1. The Struggle of Faith Viv Grigg, 2008

2. 1. The Struggle of Faith The Struggle Within The Shadow Side (Romans 1:18-32; 3:23) Walking in The Light (1 John 1:5-9) The Flesh wars against the Spirit (Gal 5:16- 26) We began with repentance, we continue with daily confession We began with trust, we continue with dependence

3. Warfare with the World, Flesh, Devil The Struggle Within Always in Conflict Spiritual warfare is primarily warfare with our own desires But the context of the cosmos And the prowling of the devil Confuse and cause conflict Holy Spirit Flesh = Sinful nature Our Spirits

4. Warfare with the Flesh Spiritual warfare is primarily warfare with our own desires We can’t improve the flesh (unlike Buddhist spirituality), only put it to death Romans 7 and 8 are great chapters on these issues Holy Spirit Flesh = Sinful nature Our Spirits Nee, Watchman. (1968). The Spiritual Man (Vol. 1). New York: Christian Fellowship Publishers.

5. Levels of Authority in Warfare with Spirits and Powers Know your level of authority with God Sources of Authority Granted Grace Authority through struggle. The rights of men and women of faith (Jeremiah 33:3) Such authority comes in covenants with him Authority is based in proclamation, discernment and in obedient action

6. The Life of an Intercessor Incarnate in the Pain Carrying the People’s Cries to God and God to the People Ask, ask, ask, ask, ask….(John 15:7, 16: 16:24; Jer 33:3) Ask big enough to glorify him No asking if no mountain retreats The discipline of silence No seeing if no fasting No receiving without cleansing You do not have because you ask with wrong motives to spend it on your own passions (James 4:3). J. O. Fraser, Mountain Rain, OMF

7. Four Levels of Authority Personal Spirituality Community/Church Level Warfare E.g. prophecy in a church City/Country Level Warfare Engaging in the opposite spirit Creating movements Cosmic Spiritual Warfare (II Cor 10:3) Capitalism, communism, consumerism

8. Level 3: National Movement Level The Role of the Prophet, the Seer, the Visionary, the Strategist, the G2 (the man/woman of words) The Necessity of study, understanding the Issues and the Times (Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel) The Role of the Apostle (the fanatic) Team builder, implementer of the vision, founder of movements Institutions as Prophetic Centres (the institutionaliser) Institutionalising Dreams, Values The Academe as Locus of Conflict (II Cor 10:3) The Music Industry, the Media as Controlling Institution Hoffer, Eric. (1951). The True Believer. New York and London: Harper & Row.

9. Counterattack What are the Enemy’s Designs on God’s People? E.g.Death and sickness of family members when we penetrate his authority in a new community. Wounded healers, healed wounded Irritations E.g. 26 errors in Telecom connecting a phone line. E.g. Emails going to wrong people A Discipline: Pray daily, “deliver us from evil”.

10. Level 4. Cosmic Level Perspectives on Principalities and Powers Walter Wink, liberal perspective that collective humanness generates social values, structures, ‘isms against which we fight Pentecostal perspective that spirit beings intrude into human activity McAlpine, Thomas H. (2003). Facing the Powers: What Are the Options? Wipf & Stock Publishers. Discusses four different approaches.

11. World Under Satan’s Tentative Dominance Prince of the Power of the Air (Eph 2:2) Ruler of the World (John 12:31) Whole world lies in his power (1 John 5:17). The Manner of Warfare – The Cross Death to Self E.g. Parehaka as community of Peace & Ghandi Service to the Poorest Seeking God to bring Justice Eg. My friend against the dams

12. Conflict with the World (1 John 2:15,16) Organised systems of human values opposed to the life of Christ in believers A composite expression of the depravity of man and the intrigues of Satan’s rule, combining in opposition to the sovereign rule of God (Mark Bubeck in Boa, 336) Not all human culture is of the world – much of it stems from the reflection of God in humanity (e.g. marriage, love of children…)