By Reverend Mark Hunnemann
Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you fail to meet the test! (2 Cor 13) Here and elsewhere the Lord urges us to test ourselves to make sure that our faith is real and sincere. The stakes are too high to make a mistake about this as the consequences are eternal. It breaks my heart to say this, but millions will die thinking they are saved but will wake up to their unspeakable horror in hell.
We must find a middle ground between being too shallowly self-assured on the one hand, and engaging in morbid introspection on the other—what the Puritans called having ‘an ingrown eyeball.’ Periodic self-examination is not only healthy, but it is commanded in scripture. However, I wonder how many professing Christians take the time to reexamine their faith to make sure it is genuine? On the other hand, there are many sincere believers who are tormented with lack of assurance, but it is rarely discussed in much detail these days.
Many sincere believers will die with a lack of salvation and this is sad. Having assurance of salvation is not necessary to be saved as some believe; but assurance is necessary to enjoy ones salvation and be most productive. By the way, John Calvin did not teach that assurance was of the essence of saving faith as some have asserted for centuries. There has been an extended dispute that he differed from the Westminster Confession on this matter but he didn’t. He defines faith, but then spends the rest of the chapter saying that nobody has this kind of faith! In fact, they are dealing with 2 different issues: Calvin was defining saving faith, and chapter 18 of WCF is about assurance of salvation. I only mention this because academics debate this and say: see they cannot even agree on this central issue. I am amazed at how many godly men I admire who misunderstand Calvin at this vital point. Whether assurance is of the essence of saving faith or is simply to be strongly preferred is of immense practical import.
Nor does assurance lead to presumption as others believe because all of our hope and confidence is based in Christ and the gospel as we shall see. How can those clinging to Christ be either proud or lax in their obedience? It is unthinkable.
What is the assurance of faith? It is the belief that I believe; faith that I have faith. It is a robust, deep and joyful conviction that I truly am united to Christ by faith. It has rightly been said that a deep sense of assurance leads to a sense of heaven on earth, amidst our frailties and attacks. It is the joy unspeakable of which the NT speaks. Do you enjoy this assurance or is it intermittent or even lacking then I pray you attain this precious pearl.
Some folks know all the cognitive facts of the gospel, and have truly rested in Him, but cant seem to get assurance that they have faith in their hearts. And this torments them.
Just as we should avoid the marriage guru who says that “if you only follow the 5-steps that my wife and I follow then you can have a wonderful marriage”, so too, we need to not be an ‘assurance guru’ because there is no cookie-cutter approach that equally works for everyone. We are individuals.
The gospel comes to every person the same way but it finds different hurdles or obstacles in every person. I think that we underestimate how deep people are psychologically and how that factors in their quest for assurance of salvation. Some have been so psychologically abused that they hardly have the emotional framework to fathom that God really loves them and that they really love Him. These issues have to be factored in and sometimes need counseling to process the pain. Otherwise, there will remain some blockage which will prevent the full flow of salvations joy. Some of you have experienced horrendous pain and that needs to be addressed as well.
It is an individual quest. John Doe’s assurance is fine for him but it won’t help me—I need assurance for me. And the same is true for YOU.
Have you ever heard of ‘referred pain’ in medicine? It is where one feels pain in one area of the body but the source of the pain is elsewhere. The complicated network of muscles and nerves cause the pain to ‘show up’ far from its true origin. Similarly, I have found that problems with assurance rarely have to do assurance itself but with something else. That is, the problem with assurance is ‘referred pain’—symptoms of an ailment whose origin lies elsewhere, and a good physician of the soul will enable them to isolate the true source. In the meantime, the problems with assurance are very real and terribly painful.
Let us briefly look at a few hindrances to assurance of salvation and how to deepen it; they are connected.
1. Let me first mention those who have false assurance and how that can be unmasked. Many think that if they made a ‘decision’ early in life but then live and believe any way they want for 50 years, will not inherit salvation, as only those who pursue after holiness and persevere to the end will be saved. Likewise, a lack of the Fruit of the Spirit is an indicator that one’s profession is empty. We are not talking about perfection but there must be some reality of the Spirit moving and changing a persons life for them to be truly saved. As Luther said: we are saved by faith alone but not by a faith that is alone. Only a lively trust in Christ is saving faith. Easy believism leads to easy assurancism, which is deadly.
2. The first hindrance to a robust salvation is setting the bar too high. Some think that unless they have some extraordinary revelation from God, some constantly intense feeling—then they cannot be saved. Surely a saved person will ‘feel like it.’ I am not downplaying the significance of feelings but our feelings can ebb and flow with our blood sugar or amount of sleep we get. One area that is often overlooked is ‘orthopathos’—right feelings that should flow from our reading of God’s Word and our love for Him. But the foundation for our salvation are God’s promises and not our feelings. True salvation will include: orthodoxy (right belief), orthopraxis (right behavior) and orthopathos (right feelings). To acquire and grow in assurance then we need to tend to all three.
