Good Day, Mdm!
Just to refresh what we discussed last week... The essence of Spiritual Warfare begins in our thoughts. What it means basically is whenever we allow a thought to reside in our mind, we are allowing that thought to manifest into an action. The Bible says we got to capture every thoughts in our mind and bring them to the obedience of Christ. Amen!
This week we will look at demon-possessed. Let's understand what exactly is demon-possessed and how one can be demon-possessed. I've found this website which have a good amount of information on this topic.
http://www.gotquestions.org/demon-possession.html
I've extracted this information here for our study today.
Question: "What does the Bible say about demon possession / demonic possession?"
Answer:The Bible gives some examples of people possessed or influenced by demons. From these examples we can find some symptoms of demonic influence and gain insight as to how a demon possesses someone. Here are some of the biblical passages:Matthew 9:32-33;12:22;17:18; Mark 5:1-20;7:26-30; Luke 4:33-36; Luke 22:3; Acts 16:16-18.
In some of these passages, the demon possession causes physical ailments such as inability to speak, epileptic symptoms, blindness, etc. In other cases, it causes the individual to do evil, Judas being the main example. In Acts 16:16-18, the spirit apparently gives a slave girl some ability to know things beyond her own learning. The demon-possessed man of the Gadarenes, who was possessed by a multitude of demons (Legion), had superhuman strength and lived naked among the tombstones. King Saul, after rebelling against the LORD, was troubled by an evil spirit (1 Samuel 16:14-15;18:10-11;19:9-10) with the apparent effect of a depressed mood and an increased desire to kill David.
Wednesday, August 27, 2014
Thursday, August 21, 2014
Week 46: Spiritual Warfare - Obedience Of Christ
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We are in the series of Spiritual Warfare.. We have spoken about the devil's tactics and how he will try to stir up our emotions which would eventually lead us to manifest in our action. An angry man and continue to be angry will eventually punch someone on the face or worst still kill someone. Even if he can contain his anger, such frustration will eventually result in health problem to that person. No matter which angle you look at this, someone will suffer as a result. Be it the man with anger or the one being punched, someone will suffer.
Whatever it is, the devil doesn't care. His aim is to destroy us. Whoever suffer in this case, it is a win-win situation for the devil. That's why Spiritual Warfare always start with us and how we, by the grace of God, control our thoughts. When it comes to Spiritual Warfare, this passage is famous in the Bible and it has every reason to it.
2 Cor 10:3-5 (AMP)
3 For though we walk (live) in the flesh, we are not carrying on our warfare according to the flesh and using mere human weapons.4 For the weapons of our warfare are not physical [weapons of flesh and blood], but they are mighty before God for the overthrow and destruction of strongholds,5 [Inasmuch as we] refute arguments and theories and reasoning and every proud and lofty thing that sets itself up against the [true] knowledge of God; and we lead every thought and purpose away captive into the obedience of Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One),
Wednesday, August 13, 2014
Week 45: Spiritual Warfare - Case Study
Good day, Mdm!
This week, we will do a case study related to Spiritual Warfare... I refer to this new I read yesterday:
http://www.marketwatch.com/story/robin-williams-hanged-himself-with-a-belt-police-2014-08-12
Another one bites the dust. Yesterday morning, I saw the news that Robin Williams passed away. According to the report, initial evidence points to "a suicide due to asphyxia," (asphyxia refers to suffocation or lack of supply of oxygen to body). Not sure if he choked himself intentionally since it is a suicide. (afternote: Indeed, he hang himself)
Apparently, he has been battling severe depression of late. What a waste. With all due respect, someone who has gained great fame and well respected for his outstanding acting, won numerous prestiges awards and brought many laughter and joy to the audience, sorted to end his life by committing suicide? It make us think what life is all about? Fame and wealth is not the answer to life, if it is so, Williams won't have to seek death. I'm using the word very carefully here. Seek - an act of looking out for. We know the answer to life. It is so simple, to trust Jesus and His finished work but yet many prefer to choose the ways of the world, which can be devastating most of the time.
