C. Peter Wagner tells us that "Demonization is now being recognized as a spiritual problem more and more in churches across the theological spectrum.
Even in those churches that have had a long ministry history of casting out demons, certain people are regularly called upon for the difficult cases.
They have more God-given ability to deal with the demonic than most others do, although I believe that every Christian has been given authority to cast out demons in the name of Jesus.
My wife, Doris, has this gift of exorcism.
I clearly recall one Sunday morning in Lake Avenue Congregational church when Pastor Paul Cedar preached a sermon on healing.
Instead of inviting those in need of healing to go to the nearby prayer room after the service as he usually did, he asked those who needed physical healing to come forward.
Cedar then invited people in the congregation who knew how to pray for the sick to come and help calling Doris and me by name.
I prayed for one woman who had scoliosis, quite a noticeable case of curvature of the spine.
The presence of God was strong in the sanctuary, and He moved so powerfully in her back I could feel the vertebrae moving and crunching under my hand as the spine straightened up.
As I was finishing I notice out of the corner of my eye that my friend Phyllis Bennet was patiently waiting for me.
Phyllis told me she had been suffering from a terrible pain in her chest, which her doctor could not diagnose.
Since it had similar symptoms to an ulcer, her doctor had put her on ulcer medication, even though an ulcer had not shown up on the x-ray. It was not responding well at all to the medical treatment she was receiving.
Then she showed me an ugly rash on her left forearm where the flesh had actually begun to fall off in chunks.
As I prayed for Phyllis, I sensed, as I do from time to time, that nothing at all was happening—just the opposite of the previous woman I had prayed for.
When I finished, I began giving her some words of consolation and faith, knowing very well that the ulcer was still there. I had not yet noticed that Doris, after praying for another person herself, had come up beside me.
An intense look came on Doris's face and she gently but firmly pushed me to one side.
The Spirit of God had indicated to her that she was to take a different approach.
She told Phyllis to look into eyes and almost instantly she locked horns in the unseen world with a demonic spirit that she knew Phyllis had picked up through a curse while in India.
Casting out demons is not the usual Sunday fare in our Congregational church sanctuary on Sunday mornings, but Doris was experienced enough to bind the demon and not allow it to speak or manifest in any way.
After a minute or two, Phyllis's eyes open with a look of terror as if she were watching a horror movie, her body jerked a bit, then total peace.
The evil spirit was gone.
The pain in her chest was instantly healed! It left immediately.
Phyllis went back to the doctor who took her off the medication. Two weeks later she passed me in her car, rolled down the window, held out her left arm.
The rash was well on its way to recover. It had been caused by the medication she was taking for the 'ulcer.'
Now here is the point. I have a spiritual gift of healing and I see quite a few people healed when I pray for them.
However, if it had not been for Doris and her spiritual gift of exorcism, Phyllis would likely still have her ulcer.
I myself had no sense at all that we were dealing with anything more than a physical ulcer. But this is how the Body of Christ works. "The eye cannot say to the hand, 'I have no need of you' " 1 Cor. 12:21.
Experiences like this encourage me to believe that we do well to add the gift of exorcism to the list of spiritual gifts.
I will elaborate on the gift of intercession in some detail, but first we need to understand the differences between spiritual gifts and Christian roles."
The next post 8/15, Gifts and Roles
Today’s post -#17 The Gift of Exorcism, in the series taken from C. Peter Wagner’s book, PRAYER SHIELD, How to intercede for pastors, Christian leaders and others on the spiritual frontlines. (pgs. 44-46) By Regal Books
Let’s pray: Father, we desire You to work in and through us. Open our understanding to the opportunities given us from time to time. May we prayerfully seek Your guidance in every situation. May we be open to others' involvement, too, like Doris' coming along side to minister more help to Phyllis. Teach us to be good stewards of what we're learning, that we may be of help to those in need. In the precious Name of Jesus we ask, amen.
Today’s Bible
verse: Ps. 97:10 NKJV "You who love the LORD, hate evil! He preserves the souls of His saints; He delivers them out of the hand of the wicked."
Today’s quotes:
Our Daily Bread – "The unseen Spirit of God is the greatest protection against sins unseen dangers.”
Our Daily Bread – "The unseen Spirit of God is the greatest protection against sins unseen dangers.”
Our thoughts today: When we empty ourselves of lies, the truth comes in!
-Satan creates distractions to try to keep you from God’s plan for you.
-In every single battle we have, we have the promise of success.
-Real prayer is a relationship. In the Presence of God, our prayers have a different quality. We learn His will, and pray for it to be done.
Tomorrow’s post: Compelled to Tell Butch Dias shares the following:
"This day I am compelled to tell,
That Jesus died to save us from hell.
He paid the price for my liberty,
To break the chains of sin for me..."
A popular post: #6 How Powerful are These Petitions? C. Peter Wagner goes on to tell us, "Some may ask: Do you really mean that the petition of a mere human being can determine the actions of an almighty and all-powerful God?.. The answer is yes. This is the way the Almighty God chose to design the world and to structure our relationship with Him.
 |
| When we look here, we'll find direction |
[Google images added]
Granny's Guide to Marriage in Verse
Author: Jean Oathout
About the book: In this powerfully moving devotional, poet Jean Oathout reveals God's hidden wisdom for marriage. Compiled in lyrical verse, these insightful poems provide scriptural advice, practical applications and prayerful guidance for women seeking the heart of God. Granny’s Guide to Marriage in Verse: Wisdom for Brides offers time-honored tips for building a successful marriage.
Learn how to love and support your mate through godly wisdom and spiritual resolve. Readers will be encouraged, challenged, and blessed.
jean-oathout.blogspot.com (save to check in sometime)
Kindle $1.99
 |
A great gift for someone who
needs help in their marriage
needs help in their marriage
Bridal Shower Devotional
Bridal Wisdom for Women
My book in paperback $7.95
Granny's Guide to Marriage in Verse
No comments:
Post a Comment