I've been getting some excellent prayer updates from "30-days" this year during Ramadan. I will be posting the full text of the emails here so that you can pray along too. All of the following is from 30 days. Their link is www.30daysfire.net
For Sunday, 23 September, Ramadan 2007. "Loving Muslims Through Prayer"
A key staging post on the ancient Silk Road, the city of Kashgar sits on the westernmost end of the Taklamakan Desert and is arguably the cultural and religious centre of Uyghur culture.
Kashgar is known for being a hotbed for conservative Islam and Uyghur nationalist and separatist sentiment. There is considerable tension between the Chinese rulers and the Uyghur population.
With a population of around 1 million (70% Uyghurs, 30% Chinese and growing), the Kashgar district is a microcosm for the rest of Xinjiang with conservative Muslim and ‘modern’ atheist values clashing head-on.
Kashgar is a strategic city. It boasts one of the largest weekly bazaars in Central Asia with tens of thousands of people – almost entirely Muslims – coming to trade from the surrounding countryside, and neighbouring Pakistan, Kyrgyzstan & Tadjikistan.
Prayer Points
* May God break down the demonic principalities and powers. Fear and death reign unchecked; Please ask God to breakdown these ancient strongholds and release the Uyghur people into the freedom only Christ can bring.
* Lift up the city of Kashgar before the Lord.
* Pray for the completion of the Uyghur Scriptures, and their accessibility; The New Testament translation has recently been completed, but much of the Old Testament is yet to be translated and published. The Uyghur Bible is illegal in Xinjiang.
* More intercessors are needed; The spiritual barriers to this people hearing and responding to the Good News of Jesus Christ are immense. Please pray that God would raise an army of intercessors to stand in the gap for the Uyghur people of Xinjiang.
Our Interactive Flash Site: www.30daysfire.net
23 September 2007
08 August 2007
Light in the Darkness
How do you think your congregation would react if during a service the electricity suddenly went out? Not on sunday morning when there's abundant sunlight, but on a sunday evening when even the moonlight is clouded by pollution. On a sunday evening when it's over 90 degrees and at least 80% humidity so you're sweating through your clothes and body odor fills the air. I forgot to mention, your church doesn't have a building and you have to meet outside in an empty plot, under the company of armed guards. Would you panic? Would you decide to suspend the service until the power was back?
This weekend we were having a worship time with the body in S when the power went out. People started singing even louder than they had been when the whole worship team had microphones! We wrapped up our worship & intercession time and moved right into the teaching, which D had been asked to do. It was his first experience in a church in P, and there was he, preaching into the dark. One man brought a battery powered light to shine on D's sermon notes. As soon as the sermon was over, the lights came back on and we went right back into worship & praise.
PRAISES: (from a nearby city)
- We were able to share with the church and challenge them not to seek after idols but to instead seek after all that God has for them
- A young girl was released from demons and is starting a new life through faith in Jesus
- A woman testfied that her brother was miraculously healed from kidney stones in the name of Jesus
- A young woman from a M*slim family was unable to conceive. She sought prayer in the name of Jesus and has now given birth to twin boys.
- We were able to pray for many more people who wanted healing and some young believers who desire to walk in the power of the Holy Spirit
- D recovered from food poisoning which he got directly after the church meeting on sunday night
PRAYER:
- That the Lord would bring healing to many of those we were able to pray for over the weekend. In particular, a young couple who cannot have children and a woman who has very swollen and twisted feet.
- That the Lord would guide us in our involvement in leadership training that will be taking place in S**alkot in the near future.
- That the Lord would fill us with His Holy Spirit to heal the ear of Dr. K's relative. As far as H's limited language would allow, we understand that her ear and part of her head was chopped off in an accident with a helicoptor. She is walking and talking just fine but her ear is not there! We are fasting and praying that the Lord would give her a new ear through the power of the name of Jesus.
- That the Lord would guide us to minister to Dr. K's sister who is severely depressed and drugged out on valium. She is quite a smart woman who speaks fluent English and used to be a doctor. After a failed arranged marriage and the realization that she could not have children, she sunk into a depression. May she find hope and freedom through our Lord and Savior.
- That we would be able to meet and partner with other believers in our city
- That the Lord would provide for us in the area of transportation.
03 August 2007
Praise and Prayer Aug 2nd
Hello everyone,
We just awoke to read that while we slept many people plummetted to injury or death after the collapse of a Minneapolis bridge. Many of you are probably praying for the recovery of the survivors and the families of those who have lost someone. May we be encouraged by the words of the prophet Isaiah:
"He will swallow up death forever,
and the Lord God will wipe away tears from all faces,
and the reproach of his people
he will take away from all the earth,
for the Lord has spoken." (Isaiah 25:8)
UPDATE ON KOREAN HOSTAGES:
One more of the South Korean hostages has been shot to death by the T*leban. 21 hostages, 18 of which are women, are still in captivity. We can only imagine their living conditions and what they are going through mentally, emotionally and physically. Let us pray for the remaining hostages as well as the families affected in South Korea: May they set the Lord always before them that they may not be shaken. May their hearts be glad, and may they rejoice! Let them know that He will not abandon their souls. Oh Lord let them feel joy in your presence in the midst of this current darkness. Let them be a light to their captors. Open the hearts of those who seek to harm them. May the T*leban repent and turn to you with fasting, weeping and mourning. (Psalm 16:8-11)
News from BBC: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/6928408.stm
PRAISES:
We just awoke to read that while we slept many people plummetted to injury or death after the collapse of a Minneapolis bridge. Many of you are probably praying for the recovery of the survivors and the families of those who have lost someone. May we be encouraged by the words of the prophet Isaiah:
"He will swallow up death forever,
and the Lord God will wipe away tears from all faces,
and the reproach of his people
he will take away from all the earth,
for the Lord has spoken." (Isaiah 25:8)
UPDATE ON KOREAN HOSTAGES:
One more of the South Korean hostages has been shot to death by the T*leban. 21 hostages, 18 of which are women, are still in captivity. We can only imagine their living conditions and what they are going through mentally, emotionally and physically. Let us pray for the remaining hostages as well as the families affected in South Korea: May they set the Lord always before them that they may not be shaken. May their hearts be glad, and may they rejoice! Let them know that He will not abandon their souls. Oh Lord let them feel joy in your presence in the midst of this current darkness. Let them be a light to their captors. Open the hearts of those who seek to harm them. May the T*leban repent and turn to you with fasting, weeping and mourning. (Psalm 16:8-11)
News from BBC: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/6928408.stm
PRAISES:
- Last night we had a chance to share the message of salvation through Jesus Christ with Dr. K, the man who owns the house we live in. He is a man who fears God and desires to do good. May the Lord open his eyes to see that He is the ONLY way to the Father. He has read the entire Bible before and is interested to read it again.
- We have been able to reunite with more of H's friends and have been able to sing songs to them and talk about the God we serve. We are happy to share with them but we want more! We want them to come to fully understand the gospel and to come into intimate relationship with Jesus Christ.
- We have been able to find out more information about jobs and contacts in the area.
- Our new office AC wasn't working and after about a week of waiting it's now up and running again.
PRAYER:
- That the Lord would fill us with His Holy Spirit to heal the ear of Dr. K's relative. As far as H's limited language would allow, we understand that her ear and part of her head was chopped off in an accident with a helicoptor. She is walking and talking just fine but her ear is not there! We are fasting and praying that the Lord would give her a new ear through the power of the name of Jesus.
- That the Lord would guide us to minister to Dr. K's sister who is severely depressed and drugged out on valium. She is quite a smart woman who speaks fluent English and used to be a doctor. After a failed arranged marriage and the realization that she could not have children, she sunk into a depression. May she find hope and freedom through our Lord and Savior.
- That we would be able to encourage believers this weekend as we travel to visit another city.
- That we would be able to meet and partner with other believers in our city
- That the Lord would bring justice to flood victims all over South Asia. Millions are currently stranded or marooned while all of their earthly possessions have been lost. Aid agencies and government officials have been unable to respond effectively to the crisis.
South Asia floods strand millions
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/6927389.stm
Fury over flood relief
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/6262668.stm
May we cry out for justice day and night until the Lord returns (Luke 18:7-8)
23 July 2007
For the would-be-or-future martyr of Islam
Today as I read in BBC News about the testimony of a survivor of Lal Masjid (Red Mosque), my heart was torn. The bold writing is from the article:
“A woman who was inside Islamabad's Red Mosque when it was stormed by Pakistani troops on 10 July has given the BBC one of the first accounts of the final hours of the siege. Unwilling to be named, the survivor said she was not held hostage by militants inside.
“A woman who was inside Islamabad's Red Mosque when it was stormed by Pakistani troops on 10 July has given the BBC one of the first accounts of the final hours of the siege. Unwilling to be named, the survivor said she was not held hostage by militants inside.
More than 100 people died in the army operation - she was one of only 30 women to walk out alive after soldiers went in. Following are excerpts from the interview with Rafia Riaz of the BBC's Urdu service.”
She is writing after being in the siege of the mosque for a week. During the final assault she walked out with her hands up in surrender, actually hoping to be shot by the military. She wasn’t shot but instead…
“They took us to another room and gave us food. We were crying a lot because Korans were burning inside the Red Mosque which was on fire.
We pleaded with them to let us take the Koran. We were very sad to see them being burnt in front of our own eyes. At sunset we were told that we were going to be sent home, and at night, we left the area...
After meeting my father, I was overcome by grief as I had hoped to be a martyr and come back alive.
Now they've attacked the Red Mosque and Jamia Hafsa [the seminary attached to it], I hope the whole country will have Red Mosques. I will work for jihad, and open a madrassa and train people for jihad.”
Read the entire article here: BBC NEWS South Asia 'I hoped to be a glorious martyr'
Oh Lord I think about the testimony of the woman at Lal Masjid and I feel sick to my stomach. What could drive someone to carry out suicide attacks on their own countrymen? To eat leaves and honey, to spend sleepless nights, for what? For the straight path? Is that what the One True God would desire of his children? To cry over burning books but not over burning men? To grieve over not being a martyr?
I am willing to die for my faith and so is she. But she is willing to kill, to shed blood of men, women and children. She is willing to blow herself up for jihad. I think of the American missionaries who went into the Amazon to meet the Waodoni, a head hunting tribe that speared their victims. By the time the missionaries went to them, one of out two Waodoni men would be speared and killed by their own tribesmen. But the missionaries would not shoot them even when attacked. Why didn’t the Christians shoot? Because, as they said, they knew they were ready for heaven but the Waodoni were not. They did not have a relationship with Jesus Christ, the Son of the Living God. All of the men who went to share the hope of the gospel with the Waodoni were speared. Due to the love that the missionary’s families had for the tribe, their wives and children moved into the jungle with the head hunting tribe to share the love of Jesus with them.
So what is the difference between this woman at Lal Masjid and myself or the missionaries to the Waodoni? This woman, this Muslim woman, was not only will to die for her faith, but to kill, to steal and to destroy. And what of her intended victims? Her blowing up the unholy, the apostates, the infidels would surely not ensure THEIR eternal salvation, but only HERS. What then is the motivation for her martyrdom? For the sake of Islam, the Quran and the Prophet….no! For her own selfish desire to see paradise. I’m not quite sure what she would do with the 72 voluptuous virgins, but she did desire paradise.
I actually think I do know why she grieves though. Why she grieves over being alive and not being a martyr. She grieves for her eternal salvation. She grieves for her relationship with God. For in Islam, God is not personal. The only assurance of your salvation lies in being killed for your faith. No one can be sure whether he will go to paradise or to hell. As a Muslim, when you die your good deeds and your bad deeds are weighed on a scale. If you’ve done more good deeds and followed the checklist of things a Muslim must do (statement of faith, prayer five times a day, giving to the poor, going to Mecca, fasting during Ramadan every year) then perhaps God will have mercy on you and allow you into heaven. But, if you are to die in holy war, in jihad, you will surely become a shahid – a martyr. This gives you assurance of your salvation, no matter how many bad deeds you have done. In the name of Allah, the Qur’an, and Islam – the click of a detonator, bodies blown to bits, blood shed…Paradise.
But you and I know that this a lie of the enemy – sent to kill, to steal and to destroy. He prowls around like a roaring lion. The click of a detonator, bodies blown to bits, blood shed – end of life. Beginning of hell. Eternity without God. Eternity of pain.
So as this woman, the would-be or future martyr, jihadi, champion of the faith, grieves, so do I. She grieves for her salvation and I grieve with her.
Oh Lord, open the blinders on her eyes. Open her ears that she may hear truth. She is living for a lie. I know your heart grieves for her soul, as you desire all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of you. Jesus, rescue her. Bind the strongman and release her from this lie. May truth and light break forth in her life. May she find true salvation in you – Jesus, the way the truth and the life.
22 July 2007
Countering the Enemy with the Word
This afternoon as we struggled to focus in prayer (this seems like the theme recently) I started to write down some adjectives to describe how we were feeling. Then we looked up Bible verses whose truths would counter the feelings that were preventing us from praying. As we read the verses aloud, prayed from them, and meditated on the truths they spoke we were able to focus on the Lord and pray together.
As we know we're not alone in our struggles to focus on prayer, worship and intercession, here is a list of the some of the feelings and the verses we used as we sought the Lord.