On further reading the news, it reveals that Robin Williams was addicted to cocaine. Here's what he said about having cocaine:
"Cocaine for me was a place to hide," Williams told People in 1988. "Most people get hyper on coke. It slowed me down. Sometimes it made me paranoid and impotent, but mostly it just made me withdrawn. And I was so crazy back then — working all day, partying most of the night — I needed an excuse not to talk. I needed quiet times and I used coke to get them."
This week, we will do a case study related to Spiritual Warfare... I refer to this new I read yesterday:
http://www.marketwatch.com/story/robin-williams-hanged-himself-with-a-belt-police-2014-08-12
Another one bites the dust. Yesterday morning, I saw the news that Robin Williams passed away. According to the report, initial evidence points to "a suicide due to asphyxia," (asphyxia refers to suffocation or lack of supply of oxygen to body). Not sure if he choked himself intentionally since it is a suicide. (afternote: Indeed, he hang himself)
Apparently, he has been battling severe depression of late. What a waste. With all due respect, someone who has gained great fame and well respected for his outstanding acting, won numerous prestiges awards and brought many laughter and joy to the audience, sorted to end his life by committing suicide? It make us think what life is all about? Fame and wealth is not the answer to life, if it is so, Williams won't have to seek death. I'm using the word very carefully here. Seek - an act of looking out for. We know the answer to life. It is so simple, to trust Jesus and His finished work but yet many prefer to choose the ways of the world, which can be devastating most of the time.
On further reading the news, it reveals that Robin Williams was addicted to cocaine. Here's what he said about having cocaine:
"Cocaine for me was a place to hide," Williams told People in 1988. "Most people get hyper on coke. It slowed me down. Sometimes it made me paranoid and impotent, but mostly it just made me withdrawn. And I was so crazy back then — working all day, partying most of the night — I needed an excuse not to talk. I needed quiet times and I used coke to get them."
Thursday, August 7, 2014
Week 44: Spiritual Warfare- Of What Spirit?
Good day, Mdm!
We have been discussing on spiritual warfare for the past two weeks. We have specifically look into the tactics of the devil. One of the common tactics of Satan is to point us to ourselves, our identities and our needs. The moment he can grab hold of our attention in these areas, he can tempt us to trigger our emotions and as a result lead us to manifest into physical action.
At the garden of Eden, the serpent pointed Eve to her own desire. In other words, the serpent pointed her focus away from God's Word (despite God's warning on eating the tree of knowledge of good and evil). Do you see that? Have a look at Genesis 3. The serpent tried to lure Eve to the idea she can be superior, like God. But, she failed to realize that she was already like God! Didn't God said in Gen 1:26 "Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule..."
Question: Who rule the earth before Adam & Eve were made? God. Now God said here "...so that they may rule.." Who were God referring to? Adam & Eve. From here, can you see that God is giving the rulership to them? Weren't they like God?
The thing is this. Satan is very cunning. So, spiritual warfare to some extent may not be as simple as it seem. We are fighting at something we cannot see (spiritual), yet at the same time we have to deal with some thing we can see, touch, feel, experience. Which is easier? To "see" the natural or spiritual?
Most of time, we can get carried away easily with our emotions (eg the pain on our neck, disappointment over the negative medical report, impatience over a slow driver in front, anger over critics or rude customer services, etc) because these are real; they can be felt, touched, experienced with our physical senses. Our physical senses demand our immediate respond. To complicate matter, Satan will cunningly present before us a "real" picture of our natural circumstances. Only when we have discerning Spirits, we can deal with the issues spiritually (for we do not wrestle with flesh and blood, but against principalities, powers and rulers of darkness).
We have been discussing on spiritual warfare for the past two weeks. We have specifically look into the tactics of the devil. One of the common tactics of Satan is to point us to ourselves, our identities and our needs. The moment he can grab hold of our attention in these areas, he can tempt us to trigger our emotions and as a result lead us to manifest into physical action.
At the garden of Eden, the serpent pointed Eve to her own desire. In other words, the serpent pointed her focus away from God's Word (despite God's warning on eating the tree of knowledge of good and evil). Do you see that? Have a look at Genesis 3. The serpent tried to lure Eve to the idea she can be superior, like God. But, she failed to realize that she was already like God! Didn't God said in Gen 1:26 "Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule..."
