I’m writing to you on a Sunday afternoon. The rain has been
gentle outside. The birds at my feeder are engaged in boisterous tweets as they
tussle for the seeds. My exhausted daughter is having a nap and I can hear the
crowd noise coming from the family room where my crazed husband watches and
tracks his Fantasy Football score. And my friends, I’m privileged to spend some
precious time with you.
Walking with the Holy Spirit this past week has been full of
firsts and fascination. I’m discovering that you must protect the Holy Spirit.
And in the not-far-off future I will be writing to tell you about this and why
we must protect the spirit. But today I want to share another experience from
the conference at Bethel.
As I look back over our conference experiences and process
all that happened, I’m especially moved by the other attendees that God placed
around us. Not only did we encounter wisdom, teaching and His presence from the
speakers and worship but God placed unique individuals around us that spoke enormous
truth and healing into us. God KNEW what we needed and sent each one at the
right moment. Wait until I tell you about the woman who prayed for us in the women’s
restroom. I kid you not. It was crazy but awesome.
Today I want to tell you about Maria.
On the last day of the conference, I “happened” to sit right
next to Maria. I think we only spoke for perhaps 15 minutes but our brief
exchanged changed everything about how I pray. And now I want you to know what
I learned.
Maria lives in San Diego which is only an hour away from
where I reside. So funny to meet her in Redding. We introduced ourselves to one
another and I can’t remember the exact progression of the conversation but we
didn’t waist anytime and the next thing I knew she was sharing with me her
ministry. She serves at the ROCK (church) in San Diego and is part of the
church ministry that helps former porn stars escape that trade and find Jesus.
Can I just say: AWESOME!
Well she started to tell me how there is a lot of demon
possession in those who are emerging from adult films. She then began to tell
me about her conversion experience and how she was placed on the fast track to
learn to pray against the devils and evil. Whoa!
She had me at hello.
Anyway, what follows is the cliff note version as I try to rack
my brain to remember the details.
She said, “Look up Luke 9:1-2.”
When Jesus had called the Twelve together, he gave them
power and authority to drive out all demons and to cure diseases, and he sent
them out to preach the kingdom of God and to heal the sick.
Okay now get this. She told me that Jesus has given His
disciples (that would be us) power and authority to cast out ALL demons and to
cure diseases.
Good grief I’ve read this verse a million times but on this
day…… For the first time, I ACTUALLY BELIEVED IT and believed this verse
applied to me personally. I believed I had authority and power over satan and
his realms.
Maria went on to give me an example of how this works in her
life. “I was standing in line at the pharmacy recently. And there were two
women at the counter talking to the girl who was waiting on them. They began to
get loud and scream at the poor girl. The tech behind the counter was getting
more and more flustered.”
“It was at that moment that I heard God say to me, ” ‘Take
authority over this.’” So I began to pray: Right now I take authority over the
spirits of anger and evil that are present in these two women and in the name
of Jesus, I command them to leave.” As I watched, these two just picked up and
headed out the pharmacy door.”
“When I reached the counter, I told the clerk that I had
been praying for her. She said to me with relief in her voice, “Thank you so
much, I needed it.”
I’m sure my mouth hit the floor as she recounted this story.
She also went on to tell a similar story about an encounter in her ministry
where a woman was swearing and cussing and creating all kinds of havoc. She
prayed, took authority over the spirits and then commanded them to leave in
Jesus name. Immediately the woman’s demeanor changed and she settled down.
My friends, MY FRIENDS, this is what Luke 9:1-2 is all
about. Notice that we are to preach the Kingdom of God. It’s our purpose and
privilege to bring the Kingdom of God to earth. To cast out the demons and
bring healing. ALL of this is for us. But is for us to give away. Never forget
that.
Okay, so on the car ride back to the airport after the
conference, I was sitting in the passenger seat and I wanted to pray. So I
began to pray out loud and loudly with authority over my home, my husband, my daughter.
I prayed authority over Dineen and her home, girls and Mike. I prayed authority
over Heidi’s house, husband and children. Man, I felt the Holy Spirit descend
upon me and I started shaking and fresh fire lit me up until I broke out in a
sweat. God birthed in me some kind of power to pray like this. And I saw
results immediately when I came home. (More on that later.)
I also follow up these prayers asking for the Holy Spirit to
then fill the person or situation for which I’m praying. I ask God to fill them
with love, truth, compassion, empathy, etc. I follow the Spirit’s prompting. So
not only is there a casting out of evil but a filling up of God’s Spirit. Whoa!
I have prayed like this over many situations I’ve
encountered since the conference. It’s life changing. And this is what we are
supposed to be doing for the Kingdom. I pray daily now over my husband and
children. I pray for strangers. I have prayed for some of you over the phone
and in private.
Luke 9:1-2 has changed my life forever. I have so much more
to say about this but I’m wondering if you would be interested in hearing how I
now pray? I could record how I pray and post it on YouTube for Friday. Would
that be helpful? Would you listen to it? Not sure if I need to do this or not.
You let me know.
Today, on this beautiful fall day, it is peaceful. But I
know that tomorrow I will confront the face of evil somewhere but I AM NOT
AFRAID. I choose love! And love decimates fear every… single…. time….
Choose love my friends, God’s love. Pray with the power and
authority that has already been given to you.
On Friday, I will talk about how my view of Spiritual
Warfare has changed as well. Let me know about recording a prayer. I love you.
I REALLY LOVE YOU. Lynn
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