Menu

The Battle is NOW! I need you.

S
sermonindex

I want to ask the saints gathered on this forum for their immediate prayer help.I live in small community that's like something out of a Frank Peritti novel, ala "This Present Darkness".I'm not kidding.If you think I'm being hysterical, go to my towns newspaper www.topangamessenger.com and peer into the cracks.So anyway, the enemy has totally destroyed the church in my town, total division.Meanwhile I just do my thing, witnessing Jesus to the lost, giving bread to the poor, help to the widows. I'm involved in an intercessory prayer group.This group has been active now for two plus years, and every since we got together it was like we took a stick to the hive of the devil, things have just got STIRRED up in the Heavenlies, Praise God!!One day, the Holy Ghost gave me a vision of a prayer tent admidst my communitie's annual Memorial Day country fair, called "Topanga Days".Here's where the plot thickens, God has graced me with a ministry fund, that I use to do the Lord's benevolence work, and I was going to rent a booth space.In this town there is a leading "new age" practioneer, she reads astrology charts, she reads tarot cards, she does "full body healing" sessions for $200 a pop, etc etc etc. It certainly isnt the God Most High she is serving, Lets call her "Luna" for now. She has worked her way into every town council and chamber of commerce here.She is satans gatekeeper in this town, and guess who is in charge of the booth allocation for the country fair.You got it.I called Luna today, (all prayed up I might add)the minute she started speaking to me, you could FEEL the hostility, it emanated from the phone.She basically told me I couldnt rent a thing. When I countered (meekly, not wimply) with "that isnt fair", she told me that "life isnt fair".When I asked her why the Buddhists get to rent a booth, she said that they have something they "we want"...parking space.I was very low key and subdued thruout this conversation, she was very very hostile.I'm going to take it to the next level now, but I really need YOU, my cyber brethern, this church of the Net, to begin to intercede in the Heavenlies....we have WEAPONS saints, but they are NOT of this world...please ...begin to use them with me, join me in prayer, until victory.Much love in Jesus, Neil

C
Compton

I want to ask the saints gathered on this forum for their immediate prayer help.Count on it bro.MC

E
earnestlycontend

I looked at the link you gave - the content was strange. All that self-help, healing arts, etc. garbage is not Christian for sure.You have my prayers.Kendal

S
sermonindex

I would contact the Aliance Defense Fund immediately and tell them the situation. They will take the appropiate legal action. Specificly contact Nate Kellum who is a lawyer who specializes in cases like this.His # is: 1 901 323 6672

M
MarkDaniel

Prayers for you Neil.

D
disciplejosh

Will be praying with you, bro. Lift up Escondido while you're at it, brethren.

S
sermonindex

Looks like God is at work in your town and the spirits are being stirred up. When they manifest, than you know something is troubling them, otherwise they like to stay low key and blend in. When you read the acts of Jesus, when light entered into the region they reacted to it. When Paul entered a city they reacted to that light.So this is what is happening here, light has entered the city and they are reacting. And God is working behind the scenes, even to the place where you may think that all hope is lost. Your church broke up for a reason, it may be a good thing. God will regroup them together, don't always look at these calamaties as always from the devil some are from God if not most. God knows how to stir His people. Closing the church may get those whom He has been talking too together in a house meetings and getting them to pray and seek His face. The enemy thinks that by closing a church means victory, but God's church will never be overcome by the gates of hell ever as that is God's promise to His called out ones.I hope this prayer of encouragement has encouraged you.Karl

A
AgesofWar

Hi Neil. This is Michael's wife writing to you. We just got done praying for you. However unique your situation may seem, please know that we Christians are all going through different trials. Have faith in the Lord.Michael's wife, Era.

S
sermonindex

You have my prayers.

