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…)