Spiritually Dry - "Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water. " John 7:38
Tired & Weak - "He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he inceases strength...Those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength, they will fly on wings like eages. They will walk and not grow weary, they will run and not be faint. " Isaiah 40
Distracted & Unfocused - "Let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to JESUS, the founder and perfector of our faith." Hebrews 12
Disconnected - "Draw near to God and he WILL draw near to you." James 4:8
Hungry - "Man shall not live on bread alone." Luke 4:14 - Jesus himself used this one to counter Satan
Discouraged - "He will not grow faint or be discouraged, til he has established justice in the earth." Isaiah 42 - If our Messiah will never be discouraged, why then should we? May the Lord help us to press in and to cry out for his justice until he comes and establishes his kingdom on the earth
We can also find comfort in what the Lord told Paul regarding his 'thorn in the flesh':
"'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.'
Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions and calamities. For when I am weak, I am strong." 2 Corin 12:9
As we know we're not alone in our struggles to focus on prayer, worship and intercession, here is a list of the some of the feelings and the verses we used as we sought the Lord.
Spiritually Dry - "Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water. " John 7:38
Tired & Weak - "He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he inceases strength...Those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength, they will fly on wings like eages. They will walk and not grow weary, they will run and not be faint. " Isaiah 40
Distracted & Unfocused - "Let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to JESUS, the founder and perfector of our faith." Hebrews 12
Disconnected - "Draw near to God and he WILL draw near to you." James 4:8
Hungry - "Man shall not live on bread alone." Luke 4:14 - Jesus himself used this one to counter Satan
Discouraged - "He will not grow faint or be discouraged, til he has established justice in the earth." Isaiah 42 - If our Messiah will never be discouraged, why then should we? May the Lord help us to press in and to cry out for his justice until he comes and establishes his kingdom on the earth
We can also find comfort in what the Lord told Paul regarding his 'thorn in the flesh':
"'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.'
Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions and calamities. For when I am weak, I am strong." 2 Corin 12:9
Teens Reveal Persecution in Vietnam
This week's Top Story from www.persecution.com
American Teens Find Persecution In Vietnam
June 20, 2007
(BARTLESVILLE, Okla.) As Vietnam’s president, Nguyen Minh Triet, comes to the United States this week, his focus will be on advancing trade and technology between his country and the U.S. Nguyen will try to avoid discussing human rights and religious freedom in his country.
But eight teens—six Americans and two Australians—discovered that persecution in Vietnam is real for Christians. The teens interviewed a pastor whose house church has been repeatedly torn down by the police. They were forced to flee from a Christian youth camp when police suddenly arrived.
Their adventure—Underground Reality: Vietnam—was captured on film last year and is now available on DVD from The Voice of the Martyrs, a ministry dedicated to helping persecuted Christians in nations like Vietnam.
“The president of Vietnam calls evangelical Christians law-breakers and says they should be punished,” says Todd Nettleton, spokesperson for VOM. “But the reality is these are simply Christians who want the freedom to worship God according to their conscience. They love their country; they pray for their government leaders. These aren’t trouble-makers or rebels, yet they are arrested, beaten and imprisoned. We’ve received a list of more than 100 Christians currently held in Vietnamese prisons.”
The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) listed Vietnam in its May, 2007, report as a “Country of Particular Concern” in regards to religious freedom.
Underground Reality: Vietnam, which was released on DVD this month, documents first hand the reality of persecution in Vietnam as it was encountered by the teens. One teen interviewed a young girl who had been abused by Vietnamese police. The group met with the children of a Vietnamese pastor who has spent years under house arrest because of his Christian activities. A face-to-face interview with a formerly-imprisoned pastor was a highlight for some of the teens.
“We talk a lot today about reality TV,” says Nettleton. “Well, this is the ultimate reality; the reality of life and death for Christians in Vietnam. The reality of how much they are willing to pay in order to live out their convictions and serve God in the way they feel called to serve Him. What could be more real?”
“We are pleased that Vietnam’s president will be visiting the United States,” says Nettleton. “We call on leaders within the U.S. government to ask President Nguyen hard questions about religious freedom and the way our Christian brothers and sisters are being treated in Vietnam. Good trade relations, and high profits, aren’t enough to ignore the mistreatment of people of faith in Vietnam.”
The Power of the Sword
I was encouraged by looking back at an email sent to me from a friend on March 2, 2006. As we have been struggling to persevere in prayer, her words have inspired me yet again to take up my sword and keep fighting.
"As I prayed in the spirit I kept thinking about how you felt like there was a tarp over you. The Lord started to speak to me and I just wrote as I continued praying. I believe He showed me this: For the sword of the Lord is the Word-- His Word. Let the Sword rend the heavens. You carry the Sword the Spirit wields. As He rends the heavens with His sword, so you must also rend with yours. Pray the Bible. Let the Word pour forth from your spirit--- release what has been stored up."
I have remembered her encouraging works since last March when she sent them to me. The other day I was trying to pray and just feeling like I couldn't connect with the spirit. I felt very spiritually dry and my mind felt clouded. Anything I could think of was distracting me from praying, especially things regarding my work. I was trying to write in my journal, but could only get a few sentences out before thinking about something else. My Bible was lying just out of my reach and I knew I needed to grab it and start praying from the Word. It seemed like the air was heavy and it took all my strength and concentration just to grab my Bible and put it on the bed. Then I summoned the same strength, opened it, and started praying. It still wasn't easy, but my thoughts were clearer and I was able to pray in a more focused way from the Word.
"As I prayed in the spirit I kept thinking about how you felt like there was a tarp over you. The Lord started to speak to me and I just wrote as I continued praying. I believe He showed me this: For the sword of the Lord is the Word-- His Word. Let the Sword rend the heavens. You carry the Sword the Spirit wields. As He rends the heavens with His sword, so you must also rend with yours. Pray the Bible. Let the Word pour forth from your spirit--- release what has been stored up."
I have remembered her encouraging works since last March when she sent them to me. The other day I was trying to pray and just feeling like I couldn't connect with the spirit. I felt very spiritually dry and my mind felt clouded. Anything I could think of was distracting me from praying, especially things regarding my work. I was trying to write in my journal, but could only get a few sentences out before thinking about something else. My Bible was lying just out of my reach and I knew I needed to grab it and start praying from the Word. It seemed like the air was heavy and it took all my strength and concentration just to grab my Bible and put it on the bed. Then I summoned the same strength, opened it, and started praying. It still wasn't easy, but my thoughts were clearer and I was able to pray in a more focused way from the Word.
21 July 2007
Pray for Prayer!
To all of you who keep updated through the blog, we'd appreciate prayers for us - that we would keep praying!
The other day it seemed like the enemy would use anything to keep us from pressing in. We have committed to pray together an hour every day, although we're still having trouble getting back into that groove. Duarte was sick with a fever and a headache, and we knew we needed to pray together despite his health. As soon as we started to pray, the electricity went out. Now that may not seem like a big deal, but as soon as the power goes out the summer heat starts to seep through the walls and attack its intended victims. After ten minutes without AC or the fan we were sweating and having trouble focusing on the Lord.
Then I finally opened up the Bible and started praying from the Word. We still felt weak, but we were able to persevere until the electricity came back on. The hotter it is, the more the electricity goes out because there's just not enough energy produced here.
So please lift us up, that we would pray no matter how hot it is, or how busy we are, or what village we're off in!
The other day it seemed like the enemy would use anything to keep us from pressing in. We have committed to pray together an hour every day, although we're still having trouble getting back into that groove. Duarte was sick with a fever and a headache, and we knew we needed to pray together despite his health. As soon as we started to pray, the electricity went out. Now that may not seem like a big deal, but as soon as the power goes out the summer heat starts to seep through the walls and attack its intended victims. After ten minutes without AC or the fan we were sweating and having trouble focusing on the Lord.
Then I finally opened up the Bible and started praying from the Word. We still felt weak, but we were able to persevere until the electricity came back on. The hotter it is, the more the electricity goes out because there's just not enough energy produced here.
So please lift us up, that we would pray no matter how hot it is, or how busy we are, or what village we're off in!
18 July 2007
Praise & Prayer Update
Praises:
- Praise the Lord for safe travels. We made all of our flights despite chaos at the one airport and being pressed for time at our next connection. It was a stressful day of travel from Europe to here, but when we arrived we were greeted by one of H's friends at the airport.
- We have a place to stay, rent free! We need to pay for our utilities only. The Lord has surely sent us to a man of peace. We stayed one night with H's friend near the main part of the city, and the next day we met a friend of a friend who had the top floor of his house just laying empty. His wife and children are in Russia (He is a doctor born in P who spent most of his life in Russia) and he is waiting for some time to settle his family over here. In the meantime, we can stay at the house without paying any rent. The servants have been very helpful getting us moved in, helping us buy ACs, moving my fridge, and telling us where to buy everything. We were also given food for the first week since we didn't get our stove set up until yesterday.
- Sweet reunions - we have been enjoying connecting with friends, both Muslim and Christian
- Our time in Europe was really a blessing. In D's country we were able to share the gospel and spend time in interession for the islands. In our next stop, I connected with my friend Vera (an exchange student who stayed at my house during high school) and her family. Last time I visited, over three years ago, only her brother was a believer. This time I was able to hear the testimonies of how Vera and her mother had come to know and follow the Lord! God truly draws near to those who draw near to Him.
Prayer:
- That we would finish getting settled (internet hooked up, bank accounts, jobs, etc) and be able to focus on what the Lord has for us here
- That in the light of the recent bloodshed in the capital people's hearts would be open and their eyes would be enlighted to know the one true God
- That we would become a couple who is strong in prayer and in our spiritual gifts so that we may better serve the church here and boldly share the reason for the hope that we have
- That the Lord would guide us to believers in our city who we can fellowship with, partner with, encourage and be encouraged by
Snakes & Dragons
The other night, D had a dream which we believe was a warning from the Lord. Here's what he wrote down:
H and I were at the mountain। We sat down both side to side and had a heartfelt desire to pray over the land in the horizon and for its peoples. However, as we began to intercede and pray we were immediately confronted with many obstacles. These fell under two categories. One being FEAR, and the other OPPRESSION. The first, FEAR, was manifested through snakes. There were many different types of snakes. Some were big, and some were small. Some were red and some were green, while others were yellow. In the dream, they began to appear out of nowhere and headed towards us . Slithering around us, and hissing, they were trying to scare, intimidate and distract us from praying.
All of our attention was no longer on those we had hoped to intercede for, but rather it had turned to these abysmal creatures. I remember both of us praying hard and fervently for them to leave. "In the name of Jesus, leave. I rebuke you" we shouted, but nothing seemed to happened. So, to our disappointment, we were still gripped with fear, and we hadn't yet been able to focus in on those we longed to pray for.
The second obstacle in the dream was under the category of OPPRESSION. While we were attempting to rid ourselves of the snakes we saw in the distance many dragons flying, and breathing fire over the land ahead. They were hovering to and fro, persecuting, tyrannizing, suppressing, and subduing the people.
CONCLUSIONS:
- We must be equipped through the knowledge of the Word, and through experience on how to deal with the fears, and the distractions that will rise up and possibly keep us from praying.
- Along with these hindrances, we must also realize that there are many things that are keeping people in bondage. The oppression over the land is great, and as long as Christians neglect to put on the full armor of God and contend for the downtrodden, the dragons of this world will continue to rule and lead the souls of men and women to the fiery pits of Hell.
- Lastly, we must never forget that God is always with us, helping us in our struggles, and keeping us safe from the enemy, as long as we choose to listen to his warning words. I believe this is relevant to the dream because in it, while my wife and I were confronting the snakes on the mountain, there was behind us someone who was trying to help us and warn us. He was standing only a couple of feet away and was keeping us aware of any incoming snakes. He was in essence, keeping our backs safe, and was not allowing us to be struck down by any unforeseen attack.
26 May 2007
Identifying with Sin
For the Global Day of Prayer this year, we're planning on doing a section on identificational repentance. While reading Awakening Cry by Pete Greig, I came across this clear description of how and why we are called to identify with the sin of our people.
Intercessory prayer can only really flow out of a deep level of personal identification. Compare the way we pray for a starving child in Africa to the way we would pray for our own child. The difference is not so much the scale of emotion as the level of intimacy. When distant strangers become intimate neighbors our prayers for them find passion. The Bible is full of such identification. Jeremiah identified so strongly with Israel's pain that he wrote: Oh my anguish, my anguish! I writhe in pain. Oh, the agony of my heart…the whole land lies in ruins (Jeremiah 4:19). Hosea was even called to identify with Israel's unfaithfulness to the extent of marrying an adulterous wife. When Nehemiah hear about the disgrace of Israel, I sat down and wept. For some days I mourned and fasted and prayed before the God of heaven. Then I said, "O Lord…I confess the sins we Israelites, including myself and my father's house, have committed against you." (Nehemiah 1:4-6)
As we seek God for revival, we have a priestly duty to confess the sins of our nation. In Scripture this is never a detached theological exercise, but a heart cry, often accompanied by fasting, mourning and the wearing of sackcloth and ashes. In such prayer, we acknowledge that the filth of society infects and affects us too, and we cry out that in God's perfect anger, he would remember mercy and spare us. Daniel prayed a remarkable intercessory prayer for Israel, owning its disobedience as his own, although he himself was "highly esteemed" by God (Daniel 10:11). While I was speaking and praying, confessing my sin and the sin of my people Israel and making my request to the Lord my God for his holy hill…Gabriel came to me in swift flight
(Daniel 9:21)
(p 104-105 - Awakening Cry - Pete Greig)
May we mourn for the sins of our cities and may we cry out for God to have mercy and deliver them.
