I (Serena) have been asked a few times HOW I was able to allow Josh to even touch me when he first came home? Or even entertain the idea that we would be intimate when he first came home? Many things comes to mind, but the biggest and most important reason is found in what I believe to be an important, sadly ignored benefit to sexual intimacy.
In 1 Corinthians 7:5, "Do not deprive each other except by mutual consent and for a time, so that you may devote yourselves to prayer. Then come together again so that Satan will not tempt you because of your lack of self-control." This is saying that a married couple that is Christian should have sexual relations frequently; they shouldn't deny one another but by mutual consent and then ONLY for a time. Otherwise Satan will get in there and attempt to destroy everything.
Would you say that a couple that doesn't have enough sex is experiencing demonic spiritual warfare? It's true. Your sexual organs were not only meant for pleasure and making babies. In the context of fighting for your marriages, they are weapons. Not weapons to be used against one another, mind you. They are weapons to be used against the enemy of our souls trying to rip apart our marriages!
All too often we hear, "My husband has not been very nice to me, so I'm gonna deny him sex. And until he's nice to me, I'm gonna withhold it." That's demonic! Oh, and this is not just the wife saying this stuff; it's become a real problem in marriages to withhold sex unless everything is "perfect!" The wife who says, "ya know, I'm just never in the mood, and I know you love me and we have a decent marriage, and there's no reason...but ..........." Well, that's demonic, too! We realize this sounds really harsh but it's Satan's way of getting in between a couple.
Is your spouse being unreasonable? Or are you? We are talking about the all too common situation where one person in the marriage wants to be intimate more often than the other, and they're rejected. They become bitter. Satan comes in and feeds that bitterness, baits the hook of their flesh with the temptation of the world. And all of a sudden, Satan puts in front of them images, people, and opportunities to lead them astray. It doesn't make anyone a victim because we choose sin on our own. But it does mean that you're giving Satan an opportunity. It's Scripture! Satan is at work and he might as well start with sex.
Tough question: are you having enough sex? Be real; be honest! The answer will probably shock you. We don't want to start fights but ask your spouse this question. This should be eye-opening. You can learn a lot if you really listen to their answer. Ask your spouse what you can do to make things better. We are not perfect in this area but we certainly strive to have it so that Satan is not in our bed. I (Serena) long to hear Josh say, "I'm satisfied with the frequency and freedom of our sexual relationship." (But, Josh says that he is not that stuffy sounding!) I don't want to feel we are fine and yet have Josh totally frustrated. That's NOT unity. Husbands, you should not hear your wife saying, "He doesn't pursue me, he doesn't touch me, he doesn't desire me, he doesn't compliment me. I've got other men who compliment me, pursue me emotionally, and are desirous of me." Believe us...there have been those times in OUR marriage! But, we communicate to each other what we are feeling. Unity in the bedroom is extremely important.
Picture this...a couple that's not having frequent intimacy--when they go to bed, Satan is lying in the bed between the two of them. That's the image Paul is showing us in 1 Corinthians 7:5. This is a huge issue. It's not just about one person being more sexual than the other. Continually hearing about weeks, months, and years going by without sexual intimacy...is just wrong. So, the next time you start to think about an excuse not to have sex with your spouse, think about the bigger picture. Satan needs to be kicked out of your bed and you need to start fighting. Each time we are intimate with our spouse we are waging a war against the attack on our marriages. It's not just about fulfilling a sexual need; this is warfare! In our home, we aim to win (which means we try to have it a lot)!!
Josh and Serena
Showing posts with label Spiritual Warfare. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Spiritual Warfare. Show all posts
Thursday, August 11, 2011
Wednesday, August 3, 2011
More on Intercession
Our topic from yesterday is large enough that we need to talk about it little bit more. Other than God doing the impossible, intercession is quite possibly the most important part of standing for your marriage and your spouse.
Prayers for yourself, for strength, for removing doubt, for revelation, for spiritual gifts, for guidance, or any personal matter, or anything having to do with yourself are NOT intercessory prayer. Intercession is not just praying for someone else's needs. Intercession is praying with the real hope, intent, and passion that God would step in and act on behalf another person. It is trusting God to act, even if it's not in the manner or timing we seek. God wants us to ask, even urgently. It is casting our weakness before God's strength, and having a bit of God's passion burn in us. It's the PASSION that makes intercession so different.
Some verses about prayers and intercession...Matthew 7:7,8; James 5:16-18; Luke 11:5-13. Pull out your Bible and read them!
The place where intercessory prayer must start is with you. It's great to know that others may be stepping up for someone before God, but God wants you to put something of yourself on the line. Josh's sister, Daja, is gifted in intercession. She has been gifted in this area for a definite purpose, which has unfolded as the years go by. We have watched her put many things on the line for the prayers of others. When Josh was gone she even cut her hair off, as the Lord had told her that she needed to bear her brother's shame. She cried as her husband watched her cut her hair; it cost her something.
Has anyone given you something at a discount price that you feel it really should be worth more? Like it's just too cheap to be real? Your private devotions are not just for your own benefit. If God's love is at work in you, you will care about others, and your love for them will lead you to take it to the ultimate Source of strength, healing, and love. Don't be fearful; be persistent and stubborn. God doesn't mind; God likes to see divine love at work in you. God honors your part in the relationship. Real intercession is deep; it needs to cost you something. This does not mean it's the same thing every time, but the Lord will tell you what it needs to be--just ask Him to guide you. And remember you are not praying alone. The Holy Spirit prays with you!!
