BobVigneault
Bawberator
Dear Steve,
I so appreciate your writings and responses. I appreciate the fact that your geographical location gives you a very different perspective on matters within the church. I have a question regarding some encouragement you gave Raj in another thread. You said:
I have come up against considerable 'demonic' attack in the past. The pastor of the church I was attending came with a team and they tried to 'deliver' us from the attack. I think they did more harm than good. Looking back from a reformed vantage point (beginning with God's sovereignty) I've concluded that we were wrong in trying to directly engage the 'demons'. You quote Luke 10:19,20, but I would say that Jesus was speaking exclusively to the 72. This was a historical incident and being incidental not a portion of scripture that we should use to build a doctrine of spiritual warfare.
I am quite aware that Satan's workers are more overt (not that there was anything subtle in what my family witnessed), in more animistic cultures but I am not convinced that direct engagement is prescribed in scripture. Most of what passes for 'deliverance ministry' is based on the experiences of the 'deliverers'. What do you think?
I so appreciate your writings and responses. I appreciate the fact that your geographical location gives you a very different perspective on matters within the church. I have a question regarding some encouragement you gave Raj in another thread. You said:
I will be praying, Raj. Does the church know how to take a stand against an evil spirit? The Lord Jesus said they are subject to us in His name (Luke 10:19, 20), although many believers being ignorant of this live in fear and oppression. This ought not be! There is mighty power God has given us to triumph in this conflict, seeing as the Almighty dwells in us by His Holy Spirit.
I have come up against considerable 'demonic' attack in the past. The pastor of the church I was attending came with a team and they tried to 'deliver' us from the attack. I think they did more harm than good. Looking back from a reformed vantage point (beginning with God's sovereignty) I've concluded that we were wrong in trying to directly engage the 'demons'. You quote Luke 10:19,20, but I would say that Jesus was speaking exclusively to the 72. This was a historical incident and being incidental not a portion of scripture that we should use to build a doctrine of spiritual warfare.
I am quite aware that Satan's workers are more overt (not that there was anything subtle in what my family witnessed), in more animistic cultures but I am not convinced that direct engagement is prescribed in scripture. Most of what passes for 'deliverance ministry' is based on the experiences of the 'deliverers'. What do you think?