S
sermonindex

Dear brother, (I want to write this to you publicly, as to carry on the dialogue in front of the faithful.)I was rather pressed for time, and didnt testify as to everything that was on my heart, and prayer points the Lord was requesting thru me.After I got off the phone from "Luna", I had such a case of spiritual indigestion that I needed to get on my knees and cry out for relief.It felt, literally, as if, there were demonic spirits about on the ranch. I began to pray for myself, pray for protection, pray for God to shower his mercy on Luna with her tarot cards, astrology charts, and whatever other forms of necromancy she indulges in.Then my soul came to rest on my own mother.Oh yes. Since I was a young boy, right at the time I began my studies in the temple, with the Hebrew language and Torah, she began to involve herself in astrology. She began to read the charts, then she began to read tarot cards, she actually published a book on astrology. Right at the same time, her little son, began the road to his bar-mitzvah. I began to pray for God to open my mother's eyes. To pray in the Spirit for God to intercede and WAKE HER UP!Within three minutes the phone rang....oh yes.It was my mother.I wasn't surprised, in fact I rather expected it. She asked me what was the matter. she could hear it in my voice. I said, "Mommy, you know I love you".'yes'....she was wary, I would be too, if I was her.I continued on, "You know I've always been a good Jewish boy".'yes'"and you know that I share the same spiritual DNA with those of our people who ministered in the Temple so many years ago in Jerusalem".(actually she knows very little about the history of the faith, in fact she must have thought I flipped my cap.......but as Paul said, "If I am out of my mind......")'yes'"Then you will listen to me, and get rid of all your ephermis' (astrological charts) and all your tarot cards at once, because you are playing with things, and opening doors to things you know nothing about, and I love you, and want to spend eternity with you."She gave an uncomfortable laugh, trying to blithely laugh, and said 'no'.I said, "mother, in all due respect, you are like a little girl here, you're playing with fire and you are going to get burned, now listen to me and obey". She started to protest, and I didnt really want to have a long involved dialogue, so I said, "Mommy, I love you and I was in the middle of prayer, I said what God had me to say to you, and I pray you listen, so God bless you and talk to you later".Conviction or condemnation, I don't know, but she then proceeded to call the mother of my son, and complain to her about my new request.It's actually an old request, even as a child I knew that there was something wrong with the astrology and something wrong with the tarot cards. It doesnt take a elaborate discerning spirit to ascertain that junk is bad, that junk is demonic and laced with all sorts of anti-Christ filth. It would have been the same if she hauled in a bag of pig waste, set it in the living room, and expected family business to continue as normal.We're all gonna cry out and say "THAT STINKS!" "Get it outta here! please!"Which is what I used to do as a child, I hated that stuff. But........... the oppression of an unsaved and ungodly parent.Generational curses falling under the Blood of Jesus, and I'm the 'freek'....I'm the 'weirdo'."Oh man, havent ya heard, Neil's all wrapped up in that Jesus stuff"."really?""Yeh, its weird, he quit smoking grass, quit smoking cigarettes, quit chasing girls, he's in church almost every night of the week, and when he told me he was concerned about my soul, his eyes started watering.....what a weirdo".(btw, I'm smiling as I wrote that part.) Prayer Points1. pray that God removes all the hindrances to establishing a Spirit-filled Christian witness in Topanga California not only during the Topanga Days Fair, but during all the rest of the year.2. Pray that God protect me and my family from all unclean spirits.3. Pray that God save 10,000 souls in Topanga for Jesus' sake, and that God use His Church and His workers to do so.4. Pray that God deals with all of the enemies workers and gatekeepers in a just, yet merciful manner, He is a loving God, patient and long-suffering. Praise His Name with me....HalleLuYAH!!

