Chapter 11.6
In the Pits
Violence
– Imprisoned – Wounded – Sickness – Sorrow
Evil
Reports - Dishonored - Distressed – Chastised
Finances
– Tribulations - Labors – Sleeplessness
Heaviness
of Spirit – Unclean Spirits – Demons
Invisible
chains of mental bondage
First Word
While studying, afflictions,
turmoil and trouble; I find that it really doesn’t matter WHY you are in the pits, whether it be sickness,
troubles in your life or the heartache of being
treated different because you profess to be a Christian; the answer is
still the same, the way out is Prayer.
Complaining - Fussing and Worrying
Right off the bat I must point
out that we should know that the enemy (Satan) wants to
persecute our very soul;[1] to
crush our spirit causing worry, anxiety and fear
to consume our lives. There may
be the need of something; the need of more patience or perhaps you are in sorrow,
in sickness,
need finances,
in tribulations,
distressed,
chastised,
dishonored, getting evil reports, wounded, imprisoned, suffering violence,
labors, sleeplessness, heaviness of spirit
and the list just goes on, and I’m sure that you can add some of your
own to this list.
There are invisible chains of infirmity that are not
physical, you can’t see them, but the bondage is ever present. To combat all this, the Book
says we are not to worry or be anxious about anything,[2]
but are to give our anxieties and worries to Jesus; that we should bear one
another’s burdens[3]
and cast these burdens on Jesus who will sustain us.[4]
Are you are a
complainer? If you are, God says you are walking after your
own self-centered
desires; He lumps it with the sin of lust[5]. Find a way to give a good report instead of a complaint.[6]
My church provides a free breakfast every Sunday and my friend always
finds fault; not enough salt, not hot enough, plates too
small, it was better last week, and I kid him unmercifully about
it. Don’t complain about what has been
set in front of you, because you are complaining about
what God has provided.[7] SELAH...
ponder that. We are to do all things without complaining
or disputing;[8]
complaining squelches our inward spirit[9]
and causes us to sin with our tongue.[10]
Bless and Praise the name of God IN (but not
necessarily FOR) whatever circumstance you find yourself[11] and give respect
and honor to His authority;[12] WE WERE
CREATED TO PRAISE GOD.[13]
Fear - Rabbit Trail
Scripture says Job was a PERFECT and an UPRIGHT man, one that feared
God, and hated evil,[14] so
how did Satan get into Job’s life? Here’s the story;
Satan had just returned to Heaven and was having a discussion with God
about Job, inferring that the only reason Job reverenced God was because he was
blessed with so much stuff. God asked
Satan a “rhetorical”
question; have
you considered my servant Job? (He knew that he had)
God was just messing with Satan by asking Him this question; He just
wanting to bring the point to the surface as He already knew that Satan wanted
to “Sift Job as
Wheat”.[15] Now after this conversation, God tells Satan
“Behold Job
is in your hand”.[16]
NOTICE God’s Words: Behold; he is in your hand. God did not give Job to Satan; Job was
already in Satan’s hand and Satan just didn’t know it. The Question is, how can that be?
Sin in the life of the believer allows Satan to access his life. Job was forever offering sacrifices and
praying for his children in case they had sinned against God. They loved to party[17]
and Job confessed with his own mouth[18] that
he FEARED that they would get into sin even if it was only in their
heart. FEAR was the key that unlocked Job’s Life and allowed
Satan to enter.[19]
Fear, anxiety and doubt can crush your spirit, filling you with
invisible chains of infirmity.[20]
In the Pits with Sickness
God has set before us in His
Laws curses and blessings.[21] Sickness is a curse[22]
that originates back to the Garden of Eden. Fear;[23]
which is SIN, can bring on
an unclean spirit of Sickness.[24]
Sickness and sorrow in our life can break our spirit,[25]
but as Believers, through the Holy Spirit, we have the power to take authority
over this sickness. In our time of
sickness or sorrow, scriptures says to sing praises unto God[26]
and He will lift us above the oppression. A happy spirit will
overcome sickness and sorrow.[27] Good news; we do not have
to be sick when we die;[28] we can die HAPPY.
