Victory Over The Darkness was written by Neil T. Anderson and copy written in 1995.
These are quotes from his book:
The Church is not a hospital; it's a military outpost under orders to storm the gates of hell. Every believer is on active duty, called to take part in fulfilling the Great Commission.
God's love for you is the great eternal constant in the midst of all the inconsistencies of your daily walk.
Discern where someone is coming from before trying to move them to some place else.
Expose the insidious reality of Satan's relentless assault of deception on the Christian's mind.
Your past has shaped your present belief system and will determine your future unless it is dealt with.
There is a process to maturity but people can be set free instantly.
All sinful behavior is a wrong attempt at meeting basic needs.
1. Rejected: Need to Belong!
2. Guilt and shame: Need of Self-worth!
3. Weak and helpless: Need of Strength and Self-control!
Today, a true sense of belonging comes from not only knowing we belong to God, but we also belong to each other.
One may try to get their needs met by the world, the flesh or the devil, or they can allow God to meet all their needs according to His riches in glory (italics mine). If you are not glorifying God then He has no source from which to meet your need. For God to meet all my needs is conditional according to His riches in glory.
Good feelings follow right behavior.
It's who you are that determines what you do and not the other way around.
No person can consistently behave in a way that's inconsistent with the way he perceives himself.
The Bondage Breaker was also written by him in 1990 and it is actually more up front about demons and their influences in the Christian's life.
Friday, February 17, 2012
Tidbit From My Journal
Keep the recipe secret if you are a Blue Ribbon winner but share the recipe for success, without a personal agenda, and you will truly succeed.
Jesus Modeled His Relationship With Father God
I don't remember what I was talking to God about perse, but I remember The Holy Spirit telling me, "To become like Jesus is as simple as loving God as Jesus loved His Father!" Now that I have been released from so many principalities, becoming like Jesus becomes very clear, very simple, very doable. Lately, I have been able to identify with David. I am able to say, "I love Thy Law. I meditate on it day and night. I am careful to do according to all that is written in it." As long as I continue to keep my heart wholly belonging to Father God, He is able to graciously keep me from stumbling. I know He will share His glory with no man. I want to see His glory and live in His powerful glory all the days of my life. I need not fear my flesh.
The deepest desire of my heart is to know and understand. I also desire to finish the race, that is set before me, well; and to live each day for the Glory of God. I live to glorify God. By His grace I will continue to do so.
The deepest desire of my heart is to know and understand. I also desire to finish the race, that is set before me, well; and to live each day for the Glory of God. I live to glorify God. By His grace I will continue to do so.
Bitterness and Rebellion
My late husband's bitterness grew and grew over the years. Many doors were opened to the demonic realm around us. Rebellion was as deeply entrenched as bitterness and it continued to prevail until the last year or two of Tom's life. Rebellion and bitterness rendered Tom unable to see, hear or receive love. I vividly remember one afternoon sitting and visiting with him for about 3-4 hours and it was very pleasant. I made a comment that I perceived as constructive criticism. Tom immediately reacted as if the whole afternoon was spent with me verbally criticizing and being negative toward him.
It was then that I realized Tom was unable to see, hear or feel love from me. God gave me the following imagery:
Love words and words of kindness were represented by pink and red.
Critical and negative words were represented by grey and black.
That afternoon, many pink and red words were exchanged and all was pleasant. But when one comment of grey or black words was made, Tom reacted as if the whole afternoon had been spent in this dark place. It was profoundly obvious the damage bitterness and a critical spirit had had on Tom's ability to relate to me in the Spirit.
People who are given over to a bitter spirit or a spirit of rebellion are incapable of seeing, feeling, hearing and expressing sincere, pure love from any source. They are in bondage and are held captive by their sin, even though they may be born again and their Spirit loves God with all their heart, their capacity to give and receive love is severely hindered. Their Spirit suffers imprisonment. But Tom pressed on and survived in spite of being oppressed and unable to receive the goodness of God, His glory, friendship with The Comforter, as well as, love from Him and others in his life. My husband's spirit was often overshadowed by his flesh. He seldom, if ever, read the Word of God and He often accused me of being a hypocrit because I did spend so much time in the Word. But when Tom was in the Spirit, he loved people with as profound a self sacrificing love as one can have this side of eternity future. My husband was a great man.