Intercessory prayer can only really flow out of a deep level of personal identification. Compare the way we pray for a starving child in Africa to the way we would pray for our own child. The difference is not so much the scale of emotion as the level of intimacy. When distant strangers become intimate neighbors our prayers for them find passion. The Bible is full of such identification. Jeremiah identified so strongly with Israel's pain that he wrote: Oh my anguish, my anguish! I writhe in pain. Oh, the agony of my heart…the whole land lies in ruins (Jeremiah 4:19). Hosea was even called to identify with Israel's unfaithfulness to the extent of marrying an adulterous wife. When Nehemiah hear about the disgrace of Israel, I sat down and wept. For some days I mourned and fasted and prayed before the God of heaven. Then I said, "O Lord…I confess the sins we Israelites, including myself and my father's house, have committed against you." (Nehemiah 1:4-6)
As we seek God for revival, we have a priestly duty to confess the sins of our nation. In Scripture this is never a detached theological exercise, but a heart cry, often accompanied by fasting, mourning and the wearing of sackcloth and ashes. In such prayer, we acknowledge that the filth of society infects and affects us too, and we cry out that in God's perfect anger, he would remember mercy and spare us. Daniel prayed a remarkable intercessory prayer for Israel, owning its disobedience as his own, although he himself was "highly esteemed" by God (Daniel 10:11). While I was speaking and praying, confessing my sin and the sin of my people Israel and making my request to the Lord my God for his holy hill…Gabriel came to me in swift flight
(Daniel 9:21)
(p 104-105 - Awakening Cry - Pete Greig)
May we mourn for the sins of our cities and may we cry out for God to have mercy and deliver them.
30 April 2007
Turkish believers martyred
Pray for the families of these Turkish believers, as well as for the men who killed them.
*Warning - the description of their death is graphic
A letter to the Global Church from The Protestant Church of Smyrna
Dear friends,
This past week has been filled with much sorrow. Many of you have heard by now of our devastating loss here in an event that took place in Malatya, a Turkish province 300 miles northeast of Antioch, the city where believers were first called Christians (Acts 11:26).
On Wednesday morning, April 18, 2007, 46 year old German missionary and father of three Tilman Geske prepared to go to his office, kissing his wife goodbye taking a moment to hug his son and give him the priceless memory, “Goodbye, son. I love you.”
Tilman rented an office space from Zirve Publishing where he was preparing notes for the new Turkish Study Bible. Zirve was also the location of the Malatya Evangelist Church office. A ministry of the church, Zirve prints and distributes Christian literature to Malatya and nearby cities in Eastern Turkey. In another area of town, 35 year old Pastor Necati Aydin, father of two, said goodbye to his wife, leaving for the office as well. They had a morning Bible Study and prayer meeting that some other believers in town would also be attending. Ugur Yuksel likewise made his way to the Bible study.
None of these three men knew that what awaited them at the Bible study was the ultimate testing and application of their faith, which would conclude with their entrance into glory to receive their crown of righteousness from Christ and honor from all the saints awaiting them in the Lord’s presence.
On the other side of town, ten young men all under 20 years old put into place final arrangements for their ultimate act of faith, living out their love for Allah and hatred of infidels who they felt undermined Islam.
On Resurrection Sunday, five of these men had been to a by-invitation-only evangelistic service that Pastor Necati and his men had arranged at a hotel conference room in the city. The men were known to the believers as “seekers.” No one knows what happened in the hearts of those men as they listened to the gospel. Were they touched by the Holy Spirit? Were they convicted of sin? Did they hear the gospel in their heart of hearts? Today we only have the beginning of their story.
These young men, one of whom is the son of a mayor in the Province of Malatya, are part of a tarikat, or a group of “faithful believers” in Islam. Tarikat membership is highly respected here; it’s like a fraternity membership. In fact, it is said that no one can get into public office without membership in a tarikat. These young men all lived in the same dorm, all preparing for university entrance exams.
The young men got guns, breadknives, ropes and towels ready for their final act of service to Allah. They knew there would be a lot of blood. They arrived in time for the Bible Study, around 10 o’clock.
They arrived, and apparently the Bible Study began. Reportedly, after Necati read a chapter from the Bible the assault began. The boys tied Ugur, Necati, and Tilman’s hands and feet to chairs and as they videoed their work on their cellphones, they tortured our brothers for almost three hours*
[Details of the torture--
* Tilman was stabbed 156 times, Necati 99 times and Ugur’s stabs were too numerous to count. They were disemboweled, and their intestines sliced up in front of their eyes. They were emasculated and watched as those body parts were destroyed. Fingers were chopped off, their noses and mouths and anuses were sliced open. Possibly the worst part was watching as their brothers were likewise tortured. Finally, their throats were sliced from ear to ear, heads practically decapitated.]
Neighbors in workplaces near the printhouse said later they had heard yelling, but assumed the owners were having a domestic argument so they did not respond.
Meanwhile, another believer Gokhan and his wife had a leisurely morning. He slept in till 10, ate a long breakfast and finally around 12:30 he and his wife arrived at the office. The door was locked from the inside, and his key would not work. He phoned and though it had connection on his end he did not hear the phone ringing inside. He called cell phones of his brothers and finally Ugur answered his phone. “We are not at the office. Go to the hotel meeting. We are there. We will come there,” he said cryptically. As Ugur spoke Gokhan heard in the telephone’s background weeping and a strange snarling sound.
He phoned the police, and the nearest officer arrived in about five minutes. He pounded on the door, “Police, open up!” Initially the officer thought it was a domestic disturbance. At that point they heard another snarl and a gurgling moan. The police understood that sound as human suffering, prepared the clip in his gun and tried over and over again to burst through the door. One of the frightened assailants unlocked the door for the policeman, who entered to find a grisly scene.
Tilman and Necati had been slaughtered, practically decapitated with their necks slit from ear to ear. Ugur’s throat was likewise slit and he was barely alive.
Three assailants in front of the policeman dropped their weapons.
Meanwhile Gokhan heard a sound of yelling in the street. Someone had fallen from their third story office. Running down, he found a man on the ground, whom he later recognized, named Emre Gunaydin. He had massive head trauma and, strangely, was snarling. He had tried to climb down the drainpipe to escape, and losing his balance had plummeted to the ground. It seems that he was the main leader of the attackers. Another assailant was found hiding on a lower balcony.
To untangle the web we need to back up six years. In April 2001, the National Security Council of Turkey (Milli Guvenlik Kurulu) began to consider evangelical Christians as a threat to national security, on equal footing as Al Quaida and PKK terrorism. Statements made in the press by political leaders, columnists and commentators have fueled a hatred against missionaries who they claim bribe young people to change their religion.
After that decision in 2001, attacks and threats on churches, pastors and Christians began. Bombings, physical attacks, verbal and written abuse are only some of the ways Christians are being targetted. Most significant is the use of media propaganda.
From December 2005, after having a long meeting regarding the Christian threat, the wife of Former Prime Minister Ecevit, historian Ilber Ortayli, Professor Hasan Unsal, Politician Ahmet Tan and writer/propogandist Aytunc Altindal, each in their own profession began a campaign to bring the public’s attention to the looming threat of Christians who sought to “buy their children’s souls”. Hidden cameras in churches have taken church service footage and used it sensationally to promote fear and antagonism toward Christianity.
In an official televised response from Ankara, the Interior Minister of Turkey smirked as he spoke of the attacks on our brothers. Amid public outrage and protests against the event and in favor of freedom of religion and freedom of thought, media and official comments ring with the same message, “We hope you have learned your lesson. We do not want Christians here.”
It appears that this was an organized attack initiated by an unknown adult tarikat leader. As in the Hrant Dink murder in January 2007, and a Catholic priest Andrea Santoro in February 2006, minors are being used to commit religious murders because public sympathy for youth is strong and they face lower penalties than an adult convicted of the same crime. Even the parents of these children are in favor of the acts. The mother of the 16 year old boy who killed the Catholic priest Andrea Santoro looked at the cameras as her son was going to prison and said, “he will serve time for Allah.”
The young men involved in the killing are currently in custody. Today news reported that they would be tried as terrorists, so their age would not affect the strict penalty. Assailant Emre Gunaydin is still in intensive care. The investigation centers around him and his contacts and they say will fall apart if he does not recover.
The Church in Turkey responded in a way that honored God as hundreds of believers and dozens of pastors flew in as fast as they could to stand by the small church of Malatya and encourage the believers, take care of legal issues, and represent Christians to the media.
When Susanne Tilman expressed her wish to bury her husband in Malatya, the Governor tried to stop it, and when he realized he could not stop it, a rumor was spread that “it is a sin to dig a grave for a Christian.” In the end, in an undertaking that should be remembered in Christian history forever, the men from the church in Adana (near Tarsus), grabbed shovels and dug a grave for their slain brother in an un-tended hundred year old Armenian graveyard.
Ugur was buried by his family in an Alevi Muslim ceremony in his hometown of Elazig, his believing fiance watching from the shadows as his family and friends refused to accept in death the faith Ugur had so long professed and died for.
Necati’s funeral took place in his hometown of Izmir, the city where he came to faith. The darkness does not understand the light. Though the churches expressed their forgiveness for the event, Christians were not to be trusted. Before they would load the coffin onto the plane from Malatya, it went through two separate xray exams to make sure it was not loaded with explosives. This is not a usual procedure for Muslim coffins.
Necati’s funeral was a beautiful event. Like a glimpse of heaven, thousands of Turkish Christians and missionaries came to show their love for Christ, and their honor for this man chosen to die for Christ. Necati’s wife Shemsa told the world, “His death was full of meaning, because he died for Christ and he lived for Christ… Necati was a gift from God. I feel honored that he was in my life, I feel crowned with honor. I want to be worthy of that honor.”
Boldly the believers took their stand at Necati’s funeral, facing the risks of being seen publicly and likewise becoming targets. As expected, the anti-terror police attended and videotaped everyone attending the funeral for their future use. The service took place outside at Buca Baptist church, and he was buried in a small Christian graveyard in the outskirts of Izmir.
Two assistant Governors of Izmir were there solemnly watching the event from the front row. Dozens of news agencies were there documenting the events with live news and photographs. Who knows the impact the funeral had on those watching? This is the beginning of their story as well. Pray for them.
In an act that hit front pages in the largest newspapers in Turkey, Susanne Tilman in a television interview expressed her forgiveness. She did not want revenge, she told reporters. “Oh God, forgive them for they know not what they do,” she said, wholeheartedly agreeing with the words of Christ on Calvary (Luke 23:34).
In a country where blood-for-blood revenge is as normal as breathing, many many reports have come to the attention of the church of how this comment of Susanne Tilman has changed lives. One columnist wrote of her comment, “She said in one sentence what 1000 missionaries in 1000 years could never do.”
The missionaries in Malatya will most likely move out, as their families and children have become publicly identified as targets to the hostile city. The remaining 10 believers are in hiding. What will happen to this church, this light in the darkness? Most likely it will go underground. Pray for wisdom, that Turkish brothers from other cities will go to lead the leaderless church. Should we not be concerned for that great city of Malatya, a city that does not know what it is doing? (Jonah 4:11)
When our Pastor Fikret Bocek went with a brother to give a statement to the Security Directorate on Monday they were ushered into the Anti-Terror Department. On the wall was a huge chart covering the whole wall listing all the terrorist cells in Izmir, categorized. In one prominent column were listed all the evangelical churches in Izmir. The darkness does not understand the light. “These that have turned the world upside down are come hither also.” (Acts 17:6)
Please pray for the Church in Turkey. “Don’t pray against persecution, pray for perseverence,” urges Pastor Fikret Bocek.
The Church is better having lost our brothers; the fruit in our lives, the renewed faith, the burning desire to spread the gospel to quench more darkness in Malatya …all these are not to be regretted. Pray that we stand strong against external opposition and especially pray that we stand strong against internal struggles with sin, our true debilitating weakness.
This we know. Christ Jesus was there when our brothers were giving their lives for Him. He was there, like He was when Stephen was being stoned in the sight of Saul of Tarsus.
Someday the video of the deaths of our brothers may reveal more to us about the strength that we know Christ gave them to endure their last cross, about the peace the Spirit of God endowed them with to suffer for their beloved Savior. But we know He did not leave their side. We know their minds were full of Scripture strengthening them to endure, as darkness tried to subdue the unsubduable Light of the Gospel. We know, in whatever way they were able, with a look or a word, they encouraged one another to stand strong. We know they knew they would soon be with Christ.
We don’t know the details. We don’t know the kind of justice that will or will not be served on this earth.
But we pray-- and urge you to pray-- that someday at least one of those five boys will come to faith because of the testimony in death of Tilman Geske, who gave his life as a missionary to his beloved Turks, and the testimonies in death of Necati Aydin and Ugur Yuksel, the first martyrs for Christ out of the Turkish Church
*Warning - the description of their death is graphic
A letter to the Global Church from The Protestant Church of Smyrna
Dear friends,
This past week has been filled with much sorrow. Many of you have heard by now of our devastating loss here in an event that took place in Malatya, a Turkish province 300 miles northeast of Antioch, the city where believers were first called Christians (Acts 11:26).
On Wednesday morning, April 18, 2007, 46 year old German missionary and father of three Tilman Geske prepared to go to his office, kissing his wife goodbye taking a moment to hug his son and give him the priceless memory, “Goodbye, son. I love you.”
Tilman rented an office space from Zirve Publishing where he was preparing notes for the new Turkish Study Bible. Zirve was also the location of the Malatya Evangelist Church office. A ministry of the church, Zirve prints and distributes Christian literature to Malatya and nearby cities in Eastern Turkey. In another area of town, 35 year old Pastor Necati Aydin, father of two, said goodbye to his wife, leaving for the office as well. They had a morning Bible Study and prayer meeting that some other believers in town would also be attending. Ugur Yuksel likewise made his way to the Bible study.