King David found himself in a place where he was able to offer God a sacrifice that was given to him. He refused the gift because he would not offer God a sacrifice that cost him nothing (2Samuel 24:24). He knew the importance of giving God a true sacrfice.
Intercessory prayer is not something that may come easy to you but it can be learned. From experience, I (Serena) believe that God will definitely grant you a heart for people as you ask Him to help you intercede for your spouse. Practice!! And the more you practice...the better you will get. This isn't about getting the exact prayer right or the right words. You might find yourself praying for something that isn't exactly what you expected. We are to pray listening for the Spirit, and pray that God's Will would be done. Don't be surprised if the Spirit starts tugging on your heart about a matter you're praying about. God may want to use you in that person's life, but He also might just want you to be a bystander. You MUST be open to KEEP quiet or to also TAKE ACTION.
Anyone can pray for others and step in with God on their behalf. But some people are more gifted at intercession. This is not an excuse to not intercede. Believe me; I have tried it. They have an ear and a passion for the needs of others, and take them before God even when those other people reject God. An intercessor's heart is touched for those in need, chososing to NOT be on their side (not condoning sin) but an intercessor is BY their side and praying on their behalf. They have a burden for that person. They persevere. They let the Spirit give them comfort about it, instead of worrying. And when the outcome is positive, they celebrate and are happy about it. An intercessor has to remain soft to the leading of the Holy Spirit. In talking with married couples in the last few months we have found that when they pray and ask God for an answer...they get it and proceed to pass immediate judgement on the answer. If God has given you a heart to pray and intercede for your spouse, TRUE INTERCESSORS are going to rejoice in the outcome, not cast judgement.
As God grants the requests of an intercessors's heart it is a skill that will amaze you EVERY time. We have friends that are gifted intercessors that sometimes get a strong sense of coming danger about whom they're praying for. These friends have been driven to their knees to pray about something they can't otherwise have known was happening. Sounds weird, but it's true. This has happened to me (Serena) only on a small scale, as God will bring a friend's name to mind....later I will find out that it was minutes from something that was potentially life-threatening. God is amazing but you have to trust that regardless of knowing what is going on. You have to be obedient. If God asks you to pray for someone--do it--it doesn't matter if nothing drastic or amazing happens. We can all use the time to pray for someone, and the person you are praying for will benefit. Learn to be quick to pray! God wants a willing person.
Is everything we pray for answered OUR way? It's understandable for us to think that way; Jesus promised that our prayers would cause things to happen, especially when we keep at it. But look at the Biblical intercessors again: Abraham, Moses, David, and the apostles. Their success was very real, but, at times, far from complete. David's son still died even though he prayed for him. The apostles still had the poor with them even though they interceded for the poor. So, don't assume that because you pray that you KNOW what will happen...it may not look like what you think. Prayers do work, but you need to realize YOU are not God. You are responsible to pray; God is responsible for the outcome.
Intercessory prayer does not work by our own power as if we were God. Prayers are answered but they are answered in God's way. Are you open to the victory the way GOD sees it? Are you willing to accept your spouse to come home filthy, dirty, and stinky....you did PRAY him home, right? Or are you only claiming victory if he comes home clean, shaved, and perfect? It may not be at all like the 'victory' you are 'claiming'. Much of the time, the Spirit's main work is to change us, make us care more, and to cause us to focus on what others are going through. Your heart cannot possibly be hard if you are interceding and getting the heart of God. The heart of God is NOT hard, so if we follow His example in praying for God's will in our lives....the result...a SOFT heart!
Josh and Serena
Prayers for yourself, for strength, for removing doubt, for revelation, for spiritual gifts, for guidance, or any personal matter, or anything having to do with yourself are NOT intercessory prayer. Intercession is not just praying for someone else's needs. Intercession is praying with the real hope, intent, and passion that God would step in and act on behalf another person. It is trusting God to act, even if it's not in the manner or timing we seek. God wants us to ask, even urgently. It is casting our weakness before God's strength, and having a bit of God's passion burn in us. It's the PASSION that makes intercession so different.
Some verses about prayers and intercession...Matthew 7:7,8; James 5:16-18; Luke 11:5-13. Pull out your Bible and read them!
There is a general kind of praying which fails for lack of precision. It is as if a regiment of soldiers should all fire off their guns anywhere. Possibly somebody would be killed, but the majority of the enemy would be missed. --Charles Haddon Spurgeon
Has anyone given you something at a discount price that you feel it really should be worth more? Like it's just too cheap to be real? Your private devotions are not just for your own benefit. If God's love is at work in you, you will care about others, and your love for them will lead you to take it to the ultimate Source of strength, healing, and love. Don't be fearful; be persistent and stubborn. God doesn't mind; God likes to see divine love at work in you. God honors your part in the relationship. Real intercession is deep; it needs to cost you something. This does not mean it's the same thing every time, but the Lord will tell you what it needs to be--just ask Him to guide you. And remember you are not praying alone. The Holy Spirit prays with you!!
King David found himself in a place where he was able to offer God a sacrifice that was given to him. He refused the gift because he would not offer God a sacrifice that cost him nothing (2Samuel 24:24). He knew the importance of giving God a true sacrfice.