S
sermonindex

Stephan, Michael and Era, Karl, Josh, Mark Daniel, Kendal, and MC...without your prayers, I would be in trouble.God BLESS all of you, The victory is to Jesus, for He is worthy.Much love to you all in Jesus,Neil

S
sermonindex

I'm very very leery about using a court of heathen to judge heathen. What I'm about to say, I do not say to judge anyone, any saint or to cause division, but this is how I feel.In recent days, there have been many court battles, court battles over same sex marriage, court battles over ten commandment statues in court rooms, court battles over crosses on the los angeles city emblem...court battles, court battles, court battles.I don't want to plug into that spirit, our battles should be waged on our knees to show God's power, and not our fleshly cunning.I pray that God give me the strength and the courage to take a flogging and then to start singing worship songs at midnight. I was so very proud of you in Christ Jesus, as to your recent evangelistic efforts in that jailhouse, I was so very proud of you in Christ Jesus as to your witness in spite of all the demonic opposition you faced.Paul's prayers to God WERE answered in your case. I'm proud of you Jess, and I wanna say that publicly.I want to have nothing to do with any heathen court or law system, God bless you for your thoughtfulness.Neil

M
MarkDaniel

our battles should be waged on our knees to show God's powerYour faith is great brother!I pray that God give me the strength and the courage to take a flogging and then to start singing worship songs at midnight.AMEN! AMEN!I want to have nothing to do with any heathen court or law systemYes, you will be quickly side-tracked and lured away from the Great Commission. Your God will make a way for you outside of any heathen court.Matthew 5:39 But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also.1 Corinthians 4:1-5 So then, men ought to regard us as servants of Christ and as those entrusted with the secret things of God. Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful. I care very little if I am judged by you or by any human court; indeed, I do not even judge myself. My conscience is clear, but that does not make me innocent. It is the Lord who judges me. Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait till the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of men's hearts. At that time each will receive his praise from God.

C
crsschk

Neil, brother.Just an encouragement and a thank you. Somehow can't get around this one word; 'Depends' and appreciate your heart here and the sentiments towards our brother Jesse. While being in agreement with you in thought of this present situation you are in, that the consideration for others may be led to deal with these things differently depending on their best sense of the Lords leading... very commendable.You have my prayers brother. And Jesse as well.James 1:5, 3:13

M
MarkDaniel

Dear Brothers,Be careful of ANYONE who comes to you in the name of Jesus Christ and "kindly" or "in love" steers you away from spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ that Paul preached. ANYONE or ANY SPIRIT who has you lay down your sword of the Spirit, the Word of God, for another "gospel" of law and/or politics should be treated with extreme care and wisdom. Satan will come to you through your best friend or a pastor in a 3-piece suit, if he has to, claiming to have your "best" interests in mind. He shamelessly uses anyone who is willing to do his bidding or their own bidding, and not the Lord's. If ANYONE comes to you with an agenda that steers you away from spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ that Paul preached, BE WARY, and test the spirit.The enemy is in the camp.MD

C
Compton

Neilgin wrote,...what a weirdoWell praise God, we are the Fellowship of the Weirdos! How wonderful when our unsaved loved ones find us peculiar. They knew you before as empty like themselves, and become unsettled when confronted by the Spirit of holiness and love who now lives in you!...when he told me he was concerned about my soul, his eyes started watering.....Yet when I preach the gospel, I cannot boast, for I am compelled to preach. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel!Neilgin, your family conversations remind me of a poignant testimonial from Watchman Nee.In 1929 I returned from Shanghai to my home town of Foochow. One day I was walking along the street with a stick, very weak and in broken health, and I met one of my old college professors. He took me into a teashop where we sat down. He looked at me from head to foot and from foot to head, and then he said: "Now look here; during your college days we thought a good deal of you and we had hopes that you would achieve something great. Do you mean to tell me that this is what you are" Looking at me with penetrating eyes, he asked that very pointed question. I must confess that, on hearing it, my first desire was to break down and weep. My career, my health, everything had gone, and here was my old professor who taught me law in the school, asking me: `Are you still in this condition, with no success, no progress, nothing to show?' But the very next moment -- and I have to admit that in all my life it was the first time -- I really knew what it meant to have the "spirit of glory" resting upon me. The thought of being able to pour our my life for my Lord flooded my soul with glory. Nothing short of the Spirit of glory was on me then. I could look up and without a reservation say: `Lord, I praise Thee! This is the best thing possible; it is the right course that I have chosen!' To my professor it seemed a total waste to serve the Lord; but that is what the Gospel is for -- to bring us to a true estimate of His worth.Brother we praise God for the work He is doing in and through you. You have committed yourself to seeing Gods' power work without appealing to the strength of man and we are glad to support you in prayer. We recognize that God already has glory in this situation---there is a "warrior poet" bringing the Good News into the strongholds of Topanga. "...and the Spirit of the LORD came upon David from that day forward." 1Sa 16:13"MC