If your feelings are lacking ask yourself this question: how consistent am I in reading God’s Word and prayer? There is no time when I feel more assured of my salvation than when I am immersed in God’s Word. The key to deep assurance is not extraordinary experiences but normal means of grace which would include the Lord’s Supper. But we need to take them seriously on a daily basis; bible study and prayer. These do not increase our salvation but they do increase the assurance of our salvation.
3. Perhaps the most common source of lack of assurance is fuzziness regarding justification. Justification is what theologians call an eschatological reality brought into the present. That is, the moment a person professes faith in Christ, the verdict of the Last Judgment is declared upon them—immediately and irreversibly. No amount of sanctification of 50 years of righteous living can add one iota or diminish one iota the perfect righteousness of Christ imputed to me. When justified, two things occurred (a double exchange); my sins were imputed to Christ and His perfect righteousness is imputed to me.(2 Cor.5:21) Why didn’t Jesus just descend on Good Friday and die for our sins? Why the Incarnation and all the moment by moment perfect obedience to the Father and to the Law for 33 years?
Christ lived a life of perfect obedience to the Law for a reason. Most Christians think that salvation includes only the forgiveness of sins, but that is only half the blessing—half the gospel! Being forgiven would place us back in the garden but it would not give us a positive righteousness. Jesus was born and lived 33 years of perfect obedience to the Law so that He would then transfer that robe of righteousness to us the moment we believe. It cannot be augmented or diminished, nor can it be lost. We must not think that our sanctification will add anything to Christs righteousness because if we confuse our sanctification with our justification, then we will commit the same error as Rome. Justification will then become a process of growth or diminishment—that is terrible news. Justification is not a process but a declaration; the sentence of the last Day rendered in the present, which is so good that it is beyond words to describe how lovely that is! Looking at Christ as our righteousness is the only proper basis for assurance. We can sing for joy that we have assurance because of all Christ has done for us!
As Luther said, we are simul Justus et peccator—'at the same time righteous and sinful’. In ourselves we will have the remains of indwelling sin until we die and are glorified. But ‘in Christ’ the Father sees the perfection of His Son. He sees us as holy and righteous as Jesus is! For a Roman Catholic this is almost blasphemous but it is only the perfect righteousness of Christ that will stand up under the scrutiny of the thrice holy God on Judgment Day.
If you focus on yourself and forget about the imputation of Christs perfect righteousness then you are setting yourself (and sinfulness)up for problems with assurance of salvation. Satan will come along and accuse you that a true Christian would not still have so much sin remaining in them. Our assurance is based primarily on the gospel; the gospel of the dual imputation, which has largely been lost today by most pastors and preachers. In ourselves we are still sinful but we cling white-knuckled to the cross of Christ and His finished work…and HIS righteousness. Without that knowledge of double imputation the devil can make mince meat of your conscience; with it, we can be the more than conquerors that we are!
4. If the beatitudes or the Fruit of the Spirit are being formed in you (not perfectly but some reality) then one can be assured that they have true faith. Or in 1 John, the apostle asks this very question: what are the marks of one who is truly saved, and he mentions several? But my point here is simple: if you can see God slowly but surely changing your character then that should encourage you.
5. Then lastly, the Bible says that the Holy Spirit Himself bears witness with our inner self (Rom8) that we are God’s children. Some of you have forgotten what you felt like when you are unsaved, but on your lowest day of assurance as a believer, you have more assurance then a non-believer does on their best days. How can I say that? Because He changes our hearts—there is radical heart transplant in which He puts desires which were never there before. Notice how naturally we cry out “Father” when the unbeliever usually says ‘God.’
Service to God is influenced by assurance.
If a child is not assured that his parents love him then the motive for his obedience will be effected. ‘I must obey and then possibly they will love me… if I do this, do that, get an A on my report card, excel in sports, etc. Those who lack assurance will live in constant insecurity due to not knowing if they are well, secure. They may work very hard but it won't be with a smile..not with song in their heart. If a person is not assured that they are truly a child of God or may lose their salvation, then it cannot but help but have an psychological affect over a long period of time.
I wonder how many people on Facebook and elsewhere who have effective ministries are truly assured of their faith? One who is not assured will put too much of their self-worth and significance in their ministries. Since they are deep down insecure, then it may also rob them of energy for service. Many people are so inwardly bent and tormented about the status of their own soul that they hardly have any energy left to care for others around them. All their energy is consumed with self-worry about the state of their own souls, and sadly they may not even be aware of the fact that they are so self-absorbed—it has become so much a part of their psyches. Like a nervous hypochondriac they will waste all their time on self analysis, with little energy for God’s work.
