That’s about enough of that!
02/24/09 08:29 AM Filed in: Messages from Others
I know you will be blessed by Pastor Rich Conley's teaching. He is the Senior Pastor of the local church we belong to, Trinity Life Center in Pueblo, Co. Rich also serves in the Sr. leadership of Ascension Fellowship International.
Thank you Pastor for taking time to write this for our BTN friends.
You have been an example to many!
Steve Manning
I find that as much as God speaks to me through His Word and by His “still small voice” I also find Him speaking to me through the situations that I go through in life. There is so much we can learn from Him in the course of “walking with Him” in the daily events of life if we are willing to listen.
A few weeks ago I went to the dentist to get my teeth cleaned. Of course, I have had this experience many times before; it is not always pleasant but tolerable. This time however it seemed like the person who was cleaning my teeth was trying to see how much pain I could endure. I was telling myself to just tuff it out, it will all be over soon (all the while trying to blink the tears out of my eyes). She said; “Richard your gums are bleeding…” I was thinking as I groaned, if you would just quit stabbing my gums with that sharp stainless steel instrument they would not be bleeding!! Just then I began to think about something that made me giggle to myself in the midst of my pain, I guess she could see my stomach moving from laughing to myself. She asked; “Do you have the Hiccups?”
When she took her hands out of my mouth so I could answer, I said; “No I was just laughing to myself as I was thinking about something”. I said; “Last week I was with my father as he was in the hospital, this guy who was caring for him was trying to start an IV on him but could not find the vein. My father was wincing with pain with each stabbing attempt to pierce the vein, they guy kept apologizing and expressing his frustration, finally before one more try my Dad lifted up his head and spoke with sternness in his voice that I knew all to well. “That’s about enough of that!” The guy said “ok, I guess you really don’t need one, I’m sorry” then packed up his supplies and walked out to my fathers great relief. Then I looked up at the Dental Assistant who was cleaning my teeth and said; “that is what I was thinking about when my stomach was moving”. She replied “Oh…”
I was driving home from the Dentist office thinking about what had just happened and the Holy Spirit began to speak to me. He said “My people have come to understand the value of endurance and perseverance which are characteristics that are to be admired and appreciated. But great sectors of the body of Christ have embraced an endurance and perseverance mindset without as well taking up the voice of authority in spiritual warfare over harassments that have come to distract and weary them in their walk of faith.” Still others who once moved in an awareness of spiritual warfare have fallen into the same mindset of merely endurance and perseverance.
I then began to identify some things that I had been carrying, situations that had be weighing on me, things I had been enduring some of which were harassments from the enemy! I began to think of others who had endured so much and had never denied their faith or let go of the dream but were growing weary in well doing. Please allow me to speak a word to you by the Holy Spirit, It is time to draw the line and say “ENOUGH!!”
Be awakened once again to the battle that is at hand AND the weapons of victory that are ours through Christ.
In Acts 16:16-18 We read the story of Paul and his companions who came upon a “slave girl” who had a fortune telling spirit. This girl began following them day after day saying “These men are servants of the Most High God, and are telling you the way to be saved.” The scripture says “Finally Paul became so troubled that he turned and spoke to the spirit and commanded it out in the name of Jesus” Finally…! After enduring, after patience, after being annoyed he turned and dealt with it. I am not sure whether he drove out the spirit for the sake of the girl or for the sake of his own peace of mind.
We know this is true; the enemy has assigned subtle things to wear down the people of God, things that slowly weary, distract and frustrate. Scripture says Paul was “Greatly annoyed” He was in anguish, stressed… Sound familiar? We need to not only remember the authority that Jesus has given us in His name, but also understand how it operates.
Please note: Paul said to the spirit “I command you, come out of her!” Paul did not ask God to make the devil go away. He did not plead with the spirit by asking it to please leave. He commanded it in Jesus name. Biblically we do not ask God to remove demonic harassments; we do it in His name! We must speak with command authority. This is not the only means of spiritual warfare but it is a part of spiritual warfare.
Let me ask you, are there things that have been wearing you down, lingering issues in your mind that have brought you anguish? Remember as important as it is for us to keep our eyes on Jesus, to persevere by faith there is also a God given responsibility and privilege to each of God’s children to fight back in Jesus name. Psalm 144 closes with a wonderful statement regarding how good it is to have God’s blessing on our lives. Interestingly enough when the Psalm begins it states; “He trains my hands for war”. Is it time to say “Enough!?” Enough torment, enough stress, enough sorrow. I’m standing in victory in Christ!
Let’s pray;
Jesus I pray that in these difficult days, we as your people might be strengthened by your wonderful presence. I pray that you would alert us and anoint us for victory in the midst of the battle. By your grace we will not give up or give in. With the leading of your Spirit anoint us for victory in the battles that we face, not only to endure but to conquer in Jesus name.
