Mark Geppert's book - "The Attack Lambs" is one of the most awesome books I have ever read. Here is my favourite excerpt from chapter 4 which is aptly called "Neutralize the enemy".
Mark had been a missionary to Guatemala in the early days of his ministry. At this time - in 1976 - God used an earthquake to open the doors for evangelical outreach into the country.
God had given Mark a burden for small villages in "marginal" areas. He would walk between villages distributing Spanish Bibles. He found huge success in reaching the villagers with the Word of God, until the enemy threw up a challenge. He visited with a co-worker - Gilbert Dilley - in the town of San Jose del Golfo, where they were met by a local elder, Lazuro Ochoa Catalan, and two policemen. One of the policemen was a new brother in the church, and he delivered the news that Mark and Gilbert would not be travelling out to the villages as there was a very important meeting they had to attend. Here is the rest of the story in Mark's words ...
San Jose is the municipal centre of goverment for about thirty small villages extending from the Atlantic Coast Highway to the Motagua River just fifteen miles east of Guatemala City. The Lord had given us small groups in each of the villages and a church in San Jose. Our influence was building in the area and had caught the attention of the government.
As we entered the large meeting room of the town hall, I recognized most of the men. The mayor of San Jose was there as well as the sub-mayors who presided over each community where I had been distributing Bibles. They were easily distinguished by their hats and official sticks.
The mayor greeted me and thanked me for being there. He wanted to know who Gilbert was and said that Lazuro did not have to stay but could if he wanted to. Two of the closest friends I will ever know, both men said they would be glad to stay.
The mayor explained that this was a special and very important meeting because these men wanted me to declare my intention in their communities. When I asked him exactly how important, he said it would be the most important meeting I would probably ever attend.
Calling the meeting to order, the mayor had each man stand in front of a chair all of which formed a circle. He explained to the men who I was, although most of them knew me. He took great pains to formally introduce Gilbert and Lazuro and expressed their desire to remain. He explained my Spanish was fine so there was no need for translation. I would understand their questions and could answer quite well.
While all this was going on I was in the Spirit quietly asking God to neutralize the power of the enemy arrayed against us so His work could go on to bear fruit. When the mayor suggested we start with questions, I immediately jumped in with what the Lord had given me, not knowing where it would lead or even what the next step would be.
"I realize that this is a very important meeting and I want to express my appreciation for your coming all the way to be here. May I suggest, since this is such an important meeting, we follow a custom which we have in my country for such occassions."
They thought that was a good idea and so I explained to them, "In meetings of this importance in my country, we always start with prayer."
They looked at each other and again at me. They were not men of prayer.
"Since this is such an important meeting," I continued to cover their hesitation, "it is important the prayer be done properly. Just custom you understand."
They were getting a little upset with the length of time this was taking, but they were going along with it, just to be customarily correct.
"Now in prayers like this it is customary for us as men to pray with our hats off."
They looked to the mayor who, with a condescending shrug, removed his hat. They too removed their hats and looked around at each other. I cannot recall another meeting in Latin America in which all men had their hats off.
Now I was nervous, but I continued as the Lord gave me instructions.
"Since this is such an important meeting, and we surely want it to go well, perhaps we should follow custom another step."
The mayor was not smiling when his eye caught mine. I had pushed this about as far as I was going to be able.
" Perhaps," I suggested, "we should join hands to pray."
Latin men do not stand around with their hats off holding hands. They looked to the mayor and then to me; you could see the fire in their eyes. I took the hands of Gilbert and Lazuro and they in turn reached out for the others. The men placed their hats and sticks on the chairs behind them and took hands. A nervous laughter went through the place.
Now, feeling very hung out there by the Lord, I said, "I know that many of you are not used to praying and since this has to be right, may I suggest I lead you in prayer and you all repeat the prayer after me."
Somewhat relieved, they were quick to agree.
"Lord Jesus," I began, and they followed. "Forgive me of my sins. Come into my life as my personal Saviour and Lord. Give me the power to be a good man and a good leader for my people, in Jesus name."
When they said "in Jesus name," the earth literally shook! There was an earthquake. The place shook violently from side to side as well as up and down. I was scared to death. Holding Gilbert and Lazuro's hands tightly, I did not open my eyes.
The quake measured 6.5 we found out later. The mayors ran from the building as they were afraid the terra cotta tiles would come crashing down through the wooden rafters and crush our skulls. Taking no thought for important hats or sticks, they dashed from the building.
