Hi folks
I sent you recently a prayer update with comments regarding the victories in Jesus won by Him during the prayer times at Northwestern College Monday and Tuesday. One of the women forwarded me the “testimony” of her prayer time yesterday (I had encouraged her to “journal” her memories of the prayer time for future reference and for the encouragement of the body of Christ). I believe her comments below will greatly encourage you, as they have me
they are as fine a testimony and exposition of “truth” as I have ever read!!! (i have not edited her testimony below one iota)
Kess
________________
SHE SAID
Before today (April 25, 2006) I did not honestly believe in the power of the spiritual world (both good and evil). I did not believe that evil spirits could deceive me, control me, or manifest in me, a Christian. I also did not fully believe the authority given to me by Christ over them. I am writing this as a testament to God’s amazing work He has done in my life so that if it be His will, this testimony may minister to others. I believe God has freed me like never before today. I am free in Christ. I have been given authority over all demonic forces by the power of God in me. I have been freed today from the spirit of religion (legalism) and it no longer has authority or business in me. I have also been freed of the spirits of pride, selfishness, arrogance, sexual immorality, condemnation, guilt, and shame. These spirits are gone from my life by the authority God gave to me, His child. He loves me, I am good enough! I am a witness and testament to the power and control spirits can have over a Christian, but much further, the power of God that is transferred to Christians to claim freedom from darkness. Christ will have the final say, the victory is already won. I will stumble again, I will sin, but God in His mercy and grace will forgive me. I do not need to be perfect. Perfectionism is sin and I have repented and been forgiven of it. Today, without my will and beyond my control, at least one spirit manifested itself in me. This spirit attempted to keep control over me. But by the authority given to the body of Christ and me I was made free. My body did involuntarily thrash, convulse, kick, and my tongue involuntarily lied and cursed others and myself. Also, I believe the spirits in me manifested through my emotions and I felt at various times both anger and fear against my will. The spirits in me forced me to have dichotomist thinking several times, for instance, I knew I really wanted Scripture read, but I heard myself shouting in fear “no, no, no!” This, of course, was not me, but the spirits within me. I believe that none of this was of me or of God. These spirits had control over me for 21 years but I have been made free by the power of Christ. He is more powerful than those spirits which manifested today. The events of today solidified my belief that spirits can and do have power over Christians. Christians can and do live unconscious of their sins and involuntarily be submitting to the works of the devil and not God. These things did happen against my will. Today I realized my authority in Christ, that I am good enough. God has called me to be a testament of His power and authority. Through witnessing the power of the evil one and seeing Christ conquer that by the authority He has placed on me and others, I know now more than ever the power of God and the power given through Him to me as His child.
___________________
FOLKS, I AM REMINDED OF LUKE 10:17-20
The seventy-two returned with joy and said, “Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name.”
He (Jesus) replied, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you. 20 However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”
FROM JESUS OWN MOUTH, THAT HIGHLIGHTED VERSE “20” DEPICTS THE PROPER PERSPECTIVE – IT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO “NOT” BE ENAMORED WITH THE SPIRIT WORLD. HOWEVER, IT IS ALSO VERY IMPORTANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE NOT IGNORANT OR FEARFUL OF IT EITHER. JESUS IS THE ONE IN AUTHORITY, AND HE HAS GIVEN US HIS AUTHORITY TO FULFILL “HIS” GREAT COMMISION.
Matt 28:18-20 – Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
AND FURTHERMORE, OUR COMMISION AS THE NEW TESTAMENT CHURCH AND AS THE BODY OF CHRIST IS TO FULFILL THE MINISTRY OF JESUS, AS WE ARE HIS REPRESENTATIVES
Matt 10:8 – (Jesus said), “Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received, freely give”.
Mark 16:15 – He (Jesus) said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation”.
John 14:12 – (Jesus said), “I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father”.
ADDITIONALLY, THE WORD OF GOD SAID FURTHER IN THIS LUKE 10 PASSAGE
At that time Jesus, full of joy through the Holy Spirit, said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children.”
AS DEPICTED IN THE WORD OF GOD HERE ABOVE, “THE WISE AND LEARNED” WILL MISS THE TRUTHS OF GOD, AND THOSE WITH “THE SIMPLE FAITH OF A CHILD” WILL SEE THE TRUTHS OF GOD.
MAY WE IN EVANGELICAL AMERICA, WHERE THERE IS SO MUCH “GREAT LEARNING”, ZEALOUSLY GUARD OURSELVES FROM THE RELIGIOUS PRIDE AND THE DOCTRINAL ARROGANCE THAT BLOCKS THE SIMPLICITY OF THE POWER OF GOD GIVEN TO THE BODY OF CHRIST FOR THE GLORY OF GOD AND THE FURTHERANCE OF HIS KINGDOM
Matthew 13:58 – And he did not do many miracles there because of their lack of faith.
Scotty Kessler Resource Library 