In the Pits with Doubt
Jesus Himself could not do
any mighty works among the sick in His own hometown because of all of the doubt
and unbelief He encountered;[29] doubt
and un-belief squelches the work of the Holy Spirit. In the scriptures, Jesus put all the
unbelievers out of the house,[30]
then with His believing Disciples and the parents; He laid His hands on the
child and she recovered.
The Lesson is; that those
with doubt or unbelief should not be in the room when hands are being laid on
the afflicted. SELAH… ponder that... It’s in the book…
In the Pits with Unclean Spirits - Demons
Today we see HATE crimes and murders and we just
dismiss it as, “they just were not in their right mind”. We say folks that do bad things “Just went Crazy”. We say that these people
that do bad things are POSSESSED; and we just
dismiss it at that.
What we fail to do is recognize it for what it is; the
works of Satan and his demonic servants. Demonic activity is ramped today, it’s just
camouflaged; sin
is not black; it’s 50 shades
of gray. I must assure you
before we look at the study on unclean spirits, that a Christian cannot be
possessed by an evil spirit; a demon… a demonic evil spirt cannot
co-exist with the Spirit of God in a person.
Demon is from the Greek word daimon;
in the KJV
it is translated Devil, the Jewish traditional roots indicate that
demons were the forces of darkness
and wickedness and their leader is Satan. The names Devil and Satan are virtually synonymous.
The unclean evil
spirits or demons that live today are the same spirits from the first earth age
moving from person to person, killing, stealing and destroying as they go. They do not consist of matter or a material body or
substance; they are without physical existence in themselves,[31]
but they belong as property or a thing to Satan.
They are invisible and operate above the laws of
nature and have supernatural intelligence and knowledge
along with terrible physical strength which they impart to those they possess. A demon spirit needs a moist place to find
rest[32]
and attempts to take over humans as well as animals.[33] They need to possess a person’s mind and body to enable them
to get around.
When an unclean spirit has been cast out of a man, the spirit of God
must be received into him[34]
or the unclean spirit will be able to return with more of his demonic friends
and it will be worse than before. It is
not uncommon for someone to have more than one demon; Mary Magdalene had seven.[35] The Book says
one man had a legion of demons (6,000).[36] They were sent into 2,000 pigs which promptly
committed suicide...
Demons
in scripture
are called, unclean spirits,[37] familiar spirits, demons and devils. They are spiritual beings with personalities,
intelligence and strength.
They rob you of your personality and
your mind; making you sick
and deranged mentally, they cause defects, deformities and
suicidal tendencies.
They produce
invisible chains of infirmity that are not physical.[38] You can’t see them, but the bondage is ever
present. They can move around your body
exhibiting headaches, backaches, chest pains, upset
stomach, nausea, dizziness, sadness, depression, stress, fear, paranoia, rage and
even cause you to exhibits different
personalities.
This suffering is not really a physical
sickness;
so medical treatment gives minor relief, if any. For sure, it’s not God trying to teach you
something. It is God’s will that you are
healed;[39] Prayer;
the Word
and “Faith”
are the only remedy.
I see this even in the church… Attaching
itself outwardly…
hoping to gain entrance though discouragement
and stress. Christians cannot be inwardly possessed; only messed with…
Demonic “attacks” will not succeed
in the life of the believer; it will eventually fail.[40]
Unclean spirits or demons can be cast out
of a person by the authority given to the Believer.[41] The casting out of demons is not preached in
many churches today because they believe the GIFT of casting out evil spirits
ceased with the early Disciples. You
will not be able to cast out demons if you are operating in doubt and unbelief.[42]
If you doubt God’s promises, it will be
impossible for you to please Him[43]
and to receive the results scripture has promised.[44]
Note: The Book says that the Gifts and calling of God are
irrevocable until He returns.[45]
Authority over the pits
Part of the ability to receive is our
obedience in pleasing God through doing His word.[46] We must have fruit that is meaningful, fruit
that “remains”[47]
in order to receive what we ask. What is
your fruit;
are you doing the Word?
