Becker tends to embrace New Age thinking. However, I believe the scientific research is valid.