2003-03-20
Good Morning Faithful Ones,
You’ll remember that I have been writing about Arthur Matthews’ two points regarding offensive prayer, and that he wrote a book that is required reading for all OMF missionaries. His points are: 1) The prayer of co-workers in a godly pursuit can channel the supply of the Spirit to God’s cause, even if their human leader is unable to be present with them. [PHIL 1: 18-19; AC 16: 16-40]. 2) When offensive prayer includes a claim of victory on the grounds of the cross, the enemy’s strongholds can be infiltrated, His vulnerable areas found, and victory for God can be hastened with fewer casualties. Remember that offensive prayer is done before one goes into battle with Satan’s forces or even during that battle. To pray this way, it is essential that we understand God’s will and His plan. The only way offensive prayer can be effective is for one’s plan of action to be led by and in line with Jesus Christ. While King Jehoshaphat didn’t know of Christ’s existence, it was very likely that Christ heard the prayer the king and his troops uttered in 2 CH 20: 6, 12, “O Lord God of our ancestors, You rule in heaven over all the nations of the world. You are powerful and mighty, and no one can oppose You…You are our God! Punish them [combined forces of Edom, Moab, and Ammon], for we are helpless in the face of this large army that is attacking us. We do not know what to do, but we look to You for help.” When trouble happens in our lives, this is what God and the Son want us to do-appeal to them for help and be willing to obey their commands, being encouraged by the truth of what was said in (6). And now, let’s look at point two.
Christ used offensive prayer to drive out demons during His ministry on earth. A while ago, I was led to write about MT 12: 22-32, the story of Jesus and Beelzebul. When Jesus healed a blind and mute man possessed by a demon, the common people began to think seriously that He might be the Messiah of Israel. This enraged the Pharisees. Unable tolerate any suggestion of sympathy with Christ, they exploded with the charge that the miracle had been performed by the power of Beelzebul, the ruler of demons. They accused Christ of being empowered by Beelzebul, a charge Christ would answer in MT 12: 28. “No, it is not Beelzebul, but God’s Spirit, Who gives me the power to drive out demons, which proves that the Kingdom of God has already come upon you.” Christ goes on to explain to the Pharisees that slavery to sin is the rejection of God’s grace. The power He has against Satan is metaphorically shown in MT 12: 29, “No one can break into a strong man’s house and take away his belongings unless he first ties up the strong man; then he can plunder his house.” In this explanation, the strong man is Satan. His house is the sphere in which Satan holds sway. His belongings are his demons. Jesus is the One who ties up the strong man, enters his house, and plunders his belongings. Why is this? Far from being in league with Satan, the Lord Jesus was Satan’s Conqueror! Actually, the binding of Satan takes place in stages. It began during Christ’s public ministry and was guaranteed at Calvary. We know from REV 19: 20-21 and REV 20: 10 that it will be completed at that time.
Satan’s house is vulnerable because he is a defeated foe. We know this, because of the Protevangelium, GN 3: 15. “I [God] will make you [the serpent, which is Satan] and the woman hate each other; her offspring [mankind] and yours will always be enemies. Her offspring will crush your head, and you will bite their heel.” While biting the heel of mankind will cause pain, it is not fatal. On the other hand, crushing the head of the serpent is indeed fatal. Adam and Eve had no idea which way evil would be defeated. Mankind didn’t have access to that information until Christ’s public ministry. With the hindsight of history coupled with our faith, we know that the serpent’s head was crushed at Calvary. That means that every believer who endures in faith shares in the victory of Christ’s mighty sacrifice on the cross. COL 2: 15 tells it all. “And on that cross Christ freed Himself from the power of the spiritual rulers and authorities; He made a public spectacle of them by leading them as captives in His victory procession.”
MT 18: 18 is preceded by a discussion on what can be done when a fellow believer sins [MT 18: 15-17]. Christ brings this up as an illustration of the power of offensive prayer. He explains that first the matter is brought up privately with the person in question. If he listens and stops the sinful behavior, the issue with him is over. But, if he refuses, then Christ instructs the leader to take one or two other trusted persons with him to talk to the person in question. This satisfies the need for at least two witnesses [DT 17: 6]. If he still won’t listen, then it’s time to share the matter with the congregation. Finally, if he still wont’ listen, then he is to be excommunicated with the understanding that if he ever stops the behavior, he can be welcomed back. MT 18: 18, “And so I tell all of you: what you prohibit on earth will be prohibited in heaven, and what you permit on earth will be permitted in heaven.” Another way of putting this is when an assembly, prayerfully and in obedience to the word, “binds” disciplinary action upon a person, that action is honored in heaven. Should the person repent, confess his sin, and want to return to the assembly, the assembly should restore him to fellowship, in a “loosing action,” that action is ratified in by God. [see JN 20: 23]. We must examine the tremendous bond that exists between the believer, our Lord Jesus Christ, and other believers when we are all indwelt by the Holy Spirit. Consider the power of offensive prayer and how we might apply this method of praying to our own battles with the forces of evil.
PRAYER: O Lord, there is nothing gentle about the ways the evil forces attack us under Satan’s leadership. However, the power of offensive prayer in these situations should not be under estimated. It is greater than anything Satan’s forces can do to us, and Satan knows it. That is because he knows he was defeated when Christ gave His life on the cross for our salvation [REV 12: 12; JN 3: 16; RO 3: 24-25]. Because Satan causes us pain, suffering, disappointment, and loss, we are vulnerable to forgetting the power we have against him. At the times of our greatest pain and sorrow, Satan has exposed what is vulnerable in us. The best defense against this can be an offensive prayer to put it to an end. If physical death of a loved one is involved, we can’t change that, but we can reach to Your perspective and find comfort in it. You knew when You sent Christ to His suffering and death on the cross, that You would resurrect Him as “the first among many brothers” [RO 8:29]. You could take comfort in knowing that His death would open the door to salvation for all mankind who would listen and believe in the Gospel; and that He would sit at Your right hand [PS 110:1] and function as our High Priest, Advocate, and Intercessor [HE 8: 1-2] with You. That is Your plan to redeem mankind from slavery to sin, and we are dedicated to never forgetting that. You are an awesome and magnificent God, Whose name is to be magnified. Your wonderful attributes and unselfish, compassionate actions on behalf of Your children make it essential that we offer You thanks. We are your diligent and loyal foot soldiers. We offer You our adoration, worship, glory, and honor. We lift You up in praise for that is what You deserve. All this we do in the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.
While many examples of using offensive prayer come from missionary work, that is not the only place it applies. In tomorrow’s message, we’ll look first at the story from Neil Anderson, author of Victory Over The Darkness and The Bondage Breaker, who tells about the mission in Argentina. Then, if space permits, we’ll go on to some other places beside in the mission field where we might employ offensive prayer. Between all the elements of God’s full armor outlined in EPH 6: 10-18, Satan never really has a chance. The problem comes in when we don’t understand the power we have against Satan and/or are afraid to use it. When I look at my own life, I see many imperfections-things like not being courageous enough to pray offensively when I or someone I love is in pain. It’s okay to pray before something we perceive that is evil might happen. We can come against Satan in the name of Christ, and watch how this works. The power is awesome as long as it is used in compliance with our Covenant of Grace obligations. The frontal attack by offensive prayer done this way, with Christ in leadership, leaves Satan with no defense. God’s will shall be done! Our task is to know God’s plan, understand His love for us, believe in His word, and take action when He commands us to do that. Bask in the warm glow of the love our Father and His Son have for us. Know that the Holy Spirit indwelt in us is proof of that love. Be encouraged by all this. Peter and I send you our love too.
Grace Be With You Always,
Lynn