There were some questions about a spirit of poverty during the Rejection teaching. Poverty is something that can be seen in lots of places, even among people with money, as I said. Here are some other bits I found that are worth passing along...
Ecc 5:10 Whoever loves money never has money enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with his income. This too is meaningless.
A spirit of poverty keeps us from being what God created us to be by convincing us “God is not able.”
• It keeps us from receiving our full inheritance and blessings (including being freed up in deliverance!)
• It isn’t as much not having, as being afraid you won’t have.
• It convinces us God is a “god of scarcity,” rationing his blessings. This is a lie. (Ps 37:18-19 says God will give his servants 'plenty', Philippians 4:19 says that God will supply all your needs. And check out Ps 37:25!)
• A spirit of poverty can stem from a religious spirit (unity is mentioned as a source of blessing in Psalm 133. Religion, as well as bitterness, produces disunity). God blesses unity. There is no blessing in division. And where’s there’s no blessing, there’s poverty.
• It keeps us from giving generously, and makes us selfish out of fear of not having. God does not need our money, but when we give, we experience his nature, as God is a Giver!
Sunday, May 31, 2009
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
Rejection Lecture/Small Groups
Alright dudes, lemme have it.
You just heard a big throw down on the subject of Rejection, not to mention being inspired by Gollum's self-deliverance. So, what are your insights and comments? Come and let us reason together, snoop.
You just heard a big throw down on the subject of Rejection, not to mention being inspired by Gollum's self-deliverance. So, what are your insights and comments? Come and let us reason together, snoop.
Green Vomit = Deliverance!
This, from Andrew Peters:
I recently spent some time over in India, and find the spiritual climate there “oppressive” at best, and downright “hostile” most of the time. For me, that means that any doorway the enemy has had success in attacking in my past he’ll come at full force while on the ground there.
Last time I was there I experienced some temptation around pornography (which was unexpected), and while I didn’t submit to that, I still was on my guard this latest time. What ended up happening, though, was a much more subtle attack that was just as deadly to my spirit. All week, as I went about my business, I was hearing (in my head) a lot of harsh things about my body/body image/overall health. I was constantly hearing things like “Man, you’re so ugly. You have got to lose some weight” or “Wow you look fat. You’ve really let yourself go.”
At the time I didn’t think anything of it (I hadn’t listened to Steven’s talk yet), until my final day there. I received an email that morning from a friend. Here it is...
So I sent him a note back, thanking him for the encouragement, and letting him know I felt great physically and I HATED throwing up. In that moment, though, I just said a simple prayer to God, something along the lines of “God, if I need to throw something up to get more of you, I’m up for it.”
I hit send on my email, stood up from my desk, and IMMEDIATELY started dry heaving. Violent stuff. My initial reaction was, “Of course I am...this is all totally in my head...,” but I decided to go with it and see if the Lord had something for me. I ran to the bathroom and sat down on the floor, and just kept dry heaving into the toilet. Thankfully I had some music on I like worshipping to...so there I sat, alternately dry heaving and singing. If this sounds weird to you...good. It was super weird for me.
So as I was sitting there, the following thought came to mind...”Accusation and body image.” Suddenly the Lord revealed what had been going on the whole week I was there. It was like some curtain had been pulled back. I just started repenting for all the times I’d wished I had a different body, and for agreeing with the enemy that somehow my body wasn’t good enough. I told (out loud) the spirit of accusation that he had to leave, because I was in Christ, and had the power to kick him out. I think I ended with something along the lines of “spirit of accusation, get out.” Right when I said that, I had three violent dry heaves, then a stream of green bile came out of me. Not like “Exorcist” fire hose stream, but a line that was disgusting and tasted like bile. Then it was done. I just sat there on the floor, and started crying. Suddenly I started looking at my body, and I was amazed at how beautiful it was, and how it all worked. I started thanking the Lord for my hands, and feet, and how I could walk and run and jump. I probably sat there another 20 minutes, just considering all that stuff, and how awesome the Lord had created me.
Then I stood up, and that was that. What’s funny to me (apart from green bile), is when I got back recently, I’ve had a number of people come up and say things like “Man, you look great. Really healthy. Are you losing weight?” I just smile and say thanks.
ap
PS-I listened to the accusation talk on my flight home...and felt like yelling out “Hell Yea!” after much of what was discussed...but I didn’t. Thought that’d be inappropriate.
I recently spent some time over in India, and find the spiritual climate there “oppressive” at best, and downright “hostile” most of the time. For me, that means that any doorway the enemy has had success in attacking in my past he’ll come at full force while on the ground there.
Last time I was there I experienced some temptation around pornography (which was unexpected), and while I didn’t submit to that, I still was on my guard this latest time. What ended up happening, though, was a much more subtle attack that was just as deadly to my spirit. All week, as I went about my business, I was hearing (in my head) a lot of harsh things about my body/body image/overall health. I was constantly hearing things like “Man, you’re so ugly. You have got to lose some weight” or “Wow you look fat. You’ve really let yourself go.”
