The season has not been a dry season. That's what I call it when I cannot figure out what to write - a dry season. I've been focusing on my book - which I do hope to complete soon. We are also about to begin the Adullam School for Warriors, which is leading me down some different paths of thought. What does it mean to be a 'warrior' in the Kingdom?
Yes we know the verses of Ephesians 6:12 and 2 Corinthians 10:4 - the enemy we fight is spiritual. But there is something else. There is also the precept of casting stumbling blocks before others (1 Cor 8:9). I think that is a fairly easy concept: do not do anything that might create a reason for others to question God's goodness or that might lead them down a path of spiritual compromise. Where it gets difficult is when you tackle the tendency to throw stumbling blocks in front of yourself.
We do it all the time. In the battle against our own fleshly tendencies, we set ourselves up to fail - on purpose. If our battle is gluttony, why do we find ourselves at the all-you-can-eat restaurant? If the war is against lust, how is it that we have every adult cable channel available in our cable subscription? For some, the conflict is against isolation - and yet every effort is made to remain alone.
What can you war against today? It probably isn't against the principality controlling hurricane Irene, or the dark forces embedded in government positions. Most-likely, it's the demonic tendencies we embrace that keep us feeling powerless, weak, and condemned. Battle these, first. When they are beaten, then we look for a bigger giant.
Showing posts with label spiritual warfare. Show all posts
Showing posts with label spiritual warfare. Show all posts
Monday, August 29, 2011
Monday, May 16, 2011
Revolution
This word was given by Napoleon Dezaldivar on November 14, 2007.
My favorite word...
Revolution
Just stop and feel the heat on that word for a second.
You are part of a revolution. A revolution that causes disruption. And you guys are the great disrupters :).
There is an explosion that is happening in the earth to where small hidden community churches are seeing healings, signs, and wonders come to life. Diseases are confronted and eliminated.
There is a revolution that is to lead a a reformation. There is to be a reordering of things that comes as a result from this revolution.
Do you want a revolution?
To have a revolution, you have to be willing to overthrow a government. You have to be willing to overthrow a social order. One that has become normal and comfortable, and established.
The goal is that we lead to a reformation. There is not an elimination of an institution but a reordering, a restructuring of what we have known as church and what we have known about Christianity. The whole point is to see daily life in the church become different. Change must come. We can't just dress up our everyday cows(its more than just changing our brochures and re-doing our buildings).
Men and women must come into their destiny in Jesus.
We need radical, cultural experiences. Everyone must be free, from adults to babies.
Everyone must be empowered. The freedom of heaven's government must be employed in the workplace and marketplace. We don't have control over people, we don't need control over people.
If we preach power, freedom, joy, and life and don't provide it, then we just sound ridiculous.
Our relationship with the Lord is more than just praying a prayer and "working out our salvation." Jesus said, "it is finished!" We now have instant access to the kingdom of heaven. Our relationship is now restored to now where we can approach the throne of grace and mercy.
God's will is not for us to provide good arguments in defense of the Word, but to live a life of freedom in this world. Practice the presence of God where ever you are at and you will bring freedom into the environment.
Freedom, Love, and Power works everywhere.
revolution, reformation, freedom
-napo
My favorite word...
Revolution
Just stop and feel the heat on that word for a second.
You are part of a revolution. A revolution that causes disruption. And you guys are the great disrupters :).
There is an explosion that is happening in the earth to where small hidden community churches are seeing healings, signs, and wonders come to life. Diseases are confronted and eliminated.
There is a revolution that is to lead a a reformation. There is to be a reordering of things that comes as a result from this revolution.
Do you want a revolution?
To have a revolution, you have to be willing to overthrow a government. You have to be willing to overthrow a social order. One that has become normal and comfortable, and established.
The goal is that we lead to a reformation. There is not an elimination of an institution but a reordering, a restructuring of what we have known as church and what we have known about Christianity. The whole point is to see daily life in the church become different. Change must come. We can't just dress up our everyday cows(its more than just changing our brochures and re-doing our buildings).
Men and women must come into their destiny in Jesus.
We need radical, cultural experiences. Everyone must be free, from adults to babies.
Everyone must be empowered. The freedom of heaven's government must be employed in the workplace and marketplace. We don't have control over people, we don't need control over people.
