Hi everyone! I realize it's been a LONG time. (2 days for me sometimes is a long time). We haven't been to Love Joy in about a month and a half. We have been getting training from the webcast from our church in Denton. It's not that we don't like Love Joy...it's just been a time for us to be heightening our senses. We're about to enter in a time where the enemies plans are going to try to come into effect: BUT GOD!
We have been so busy with my class, Jason's still training a bit, and vacations. We saw my brother graduate High School. He joined the Air Force but then felt by the power of prayer that wasn't for him so he's heading home soon. Let's pray that the spirit of depression doesn't link itself to him and the spirit of Self Pity. He doesn't need to continue to feel like a "let down" (which are lies the enemy has been telling him!).
We are heading to California to attend Che Ahn's confrence (Cindy Jacobs and Peter Wagner will be there as well) in August. Then we will spend another week and a half there spending time to relax before Tabernacle. We are changing, times are changing, and seasons are coming to a close. We thank God for change because sometimes it's all we have.
So, on to the book.  Since it's been a month since I've written (and Jason's at work for the next 8 hours) It will be 1. a LONG blog; 2. Time to get caught up on my reading this book; and 3. time to learn what I need to prepare my week ahead. We left off with chapter 3...so let's keep going right into Chapters 4, 5, and 6. Please I encourage you to get this book, read it, journal with it, and learn that intamacy with Jesus through prayer--but also how to use this book to your advantage with prayer as your weapon. If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to message me (or I believe my email is on my home page). Remember that these thoughts are my own interjected with what was written or is referenced in this book. These thoughts are also that of what I like to call some common sense. I have learned that there is a spirit of common sense and we all need to ask that the Lord not remove that which is common sense!
I've mentioned before that we are in war. This war is an ongoing thing. Starting with Chapter 4, we see what strategies we need to get our mind-set of war. We have longed for peace--but passivity doesn't bring peace. If you sit there and say grace every night for dinner, what have you accomplished? Is that you thanks for everything God has given you? One little prayer to bless the food that has been given to you. God is speaking now. He wants back what we have allowed to be overturned in this world today. That's right. You and I are to blame for the way things are. Same-sex marriage, abortion, taking prayer out of schools, the list could go on. We've allowed this because our thanks for our meal gave us a mind-set that we were keeping peace.
I'm not saying to run out and find those people and start an activism group about how we should feel guilty or anything like that. I'm saying that we have to realize that passivity doesn't bring peace, and giving up anything and everything doesn't bring peace. Fighting BACK brings peace! Think of it this way. The enemy has a strategy and his job is to fulfill that strategy. He will fight for our worship, loyalty, and souls. If he's willing to fight for what could be his (and he will succeed if we don't declare it to be stopped) what are we willing in turn to do? Give up our children to him to keep ourselves safe? Give up our car, jobs, money? Is that going to stop it? NO! We have to fight back.
You have more power in your words than you think you do. People that say things not knowing what they're saying are speaking that into a person. Telling someone they're stupid, telling another person they won't amount to anything, saying that your/some one's kids are possessed. Keep your words closely guarded. You wouldn't to hurt anyone, tear them down, or cause things to come forth...just because you think you're joking around. Your words have power in the other direction too. Declaring a protection over your family, and fighting for that protection so that nothing happens--THOSE are powerful words. Use the power and gifts God gave you to fight the fight you need to continue on to the next battle!