Intercessory prayer is not something that may come easy to you but it can be learned. From experience, I (Serena) believe that God will definitely grant you a heart for people as you ask Him to help you intercede for your spouse. Practice!! And the more you practice...the better you will get. This isn't about getting the exact prayer right or the right words. You might find yourself praying for something that isn't exactly what you expected. We are to pray listening for the Spirit, and pray that God's Will would be done. Don't be surprised if the Spirit starts tugging on your heart about a matter you're praying about. God may want to use you in that person's life, but He also might just want you to be a bystander. You MUST be open to KEEP quiet or to also TAKE ACTION.
Anyone can pray for others and step in with God on their behalf. But some people are more gifted at intercession. This is not an excuse to not intercede. Believe me; I have tried it. They have an ear and a passion for the needs of others, and take them before God even when those other people reject God. An intercessor's heart is touched for those in need, chososing to NOT be on their side (not condoning sin) but an intercessor is BY their side and praying on their behalf. They have a burden for that person. They persevere. They let the Spirit give them comfort about it, instead of worrying. And when the outcome is positive, they celebrate and are happy about it. An intercessor has to remain soft to the leading of the Holy Spirit. In talking with married couples in the last few months we have found that when they pray and ask God for an answer...they get it and proceed to pass immediate judgement on the answer. If God has given you a heart to pray and intercede for your spouse, TRUE INTERCESSORS are going to rejoice in the outcome, not cast judgement.
God never gives us discernment in order that we may criticize, but that we may intercede. -- Oswald Chambers
Is everything we pray for answered OUR way? It's understandable for us to think that way; Jesus promised that our prayers would cause things to happen, especially when we keep at it. But look at the Biblical intercessors again: Abraham, Moses, David, and the apostles. Their success was very real, but, at times, far from complete. David's son still died even though he prayed for him. The apostles still had the poor with them even though they interceded for the poor. So, don't assume that because you pray that you KNOW what will happen...it may not look like what you think. Prayers do work, but you need to realize YOU are not God. You are responsible to pray; God is responsible for the outcome.
Our place is to follow the example of Jesus, who prayed "Not my will, but Thine". It's okay to ask for what you want from the situation; that's a part of being honest with God. God may have other plans and your part is to trust Him. God sides with covenant, so regardless of the circumstances you see around you--an intercessor has to continue persevering and pray according to the Spirit's leading.
Intercessory prayer does not work by our own power as if we were God. Prayers are answered but they are answered in God's way. Are you open to the victory the way GOD sees it? Are you willing to accept your spouse to come home filthy, dirty, and stinky....you did PRAY him home, right? Or are you only claiming victory if he comes home clean, shaved, and perfect? It may not be at all like the 'victory' you are 'claiming'. Much of the time, the Spirit's main work is to change us, make us care more, and to cause us to focus on what others are going through. Your heart cannot possibly be hard if you are interceding and getting the heart of God. The heart of God is NOT hard, so if we follow His example in praying for God's will in our lives....the result...a SOFT heart!
Tuesday, August 2, 2011
Intercession
As we look at spiritual warfare for one more day, let's learn about intercession. One of the most prominent intercessors we see in the Word is Daniel. Go and read the book of Daniel (ch. 10) and you will find a man of prayer that did not stop his times of prayer and intercession for anything. Also, our Savior, Jesus, when He was enduring the stress and pressure of sin before He took the cross, was sweating blood because of His intense intercession for us.
Intercession is more than just simple prayer. It is a type of prayer that goes to depths that you didn't know existed. It is place where you may be calm on the surface and yet fighting hard on the inside. Sometimes, it's not even about the words. It may come out in moans and groans or even the crying of and crying out of your heart.
What does that mean to you? Has your heart cried out? Do you know the feeling where you can spend time even sitting in silence and yet your heart WEEPS? Oh, to be honest, I am not sure I really understood this until Josh was gone. I was at peace with how things were working out; I knew God was in control. BUT my heart CRIED....my husband's soul was LOST. I mean...was he going to heaven or hell if he died? It's not my place to say, but has your heart felt that desperation to pray for your spouse--knowing it's life or death? This is an ETERNAL question!!! If Josh had died and gone to hell, that is FOREVER. Does your heart cry out? Are you desperate? Desperate for your MARRIAGE or your spouse's SOUL?? Praying for your marriage is good, but praying and interceding for your spouse's soul--THIS is what will bring about lasting change.
Has your spouse turned away from so many things? (not just your marriage) This described my husband when he was serving the Lord and then he chose to give up his faith and moral values and instead choose a lifestyle contrary to a believer. It is going to be a downward spiral unless you fast and pray for the Holy Spirit to speak loudly to their hardened heart. They are denying their Lord God in so many different ways and it is up to you to intercede on their behalf.
We all have different circumstances, but the issue is that Satan wants to do whatever he can to steal your marriage. He wants to creep in and harden your heart AND your spouses. Is it YOUR heart that will be hardened more easily? Be ready!! Don't let it take you by surprise. Satan is trying to get two birds with one stone. Satan doesn't care if it's your heart or your spouses. Our fleshly desires can lead us into sin and take us further than we want to go, but it's the hardness of our hearts that leads to death. Is this describing YOU or your spouse?
