Monday 21 February 2011

The Battle Within, The Battle Without

Healing: The Battle Within
"For every time Satan overcomes a saint, it gives him ferocity for another attack; but when he is subdued, he will come to the place where defeat is written against him" Smith Wigglesworth on the Holy Spirit chapter 11 'Christ In Us' page 252
Now, have you ever found yourself in the same place of defeat? Like history repeating itself? Only this time it feels even more hopeless? And the heat of the battle within feels even more ferocious? James says in chapter 4 verse 5 that the spirit of God fights for our spirit. In other words God won't let up on possessing the whole of you and neither will satan. What stands in between is our rebellious nature. So stop rebelling! Cooperate instead! What does that mean? Submit entirely! SUBMIT, 'get low' as our spiritual fathers called it. Get low and die. We often have difficulty dying to ourselves. This process gets more difficult as time goes on, if we choose rebellion. This is because, when we first come to Christ, He let's His grace cover us for a period. We try to get comfortable. And I am talking about those parts of us that need healing and wholeness too! Eventually though, the battle for that part of you really heats up and you begin to weaken! You just can't stay in that comfy place anymore! Why even though you are totally worn out do you continue to rebel?!?! Just let God have his way!
Maybe we are hurting so bad somewhere that we believe that if we let God touch us there we will be overcome with pain. Maybe somewhere deep inside we have a deep sense of shame that needs His healing touch?
Maybe you are just being plain rebellious and you need to listen to your Christian friends and family and let them help you get straightened out. Submit to your closest Christian friends? Sometimes that's the best sign that we are in rebellion, when we just won't listen to those christians, closest to us, anymore!
If you think you need God's healing touch and no amount of counselling or medical help seems to have helped. Can I encourage to get with gifted Christians who can lovingly minister healing to you through laying on of hands and anointing with oil? Submit yourself to this and God will always, very gently, touch and heal you
Proverbs 17:17 "A friend loves at all times and a brother is born for adversity" We know who these friends are, so seek their help, either in challenging and correcting you and/or ministering healing to you!
The kingdom of God within us suffers violence Matt 11:12 We, however, have one within us who is greater than the one without, 1 John 4:4. That is, the power of God within us, through His Holy Spirit, is greater than the power of satan outside of us.
If we are to fight in battles with and for God in this world, we must first conquer within! So I pray today that you yield! Yield to Him and let Him do His work within - healing, transformation, joy and peace will be yours. Then you will be ready to fight for Him in battles to defeat the enemy in any situation where healing and salvation is needed ie the battle without!
And I want, more than anything to be in that battle and have done with the 'battle within'! Is that you prayer today? Or is your prayer, 'please make all things comfortable again' ? A soldier in today's army cannot be on leave the whole time, and neither can a soldier in God's army! So let's all resolve to get sorted with God and get out there! And get in the heat of the battle!

Friday 4 February 2011

Stop Messin, Get Serious

Let's not mess with God! The 'take it or leave it' attitude ! is no good any more! He has brought us to our knees or circumstances brought us to our knees and God wants us to stay there, facing him, and submitting to the work he wants to do in our lives - eg transform us, heal us emotionally/physically, release us from anxiety and fear. If we submit we will find he is a giver of peace, joy, and fullness of life!

9 Hit bottom, and cry your eyes out. The fun and games are over. Get serious, really serious.10 Get down on your knees before the Master; it’s the only way you’ll get on your feet. James 4:9-10

James 4:10
When you bow down to the Lord and admit your dependence on Him, He will lift you up and give you honor. <>

So stop messin and get serious!
Andy

Sorry about the hard hitting message - needed sometimes though don't you think?

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