But with a heart at rest in Christ, then one can be: 58 Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain. (1 Cor 15)
The bottom line, is that for a robust life of productivity for the Lord we need to have this heaven in our hearts of knowing that we know; believing that we believe; having faith that we have faith. The assurance of our salvation and that we have this saving faith! The Puritan Thomas Brooks (1608-1680) wrote perhaps the best book on assurance entitled: Heaven on Earth.
May the Lord give us this heaven on earth increasingly, for His glory and our comfort and joy.
Part two: https://eyeontheparanormal.blogspot.com/2019/01/why-dont-i-feel-like-i-am-saved-if-i-am.html
Mark Hunnemann is the author of Seeing Ghosts Through God's Eyes: A Worldview Analysis of Earthbound Spirits. It's also available in eBook forma
Looking inside the spiritual & literary worlds
Showing posts with label ministry. Show all posts
Showing posts with label ministry. Show all posts
Friday, January 11, 2019
Sunday, June 21, 2015
Symptoms of Spiritual Pollution, Part 7
Continued from:
Symptoms of Spiritual Pollution, Part 1
Symptoms of Spiritual Pollution, Part 2
Symptoms of Spiritual Pollution, Part 3
Symptoms of Spiritual Pollution, Part 4
Symptoms of Spiritual Pollution, Part 5
Symptoms of Spiritual Pollution, Part 6
In my continuation on the blog series Spiritual Warfare from the last time I discussed the critical aspect of Discernment about one’s belief and what God views discernment as. In this blog aspect we will now cover what many refer to as the Spirits. So what are the spirits? Demons or Fallen Angels? This I will answer for you.
In the spiritual warfare beliefs, one is taught that there are good spirits and bad spirits which one must contend with. Ministry call the good spirits “angels” and the bad spirits “demons”. People feel angels are your buddies—wrong. These are allies in this battle who assist to protect and defend you against the powers of darkness. Demons are the rulers of this earth. These powerful forces of evil who can only be defeated by great faith and some ritualistic behaviors. This is what many are taught, and it’s a bunch of nonsense. If you’re going to get the proper understanding of the spiritual realm, I need to start at the beginning.
There are demons and angels. Understand these are two different names for the same type of creature. Ponder this, is a human stronger than a person? No, those are two interchangeable words for the same metaphor. So therefore, demons are equal to angels. These are angelic creatures who rebelled against God and are no longer righteous in His eyes. Angelic beings (demons and angels) are very different than human beings. God has limited interests in giving a warrior an in-depth education about those differences. This puts the person at a major disadvantage. You will never outwit an enemy that you can’t even understand.
Now while God prevents you from understanding angels and demons, God gives these beings an education about you. These creatures can read your mind, can hear what your soul speaks to God and can discern your very inept intelligence. Angelic creatures view us as quite unimpressive. If demons are the Lamborghini of cars, then humans are those cheesy plastic cars that a toddler “drives” by sitting inside of it and pushing the feet to the ground. In our world - earth, it’s mind-blowing how ineffective you are.
A human can’t manipulate matter, but angelic creatures can. Oxygen is necessary to breathe, angelic creatures have no use for oxygen. Instant transport of yourself to different locations around the earth is not what humans can accomplish, but angelic creatures can. We have to eat, sleep, and protect ourselves against the elements. We have all the strength of a piece of lint and we are incredibly unwise about relying on our physical senses to guide us in life.
So what about those who can see demons? Many Christians who think they have the gift of discernment believe they can see demons. What are you really looking at when you view whatever it is you see? Are you viewing what demons really look like? Of course not. However, you are seeing an illusion of a creature in costume. Angelic creatures can appear to a person in a massive variety of forms. Amazingly is how much emphasis we put in their images used and we’re incredibly easy to deceive. If they appear to you as an ugly looking gargoyle, you actually think that’s what they look like. When introductions happen as giving a certain name, you actually believe that name is true?
Hearing some demon “expert” from the Church boast about the extensive knowledge of the demonic ranks, having maps of demonic strongholds and they’ve figured out which demons work where and such talk is pure folly. No one grasps that angelic creatures communicate with each other on a regular basis. If demon #1 scared the pants off of you by coming in a certain form, they communicate that data to demon #2. Demon #2 then comes on a different night, appearing in the same form and you declare you’ve been visited by the same evil entity. No! Actually you’ve been visited by two different spirits, but there’s no way you can discern them apart because God has reserved intelligence from you.
What often passes for “the gift of discernment” these days is a little more than a vivid imagination and a head full of gullible garbage about what demons look like and act. Certainly demons are real and sometimes they appear in visual forms. However, they just toy with our imagination and make one think they viewed something that you didn’t really see. Demons love toying with the mind and senses. It is so easy for demons to send that creepy tingly aspect up the spine which one would interpret as their glorious gift at work.
