Building the Infrastructure: Understanding Spiritual Warfare!

2010 Labor Day Conference – Early Bird Registration

I think that it is in the introduction to The Screwtape Letters (by C.S. Lewis  of the Narnia books fame) that Lewis urges us to refrain from the twin deceptions of the demonic world to either see them under every tree or to have such a low view of the demonic that you tend to not really view demons as real at all.  I hope that this e-letter will be able to steer that delicate balance.

I am far from convinced that the church in the West has a Biblical view of spiritual warfare.  Most evangelical Christians have never had something that they would recognize as a demonic encounter.  This does not match up with the experience of Jesus, where we see Him confronting the demonic on virtually every other page of the gospels.  As someone wryly put it one time, “If you have never met the devil face to face, maybe it because you are going in the same direction”  Ouch!  In my medical practice back in the UK, I became very aware of the frequency of demonic involvement in the lives of my patients as detailed in a book that I wrote at the time called Renewing The Mind (any who would like an electronic copy of this long since out of print book may download it as a PDF here).  For a more academic treatise on this subject, I would point you to Scott Pecks, People Of The Lie (associate link).

Once we start making relevant forays against the kingdom of darkness, the enemy will find ways to strike out at us.  This is why Paul warns us “not to be ignorant of (Satan’s) devises” (2 Cor. 2:11) but rather to learn to “put on the whole armor of God.” (Eph 6: 10-18)  John Eldredge puts this very well in his book, Wild At Heart (associate link), when he says that we need to recognize that we wake up each day to a world that is at war.

Felicity and I have had two very challenging examples of this over the past few years.  The first time was the precise month that we made the decision with some close friends to start House2House Magazine.  That same month a completely unexpected blow hit my company, and over the next few months it brought us to the edge of bankruptcy.  This had been going on for months before we woke up to the fact that Satan would love to distract or even destroy us by bringing our finances to a point that we would have no time for anything except trying to make a living.  Once we realized what was happening we began to fight.  What do I mean by “fight”, well either download Renewing the Mind or be patient until I touch on this in next weeks e-letter!

Just one month ago, Felicity had a group of women to our home for the weekend to explore how they can work together to more effectively help women move actively into ministry.  Two weeks ago I wrote about this in this e-letter.  Since that e-letter Satan has thrown everything that he can at us and at our family.  But “we are not ignorant of his devises.” (2 Cor. 2:11).  So again we fight.

Jesus made it very plain that in this world we will have opposition (John 16:33).  If you are not seeing this, then my guess is that you are not yet giving the enemy enough trouble that he is bothering to fight back!  Don’t get me wrong.  We are not looking for trouble, but we do need to be concerned if it never comes.

Since the last couple of e-letters have been longer than usual, I am going to cut this one short, and just add a couple of links to interviews that I think many of you reading this will enjoy.

• Click this link for a great interview with John White about learning to hear the Lord’s voice.
• Click this link for a great interview with Mary, an Indian church planter.
• Click this link for a great interview with Neil Cole
• Click this link for J. Edwin Orr, the great teacher on Revival talking about what was happening world-wide in 1905, and he is not even referring to the outpouring of the Holy Spirit that led to the Pentecostal movement!

Enough.  Have a great week.  And why not plan now to be with us for the H2H National House Church conference in Dallas.

Tony and Felicity and the H2H team

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Recent Stories:

Each week H2H publishes a story/article about simple church and/or living out our life in the Kingdom. Recent stories include:

• Green Church (part 1)
• The Great Commission and Great Leadership by Dmitriy Demidov
• Simplifying Discipleship By Roger Thoman, with comments from Ken Eastburn
• Movement or Spiritual Family? Erik and Jen Fish

House2House is a donation supported ministry.

By Tony & Felicity Dale and George Barna

Today’s Western culture is indifferent to church and Christians. Yet the early church existed in far harsher conditions—and it thrived. Much like a new litter of rabbits, the infant faith quickly grew and spread. And the result was a world transformed.

In The Rabbit and the Elephant, Tony and Felicity Dale (Simply Church) and George Barna (Revolution) say that the same thing is happening today. As Christians, we are the church – whether we meet in office buildings, college dorm rooms, coffee shops, factories, or homes – and the Holy Spirit uses us to expand that church to the far reaches of the globe. By practicing “simple church,” we’ll find that a small gathering of friends loving Jesus together and reaching out to the community around them can help us to be the church, the way God intended.

The rabbit and the elephant. Something small and something big. Find out what lessons they hold for you, for the body of Christ, and for the future of church as we know it.

From Eternity to Here: Rediscovering the Ageless Purpose of God

By Frank Viola

Deep within God’s Word lies a wondrous story like no other. A drama that originated before time began. An epic saga that resonates with the heartbeat of God. A story that reveals nothing less than the meaning of life and God’s great mission in the earth. From Eternity to Here presents three remarkable stories spanning Genesis to Revelation. Each story traces a divine theme that is woven throughout Scripture. Seen together, they offer an extraordinary glimpse into God’s highest passion and grand mission. What you discover will forever change your view of life, the church, and our magnificent God.

Organic Leadership

by Neil Cole

What are the weeds that hinder the natural growth of godly leadership? Are programs, people, and money truly the signs of a successful church? Where can you find an unlimited source of leaders? How do you mentor others so that they multiply? In Organic Leadership, Neil Cole asks these questions and more, boldly challenging many of the ideas about leadership and church life that we all take for granted.

 

 

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Clayton, WA 99110-0229