Angelina said:
My friend was thinking of leaving this Church because of the way these prayers were conducted. I agree with his discernment on this but persuaded him to stay and if the opportunity presented itself again, that he should pray according to the leading of the Spirit rather than the pressure of the group. Sometimes you have to stand up for what you believe to be right - even if you are standing alone. Based on what he has said, the team did not need to use spiritual warfare techniques [binding and loosing] in a matter that only required intercession. [standing in the gap] :huh:
Shalom!!!
There's a great deal of abuse of power these days in so called deliverance ministries. Mostly they're a platform for opportunistic traveling con artists masquerading as shepherds of the flock. So what's really going on?
It's the same tired old story of folks who were once fervent Christians sold out to the Lord who were softened by the world and the desires of the flesh. Biblically it's the same as the Hebrews who, once delivered from the slavery of Egypt, longed and swore they wanted to go back.
Consequently those same traveling side show preachers will tell you the same story. Year after year they make the rounds of the sad churches in America. The possessed are 'delivered' by various prayers and a loud show of righteous appeals to heaven for freedom. Some seem to be freed, yet unknown to everyone they secretly dabble in sin once the show is over. The result is that they become 're-possessed' like a used car from an owner who didn't keep up payments. Next time the deliverance ministry shows up in town, guess who's in front of the line asking to be freed from possession once more? It's usually the same people over and over again. They aren't trying to grab attention so much as they're trying to obtain license to sin and it just isn't going to happen.
What is really going on is flirtation with sin, and there are few who will call it for what it is - dangerous behavior to the sinning Christian and to the church as a whole. God does not approve and truly it is written that judgment begins in the house of God. Many are sick and suffer who might not have done - because of their constant secret sins and flirtations with Egypt/the old way of life.
When a man gets saved, God doesn't fool around. The second birth is more, much more, than the acquisition of a church membership card. It is real and it is of God and being jealous God will NOT allow sin to grow. If the Christian does not cut it off, then God will cut him off instead. Many now sleep before their time who might still live upon the earth.
God loves righteousness above all and He will cause the Christian to pay for flirtation with sin. Righteousness must return to the church before the real power of religion will be seen again in America. It's not a game. Get off the fence and act like a Christian.
IF GOD DOES NOT JUDGE AMERICA, HE WILL HAVE TO APOLOGIZE TO SODOM AND GOMORRAH.
and that's just me, hollering from the choir loft...