Churning your emotions like a stormy sea is easy for the demons. Then you seem to interpret the whole thing as evidence of your deep spiritual insights. That would be like me kicking you in the shin and asking “Did you feel pain just now?” Clearly all you have a deep understanding of the human nervous system. Feeling your nervous system react to stimulus and understanding the mechanics of how your nervous system works are two different aspects. In the same manner, being conscious that a demon is toying with you and understanding the demon itself are two entirely separate concepts.
So how can you truly defeat an enemy that you can’t comprehend? You can’t. View spiritual warfare like this, you’re a person who is trying to hold back an approaching military tank by throwing tissue wads at it. No weapons that you have will stand against demons, you can’t injure or harm them. Unfortunately the armory is an empty closet. This is critical that you understand this. Why? Because deceived Christians are lying to you when they tell you that your faith is some great weapon that demons can’t stand up against. That is such a bold-faced lie. If your faith was so intimidating, why don’t you hear the demons in the midst of your prayer sessions trembling like they did with the Lord Jesus Christ when the demons encountered him in real life?
Why is it that the attempts to rebuke them prove to be worthless? They laugh when you try to quote holy verses at them? Why are they able to successfully hold you down in an ocean of dread and fear if you’re so full of faith? Are you going to tell me that you need more faith? Well, faith can only grow so fast. You had as much today as you had yesterday. Former times the rebuking appeared to work…or did it? So if your faith has no effect on the demons, what is keeping them off of you? It’s not what, it’s who is. God is the One who flicks demons off of you, but God is also the main reason the demons attack you.
In our next blog we will expand on the Demons and what this affords a person as this is thrown around in Spiritual Warfare.
Rev. Bradley Luoma, Exorcist
Symptoms of Spiritual Pollution, Part 1
Symptoms of Spiritual Pollution, Part 2
Symptoms of Spiritual Pollution, Part 3
Symptoms of Spiritual Pollution, Part 4
Symptoms of Spiritual Pollution, Part 5
Symptoms of Spiritual Pollution, Part 6
In my continuation on the blog series Spiritual Warfare from the last time I discussed the critical aspect of Discernment about one’s belief and what God views discernment as. In this blog aspect we will now cover what many refer to as the Spirits. So what are the spirits? Demons or Fallen Angels? This I will answer for you.
In the spiritual warfare beliefs, one is taught that there are good spirits and bad spirits which one must contend with. Ministry call the good spirits “angels” and the bad spirits “demons”. People feel angels are your buddies—wrong. These are allies in this battle who assist to protect and defend you against the powers of darkness. Demons are the rulers of this earth. These powerful forces of evil who can only be defeated by great faith and some ritualistic behaviors. This is what many are taught, and it’s a bunch of nonsense. If you’re going to get the proper understanding of the spiritual realm, I need to start at the beginning.
There are demons and angels. Understand these are two different names for the same type of creature. Ponder this, is a human stronger than a person? No, those are two interchangeable words for the same metaphor. So therefore, demons are equal to angels. These are angelic creatures who rebelled against God and are no longer righteous in His eyes. Angelic beings (demons and angels) are very different than human beings. God has limited interests in giving a warrior an in-depth education about those differences. This puts the person at a major disadvantage. You will never outwit an enemy that you can’t even understand.
Now while God prevents you from understanding angels and demons, God gives these beings an education about you. These creatures can read your mind, can hear what your soul speaks to God and can discern your very inept intelligence. Angelic creatures view us as quite unimpressive. If demons are the Lamborghini of cars, then humans are those cheesy plastic cars that a toddler “drives” by sitting inside of it and pushing the feet to the ground. In our world - earth, it’s mind-blowing how ineffective you are.
A human can’t manipulate matter, but angelic creatures can. Oxygen is necessary to breathe, angelic creatures have no use for oxygen. Instant transport of yourself to different locations around the earth is not what humans can accomplish, but angelic creatures can. We have to eat, sleep, and protect ourselves against the elements. We have all the strength of a piece of lint and we are incredibly unwise about relying on our physical senses to guide us in life.
So what about those who can see demons? Many Christians who think they have the gift of discernment believe they can see demons. What are you really looking at when you view whatever it is you see? Are you viewing what demons really look like? Of course not. However, you are seeing an illusion of a creature in costume. Angelic creatures can appear to a person in a massive variety of forms. Amazingly is how much emphasis we put in their images used and we’re incredibly easy to deceive. If they appear to you as an ugly looking gargoyle, you actually think that’s what they look like. When introductions happen as giving a certain name, you actually believe that name is true?