The Twelve Disciples were given power over
unclean spirits and the ability to cast them out, to heal all kinds of sickness
and disease. This power was extended to
the believer[48]
along with a new prayer language. You do
not have to be an American or a member of a special race to operate in its
power. It doesn’t matter if you are
poor, unemployed or even in prison,[49]
God still responds. The power and
authority is available to any Believer that wants it.[50]
If you are
seeking God’s face, He has promised that your prayer will have much
power. God said this; not me, and it’s
impossible for God to lie.[51]
Don’t kid yourself, if you doubt God, you will not receive anything.[52]
Getting out of the Pits
You can get out of the Pits by seeking Knowledge,
Understanding and Discernment.[53] Faith builds confidence that our
petitions that are in line with the Will of God will be answered.[54] We
will have more faith as we study what God’s Will is; therefore, we will have
more confidence that our petitions will be answered. If you
seek the knowledge and understanding of God, He will give it to you.[55]
God is able to bless us far above what we
are able to comprehend,[56]
directly proportional to the power that we practice in our day to day lives.[57] I guess some of us need to practice
more power in order to “GET IN” on more blessings. When your
mind gets crowded, sing praises to the Lord[58].
The body of Christ should show concern and pray without ceasing for those that are
afflicted. God delights in the prayers
of His people and wants to answer our prayers so that we will have compete joy.[59] Take
time to be quiet[60] and
to know God; humble[61] yourself
before Him that He might lift you up. Fast, that the lord will be merciful.[62] God has promised; if we humble
ourselves,[63]
pray and seek
his face and turn from our sins, He will heal us and deliver us out of
our afflictions.[64]
God can’t feed us if we don’t open our mouths and talk to Him. We need to tell Him
our needs[65]
when we are sick; asking Him for
strength. Our sickness is but for a
moment when you compare it to the bliss of eternity with Jesus.
Our crying out is
heard by His ears[66]
and when He hears our cry, He will dispatch an Angel to lead us out of our infirmity’s.[67] He has already sent the comforter to help us
and abide in us forever.[68] We will find the Father if we will just CALL ON HIS NAME.[69] It’s in the Book
In The Pits - Yearning
If you feel a yearning in your heart;
it is being prepared by God.[70] The closer you get to Him the closer He gets
to you.[71] Wouldn’t you like to get so close, that
people see the Father in you?
In order to receive what we ask, it’s not
enough for us to just abide in the Father, His words must abide in us,[72]
and the
way we do that is to study the Bible.
God
searches your heart, your imagination and your thoughts; seeking a willing Spirit.[73] God seeks a people who will worship Him in Spirit
and in Truth.[74] It’s important to know the will of God in our
life, because it’s
the man that does the Will of God that God will hear.[75] It’s easy to know God’s Will; just study His word.
In The pits - Rely on God
Do not trust in yourself, trust in God
who raises the dead.[76] If we can just hang in there until the break
of day, we will receive a blessing.[77] We may have to endure sorrow for a night, but joy comes
in the morning.[78] God’s grace is sufficient for whatever we
need.[79] Remember all things work together for good for them that
love God and are called according to His purpose.[80]
Endure all
things that come against you so that you will receive the blessings.[81] Remember in all things, whether we are on the
mountain top or down in the valley, whether lacking in patience,
or in tribulations,
in needs,
in distresses,
in violence,
in wounds,
in imprisonments,
in labors,
in sleeplessness,
by dishonor,
by evil
report; as chastened, as
sorrowful,
as poor,
as having
nothing; in all that, we are still His Witness’, Evangelist, Ministers; His
children.[82]
The steps of a righteous man are ordered by
the Lord[83]
and although he may stumble, he will not be utterly cast down.[84] Even if the OUTWARD man appears to perish, the INWARD man is renewed day by day[85] if he continues in the faith.
Out of the Pits – The Take Away
God
will remember His covenant,[86] and
we will find grace in His sight[87]
and,
He
will be gracious to us.[88]
He
will not forsake us; but will deliver us.[89]
He
will hear from Heaven and show favor on us.[90]
He
will call us His people and give us the desires of our heart.[91]
He
will honor us with an abundance of mercy.[92]
He
will direct our paths and avenge us speedily.[93]
He
will water our garden and provide our groceries.[94]
He
will even give us more children if we want them.[95]
He
will give us the desires of our heart[96] even though it
may not be the best thing for us.