At the time I didn’t think anything of it (I hadn’t listened to Steven’s talk yet), until my final day there. I received an email that morning from a friend. Here it is...
Hey dude,
I got an email from Rachel tonight... (Don't listen to the enemy right now)... Tara's prayer for you is that you will be filled with the Holy Spirit to the point of throwing up. Crazy but it feels right somehow. Anyway, we love you.
So I sent him a note back, thanking him for the encouragement, and letting him know I felt great physically and I HATED throwing up. In that moment, though, I just said a simple prayer to God, something along the lines of “God, if I need to throw something up to get more of you, I’m up for it.”
I hit send on my email, stood up from my desk, and IMMEDIATELY started dry heaving. Violent stuff. My initial reaction was, “Of course I am...this is all totally in my head...,” but I decided to go with it and see if the Lord had something for me. I ran to the bathroom and sat down on the floor, and just kept dry heaving into the toilet. Thankfully I had some music on I like worshipping to...so there I sat, alternately dry heaving and singing. If this sounds weird to you...good. It was super weird for me.
So as I was sitting there, the following thought came to mind...”Accusation and body image.” Suddenly the Lord revealed what had been going on the whole week I was there. It was like some curtain had been pulled back. I just started repenting for all the times I’d wished I had a different body, and for agreeing with the enemy that somehow my body wasn’t good enough. I told (out loud) the spirit of accusation that he had to leave, because I was in Christ, and had the power to kick him out. I think I ended with something along the lines of “spirit of accusation, get out.” Right when I said that, I had three violent dry heaves, then a stream of green bile came out of me. Not like “Exorcist” fire hose stream, but a line that was disgusting and tasted like bile. Then it was done. I just sat there on the floor, and started crying. Suddenly I started looking at my body, and I was amazed at how beautiful it was, and how it all worked. I started thanking the Lord for my hands, and feet, and how I could walk and run and jump. I probably sat there another 20 minutes, just considering all that stuff, and how awesome the Lord had created me.
Then I stood up, and that was that. What’s funny to me (apart from green bile), is when I got back recently, I’ve had a number of people come up and say things like “Man, you look great. Really healthy. Are you losing weight?” I just smile and say thanks.
ap
PS-I listened to the accusation talk on my flight home...and felt like yelling out “Hell Yea!” after much of what was discussed...but I didn’t. Thought that’d be inappropriate.
Recommended Rejection Reads
As we get into the subject of rejection, I thought I'd throw out a couple of good books on the subject. MANY of you are going to find that rejection is a huge stronghold in your life (got accusation? look for rejection.); I think we may find this to be the most common and successful dude in our group. It results in all sorts of things: abandonment issues, performance, feelings of worthlessness, drivenness, addiction, fear, bitterness... you name it, basically.
So, for those of you who're going all out, and want the graduate degree in getting clear of these shenanigans, I'm throwing out some books.
Here.
They.
Are!
Victory Over Darkness, Neil T. Anderson
Life After Rejection, Jonas Clark
God’s Remedy For Rejection, Derek Prince
So, for those of you who're going all out, and want the graduate degree in getting clear of these shenanigans, I'm throwing out some books.
Here.
They.
Are!
Victory Over Darkness, Neil T. Anderson
Life After Rejection, Jonas Clark
God’s Remedy For Rejection, Derek Prince
Friday, May 15, 2009
"Kindred" spirits
All right, let me say first that this stuff is NOT in the Bible. Purely drawing-conclusions-as-I-process-what-I'm-seeing. So dogmatism is not allowed. Basically, the scriptures are silent about this sort of thing, so I'm just reporting as an Experienced Guesser. Dig?
All right.
Dave Schuster was asking me about the subject of 'kindred' spirits the other day. We've observed, and heard from other people, too, that there's an attraction between people who house the same evil spirits. Rebellious people flock together. All the self-hatred kids at high school wear their black clothes together in the same corner of the cafeteria. All the kids who deal with the pride/insecurity cocktail hang out. Addicts find each other at parties. People who want to have sex find each other. (I always wondered why I didn't have all these opportunities for sex like other people I knew, or like you see on TV. It's because that stronghold isn't in me and, when somebody whose eaten up with fornication is on the prowl, they go looking for somebody ELSE who's eaten up with fornication. And that ain't me. I have my OWN issues...)
There's a real comfort in being around people who struggle with the same stuff-a not-healthy kind of comfort. (Now, if you're above board, and both pursuing God with all your heart, it can be really good--think of AA.) More likely, though, these folks let each other off the hook in all sorts of ways: "Well, at least you did heroin you got from somebody you can TRUST. And you didn't hurt anybody else, right?" or whatever. We're great at feeling justified in OUR sin by letting the OTHER person off the hook. Makes us feel like our stuff is okay, too. We also need people be aware of our sin who don't have struggle in that area. Like:
I was talking to a friend a couple of months ago who said, "My girlfriend and I have decided to not have sex anymore. But we still mess up. Like last weekend, I mean, we were making out and we got naked..." I yelled "WHAT!??!"