None of these three men knew that what awaited them at the Bible study was the ultimate testing and application of their faith, which would conclude with their entrance into glory to receive their crown of righteousness from Christ and honor from all the saints awaiting them in the Lord’s presence.
On the other side of town, ten young men all under 20 years old put into place final arrangements for their ultimate act of faith, living out their love for Allah and hatred of infidels who they felt undermined Islam.
On Resurrection Sunday, five of these men had been to a by-invitation-only evangelistic service that Pastor Necati and his men had arranged at a hotel conference room in the city. The men were known to the believers as “seekers.” No one knows what happened in the hearts of those men as they listened to the gospel. Were they touched by the Holy Spirit? Were they convicted of sin? Did they hear the gospel in their heart of hearts? Today we only have the beginning of their story.
These young men, one of whom is the son of a mayor in the Province of Malatya, are part of a tarikat, or a group of “faithful believers” in Islam. Tarikat membership is highly respected here; it’s like a fraternity membership. In fact, it is said that no one can get into public office without membership in a tarikat. These young men all lived in the same dorm, all preparing for university entrance exams.
The young men got guns, breadknives, ropes and towels ready for their final act of service to Allah. They knew there would be a lot of blood. They arrived in time for the Bible Study, around 10 o’clock.
They arrived, and apparently the Bible Study began. Reportedly, after Necati read a chapter from the Bible the assault began. The boys tied Ugur, Necati, and Tilman’s hands and feet to chairs and as they videoed their work on their cellphones, they tortured our brothers for almost three hours*
[Details of the torture--
* Tilman was stabbed 156 times, Necati 99 times and Ugur’s stabs were too numerous to count. They were disemboweled, and their intestines sliced up in front of their eyes. They were emasculated and watched as those body parts were destroyed. Fingers were chopped off, their noses and mouths and anuses were sliced open. Possibly the worst part was watching as their brothers were likewise tortured. Finally, their throats were sliced from ear to ear, heads practically decapitated.]
Neighbors in workplaces near the printhouse said later they had heard yelling, but assumed the owners were having a domestic argument so they did not respond.
Meanwhile, another believer Gokhan and his wife had a leisurely morning. He slept in till 10, ate a long breakfast and finally around 12:30 he and his wife arrived at the office. The door was locked from the inside, and his key would not work. He phoned and though it had connection on his end he did not hear the phone ringing inside. He called cell phones of his brothers and finally Ugur answered his phone. “We are not at the office. Go to the hotel meeting. We are there. We will come there,” he said cryptically. As Ugur spoke Gokhan heard in the telephone’s background weeping and a strange snarling sound.
He phoned the police, and the nearest officer arrived in about five minutes. He pounded on the door, “Police, open up!” Initially the officer thought it was a domestic disturbance. At that point they heard another snarl and a gurgling moan. The police understood that sound as human suffering, prepared the clip in his gun and tried over and over again to burst through the door. One of the frightened assailants unlocked the door for the policeman, who entered to find a grisly scene.
Tilman and Necati had been slaughtered, practically decapitated with their necks slit from ear to ear. Ugur’s throat was likewise slit and he was barely alive.
Three assailants in front of the policeman dropped their weapons.
Meanwhile Gokhan heard a sound of yelling in the street. Someone had fallen from their third story office. Running down, he found a man on the ground, whom he later recognized, named Emre Gunaydin. He had massive head trauma and, strangely, was snarling. He had tried to climb down the drainpipe to escape, and losing his balance had plummeted to the ground. It seems that he was the main leader of the attackers. Another assailant was found hiding on a lower balcony.
To untangle the web we need to back up six years. In April 2001, the National Security Council of Turkey (Milli Guvenlik Kurulu) began to consider evangelical Christians as a threat to national security, on equal footing as Al Quaida and PKK terrorism. Statements made in the press by political leaders, columnists and commentators have fueled a hatred against missionaries who they claim bribe young people to change their religion.
After that decision in 2001, attacks and threats on churches, pastors and Christians began. Bombings, physical attacks, verbal and written abuse are only some of the ways Christians are being targetted. Most significant is the use of media propaganda.
From December 2005, after having a long meeting regarding the Christian threat, the wife of Former Prime Minister Ecevit, historian Ilber Ortayli, Professor Hasan Unsal, Politician Ahmet Tan and writer/propogandist Aytunc Altindal, each in their own profession began a campaign to bring the public’s attention to the looming threat of Christians who sought to “buy their children’s souls”. Hidden cameras in churches have taken church service footage and used it sensationally to promote fear and antagonism toward Christianity.
In an official televised response from Ankara, the Interior Minister of Turkey smirked as he spoke of the attacks on our brothers. Amid public outrage and protests against the event and in favor of freedom of religion and freedom of thought, media and official comments ring with the same message, “We hope you have learned your lesson. We do not want Christians here.”
It appears that this was an organized attack initiated by an unknown adult tarikat leader. As in the Hrant Dink murder in January 2007, and a Catholic priest Andrea Santoro in February 2006, minors are being used to commit religious murders because public sympathy for youth is strong and they face lower penalties than an adult convicted of the same crime. Even the parents of these children are in favor of the acts. The mother of the 16 year old boy who killed the Catholic priest Andrea Santoro looked at the cameras as her son was going to prison and said, “he will serve time for Allah.”
The young men involved in the killing are currently in custody. Today news reported that they would be tried as terrorists, so their age would not affect the strict penalty. Assailant Emre Gunaydin is still in intensive care. The investigation centers around him and his contacts and they say will fall apart if he does not recover.
The Church in Turkey responded in a way that honored God as hundreds of believers and dozens of pastors flew in as fast as they could to stand by the small church of Malatya and encourage the believers, take care of legal issues, and represent Christians to the media.
When Susanne Tilman expressed her wish to bury her husband in Malatya, the Governor tried to stop it, and when he realized he could not stop it, a rumor was spread that “it is a sin to dig a grave for a Christian.” In the end, in an undertaking that should be remembered in Christian history forever, the men from the church in Adana (near Tarsus), grabbed shovels and dug a grave for their slain brother in an un-tended hundred year old Armenian graveyard.
Ugur was buried by his family in an Alevi Muslim ceremony in his hometown of Elazig, his believing fiance watching from the shadows as his family and friends refused to accept in death the faith Ugur had so long professed and died for.
Necati’s funeral took place in his hometown of Izmir, the city where he came to faith. The darkness does not understand the light. Though the churches expressed their forgiveness for the event, Christians were not to be trusted. Before they would load the coffin onto the plane from Malatya, it went through two separate xray exams to make sure it was not loaded with explosives. This is not a usual procedure for Muslim coffins.
Necati’s funeral was a beautiful event. Like a glimpse of heaven, thousands of Turkish Christians and missionaries came to show their love for Christ, and their honor for this man chosen to die for Christ. Necati’s wife Shemsa told the world, “His death was full of meaning, because he died for Christ and he lived for Christ… Necati was a gift from God. I feel honored that he was in my life, I feel crowned with honor. I want to be worthy of that honor.”
Boldly the believers took their stand at Necati’s funeral, facing the risks of being seen publicly and likewise becoming targets. As expected, the anti-terror police attended and videotaped everyone attending the funeral for their future use. The service took place outside at Buca Baptist church, and he was buried in a small Christian graveyard in the outskirts of Izmir.
Two assistant Governors of Izmir were there solemnly watching the event from the front row. Dozens of news agencies were there documenting the events with live news and photographs. Who knows the impact the funeral had on those watching? This is the beginning of their story as well. Pray for them.
In an act that hit front pages in the largest newspapers in Turkey, Susanne Tilman in a television interview expressed her forgiveness. She did not want revenge, she told reporters. “Oh God, forgive them for they know not what they do,” she said, wholeheartedly agreeing with the words of Christ on Calvary (Luke 23:34).
In a country where blood-for-blood revenge is as normal as breathing, many many reports have come to the attention of the church of how this comment of Susanne Tilman has changed lives. One columnist wrote of her comment, “She said in one sentence what 1000 missionaries in 1000 years could never do.”
The missionaries in Malatya will most likely move out, as their families and children have become publicly identified as targets to the hostile city. The remaining 10 believers are in hiding. What will happen to this church, this light in the darkness? Most likely it will go underground. Pray for wisdom, that Turkish brothers from other cities will go to lead the leaderless church. Should we not be concerned for that great city of Malatya, a city that does not know what it is doing? (Jonah 4:11)
When our Pastor Fikret Bocek went with a brother to give a statement to the Security Directorate on Monday they were ushered into the Anti-Terror Department. On the wall was a huge chart covering the whole wall listing all the terrorist cells in Izmir, categorized. In one prominent column were listed all the evangelical churches in Izmir. The darkness does not understand the light. “These that have turned the world upside down are come hither also.” (Acts 17:6)
Please pray for the Church in Turkey. “Don’t pray against persecution, pray for perseverence,” urges Pastor Fikret Bocek.
The Church is better having lost our brothers; the fruit in our lives, the renewed faith, the burning desire to spread the gospel to quench more darkness in Malatya …all these are not to be regretted. Pray that we stand strong against external opposition and especially pray that we stand strong against internal struggles with sin, our true debilitating weakness.
This we know. Christ Jesus was there when our brothers were giving their lives for Him. He was there, like He was when Stephen was being stoned in the sight of Saul of Tarsus.
Someday the video of the deaths of our brothers may reveal more to us about the strength that we know Christ gave them to endure their last cross, about the peace the Spirit of God endowed them with to suffer for their beloved Savior. But we know He did not leave their side. We know their minds were full of Scripture strengthening them to endure, as darkness tried to subdue the unsubduable Light of the Gospel. We know, in whatever way they were able, with a look or a word, they encouraged one another to stand strong. We know they knew they would soon be with Christ.
We don’t know the details. We don’t know the kind of justice that will or will not be served on this earth.
But we pray-- and urge you to pray-- that someday at least one of those five boys will come to faith because of the testimony in death of Tilman Geske, who gave his life as a missionary to his beloved Turks, and the testimonies in death of Necati Aydin and Ugur Yuksel, the first martyrs for Christ out of the Turkish Church
07 April 2007
Praying for the Lost
I've been reading The Bondage Breaker by Neil T. Anderson. Anderson offers four specific points that we can focus on while praying for those who don't know God. Here are his points along with some Bible verses and prayers to help you in praying for those who don't yet have a relationship with the Lord. Let us pray together for our friends, family members and people of every tongue, tribe and nation who have not accepted the gospel which is the Word of truth.
1) Pray for workers - Matthew 9:37-38
"The harvest is plentiful but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers for the harvest." (the words of Jesus)
"But how are they to call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard?And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, 'How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!" (the apostle Paul in Romans 10:14-15)
Oh Lord we ask you to send out laborers for the harvest. We ask you God to raise up a church with a heart for the nations. We ask you God to send people out to the ends of the earth to preach the gospel of truth, that people may hear, believe, and call on your name. Make our feet ready to bring the Word wherever you call us to go.
2. Pray that God will give them life
"The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly." (Jesus in John 10:10)
Oh God _________ (place name of your friend or people group here) doesn't know you and is living as a slave to the enemy. Lord we ask that you would have mercy on them and give them life abundant in you. Lord we were dead in our sins and you brought life to us. We ask that you would do this for those who do not know them. Bring them Lord, from death to life.
3. Pray against thoughts raised up against the knowledge of God
4। Pray that the eyes of the lost will be OPENED and that the truth will SET THEM FREE
"that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of WISDOM and REVELATION in the KNOWLEDGE OF HIM, having the EYES OF YOUR HEARTS ENLIGHTENED, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe..." Ephesians 1:17-19 - The prayer of the apostle Paul
"For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery." Galatians 5:1
Oh Jesus thank you that the truth sets us free. Lord we ask that you would give them a spirit of wisdom and revelation to know who you are. Show them Lord that you are God, the One who created them and loves them. Show them the Lord the hope that they can have in and through You. God we ask that you would enlighten the eyes of their hearts. Take off the blinders of this world, take away all the distractions that are keeping them from knowing you. Send forth your light and your truth in their hearts. For you are the way, the truth and the life. Thank you Jesus.
1) Pray for workers - Matthew 9:37-38
"The harvest is plentiful but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers for the harvest." (the words of Jesus)
"But how are they to call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard?And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, 'How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!" (the apostle Paul in Romans 10:14-15)
Oh Lord we ask you to send out laborers for the harvest. We ask you God to raise up a church with a heart for the nations. We ask you God to send people out to the ends of the earth to preach the gospel of truth, that people may hear, believe, and call on your name. Make our feet ready to bring the Word wherever you call us to go.
2. Pray that God will give them life
"The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly." (Jesus in John 10:10)
Oh God _________ (place name of your friend or people group here) doesn't know you and is living as a slave to the enemy. Lord we ask that you would have mercy on them and give them life abundant in you. Lord we were dead in our sins and you brought life to us. We ask that you would do this for those who do not know them. Bring them Lord, from death to life.
3. Pray against thoughts raised up against the knowledge of God
Oh Lord how majestic is Your name. All the glory belongs to You. We pray that they would be able to take every though obedient to Christ that they would honor You. We pray that you would set the truth of Your word on their hearts and not allow the enemy to plant thoughts in their minds. Show yourself God. May you ARISE. May you give them a spirit of wisdom and revelation to know who you are, our Bridegroom King.