12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, `which is' your spiritual service. 12:2 And be not fashioned according to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, and ye may prove what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
There is a certain importance to gaining wisdom from the Lord. Not only do we need his wisdom to gain strategy for the battles of the now, but to see what snares the enemy is setting in days ahead. We need to constantly seek the Lord for new and fresh wisdom for each new day and each new battle. The following scripture should be reason enough for anyone to WANT to seek godly wisdom. (It's long so if you would like to look at it later it's Proverbs 3:13-26)
3:13 Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, And the man that getteth understanding. 3:14 For the gaining of it is better than the gaining of silver, And the profit thereof than fine gold. 3:15 She is more precious than rubies: And none of the things thou canst desire are to be compared unto her. 3:16 Length of days is in her right hand; In her left hand are riches and honor. 3:17 Her ways are ways of pleasantness, And all her paths are peace. 3:18 She is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her: And happy is every one that retaineth her. 3:19 Jehovah by wisdom founded the earth; By understanding he established the heavens. 3:20 By his knowledge the depths were broken up, And the skies drop down the dew. 3:21 My son, let them not depart from thine eyes; Keep sound wisdom and discretion: 3:22 So shall they be life unto thy soul, And grace to thy neck. 3:23 Then shalt thou walk in thy way securely, And thy foot shall not stumble. 3:24 When thou liest down, thou shalt not be afraid: Yea, thou shalt lie down, and thy sleep shall be sweet. 3:25 Be not afraid of sudden fear, Neither of the desolation of the wicked, when it cometh: 3:26 For Jehovah will be thy confidence, And will keep thy foot from being taken.
God can use even the things that look like defeat in our lives to establish His victory. God can give us access to things that the enemy doesn't have access to. The Devil thought he had a great victory when Jesus was crucified. He thought he had one a great battle, but what he didn't know (or have access to) was that crucification was used to save all of us from Hell and Death. God always has one more move. Don't give up!
However, remember that common sense spirit we talked about. The enemy will try anything to get ahold of the wisdom we have been imparted with. There are spirits that eavesdrop. Be careful of what you tell and to whom you tell it. No everyone is to hear the plans of the Lord. There are people that are "professing Christians" but are really there to gain information. Witches, psychics, warlocks, etc these are sometimes in disguise--use discernment!
Let's look at various ways to obtain wisdom. (still on Chapter 4)
1. Intimacy with God. We do this mainly through prayer and worship. Our worship is what draws us close to him. Through that he can give us strategy, words, and knowledge. As with any covenant, if we don't hold up our end, we cannot fully reap the beneifts of what God has for us.
2. Meditation on God's word. Why is this imporatnt? A lot of times it is when God gives us our strategy on when to move forward (or just strategy period) 1:8 This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth, but thou shalt meditate thereon day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success. 3. Sin & Iniquity Overthrown. Satan's objective is to block the plans of God by gaining LEGAL access to us through sin. Once we've CHOSEN to sin-that gives the enemy legal access. Remember my saying there are eavesdropping spirits? They come in to eavesdrop. If you choose to sin, the Devil himself can send his worker bees to invade our lives. That is done legally! He's not invading our lives--we invited it.
4. Affections Guarded. 4:23 Keep thy heart with all diligence; For out of it are the issues of life. 5. Power of Lies Broken. Every lie we receive in our minds works like a poison to deaden us. The enemy is fighting to feed us full of lies so that we are confused, thrown off track, and start thinking what God has not intended us to. A lot of this is through the media. Think about how many commercials a day you see. Some of us have Tivo so we don't watch commericals, but think back to those times you saw commericals. What does that special bottle of shampoo that's easily $20/bottle do for your hair? If you don't get it what happens? Honestly not anything! Or guys, that new rogain product will make your wife love you better! Maybe we are all not skinny enough--what's the latest product to help you loose weight and FAST! We live in a world of results. But because again, we wanted things to be easier.
Think about your kids though. Do you really want them being unguarded with TV? I was at a friend's house and Aurthur was on. Harmless right? NOT anymore!! They were doing Yoga, the little girl had the "all seeing eye" above her bed. They still celebrate Halloween on that show. Then you've got your kids not sleeping or saying things you don't know what caused it: Hello! Remember we talked about common sense. So what happens at the store...I want that toy (well they probably saw the adverse commercial to rogain.) If I don't have that toy, kids are going to pick on me. Revaluate your life. What things are allowing accems into your family?