C
crsschk

Wanted to bring this back to the fore as well.Will be praying with you, bro. Lift up Escondido while you're at it, brethren.Will continue to brother, hope it is well with the Church in The Park there, (This is a ministry to the homeless that our brother Josh preaches to, amongst other things and is not to far from where Greg is currently studying)...This does have me a bit curious I must admit...What's happening out there brother?

S
Spitfire

Hi Neil. I will be praying with you. Love, Dian.

S
sermonindex

Going to CourtRegarding going to court over street preaching and other issues, did not even Paul appeal to Ceasar? Authorities have been established by God. Why fear calling on them for help when appropiate? Yes we must call on God for help and never fail to do so. But authorities are from God. So could God help us through His authorities? Although not too long ago I may have been in agreement with you men about not getting involved in court. However, now that I personally face opposition from the police just about everytime I try to preach, I know something needs to be done if the gospel will be preached. The cops either shut me down before I even start preaching, or shut me down after preaching no more then 5 minutes. I want to be able to start and finish a sermon. I want the lost to be able to hear the gospel. That is my main concern and burden, and with this opposition that is not happening.This is not just one cop in one location. This started in Connecticut and now is happening in Dallas and Tyler, TX. I can't even finish my sermons! I feel I will have a greater impact on the world for Christ if I "appeal to Ceasar". Yes certainly laws must get changed, but I agree that ultimately it is the hearts of men that must change. The world will not be won by discussing in heathen courts whether or not we should preach, we must preach the gospel regardless.But I can't help but to go to court since I have been getting fines and have been getting arrested. I don't have a choice, if I am to submit to authority I must go to court. Should I be found guilty of false charges when I don't need to be? Should I willingly accept the support of the Alliance Defense Fund in finding laywers willing to work at no cost to clear me of these charges? Like I said, not too long ago I would have been in complete agreement. I am not sure if you guys preach on the streets or not or have been arrested for the gospel, but when in a similiar situation as myself you may have similiar thoughts. George Whitefield also eventually decided that the wise thing to do was to go to court so hinderances to preaching would be stopped. We read about it in "George Whitefield" by Arnold A. Dallimore pg 137:"Whitefield decided the time had come to take the rioters to court...The outcome of the trial was that the jury brought in all defendants guilty of the whole information lodged against them. It was a complete victory for the Methodists. Whitefield then had the right to prefer damages against the rioters. But having shown these men that they were subject to Englands courts of law, he chose to forgive them and let the matter drop. This victory was strategic in the life of early Methodism. Had the rioting continued unchecked, the work would have suffered. But now the perpetrators knew they where not able, as they had assumed, to escape all punishment, and although the violence did not cease, from this point onward it was increasingly curtailed." But ultimately brethren, whether free or in jail, we must preach the gospel. Opposition or no opposition, God's Great Commission still stands. He didn't say "go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature, so long as they let you." The greater the opposition, the greater glory God will get!

C
crsschk

Very well said Jesse.Most certainly a difference between yours and Neil's situations, had "Ceasar" in mind earlier here (and we thought our court system was slow...).And how perfectly summed up, with Whitefield giving his cloak also. Mat 5:40In my prayers