Now, when a tremor stops, there is complete silence. Dogs do not bark, birds do not chirp, all creation stands still waiting to see if it is going to happen again. As the dust cleared around us, we three stood petrified by the impact of what had happened!
One by one the men re-entered the room, found their hats and sticks, nodded to us and went off to find out the condition of their village. Finally, the head mayor came back in. He put on his hat and, drawing himself to full stature, he said, " I do not know how you did that; but I am authorized to tell you that whatever you need in any of these villages, you have only to ask the man who was in this room and he will get it for you. You are to come tomorrow with your passport and those of your family and friends and you will receive courtesy visas. From this day forward you are the invited guests of the government of Guatemala, you have no need to stop for immigration or customs and, should the national police stop you for any reason, just show them this seal and you will be conducted safely and speedily to your destination."
Satan had not only been neutralized, his attack had been turned against him.
(Note: "The Attack Lambs" is written by Mark Geppert, and is published by Genesis Books and ARMOUR Publishing Pte Ltd - Singapore.)
Tuesday, August 09, 2005
Random thoughts ...
I'm currently reading "Beyond Jabez - Expanding your borders" by Bruce Wilkinson.
I read the first book and the study/prayer guides about three or four years ago. I remember being so excited by all of the things that I learnt from reading that original book, that I bought three copies to give to my brothers and sister for Christmas presents. I guess I figured that if God could change my life so much with that llittle book, then maybe my family would want to read it too. We had all been bought up in the same "poverty doctrine" church after all.
I remember going to a music practice at a church we were attending about that time in our lives, and somehow getting into the middle of a discussion on the Prayer of Jabez. The keyboards player was quite strongly opinionated about the whole prosperity doctrine / Prayer of Jabez thingy, and I recall him asking/stating the question - "who other than Bruce Wilkinson has benefited from the Prayer of Jabez booklet" to which I promptly replied "just about everyone who has read it!" Turns out (as is usually the case) that he had never read the book, and he had already formed his opinions on why the book was written. (This was in a charismatic church by the way.)
Several years down the track and I still see God answering that prayer every time I pray it. And by the way, I am anti "prosperity doctrine" as the world knows it. So where does the misunderstanding creep into the church.
I have heard countless sermons stating that when God says He is going to prosper us, it DOESN"T mean financially. Give me a break !!! Read about Job, Abraham, and Joseph just to name a few people who God prospered financially because they did what was right in His sight, and obeyed Him.
Weigh this up against the blatant tele-evangelism fund raising that goes on in the USA. You don't have to read many blogs to work out that many Australians include Hillsong and Riverview in the same bunch. This is - I believe - the reason why so many people have chosen to live under an ungodly "poverty doctrine" - out of protest because it is so repulsive to cheapen the Gospel of Jesus Christ to a mathematical equation. ** Give x GOD = more **
The refreshing thing about praying the prayer of Jabez, is that when we ask God to bless us, we don't ask for a specific blessing - God gets to choose what He wants to pour into our lives each day. In other words - we actually let God be God - what a scary thought!
When we ask Him to expand our borders - well watch out - because you've just become a missionary with no limitations. Be assured - God WILL take you at your word.
"Let your hand (favour) be with me" - why wouldn't God answer this prayer? Did God not promise to give favour to those who honour and obey Him?
Asking Him to deliver us from evil (harm) - hmmm - seem to remember Jesus saying something about this.
Asking Him to keep us from causing ourselves pain - not a bad idea however you look at it.
As disgusted as I am with the ungodly "prosperity doctrine", I refuse to live anymore under the ungodly "poverty doctrine". A balanced perspective is what God wants for every aspect of our lives. God has proven to me over and over again that He is the God of multiplication. Whatever it is that we give back to God, He takes it and multiplies it for His Glory, His Kingdom and His fame. Our lives become a testimony to His greatness.
Garth over at "Emerging Blurb" has some interesting thoughts on the same subject - well worth the read.
Here is the link ...
http://emergingblurb.blogspot.com/2005/08/emergent-church-video.html
Let's not throw the baby out with the bath water. Stay focussed on God - the person - not the benefit.
Statistics show that if every Christian tithed as commanded by God's word, the "Church" would have an abundance of funds to wipe out poverty, provide clean drinking water, and evangelise the whole world as we know it today. Food for thought isn't it?
