Printable version
 Email to a friend

arrow_left_short all forums
topic list

The Fight For Life Virtual Class Forum

Replies: (page   1   2   3)
Joyce 07/17/2011 22:11
Craig, thanks for sharing your heart with us here so honestly and openly. I was also happy to see others respond with scriptural references. I am more a heart person Craig and today I'm OK with that. So it is with my heart that I say these words. When I listened to this class I truly felt a peace about these teachings and believe me I don't easily accept things. So it was in prayer and for me fasting and asking God to show me if I had any of these agreements. I mean I have been walking around in my christian life just so lost and alone (by my own choices). Did God protect me absolutely-have I been able to enjoy much of what he had planned for me, no. Because I settled for just laying on a mat and when Jesus said get up I couldn't because I was too afraid. I was pinned down. So what kept me there Craig, many years of hurt and abuse and then agreements I makde that what I feel doesn't matter etc but I didn't know they were lies. I truly believed them, they became a part of my identity and so my only safe place was isolation and avoidance. As I have continued in prayer daily and asking God to show me these things He has and I have asked Jesus to come to those places where this all began and he has an I am slowly getting up and walking Craig alot of those young men you are going to be working with have made some serious agreements with the enemy about who they are as young adults ( I know because I worked with that population for 24yrs.) So in my mind this class is so timely for you also. But then again that's according to Joyce lol. I am not sure what word I could say to help you to see this but I do know that praying for you and your family has become ablessed daily habit so I will continue to do that my dear brother. respectfully with love our sister Joyce
Craig from Illinois 07/17/2011 22:13

Again... too many branches on this topical tree. Let me address one. In the context of the week 2 episode, where are these foul spirits residing when he prays for them to leave a person?

See, I was tracking with John on week 1 and part of week 2. I even began praying for a foul spirit to leave my mind in order to "hear God" like the lady was able to do in his story. Then it occurred to me... I was holding my 3 month old son in my arms while exercising a demon!!! I remember what happened when Jesus told Legion to leave and go into the heard of pigs! GASP!!! So.. I prayed over my son not to have the foul spirit that may or many not have left me go into him. What a mess!!!

I want to keep tracking with John and I'm not 100% skeptical. I believe you, Brian & Kelley, when you testify to the pervasiveness of the spirit world. Those are your experiences and I completely respect them. But could it be that I am not under these attacks like you guys are? I wish you all could hear me trying to be part of the spiritual warfare club. I kinda wish I had a story, but then again I don't. It's just that I'm not seeing, experiencing or recognizing the influences of foul spirits in my life. It's quite the opposite.







Craig from Illinois 07/17/2011 22:21
Thanks Joyce & Kelley... You comments came in while I was typing.

Joyce, I have no problem with the idea of agreements. I am challenging the idea that all agreements comes from foul spirits. You said yours came from years of hurt and abuse. Then came the agreements that YOU made. When John talks about agreements, I agree. But when he talks about foul spirits, I become skeptical.

I've thought too that this is a good class for Darci and I right now since we are going to be exposed to all kinds of issues with these boys. I am learning and 100% engaged in this class. But I also need to be 100% honest about my own experiences, upbringing, and skepticism if this class is going to be effective for me.

Thanks for all your testimonies from the heart.


Craig
Kelley 07/17/2011 22:26
I am touched by Joyces response cuz she remembers to address the PERSON and not just the issue. You are loved, Craig, and I get a kick out of you. I even confess a little discomfort over people "rebuking" demons, etc, and haven't been able to go that far. But, like Joyce mentioned, you are now heading somewhere that will make you a target. So at least go prepared for the possibility that you will be one. And as I look at your life, just from what I know of it, you have been abundantly blessed by God's favor, without a doubt. But I also know that twice in your life (that I know of) as you are making significant changes and strides toward God you have lost someone profoundly close to you. I don't KNOW that this is opposition from the enemy but I know it certainly could be. I"m not saying that to make us live in fear but only to look at how our lives have been hit, and to notice that as we move toward God something else else moves too, to isolate and discourage us, to make us back off, to distract us, derail us if possible. Like Joyce I have every intention of covering you with prayer along these lines whether or not you think you need it! because you are a precious brother and we love you.
Helga 07/17/2011 23:14
I loved the second week and I believe that we have to guard our hearts and I love how John addressed the spiritual warfare. I believe we are constantly be on our guard and we have to fight for to experience life, because only God can fill this but the devil hates us to be happy. The devil is alive and knows our weaknesses. He has patience and wants us to fail. Men and women are so vulnerable in different areas.
I just know that I pray night and day against the attacks of the enemy and I know that bad habits, agreements etc can start with "the little foxes" and when you are not alert that there is someone who wants to devour you, then you could be in trouble.
The thing which struck me was that the devil tempts you first and then you fall for the temptation and then he accuses you and you feel guilty.
God on the other side, picks you up where you are and he sees your heart and he wants to heal you wherever it hurts.