Hearing some demon “expert” from the Church boast about the extensive knowledge of the demonic ranks, having maps of demonic strongholds and they’ve figured out which demons work where and such talk is pure folly. No one grasps that angelic creatures communicate with each other on a regular basis. If demon #1 scared the pants off of you by coming in a certain form, they communicate that data to demon #2. Demon #2 then comes on a different night, appearing in the same form and you declare you’ve been visited by the same evil entity. No! Actually you’ve been visited by two different spirits, but there’s no way you can discern them apart because God has reserved intelligence from you.
What often passes for “the gift of discernment” these days is a little more than a vivid imagination and a head full of gullible garbage about what demons look like and act. Certainly demons are real and sometimes they appear in visual forms. However, they just toy with our imagination and make one think they viewed something that you didn’t really see. Demons love toying with the mind and senses. It is so easy for demons to send that creepy tingly aspect up the spine which one would interpret as their glorious gift at work.
Churning your emotions like a stormy sea is easy for the demons. Then you seem to interpret the whole thing as evidence of your deep spiritual insights. That would be like me kicking you in the shin and asking “Did you feel pain just now?” Clearly all you have a deep understanding of the human nervous system. Feeling your nervous system react to stimulus and understanding the mechanics of how your nervous system works are two different aspects. In the same manner, being conscious that a demon is toying with you and understanding the demon itself are two entirely separate concepts.
So how can you truly defeat an enemy that you can’t comprehend? You can’t. View spiritual warfare like this, you’re a person who is trying to hold back an approaching military tank by throwing tissue wads at it. No weapons that you have will stand against demons, you can’t injure or harm them. Unfortunately the armory is an empty closet. This is critical that you understand this. Why? Because deceived Christians are lying to you when they tell you that your faith is some great weapon that demons can’t stand up against. That is such a bold-faced lie. If your faith was so intimidating, why don’t you hear the demons in the midst of your prayer sessions trembling like they did with the Lord Jesus Christ when the demons encountered him in real life?
Why is it that the attempts to rebuke them prove to be worthless? They laugh when you try to quote holy verses at them? Why are they able to successfully hold you down in an ocean of dread and fear if you’re so full of faith? Are you going to tell me that you need more faith? Well, faith can only grow so fast. You had as much today as you had yesterday. Former times the rebuking appeared to work…or did it? So if your faith has no effect on the demons, what is keeping them off of you? It’s not what, it’s who is. God is the One who flicks demons off of you, but God is also the main reason the demons attack you.
In our next blog we will expand on the Demons and what this affords a person as this is thrown around in Spiritual Warfare.
Rev. Bradley Luoma, Exorcist
Sunday, November 2, 2014
Is Intercessory Prayer Against The Demonic Dangerous?
Happy Sunday everyone. This is the day of our Lord. I hope everyone enjoyed their Halloween and didn't eat too much candy. I really hope everyone stayed safe and didn't try anything stupid! Such as trespassing into spooky places. You might have learned you've picked up a attachment from your little adventure. I certainly hope that's not the case but I already have been contacted twice about these unfortunate situations that took place already. It happens so easily. That's why I say to please stay away from these type of places. Halloween tends to be a very busy time of year for me and others called into this ministry. The demonic is very real and it's not hard at all to get tangled up with it. A lot of what I deal with actually were because they inadvertently knocked on that door.
What Is Intercessory Prayer:
Intercessory prayer is the act of praying for other people. God has instructed us to pray not only for our own personal needs but to reach out and pray for others as well. We find an example of this in 1 Timothy 2:1-6 where we are told to pray and to make intercession for all of God's children in need or in danger.
The Greek noun, “enteuxus” in the Bible is the word for “intercession.” It primarily denotes a “meeting with,” a conversation or petition rendered on the behalf of others. “Intercessory prayer,” then, is seeking the presence and audience of God in another’s stead. When we pray for the needs of others that is called “intercession” or we are said to be “interceding” for them. It's a lot like spiritual warfare really. Some may choose to call it that. It can be very dangerous. Satan has a counterfeit for everything that is God's word and truth in the Bible like Angels and miracles, faith, unity, doctrines. He has even has counterfeits our Saviour Himself. (Mathew 24:24.)
Today, saying prayers and prayer in general are very much a priority at many churches. Prayer ministries and prayer departments are showing up everywhere on the Internet and are popping up everywhere to coordinate prayer offensives against the enemy and demonic forces.. These may seem like very positive developments and some feel this is evidence of spiritual growth in the lives of members and a sign of revival in the church. But is it ok for just anyone to start tackling Satan? Shouldn't ones called into this specific area be the ones to tackle and dare step up to this highly dangerous area? The ones boasting about how long they've done this and how much experience they have are the ones who usually have NO business trying to get involved. They are the ones who are all over the Internet and have websites that just continually seem to boast and always find the need to bring up all the "experience" they have. They also put down and slam the few legit Warriors we do have! It blows my mind...and Satan just loves it. All the backstabbing all the fighting people who are so arrogant to think that you have a right to call out and go after people just to create more chaos. As if God can't handle these situations and the people who are of wrongdoing. Don't misunderstand me though, we should call out certain people when it is very blatant what they're up to and if you or someone close to you have been scammed should by all means warn others and make it public. I'm certainly not saying we are always to ignore it there are people out there who should and are called by God to do so. But sadly way too many just choose to think they are because they enjoy drama. That makes them just as low if not lower than the people they are exposing.
