How did you guys react to the Accusation lecture? If you have questions or comments, please speak up!
A couple of extra bits for you:
1) Adam asked for the passages that I read over you guys during the worship time. They are:
Micah 7:18-19 Who is a God like unto thee, that pardons iniquity, and passes by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage? He retains not his anger for ever, because he delights in mercy. He will turn again, he will have compassion upon us; he will subdue our iniquities; and thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea.
Joel 2:13 Don't tear your clothing in your grief; instead, tear your hearts." Return to the Lord your God, for he is gracious and merciful. He is not easily angered. He is filled with kindness and is eager not to punish you.
Isaiah 43:25 I, even I, am he that blots out your transgressions for my own sake, and will not remember your sins.
Isaiah 54: 17 “No weapon formed against you shall prosper, and every tongue which rises against you in judgment you shall condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is from Me,” says the LORD.
Psalm 31:20
In the shelter of your presence you hide them from the intrigues of men; in your dwelling you keep them safe from accusing tongues.
James 1:5
If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.
Psalm 25 (that was the shame and rescue psalm)
2) David Russell said it struck him when I mentioned diabetes (and that it commonly has a specific root of rejection by a prominent male), that this disease is rampant among the black community (which, interestingly, has absent fathers to epidemic proportions). If we look at specific races, we can see there are diseases which attack them uniquely, based on the spiritual roots of that culture/people group. The same is true of nations: specific diseases attack specific nations, and you can look at statistics and know how to pray for different parts of the world. Why is cancer so prevalent in the United States? Why are we the most obese nation on earth? Why is HIV (which is rooted in rejection) so rampant in Africa? Etc.
3) I wanted to share with everybody a great website I was turned onto by Sara Argenta that has helped me as I prepared for the accusation lecture and I plan on continuing to refer to it. It talks about all sorts of deliverance-type issues, and does a nice job of breaking the whole thing up into bite-sized articles. The anti-self bondages. Guilt and shame from sexual sin. Is God upset with me? Like I said, I really this guy and, for those of you who're interested in further study, it's a great resource. I've added it to the recommends on the right, but it's called Greatbiblestudy.com (a pretty bold url, but I'm gonna let it slide).
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As I try to take over this blog with comments, I will comment, again.
ReplyDeleteAccusation struck me as a topic that was especially hard to swallow for me because I was realizing how when I have agreed with it, I have really hurt people and probably in doing so have heaped on stuff that takes them away from the LORD. I repent and know I'm forgiven, but either way, that's a tough pill to swallow and has been the hardest thus far for me.
ON THE FLIP SIDE, the reward has been the greatest because the FLIP SLIP (read, good side!) is FULLY UNDERSTANDING HOW MUCH THE LORD LOVES ME, FOREVER. How He views me so lovingly as His son. How He is so patient and so forgiving and so perfectly loves me that THE LORD OF ALL THE UNIVERSE, THE LORD WHO BREATHED AND CREATED THIS PLACE, THE LORD THAT IS THE BEGINNING AND THE END, CLAIMS ME, WITHOUT QUESTION MERIT OR SMALL PRINT DISCLAIMERS, AS HIS SON. AND I CAN'T SCREW THAT UP because He has ordained I can't.
HALLELUJA!!! That is a Savior, worthy of worship, worthy of all praise.
Adam Elrod is a BEAST!! The enemy can NOT stop him, they can't even contain him.
ReplyDeleteSing it, Dance it, Live it, Love It.
Um, I think Adam gets it.
ReplyDeleteAdam, you can't over-comment. I hereby grant you Endless Commenting Powers.
The Thursday night after Forgiveness I lay in bed going through my list. Then I came across one of my spiritual mentors who in all sincerity tried to set me straight about the healing hand of God. He told me that I am needy and claiming to heal people or being used as a vessel of God's healing was simply a way to get attention. I accepted that from him and received Guilt and Shame because of it. Even over a year later when Steven shared the healing of a man in San Diego through prayer, I hung my head in shame when he point in my direction.
ReplyDeleteThat Thursday night I began to forgive him. As I did and God revealed more to me that his statements were more about him than me I felt this glow. It was in the top of my belly. I've felt this before and am always bummed on how short it stays (sometimes only seconds). But not tonight, it was warm and glowing for more than an hour. It lasted until I slept.
Fast forward until this past Wednesday morning after our small group had met. I felt like I had received tremendous refreshment. I was purely content. On my way to work I prayed that I become fascinated with forgiveness. The glow returned, I held my head higher... then it started... I heard something from the inside. It told me I could become paralyzed if I forgive too much... that I would become a push over... I would be walked all over... moderation is the key to all things. The glow faded because I received it.
I feel sickened sharing this story to the world … l hear that I am a freak… a reject… and God is going to be ticked with you for sharing this.
I believe Accusation has been a huge factor in my life. It's been in the foreground of my mind for years. I have carried Guilt and Shame with me under the guise of truth twisted by fear, judgment and lies. These three became so bold and brazen that even upon witnessing the finger of God, I found myself walled off in loneliness, self doubt and worthlessness.
When I came home last night and I went to bed, I recalled how uncomfortable I was while encouraging someone that evening. The accusations continued... as I lay next to my sleeping wife I was tempted to self gratify. Images started to fly at me... some from college... high school... movies I’d seen… fantasies I had invented. They were coming at me quickly and furiously. I prayed... quoted scripture... amidst the onslaught the only one I could remember at first was "He wept". I repeated that until Psalm 37:4 others followed. 4 hours later when I fell asleep, I rested in victory. I woke remarkable refreshed on less than 4 hours of sleep (normally I need 10). I confessed to my wife this day that I had the urges and images. She forgave me.