Believe it or not this was eye-opening to me just now, but we have listened in the last few months about the struggle with not wanting to stand, not wanting to fight, etc., etc. The road isn't easy, but it's worthwhile. AND the biggest warning we can give is not to allow hardness to creep in. We get e-mails asking HOW did I allow Josh to be a part of our lives? I did it by keeping my heart soft. It's something you HAVE to ask God for, and He will do it. God knows a heart of flesh is necessary. So, in praying and interceding for your spouse it's not just their soul that needs to be transformed; it's yours, too!
I (Josh) need to pop in here real quick with an example from our life. After I was caught and refused to break it off, I got really bold with my actions. So, Serena got more bold with her prayers. As I was getting ready to leave for the evening, Serena would kneel down in front of the couch and started praying in tongues....REALLY LOUDLY!!! For one, I had never heard her pray like that. And it is very hard to make preparations for an evening of sin-filled activities and know that your wife is getting it done in the spiritual realm!! OK...I'm done, Babe....back to you...
Then, may I add....that was NOT easy to do. In the flesh, I really just wanted to grab you, shake you, and make you listen to me. I wanted you to see what horrible choices and decisions you were making. BUT I knew it would do no good and only make you more determined. I didn't know WHAT to pray, THIS was why I had to pray in tongues. When my heart knew no words...I allowed the Holy Spirit do the talking.
Never give up on your deceived spouse. There are consequences to their disobedience and the sins of unforgiveness, bitterness, anger, or adultery. I can reassure you that even if there was only strife in your marriage, God was trying to get at least one spouse to start praying and interceding to remove the strife and sin that had started to creep into your marriage relationship. Even if you believe your marriage is stronger than ever....it's never so strong that prayer won't benefit you.
Josh and Serena
Intercession is more than just simple prayer. It is a type of prayer that goes to depths that you didn't know existed. It is place where you may be calm on the surface and yet fighting hard on the inside. Sometimes, it's not even about the words. It may come out in moans and groans or even the crying of and crying out of your heart.
Romans 8:26,27
And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness.
For example, we don’t know what God wants us to pray for.
But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words.
27 And the Father who knows all hearts knows what the Spirit is saying,
What does that mean to you? Has your heart cried out? Do you know the feeling where you can spend time even sitting in silence and yet your heart WEEPS? Oh, to be honest, I am not sure I really understood this until Josh was gone. I was at peace with how things were working out; I knew God was in control. BUT my heart CRIED....my husband's soul was LOST. I mean...was he going to heaven or hell if he died? It's not my place to say, but has your heart felt that desperation to pray for your spouse--knowing it's life or death? This is an ETERNAL question!!! If Josh had died and gone to hell, that is FOREVER. Does your heart cry out? Are you desperate? Desperate for your MARRIAGE or your spouse's SOUL?? Praying for your marriage is good, but praying and interceding for your spouse's soul--THIS is what will bring about lasting change.
Jude 20-25 "But you, dear friends, build yourselves up in your most holy faith and pray in the Holy Spirit. Keep yourselves in God's love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life. Be merciful to those who doubt; snatch others from the fire and save them; to others show mercy, mixed with fear— hating even the clothing stained by corrupted flesh. To him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy—to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen."
Has your spouse turned away from so many things? (not just your marriage) This described my husband when he was serving the Lord and then he chose to give up his faith and moral values and instead choose a lifestyle contrary to a believer. It is going to be a downward spiral unless you fast and pray for the Holy Spirit to speak loudly to their hardened heart. They are denying their Lord God in so many different ways and it is up to you to intercede on their behalf.
We all have different circumstances, but the issue is that Satan wants to do whatever he can to steal your marriage. He wants to creep in and harden your heart AND your spouses. Is it YOUR heart that will be hardened more easily? Be ready!! Don't let it take you by surprise. Satan is trying to get two birds with one stone. Satan doesn't care if it's your heart or your spouses. Our fleshly desires can lead us into sin and take us further than we want to go, but it's the hardness of our hearts that leads to death. Is this describing YOU or your spouse?
Believe it or not this was eye-opening to me just now, but we have listened in the last few months about the struggle with not wanting to stand, not wanting to fight, etc., etc. The road isn't easy, but it's worthwhile. AND the biggest warning we can give is not to allow hardness to creep in. We get e-mails asking HOW did I allow Josh to be a part of our lives? I did it by keeping my heart soft. It's something you HAVE to ask God for, and He will do it. God knows a heart of flesh is necessary. So, in praying and interceding for your spouse it's not just their soul that needs to be transformed; it's yours, too!
I (Josh) need to pop in here real quick with an example from our life. After I was caught and refused to break it off, I got really bold with my actions. So, Serena got more bold with her prayers. As I was getting ready to leave for the evening, Serena would kneel down in front of the couch and started praying in tongues....REALLY LOUDLY!!! For one, I had never heard her pray like that. And it is very hard to make preparations for an evening of sin-filled activities and know that your wife is getting it done in the spiritual realm!! OK...I'm done, Babe....back to you...
Then, may I add....that was NOT easy to do. In the flesh, I really just wanted to grab you, shake you, and make you listen to me. I wanted you to see what horrible choices and decisions you were making. BUT I knew it would do no good and only make you more determined. I didn't know WHAT to pray, THIS was why I had to pray in tongues. When my heart knew no words...I allowed the Holy Spirit do the talking.
Hebrews 3:12-15 "See to it, brothers, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness. We have come to share in Christ if we hold firmly till the end the confidence we had at first. As has just been said: "Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as you did in the rebellion."
