C. Peter Wagner: Many of us will recall the story of
Rumpelstiltskin, which we heard as children.
This anecdote from German folklore is clearly a tale involving
demonic power. The dwarf has access to supernatural power,
which allows him to spin flax into gold in order to save the life of the king's bride.
Obviously, this supernatural power is not from God because Rumpelstiltskin's price for the service is nothing less that her first child.
When the child is born, the poor girl wants to renege, but the dwarf will allow her to do so only on the improbable condition that she guess his name.
She discovers his name and the curse is broken. The story has a happy ending, and allows us to see that in the world of the demonic, knowing a proper name can be important.
I am not using a fairy tale to prove a spiritual principle, but only as a well-known illustration of the significance names can have within the worldview of a people (such as pre-Christian Germans) who are under strong demonic oppression.
Clinton Arnold affirms that "The calling of names of supernatural 'powers' was fundamental to the practice of magic" in first century Ephesus. [in his book, Ephesians:Power and Magic, p. 54]
Vernon Sterk says that among Tzotzils..
"The shamans pride themselves in calling on the actual
names of all of the different spirits and deities when they
have difficult cases."
The Dictionary of New testament Theology summarizes it well:
"In the faith and thought of virtually every nation the name
is inextricably bound up with the person, whether of a man
a god or a demon. Anyone who knows the name of a being
can exert power over it" (emphasis Wagner's).
Google image and emphasis added)
#88 Rumpelstiltskin
By C. Peter Wagner
(pp. 148 - 150) Regal Books
Father, thank You for loving me so much, that You enabled Jesus to take my punishment I deserve. I want to commit myself to You, and to what You're doing in my church.
Help me pray effectively for my pastor and leaders, that they
will hear from You, to know Your will and lead us to be victorious against the evil forces that are active here.
I pray this in Jesus' name. Amen.
Today’s Bible verse: Jer. 32:27 "Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh: is there any thing too hard for me?"
Today’s quote: Dr. Charles F. Stanley - "The Savior loves you intimately
moment." (Taken from In Touch daily readings for devoted living August 2015, pg 24)
moment." (Taken from In Touch daily readings for devoted living August 2015, pg 24)
Some thoughts today: Have you wondered, How does what I'm doing fit into the big picture? Our value is not in what we've done, but what Jesus has done. We're a part of it!
~ Being a part of the whole is where our value is. God's desire is to give us focus into what He's doing. Do we value our Church family? We need to remember Who the Church belongs to, and Who is the Head.
~ When we're plugged in to our church, we become a part of something God's doing.
~ Being a part of the whole is where our value is. God's desire is to give us focus into what He's doing. Do we value our Church family? We need to remember Who the Church belongs to, and Who is the Head.
~ When we're plugged in to our church, we become a part of something God's doing.
22nd- Saturday’s post: Plans that Change
Jean Oathout (notes from message by Bill Hull)
23rd- Sunday evening's post: Rocket Fuel
Lisa Buffaloe
25th- Tuesday's post; #89 Putting it into Practice
C. Peter Wagner
27th- Thursday's post: #90 Spiritual Mapping
C. Peter Wagner
Jean Oathout (notes from message by Bill Hull)
23rd- Sunday evening's post: Rocket Fuel
Lisa Buffaloe
25th- Tuesday's post; #89 Putting it into Practice
C. Peter Wagner
27th- Thursday's post: #90 Spiritual Mapping
C. Peter Wagner
A popular post: When We Cry Out to God 
good article.
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