It was then that I realized Tom was unable to see, hear or feel love from me. God gave me the following imagery:
Love words and words of kindness were represented by pink and red.
Critical and negative words were represented by grey and black.
That afternoon, many pink and red words were exchanged and all was pleasant. But when one comment of grey or black words was made, Tom reacted as if the whole afternoon had been spent in this dark place. It was profoundly obvious the damage bitterness and a critical spirit had had on Tom's ability to relate to me in the Spirit.
People who are given over to a bitter spirit or a spirit of rebellion are incapable of seeing, feeling, hearing and expressing sincere, pure love from any source. They are in bondage and are held captive by their sin, even though they may be born again and their Spirit loves God with all their heart, their capacity to give and receive love is severely hindered. Their Spirit suffers imprisonment. But Tom pressed on and survived in spite of being oppressed and unable to receive the goodness of God, His glory, friendship with The Comforter, as well as, love from Him and others in his life. My husband's spirit was often overshadowed by his flesh. He seldom, if ever, read the Word of God and He often accused me of being a hypocrit because I did spend so much time in the Word. But when Tom was in the Spirit, he loved people with as profound a self sacrificing love as one can have this side of eternity future. My husband was a great man.
Hosea
God led me to read the 3rd Chapter of Hosea today. I didn't realize Hosea was told to take another wife (another adulteress) after Gomer:
Hosea 3
"Go again, love a woman who is loved by her husband, yet an adulteress, even as the LORD loves the sons of Israel, though they turn to other gods and love raisin cakes." So I bought her for myself for fifteen shekels of silver and a homer and a half of barley. Then I said to her, "You shall stay with me for many days. You shall not play the harlot, nor shall you have a man; so I will also be toward you." For the sons of Israel will remain for many days without king or prince, without sacrifice or sacred pillar and without ephod or household idols. Afterward the sons of Israel will return and seek the LORD their God and David their king; and they will come trembling to the LORD and to His goodness in the last days.
I always identified with Hosea and understood His relationship with God. God told me to marry Tom Winter. I never doubted I did the will of God in marrying him even when things got tough as they will in all marriages (though God gave me grace to obey Him). I asked God about three years ago, "Why have I been praying for 23 and 1/2 years that Tom be healed but he still hasn't been healed of his broken heart?"
God said, "Because My Church is suffering from a broken heart and She is harboring a spirit of bitterness."
I know what a broken heart looks like. I know the limitations, the unbelief, the suffering. I have seen the devastating, crippling effects of bitterness.
I always knew my marriage to Tom was for the development of my ministry as a Preacher. I feel honored to have been loved by Tom Winter and the sacrifice his life was for God's purposes to be fulfilled. I am blessed to be able to say to our children, "I am blessed and I feel honored to have been your dad's wife." I have been loving Tom and enjoying the memories of our marriage through the Holy Spirit. It is as if I am getting to enjoy a honeymoon/newlywed phase during this time of loss and grief.
Hosea 3
"Go again, love a woman who is loved by her husband, yet an adulteress, even as the LORD loves the sons of Israel, though they turn to other gods and love raisin cakes." So I bought her for myself for fifteen shekels of silver and a homer and a half of barley. Then I said to her, "You shall stay with me for many days. You shall not play the harlot, nor shall you have a man; so I will also be toward you." For the sons of Israel will remain for many days without king or prince, without sacrifice or sacred pillar and without ephod or household idols. Afterward the sons of Israel will return and seek the LORD their God and David their king; and they will come trembling to the LORD and to His goodness in the last days.
God said, "Because My Church is suffering from a broken heart and She is harboring a spirit of bitterness."
I know what a broken heart looks like. I know the limitations, the unbelief, the suffering. I have seen the devastating, crippling effects of bitterness.
I always knew my marriage to Tom was for the development of my ministry as a Preacher. I feel honored to have been loved by Tom Winter and the sacrifice his life was for God's purposes to be fulfilled. I am blessed to be able to say to our children, "I am blessed and I feel honored to have been your dad's wife." I have been loving Tom and enjoying the memories of our marriage through the Holy Spirit. It is as if I am getting to enjoy a honeymoon/newlywed phase during this time of loss and grief.
