From Rick Joyner:
Here’s a principle to consider—the Lord would usually rather us grow in faith and in wisdom than to need prophetic revelation for every thing we do. If He had to send us an angel to tell us specifically to move somewhere, it may not have had anything to do with the importance of our move as much as it did with the dullness of our hearing. If it takes another angel to get us to move from there when our time is up, it could be because we’re still dull.
If we are wise, we will guard against thinking that because He did something one way, or spoke to us in a certain way, that we can expect the same again. I think we would be much better off to understand that “He is new every morning” (see Lamentations 3:23). This does not mean that He ever changes, but that there is so much more to Him that we cannot reduce Him down to our own narrow-minded concepts. In a relationship when we become too set in our ways, it will become boring and lukewarm. Our God is so awesome that those who stay close to Him will never be bored!
Showing posts with label angels. Show all posts
Showing posts with label angels. Show all posts
Thursday, April 14, 2011
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.
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
The Fire and the Knife
Gen 22:6 HNV
(6) Avraham took the wood of the burnt offering and laid it on Yitzchak his son. He took in his hand the fire and the knife. They both went together.
In every sacrifice, there are two elements. A knife, and fire. The knife is for killing, while the fire is for transforming. This entire process is a picture of a redemption plan.
To enter the presence of a Holy God, we cannot bring our sinful flesh. The knife puts an end to the flesh, and the fire transforms it to smoke - or spirit. Remember, it's a picture. Ultimately, pictures were only a reminder to God of what He must do to restore us completely - and ultimately - He did it, through Jesus.
The problem with the angels that sinned is they have no blood to shed, nor do they have a transformation to make, for they are already God-like in that they are spirit.
Killing time is a real phenomenon. We can really waste it away. But when sacrificed to God, it is always transformed into something beautiful that we would not trade. Finances are no different. Talents are no different. Anything can be wasted. But when sacrificed to God, something beautiful always comes of it.
(6) Avraham took the wood of the burnt offering and laid it on Yitzchak his son. He took in his hand the fire and the knife. They both went together.
In every sacrifice, there are two elements. A knife, and fire. The knife is for killing, while the fire is for transforming. This entire process is a picture of a redemption plan.
To enter the presence of a Holy God, we cannot bring our sinful flesh. The knife puts an end to the flesh, and the fire transforms it to smoke - or spirit. Remember, it's a picture. Ultimately, pictures were only a reminder to God of what He must do to restore us completely - and ultimately - He did it, through Jesus.
The problem with the angels that sinned is they have no blood to shed, nor do they have a transformation to make, for they are already God-like in that they are spirit.
Killing time is a real phenomenon. We can really waste it away. But when sacrificed to God, it is always transformed into something beautiful that we would not trade. Finances are no different. Talents are no different. Anything can be wasted. But when sacrificed to God, something beautiful always comes of it.
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