The following information I found from the Bible but is also talked about on http://www.bible-knowledge.com
In the area of spiritual warfare, one very controversial issue you will come across is whether or not we, as born-again believers, have the power and authority to try and attempt to engage with demons who are in the 2nd heaven, who are in what the Bible calls the “heavenly places.”
After researching both sides of this very controversial issue, it is our personal opinion that unless God Himself directly authorizes and commissions you to engage in this kind of very special, high level type of spiritual warfare, that you stay completely away from this kind of activity.
If you try to step into this kind of arena without God’s direct approval and protection, you could open both yourself and possibly the members of your immediate family to major attacks from these higher-ranking demons.
The Apostle Paul gives us a major revelation in that there are 3 heavens. As you will see from this following verse, it would appear that he is talking about himself when he was taken up to the “third heaven”where God the Father and Jesus dwell. Here is the first verse you will need to have on this topic so you can see exactly how Satan has some of his demonic hierarchy set up, both on our earth and in the heavenlies.
“I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago – whether in the body I do not know, or whether out of the body I do not know, God knows – such a one was caught up to the third heaven. And I know such a man – whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows – how he was caught up into Paradise and heard inexpressible words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.” (2 Corinthians 12:2-3)...
To me this is very powerful information that proves I am correct about the wrong people getting involved with this level of prayer. I'm not trying to debate the "The Three Heavens" controversy as I only used this content as a example of my point in this blog. A lot of people feel sleep paralysis is really a way of visiting other spiritual realms. They truly felt when they finally defeated a demon in this state, certain areas of their life became much better and God had answered their prayers and they had defeated the demon of fear or lust whatever it was that they struggled with. Spiritual Warfare is a very real and powerful thing. We must be free ourselves of any major strongholds before we decide to battle on behalf of a loved one or someone under attack. It's so very important to wait and first pray and hear God's Word on what we should do in every situation. He may tell us to find guidance and direct help for that person that is not necessarily our job or calling to do. Never just jump into these situations without first asking God for guidance and protection.
Written By Jennifer L Auld
What Is Intercessory Prayer:
Intercessory prayer is the act of praying for other people. God has instructed us to pray not only for our own personal needs but to reach out and pray for others as well. We find an example of this in 1 Timothy 2:1-6 where we are told to pray and to make intercession for all of God's children in need or in danger.
The Greek noun, “enteuxus” in the Bible is the word for “intercession.” It primarily denotes a “meeting with,” a conversation or petition rendered on the behalf of others. “Intercessory prayer,” then, is seeking the presence and audience of God in another’s stead. When we pray for the needs of others that is called “intercession” or we are said to be “interceding” for them. It's a lot like spiritual warfare really. Some may choose to call it that. It can be very dangerous. Satan has a counterfeit for everything that is God's word and truth in the Bible like Angels and miracles, faith, unity, doctrines. He has even has counterfeits our Saviour Himself. (Mathew 24:24.)
Today, saying prayers and prayer in general are very much a priority at many churches. Prayer ministries and prayer departments are showing up everywhere on the Internet and are popping up everywhere to coordinate prayer offensives against the enemy and demonic forces.. These may seem like very positive developments and some feel this is evidence of spiritual growth in the lives of members and a sign of revival in the church. But is it ok for just anyone to start tackling Satan? Shouldn't ones called into this specific area be the ones to tackle and dare step up to this highly dangerous area? The ones boasting about how long they've done this and how much experience they have are the ones who usually have NO business trying to get involved. They are the ones who are all over the Internet and have websites that just continually seem to boast and always find the need to bring up all the "experience" they have. They also put down and slam the few legit Warriors we do have! It blows my mind...and Satan just loves it. All the backstabbing all the fighting people who are so arrogant to think that you have a right to call out and go after people just to create more chaos. As if God can't handle these situations and the people who are of wrongdoing. Don't misunderstand me though, we should call out certain people when it is very blatant what they're up to and if you or someone close to you have been scammed should by all means warn others and make it public. I'm certainly not saying we are always to ignore it there are people out there who should and are called by God to do so. But sadly way too many just choose to think they are because they enjoy drama. That makes them just as low if not lower than the people they are exposing.