Kelley 07/17/2011 23:51
Craig and I just had a long talk on the Windfarm chat room, and it was very cool to talk all this out. Wish you all could have joined in! lol! but after that talk, it hit me that I need to really emphasize on here the GOOD news... that for all the things that have happened in pursuing the truth about agreements I have made, exposing them, going to God with them.... even if we experience opposition.... the net result is WINNING, and freedom, and joy, and exultation over long bondages broken, darkness shattered and the light streaming in. So don't be afraid to take on the topic, it's good stuff.
Brian Hardin 07/18/2011 15:26
ABSOLUTELY. This is the good news....that we have victory. I think in the context of this class that's the point however, it's called, "The Fight For Life," for a reason. We have to fight for it.
Ray 07/18/2011 17:07
Do we have the supporting scripture for the daily prayer?

John talks about different aspects of the work of Christ that he calls on in the daily prayer as means by which we can rightfully take a stand. The work of Jesus is not just the forgiveness for our sins. He lists the cross, his resurection, and ascension.

Can you add to this supporting scripture?

1. In the cross we are dead to sin and we put off the old man. The cross not only bought our forgiveness, but it disarms the enemy.

Col 2:13 When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you[d] alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, 14 having canceled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross. 15 And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.


2. In the resurection we have a new heart and a new life. We alive with Christ, we put on his life.

Rom 6:4 We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.


3. In the ascension Jesus is given all authority in heaven and earth and we share in it.

Matthew 28:18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you a
lways, to the very end of the age.”

Eph 1:22 And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, 23 which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.

Eph 2:1 As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, 2 in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. 3 All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh[a] and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. 4 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. 6 And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, 7 in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.

Thanks for you help.
rustcp 07/18/2011 21:32
So here’s my challenge with this teaching. I accept the idea there are foul spirits set against me. I accept the idea we can speak against these spirits through the Authority of Jesus. I believe Jesus came to bring us Life in abundance.

But we also live in a fallen world, where bad things happen.

I have MS.
I don’t believe I have made an agreement for this evil to enter my life. I have prayed to the Father DEEPLY for this hurt to be redeemed, put away, brought to a conclusion, etc.

I have concluded that this is with me to stay. Yes, God can work all things together for good, if not now, then when I die, etc, etc.
Yes, I recall Paul prayed three times for the thorn in his flesh to be removed, and it wasn’t, yet God used Paul mightily, etc, etc.
God loves me, and does not wish evil to occur in my life – God’s steadfast love endures forever. Put on the armour of God, Stand firm, resist the devil and he will flee, etc. etc.

The point is, there are levels of affliction and suffering. Some levels CAN be turned away by standing firm. Some apparently cannot.

What do I make of this? – that I can have Abundant Life, but only so far (until I die, of course – the irony of dying to get life).

Thanks for the rant. I am learning DAILY what each step is required to walk with God. It seems the struggle is a DAILY one, which is one reason I am thankful for DAB.
Helga 07/18/2011 23:24
rustcp when I read your story I seem to have no answers. I think of a diving accident in 1967 left Joni Eareckson Tada a quadriplegic in a wheelchair and her fight for life. I believe God does work through each one of us if we trust him and I am so aware that this is easier said then done when you have MS. That's why I believe that we have to pray for one another because we all must "fight the good fight", we all must see ourselves as an army for God. Sometimes we just not able to pray or go on in life but because someone has fought for us and interceded for us, we can go on.
(page   1   2   3)
arrow_up_short start of topic