6,God-Given Authority Heeded. Have GREAT faith. 8:5 And when he was entered into Capernaum, there came unto him a centurion, beseeching him, 8:6 and saying, Lord, my servant lieth in the house sick of the palsy, grievously tormented. 8:7 And he saith unto him, I will come and heal him. 8:8 And the centurion answered and said, Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof; but only say the word, and my servant shall be healed. 8:9 For I also am a man under authority, having under myself soldiers: and I say to this one, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it. 8:10 And when Jesus heard it, he marvelled, and said to them that followed, Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel. 8:11 And I say unto you, that many shall come from the east and the west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven: 8:12 but the sons of the kingdom shall be cast forth into the outer darkness: there shall be the weeping and the gnashing of teeth. 8:13 And Jesus said unto the centurion, Go thy way; as thou hast believed, `so' be it done unto thee. And the servant was healed in that hour.
7. The Human Spirit filled with the Holy Spirit. Allow Holy Spirit to come in. He is our helper and guides us to what is right and wrong. It's kind of like our concious.
We've talked about how to obtain wisdom. But what's the difference between wisdom and discernment? Well, not a whole lot to be honest. Discernment is the act of distinguishing, recognizing, discriminating, or perceiving by sight or other sense. Seeing isn't always the way you will discern. How many of you can place where your spirit is? I'm not going to tell you where your spirit is, but if you point to your toe...you're off.
Other sense perceptions are smell (we have that a GREAT deal where we live right now--long story short, the neighbors moved out and we went down to see what this smell was that was there...we thought it was there cooking. It wasn't), taste, hearing, and touch. The scriptures to hearing, taste, and touch are below.
6:5 And it shall be, that, when they make a long blast with the ram's horn, and when ye hear the sound of the trumpet, all the people shall shout with a great shout; and the wall of the city shall fall down flat, and the people shall go up every man straight before him.
5:24 And it shall be, when thou hearest the sound of marching in the tops of the mulberry-trees, that then thou shalt bestir thyself; for then is Jehovah gone out before thee to smite the host of the Philistines.
34:8 Oh taste and see that Jehovah is good: Blessed is the man that taketh refuge in him.
9:21 for she said within herself, If I do but touch his garment, I shall be made whole.
We are done with the first 4 chapters! Up until now, it was laying of groundwork to get to you to understand both your authority and what we need to be successful in your own warfare against Satan.
Ok. Let's move on to the actual prayers and what to do to outwit the enemy.
1. Confrontational Prayer. There are times when God asks us to confront the powers of darkness. This prayer will outwit the devil, but it will also humilate him and decrease his level of power. Peter Wagner in his book "Confronting the Queen of Heaven" says the following:
 "There are 3 very important things that the head [Jesus] is telling the body about spiritual warfare:
1. Stand against the wiles of the devil. We cannont just defeat him by swatting him with a fly swatter. He is real with real power--while the power of God is stronger, the devil is not just some character--he is real. (Ephesians 6:13)
2. Engage in proactive Spiritual Warfare.
3. Declare God's wisdom to the principalities.(Ephesians 3:10) This will spark negative reactions on the couterattacks from the forces of evil and the spiritual battle will be engaged."
6:13 Wherefore take up the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and, having done all, to stand.
3:10 to the intent that now unto the principalities and the powers in the heavenly `places' might be made known through the church the manifold wisdom of God,
2. Breakthrough Prayer. If you feel stuck or like you cant go on the enemy will try to get you to sit down or drop out. We have that option--but we won't reach our level or potential if we do. PRESS ON!! 3:12 Not that I have already obtained, or am already made perfect: but I press on, if so be that I may lay hold on that for which also I was laid hold on by Christ Jesus. 3:13 Brethren, I could not myself yet to have laid hold: but one thing `I do', forgetting the things which are behind, and stretching forward to the things which are before, 3:14 I press on toward the goal unto the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
Satan will try to keep us going around Mount Sinai--declare that you are NOT going around that mountain again and breakthrough. To Break means to cause to come apart by force, to seperate into pieces by shattering, to curst, to force a way through resulting in splitting a barrier, and to interrupt, to bring about suspension of an operation. 2:13 The breaker is gone up before them: they have broken forth and passed on to the gate, and are gone out thereat; and their king is passed on before them, and Jehovah at the head of them.
Principle and reults of breakthrough power:
1. Our light will break forth Learn through this to fast and give. Ask the Lord if there is something to fast and if there is a new area you can give in. 58:8 Then shall thy light break forth as the morning (1), and thy healing shall spring forth speedily(2); and thy righteousness shall go before thee; the glory of Jehovah shall by thy rearward. 2. Our Healing will spring forth.