The following information I found from the Bible but is also talked about on http://www.bible-knowledge.com
In the area of spiritual warfare, one very controversial issue you will come across is whether or not we, as born-again believers, have the power and authority to try and attempt to engage with demons who are in the 2nd heaven, who are in what the Bible calls the “heavenly places.”
After researching both sides of this very controversial issue, it is our personal opinion that unless God Himself directly authorizes and commissions you to engage in this kind of very special, high level type of spiritual warfare, that you stay completely away from this kind of activity.
If you try to step into this kind of arena without God’s direct approval and protection, you could open both yourself and possibly the members of your immediate family to major attacks from these higher-ranking demons.
The Apostle Paul gives us a major revelation in that there are 3 heavens. As you will see from this following verse, it would appear that he is talking about himself when he was taken up to the “third heaven”where God the Father and Jesus dwell. Here is the first verse you will need to have on this topic so you can see exactly how Satan has some of his demonic hierarchy set up, both on our earth and in the heavenlies.
“I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago – whether in the body I do not know, or whether out of the body I do not know, God knows – such a one was caught up to the third heaven. And I know such a man – whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows – how he was caught up into Paradise and heard inexpressible words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.” (2 Corinthians 12:2-3)...
To me this is very powerful information that proves I am correct about the wrong people getting involved with this level of prayer. I'm not trying to debate the "The Three Heavens" controversy as I only used this content as a example of my point in this blog. A lot of people feel sleep paralysis is really a way of visiting other spiritual realms. They truly felt when they finally defeated a demon in this state, certain areas of their life became much better and God had answered their prayers and they had defeated the demon of fear or lust whatever it was that they struggled with. Spiritual Warfare is a very real and powerful thing. We must be free ourselves of any major strongholds before we decide to battle on behalf of a loved one or someone under attack. It's so very important to wait and first pray and hear God's Word on what we should do in every situation. He may tell us to find guidance and direct help for that person that is not necessarily our job or calling to do. Never just jump into these situations without first asking God for guidance and protection.
Written By Jennifer L Auld
Thursday, April 3, 2014
How NOT to Vent on Facebook...(Avoiding a Scheme)
By Reverend Mark Hunnemann
Psalms 73
A psalm of Asaph.
1 Surely God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart.
2 But as for me, my feet had almost slipped; I had nearly lost my foothold.
3 For I envied the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
4 They have no struggles; their bodies are healthy and strong.
5 They are free from common human burdens; they are not plagued by human ills.
6 Therefore pride is their necklace; they clothe themselves with violence.
7 From their callous hearts comes iniquity; their evil imaginations have no limits.
8 They scoff, and speak with malice; with arrogance they threaten oppression.
9 Their mouths lay claim to heaven, and their tongues take possession of the earth.
10 Therefore their people turn to them and drink up waters in abundance.
11 They say, "How would God know? Does the Most High know anything?"
12 This is what the wicked are like-always free of care, they go on amassing wealth.
13 Surely in vain I have kept my heart pure and have washed my hands in innocence.
14 All day long I have been afflicted, and every morning brings new punishments.
15 If I had spoken out like that, I would have betrayed your children.
16 When I tried to understand all this, it troubled me deeply
17 till I entered the sanctuary of God; then I understood their final destiny.
18 Surely you place them on slippery ground; you cast them down to ruin.
19 How suddenly are they destroyed, completely swept away by terrors!
20 They are like a dream when one awakes; when you arise, Lord, you will despise them as fantasies.
21 When my heart was grieved and my spirit embittered,
22 I was senseless and ignorant; I was a brute beast before you.
23 Yet I am always with you; you hold me by my right hand.
24 You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will take me into glory.
25 Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you.
26 My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.
27 Those who are far from you will perish; you destroy all who are unfaithful to you.
28 But as for me, it is good to be near God. I have made the Sovereign Lord my refuge; I will tell of all your deeds.
This may seem like an odd topic, but I have observed that frequently our grousing on Facebook (or any public forum) breaks a cardinal principle of Scripture. One person (who shall remain anonymous) has a powerful ministry within the paranormal community...he is a godly and very experienced and competent man. However, every other month he "quits" publicly on FB, citing all kinds of issues and complaints. A day or two later, he is back on as if nothing had happened. But something HAD happened--he had dishonored God and caused people to stumble.
I chose Psalm 73 because the psalmist gives full vent to deep discouragement--he holds nothing back. In doing so, he gives us an inspired model of how to complain to God. The Lord knows our feelings--and feelings are feelings are feelings. They often come upon us unbidden, especially when we are discouraged. I have long believed that discouragement is Satan's most often used weapon in large arsenal. Face it, we DO get or feel discouraged at times--all of us. I certainly do.
