"Now the Lord is the Spirit: and
where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty."
2 Corinthians 3:17
If freedom is the standard, let the standard
be freedom. Then let's see how free we all will be. Let's see if the standard is applied equally.
God.
Can He simply be who He is? As He said to
Moses from a burning bush, "I am who I am."
But we reject Him as He is and attempt to make
Him in our image, instead of accepting the eternal honor of being made in His
image.
Jesus.
Blonde haired?
Blue eyed? Afro? Hippie?
Conservative Republican?
Rarely simply the God Man, descendent of Abraham,
The Word Made Flesh.
The Spirit.
Less than God?
Less than Christ? Less than the
Bible?
Not often seen for who He is: The Creator.
The Spirit of God the Father and The Savior. The one who inspired the written word of God,
and continues to speak, being God.
Of course creation renders no oppression upon the
Creator.
Never enslaved, the One who Is Who He Is remains
so, whether we agree or disagree with His Sovereignty.
Let’s see if we can be free: Without God.
Wednesday, March 27, 2013
How to speak and act with AUTHORITY!
“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me." Matthew 28:18
For our actions and words to have impact and purpose, they must possess authority. Authority means the right and might to command attention or action, to "reward" obedience, and to "punish" disobedience." This means that there is a benefit in giving attention and action to your words and actions, if you have authority. It also means there is loss in disregarding your words and actions. Every meaningful word and action has authority. And all authority comes from the Lord Jesus Christ, who received all authority from God the Father.
Observe the words of a commanding soldier who spoke to Jesus concerning authority:
The centurion understood and teaches us this principle:
To be in authority, we must be under authority.
Jesus illustrates this principle further when some questioned the authority of his teachings:
For our actions and words to have impact and purpose, they must possess authority. Authority means the right and might to command attention or action, to "reward" obedience, and to "punish" disobedience." This means that there is a benefit in giving attention and action to your words and actions, if you have authority. It also means there is loss in disregarding your words and actions. Every meaningful word and action has authority. And all authority comes from the Lord Jesus Christ, who received all authority from God the Father.
Observe the words of a commanding soldier who spoke to Jesus concerning authority:
When Jesus had entered Capernaum, a centurion came to him, asking for help. “Lord,” he said, “my servant lies at home paralyzed, suffering terribly.”Jesus said to him, “Shall I come and heal him?”The
centurion replied, “Lord, I do not deserve to have you come under my
roof. But just say the word, and my servant will be healed For
I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this
one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and that one, ‘Come,’ and he comes. I say to my
servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.” Matthew 8:6-9
The centurion understood and teaches us this principle:
To be in authority, we must be under authority.
Jesus illustrates this principle further when some questioned the authority of his teachings:
About the middle of the feast Jesus went up into the temple and began teaching. The Jews therefore marveled, saying, “How is it that this man has learning, when he has never studied?” So Jesus answered them, “My teaching is not mine, but his who sent me. If anyone’s will is to do God’s will, he will know whether the teaching is from God or whether I am speaking on my own authority. The
one who speaks on his own authority seeks his own glory; but the one
who seeks the glory of him who sent him is true, and in him there is no
falsehood. John 7:14-18
So from the Lord Jesus, and from the commanding soldier, we see that authority is delegated from God and by God. The Lord himself didn't consider his authority to speak and act his own. From this the Spirit shows me three things about speaking and acting with authority:
1. We must speak and act in unity with a higher identity (God's or his delegated authority)
2. We must speak and act for a higher glory than our own glory
3. We must speak and act with the backing of a higher ability.
Higher identity.
Higher glory.
Higher ability.
For example, a deputy sheriff should not speak on his own authority, or based on his own identity and personality. She is a representative of the sheriff.
The deputy should seek the glory of democracy, the glory of the sheriff voted into office by the community.
This deputy does not use his own personal ability, the limited strength of her body. He uses the weapons issued by the sheriff with the skills taught by the sheriff.
When people in the community sees the deputy's uniform, badge, and gun, they understand they are not encountering Howard or Ramona, but Deputy Howard and Officer Ramona.
Even if you are not an officer of the law, in every relation there is a correlation of authority, of higher identity, glory and ability:
Even if you are not an officer of the law, in every relation there is a correlation of authority, of higher identity, glory and ability:
- If you are a child still living with your parents, God commands you to honor and obey your father and mother. Their identity is your higher identity. You seek their glory, which comes before yours. Their ability to care for you, guide, provide, and protect you are higher than yours.