Never give up on your deceived spouse. There are consequences to their disobedience and the sins of unforgiveness, bitterness, anger, or adultery. I can reassure you that even if there was only strife in your marriage, God was trying to get at least one spouse to start praying and interceding to remove the strife and sin that had started to creep into your marriage relationship. Even if you believe your marriage is stronger than ever....it's never so strong that prayer won't benefit you.
Josh and Serena
Monday, August 1, 2011
Powerful Weapons
Now that we have put our armor on (you are doing it everyday, right?) and have purged our lives (or at least in the process of purging) it is becoming time for us to fight! However, we do not fight with natural means or physical weapons.
Ephesians 6:12
For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies,
but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world,
against mighty powers in this dark world,
and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.
This is a major point that we MUST remember; we are not fighting against a flesh and blood enemy. You are not fighting your spouse. As difficult as it may seem we must look beyond the flesh and see who is the motivating force behind the words, the lies, and the actions of our spouses. Your spouse is not the enemy. Learn it, know it, believe it, DON'T FORGET IT!!
And this is serious battle we are engaging ourselves in. It's not something that we will do one day and not the next. Once you cross that line and kick over the hornet's nest, there is no going back. The same passage above in The Message translation reads like this: This is no afternoon athletic contest that we'll walk away from and forget about in a couple of hours. This is for keeps, a life-or-death fight to the finish against the Devil and all his angels.
And once you have drawn a line in the sand and the enemy crosses it, your attitude should be one of righteous indignation. You need to take the stance that once the devil messed with you and the family that God gave you, HE DONE MESSED WITH THE WRONG BELIEVER!! The battle will be intense and it will get ugly. But, you have weapons that will work every time. The spiritual weapons that God gives never fail.
One of the major weapons that we have in our arsenal is Praise and Worship!! Praise is the declaring of the mighty acts of God to the world; worship is declaring the awesome majesty of who He is. Praise is telling the world about God; worship is telling God about Himself. Let's look at the Word and see how these weapons function.
A verse we looked at yesterday, 2 Chronicles 20:22, says that when they started to sing and praise is when God set the ambush. The praise and worship of God will cause God to begin to move on your behalf. In Acts 16 is the story of Paul and Silas in prison. It says that around midnight they began to pray and sing hymns (songs to the Lord) and the other prisoners were listening to them. And then suddenly a great earthquake shook the foundation of the prison, their chains fell off, and everyone was loosed. Your praise has the ability to shake the foundation of the prison you or your spouse may be locked in. It has the ability to break chains and bonds and can loose the prisoners. The story of the victory over Jericho was made possible by the mighty shout of praise that came from Israel. Your shout of praise can effect the toppling of walls that keep you, your spouse, your family, and your marriage from tasting the fullness of what God has for you. If you read the history of Israel, when they would march out to battle they would send the singers and praisers out first BEFORE the army! Your praise is a powerful weapon.
What does this look like for us? If you are new to this there are a few things that will help to get the pump primed. First, find some God-honoring worship music. There is lots out there but not all of it is the kind of stuff that will inspire you to fight. Some artists that are warriors in worship would be Rick Pino, Jesus Culture, Leonard Jones, and Christ for the Nations to name a few. You may know of some that really do it for you. Listen to them and worship with them. Soon you will develop your own worship that will flow freely.
Second, read the Word and see how people that encountered God firsthand responded to who He is. Read about the song that Miriam sang after they crossed the Red Sea (Exodus 15). Read the Psalms and what David wrote. You will find how often David felt far from God, discouraged, and depressed. But, you will also read how David knew who his God was. When you read the Word and those that worshipped God you will find this truth: those that worshipped God were doing so in good times and in bad times. They worshipped God because the knew who He was and that their current desperate situation did not dictate the ability or power of the Most High.
Thirdly, worship God on your own. Find your own words. Start out by thanking Him for the obvious stuff. Life, breath, health, your job, your car, your house. Soon you will begin to think of new things that are not so obvious. The destiny that is in your marriage, the fruit that your marriage will produce, the lost people that will come to Christ through your testimony. After some time, you will begin to recount back to God the things that you have read in the Word about His mercy, His grace, His loving kindness, and other attributes of God. Tell Him who He is to you. Tell Him about what He has done for you. Tell Him about His power in the face of what appears to be an impossible situation.
It doesn't matter what your worship looks like. You might be riding in your car, at the office, or in your home. You might find it necessary to kneel or raise your hands. Who know...you might even start dancing in the victory? You might be singing a song that has never been sung or worshipping with known songs. You might not know what to do. Allow the Holy Spirit to move through you and let Him worship the Father with your body.
By worshipping God in this fashion, you will upset the enemy and his plans. Your focus will not be on your spouse, the situation, or the outcome. Your focus will be on God and Him alone. You will be fighting without fighting. You will be worshipping, and as a result, you will be moved out of the way and God will have the room to come in and show Himself strong for you.
So, praise Him. Worship Him. And don't care about who hears you....you are fighting in a battle that you cannot afford to lose!! You are fighting for more than your marriage or your spouse....you are fighting for the fullness of God in your life and His exaltation.