In His abundance for every good work,
Steve
"The Lord's blessing is our greatest treasure - all our work adds nothing to it." Proverbs 10:22
I read the first book and the study/prayer guides about three or four years ago. I remember being so excited by all of the things that I learnt from reading that original book, that I bought three copies to give to my brothers and sister for Christmas presents. I guess I figured that if God could change my life so much with that llittle book, then maybe my family would want to read it too. We had all been bought up in the same "poverty doctrine" church after all.
I remember going to a music practice at a church we were attending about that time in our lives, and somehow getting into the middle of a discussion on the Prayer of Jabez. The keyboards player was quite strongly opinionated about the whole prosperity doctrine / Prayer of Jabez thingy, and I recall him asking/stating the question - "who other than Bruce Wilkinson has benefited from the Prayer of Jabez booklet" to which I promptly replied "just about everyone who has read it!" Turns out (as is usually the case) that he had never read the book, and he had already formed his opinions on why the book was written. (This was in a charismatic church by the way.)
Several years down the track and I still see God answering that prayer every time I pray it. And by the way, I am anti "prosperity doctrine" as the world knows it. So where does the misunderstanding creep into the church.
I have heard countless sermons stating that when God says He is going to prosper us, it DOESN"T mean financially. Give me a break !!! Read about Job, Abraham, and Joseph just to name a few people who God prospered financially because they did what was right in His sight, and obeyed Him.
Weigh this up against the blatant tele-evangelism fund raising that goes on in the USA. You don't have to read many blogs to work out that many Australians include Hillsong and Riverview in the same bunch. This is - I believe - the reason why so many people have chosen to live under an ungodly "poverty doctrine" - out of protest because it is so repulsive to cheapen the Gospel of Jesus Christ to a mathematical equation. ** Give x GOD = more **
The refreshing thing about praying the prayer of Jabez, is that when we ask God to bless us, we don't ask for a specific blessing - God gets to choose what He wants to pour into our lives each day. In other words - we actually let God be God - what a scary thought!
When we ask Him to expand our borders - well watch out - because you've just become a missionary with no limitations. Be assured - God WILL take you at your word.
"Let your hand (favour) be with me" - why wouldn't God answer this prayer? Did God not promise to give favour to those who honour and obey Him?
Asking Him to deliver us from evil (harm) - hmmm - seem to remember Jesus saying something about this.
Asking Him to keep us from causing ourselves pain - not a bad idea however you look at it.
As disgusted as I am with the ungodly "prosperity doctrine", I refuse to live anymore under the ungodly "poverty doctrine". A balanced perspective is what God wants for every aspect of our lives. God has proven to me over and over again that He is the God of multiplication. Whatever it is that we give back to God, He takes it and multiplies it for His Glory, His Kingdom and His fame. Our lives become a testimony to His greatness.
Garth over at "Emerging Blurb" has some interesting thoughts on the same subject - well worth the read.
Here is the link ...
http://emergingblurb.blogspot.com/2005/08/emergent-church-video.html
Let's not throw the baby out with the bath water. Stay focussed on God - the person - not the benefit.
Statistics show that if every Christian tithed as commanded by God's word, the "Church" would have an abundance of funds to wipe out poverty, provide clean drinking water, and evangelise the whole world as we know it today. Food for thought isn't it?
In His abundance for every good work,
Steve
"The Lord's blessing is our greatest treasure - all our work adds nothing to it." Proverbs 10:22
Monday, August 01, 2005
A change is as good as a holiday ...
Silly me ... made mention of wanting to change my tagboard. Next thing I know, my super creative blogger afficcionado son has me changing templates, colours, and every other thing that can possibly be modified ... hehehe :)
Thanks Shane!~!!
Anyway, the new tagboard doesn't take half an hour (small exageration) to load - without text at the end of it all. Frustrating to say the least. Call me a copycat, but Thomas and Shane both changed theirs, and it loads super fast.
Next thing was to find a photo of me that doesn't make me look like a middle aged, married, self employed, well fed man ... IYKWIM (if you know what I mean). Nah, anyway it's probably one of the better photo's of me. I wanted one that was taken 15 years ago, but was out-voted. Seem to remember being out-voted by the same two people when we bought KAREN'S car - I wanted yellow - we got dark blue (a secret ploy no doubt to make it less obvious how dirty it is).
On a more serious note - was wondering how many people out there suffer from OCD (obsessive compulsive disorder). For anyone who has experienced it, or knows or lives with someone who suffers from it, it can be a very misunderstood condition.