If we preach power, freedom, joy, and life and don't provide it, then we just sound ridiculous.
Our relationship with the Lord is more than just praying a prayer and "working out our salvation." Jesus said, "it is finished!" We now have instant access to the kingdom of heaven. Our relationship is now restored to now where we can approach the throne of grace and mercy.
God's will is not for us to provide good arguments in defense of the Word, but to live a life of freedom in this world. Practice the presence of God where ever you are at and you will bring freedom into the environment.
Freedom, Love, and Power works everywhere.
revolution, reformation, freedom
-napo
Monday, January 17, 2011
It's Time
Most of us have heard of spiritual strongholds. As our pastor explained, a stronghold is a house built with thoughts which becomes a place we dwell in and protect because we deem it safe, whether it is or not.
Strongholds can serve a purpose when we are lost. Often they are built out of a need for self-preservation. For instance, a stronghold of anger may be built when a child is raised in an abusive home - where being berated is the status quo. If not for the stronghold of anger, a different stronghold might be built - one of self pity or even self destruction. Yes, a stronghold can lead to destruction. But then, by the grace of God, we come to know Jesus. We discover that our old house of jealousy, unforgiveness, anger, pride, selfishness, or guilt can no longer contain our new family member. He simply keeps rattling our timbers and destroying our precious artifacts.
For those that know Him, it's time to tear down the strongholds and to dwell in the bigger house - His house.
2Co 10:4-5 MKJV
(4) For the weapons of our warfare are not fleshly, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds,
(5) pulling down imaginations and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought into the obedience of Christ
Strongholds can serve a purpose when we are lost. Often they are built out of a need for self-preservation. For instance, a stronghold of anger may be built when a child is raised in an abusive home - where being berated is the status quo. If not for the stronghold of anger, a different stronghold might be built - one of self pity or even self destruction. Yes, a stronghold can lead to destruction. But then, by the grace of God, we come to know Jesus. We discover that our old house of jealousy, unforgiveness, anger, pride, selfishness, or guilt can no longer contain our new family member. He simply keeps rattling our timbers and destroying our precious artifacts.
For those that know Him, it's time to tear down the strongholds and to dwell in the bigger house - His house.
2Co 10:4-5 MKJV
(4) For the weapons of our warfare are not fleshly, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds,
(5) pulling down imaginations and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought into the obedience of Christ
Monday, August 16, 2010
Opening A Scary Door
It has been in my spirit, lately, to comment on some traps that are very easy to fall into. The last post was about self-promotion. Today let us consider criticism. When someone has fallen, it's incredibly easy to criticize them or demean them in some way.
Paul wrote:
1Co 10:12 MKJV
(12) So let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall.
The insinuation is that it's our natural inclination to judge in this way - which is typically 'not' out of love. We assume that we are strong enough or wise enough to overcome that particular spiritual attack when in many instances we have earned no credentials to justify such a claim. The result is that we open a door to be tempted by the same spirit by which our comrade fell. It's then that we find out that withstanding that kind of attack is not as easy as we thought.
I'm not implying that constructive criticism does not have a place. Within the body of Christ, however, all should be done out of love with restoration in mind.
Paul wrote:
1Co 10:12 MKJV
(12) So let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall.
The insinuation is that it's our natural inclination to judge in this way - which is typically 'not' out of love. We assume that we are strong enough or wise enough to overcome that particular spiritual attack when in many instances we have earned no credentials to justify such a claim. The result is that we open a door to be tempted by the same spirit by which our comrade fell. It's then that we find out that withstanding that kind of attack is not as easy as we thought.
I'm not implying that constructive criticism does not have a place. Within the body of Christ, however, all should be done out of love with restoration in mind.
Friday, August 06, 2010
A Generation Without Fear
Many people do not mind war as long as it's not on their own doorstep. This applies to spiritual warfare, too. With greater anointing comes greater attacks. God is looking for a people who do not care when or where the enemy comes. They don't fear. They simply take care of business.
Remember, the key to dealing with the enemy is realizing that he is already a defeated foe. All he does is done out of desperation. Do not make him bigger than he is. If you are a spirit-filled Christian, there is no power greater than the power within you. The sword of the Spirit is the Word of God. We all can wield this. The enemy is yet to find a defense against it.