- If you are an employee, you take the employer's higher identity, seeking his reputation and glory, depending on her resources and training.
- If you are alone, at the store, or in the community, you seek the higher glory of your Creator in the expression of your personality and liberty, which are images of Divine identity, and your free will sovereignty is a God given ability.
- If you are a believer, and a member of the body of Christ, you seek unity with the Spirit, the Highest Identity, doing all things for His glory, being filled and empowered with His ability.
Speak and act in unity with these three, and you will speak and act with impact and authority!
Monday, March 25, 2013
The Psychology of DEMONS (Part 3)
The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they
cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ,
who is the image of God.
2 Corinthians 4:4
How do we avoid thinking like demons?
First, we reject the self exalting assumption of demons. We renounce the supposed sovereignty of our identity, expressed through the life and death fight for the right to our opinion. Demons begin and end their assumptions with self as god. So do the self centered. They start from their "right" to think and feel and believe whatever they choose. They assume this right should NEVER be contradicted, should ALWAYS be defended, and should NEVER be defeated! To concede an opinion is the very loss of this person's identity, liberty, and reality. "NEVER!" they yell. They will fight to the spiritual death, and punish those who contradict them with words so hurtful they could permanently destroy relationships. To denounce demonic thinking, self must never be the starting point of an emotion or opinion.
Think right now of a strongly held opinion. ANY OPINION. Now think of the ORIGIN of this opinion, and the emotion behind the so called conviction. Is God the origin of the emotion or conviction behind the opinion? Is it God who is being dishonored and disobeyed if the opinion is rejected? Or do you feel these questions too "spiritual?" Do you feel you would just like to have a "normal" conversation without making everything about sin? Demons feel the same way!
Second, having rejected self as center, make God's mind and emotion the foundation of every assumption. This means that your "opinions" are just that--view points that you hold which may or may not be right or true, and are definitely NOT worth fighting for, dying for, or hurting others for. OPINION IS NO LONGER YOUR IDENTIFICATION!
How do we avoid being affected by demonic thought from others?
Authority.
Notice in the Garden of Eden how Satan assumed the authority to question Eve concerning God's word. Those who think like demons do the same. They assume an authority over you, and their opinion is law. They enforce their authority by punishing those who will not agree with their strongly held yet untrue view. If you fall for their assumed authority, the punishments begin, as it is written,
"Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one's slave, whom you obey?"
In other words, if you go along with the assumption of authority, answering the demonic thinker's questions as though you owed her an explanation, explaining yourself to him as though you must be approved by his mind, then you welcome the venom in his tone and accept the reward of her so called approval.
It is written again,
"Submit to God, resist the devil and he will flee from you."
The "shield of faith" quenches the fiery darts of the wicked one--the venomous and cruel tone that intimidates and infuriates, that tears out your heart. If you make up your mind to close yourself to lies and be open only to truth, then your shield of faith will stop the torturous words from entering your heart. If you choose ONLY to believe what God says about you, reality, and your identity, and if you REFUSE to believe anything else, then the tone of demonic thinking will become apparent. You will be unaffected by the one who has no authority over your mind or identity.
Who do you choose to believe has authority over identity and reality?
God alone possesses this authority.
Submit to God, and demonic thoughts will flee!
2 Corinthians 4:4
How do we avoid thinking like demons?
First, we reject the self exalting assumption of demons. We renounce the supposed sovereignty of our identity, expressed through the life and death fight for the right to our opinion. Demons begin and end their assumptions with self as god. So do the self centered. They start from their "right" to think and feel and believe whatever they choose. They assume this right should NEVER be contradicted, should ALWAYS be defended, and should NEVER be defeated! To concede an opinion is the very loss of this person's identity, liberty, and reality. "NEVER!" they yell. They will fight to the spiritual death, and punish those who contradict them with words so hurtful they could permanently destroy relationships. To denounce demonic thinking, self must never be the starting point of an emotion or opinion.
Think right now of a strongly held opinion. ANY OPINION. Now think of the ORIGIN of this opinion, and the emotion behind the so called conviction. Is God the origin of the emotion or conviction behind the opinion? Is it God who is being dishonored and disobeyed if the opinion is rejected? Or do you feel these questions too "spiritual?" Do you feel you would just like to have a "normal" conversation without making everything about sin? Demons feel the same way!