Josh and Serena
Sunday, July 31, 2011
Excess Baggage
As we take a crash course in spiritual warfare, one of the things that we will find is that many times what we are doing is more aligning ourselves with where God is than it is about actually having to fight. Over and over in the Word we see God going before His people and doing the work in order to secure the victory for Israel. Remember Moses and the Red Sea (Exodus 14)? Remember Joshua and the walls of Jericho (Joshua 6)? Remember Gideon and the torches (Judges 7)? 2 Chronicles 20:22 says that "when the people began to sing and praise, the Lord set ambushes (notice: plural) against" the enemies of Israel.
We need to position ourselves to be in God's will but not in His way. He doesn't need your input, opinions, or advice in order to accomplish what He wants to do in your marriage. Nothing has happened to you, to your spouse, or between you and your spouse that He doesn't already know. He needs you to follow closely behind Him, suited for battle, and when He gains the victory you will be there as well.
However, many times we are unable to follow closely behind God. We may be suited for battle and ready to go...so we think. Quite frequently (especially if we are not accustomed to doing this) there can be hidden, unknown, or forgotten things in our past, in our homes, in our previous generations, or in our lives currently that hinder us from being able to follow closely after God. Excess baggage is what it is. And its hard enough to stand without having to carry extra weight.
There's a story in Joshua 7 about Joshua and the city of Ai. We encourage you to read it for yourself but we will hit the highlights. Joshua has led Israel in the utter destruction of Jericho. He proceeds on to Ai, which is a very small city. He sends a small contingent of his forces to battle them. And they get spanked! Joshua tears his clothes and is distraught as to why they failed so miserably. God reveals to him that there is an accursed thing in their midst and that they need to be sanctified. As it turns out, a man named Achan kept some of the loot from Jericho, which was supposed to be destroyed, for himself. Once the sin of Achan was dealt with, Joshua returns to Ai and destroys them.
Question to us is this: What is it that is hidden from public view (maybe even from us) that is causing us to be defeated? This is a serious question that cannot and should not be answered quickly.
We need to a hard look at our life and ask God to reveal what we have lingering our lives that is stopping us from living in the victory that He is accomplishing. It might be a significant item or moment that immediately comes to light; it might be something that would appear to be innocent but holds some deadly soul-ties for you. Whatever it is it must be dealt with hard and fast. Let's throw out some examples of things that could be hiding in and around our lives.
Pornography would be at the top of the list of things that could be lingering. This is a topic that should be addressed all on its own. But, for the moment, let's just throw this out there as something that will definitely hinder the hand of God from working in our lives. Porn is a sin and an addiction that can grow to a deadly proportions very quickly. It could be full-blown hard core videos and magazines or simply the revealing of more than is appropriate flesh scenes in movies and TV or even what we see when we as we walk around the local mall.
Zodiac signs, astrology, and other forms of fortune telling are some other things that may be evident in our life that we may be unaware of. In the Old Testament (according to the laws of God), the people that practiced these things and those that consulted with them were worthy of death. All of these things are considered witchcraft.
Other religions becoming mixed in with faith in Jesus Christ will stop us from tasting in the victory that God desires to win on our behalf. This was one of the things that God told Israel specifically when they were crossing into the Promised Land. We are told not to practice the customs and rituals that the pagans in the land practice. The power of the Gospel is that it is Jesus Christ and Him alone!
Generational curses can be a serious source of bondage for us. The things that our father, grandfathers (and on and on) did before we got here can trickle into our life. Do some digging and learn what happened in your family tree years ago. It might just be a shocking revelation for you. You may find a history of divorce, adultery, fornication, drug use, alcoholism, abandonment, abuse, witchcraft to name a few. What you find in your history needs to be brought before the Father and spiritually broken off of you and your family. Research your spouse's history, too.
Some other things that hinder us would be rebellion (to authority, parents, God), drug use (in Hebrew the word for witchcraft is the same word that we derive our word "pharmacy" from), and alcoholism. There could be something that is tied to pieces of clothing. I (Josh) have thrown out lots of clothes that were tied to my running from God and my wife. We have a friend that threw out dishes, suits, shaved his head, and broke his glasses in order to completely remove the association with the sin that crept into their marriage.
Our list here today is not all inclusive. You need to do some serious soul searching. Look at your life with a fine-toothed comb. Question everything and its relevance to your life. If it comes back with a sordid past or painful memories of failure, get rid of them. You don't want some skeleton left hiding in your closet to derail the plans of restoration that God has for you. You can't follow God carrying all that excess baggage. That is exactly what sin is....excess baggage that keeps you from enjoying the victory and freedom that is in Christ.
This is us positioning ourselves for God to do His greatest work!! This is warfare!! This is our life!!
Josh and Serena
We need to position ourselves to be in God's will but not in His way. He doesn't need your input, opinions, or advice in order to accomplish what He wants to do in your marriage. Nothing has happened to you, to your spouse, or between you and your spouse that He doesn't already know. He needs you to follow closely behind Him, suited for battle, and when He gains the victory you will be there as well.
However, many times we are unable to follow closely behind God. We may be suited for battle and ready to go...so we think. Quite frequently (especially if we are not accustomed to doing this) there can be hidden, unknown, or forgotten things in our past, in our homes, in our previous generations, or in our lives currently that hinder us from being able to follow closely after God. Excess baggage is what it is. And its hard enough to stand without having to carry extra weight.