The final generation - the Elijah generation that sees in the return of Jesus - is a generation that calls fire down, destroys the flesh, and all in the 400-fold presence of the enemy. Fear will not prevail over them.
Remember, the key to dealing with the enemy is realizing that he is already a defeated foe. All he does is done out of desperation. Do not make him bigger than he is. If you are a spirit-filled Christian, there is no power greater than the power within you. The sword of the Spirit is the Word of God. We all can wield this. The enemy is yet to find a defense against it.
The final generation - the Elijah generation that sees in the return of Jesus - is a generation that calls fire down, destroys the flesh, and all in the 400-fold presence of the enemy. Fear will not prevail over them.
Thursday, June 24, 2010
Why Do Spirits War?
Dan 10:12-13 MKJV
(12) Then he said to me, Do not fear, Daniel; for from the first day that you set your heart to understand and to chasten yourself before your God, your words were heard. And I have come for your words.
(13) But the ruler of the kingdom of Persia withstood me twenty-one days. But lo, Michael, one of the chief rulers, came to help me; and I remained there with the kings of Persia.
We often use the term 'spiritual warfare', especially as it pertains to spiritual attacks upon us in the physical. However, there is a spiritual war going on in the heavens at all times which can consist of large scale conflict (Rev 12:7) to small battles for spiritual supremacy. When we consider spiritual warfare, the question arises, why do spirits war? What do eternal beings have to gain by warring? I've alluded to the answer already - spiritual supremacy - over certain people, lands, or movements.
In Daniel's dialog with Gabriel, one of God's messengers, we learn a lot about spiritual warfare. First of all, Daniel's prayer had been heard from day one, but his answer was 'spiritually delayed', for nearly 3 weeks. This should give us some insight into our prayer life. Nothing can hinder your prayer to God, but depending on how God chooses to answer you - the answer might be delayed by warfare.
Spirits in high places - principalities (Eph 6:12) - are spirits that maintain a hierarchical position. They do not wish to give up their positions any more than you care to step down the ladder at your job. In the case of Daniel, Gabriel was detained by the Prince of Persia, a prince-demonic spirit that led the nation of Persia against Babylon. Michael is referred to as a 'chief ruler' and is also identified as the 'Prince of Israel' in Daniel 10:21.
These clues lead us to believe that every dominant nation on earth is somehow ruled or otherwise controlled by a ruling spirit, either of God or not. What happened to the Prince of Persia? Certainly it was not destroyed - as spirits cannot be killed. But the seat in which he sits can be removed, as Persia eventually was overtaken by the Prince of Greece (Dan 10:20) and the Persian Empire dwindled to nothing for an age while Greece rose to power.
Once again, though, the Persian - or Iranian - empire is a world force for evil. The ruling spirit has fought back to his seat of power over the last 2000 years. The Prince of Greece is nowhere to be seen. Michael the Archangel, the protector of Israel, is still the chief ruler by heaven's decree, and Israel is 'still' not to be trifled with. It should also be mentioned that the enemy is notoriously unable to be unified in anything. The ruler of Persia was overcome by the ruler of Greece - both evil. Hamas hates the Palestinian Authority. The Shiite belief system abhors the Sunni belief system. One sect hates another. Even though the enemy can unite long enough to attack, he cannot sustain long-term unity. The scripture says that the final world empire will be one of 'iron and clay', two substances that cannot combine to create any 'real' strength. This is the character of our enemy.
On a smaller level, demonic forces desire to rule over areas of our lives. Truly, without a physical body to do the work of the enemy, the enemy can whine and complain at best. It's when a person yields to the will of the enemy in their lives that we see the horrific results; the Fox News headlines.
(12) Then he said to me, Do not fear, Daniel; for from the first day that you set your heart to understand and to chasten yourself before your God, your words were heard. And I have come for your words.
(13) But the ruler of the kingdom of Persia withstood me twenty-one days. But lo, Michael, one of the chief rulers, came to help me; and I remained there with the kings of Persia.