4। Pray that the eyes of the lost will be OPENED and that the truth will SET THEM FREE
"that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of WISDOM and REVELATION in the KNOWLEDGE OF HIM, having the EYES OF YOUR HEARTS ENLIGHTENED, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe..." Ephesians 1:17-19 - The prayer of the apostle Paul
"For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery." Galatians 5:1
Oh Jesus thank you that the truth sets us free. Lord we ask that you would give them a spirit of wisdom and revelation to know who you are. Show them Lord that you are God, the One who created them and loves them. Show them the Lord the hope that they can have in and through You. God we ask that you would enlighten the eyes of their hearts. Take off the blinders of this world, take away all the distractions that are keeping them from knowing you. Send forth your light and your truth in their hearts. For you are the way, the truth and the life. Thank you Jesus.
31 March 2007
The Ultimate Note Part II - Reflections
The first time I read "The Ultimate Note" I left it with a, "Oh, wasn't that nice" feeling। It didn't have any impact on my thinking or my walk with God. When I read it yesterday, something clicked and I felt the Lord speaking to me.
We can feel when notes create dissonance। My problem, as a bassist, is that I can always tell when notes are not matched, but I never know which way to turn the knobs to make it right. I can't tell whether the mismatched note is too high or too low. That's how I feel now, in the spiritual. I feel restless because my life is not in tune with the Holy Spirit. I should not be disocuraged, but encouraged that I can at least tell I'm not in tune. I may not have "perfect pitch" but at least I have a musical ear.
So many believers are not living in tune with the Holy Spirit। It's like they've heard awful, out of tune, music so much that it sounds good to them. They don't know there's something better, more beautiful.
"The spirit of God testifies to our spirit that we are children of God, and if children then also heirs।" Romans 8:16-१à¥
This is the perfect note। Being in tune with the fact that we have been adopted as children of God. We are his sons and daughters. We have the right to live as his heirs. We don't have to live in dissonance. We can allow our lives to be tuned perfectly to what the Father has for us. But first, he must open our ears. The badly out of tune guitar will never be tuned if the guitarist doesn't realize how bad it sounds and that there is something much much better. There is SO much more than this.
We must always desire to hit the perfect note। We should not settle for anything less. Just because your badly tuned guitar may not be as bad as those around you doesn't mean that you shouldn't bother to get yours in tune to produce more beautiful music. The best music the guitar was made to produce. An out of tune guitar will never produce music the way it was meant to. Guitars were not made to be played out of tune. We were made to be satisfied with falling short of all that God has for us. Instead, we were created with an inner longing for the fullness of God's kingdom to come.
Prayer: Purify your Bride Jesus! Stir us up out of complacency and lukewarmness so perhaps you will not spit us out of your mouth. May we desire to be one with you. May we cray COME! Maranatha! Come quickly our Lover, our Bridegroom God!
The Ultimate Note
I read a short meditation called "The Ultimate Note" by John G. Lake and was inspired to pray into it. John G. Lake was a man born in 1870 who was blessed with the gift of healing and served as an apostle to Africa. He planted over 100 churches in South Africa and was able to pray for over 100,000 documented miracles and healings while he was there. After his time in Africa, he returned to Spokane, Washington and continued growing in the ministry of healing and deliverance.
Here are his thoughts on "The Ultimate Note" from The Original John G. Lake Devotional. Charisma House. 1997.
Praise ye the Lord, Sing unto the Lord a new song, and his praise in the congregation of saints. Psalm 149:1
Musicians talk of an ultimate note. That is a note you will not find on any keyboards. It is a peculiar note. A man sits down to tune a piano or any fine instrument. He has no guide to the proper key, and yet he has a guide. That guide is the note that he has in his soul. And the nearer he can bring his instrument into harmony with that note in his soul, the nearer perfection he has attained.
There is an ultimate note in the heart of the Christian. It is the note of conscious victory through Jesus Christ. The nearer our life is tuned to that note of conscious victory, the greater the victory that will be evidenced in our life.
Beloved, in the Christian life, in the heart of God, there is an ultimate note. It is that note which is so fine and sweet and true and pure and good that it causes all our nature to respond to it, and rejoices the soul with a joy unspeakable.
All down through the ages some have touched God and heard that ultimate note. I believe that as David sat on the mountainside as a boy, caring for his father's sheep, God by the Spirit taught him the powerand blessing of that ultimate note. I believe that at times that his soul ascended unto God so that many of the Psalms of David are the real soul note of that blessed expression of heavenly music and heaven consciousness which came into the soul of the shepherd boy.
Lord, make of my life a high note, a new song of praise and rejoicing in You. Amen.
Here are his thoughts on "The Ultimate Note" from The Original John G. Lake Devotional. Charisma House. 1997.
Praise ye the Lord, Sing unto the Lord a new song, and his praise in the congregation of saints. Psalm 149:1
Musicians talk of an ultimate note. That is a note you will not find on any keyboards. It is a peculiar note. A man sits down to tune a piano or any fine instrument. He has no guide to the proper key, and yet he has a guide. That guide is the note that he has in his soul. And the nearer he can bring his instrument into harmony with that note in his soul, the nearer perfection he has attained.
There is an ultimate note in the heart of the Christian. It is the note of conscious victory through Jesus Christ. The nearer our life is tuned to that note of conscious victory, the greater the victory that will be evidenced in our life.
Beloved, in the Christian life, in the heart of God, there is an ultimate note. It is that note which is so fine and sweet and true and pure and good that it causes all our nature to respond to it, and rejoices the soul with a joy unspeakable.
All down through the ages some have touched God and heard that ultimate note. I believe that as David sat on the mountainside as a boy, caring for his father's sheep, God by the Spirit taught him the powerand blessing of that ultimate note. I believe that at times that his soul ascended unto God so that many of the Psalms of David are the real soul note of that blessed expression of heavenly music and heaven consciousness which came into the soul of the shepherd boy.
Lord, make of my life a high note, a new song of praise and rejoicing in You. Amen.
29 March 2007
Awaken the Watchmen
Here are some promo videos from GDOP 2007 USA. The Awaken the Watchmen video is excellent and a great tool to share with people about the history of the 24-7 prayer movement.
Be inspired and spurred on by the testimony of the power of prayer:
Awaken the Watchmen & Other GDOP videos
Be inspired and spurred on by the testimony of the power of prayer:
Awaken the Watchmen & Other GDOP videos
Global day of Prayer May 27
As believers gathered in prayer in the upper room for ten days after Jesus' ascension and the coming of the Holy Spirit, the organizers of the global day of prayer are encouraging churches and believers all over the earth to gather in 10 days of night and day prayer leading up to Pentecost and the Global Day of Prayer 2007.
12Then they returned to Jerusalem from the hill called the Mount of Olives, a Sabbath day's walk[b] from the city. 13When they arrived, they went upstairs to the room where they were staying. Those present were Peter, John, James and Andrew; Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew; James son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of James. 14They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers. (Acts 1:12-14)
1When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. 2Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. 4All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues[a] as the Spirit enabled them. (Acts 2:1-4)
All over the earth night and day prayer watches are being established, from majestic cathedrals in France to tin houses in the slums of South Africa, people are gathering in continual prayer.
Isaiah 62:1, 6-7
1 For Zion's sake I will not keep silent,
for Jerusalem's sake I will not remain quiet,
till her righteousness shines out like the dawn,
her salvation like a blazing torch.
6 I have posted watchmen on your walls, O Jerusalem
they will never be silent day or night.
You who call on the LORD,
give yourselves no rest,
7 and give him no rest till he establishes Jerusalem
and makes her the praise of the earth.
Will you and your church join in this worldwide movement to seek God in repentance, intercession and praise? God is setting watchmen on the walls in all nations of the earth. He is calling his people to see Him in radical obedience. Will you call your brothers and sisters to gather in a solemn assembly and cry out to Lord to heal your Lord? Will you ask God to show you His heart for the world and be willing to be broken as He reveals it to you? Will you keep watch?
35For it will come upon all those who live on the face of the whole earth. 36Be always on the watch, and pray that you may be able to escape all that is about to happen, and that you may be able to stand before the Son of Man." Luke 21:35-36
14 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 will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land. 15 Now my eyes will be open and my ears attentive to the prayers offered in this place. (2 Chron 7:14-15)
12Then they returned to Jerusalem from the hill called the Mount of Olives, a Sabbath day's walk[b] from the city. 13When they arrived, they went upstairs to the room where they were staying. Those present were Peter, John, James and Andrew; Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew; James son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of James. 14They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers. (Acts 1:12-14)
1When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. 2Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. 4All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues[a] as the Spirit enabled them. (Acts 2:1-4)
Isaiah 62:1, 6-7
1 For Zion's sake I will not keep silent,
for Jerusalem's sake I will not remain quiet,
till her righteousness shines out like the dawn,
her salvation like a blazing torch.
6 I have posted watchmen on your walls, O Jerusalem
they will never be silent day or night.
You who call on the LORD,
give yourselves no rest,
7 and give him no rest till he establishes Jerusalem
and makes her the praise of the earth.
Will you and your church join in this worldwide movement to seek God in repentance, intercession and praise? God is setting watchmen on the walls in all nations of the earth. He is calling his people to see Him in radical obedience. Will you call your brothers and sisters to gather in a solemn assembly and cry out to Lord to heal your Lord? Will you ask God to show you His heart for the world and be willing to be broken as He reveals it to you? Will you keep watch?
35For it will come upon all those who live on the face of the whole earth. 36Be always on the watch, and pray that you may be able to escape all that is about to happen, and that you may be able to stand before the Son of Man." Luke 21:35-36
14 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 will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land. 15 Now my eyes will be open and my ears attentive to the prayers offered in this place. (2 Chron 7:14-15)
14 Declare a holy fast;
call a sacred assembly.
Summon the elders
and all who live in the land
to the house of the LORD your God,
and cry out to the LORD.
(Joel 1:14)
Global Day of Prayer
Mobilize ten days of Prayer -May 17-26
27 March 2007
Demons in the New Testament Part I
Here's the first part of a study through the NT about demons and evil spirits. The more I study, the more I realize that casting out demons was meant to be an integral part of ministering to the lost and sharing the message of the gospel. When people are set free, they give glory to God. This is what I've learned so far by going through Matthew & Mark.