We must be
pretty special to God, to know that “He knows” the number the hairs on our
head.[97] He even knows ever tear that falls and
perhaps even saves them in a bottle.[98]
STEP BACK
LOOK WITH EXPECTANCY
SEE WHAT GOD IS ABOUT TO DO
[1] Psalm 143:3 – Satan persecutes the soul and
crushes the life
[2] 1 Peter 5:7 – Cast your cares on Jesus for He cares for you -- Philippians 4:6 – Don’t worry or be
anxious about anything
[3] Galatians 6:2 – Bear one another’s burdens and so fulfill the law of Christ
[4] Psalms 55:22 – Cast your burdens on the Lord
[5] Jude 1:16 – A complainer is walking in his own lust
[6] Psalm Numbers 14:36 – Find a way give a good
report; not a complaint
[7] Exodus 16:8 – Your complaints of your provision is against God
[8] Philippians 2:14 - Do all things without complaining
[9] Psalm 77:3 – Complaining squelches the spirit of
man
[10] Job 2:10 – Complaining causes us to sin with our
lips
[11] Job 1:21 – Bless God IN (not
necessarily for) all your circumstances
[12] Psalm 145:19 – Give Honor and Respect to God
[13] Psalm 102:18 – We are created to praise God
[14] Job 2:3 – Job was a perfect and upright man; there is none like him
in the earth
[15] Luke 22:31 – Satan has asked to SIFT YOU AS WHEAT
[16] Job 1:6 - Behold, he is in your hand; but save his life
[17] Job 1:4-5 – Party time at
Job’s House at the Lake
[18] Job 3:25 – Job was
operating in FEAR; What
I FEARED has come upon me; what I dreaded has happened to me
[19] Romans 14:23 – Everything that does not come from FAITH is SIN
[20] James 1:5-8 – If you
doubt, you are Double Minded and Unstable
[21] Deuteronomy 30:19 - I have set before you, life and death, Curses or Blessings;
LIFE IS CHOICE DRIVEN
[22] Deuteronomy 28:20-22 – Sickness is a curse -- 2
Corinthians 4:17 – Sickness is just a moment in eternity
[23] Job 3:25 – Fear can bring on sickness
[24] Luke 13:11 – An unclean spirit can cause Sickness
[25] Proverbs 15:13 – Sorrow can break the spirit -- Proverbs 17:22 – A broken
spirit can sap life from the body
[26] James 5:13 – Pray and sing praises when you
are sick
[27] Proverbs 18:14 – A happy spirit will overcome
sorrow
[28] Deuteronomy 34:7 – You don’t have to be sick when you die
[29] Mark 6:4-6 – Unbelief hindered the Work of Jesus Christ in His own
hometown
[30] Matthew 9:23-25 – Don’t let Unbelievers pray over you
[31] Ephesians 6:12 – Unclean Spirits are not flesh and blood
[32] Matthew
[33] Mark
[34] Matthew 12:43-45 – The Spirit of God must fill the void in a man
[35] Mark 16:9 – Many demons
can possess a person at a time; Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had cast seven
devils
[36] Mark 5:9 – You can have a Legion of Demons - 4,200 to 6,000
[37] Revelation 16:13 – Demons are known as unclean spirits -- Luke 4:33-34 – An unclean spirit can recognize The Holy Spirit.
[38] Luke 13:11 – There is a spirit of infirmity
[39] Matthew 10:1 – Christ wants men free of demons
[40] Isaiah 54:17 – Weapon
formed against you will not succeed; they will fail
[41] Matthew
[42] Matthew 17:19-20 – Doubt and Unbelief stops your
authority over demonic oppression
[44] Mark 1:40-41 – Jesus said
He wants us healed.
[45] Romans 11:29 - For the gifts and the
calling of God are irrevocable.
