The word is God's will for man.  It is his bond - his covenant.  Everything we need to know about how to live under the rule of heaven is contained in his word.  Jesus taught, in his model prayer, "Our Father, which art in heaven, hallowed be thy name.  Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven..." (Luke 11: 2).  Clearly, God wants us to become knowledgeable about his will in heaven, so that we can implement it on the earth.  By pouring ourselves into the word and allowing the Holy Spirit to teach us the precepts of God, we gain access to how heaven wants things to be done on earth.  In other words, the more we allow the word to effectually work in our lives, then the greater we will see the influence of the rule of heaven in and around us.

There are certain conditions that make this possible.  In Acts chapter six, the disciples began to multiply to such proportions that the daily ministration of the church needed more assistance. The natural demands were squeezing in on the spiritual, so they had to decide to turn those duties over to seven men who had the ability to handle the need.  Those who carried the spiritual authority within the church committed themselves to prayer and the ministry of the word.  This was the key that enabled the will of God to infiltrate more and more into the lives of the people.

In verse seven it reads, "And the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly; and a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith" (Acts 6:7).  As the disciples poured all their attention into prayer and the ministry of the word, then there was an advancement of the rule of heaven - multitudes came to Christ.

Paul wrote to the church of Corinth and told them, "If our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: in whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them that believe not..." (2 Cor. 4:3, 4).  Satan is the god of this world.  His rule is through a kingdom of darkness that is ever seeking to prevail upon the minds and wills of men.  Paul described his hierarchy as principalities, powers, rulers of the darkness of this world, and spiritual wickedness in high places (Eph. 6:12).  These forces pose a consent threat for supremacy.  It is the duty of the church to pray and to release the word of God into the earth in order to thwart his efforts so that men can come out of darkness into the light.  Our task is to get the will of God done in the earth by whatever measures it takes.  We have the power and authority to release the government of heaven into the earth.  That's our job!  The way that occurs is when we take our place in prayer and the ministry of the word. 

Paul  continued in his letter to the church of Corinth, by saying, "For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds; casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God..." (2 Cor. 10:4, 5). This is where the conflict resides.  These wicked spirits in high places are ever seeking to exalt themselves against the knowledge of God, which means they are ever seeking to hold back the will of God from being revealed to man.  Until we recognize that it is our responsibility to enforce the government of heaven, by making manifest the kingdom of God in the earth, then Satan will continue to hold men in darkness by controlling the way they think and the way they believe.

As we apply ourselves to prayer and the ministry of the word, we give rise to the authority of heaven, and we enable the execution of the will of God to be accomplished in the earth.  A striking example of this is found in Acts chapter nineteen.  For two whole years Paul taught the word of God to those in Ephesus, so that the message of the gospel was proclaimed throughout all of Asia.  And God wrought special miracles through the apostle Paul.  Verse twelve reads, "So that from his body were brought unto the sick handkerchiefs or aprons, and the diseases departed from them, and the evil spirits went out of them" (Acts 19:12).  This came as a result of the word of God breaking through into the dominion of darkness.   Certain vagabond Jews, who considered themselves exorcists, heard of it and took it upon themselves to try to deliver a man that was possessed by demon spirits.  Not having any authority from heaven, the demons leaped on them and overcame them.  The Bible says, "...and they prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded" (Acts 19:16).  When word got out what had happened, fear fell on them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified (v. seventeen).

The point is that many came to believe and the powers of darkness were broken over many within that city. And it reads, "So mightily grew the word of God and prevailed" (Acts 19:20).  One moment the powers of darkness seemed to prevail, and then suddenly the word of God prevailed!

How are we to change the legislation of man's believing and thinking? It can only come through the power of prayer (pulling down strongholds, casting down imagination and every high thing that exalts itself against the word), and through ministering the prevailing word until it breaks through the darkness and brings men into the glorious light of truth.