C
Compton

Jesse,You are right to bring this up and bring balance to an underlying current here. Forgive us if we added to your burden brother. Your issue is different from Neilgins' in that government has threatened your, (and ours) freedom of speech. Government should be punnishing evildoers, not those who preach Christ.I am reminded by scripture that God does not forbid us from participating in civil government and legal battles. In fact he expects the righteous to have the will and courage to lead in earthly government.When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice: but when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn...The king by judgment establisheth the land: but he that receiveth gifts overthroweth it. Proverbs 29.2,4 Brothers, for my part this touches on another issue that I think is related. (Try this shoe on before buying it...) Perhaps some of us "western" Christians have been beating ourselves up for so long about how "easy our walks are"---there are many of us who "look forward" to persecution as a way to become spiritually tested. We feel unproven, less authentic, because we haven't experienced a portion of the state or religous oppression existing in many other countries. I think this kind of fatalistic reasoning is unhealthy and not of the Lord. There is no viture or courage in suffering of itself. Many criminals suffer. The claim to courage belongs to those who suffer because they love Jesus and bear hope for men, who are the flocks of His pasture. It is not love nor courage that passively awaits our country to fall under secular, religous, or even economic totalitarianism. I do not believe Paul would join those who look for "end times" government oppression to "wake us up." Afterall he was quick to remind the Romans that he was a rights-bearing citizen, and he reminded us: "I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound."Jesse, you know better than I that there are many battle-fronts to preaching the gospel. It is a joint operation coordinating air and ground tactics. Your current post on the hardening effects of preaching the gospel without prayer demonstrates you do not rely on "carnal devices". Although I have been street witnessing I have never been harrased by the police. If I had been cited for no apparent cause then I certainly would want the issue settled in court for my favor as well as the reputation of the gospel. Even if the real battle is spiritual it must play out in the courtrooms. Otherwise all of us suffer under the slow sprawl of tryanny. Likewise there are many other spiritual battles of importance that must play out in the courtrooms. Ever since the scopes monkey trial it seems we Christians have been uneasy in the court room and in politics. Yet today I am amazed to see for the first time I can remember that entrenched institutions like Roe vs. Wade and Evolution are showing vulnerability. Honestly, I never thought I would see this. Maybe this slow turning of the tide reflects a spiritual turn as well. Afterall, when we pray for this nation do we think God will never answer?Gods' blessing on you Jesse and Neilgin..."...submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake, whether to the king as supreme, or to governors, as to those who are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and for the praise of those who do good. For this is the will of God that by doing good you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men -as free, yet not using liberty as a cloak for vice, but as bondservants of God. Honor all people. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king" (1 Peter 2:13-17).MC

S
sermonindex

God bless you for that post brother, its been buried in my heart for a day, and speaks more than you would know.When the Holy Ghost speaks, His Words are like flaming arrows.The enemy IS in the camp, and God has spoken. I will not have a seperate booth, because God does not want those who do "dream interpetation" to come alongside the work He has me doing.I will join the others near the pepper tree in the 'not for profit' area, with my free Bibles and tracts , and my prayers.If anyone feels the leading of the Lord to join me on that Memorial Day weekend, please PM me.God bless you brother for that Precious Word.Neil

S
sermonindex

I've always gotten so blessed by those Church in the Park photos! That is such an annointed idea, I love it. I just got done reading the Ohenry Gospel Tent co brochure. I'm praying on buying a 30X20 foot tent to have church in.http://www.ohenrytents.com/

S
sermonindex

I feel blessed to be in the same family with you dear brother Jesse. As you know my situation is a bit different.....hey! Do you feel that?we're washed clean by the Blood and we're saved!!!lol. I'm serious, I'm here at the liberry and I just got a Holy Ghost touch.......we're saved!!and now I'm so excited coz we're opening a rescue mission ONE YARD from the gates of hell!![font=Impact]GLORY!!!!!![/font]

S
sermonindex

Those are much needed words MC!You are always a suppport encouragement and blessing.

C
Compton

You are welcome! Even though you aren't going to have your own tent at the fair, would you benifit from any promotional materials such as some custom flyers or posters? Let me know if I can lend a hand.MC

This discussion is archived and closed to new replies. Start a new discussion to carry the subject on.
Archived
1 of 26 posts

Everything we make is available for free because of a generous community of supporters.

Donate