[46] James 5:16 – Seeking God’s face; prayers will have much power
[47] John 15:16 – We are to bear fruit that will
remain; that continues
[48] Mark 16:17-18 – GOOD WORKS follow those that believe in Christ --
1 John 3:22 – Keep God’s commandments; let what you do glorify God
[49] Psalm 69:33 – God hears your prayers even in prison
[50] Romans 10:12 – Anyone seeking can call on the
name of God
[51] Hebrews 6:18 - It is impossible for God to lie
[52] James 1:5-7 – If you Doubt; you will receive
nothing
[53] James 5:16 – Seeking God’s face; prayers will have much power
[54] 1 John 5:14-15 – God hears our petitions that are in line with His Will
[55] Proverbs 2:3-5 – If you SEEK knowledge;
understanding and discernment, you will RECEIVE it -- Romans 10:12 – Anyone seeking can call on the
name of God
[56] Ephesians 3:20 – God is able to exceed our expectations
[57] John 15:16 – We are to bear fruit that will remain; continues-- 1 John
3:22 – Keep God’s commandments; let what you do glorify Him
[58] Psalm 27:5-6 – In distress; SING PRAISES of JOY to
God
[59] John 16:24 – Prayers are answered so our JOY will be complete
[60] Psalm 46:10 – Take time
to BE
QUIET before
the Lord
[61] 2 Chronicles 33:12 – HUMBLE
yourself that your request be heard
[62] Mark 9:29 – FAST and pray for more FAITH -- 2 Samuel 12:22 – FAST that God will be merciful
[63] 1 Peter 5:6 – HUMBLE
yourself so that God will lift you up
[64] 2 Chronicles 7:14 – If we HUMBLE;
He will HEAR,
FORGIVE and HEAL
[65] Psalm 81:10 – TELL
God all your needs; He will provide it -- Psalm 105:4 – ASK Him for His Strength
[66] 2 Samuel 22:7 – Our CRYING OUT is heard by God’s ears
[67] Numbers 20:16 – God will dispatch angels to lead us through
[68] John 14:16 – God has sent the Comforter; the Holy Spirit
[69] Deuteronomy 4:29 – IF WE SEEK WE WILL
FIND THE FATHER - Proverbs 15:8 – God delights in the prayers
of His people
[70] Proverbs 16:1 – That yearning you feel is God preparing your heart
[71] James 4:8 – Get close to God and He will get closer to you
[72] John 15:7 – If
God’s words abide in you; ask and it will be
done
[73] 1 Chronicles 28:9 – God searches the intent of your thoughts and heart
[74] John 4:23-24 – God seeks men that worship Him in SPIRIT & TRUTH
[75] John 9:31 – If you do the Will of God; He hears your petitions
[76] 2 Corinthians 1:9 – Rely on God who raises the dead
[77] Genesis 32:24-28 – Hang in there and you will receive the blessing
[78] Psalm 30:5 – Joy comes in the morning
[79] 2 Corinthians 12:9 – God’s grace is sufficient
for us
[80] Romans 8:28 – All things work together for good for those who are
the called according to His purpose
[81] James 1:12 – Endures all things and receive the crown of life
[82] 2 Corinthians 6:4-10 – We are ministers of God; so Act like it
[83] Psalm 37:23 – The steps of a good man are ordered by God
[84] Psalm 37:24 – We may stumble; but not utterly
cast down
[85] 2 Corinthians 4:16 – INWARD
we are renewed day by day
[86] Exodus 6:5 – He will remember His covenant
[87] Exodus 33:17 – We will find grace in His sight - Job 33:26 – He restores us to righteousness
[88] Exodus 22:23 – He will be gracious to us
[89] Deuteronomy 4:31 – He will not forsake us --
Psalm 34:17 – He will deliver us
[90] 2 Chronicles 7:14 - He will hear from
heaven
[91] Psalm 37:4 - He will give us the desires of our
heart -- Luke 15:12-17 – Your desires may not be
God’s best
[92] Psalm 91:15 – He will honor us --
Psalm 86:5 – He will have an abundance of mercy.
[93] Proverbs 3:6 – He will direct our paths -- Luke
18:7-8 - He will avenge us speedily
[94] Zechariah 10:1 – He will water your garden -- Joel
2:19 – He will provide your groceries
[95] Ezekiel 36:37 – God will give more children
[96] Proverbs 10:24 – The desires of the righteous will be granted
[97] Matthew 10:29-30 - The hairs of your head
are numbered
[98] Psalm 56:8 – God collects our tears in a bottle
No comments:
Post a Comment