We often use the term 'spiritual warfare', especially as it pertains to spiritual attacks upon us in the physical. However, there is a spiritual war going on in the heavens at all times which can consist of large scale conflict (Rev 12:7) to small battles for spiritual supremacy. When we consider spiritual warfare, the question arises, why do spirits war? What do eternal beings have to gain by warring? I've alluded to the answer already - spiritual supremacy - over certain people, lands, or movements.
In Daniel's dialog with Gabriel, one of God's messengers, we learn a lot about spiritual warfare. First of all, Daniel's prayer had been heard from day one, but his answer was 'spiritually delayed', for nearly 3 weeks. This should give us some insight into our prayer life. Nothing can hinder your prayer to God, but depending on how God chooses to answer you - the answer might be delayed by warfare.
Spirits in high places - principalities (Eph 6:12) - are spirits that maintain a hierarchical position. They do not wish to give up their positions any more than you care to step down the ladder at your job. In the case of Daniel, Gabriel was detained by the Prince of Persia, a prince-demonic spirit that led the nation of Persia against Babylon. Michael is referred to as a 'chief ruler' and is also identified as the 'Prince of Israel' in Daniel 10:21.
These clues lead us to believe that every dominant nation on earth is somehow ruled or otherwise controlled by a ruling spirit, either of God or not. What happened to the Prince of Persia? Certainly it was not destroyed - as spirits cannot be killed. But the seat in which he sits can be removed, as Persia eventually was overtaken by the Prince of Greece (Dan 10:20) and the Persian Empire dwindled to nothing for an age while Greece rose to power.
Once again, though, the Persian - or Iranian - empire is a world force for evil. The ruling spirit has fought back to his seat of power over the last 2000 years. The Prince of Greece is nowhere to be seen. Michael the Archangel, the protector of Israel, is still the chief ruler by heaven's decree, and Israel is 'still' not to be trifled with. It should also be mentioned that the enemy is notoriously unable to be unified in anything. The ruler of Persia was overcome by the ruler of Greece - both evil. Hamas hates the Palestinian Authority. The Shiite belief system abhors the Sunni belief system. One sect hates another. Even though the enemy can unite long enough to attack, he cannot sustain long-term unity. The scripture says that the final world empire will be one of 'iron and clay', two substances that cannot combine to create any 'real' strength. This is the character of our enemy.
On a smaller level, demonic forces desire to rule over areas of our lives. Truly, without a physical body to do the work of the enemy, the enemy can whine and complain at best. It's when a person yields to the will of the enemy in their lives that we see the horrific results; the Fox News headlines.
Friday, June 18, 2010
When Your Father Asks "What's Wrong?"
So many times, the simple question, "What's Wrong?" is rhetorical. When my own child is crying, most of the time I already know why. Sometimes I just witnessed the crash landing, or the ill treatment from sis, or the fright from the cat. So when the tears start, I pick her up and ask "What's wrong?".
The question is really meant to start a self-examination; inventory, if you will. Do you ever sense that from God? There are times I find myself really struggling through a day or a week... or a month (*sighs*) but I hear a small voice that says, "What's wrong?". That really helps me! Because after I do the inventory, I realize that truthfully, most everything is okay. Yes, things have been rough but they're getting better. Yes, I've been feeling bad but I'm feeling better.
A good friend of mine left me a voice mail today. He and I have not chatted directly in at least a few weeks, but since we are spiritually connected, we've sensed each others' struggles. He said this: all that stuff you've been going through... it's just stuff!
Yes! It is! It's just stuff! The enemy is trying to cloud us up so that we can't see God move, but it's just stuff! It's the best the enemy can do. Applaud. So what's wrong?
The question is really meant to start a self-examination; inventory, if you will. Do you ever sense that from God? There are times I find myself really struggling through a day or a week... or a month (*sighs*) but I hear a small voice that says, "What's wrong?". That really helps me! Because after I do the inventory, I realize that truthfully, most everything is okay. Yes, things have been rough but they're getting better. Yes, I've been feeling bad but I'm feeling better.
A good friend of mine left me a voice mail today. He and I have not chatted directly in at least a few weeks, but since we are spiritually connected, we've sensed each others' struggles. He said this: all that stuff you've been going through... it's just stuff!
Yes! It is! It's just stuff! The enemy is trying to cloud us up so that we can't see God move, but it's just stuff! It's the best the enemy can do. Applaud. So what's wrong?
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