A. Demons can oppress people
23And he went throughout all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction among the people. 24So his fame spread throughout all Syria, and they brought him all the sick, those afflicted with various diseases and pains, those oppressed by demons, epileptics, and paralytics, and he healed them. 25And great crowds followed him from Galilee and the Decapolis, and from Jerusalem and Judea, and from beyond the Jordan. (Matthew 4:23-25)
15He touched her hand, and the fever left her, and she rose and began to serve him. 16That evening they brought to him many who were oppressed by demons, and he cast out the spirits with a word and healed all who were sick. 17This was to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah: "He took our illnesses and bore our diseases." (Matthew 8:15-17)
22And behold, a Canaanite woman from that region came out and was crying, "Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David; my daughter is severely oppressed by a demon." (Matthew 15:22)
25But immediately a woman whose little daughter was possessed by an unclean spirit heard of him and came and fell down at his feet. 26Now the woman was a Gentile, a Syrophoenician by birth. And she begged him to cast the demon out of her daughter. (Mark 7:25-26)
32That evening at sundown they brought to him all who were sick or oppressed by demons. (Mark 1:32)
B. Demons can be cast out in the name of the Lord
21"Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22On that day many will say to me, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?' 23And then will I declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.' (Matthew 7:21-23)
C. Demonized people can display violent behavior/cause harm to themselves
28And when he came to the other side, to the country of the Gadarenes,[e] two demon-possessed[f] men met him, coming out of the tombs, so fierce that no one could pass that way. 29And behold, they cried out, "What have you to do with us, O Son of God? Have you come here to torment us before the time?" 30Now a herd of many pigs was feeding at some distance from them. 31And the demons begged him, saying, "If you cast us out, send us away into the herd of pigs." 32And he said to them, "Go." So they came out and went into the pigs, and behold, the whole herd rushed down the steep bank into the sea and drowned in the waters. 33The herdsmen fled, and going into the city they told everything, especially what had happened to the demon-possessed men. 34And behold, all the city came out to meet Jesus, and when they saw him, they begged him to leave their region. (Matthew 8:28-24)
1They came to the other side of the sea, to the country of the Gerasenes.[a] 2And when Jesus[b] had stepped out of the boat, immediately there met him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit. 3He lived among the tombs. And no one could bind him anymore, not even with a chain, 4for he had often been bound with shackles and chains, but he wrenched the chains apart, and he broke the shackles in pieces. No one had the strength to subdue him. 5Night and day among the tombs and on the mountains he was always crying out and bruising himself with stones. 6And when he saw Jesus from afar, he ran and fell down before him. 7And crying out with a loud voice, he said, "What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I adjure you by God, do not torment me." 8For he was saying to him, "Come out of the man, you unclean spirit!" 9And Jesus asked him, "What is your name?" He replied, "My name is Legion, for we are many." 10And he begged him earnestly not to send them out of the country. 11Now a great herd of pigs was feeding there on the hillside, 12and they begged him, saying, "Send us to the pigs; let us enter them." 13So he gave them permission. And the unclean spirits came out, and entered the pigs, and the herd, numbering about two thousand, rushed down the steep bank into the sea and were drowned in the sea. (Mark 5:1-12)
D. Demons can be the cause of physical problems
32As they were going away, behold, a demon-oppressed man who was mute was brought to him. 33And when the demon had been cast out, the mute man spoke. And the crowds marveled, saying, "Never was anything like this seen in Israel." (Matthew 9:32-33)
22Then a demon-oppressed man who was blind and mute was brought to him, and he healed him, so that the man spoke and saw. (Matthew 12:22)
14And when they came to the crowd, a man came up to him and, kneeling before him, 15said, "Lord, have mercy on my son, for he is an epileptic and he suffers terribly. For often he falls into the fire, and often into the water. 16And I brought him to your disciples, and they could not heal him." 17And Jesus answered, "O faithless and twisted generation, how long am I to be with you? How long am I to bear with you? Bring him here to me." 18And Jesus rebuked him, and the demon came out of him, and the boy was healed instantly.[b] 19Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, "Why could we not cast it out?" 20He said to them, "Because of your little faith. For truly, I say to you, if you have faith like a grain of mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move, and nothing will be impossible for you." (Matthew 17:14-20)
E. Jesus commands his disciples to cast out demons as part of their ministry
7And proclaim as you go, saying, 'The kingdom of heaven is at hand.' 8Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers,[a] cast out demons. (Matthew 10:7-8)
14And he appointed twelve (whom he also named apostles) so that they might be with him and he might send them out to preach 15and have authority to cast out demons. (Mark 3:14-15)
F. Demons know who Jesus is and His authority
34And he healed many who were sick with various diseases, and cast out many demons. And he would not permit the demons to speak, because they knew him. (Mark 1:31)
G. People who were not part of the 12 apostles can cast out demons
38John said to him, "Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in your name,[f] and we tried to stop him, because he was not following us." 39But Jesus said, "Do not stop him, for no one who does a mighty work in my name will be able soon afterward to speak evil of me. 40For the one who is not against us is for us. 41For truly, I say to you, whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because you belong to Christ will by no means lose his reward. (Mark 9:38-41)
16Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. 17And these signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues; 18they will pick up serpents with their hands; and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will recover." (Mark 16:16-18)
H. More than one demon can be with one person
9[a] [[Now when he rose early on the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, from whom he had cast out seven demons (Mark 16:9)
A. Demons can oppress people
23And he went throughout all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction among the people. 24So his fame spread throughout all Syria, and they brought him all the sick, those afflicted with various diseases and pains, those oppressed by demons, epileptics, and paralytics, and he healed them. 25And great crowds followed him from Galilee and the Decapolis, and from Jerusalem and Judea, and from beyond the Jordan. (Matthew 4:23-25)
15He touched her hand, and the fever left her, and she rose and began to serve him. 16That evening they brought to him many who were oppressed by demons, and he cast out the spirits with a word and healed all who were sick. 17This was to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah: "He took our illnesses and bore our diseases." (Matthew 8:15-17)
22And behold, a Canaanite woman from that region came out and was crying, "Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David; my daughter is severely oppressed by a demon." (Matthew 15:22)
25But immediately a woman whose little daughter was possessed by an unclean spirit heard of him and came and fell down at his feet. 26Now the woman was a Gentile, a Syrophoenician by birth. And she begged him to cast the demon out of her daughter. (Mark 7:25-26)
32That evening at sundown they brought to him all who were sick or oppressed by demons. (Mark 1:32)
B. Demons can be cast out in the name of the Lord
21"Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22On that day many will say to me, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?' 23And then will I declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.' (Matthew 7:21-23)
C. Demonized people can display violent behavior/cause harm to themselves
28And when he came to the other side, to the country of the Gadarenes,[e] two demon-possessed[f] men met him, coming out of the tombs, so fierce that no one could pass that way. 29And behold, they cried out, "What have you to do with us, O Son of God? Have you come here to torment us before the time?" 30Now a herd of many pigs was feeding at some distance from them. 31And the demons begged him, saying, "If you cast us out, send us away into the herd of pigs." 32And he said to them, "Go." So they came out and went into the pigs, and behold, the whole herd rushed down the steep bank into the sea and drowned in the waters. 33The herdsmen fled, and going into the city they told everything, especially what had happened to the demon-possessed men. 34And behold, all the city came out to meet Jesus, and when they saw him, they begged him to leave their region. (Matthew 8:28-24)
1They came to the other side of the sea, to the country of the Gerasenes.[a] 2And when Jesus[b] had stepped out of the boat, immediately there met him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit. 3He lived among the tombs. And no one could bind him anymore, not even with a chain, 4for he had often been bound with shackles and chains, but he wrenched the chains apart, and he broke the shackles in pieces. No one had the strength to subdue him. 5Night and day among the tombs and on the mountains he was always crying out and bruising himself with stones. 6And when he saw Jesus from afar, he ran and fell down before him. 7And crying out with a loud voice, he said, "What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I adjure you by God, do not torment me." 8For he was saying to him, "Come out of the man, you unclean spirit!" 9And Jesus asked him, "What is your name?" He replied, "My name is Legion, for we are many." 10And he begged him earnestly not to send them out of the country. 11Now a great herd of pigs was feeding there on the hillside, 12and they begged him, saying, "Send us to the pigs; let us enter them." 13So he gave them permission. And the unclean spirits came out, and entered the pigs, and the herd, numbering about two thousand, rushed down the steep bank into the sea and were drowned in the sea. (Mark 5:1-12)
D. Demons can be the cause of physical problems
32As they were going away, behold, a demon-oppressed man who was mute was brought to him. 33And when the demon had been cast out, the mute man spoke. And the crowds marveled, saying, "Never was anything like this seen in Israel." (Matthew 9:32-33)
22Then a demon-oppressed man who was blind and mute was brought to him, and he healed him, so that the man spoke and saw. (Matthew 12:22)
14And when they came to the crowd, a man came up to him and, kneeling before him, 15said, "Lord, have mercy on my son, for he is an epileptic and he suffers terribly. For often he falls into the fire, and often into the water. 16And I brought him to your disciples, and they could not heal him." 17And Jesus answered, "O faithless and twisted generation, how long am I to be with you? How long am I to bear with you? Bring him here to me." 18And Jesus rebuked him, and the demon came out of him, and the boy was healed instantly.[b] 19Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, "Why could we not cast it out?" 20He said to them, "Because of your little faith. For truly, I say to you, if you have faith like a grain of mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move, and nothing will be impossible for you." (Matthew 17:14-20)
E. Jesus commands his disciples to cast out demons as part of their ministry
7And proclaim as you go, saying, 'The kingdom of heaven is at hand.' 8Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers,[a] cast out demons. (Matthew 10:7-8)
14And he appointed twelve (whom he also named apostles) so that they might be with him and he might send them out to preach 15and have authority to cast out demons. (Mark 3:14-15)
F. Demons know who Jesus is and His authority
34And he healed many who were sick with various diseases, and cast out many demons. And he would not permit the demons to speak, because they knew him. (Mark 1:31)
G. People who were not part of the 12 apostles can cast out demons
38John said to him, "Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in your name,[f] and we tried to stop him, because he was not following us." 39But Jesus said, "Do not stop him, for no one who does a mighty work in my name will be able soon afterward to speak evil of me. 40For the one who is not against us is for us. 41For truly, I say to you, whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because you belong to Christ will by no means lose his reward. (Mark 9:38-41)
16Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. 17And these signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues; 18they will pick up serpents with their hands; and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will recover." (Mark 16:16-18)
H. More than one demon can be with one person
9[a] [[Now when he rose early on the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, from whom he had cast out seven demons (Mark 16:9)
Demonic Strategy - Jack Deere
I listened to another session from the Morning Star Conference by Jack Deere on Demonic Strategy.
Here is Jack Deere's website if you're interested in more material from him
http://jackdeere.com/
Here are my notes from the session and all the Bible references:
Why is it important to know about demonic inroads? Because people have areas of agreement with evil that allow spirits to hold influence in their lives. Demons must have a legal or spiritual right to be there.
The following are inroads for demons to gain influence in our lives.
1. LUST, SEXUAL IMMORALITY, PERVERSION
A. Man living in sexual immorality "handed over to Satan"
1It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that does not occur even among pagans: A man has his father's wife. 2And you are proud! Shouldn't you rather have been filled with grief and have put out of your fellowship the man who did this? 3Even though I am not physically present, I am with you in spirit. And I have already passed judgment on the one who did this, just as if I were present. 4When you are assembled in the name of our Lord Jesus and I am with you in spirit, and the power of our Lord Jesus is present, 5hand this man over to Satan, so that the flesh may be destroyed and his spirit saved on the day of the Lord. (1 Corinthians 5:1-5)
B. There is sin that leads to death
16If anyone sees his brother committing a sin not leading to death, he shall ask, and God[a] will give him life--to those who commit sins that do not lead to death. There is sin that leads to death; I do not say that one should pray for that. 17All wrongdoing is sin, but there is sin that does not lead to death. (1 John 5:16)
C. Adultery can lead to death
1My son, be attentive to my wisdom; incline your ear to my understanding, 2that you may keep discretion, and your lips may guard knowledge. 3For the lips of a forbidden[a] woman drip honey, and her speech[b] is smoother than oil, 4but in the end she is bitter as wormwood, sharp as a two-edged sword. 5Her feet go down to death; her steps follow the path to[c] Sheol; 6she does not ponder the path of life; her ways wander, and she does not know it. (Proverbs 5:1-5)
D. Comments from Deere on Sexual Immorality
- Sexual immorality weakens the church
- It causes shame which cripples us
- The annunal revenue of the pornography industry is more than professional , basketball, and football combined.
- 1 out of 4 Americans look at porn every week
- 50% of ministers in a survey admitted to struggling with porn
- Goal of porn is to lead us to be disatisfied with our spouse or future spouse
- Porn leads us into experimentation
- Think of Revelation where the Harlot makes the earth drink the maddening wine of her adulteries
- Porn is as addictive as cocaine
- It works to change the chemistry of your brain
- As long as we believe we can control any addiction it has power over us and we won't be free
2. ANGER, HATRED, VIOLENCE
A. Disciples rebuked for anger against the Samaritans
54And when his disciples James and John saw it, they said, "Lord, do you want us to tell fire to come down from heaven and consume them?"[a] 55But he turned and rebuked them.[b] 56And they went on to another village. (Luke 9:54-56)
B. Anger gives the devil a foothold
26Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, 27and give no opportunity to the devil. (Ephesians 4:26-27)
3. ENVY, JEALOUSY, SELFISH AMBITION
A. Jealousy is more severe than anger
4 Anger is cruel and fury overwhelming,
but who can stand before jealousy? (Proverbs 27:4 NIV)
Anger = an evil anointing to cause pain
Fury = carried away by anger
Jealousy = the feeling of "they don't deserve it," the hope that other people lose their blessings
Jealousy is sneaky. People are not prone to admit jealousy. Jealousy is a higher form of anger. Jealousy is the opposite of grace.
B. Envy and selfish ambition are of the devil
13Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. 14But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. 15Such "wisdom" does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, of the devil. 16For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.
17But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. 18Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness. (James 3:13-18 NIV)
C. Saul's jealousy leads to an evil spirit coming on him
6 When the men were returning home after David had killed the Philistine, the women came out from all the towns of Israel to meet King Saul with singing and dancing, with joyful songs and with tambourines and lutes. 7 As they danced, they sang:
"Saul has slain his thousands, and David his tens of thousands."
8 Saul was very angry; this refrain galled him. "They have credited David with tens of thousands," he thought, "but me with only thousands. What more can he get but the kingdom?" 9 And from that time on Saul kept a jealous eye on David.
10 The next day an evil [b] spirit from God came forcefully upon Saul. He was prophesying in his house, while David was playing the harp, as he usually did. Saul had a spear in his hand 11 and he hurled it, saying to himself, "I'll pin David to the wall." But David eluded him twice.
(1 Samuel 18:6-11)
Notice it says, "an evil spirit from God." God is sovereign. He is above all rule and authority. God uses Satan to accomplish his purposes. He tests us, strengthens us, and causes us to rely on him.
D. God sends Paul a messenger of Satan
7To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. 8Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. 9But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. 10That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong. (2 Corinthians 12:1-10)
4. OCCULT PRACTICE
5. IDOLATRY
A. Sacrifices to idols are sacrifices to demons
20No, but the sacrifices of pagans are offered to demons, not to God, and I do not want you to be participants with demons. (1 Corinthians 10:20)
B. Greed is a form of idolatry
5Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. 6Because of these, the wrath of God is coming. (Colossians 3:5-6)
Materialism is a form of idolatry. If you think, "I'll be happy when I get a new car." "I'll be happy when I get married." "I'll be happy when we move into our new house." "I'll be happy when ___________"
Whatever is in that blank for you is most likely an idol. We are stuck in a trap of deferred joy in our material culture.
Time magazine did a study on happiness and found that the level of income and the level of education do not have any effect on happiness. The #1 factor was personal relationships.