Second, having rejected self as center, make God's mind and emotion the foundation of every assumption. This means that your "opinions" are just that--view points that you hold which may or may not be right or true, and are definitely NOT worth fighting for, dying for, or hurting others for. OPINION IS NO LONGER YOUR IDENTIFICATION!
How do we avoid being affected by demonic thought from others?
Authority.
Notice in the Garden of Eden how Satan assumed the authority to question Eve concerning God's word. Those who think like demons do the same. They assume an authority over you, and their opinion is law. They enforce their authority by punishing those who will not agree with their strongly held yet untrue view. If you fall for their assumed authority, the punishments begin, as it is written,
"Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one's slave, whom you obey?"
In other words, if you go along with the assumption of authority, answering the demonic thinker's questions as though you owed her an explanation, explaining yourself to him as though you must be approved by his mind, then you welcome the venom in his tone and accept the reward of her so called approval.
It is written again,
"Submit to God, resist the devil and he will flee from you."
The "shield of faith" quenches the fiery darts of the wicked one--the venomous and cruel tone that intimidates and infuriates, that tears out your heart. If you make up your mind to close yourself to lies and be open only to truth, then your shield of faith will stop the torturous words from entering your heart. If you choose ONLY to believe what God says about you, reality, and your identity, and if you REFUSE to believe anything else, then the tone of demonic thinking will become apparent. You will be unaffected by the one who has no authority over your mind or identity.
- You'll refuse to even entertain those who reason like demons.
- You'll take spiritual authority over such thinking through prayer and the name of Jesus, as well as the presence and power of the Holy Spirit.
- If you must converse with someone who thinks like demons, having rendered powerless the spiritual forces behind their thoughts, you will "take their thoughts captive," "cast down their arguments," and subject their thoughts to Christ. You will receive words from the Holy Spirit that they will not be able to resist or contradict.
Who do you choose to believe has authority over identity and reality?
God alone possesses this authority.
Submit to God, and demonic thoughts will flee!
The Psychology of DEMONS (Part 2)
Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good
life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. Such “wisdom” does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.
James 3:13-16
For those who think like demons, or who have experienced interacting with a demonic mind:
Focus on what it FEELS like to think demonicly.
Think of a time when you've argued fiercely, and felt like defending your OPINION was a matter of life or death. A matter of your truest identity being on the line. It wasn't so much that you felt so strongly about the TRUTH of a personal conviction behind a personal opinion. But it was your RIGHT to have ANY AND EVERY opinion, true or false, right or wrong. Think of how you felt AFTER the hellishly heated argument. Didn't you wonder why you were so cruel in your tone of condescension and opposition? Why did that smirk come across your face? You know...the one you DENIED when the person you were hurting pointed it out. Yes, the one you were hurting...the one you found yourself to ENJOY hurting? You watched the pain on his face as you made a point about his past that you KNEW would devastate. Did that cruel point prove the truth of your strong opinion? When she winced at the venom in your tone of voice, did you enjoy the poison flowing through her ears?
Focus on what it FEELS like to experience demonic thoughts expressed to you.
Think of listening to someone who speaks like demons speak. You probably felt one of three ways:
1. If you were sincerely seeking truth, you may have felt a mind numbing paralysis of focus. You struggled to remember WHAT THE ARGUMENT WAS EVEN ABOUT! This was partly because the person constantly strayed from the topic just as you were about to drive home a key truth. But it was mainly because the harshness and hatred in tone left you so stunned that you felt you couldn't think clearly.
2. You felt such intense rage that it almost felt like you could become physically violent. You wanted to scream, push, or whatever it took to simply release the fury felt after being insulted and condescended. Yet as you felt this, the person would suddenly become as calm as still water. She would then urge YOU to calm down.
3. You just wanted this conversation to END! Not only that. You NEVER wanted to experience conversation again with this person again. You simply CONCEDED to whatever opinion this person so strongly held. Not because she was right. Not because what he said was undeniably true. But because you felt intimidated. Punished. Tormented. It really didn't seem worth all of the pain the conversation caused. But this is often the goal of demons: TO SILENCE TRUTH. They do this through intimidation. They make you regret you even MET the one you are arguing with!
So, whether you think like demons think, or have been on the receiving end of demonic thought, one thing is certain: it is in the realm of EMOTION and SPIRIT that demonic psychology makes an impact. In fact, it is an ASSAULT on the spirit through emotion. How do we keep from thinking like demons think, or allowing demonic thoughts to assault us in this way......? (Click part 3 for the answers!)