There's a story in Joshua 7 about Joshua and the city of Ai. We encourage you to read it for yourself but we will hit the highlights. Joshua has led Israel in the utter destruction of Jericho. He proceeds on to Ai, which is a very small city. He sends a small contingent of his forces to battle them. And they get spanked! Joshua tears his clothes and is distraught as to why they failed so miserably. God reveals to him that there is an accursed thing in their midst and that they need to be sanctified. As it turns out, a man named Achan kept some of the loot from Jericho, which was supposed to be destroyed, for himself. Once the sin of Achan was dealt with, Joshua returns to Ai and destroys them.
Question to us is this: What is it that is hidden from public view (maybe even from us) that is causing us to be defeated? This is a serious question that cannot and should not be answered quickly.
We need to a hard look at our life and ask God to reveal what we have lingering our lives that is stopping us from living in the victory that He is accomplishing. It might be a significant item or moment that immediately comes to light; it might be something that would appear to be innocent but holds some deadly soul-ties for you. Whatever it is it must be dealt with hard and fast. Let's throw out some examples of things that could be hiding in and around our lives.
Pornography would be at the top of the list of things that could be lingering. This is a topic that should be addressed all on its own. But, for the moment, let's just throw this out there as something that will definitely hinder the hand of God from working in our lives. Porn is a sin and an addiction that can grow to a deadly proportions very quickly. It could be full-blown hard core videos and magazines or simply the revealing of more than is appropriate flesh scenes in movies and TV or even what we see when we as we walk around the local mall.
Zodiac signs, astrology, and other forms of fortune telling are some other things that may be evident in our life that we may be unaware of. In the Old Testament (according to the laws of God), the people that practiced these things and those that consulted with them were worthy of death. All of these things are considered witchcraft.
Other religions becoming mixed in with faith in Jesus Christ will stop us from tasting in the victory that God desires to win on our behalf. This was one of the things that God told Israel specifically when they were crossing into the Promised Land. We are told not to practice the customs and rituals that the pagans in the land practice. The power of the Gospel is that it is Jesus Christ and Him alone!
Generational curses can be a serious source of bondage for us. The things that our father, grandfathers (and on and on) did before we got here can trickle into our life. Do some digging and learn what happened in your family tree years ago. It might just be a shocking revelation for you. You may find a history of divorce, adultery, fornication, drug use, alcoholism, abandonment, abuse, witchcraft to name a few. What you find in your history needs to be brought before the Father and spiritually broken off of you and your family. Research your spouse's history, too.
Some other things that hinder us would be rebellion (to authority, parents, God), drug use (in Hebrew the word for witchcraft is the same word that we derive our word "pharmacy" from), and alcoholism. There could be something that is tied to pieces of clothing. I (Josh) have thrown out lots of clothes that were tied to my running from God and my wife. We have a friend that threw out dishes, suits, shaved his head, and broke his glasses in order to completely remove the association with the sin that crept into their marriage.
Our list here today is not all inclusive. You need to do some serious soul searching. Look at your life with a fine-toothed comb. Question everything and its relevance to your life. If it comes back with a sordid past or painful memories of failure, get rid of them. You don't want some skeleton left hiding in your closet to derail the plans of restoration that God has for you. You can't follow God carrying all that excess baggage. That is exactly what sin is....excess baggage that keeps you from enjoying the victory and freedom that is in Christ.
Hebrews 12:1
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith,
let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up.
And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us.
This is us positioning ourselves for God to do His greatest work!! This is warfare!! This is our life!!
Josh and Serena
Ready to follow God into the fight?
Saturday, July 30, 2011
Wanna Fight?
We need to address a subject that many of you may not have much knowledge about. That is spiritual warfare. It is a subject that is pivotal to marital restoration success and one that needs to be taught more. It is not one that should be taken lightly; it's very serious business. There is no way that we can cover everything in one post. This will be a few days to get the basics covered and we will probably come back to this more over time. Like most of our topics we do not claim to be experts. However, both of us grew up in churches where we were taught the reality and gravity of spiritual warfare.
When the terms spiritual warfare are used, (for the person unaccustomed to it) it will conjure up images of movies like The Exorcist, and Paranormal Activity. While they are based in some truth, Hollywood cannot accurately portray what is really happening in realm of the supernatural. So, as we begin this conversation we will attempt to show what spiritual warfare is and how it should be applied to our marriages.
As we start to wage spiritual warfare for our marriages, we need to start at the beginning. The beginning of spiritual warfare is not knowing what the demons and angels are up to. In order for us to venture into the realm of spiritual warfare, we need to be dressed properly. When you are getting ready to go into work, you dress for the task at hand. If you are moving your home, you would not dress in a suit and tie or evening dress. Why? Because it is likely that you will get sweaty and dirty. If you are going to work in your garden, you are not going to wear what you would if you were about to meet a distinguished member of your country's government. You would dress accordingly. If we are going out to battle the enemy of our souls for the health, vitality, and restoration of our marriage we should dress accordingly.
Above all, make sure grab this everyday. With it you will not only stop but quench or extinguish the fiery darts from the enemy. The shield of faith is what will enable you to see your marriage through the lies of what it looks like right now. Your faith will allow you to see God coming through when it looks like all is lost. This shield is one that you can completely hide behind when the battle becomes to ferocious and still be safe. This shield has the ability to join together with other fellow warriors and standers to make an impenetrable wall. Your faith in Jesus will become your greatest defense. Your faith in Him will stand for you when it seems like you are unable to make it.