3. The new song will break forth. 52:9 Break forth into joy, sing together(3), ye waste places of Jerusalem; for Jehovah hath comforted his people, he hath redeemed Jerusalem(5).
4. A renewed joy will arise in our spirit. Don't grieve over what you miss(ed), break into joy!
8:10 Then he said unto them, Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto him for whom nothing is prepared; for this day is holy unto our Lord: neither be ye grieved; for the joy of Jehovah is your strength. 5. New joy causes waste places to be rebuilt. (Isa 52:9 above)
6. New Strength will arise in our spirit. 40:31 but they that wait for Jehovah shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; they shall walk, and not faint.
3. Rearguard Prayer. To secure our victory of outwitting the devil, allow God's standard to rise behind us in rearguard prayer. It is detailed to guard the rear of a moving column. 58:8 Then shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thy healing shall spring forth speedily; and thy righteousness shall go before thee; the glory of Jehovah shall by thy rearward.
52:12 For ye shall not go out in haste, neither shall ye go by flight: for Jehovah will go before you; and the God of Israel will be your rearward.
CHAPTER 6 (I promise I'm almost done---it's a lot of information I know)
Agony and Travail Prayers
We all have those times in our life of experiencing agony. Some of us, just need something to complain about--that's not what I mean. I mean those times that something really trying has come along. You lost your job and you have 8 kids and then you just got the phone call that your mom has cancer. That's an agonizing time. (I don't mean to turn a deaf ear to those that do have issues they'd like to talk about...but you know what I mean about those that just go on and on about the SAME things week in and week out).
Hannah is a great example of Agony and how she travailed through it. If you have not already read the posting on TRAVAIL I suggest you do so at this time. Her agony gives us a pattern to follow:
-Prayed to the Lord
-wept in Anguish (travailed)
-lifted her affliction to the Lord
-said, "Remember me." In other words, "Remember why I was created."
-pleaded, "Fulfill my request and You can have my first fruit offering."
-told the priest her problem and expressed her emotion.
-asked for favor to come upon her.
-got up in victory
-birthed the new thing in Israel.
When we travail in prayer we are allowing Holy Spirit to birth something through us. Here are 4 points to help you recognize the works of the Holy Spirit.
1. Travail is given by God and is not something we MAKE happen.
2. Travail sometimes comes as a result of praying in an area that others have prayed before.
3. Those with the gift of intercession will often pray more travailing prayers.
4. Travail may be short or extended.
There is a tremendous power in travailing prayer. Whether short or long it will birth something through you. Stating number 2 again, sometimes you are chosen as the last prayer person so that God can use you. Travail through it! I would love to be the person who always got it, but that's not why we were created. We were created all to be in God's army. (not all of us were created to fight in God's army though...there is a difference)
Once the Lord identifies and gives you which burden to pray over we agonize to see the burden birthed. It's just as a pregnancy though--there are Cautions.
1. Timing
2. Becoming Overwhelmed: those around need to intercede for the one in travail so they do not get weak or blind sided. Also, Intercessors need to operate in the spririt of Self-Control.
3. Bearing a false burden: Don't get lost in intercession and if you feel like travailing make sure you have sought after God for the plan and to avoid being out of his timing or becoming a travailer of the wind.
26:18 We have been with child, we have been in pain, we have as it were brought forth wind; we have not wrought any deliverance in the earth; neither have the inhabitants of the world fallen.
4. Not completing the assignment: Allow God to supply the strength to birth.
5. Discounting prayer as travailing because there is no physical manifestation: not all prayer MUST include groaning, wailing, weeping, and hard work.
Always know that at the end is a time of jubilee! Rejoice because your enemy has been outwitted.
We have some more prayers to cover but for now that is the end. 3 Chapters was a lot for me. I have to get back to some work stuff :) This is my travail for this week!
Be blessed and I hope that you guys are learning something. If anything is ever unclear please let me know. I know this was a long one!! but it was a LONG TIME COMING!! |
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