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Stories about God moving in the lives of a handful of dudes from Cincinnati.
Deliverance Is Real!
- Steven Manuel
- Not just an ordinary fathead, Steve likes to write things and help the shepherding scene get its mojo workin'.
Helpful H&D reads
If I drive out demons by the finger of God, then you know that the Kingdom of God has come upon you.
-Luke 11:20
A couple themes that came up with my group of 3 married guys during prayer and talking were...
ReplyDelete1) Accusation of spouses, either intended or interpreted - each of us used the authority provided to us to command this spirit out of ourselves, out of our homes, out of our families...lots of "this generational spirit is no longer welcome in our family" type of prayer.
2) We realized that seemingly innocent or lighthearted teasing by family and friends about something...a name, a physical weakness or struggle is extremely damaging. It's just bitterness and hurt that burrows into our hearts and slowly rots away. We prayed about having any beliefs about ourselves from such instances (specific examples were given) to be out of our hearts and minds, to renew our minds with the truth that our holy in His sight, without blemish and free from accusation (Yes, we used the memory verse among others).
3) We prayed that we speak in a language of love, that we would receive His love, and that we would pour it out on those around us. We recognized those that we may be accusing or holding bitterness toward are not seeing God through us, not experiencing his goodness and mercy. These are people that we want to know Him, and we all felt that we are called to be a part of that. We prayed that rather than judge or accuse, we be like the father in the story of the prodigal son...that we would RUN to these people, that we would surround them with goodness, mercy and joy.
4) The meeting was in my house, and I'll say, I felt empowered by the Holy Spirit upon commanding all accusation out of my home...When my wife got home, I was excited and joyful to tell her that the spirit of accusation was no longer welcome in our home. She lit up. I reminded her of her authority, and if she sensed it, saw it, smelled it, to cast it out with her authority.
I slept quite peacefully and soundly, so much so that I was recognizing the difference and able to enjoy the freedom even in my sleep. I felt as if I was processing/thinking through this fact and basking in His gift, even though I wasn't awake yet.
bc
Great stuff Brett. I'll chime in and say that there is something to hosting group in your home. When everyone leaves you can just feel that the Spirit is still THICK in there - and it is so comforting. If you can, I propose hosting at least one meeting in each man's home and spending time cutting off ties, declaring authority, and as Steven said - speaking health and life over the place. You'll be glad you did.
ReplyDeleteps. why is there not an iphone app for this blog...
ReplyDeleteI heard of one group that uncovered some bitterness in a guy, so he prayed for person X. "God, I know X is struggling, I know she has pain of her own, etc." End of prayer.
ReplyDeleteOne of the guys in the small group said, "Um, you know you never forgave her, right?"
So they pray again. Same thing.
The other guy says, "I know this is uncomfortable, but you still never said I FORGIVE X, and I think that's the main thing you need to say..."
It got resolved, but the guy praying was amazed how hard it was to say those simple words, and I was PUMPED that guys in small groups are pushing each other to do the ugly work! Yeah!
I knew accusation was going to be a big one for me. The God I knew came from a baptist church where I very often felt like a piece, and seldom loved as a son. It hit me as I was journaling through some accusation stuff: if it's his kindness that leads us to repentence, and I don't know his kindness, how will I ever experience true repentence? Too often I have understood the voice of accusation to be the voice of God. A God who keeps score and blesses me if I read my bible but leaves me until tomorrow if I look at porn. Gross. I repented of a few things that night. A spirit of addiction that told me I'd never get over pornography and that as long as I didn't God was seperated from me. And a spirit of accusation that said only the things I do will ever get me close to experiencing God. Now I'm just going to bank everything on the premise that if I can receive Gods love and see myself as he sees me, holy in his sight, I'll experience true repentance, true joy, and true freedom.
ReplyDeleteGREG YOU ARE A MAN!!!
ReplyDeleteGoosebump city, buddy. THANK YOU for commenting. I know the rest of the class will be beneficial but, man!, how could it get better than that?
I think what you're describing is epidemic in religious circles; it certainly speaks to what I've known. The power of religion (about which, again, we'll talk later) to keep people from knowing God is amazing. In talking about God, Jesus, salvation, the cross, 'grace', etc., but distorting those things, it actually keeps us from knowing the TRUTH about those things. For instance, I was taught that grace helps us get converted, but after that, you're on your own. Act right! Sin will separate you from God! So that when I'd hear somebody teach about grace, I already had a slot in my mind for it. It was quite a miracle that God renewed my mind to think of him aright- no thanks to religion! It reminds me of this verse:
Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter. -Isaiah 5:20
It's a staggering, haunting truth you convey, Greg: if I don't know God's kindness, can I ever truly be brought to repentance? And the enemy is out to deceive people into thinking that God is NOT KIND.
He can bite it.
GREAT STUFF, GREG!!!!
I have always been a rather shy one on praying. I have still been trying to get over my Catholic upbringing, where praying only meant repeating the Our Father or Hail Mary. Needless to say, I have always felt accused when praying out load, things like “No one wants to hear your bumbling prayer”, “What are you going to say, you can’t possibly pray better than that guy who just prayed” or “If you were really closer to God or filled with the Holy Spirit you would be a good prayer”
ReplyDeleteI knew Accusation was a big one for me and even saw some generational issues in my family, so I volunteered to repent first and my team prayed over me, ordering Accusation to leave and the Holy Spirit to fill me in its place.
When it came my turn to pray for someone else in my group, I started praying my normal meek prayer like normal, but quickly something overcame me and I prayed out loud like I have never prayed before, boldly and with authority. I would like to say that words just came to me, but actually I am not sure what I really said. It was like someone else was speaking through me. This didn’t go on for long, only about 10 seconds until it stopped abruptly when my mind realized what was going on. It was an awesome and a bit scary experience. I knew I was not the only one who noticed something different for when I stopped the guys in my group said “Whoa Jeff!”
One of the things we make a point of is praying that the Holy Spirit fill us and take the place of the spirits we are casting out. It felt like this prayer was answered for me the other night. As for Accusation, he is being cast out of me, my house and my family. I have already noticed a change in the way my family relates to each other.
Jeff Holland
I appreciate this post, Jeff. Thanks for putting it out here.
ReplyDeleteIncredible, Jeff! I LOVE this story! THANK YOU for sharing this. This is EXACTLY the kind of thing I want to hear about! And BLESS YOU for letting the Holy Spirit pray his bold prayers through you! I love the kind of release and freedom you're describing here! YESSSSSSSSS.
ReplyDelete