Question: Who rule the earth before Adam & Eve were made? God. Now God said here "...so that they may rule.." Who were God referring to? Adam & Eve. From here, can you see that God is giving the rulership to them? Weren't they like God?
The thing is this. Satan is very cunning. So, spiritual warfare to some extent may not be as simple as it seem. We are fighting at something we cannot see (spiritual), yet at the same time we have to deal with some thing we can see, touch, feel, experience. Which is easier? To "see" the natural or spiritual?
Most of time, we can get carried away easily with our emotions (eg the pain on our neck, disappointment over the negative medical report, impatience over a slow driver in front, anger over critics or rude customer services, etc) because these are real; they can be felt, touched, experienced with our physical senses. Our physical senses demand our immediate respond. To complicate matter, Satan will cunningly present before us a "real" picture of our natural circumstances. Only when we have discerning Spirits, we can deal with the issues spiritually (for we do not wrestle with flesh and blood, but against principalities, powers and rulers of darkness).
Friday, August 1, 2014
Week 43: Spiritual Warfare Part 2 - Self-Focus (Supplement)
Romans 4:5
5 But to him who does not work but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness
Boldness is what God wants you to have when you come to Him. He does not want you to be afraid to come to Him, feeling unworthy because of your sins. He wants you to come boldly to Him, knowing that the death, burial and resurrection of His Son Jesus Christ has justified you and qualified you to boldly receive from Him.
This was the kind of boldness that the woman with the issue of blood had when she touched Jesus. (Mark 5:25–34) Now, by touching Jesus, she knew that she was breaking a Levitical law which states that anyone with a bodily discharge is unclean, and should not appear in public, let alone touch another person. (Leviticus 15)
But she refused to feel condemned by the law. She believed what she had heard about Jesus, and was confident that there would only be love and compassion, not condemnation, from Him. She believed that Jesus would justify her and qualify her to receive the miracle she needed. That was why she boldly pressed her way into the crowd to touch Jesus, who indeed said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well.” (Mark 5:34)
What was it about her faith that made her well? Romans 4:5 talks about faith that believes God justifies the ungodly. When you believe that God justifies the ungodly, it will give you boldness to come to God, even when you feel unclean because you have just blown it.
When you fail, don’t run away from God. Run boldly to Him, knowing that you are justified by the blood of Christ and not by your good behavior.
The devil may say to you, “How can you do that? Who do you think you are?” Don’t listen to him. Pick yourself up and thank God for the blood and the gift of no condemnation. (Romans 8:1) If God justifies the ungodly, how much more you, His beloved child!
5 But to him who does not work but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness
Boldness is what God wants you to have when you come to Him. He does not want you to be afraid to come to Him, feeling unworthy because of your sins. He wants you to come boldly to Him, knowing that the death, burial and resurrection of His Son Jesus Christ has justified you and qualified you to boldly receive from Him.
This was the kind of boldness that the woman with the issue of blood had when she touched Jesus. (Mark 5:25–34) Now, by touching Jesus, she knew that she was breaking a Levitical law which states that anyone with a bodily discharge is unclean, and should not appear in public, let alone touch another person. (Leviticus 15)
But she refused to feel condemned by the law. She believed what she had heard about Jesus, and was confident that there would only be love and compassion, not condemnation, from Him. She believed that Jesus would justify her and qualify her to receive the miracle she needed. That was why she boldly pressed her way into the crowd to touch Jesus, who indeed said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well.” (Mark 5:34)
What was it about her faith that made her well? Romans 4:5 talks about faith that believes God justifies the ungodly. When you believe that God justifies the ungodly, it will give you boldness to come to God, even when you feel unclean because you have just blown it.
When you fail, don’t run away from God. Run boldly to Him, knowing that you are justified by the blood of Christ and not by your good behavior.
The devil may say to you, “How can you do that? Who do you think you are?” Don’t listen to him. Pick yourself up and thank God for the blood and the gift of no condemnation. (Romans 8:1) If God justifies the ungodly, how much more you, His beloved child!
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