James 3:13-16
For those who think like demons, or who have experienced interacting with a demonic mind:
Focus on what it FEELS like to think demonicly.
Think of a time when you've argued fiercely, and felt like defending your OPINION was a matter of life or death. A matter of your truest identity being on the line. It wasn't so much that you felt so strongly about the TRUTH of a personal conviction behind a personal opinion. But it was your RIGHT to have ANY AND EVERY opinion, true or false, right or wrong. Think of how you felt AFTER the hellishly heated argument. Didn't you wonder why you were so cruel in your tone of condescension and opposition? Why did that smirk come across your face? You know...the one you DENIED when the person you were hurting pointed it out. Yes, the one you were hurting...the one you found yourself to ENJOY hurting? You watched the pain on his face as you made a point about his past that you KNEW would devastate. Did that cruel point prove the truth of your strong opinion? When she winced at the venom in your tone of voice, did you enjoy the poison flowing through her ears?
Focus on what it FEELS like to experience demonic thoughts expressed to you.
Think of listening to someone who speaks like demons speak. You probably felt one of three ways:
1. If you were sincerely seeking truth, you may have felt a mind numbing paralysis of focus. You struggled to remember WHAT THE ARGUMENT WAS EVEN ABOUT! This was partly because the person constantly strayed from the topic just as you were about to drive home a key truth. But it was mainly because the harshness and hatred in tone left you so stunned that you felt you couldn't think clearly.
2. You felt such intense rage that it almost felt like you could become physically violent. You wanted to scream, push, or whatever it took to simply release the fury felt after being insulted and condescended. Yet as you felt this, the person would suddenly become as calm as still water. She would then urge YOU to calm down.
3. You just wanted this conversation to END! Not only that. You NEVER wanted to experience conversation again with this person again. You simply CONCEDED to whatever opinion this person so strongly held. Not because she was right. Not because what he said was undeniably true. But because you felt intimidated. Punished. Tormented. It really didn't seem worth all of the pain the conversation caused. But this is often the goal of demons: TO SILENCE TRUTH. They do this through intimidation. They make you regret you even MET the one you are arguing with!
So, whether you think like demons think, or have been on the receiving end of demonic thought, one thing is certain: it is in the realm of EMOTION and SPIRIT that demonic psychology makes an impact. In fact, it is an ASSAULT on the spirit through emotion. How do we keep from thinking like demons think, or allowing demonic thoughts to assault us in this way......? (Click part 3 for the answers!)
Saturday, March 23, 2013
The Psychology of DEMONS
The capacity of love has been annihilated from the psychology of demons.
A demon knows but does not love.
The pleasure (a demon) achieves in doing an evil act is the same as that which a human being feels when he gets revenge on an enemy--
It is a pleasure filled with hate.
--Father Jose' Antonio Fortea
Interview with an Exorcist
In God you come up against something
which is in every respect immeasurably superior to yourself.
Unless you know God as that
--and therefore know yourself as nothing in comparison--
you do not know God at all.
As long as you are proud you cannot know God.
C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity
Satan, demons, and prideful humans hate God because He is God.
They hate His Most Highness.
They hate the Sovereignty of His creativity:
That He is subject to none yet rules over everyone, answering to no one.
Undefined and Undefinable.
Uncategorized and Uncategorizable.
They hate that He is who He is, and that they can not truly say, "I am that I am."
In this hatred of God, they hate themselves.
They feel it was an unjust act of God to make them, that God sinned against them and intentionally harmed them in defining them. The self centered see all who do not bow to them as in sin. This especially includes The One who will not and cannot bow to anyone.
They feel they have a "right" to feel whatever they feel, want whatever they want, say whatever they want, and do whatever they want. As much a right as God has to simply be Himself, Undefined and Undefinable.
"Why make me like Him and deny me His supreme individuality!?" They rant.
So their lives are dedicated to this one goal: Reckless Revenge!
They will make God pay, and all who stand in their way!
This is how Satan and demons reason and imagine.
So also the self-centered.
Self-focused.
Self-exalting.
The competitive.
The negative.
The opposing and accusing.
Not all are demon possessed.
But many think like demons think.
Christ came to free their minds by giving them His mind in exchange for theirs.
They must give up their rights, their opinions, their self centered reason and imagination.
They must renounce the imagination of demons.
In this alone is their salvation, as it is written,
Submit to God, resist the devil and he will flee from you.
Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)