When the terms spiritual warfare are used, (for the person unaccustomed to it) it will conjure up images of movies like The Exorcist, and Paranormal Activity. While they are based in some truth, Hollywood cannot accurately portray what is really happening in realm of the supernatural. So, as we begin this conversation we will attempt to show what spiritual warfare is and how it should be applied to our marriages.
As we start to wage spiritual warfare for our marriages, we need to start at the beginning. The beginning of spiritual warfare is not knowing what the demons and angels are up to. In order for us to venture into the realm of spiritual warfare, we need to be dressed properly. When you are getting ready to go into work, you dress for the task at hand. If you are moving your home, you would not dress in a suit and tie or evening dress. Why? Because it is likely that you will get sweaty and dirty. If you are going to work in your garden, you are not going to wear what you would if you were about to meet a distinguished member of your country's government. You would dress accordingly. If we are going out to battle the enemy of our souls for the health, vitality, and restoration of our marriage we should dress accordingly.
Ephesians 6:10-17
10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age,[c] against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
14 Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God;
14 Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God;
This is our dress when we go out to fight. And since we don't fight for our marriages a couple days out of the week or for a few hours a day, we need to be dressed for battle ALL THE TIME. That way we can STAND at all times.
The armor goes on just as if you were dressing for war. There is a reason why we the armor is described in this fashion. Let's look at each of the pieces and why they are important...
Belt of Truth (waist girded with truth)
The reason that we put this on first is so that we are covered, first and foremost, with truth. Not subjective truth but Absolute Truth. The truth that comes from Jesus Christ. When we know the truth, we cannot and will not be persuaded by lies. The lies from the enemy fall on deaf ears once truth has spoken. In Roman times (when this was written) this belt would be the same as a war skirts that soldiers would wear. It covered the loins which, in both men and women, hold the reproductive organs. We need to cover our ability to reproduce with truth.
Breastplate of Righteousness
We cover our vital organs with righteousness. Not our own righteousness but the righteousness that comes from being in right standing with God. Isaiah 64:6 says that our own righteousness is like filthy rags (aka women's menstrual pads...just being real, folks). We need the righteousness of God to come and cover our heart. The Bible says that out of the heart flow the issues of life and that out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. By keeping our heart covered with the righteousness of God, it keeps it right before Him and as a result keeps our heart tender.
Gospel of Peace Shoes
As we struggle to keep ourselves in a right mind, we will eventually fail. Our minds will go to dark places. However, when we make our foundation (our feet) one of peace, even the most hideous of storms will not cause is to lose our peace. We need to strap them on tight. Philippians 4:7 is part of a prayer we should pray...that the peace of God that passes understanding would guard our hearts and minds. The road to marital restoration is tumultuous at its best. Put on the shoes that will allow you to have peace in your stance.
Shield of Faith
Above all, make sure grab this everyday. With it you will not only stop but quench or extinguish the fiery darts from the enemy. The shield of faith is what will enable you to see your marriage through the lies of what it looks like right now. Your faith will allow you to see God coming through when it looks like all is lost. This shield is one that you can completely hide behind when the battle becomes to ferocious and still be safe. This shield has the ability to join together with other fellow warriors and standers to make an impenetrable wall. Your faith in Jesus will become your greatest defense. Your faith in Him will stand for you when it seems like you are unable to make it.Helmet of Salvation
Where does our salvation come from? It does not come from Dr. Phil or Oprah. It does not come from any other. Our salvation comes from the One who took death, hell, and the grave on the chin and came back victorious from them. In Exodus 14:16, when Israel was facing the Red Sea on one side and the armies of Egypt on the other, Moses told Israel to STAND still and see the salvation of the Lord. This helmet covers our eyes so that we see like He sees. He sees in the realm of faith and impossibilities. This helmet covers our ears. The enemy is screaming his lies and we are able to only hear the gentle but firm
voice of our King. It covers our mind so that the mind that was in Christ Jesus would be in us (Philippians 2:5). It covers our mouth so that we only speak what we hear the King saying. And if, God forbid that your shield isn't up, your helmet will not allow Satan to take you out with one shot.
Sword of the Spirit
Our only offensive weapon but one that can cut through anything. Hebrews 4:12 says that it is living and powerful and is able to pierce to the division of soul and spirit. The Word of God needs to not only be hidden in your heart (Psalms 119:11) but also in your mouth (Joshua 1:8). We need to become proficient with the Word of God. Memorize it. Meditate on it. This does not mean to sit in a difficult yoga pose and clear your mind. It actually means to FILL your entire being with His Words. Even Jesus, when battling Satan while He was fasting in the wilderness, didn't fight with any other weapon. He spoke the words that the Father had long ago authored. If it worked for Jesus, it should work for us.
The only area that is not covered is our back. The reason for that is that the King never intended for us to turn our back to the fight. We are expected to advance. And if we cannot advance, we are told to stand. Don't give up ground that has already been taken.
Now that we are dressed, we are ready to fight. But, don't stop with outfitting yourself with for the fight. Dress your spouse for battle. They may not be able to do it for themselves but you can for them. I did it for Josh while he was gone. It is likely the only thing that kept his life from being snatched before his time. Dress your kids. The enemy doesn't just want your marriage; he wants the destiny of your kids, too. If he can take out their future by destroying your marriage now, he will. Don't let him!
Get your armor on...EVERYDAY!!! We have only begun to fight!!
Josh and Serena
We fight together!!
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