6. BLASPHEMY
7. DRUGS
*There is no scriptural support for this claim but a lot of support from experience
8. INVOLUNTARY WAY
A. There are different kinds of spirits
14And when they came to the disciples, they saw a great crowd around them, and scribes arguing with them. 15And immediately all the crowd, when they saw him, were greatly amazed and ran up to him and greeted him. 16And he asked them, "What are you arguing about with them?" 17And someone from the crowd answered him, "Teacher, I brought my son to you, for he has a spirit that makes him mute. 18And whenever it seizes him, it throws him down, and he foams and grinds his teeth and becomes rigid. So I asked your disciples to cast it out, and they were not able." 19And he answered them, "O faithless generation, how long am I to be with you? How long am I to bear with you? Bring him to me." 20And they brought the boy to him. And when the spirit saw him, immediately it convulsed the boy, and he fell on the ground and rolled about, foaming at the mouth. 21And Jesus asked his father, "How long has this been happening to him?" And he said, "From childhood. 22And it has often cast him into fire and into water, to destroy him. But if you can do anything, have compassion on us and help us." 23And Jesus said to him, "If you can! All things are possible for one who believes." 24Immediately the father of the child cried out[d] and said, "I believe; help my unbelief!" 25And when Jesus saw that a crowd came running together, he rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, "You mute and deaf spirit, I command you, come out of him and never enter him again." 26And after crying out and convulsing him terribly, it came out, and the boy was like a corpse, so that most of them said, "He is dead." 27But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him up, and he arose. 28And when he had entered the house, his disciples asked him privately, "Why could we not cast it out?" 29And he said to them, "This kind cannot be driven out by anything but prayer." (Mark 9:14-29 ESV)
Other translations say "This kind cannot be driven out by anything by prayer and fasting."
Jesus refers to "this kind" meaning that there are different kinds of spirits.
The kind of spirit which is attached to a young child, since before the age of accountability, seems to be the kind that is involuntary on behalf of the child. Many people suffer from traumas at a very young age (rape, sexual abuse, etc.). In these cases a demon can become attached to a young child. The longer it stays the more it will become part of that person's personality and character. The evil spirit will try to pull the person into whatever evil was done to them. If they were sexually abused the spirit will pull them into abusive relationships or sexual immorality. Many young girls who are raped end up as prostitutes.
B. There are different ranks of spirits
43"When the unclean spirit has gone out of a person, it passes through waterless places seeking rest, but finds none. 44Then it says, 'I will return to my house from which I came.' And when it comes, it finds the house empty, swept, and put in order. 45Then it goes and brings with it seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they enter and dwell there, and the last state of that person is worse than the first. So also will it be with this evil generation." (Matthew 12:43-45)
______________________________________
How do you break the power of addictions?
3But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints. 4Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving. 5For you may be sure of this, that everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous (that is, an idolater), has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. 6Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. 7Therefore do not associate with them; 8for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light 9(for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), 10and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord. 11Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. 12For it is shameful even to speak of the things that they do in secret. 13But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible, 14for anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says, "Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead,and Christ will shine on you." (Ephesians 5:3-14)
Let there be no obscenities
coarse words
pornographic addiction
phone sex
prostitution
adultery/ illegal heart attachment
chemical dependence
hatred/jealousy
If you struggle with any of the things mentioned in this session, make a confession to God.
Share it with at least one other person that you can trust.
________________________________________________________________
Here is Jack Deere's website if you're interested in more material from him
http://jackdeere.com/
Here are my notes from the session and all the Bible references:
Why is it important to know about demonic inroads? Because people have areas of agreement with evil that allow spirits to hold influence in their lives. Demons must have a legal or spiritual right to be there.
The following are inroads for demons to gain influence in our lives.
1. LUST, SEXUAL IMMORALITY, PERVERSION
A. Man living in sexual immorality "handed over to Satan"
1It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that does not occur even among pagans: A man has his father's wife. 2And you are proud! Shouldn't you rather have been filled with grief and have put out of your fellowship the man who did this? 3Even though I am not physically present, I am with you in spirit. And I have already passed judgment on the one who did this, just as if I were present. 4When you are assembled in the name of our Lord Jesus and I am with you in spirit, and the power of our Lord Jesus is present, 5hand this man over to Satan, so that the flesh may be destroyed and his spirit saved on the day of the Lord. (1 Corinthians 5:1-5)
B. There is sin that leads to death
16If anyone sees his brother committing a sin not leading to death, he shall ask, and God[a] will give him life--to those who commit sins that do not lead to death. There is sin that leads to death; I do not say that one should pray for that. 17All wrongdoing is sin, but there is sin that does not lead to death. (1 John 5:16)
C. Adultery can lead to death
1My son, be attentive to my wisdom; incline your ear to my understanding, 2that you may keep discretion, and your lips may guard knowledge. 3For the lips of a forbidden[a] woman drip honey, and her speech[b] is smoother than oil, 4but in the end she is bitter as wormwood, sharp as a two-edged sword. 5Her feet go down to death; her steps follow the path to[c] Sheol; 6she does not ponder the path of life; her ways wander, and she does not know it. (Proverbs 5:1-5)
D. Comments from Deere on Sexual Immorality
- Sexual immorality weakens the church
- It causes shame which cripples us
- The annunal revenue of the pornography industry is more than professional , basketball, and football combined.
- 1 out of 4 Americans look at porn every week
- 50% of ministers in a survey admitted to struggling with porn
- Goal of porn is to lead us to be disatisfied with our spouse or future spouse
- Porn leads us into experimentation
- Think of Revelation where the Harlot makes the earth drink the maddening wine of her adulteries
- Porn is as addictive as cocaine
- It works to change the chemistry of your brain
- As long as we believe we can control any addiction it has power over us and we won't be free
2. ANGER, HATRED, VIOLENCE
A. Disciples rebuked for anger against the Samaritans
54And when his disciples James and John saw it, they said, "Lord, do you want us to tell fire to come down from heaven and consume them?"[a] 55But he turned and rebuked them.[b] 56And they went on to another village. (Luke 9:54-56)
B. Anger gives the devil a foothold
26Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, 27and give no opportunity to the devil. (Ephesians 4:26-27)
3. ENVY, JEALOUSY, SELFISH AMBITION
A. Jealousy is more severe than anger
4 Anger is cruel and fury overwhelming,
but who can stand before jealousy? (Proverbs 27:4 NIV)
Anger = an evil anointing to cause pain
Fury = carried away by anger
Jealousy = the feeling of "they don't deserve it," the hope that other people lose their blessings
Jealousy is sneaky. People are not prone to admit jealousy. Jealousy is a higher form of anger. Jealousy is the opposite of grace.
B. Envy and selfish ambition are of the devil
13Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. 14But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. 15Such "wisdom" does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, of the devil. 16For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.
17But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. 18Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness. (James 3:13-18 NIV)
C. Saul's jealousy leads to an evil spirit coming on him
6 When the men were returning home after David had killed the Philistine, the women came out from all the towns of Israel to meet King Saul with singing and dancing, with joyful songs and with tambourines and lutes. 7 As they danced, they sang:
"Saul has slain his thousands, and David his tens of thousands."
8 Saul was very angry; this refrain galled him. "They have credited David with tens of thousands," he thought, "but me with only thousands. What more can he get but the kingdom?" 9 And from that time on Saul kept a jealous eye on David.
10 The next day an evil [b] spirit from God came forcefully upon Saul. He was prophesying in his house, while David was playing the harp, as he usually did. Saul had a spear in his hand 11 and he hurled it, saying to himself, "I'll pin David to the wall." But David eluded him twice.
(1 Samuel 18:6-11)
Notice it says, "an evil spirit from God." God is sovereign. He is above all rule and authority. God uses Satan to accomplish his purposes. He tests us, strengthens us, and causes us to rely on him.
D. God sends Paul a messenger of Satan
7To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. 8Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. 9But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. 10That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong. (2 Corinthians 12:1-10)
4. OCCULT PRACTICE
5. IDOLATRY
A. Sacrifices to idols are sacrifices to demons
20No, but the sacrifices of pagans are offered to demons, not to God, and I do not want you to be participants with demons. (1 Corinthians 10:20)
B. Greed is a form of idolatry
5Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. 6Because of these, the wrath of God is coming. (Colossians 3:5-6)
Materialism is a form of idolatry. If you think, "I'll be happy when I get a new car." "I'll be happy when I get married." "I'll be happy when we move into our new house." "I'll be happy when ___________"
Whatever is in that blank for you is most likely an idol. We are stuck in a trap of deferred joy in our material culture.
Time magazine did a study on happiness and found that the level of income and the level of education do not have any effect on happiness. The #1 factor was personal relationships.
6. BLASPHEMY
7. DRUGS
*There is no scriptural support for this claim but a lot of support from experience
8. INVOLUNTARY WAY
A. There are different kinds of spirits
14And when they came to the disciples, they saw a great crowd around them, and scribes arguing with them. 15And immediately all the crowd, when they saw him, were greatly amazed and ran up to him and greeted him. 16And he asked them, "What are you arguing about with them?" 17And someone from the crowd answered him, "Teacher, I brought my son to you, for he has a spirit that makes him mute. 18And whenever it seizes him, it throws him down, and he foams and grinds his teeth and becomes rigid. So I asked your disciples to cast it out, and they were not able." 19And he answered them, "O faithless generation, how long am I to be with you? How long am I to bear with you? Bring him to me." 20And they brought the boy to him. And when the spirit saw him, immediately it convulsed the boy, and he fell on the ground and rolled about, foaming at the mouth. 21And Jesus asked his father, "How long has this been happening to him?" And he said, "From childhood. 22And it has often cast him into fire and into water, to destroy him. But if you can do anything, have compassion on us and help us." 23And Jesus said to him, "If you can! All things are possible for one who believes." 24Immediately the father of the child cried out[d] and said, "I believe; help my unbelief!" 25And when Jesus saw that a crowd came running together, he rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, "You mute and deaf spirit, I command you, come out of him and never enter him again." 26And after crying out and convulsing him terribly, it came out, and the boy was like a corpse, so that most of them said, "He is dead." 27But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him up, and he arose. 28And when he had entered the house, his disciples asked him privately, "Why could we not cast it out?" 29And he said to them, "This kind cannot be driven out by anything but prayer." (Mark 9:14-29 ESV)
Other translations say "This kind cannot be driven out by anything by prayer and fasting."
Jesus refers to "this kind" meaning that there are different kinds of spirits.
The kind of spirit which is attached to a young child, since before the age of accountability, seems to be the kind that is involuntary on behalf of the child. Many people suffer from traumas at a very young age (rape, sexual abuse, etc.). In these cases a demon can become attached to a young child. The longer it stays the more it will become part of that person's personality and character. The evil spirit will try to pull the person into whatever evil was done to them. If they were sexually abused the spirit will pull them into abusive relationships or sexual immorality. Many young girls who are raped end up as prostitutes.
B. There are different ranks of spirits
43"When the unclean spirit has gone out of a person, it passes through waterless places seeking rest, but finds none. 44Then it says, 'I will return to my house from which I came.' And when it comes, it finds the house empty, swept, and put in order. 45Then it goes and brings with it seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they enter and dwell there, and the last state of that person is worse than the first. So also will it be with this evil generation." (Matthew 12:43-45)
______________________________________
How do you break the power of addictions?
3But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints. 4Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving. 5For you may be sure of this, that everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous (that is, an idolater), has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. 6Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. 7Therefore do not associate with them; 8for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light 9(for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), 10and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord. 11Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. 12For it is shameful even to speak of the things that they do in secret. 13But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible, 14for anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says, "Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead,and Christ will shine on you." (Ephesians 5:3-14)
Let there be no obscenities
coarse words
pornographic addiction
phone sex
prostitution
adultery/ illegal heart attachment
chemical dependence
hatred/jealousy
If you struggle with any of the things mentioned in this session, make a confession to God.
Share it with at least one other person that you can trust.
________________________________________________________________
For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery (Galatians 5:1)
26 March 2007
How do we gain ground in our cities?
Today I read the following article by John Dawson about "Taking Our Cities for God." I was hit by the realization that God has a purpose for our cities and that we must focus on the potential and the good qualities of our cities as we engage in spiritual warfare. We must not only pray against the sins and the principalities which are in control over our cities, but we must see our cities for what the Lord would have them be. Dawson offers a prayer based model of how we can be more effective intercessors for the city, town, or area that we live in. He talks about not only how to take ground, but to keep ground.
http://www.lastdaysministries.org/articles/takingourcitiesforgod.html
I was prompted to search for essays concerning spiritual warfare after listening to Rick Joyner's message, "Discerning Principalities and Powers" from the most recent Spirtual Warfare & Deliverance Conference at Morning Star. I learned a lot from that talk as well and I'll be posting the notes later this week.
May we be willing to stand in the gap for our cities, and may the Lord open our eyes as he shows us how to do so.
http://www.lastdaysministries.org/articles/takingourcitiesforgod.html
I was prompted to search for essays concerning spiritual warfare after listening to Rick Joyner's message, "Discerning Principalities and Powers" from the most recent Spirtual Warfare & Deliverance Conference at Morning Star. I learned a lot from that talk as well and I'll be posting the notes later this week.
May we be willing to stand in the gap for our cities, and may the Lord open our eyes as he shows us how to do so.
22 March 2007
Demystifying Demonology - Doris Wagner
I just read an excerpt from Doris Wagner's book on the Global Harvest website.
It's about basics in deliverance and spiritual warfare and was quite insightful. If you're interested to read it click here
http://www.globalharvest.org/index.asp?action=demonology
Doris Wagner will be speaking on "Basics in Deliverance" in Rochester, NY May 18-19
Click here to register
http://www.wli-rochester.org/
It's about basics in deliverance and spiritual warfare and was quite insightful. If you're interested to read it click here
http://www.globalharvest.org/index.asp?action=demonology
Doris Wagner will be speaking on "Basics in Deliverance" in Rochester, NY May 18-19
Click here to register
http://www.wli-rochester.org/
15 March 2007
Casting Out Demons
I’ve been listening to the Deliverance and Spiritual Warfare Conference from Morning Star Ministries and found the session on “Casting Out Demons” by Jack Deere to be particularly useful. I’ve typed up some basic notes from the session in order to share what I’m learning about spiritual warfare. At the end are some of my reflections.