Amen!
Thank you Pastor for taking time to write this for our BTN friends.
You have been an example to many!
Steve Manning
I find that as much as God speaks to me through His Word and by His “still small voice” I also find Him speaking to me through the situations that I go through in life. There is so much we can learn from Him in the course of “walking with Him” in the daily events of life if we are willing to listen.
A few weeks ago I went to the dentist to get my teeth cleaned. Of course, I have had this experience many times before; it is not always pleasant but tolerable. This time however it seemed like the person who was cleaning my teeth was trying to see how much pain I could endure. I was telling myself to just tuff it out, it will all be over soon (all the while trying to blink the tears out of my eyes). She said; “Richard your gums are bleeding…” I was thinking as I groaned, if you would just quit stabbing my gums with that sharp stainless steel instrument they would not be bleeding!! Just then I began to think about something that made me giggle to myself in the midst of my pain, I guess she could see my stomach moving from laughing to myself. She asked; “Do you have the Hiccups?”
When she took her hands out of my mouth so I could answer, I said; “No I was just laughing to myself as I was thinking about something”. I said; “Last week I was with my father as he was in the hospital, this guy who was caring for him was trying to start an IV on him but could not find the vein. My father was wincing with pain with each stabbing attempt to pierce the vein, they guy kept apologizing and expressing his frustration, finally before one more try my Dad lifted up his head and spoke with sternness in his voice that I knew all to well. “That’s about enough of that!” The guy said “ok, I guess you really don’t need one, I’m sorry” then packed up his supplies and walked out to my fathers great relief. Then I looked up at the Dental Assistant who was cleaning my teeth and said; “that is what I was thinking about when my stomach was moving”. She replied “Oh…”
I was driving home from the Dentist office thinking about what had just happened and the Holy Spirit began to speak to me. He said “My people have come to understand the value of endurance and perseverance which are characteristics that are to be admired and appreciated. But great sectors of the body of Christ have embraced an endurance and perseverance mindset without as well taking up the voice of authority in spiritual warfare over harassments that have come to distract and weary them in their walk of faith.” Still others who once moved in an awareness of spiritual warfare have fallen into the same mindset of merely endurance and perseverance.
I then began to identify some things that I had been carrying, situations that had be weighing on me, things I had been enduring some of which were harassments from the enemy! I began to think of others who had endured so much and had never denied their faith or let go of the dream but were growing weary in well doing. Please allow me to speak a word to you by the Holy Spirit, It is time to draw the line and say “ENOUGH!!”
Be awakened once again to the battle that is at hand AND the weapons of victory that are ours through Christ.
In Acts 16:16-18 We read the story of Paul and his companions who came upon a “slave girl” who had a fortune telling spirit. This girl began following them day after day saying “These men are servants of the Most High God, and are telling you the way to be saved.” The scripture says “Finally Paul became so troubled that he turned and spoke to the spirit and commanded it out in the name of Jesus” Finally…! After enduring, after patience, after being annoyed he turned and dealt with it. I am not sure whether he drove out the spirit for the sake of the girl or for the sake of his own peace of mind.
We know this is true; the enemy has assigned subtle things to wear down the people of God, things that slowly weary, distract and frustrate. Scripture says Paul was “Greatly annoyed” He was in anguish, stressed… Sound familiar? We need to not only remember the authority that Jesus has given us in His name, but also understand how it operates.
Please note: Paul said to the spirit “I command you, come out of her!” Paul did not ask God to make the devil go away. He did not plead with the spirit by asking it to please leave. He commanded it in Jesus name. Biblically we do not ask God to remove demonic harassments; we do it in His name! We must speak with command authority. This is not the only means of spiritual warfare but it is a part of spiritual warfare.
Let me ask you, are there things that have been wearing you down, lingering issues in your mind that have brought you anguish? Remember as important as it is for us to keep our eyes on Jesus, to persevere by faith there is also a God given responsibility and privilege to each of God’s children to fight back in Jesus name. Psalm 144 closes with a wonderful statement regarding how good it is to have God’s blessing on our lives. Interestingly enough when the Psalm begins it states; “He trains my hands for war”. Is it time to say “Enough!?” Enough torment, enough stress, enough sorrow. I’m standing in victory in Christ!
Let’s pray;
Jesus I pray that in these difficult days, we as your people might be strengthened by your wonderful presence. I pray that you would alert us and anoint us for victory in the midst of the battle. By your grace we will not give up or give in. With the leading of your Spirit anoint us for victory in the battles that we face, not only to endure but to conquer in Jesus name.
Amen!