Crossing The Finish Line Well
Wormwood, The parasite of liquid bitterness, was gone. But I knew I wouldn't see financial freedom and/or prosperity during Tom's lifetime, but I also knew the curse wouldn't be passed down to my children.
Tom began to lose everything he had invested in his time and talents and money. He lost years of autobody memorabilia, tools, machinery, guns and collectable cars. He lost the Model T his dad bought 46 years earlier that he bought for him and Tom to work on together, because Tom was into cars though his dad wasn't. Tom's dad died a week later in 1961, after the maiden voyage of the newly purchased 1927 Model T.
During our marriage, Tom would put money into rebuilding the model T while I was having to go to the food bank to feed the children and bills often went unpaid. It was common for us to have the power or water turned off or the phone disconnected. Tom would borrow money but seldom remember to pay it back. I had no ablity to influence him to the positive and I became very angry and full of rage. I sank into hopelessness. The Holy Spirit became my husband, my protector, provider, my friend.
During the last few years of his life, Tom lost many collectables he had bought and fixed up through the years. He had to let go of guns to a pawn broker. He sold his 1947 Indian Motorcycle to a dear friend of the family, Marty, a serrogate brother. He "lost" 1000 art lithographs of the Spruce Goose each with the 5 signatories of the original cockpit members during the maiden voyage (except Howard Hughes, of course). Each print would retail for $1200 unframed. I am not sure Tom was too aware of all he lost but the last year of his life he proclaimed, "I know it was God's will I lost the beach house and all my business inventory. Blessed be the Name of God." The glory God received from Tom finishing the race of his life well, is incomprehensible. Tom not only finished the race well; his homecoming was a gloriously glorious celebration.
Tom began to lose everything he had invested in his time and talents and money. He lost years of autobody memorabilia, tools, machinery, guns and collectable cars. He lost the Model T his dad bought 46 years earlier that he bought for him and Tom to work on together, because Tom was into cars though his dad wasn't. Tom's dad died a week later in 1961, after the maiden voyage of the newly purchased 1927 Model T.
During our marriage, Tom would put money into rebuilding the model T while I was having to go to the food bank to feed the children and bills often went unpaid. It was common for us to have the power or water turned off or the phone disconnected. Tom would borrow money but seldom remember to pay it back. I had no ablity to influence him to the positive and I became very angry and full of rage. I sank into hopelessness. The Holy Spirit became my husband, my protector, provider, my friend.
During the last few years of his life, Tom lost many collectables he had bought and fixed up through the years. He had to let go of guns to a pawn broker. He sold his 1947 Indian Motorcycle to a dear friend of the family, Marty, a serrogate brother. He "lost" 1000 art lithographs of the Spruce Goose each with the 5 signatories of the original cockpit members during the maiden voyage (except Howard Hughes, of course). Each print would retail for $1200 unframed. I am not sure Tom was too aware of all he lost but the last year of his life he proclaimed, "I know it was God's will I lost the beach house and all my business inventory. Blessed be the Name of God." The glory God received from Tom finishing the race of his life well, is incomprehensible. Tom not only finished the race well; his homecoming was a gloriously glorious celebration.
Visceral Indicators
Visceral is a new word Father God gave me when I was first describing the roles demons have had in my life. If you know Father God, Jesus, The Holy Spirit, and therefore, also acquainted with principalities, you have had a visceral response to these subjects. What that simply means is your physical body has experienced physical changes in relationship to your encounters with these spiritual beings. At times, I get Holy Ghost bumps when the Holy Spirit gets excited within me. I felt the Holy Spirit jump for joy within me when Pastor Rob first announced our all church corporate week of fasting a little over 2 years ago. My soul was hungry for the life that fasting was going to propel me towards. I have felt profound joy and awe around the worship of God's glory while sitting at my husband's deathbed. I have felt uneasy when I have encountered other people who have demons heavily influencing their lives.
When The Holy Spirit has done an amazing deliverance in my life in the past, He has had me sleep deprived or I was fasting and focused in prayer. The most profound encounter I have had to date was early one August morning 2008. I hadn't slept well for a couple weeks then, this one night, I was tired of lying in bed so I finally got up and sat at the kitchen table and started to shuffle a deck of cards to play solitaire when I heard God say,
"You were going to pray the blood of Jesus."
