By taking back these areas in your life, I am looking at this from the stance that there is something in this (these) situation that is compromising (or attacking) your spiritual security in Christ. The task is to find out what they are and shut off any access that Satan may have. This, in a sense, is a defence tactic, but is vital for you to have a strong sense of who you are in Christ, and what territory you may firmly stand on. Paul talks about this in Eph 6, ("and having done all, to stand") and seems to indicate that this is all there is to do.Ian wrote:Graeme wrote:
If you were in my shoes, Graeme, what shape would that take? For example would you fast (even if you felt you weren`t expressly told to)?Begin to take back from Satan your home, your health, your wife's health, your bus driving, and any other events that you believe are related to Satan's interference.
There are some people who believe that all humans have demons lodged in them that need delivering.* Would you, if for example you felt you had an inordinate "spirit" of fear about your circumstances, attempt self-deliverance ?
I ask because I have attempted that more than once, but strongly so on Sunday. And what was my unruly charge`s choice communication for today in the bus?: "out! no; out! no."
* eg this guy:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dJ4RugGf4JI
Here are some of the things I would pursue as you work towards this.
1. Immerse yourself in the bible stories of those who have been where you are and found victory. In our lives, 2 Chronicles 20 was a popular place to return to. From this we discovered that praise was a significant forerunner of victory. From Ephesians 6 we were reminded to "stand firm", from Psalm 24 we were encouraged to 'lift up our heads" and from 2 Kings 6 we were told to "open our eyes". This three we jokingly referred to as spiritual calisthenics. Another favourite, and from which God gave my wife and me promises in our situation was Psalm 91. All these gave us great encouragement as to our position in Christ and his sovereignty over all evil.
2. Pray. In your quiet moments with God, ask him to reveal any loopholes in your life that may allow access to Satan to breach your security in Christ. Repent as you need to. "Put off" those things that need to go, in a decisive manner, but also "put on" that which is opposite to fill the void. If fear, for example, needs to go, then ask the Lord to replace it with boldness and courage (a good early church tactic). You mentioned fasting. We never did as such, but we did do some things that indicated our desperation and concern for what was happening that we did not like. One was to meet for prayer every week on a given night to pray for the situation and all those connected or involved with it. The group of concern has been disbanded for many years now, but we, my wife and I, still have prayer every week for these people. I hope that some reading this will covenant to stand beside you in prayer as you see the strong arm of the Lord unfold. I will.
3. Let go. Some of our hardest struggles will be to let God have control of various areas of our lives. But of all the people or beings that are worthy of your trust, none will compare with God - yet we still struggle over this.
4. Remember whose side you are on. From time to time I go back and read about Joshua (end of ch 5), where God told Joshua that he was not on Joshua's team, but that Joshua was on His! A significant difference.
5. Bring every comment, made by anyone, of a spiritual nature, to the Lord for his assessment. In your last post, you mentioned
your concern for your wife, and related a comment from your bus kid right after. I say this lovingly, as it is close to your heart, but, I hope that you are not allowing the comment to influence your concern for your wife.
My prayer is that this will lead you to new levels of spiritual confidence, where you will see the presence of God at work, and where you will see the activity and influence of evil disappear.
I had a look at the video link you provided and have some concerns about what was being proposed.But I will leave that for another time.
May God bless your richly.
Graeme