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The Struggle of Faith
Viv Grigg, 2008
1. The Struggle of Faith
The Struggle Within The Shadow Side (Romans 1:18-32; 3:23) Walking in The Light (1 John 1:5-9)
The Flesh wars against the Spirit (Gal 5:16-26) We began with repentance, we continue with daily
confession We began with trust, we continue with
dependence
Warfare with the World, Flesh, Devil
The Struggle Within Always in Conflict Spiritual warfare
is primarily warfarewith our own desires
But the context of the cosmos
And the prowling of the devil
Confuse and
cause conflict
Holy Spirit
Flesh =Sinful nature
Our Spirits
Warfare with the Flesh
Spiritual warfareis primarily warfarewith our own desires
We can’t improve the flesh (unlike Buddhist spirituality), only put it to death
Romans 7 and 8 are great chapters on these issues
Holy Spirit
Flesh =Sinful nature
Our Spirits
Nee, Watchman. (1968). The Spiritual Man (Vol. 1). New York: Christian Fellowship Publishers.
Levels of Authority in Warfare with Spirits and Powers
Know your level of authority with GodSources of Authority
Granted GraceAuthority through struggle.The rights of men and women of faith
(Jeremiah 33:3)Such authority comes in covenants with him
Authority is based in proclamation, discernment and in obedient action
The Life of an Intercessor
Incarnate in the Pain Carrying the People’s Cries to God and God to the
People Ask, ask, ask, ask, ask….(John 15:7, 16: 16:24; Jer
33:3) Ask big enough to glorify him No asking if no mountain retreats
The discipline of silence No seeing if no fasting No receiving without cleansing
You do not have because you ask with wrong motives to spend it on your own passions (James 4:3).
J. O. Fraser, Mountain Rain, OMF
Four Levels of Authority
Personal SpiritualityCommunity/Church Level Warfare
E.g. prophecy in a churchCity/Country Level Warfare
Engaging in the opposite spiritCreating movements
Cosmic Spiritual Warfare (II Cor 10:3)Capitalism, communism, consumerism
Level 3: National Movement Level
The Role of the Prophet, the Seer, the Visionary, the Strategist, the G2 (the man/woman of words) The Necessity of study, understanding the Issues and the
Times (Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel) The Role of the Apostle (the fanatic)
Team builder, implementer of the vision, founder of movements
Institutions as Prophetic Centres (the institutionaliser) Institutionalising Dreams, Values The Academe as Locus of Conflict (II Cor 10:3) The Music Industry, the Media as Controlling Institution
Hoffer, Eric. (1951). The True Believer. New York and London: Harper & Row.
Counterattack
What are the Enemy’s Designs on God’s People?
E.g.Death and sickness of family members when we penetrate his authority in a new community.
Wounded healers, healed wounded
Irritations E.g. 26 errors in Telecom connecting a phone line. E.g. Emails going to wrong people
A Discipline: Pray daily, “deliver us from evil”.
Level 4. Cosmic LevelPerspectives on Principalities and Powers
Walter Wink, liberal perspective that collective humanness generates social values, structures, ‘isms against which we fight
Pentecostal perspective that spirit beings intrude into human activity
McAlpine, Thomas H. (2003). Facing the Powers: What Are the Options? Wipf & Stock Publishers. Discusses four different approaches.
World Under Satan’s Tentative Dominance
Prince of the Power of the Air (Eph 2:2)Ruler of the World (John 12:31)
Whole world lies in his power (1 John 5:17).The Manner of Warfare – The Cross
Death to SelfE.g. Parehaka as community of Peace & Ghandi
Service to the PoorestSeeking God to bring Justice
Eg. My friend against the dams
Conflict with the World (1 John 2:15,16)
Organised systems of human values opposed to the life of Christ in believers
A composite expression of the depravity of man and the intrigues of Satan’s rule, combining in opposition to the sovereign rule of God (Mark Bubeck in Boa, 336)
Not all human culture is of the world – much of it stems from the reflection of God in humanity (e.g. marriage, love of children…)