Please note verse 15, "If I had said, 'I will speak thus', I would have betrayed the generation of your children." In other words, the psalmist realized that if he PUBLICLY gave full vent to how he was feeling, then he was certain to cause others to stumble. Please don't misunderstand me--we are invited to be brutally honest with the Lord regarding our struggles. And it is often encouraging to read that others struggle too...we are not alone. But, when it gets really bad, then we must exercise caution in what we say in public. Have you ever said anything on FB and later wished you hadn't?
We give the devil a royal boost when we "let it rip" in public, because the folks who read it may be scandalized, confused, or who knows what else. It seems that, for some folks, Facebook has become a public confessional of their problems and discouragement.
I wish we had the time to go through the entire psalm, but the realization that he was responsible for how his venting affected others, was a key turning point--along with a fresh perspective of the dual destinies of mankind.This is another scheme of Satan that we must avoid for the glory of God, and the welfare of others.Please think before you say something, especially in public. God bless you...
"Seeing Ghosts through God's Eyes" (also in a Kindle edition)...please consider purchasing my book which uses science, logic, and the bible to analyze the true source of power behind paranormal activity.
Psalms 73
A psalm of Asaph.
1 Surely God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart.
2 But as for me, my feet had almost slipped; I had nearly lost my foothold.
3 For I envied the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
4 They have no struggles; their bodies are healthy and strong.
5 They are free from common human burdens; they are not plagued by human ills.
6 Therefore pride is their necklace; they clothe themselves with violence.
7 From their callous hearts comes iniquity; their evil imaginations have no limits.
8 They scoff, and speak with malice; with arrogance they threaten oppression.
9 Their mouths lay claim to heaven, and their tongues take possession of the earth.
10 Therefore their people turn to them and drink up waters in abundance.
11 They say, "How would God know? Does the Most High know anything?"
12 This is what the wicked are like-always free of care, they go on amassing wealth.
13 Surely in vain I have kept my heart pure and have washed my hands in innocence.
14 All day long I have been afflicted, and every morning brings new punishments.
15 If I had spoken out like that, I would have betrayed your children.
16 When I tried to understand all this, it troubled me deeply
17 till I entered the sanctuary of God; then I understood their final destiny.
18 Surely you place them on slippery ground; you cast them down to ruin.
19 How suddenly are they destroyed, completely swept away by terrors!
20 They are like a dream when one awakes; when you arise, Lord, you will despise them as fantasies.
21 When my heart was grieved and my spirit embittered,
22 I was senseless and ignorant; I was a brute beast before you.
23 Yet I am always with you; you hold me by my right hand.
24 You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will take me into glory.
25 Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you.
26 My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.
27 Those who are far from you will perish; you destroy all who are unfaithful to you.
28 But as for me, it is good to be near God. I have made the Sovereign Lord my refuge; I will tell of all your deeds.
This may seem like an odd topic, but I have observed that frequently our grousing on Facebook (or any public forum) breaks a cardinal principle of Scripture. One person (who shall remain anonymous) has a powerful ministry within the paranormal community...he is a godly and very experienced and competent man. However, every other month he "quits" publicly on FB, citing all kinds of issues and complaints. A day or two later, he is back on as if nothing had happened. But something HAD happened--he had dishonored God and caused people to stumble.
I chose Psalm 73 because the psalmist gives full vent to deep discouragement--he holds nothing back. In doing so, he gives us an inspired model of how to complain to God. The Lord knows our feelings--and feelings are feelings are feelings. They often come upon us unbidden, especially when we are discouraged. I have long believed that discouragement is Satan's most often used weapon in large arsenal. Face it, we DO get or feel discouraged at times--all of us. I certainly do.
Please note verse 15, "If I had said, 'I will speak thus', I would have betrayed the generation of your children." In other words, the psalmist realized that if he PUBLICLY gave full vent to how he was feeling, then he was certain to cause others to stumble. Please don't misunderstand me--we are invited to be brutally honest with the Lord regarding our struggles. And it is often encouraging to read that others struggle too...we are not alone. But, when it gets really bad, then we must exercise caution in what we say in public. Have you ever said anything on FB and later wished you hadn't?
We give the devil a royal boost when we "let it rip" in public, because the folks who read it may be scandalized, confused, or who knows what else. It seems that, for some folks, Facebook has become a public confessional of their problems and discouragement.
I wish we had the time to go through the entire psalm, but the realization that he was responsible for how his venting affected others, was a key turning point--along with a fresh perspective of the dual destinies of mankind.This is another scheme of Satan that we must avoid for the glory of God, and the welfare of others.Please think before you say something, especially in public. God bless you...
"Seeing Ghosts through God's Eyes" (also in a Kindle edition)...please consider purchasing my book which uses science, logic, and the bible to analyze the true source of power behind paranormal activity.
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