In Realms Unseen
Isn't it funny, how the people who seem to be making the most powerful impact for God's kingdom seem to be the people who were once the furthest from it at some time in their lives? Whether reformed criminals, lost idol worshipers, or those forced into moral bankruptcy by desperation, it truly does seem those who have walked in the deepest darkness have amazing potential to erupt with light.
My own journey has not been so dark as many, but it seems like perhaps the time may be coming where my teenage brush with the occult may be part of what I have to offer to the body of Christ. That idea will likely raise some eyebrows, but it's still where I find myself at the moment.
A women's bible study group that I meet with has had quite a bit of talk about the uncanny emerge in our discussion time lately. Honestly, I didn't think that much of it. I simply tried to steer the discussion away from any unfounded ponderings on the activities of people's deceased loved ones, and asserted the perilous nature of delving uninformed into the territory of angels and demons. But it is growing clear to me that deflecting the issue may not be adequate--at least not what the Lord would have me do. My time spent dabbling in the occult has left me with a healthy respect for the power of Satan and his cohorts to lure the unwitting, the curious, or the despairing into an enslaving relationship of fear.
I would never wish for anyone to spend a moment in the fearsome realm whose edges I only grazed. So when I hear romanticizing of angels or ghosts and their roles in our lives, sirens of "red alert" begin to blare in the back of my head. But at the same time, I know I am not carrying as sharp a sword as I should be in this war against the deceiver. Sure, I know my boundaries, and when I even get a whiff of demonic risk, all the fine hairs across my skin stand on end. But my sense of places I won't go won't be adequate to educate and protect others from the lies that are so interwoven into our culture with regard to the supernatural.
And so, my reluctant answer to my lack of weaponry? To force myself to learn by proposing my group study spiritual warfare--what the bible actually says about angels, demons, and human spirits after the body dies. It will involve a hunt for the right teaching materials, created by someone far more expert than I. And I suspect it may take some careful convincing that these are paths we dare tread.
But for the sake of those around me who wonder but don't know, it's a place a sense I must go. Prayerfully.
My own journey has not been so dark as many, but it seems like perhaps the time may be coming where my teenage brush with the occult may be part of what I have to offer to the body of Christ. That idea will likely raise some eyebrows, but it's still where I find myself at the moment.
I would never wish for anyone to spend a moment in the fearsome realm whose edges I only grazed. So when I hear romanticizing of angels or ghosts and their roles in our lives, sirens of "red alert" begin to blare in the back of my head. But at the same time, I know I am not carrying as sharp a sword as I should be in this war against the deceiver. Sure, I know my boundaries, and when I even get a whiff of demonic risk, all the fine hairs across my skin stand on end. But my sense of places I won't go won't be adequate to educate and protect others from the lies that are so interwoven into our culture with regard to the supernatural.
And so, my reluctant answer to my lack of weaponry? To force myself to learn by proposing my group study spiritual warfare--what the bible actually says about angels, demons, and human spirits after the body dies. It will involve a hunt for the right teaching materials, created by someone far more expert than I. And I suspect it may take some careful convincing that these are paths we dare tread.
But for the sake of those around me who wonder but don't know, it's a place a sense I must go. Prayerfully.
Hey. One never falters when studying the truth. I've not had dealings with the occult, but my husband and his pastor (both from Zambia) have shared their experience. It is eye-opening and interesting to get their perspective on this topic.
ReplyDeleteI can imagine the supernatural activity in a place such as Zambia could be quite dramatic. Sometimes I think we see less overt warfare here in the US because we're such skeptics. Satan doesn't have to work very hard when we aren't afraid because we're too haughty to have the sense. It's like that old Keith Greene song where Satan boasts how easy his attacks are in places where no one believes in him anymore.
DeleteHe comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us. 2 Corinthians 1:4
ReplyDeleteGood for you, Becky! I know you aren't exactly closed lipped about but I imagine it can still be difficult and I'm proud of you for taking it on. You may never know the full extent of good your willingness to share and teach will bring, but you have the gift of unique prespective and you have experienced something in your life that can be used to help others! I have no doubts that God will bless you and the women you teach far more than you probably anticipate. I'll keep you and your ladies in my prayers :)
Thanks so much for your words of encouragement, Ruth! I am sure I will need youyr prayers if I go through with this, since I get the feeling somebody out there will be pretty ticked off about it. Bracing myself for sure.
DeleteYay Becky for going back to a place you don't really want to for the sake of others! I know the Lord of Hosts will bless you if you do decide to teach on this.
ReplyDeleteWhen I'm mentoring young ladies and this comes up, I've used this to make them laugh and keep it in perspective "Do the math. One third of the angelic host fell. That means that two thirds did not fall. Which means for every one demon, there are two angels. But far better than that, the Lord of Hosts now makes His home in your heart. He is all the champion and conqueror we need."
As far as resources go:
I really enjoyed "Angels Elect and Evil" by C. Fredrick Dickason. It's been around for a long time, it really mines the Bible for Scripture on angels and sets it up in a way you can understand. I didn't agree with him on everything about demons, and didn't read a lot of that part of the book (I was more interested in Angels and finding answers about them for a friend)
If you do get roped into teaching on this, be sure to let me know when and where. I'll pray for you as the Lord leads. :D Hang tough sister-soldier. If He is leading you to do this, He'll make certain you have the tools you need, and better still, be with you every step of the way.
Thank you so much for the ideas for resources and the words of encouragement. And I love the idea of the scales being tipped to God's side. Not that we don't already know this, but having a concrete picture of the forces' numbers is certainly encouraging.
DeleteOh wow, good luck in your materials search! I know Chuck Missler has some great stuff on demons and UFOs, but he's fringe-weird and that might not be what you're looking for. (khouse.org is his site.)
ReplyDeleteReally, I think it'd be very refreshing to study that sort of thing through the Bible itself and nothing else. The Bible does have all kinds of provocative stuff in it that makes for great discussion. As for the occult, that one line from Lord of the Rings comes to mind. "Is it not enough to know that they are servants of the Enemy? Flee them! Speak no words to them! They are deadly."
Extra points for the LotR quote. I want a plaque that says that for my desk! :D
DeleteBut seriously, thanks for the resource ideas as well. Even stuff I can't use for my class is material I can use for my own information.