Being a Jennifer Garner fan, we hired Elektra last weekend. I also enjoy a serious action movie. It was interesting to note that the character of Elektra (played by Jennifer no less) suffered from OCD. It shocked me to find that there was an aspect of OCD that she experienced exactly like I did when I was younger (before God healed me of it).
I never knew what was wrong with me until after God had healed me from it. I didn't know or understand why I acted the way I did. I kept it secret because I was afraid to let anyone find out about me - in fact the only person I ever shared it with in my whole life (until just recently when I started to talk to my wife Karen about it) was a young friend called Gary whom I led to the Lord when I was in high school (I was about 14 at the time).
I believe the Lord gave me a revelation about OCD just recently when He showed me that OCD and fear are closely linked. I know for me that fear, loneliness, rejection by peers and an abject lack of self esteem all played a central part in my living with OCD for over thirty years. And this was all compounded by a speech difficulty - I stuttered and stammered until well into my twenties. This was largely overcome by the selfless love and support given to me by my precious wife Karen.
Dealing with OCD was different - only God can set you free from that which controls you without you ever really understanding what it is, and how it controls you. I've never told anyone in my family, and my children and wife were left wondering one day recently why I reacted so strongly to someone making fun of a friend who is OCD. It was actually at that point when my spirit identified with this young OCD sufferer, that God dropped into my spirit that this was what I had suffered from for most of my life - I just never knew what it was. Finally it had a name. I was able to mask it by controlling it - instead of letting it control me. I know I have shared in a previous post how singing helped me to overcome my speech problems. Worship really is the key to experiencing healing.
Anyway, praise God that OCD is all in the past. I would welcome anyone reading this blog to leave comments about OCD here if they have something to say that may add to the discussion. Maybe someone can be helped out of it all.
Funny how life is all about putting the past behind us so that we can move into the destiny that God has for us.
By His grace ...
Steve
Thanks Shane!~!!
Anyway, the new tagboard doesn't take half an hour (small exageration) to load - without text at the end of it all. Frustrating to say the least. Call me a copycat, but Thomas and Shane both changed theirs, and it loads super fast.
Next thing was to find a photo of me that doesn't make me look like a middle aged, married, self employed, well fed man ... IYKWIM (if you know what I mean). Nah, anyway it's probably one of the better photo's of me. I wanted one that was taken 15 years ago, but was out-voted. Seem to remember being out-voted by the same two people when we bought KAREN'S car - I wanted yellow - we got dark blue (a secret ploy no doubt to make it less obvious how dirty it is).
On a more serious note - was wondering how many people out there suffer from OCD (obsessive compulsive disorder). For anyone who has experienced it, or knows or lives with someone who suffers from it, it can be a very misunderstood condition.
Being a Jennifer Garner fan, we hired Elektra last weekend. I also enjoy a serious action movie. It was interesting to note that the character of Elektra (played by Jennifer no less) suffered from OCD. It shocked me to find that there was an aspect of OCD that she experienced exactly like I did when I was younger (before God healed me of it).
I never knew what was wrong with me until after God had healed me from it. I didn't know or understand why I acted the way I did. I kept it secret because I was afraid to let anyone find out about me - in fact the only person I ever shared it with in my whole life (until just recently when I started to talk to my wife Karen about it) was a young friend called Gary whom I led to the Lord when I was in high school (I was about 14 at the time).
I believe the Lord gave me a revelation about OCD just recently when He showed me that OCD and fear are closely linked. I know for me that fear, loneliness, rejection by peers and an abject lack of self esteem all played a central part in my living with OCD for over thirty years. And this was all compounded by a speech difficulty - I stuttered and stammered until well into my twenties. This was largely overcome by the selfless love and support given to me by my precious wife Karen.
Dealing with OCD was different - only God can set you free from that which controls you without you ever really understanding what it is, and how it controls you. I've never told anyone in my family, and my children and wife were left wondering one day recently why I reacted so strongly to someone making fun of a friend who is OCD. It was actually at that point when my spirit identified with this young OCD sufferer, that God dropped into my spirit that this was what I had suffered from for most of my life - I just never knew what it was. Finally it had a name. I was able to mask it by controlling it - instead of letting it control me. I know I have shared in a previous post how singing helped me to overcome my speech problems. Worship really is the key to experiencing healing.
Anyway, praise God that OCD is all in the past. I would welcome anyone reading this blog to leave comments about OCD here if they have something to say that may add to the discussion. Maybe someone can be helped out of it all.
Funny how life is all about putting the past behind us so that we can move into the destiny that God has for us.
By His grace ...
Steve
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