CASTING OUT DEMONS
Morning Star Conference – Deliverance and Spiritual Warfare April 2006
Jack Deere
First of all, there are three things we must know about Satan before we can move forward.
1) Never fear Satan or the demons
-One of Satan’s #1 tools is fear
-We should fear only God
-Fear is meant to defile us
2 Timothy 1:7 “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love and self-control.”
2) Never allow yourself to be fascinated with the devil
-Blessed are the ones who do not know the deep things of Satan
-We should only be fascinated with God
-Being fascinated with Satan and evil gives glory to Satan, don’t give glory to him but only to God
-It is tempting to read or hear all about the most vile things during under Satan’s power but this creates a fascination with evil and defiles our minds
3) Never mock the devil or demons
Jude 1:8-10 “8In the very same way, these dreamers pollute their own bodies, reject authority and slander celestial beings. 9But even the archangel Michael, when he was disputing with the devil about the body of Moses, did not dare to bring a slanderous accusation against him, but said, "The Lord rebuke you!" 10Yet these men speak abusively against whatever they do not understand; and what things they do understand by instinct, like unreasoning animals—these are the very things that destroy them.”
-Even Jesus treated the devil with respect, he did not mock him but used the Word of God to counter Satan’s attacks
-If you mock the devil you’ll lose some protection
Now that we know these three principles we can go on:
I. How do you know someone is under demonic influence?
(We will skip the discussion of whether the demon is in, on or around the person. In all cases the person is under the influence of a demon.)
A) Something supernatural happens
B) Spiritual gift of discernment (more commonly)
How do we get the gift of discernment?
- pray for it
- practice it! Hebrews 5:14 “14But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.”
- Ask God’s opinion about something at least once a day, you’ll grow in discernment
II. What do you do if someone is demonized?
A) Ask the spirit to leave in the name of Jesus
B) If it doesn’t leave, get a team together (minimum of three people)
- Do not do this alone!
- Have one person leading, one person constantly praying, and one person taking notes
- You need the extra discernment and protection
- Evil can capitalize on weakness
- Demonized people should be expected to act in a disciplined and responsible way
- Recognize that you are not their saviors
- The devil will make you think you are their saviors and tire you out
- You can lose your life to someone else’s sickness
C) Don’t do the following:
- stay up all night
- demons love to wear you out!
- After an hour make another appointment
- Restrain anyone physically
- The demon’s trap is to manifest as long as possible in order to tire you out
- Get into discussions with demons
- The devil is a liar!
D) Do an interview with the person
- ask about sexual abuse/trauma/bondage
- alcohol/drug addiction
- promise them confidentiality
E) Ask the person to repent of sin (an area of agreement with evil)
F) Continue in prayer and fasting if the demon(s) are not yet cast out
*Warning – some people are sent to “steal the children’s bread.” Spend the majority of your time with your best people in order to train up leaders. Don’t allow demonized people to monopolize your time, effort, and energy.
III. After an hour of prayer/manifestation
A) Send the person away
B) Debrief your team
C) Come clean – talk about what you felt during the prayer
D) Don’t leave with a secret
E) Pray over each person on the team
Reflections from OneThing274:
I’ve had several encounters with evil or with people under demonic influence and I’ve never really been confident about what to do. I knew that I should use the name of Jesus and that I had authority in Christ, but my attempts at seeing people set free usually involved me laying hands and speaking in tongues. I didn’t even know how to pray! Going through the verses in this session and hearing Jack Deere’s practical advice and experience is really helping me to understand how to interact with demons.
His warnings are good ones as I realized in listening to the session that I have feared demons and could easily be prone to fascination with evil. Something inside of us wants to hear that horrific story of ritual abuse just to prove the evil that lurks in men’s hearts, but God wants our hearts and minds to be undefiled. Unless it’s necessary for someone else’s salvation there should be no need to know about the grotesque activities of evil.
I also realized that every time I encountered a demon possessed person I was tricked into exerting all my energy to the point of exhaustion. Even though the demons may have been there for years, I would always have the idea that the demons MUST be cast out on that very day or night. Demons would manifest for long periods of time where I would be praying loudly (as if demons are scared off by my booming voice) and become exhausted easily. Instead of seeing the manifestation of evil as a rare, supernatural occurrence I should treat it as passé and focus on recognizing my authority as a follower of Jesus. I should not be impressed or intimidated by Satan’s power or the strange things that he does. Instead I should focus on the greatness of God and the fact the HE is above all power, all dominion and all authority. Everything is under His feet! Amen.
The session also helped me to realize that demonized people should be expected to act in a disciplined way. We should not just allow them to do whatever because they “have a demon.” In the name of Jesus we should ask them to behave appropriately. The person needs to realize that he or she is in control and that the demon only has power when the person grants it control of his or her body.
Deere said that a demonized person should never be restrained. I wonder, if a person is about to cause harm to himself or others around him, should that person be restrained? What can we do? I have seen people rolling through flames or thrashing violently. In Mark 9 we see a demon that has tried to kill the boy it is possessing:
20So they brought him. When the spirit saw Jesus, it immediately threw the boy into a convulsion. He fell to the ground and rolled around, foaming at the mouth.
21Jesus asked the boy's father, "How long has he been like this?"
"From childhood," he answered. 22"It has often thrown him into fire or water to kill him. But if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us."
In cases like this I would think that the parents or whoever was around would try to save the boy when he is thrown into the fire or the water. Can our strength match the strength of a demon? What should we do in cases like this where the person is about to cause harm (or even death) to himself or others?
I’d love to hear what you thought about the notes from Jack Deere’s talk. If you’ve had experiences involving demonic powers and can offer any practical advice OR have questions, please post on the blog!
CASTING OUT DEMONS
Morning Star Conference – Deliverance and Spiritual Warfare April 2006
Jack Deere
First of all, there are three things we must know about Satan before we can move forward.
1) Never fear Satan or the demons
-One of Satan’s #1 tools is fear
-We should fear only God
-Fear is meant to defile us
2 Timothy 1:7 “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love and self-control.”
2) Never allow yourself to be fascinated with the devil
-Blessed are the ones who do not know the deep things of Satan
-We should only be fascinated with God
-Being fascinated with Satan and evil gives glory to Satan, don’t give glory to him but only to God
-It is tempting to read or hear all about the most vile things during under Satan’s power but this creates a fascination with evil and defiles our minds
3) Never mock the devil or demons
Jude 1:8-10 “8In the very same way, these dreamers pollute their own bodies, reject authority and slander celestial beings. 9But even the archangel Michael, when he was disputing with the devil about the body of Moses, did not dare to bring a slanderous accusation against him, but said, "The Lord rebuke you!" 10Yet these men speak abusively against whatever they do not understand; and what things they do understand by instinct, like unreasoning animals—these are the very things that destroy them.”
-Even Jesus treated the devil with respect, he did not mock him but used the Word of God to counter Satan’s attacks
-If you mock the devil you’ll lose some protection
Now that we know these three principles we can go on:
I. How do you know someone is under demonic influence?
(We will skip the discussion of whether the demon is in, on or around the person. In all cases the person is under the influence of a demon.)
A) Something supernatural happens
B) Spiritual gift of discernment (more commonly)
How do we get the gift of discernment?
- pray for it
- practice it! Hebrews 5:14 “14But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.”
- Ask God’s opinion about something at least once a day, you’ll grow in discernment
II. What do you do if someone is demonized?
A) Ask the spirit to leave in the name of Jesus
B) If it doesn’t leave, get a team together (minimum of three people)
- Do not do this alone!
- Have one person leading, one person constantly praying, and one person taking notes
- You need the extra discernment and protection
- Evil can capitalize on weakness
- Demonized people should be expected to act in a disciplined and responsible way
- Recognize that you are not their saviors
- The devil will make you think you are their saviors and tire you out
- You can lose your life to someone else’s sickness
C) Don’t do the following:
- stay up all night
- demons love to wear you out!
- After an hour make another appointment
- Restrain anyone physically
- The demon’s trap is to manifest as long as possible in order to tire you out
- Get into discussions with demons
- The devil is a liar!
D) Do an interview with the person
- ask about sexual abuse/trauma/bondage
- alcohol/drug addiction
- promise them confidentiality
E) Ask the person to repent of sin (an area of agreement with evil)
F) Continue in prayer and fasting if the demon(s) are not yet cast out
*Warning – some people are sent to “steal the children’s bread.” Spend the majority of your time with your best people in order to train up leaders. Don’t allow demonized people to monopolize your time, effort, and energy.
III. After an hour of prayer/manifestation
A) Send the person away
B) Debrief your team
C) Come clean – talk about what you felt during the prayer
D) Don’t leave with a secret
E) Pray over each person on the team
Reflections from OneThing274:
I’ve had several encounters with evil or with people under demonic influence and I’ve never really been confident about what to do. I knew that I should use the name of Jesus and that I had authority in Christ, but my attempts at seeing people set free usually involved me laying hands and speaking in tongues. I didn’t even know how to pray! Going through the verses in this session and hearing Jack Deere’s practical advice and experience is really helping me to understand how to interact with demons.
His warnings are good ones as I realized in listening to the session that I have feared demons and could easily be prone to fascination with evil. Something inside of us wants to hear that horrific story of ritual abuse just to prove the evil that lurks in men’s hearts, but God wants our hearts and minds to be undefiled. Unless it’s necessary for someone else’s salvation there should be no need to know about the grotesque activities of evil.
I also realized that every time I encountered a demon possessed person I was tricked into exerting all my energy to the point of exhaustion. Even though the demons may have been there for years, I would always have the idea that the demons MUST be cast out on that very day or night. Demons would manifest for long periods of time where I would be praying loudly (as if demons are scared off by my booming voice) and become exhausted easily. Instead of seeing the manifestation of evil as a rare, supernatural occurrence I should treat it as passé and focus on recognizing my authority as a follower of Jesus. I should not be impressed or intimidated by Satan’s power or the strange things that he does. Instead I should focus on the greatness of God and the fact the HE is above all power, all dominion and all authority. Everything is under His feet! Amen.
The session also helped me to realize that demonized people should be expected to act in a disciplined way. We should not just allow them to do whatever because they “have a demon.” In the name of Jesus we should ask them to behave appropriately. The person needs to realize that he or she is in control and that the demon only has power when the person grants it control of his or her body.
Deere said that a demonized person should never be restrained. I wonder, if a person is about to cause harm to himself or others around him, should that person be restrained? What can we do? I have seen people rolling through flames or thrashing violently. In Mark 9 we see a demon that has tried to kill the boy it is possessing:
20So they brought him. When the spirit saw Jesus, it immediately threw the boy into a convulsion. He fell to the ground and rolled around, foaming at the mouth.
21Jesus asked the boy's father, "How long has he been like this?"
"From childhood," he answered. 22"It has often thrown him into fire or water to kill him. But if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us."
In cases like this I would think that the parents or whoever was around would try to save the boy when he is thrown into the fire or the water. Can our strength match the strength of a demon? What should we do in cases like this where the person is about to cause harm (or even death) to himself or others?
I’d love to hear what you thought about the notes from Jack Deere’s talk. If you’ve had experiences involving demonic powers and can offer any practical advice OR have questions, please post on the blog!
21 January 2007
Keep Pressing In
I just received this praise from a local pastor in ** after he returned from speaking at a leadership conference where OVER 200 leaders from different denominations gathered:
What Amazing and Awesome power of Holy Spirit is hovering and moving upon this nation, I believe its because of the prayers, tears and blood of the Great missionaries and saints that has been shed for the precious souls in **
What Amazing and Awesome power of Holy Spirit is hovering and moving upon this nation, I believe its because of the prayers, tears and blood of the Great missionaries and saints that has been shed for the precious souls in **
Keep praying! I have been greatly encouraged in this month of being home in the states. The Lord has raised up an army to pray for me and for the preaching of the gospel to the ends of the earth. I never knew it when I was there, but so many of you were reading my blogs and praying on my behalf and on the behalf of those I went to reach and encourage. Thank you. I owe my every day's protection and providence to your prayers. The biggest lesson I learned during my first year over there was HUMILITY - I truly can not do anything on my own. I need the body and most of all I need the Spirit of the Sovereign and Omnipotent God to guide me and empower me every day if I am to bear fruit.
I've seen my prayer card in places where people see it everyday. On fridges, desks, night-tables, as bookmarks, and I've been especially encouraged when told that friends have their children praying for me as well. Thank you. I walk in the power of your prayers. Ground is broken and people are set free when you intercede throught the Spirit. Keep praying. Even when you feel like you don't know how to pray, keep pressing in! This is another lesson I learned during this year when I just knelt on the floor and said, "God teach me how to pray. I really just don't have a clue what I'm doing and I need your help!"
Current requests:
Personal:
1) Preparing for our upcoming marriage - in five weeks!
2) Focusing on what the Lord wants me to do in this time prior to the wedding
3) For my fiance (D) and I to have a clear vision and goals for our time of preparing before heading back overseas
4) To grow in wisdom, understanding and practice in the following areas
- spiritual warfare and deliverance ministries
- sharing about Jesus' Second Coming and the Last Days
- intercession and prophetic worship
- church planting & leadership training
5) That we may encourage and challenge the church to step out in faith and pursue her role in the Great Commission
The Church in **
1) May the Lord break down bitterness against Muslims among the Christian population
2) May the Lord bring humility among leaders
3) May the Lord bring unity among leaders
4) May the Lord break in with signs and wonders to show the power of the name of Jesus
5) May the Lord bringthe church to an understanding of the family through a Biblical lense
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)