I sat upright and said, "Oh yea, I was going to pray the blood of Jesus."
I then got up from the table and raised my hands high. Out loud I asked Jesus, "Cover this house with the blood of Jesus, I put the blood of Jesus over all the doorways, mirrors, windows," and in my mind's imagination I saw the blood of Jesus being poured out over all I prayed. I envisioned each person and mirror being covered as I continued, "I put the blood of Jesus over everyone in this house; John, Jamie, Amelia, Tom, our animals, myself." Then I sat down as if I was going to continue playing cards.
Suddenly, my body turned, facing the head of the table and my attention was focused on a small entity standing there just head and shoulders above the tabletop. I began to speak. Out of my mouth came the words: "Your time is up. The fourth generation is passed. You have authority no more. Be gone!" And it was gone.
I asked God, "What was that?"
"Wormwood." Was His clear answer. I felt dazed and sleepy so I went over to the couch and layed down. I fell asleep quickly and upon wakening a couple hours later God said, "You didn't thank Me."
"Oh thank you, thank you." And I sang a song of worship to Him and my voice was sweeter than I had ever heard. I began asking God questions like, "What was that?"
"A parasite of liquid bitterness." Was His clear answer.
Yuk, was my visceral response. "Where did he come from?"
I heard in my mind, "Jack Winter, The Gentleman Pirate."
Jack Wnter was Tom's ancestor, probably 4 generations back, who sailed with Jacques Le Feat, the pirate captain who settled in New Orleans. LA. They were gun runners for the American revolutionaries fighting the British to keep America a Free World. Apparently, Jack Winter didn't run anyone through with the sword but he was a thief on the open seas, committing High Treason against the Crown. I knew, for years, there was a curse on Tom's life because every business venture Tom set his hand to turned to dust. Each venture had great potential for great success but it would fail miserably, and Tom often had financial battles with the merchants or customers with whom he did business.
When The Holy Spirit has done an amazing deliverance in my life in the past, He has had me sleep deprived or I was fasting and focused in prayer. The most profound encounter I have had to date was early one August morning 2008. I hadn't slept well for a couple weeks then, this one night, I was tired of lying in bed so I finally got up and sat at the kitchen table and started to shuffle a deck of cards to play solitaire when I heard God say,
"You were going to pray the blood of Jesus."
I sat upright and said, "Oh yea, I was going to pray the blood of Jesus."
I then got up from the table and raised my hands high. Out loud I asked Jesus, "Cover this house with the blood of Jesus, I put the blood of Jesus over all the doorways, mirrors, windows," and in my mind's imagination I saw the blood of Jesus being poured out over all I prayed. I envisioned each person and mirror being covered as I continued, "I put the blood of Jesus over everyone in this house; John, Jamie, Amelia, Tom, our animals, myself." Then I sat down as if I was going to continue playing cards.
Suddenly, my body turned, facing the head of the table and my attention was focused on a small entity standing there just head and shoulders above the tabletop. I began to speak. Out of my mouth came the words: "Your time is up. The fourth generation is passed. You have authority no more. Be gone!" And it was gone.
I asked God, "What was that?"
"Wormwood." Was His clear answer. I felt dazed and sleepy so I went over to the couch and layed down. I fell asleep quickly and upon wakening a couple hours later God said, "You didn't thank Me."
"Oh thank you, thank you." And I sang a song of worship to Him and my voice was sweeter than I had ever heard. I began asking God questions like, "What was that?"
"A parasite of liquid bitterness." Was His clear answer.
Yuk, was my visceral response. "Where did he come from?"
I heard in my mind, "Jack Winter, The Gentleman Pirate."
Jack Wnter was Tom's ancestor, probably 4 generations back, who sailed with Jacques Le Feat, the pirate captain who settled in New Orleans. LA. They were gun runners for the American revolutionaries fighting the British to keep America a Free World. Apparently, Jack Winter didn't run anyone through with the sword but he was a thief on the open seas, committing High Treason against the Crown. I knew, for years, there was a curse on Tom's life because every business venture Tom set his hand to turned to dust. Each venture had great potential for great success but it would fail miserably, and Tom often had financial battles with the merchants or customers with whom he did business.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)