I don't want to surrender the victory that has been won for me and that includes me.
Brother Jesus - You say that with enough faith even a mountain will take a jump in a lake. Last night, together we showed those mountains. I repent of sins of my imagination and the desire of my skin. Accusation, Guilt and Shame, you are all lower case to me. Micah 7:19 says “You will again have compassion on us; you will tread our sins underfoot and hurl all our iniquities into the depths of the sea.” Splash! Under the authority of my Lord and Savior I do not agree with you any longer nor do you have a place to call home within my skin. Spirit of God, come into the empty spaces. Make yourself at home. For each of you together, the Father, Son and Holy Spirit are my strong tower.
This post is not for show of what I have done... but solely in declaration of what Jesus Christ has done and continues to do for me.
His,
Dave Shay
Wow! Thanks so much for sharing Dave. What a beautiful story of Jesus in you!
ReplyDeleteUN- BE- LEEV- A- BULL!!!
ReplyDeleteYESSSS Davey Shay!! THAT's the fighting spirit, my man! THANK YOU for outing all this stuff- you are not a freak! No indeed! You're the real deal, and I know that getting your story out is not only freeing to other men, it's release for you too. GOOD JOB, brother.
Ps- If the LORD judges your motives for why you pray for people, so be it. But forgive whoever said that. In my experience, you pray for healing because you have faith and believe, and it's a beautiful thing. I want you at my side as a prayer machine Dave!
That is awesome Dave. Way to exhibit strength & courage through humility & vulnerability.
ReplyDeleteLove the part about remembering "He wept" and then building yourself up. How many times have I had brain lock when I know scripture is the answer...um, a lot.
For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, love and self-discipline. (2Tim 1:7). Way to let all of them shine through. Well done.
Lord, give me some of the courage and willingness to fight the flesh that you've given to Dave. Amen.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing, Dave.
I woke up this morning to the song “You’re nothing bit a hound dog” playing in my head. I be-bopped for a couple of minutes and then deep inside… from the recesses of my heart I heard, “I don’t receive that.” Guess what. The music stopped and replaced by silence. I didn't even know I was being accused.
ReplyDeleteWhile I was on my way in this morning I was praying over Col 1:22. Something struck me. The verse ends "d FREE FROM ACCUSATION." What is powerful here to me is that we are FREE from accusation. It doesn't say - the accusations are gone like the blemishes or never uttered again.
You see when Jesus says good-bye to His friends at the last supper he says, "My peace I give you, my peace I leave you." He doesn't say, "I am taking away all conflict and leaving peace."
Which is better: to have peace at the end of a conflict... or to have peace amidst the battle so as you can focus and process what is important for victory?
Which is better: to stand at the water cooler with the guys not feeling tempted by lust or sitting out on Fountain Square at lunch time on a 80 degree day and not being tempted to follow every skirt that passes by?
I would say the later in both questions is better. We are Free from the stickiness of accusation. We no longer have to receive it. Jesus gives us the opportunity not to absorb it despite it being there. Maybe these aren't the best words to describe this; but freedom is ours my friends.
This morning I felt like one of William Wallace’s raiders, naked and well armed for the fight.
Great stuff Dave.
ReplyDeleteI would encourage everyone to repent of song lyrics, movie lines (we're guys, it's what we do) and other "covert" pop culture ways the enemy has had us agree with things that are simply NOT TRUE about us.
You know what God, I'm NOT a gangsta, a player, a heart breaker, a trouble maker, etc. I am YOUR son, made in YOUR image.
Additionally, I started a list of some "labels" I've received from friends, bosses, personality tests, family, job titles, from myself and other places where these things are stuck to us.
Some are obviously bad/unflattering (Weird, Lazy, Follower, ADD) and some seem simple enough on the surface, even complements (Creative, Introvert, Funny) but can be just as damaging. They can limit us. My small group will get to hear the extended remix list next week.
The introvert thing has been bubbling to the surface these last two days. I've taken the personality test in pre-marriage counseling to prove it. I prefer to be alone...even being in our classroom can get me a bit antsy.
Oh jeez, it's just being around people, but why should I feel uneasy being around a bunch of men that want to know God better, learn how to gain freedom from life-long strongholds? To quote the church lady, could it be.......satan?
Yes, Jesus would go off on his own to connect with the Father, but he spent so much time around people...teaching, healing, no doubt laughing and definitely loving. My goal is to be more like Him, to have the Holy Spirit in me, so I can teach, heal, laugh and love all that the Father puts in my path.
REPENT ALERT, REPENT ALERT. No, I am NOT an Introvert. I am who YOU say I am, not Myers, not Briggs.
I ran into a friend that pointed out some of these labels/characteristics that may be accurate at one time (ie. introverted) could just reflect a season of our life. Maybe I'm supposed to bust out, be a gregarious Jesus-loving life of the party...maybe not. I'll let God tell me this, not the enemy.
Final thought...
Remember...there's the obvious danger has detailed by Peter...Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings (1Pet 5:8-9)
But also, there is the subtle, secret agent tactic. "And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light." (2Cor 11:14)
Lions...obviously dangerous...angels of light...a little more difficult to detect.
That's why Ephesians 6:10-18 is so important and essential during this journey and beyond.
Peace to you all,
The Gregarious Brett Cassidy
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ReplyDeleteB-E-A-U-teeeeeeeeee-ful. Brett that is pure refreshment.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Brett.
ReplyDeleteThat was helpful.