As we get closer and closer to the launch of the Ring Community Church, the spiritual activity is, of course, heating up. WAY UP. This is just one story – there are many more…
I’ve been battling the same lies that he always tells me – you’re too old, you don’t belong, you’re ineffective, you’re unapproachable… all crap, but they hurt all the same. Praise God that I know them for what they are – attempts by a pissed off enemy to render his foes ineffective. Praise God that I can recognize that and dismiss them as lies.
I’ve been battling in other areas of my life as well – mostly relational stuff that hurts, too. It seems that this particular method of attack is a common one in the ministry right now, but it’s effective only so long as we focus on the lies and ourselves. Pretty intense stuff, but again, I know what it is, and therefore how to fight it. I believe most of us know this is spiritual attack – if you are involved in the Ring and are experiencing this kind of crap in your life – know what it is, and know that you are covered – by people within the Ring ministry that are fighting for you, and by The Intercessor Himself. Fight the lies and trust the Truth.
But today… man, oh, man. Does he fight dirty when he’s pissed!!!
I stayed home today – I sensed a pressing need to stay home with my Lord, to pray, to work through some of these lies and find my way through the murk back to Life. I was struggling this morning, really having a hard time praying, same as I have for the past several weeks or so. I finally went to take a nap, praying for Him to reveal Himself to me, praying for Him to speak to me or to give me a vision – to give me something to go on.
I’m still shaking my head in amazement. The enemy of God really is so audacious, and he certainly does not pull any punches.
It took me awhile to go to sleep – I just lay there, praying and singing, waiting for Him to show me what I need to see. When I finally slept, I had the most vivid dream, and it was most assuredly NOT from Him, although He allowed it. That will make sense in a minute.
I had a very vivid and profane dream. I will not go into detail, but suffice it to say that it shocked me. In that place between dreaming and consciousness, as I was realizing what I was dreaming about and understanding that it was an attack, I was brought fully awake by an audible, “F*** you.” In my bedroom! In my home! How dare he come into this place?
I knew that I would have to get angry – really angry – before I would be able to fight with any effectiveness. Well, I’m angry. No, I’m pissed. That particular little demon was bound and sent straight to HIS throne for judgment. By HIS divine nature that exists within me, by HIS authority given to me as a child of the Most High, by all the power of Heaven – by HIM and Him alone – it’s ON. Bring it.
6 comments:
The enemy is desperate and desperation will cause him to lash out anyway he thinks will hurt us and take our focus off of God. The awesome thing is that you recognized this as an attack and called on the Father. The enemy knows your Father and trembles at the mention of His name.
2 Corinthians 10:4 says "4The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds." You have the Father and His strength. It's on alright.
I spent last night on my knees as well. Not fighting for myself, but for another. And when I ran out of words, just climbed back in bed and let God hear my heart. Out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks, but its reverse for me when I'm spiritually fighting. My heart has better instincts than my tongue does.
I'm ferocious when I'm fighting for someone else....
One of the hardest parts of the Christian's battle is being able to identify the enemy. We know it's not God, even though some think that God is out to get them. And according to Eph. 6:12 we know it's not other people, even though the enemy uses some folks as tools against us.
This narrows it down to satan and his imps and God is more than a match for them as we depend on His strength.
There is one more category that is very sneaky - us. If we are not careful we can be our own worst enemy when we start believing the bad stuff satan sows into our mind and at times we even fight ourselves, much to the delight of the devil.
When we know the enemy, the fighting is simple - don't fight God, other people or even ourselves, just take out the Sword of the Spirit, give satan a whack and watch him run. Praise God for the victory!! ec
Your shield is raised high - I can sense it, Nate. Thanks for fighting along side me.
Allison - I've found that words just don't do the trick for me, either. It's a rising up of His Spirit - it's a battle in the spiritual realm. Our shared ferocity comes from Him, and He loves it when we come out swinging.
Mr Eddie - "imp" is exactly what that creature was. I didn't go into it on the original post, but it's voice was high-pitched, whiny and defeated - definitely not of this world, and perfectly stupid of it to try. All it accomplished was making me mad enough to fight... much to it's eternal dismay.
ann...your response to this attack was awesome. i'm glad you have our backs at RCC. meg was right: it's a role that only you can fill b/c it takes just the right mix of personality and spiritual gifts, (being a hard A with the enemy, for example)and it's cool to see how stuff that you thought a hinderance in the past has been redeemed and used for His glory, for His kingdom, and for His bride. thanks for fighting.
hey allison - thanks for reading, and thanks for the encouragement!
it's all for His glory - He made me the crazy, intense, passionate psycho that i am, and you're right - when that's brought under His control and used for His Kingsom - it's a beautiful thing...
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