He later said, "Hey I really appreciate your reaction. Most of the people I'm around don't blink at that; they think it's weird we don't just go all the way whenever we want."
Now that guy NEEDS people like ME around- his reference point bites! So if all he does is hang around with people who're sleeping around, what do you think he's going to do when he's tempted? *I* think he's going to have sex.
So the better idea is to be aware of your strongholds and be wary of close relationships with folks who have the same issues. Just know that it's dangerous. You'll give each other "grace" that's really excused sin. Not okay, obviously...
All right.
Dave Schuster was asking me about the subject of 'kindred' spirits the other day. We've observed, and heard from other people, too, that there's an attraction between people who house the same evil spirits. Rebellious people flock together. All the self-hatred kids at high school wear their black clothes together in the same corner of the cafeteria. All the kids who deal with the pride/insecurity cocktail hang out. Addicts find each other at parties. People who want to have sex find each other. (I always wondered why I didn't have all these opportunities for sex like other people I knew, or like you see on TV. It's because that stronghold isn't in me and, when somebody whose eaten up with fornication is on the prowl, they go looking for somebody ELSE who's eaten up with fornication. And that ain't me. I have my OWN issues...)
There's a real comfort in being around people who struggle with the same stuff-a not-healthy kind of comfort. (Now, if you're above board, and both pursuing God with all your heart, it can be really good--think of AA.) More likely, though, these folks let each other off the hook in all sorts of ways: "Well, at least you did heroin you got from somebody you can TRUST. And you didn't hurt anybody else, right?" or whatever. We're great at feeling justified in OUR sin by letting the OTHER person off the hook. Makes us feel like our stuff is okay, too. We also need people be aware of our sin who don't have struggle in that area. Like:
I was talking to a friend a couple of months ago who said, "My girlfriend and I have decided to not have sex anymore. But we still mess up. Like last weekend, I mean, we were making out and we got naked..." I yelled "WHAT!??!"
He later said, "Hey I really appreciate your reaction. Most of the people I'm around don't blink at that; they think it's weird we don't just go all the way whenever we want."
Now that guy NEEDS people like ME around- his reference point bites! So if all he does is hang around with people who're sleeping around, what do you think he's going to do when he's tempted? *I* think he's going to have sex.
So the better idea is to be aware of your strongholds and be wary of close relationships with folks who have the same issues. Just know that it's dangerous. You'll give each other "grace" that's really excused sin. Not okay, obviously...
Thursday, May 14, 2009
Migraines Can Kiss My Grits.
I have suffered from migraine headaches since I was in middle school (around 5th grade). I don’t seem to have typical “oh, just turn of the lights and I’ll be okay in a few minutes” episodes. Mine are more symptomatic of a stroke – numbness in my fingertips, tongue feels swollen, side of my face gets numb, short term memory loss to top it all of (can’t remember my name, address, or form a sentence), excruciating pain and lots of nausea. I had a really good one while on a business trip in Park City, Utah. The Canyons Resort had just opened and I “lost my lunch” in one of their elevators. Was rushed to the ER, shot up with some Demerol and grabbed a the red-eye back to Cincy. Good times...
So there’s the setup. You can probably imagine after hearing that the spiritual root of migraines is Accusation (specifically, guilt over conflict), this session quickly became personal (in a good way). What I began to realize was that I could trace my many migraine episodes to unresolved conflict – either with myself or someone else. Very eager to walk out of this one. This weekend I was fortunate enough to have some conflict that wasn’t resolved quickly. Wouldn’t you know it, I began to get some numbness in my fingertips. Are you kidding me!!?? Took a couple of Advil and began looking over the cliff I was about to jump off. The conversation went something like this “you sucker, you’re about to drag your whole family (including newborn) into St. Luke’s ER...what an awesome dad, husband, and father you are.” Then it hit me...meditate on what the Lord says about me. So I went to my accusation notes and starting reading scripture over myself - Romans 8:31-35, Job 10:15, and finally the memory verse:
But now he has reconciled you by Christ's physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation— Colossians 1:22
Over and over and over and over and over and over....I kept reading this and repeating - Lord, I am not accused. I reject you, Accusation. You have no authority here. I break you off and bind you up in the name of Jesus. I am reconciled by Christ’s physical body through death and am presented holy in his sight, without blemish and I am FREE of accusation.
And what started as a migraine...was washed away.
What did I learn? Aside from how much God loves me and how he loves to keep his promises and that I can take him at this word - as I was driving to work today, James 4:7-8 kept popping up for me.
...So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come close to God, and God will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, for your loyalty is divided between God and the world.
I am not accused.
- from David Russell
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
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