The New Breed of End-Time Intercessors by Shawn Patrick Williams

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The New Breed of End-Time Intercessors

by Shawn Patrick Williams

 

Every spiritual awakening in the United States has been a response to the travailing of an army of intercessors within the Church, standing in the gap for our nation and pushing the forces of darkness back with a bombardment of heaven to intervene in the earth realm with the supernatural power of heaven. It’s important to understand that 90% of churches in America are made up of fewer than 100 members. This is what the majority of the Body looks like in the USA.

The Distracted Warrior                                                                                      Image result for prayer warrior 

“A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.” James 1:8 (KJV)

 

The enemy has assaulted the prayer strategy of the American Church. The function of the prayer warriors and groups operating effectively in the local Body has been non-operable or at best dysfunctional in many ways. A recent study showed that the average American Christian prays one minute a day, while the average pastor prays five minutes a day. I have worked with many churches and prayer groups over 16 years and can say that one of the most difficult outreaches to keep constant and functioning in the local church is prayer.

Distraction is one of the end-time intercessors’ biggest enemies. Our culture has programed this generation through media to have an attention span of roughly five minutes. The new breed intercessor will have 5 or 10 messages pop up on their phone while they are reading the Bible or playing worship music on their smartphone, which breaks the momentum of their prayers.  The older generation “prayed though” until the natural realm was changed by their prayers, but it took focus to “press in” and push toward those things that “be not as though they are”. They did not have all the distractions we have today. The iPhone wasn’t going off at all times of the night and day. Their schedules were not pressed so tightly that prayer times were scheduled right out. This generation’s access to technology can be a great blessing, but it often includes a greater distraction.

The Spiritual Arsonist

If you are one of this new breed of intercessors that has set the parameters that keep your prayer life from being distracted by the things of this world, there is another scenario that can render your gift from being effective. I call this scenario spiritual arson. The spiritual arsonist is passionate and sincere. They haven’t had the experience to understand how their gift functions within the local Body of Christ. They tend to burn everything up around them.  Let’s look at a parallel in the Old Testament:

 2 Chronicles 26:1-21 (NIV)

“Then all the people of Judah took Uzziah, who was sixteen years old, and made him king in place of his father Amaziah… Uzziah was sixteen years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem fifty-two years… He did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, just as his father Amaziah had done.  He sought God during the days of Zechariah, who instructed him in the fear of God. As long as he sought the Lord, God gave him success…He then rebuilt towns…God helped him against the Philistines…and his fame spread as far as the border of Egypt, because he had become very powerful…Uzziah built towers in Jerusalem… and he fortified them…Uzziah had a well-trained army…he made devices invented for use on the towers and on the corner defenses so that soldiers could shoot arrows and hurl large stones from the walls. His fame spread far and wide, for he was greatly helped until he became powerful.

But after Uzziah became powerful, his pride led to his downfall. He was unfaithful to the Lord his God, and entered the temple of the Lord to burn incense on the altar of incense.  Azariah the priest with eighty other courageous priests of the Lord followed him in.  They confronted King Uzziah and said, “It is not right for you, Uzziah, to burn incense to the Lord. That is for the priests, the descendants of Aaron, who have been consecrated to burn incense. Leave the sanctuary, for you have been unfaithful; and you will not be honored by the Lord God. Uzziah, who had a censer in his hand ready to burn incense, became angry. While he was raging at the priests in their presence before the incense altar in the Lord’s temple, leprosy broke out on his forehead. When Azariah the chief priest and all the other priests looked at him, they saw that he had leprosy on his forehead, so they hurried him out… King Uzziah had leprosy until the day he died. He lived in a separate house leprous, and banned from the temple of the Lord…”

Uzziah represents the next-generation prayer warrior. They love the Church, have godly mentors, and excel in their assignments, which are many times connected into the community or local government. God gives them favor, business ideas and abilities that are a direct result of their passionate prayer life. Many come into the church with worldly experience, but haven’t had spiritual experience. Therefore they bring a worldly experience into a church function.

Uzziah became dysfunctional in his assignment. His motives were correct, but his heart was not. This led to him stepping out of order in the house of God. Many new generation intercessors have this happen in the New Testament equivalent of the temple, the Church. I’ve seen old-school intercessors give a “word of knowledge” to the congregation that was so on point and accurate, yet they would not even touch the microphone. And they had asked the pastor and elders three times if it was appropriate to share the word at that time. The edification that resulted from their obedience and humility was so evident that you can’t help but hug them, even after being corrected.

The spiritual arsonist will grab the mic without respecting the office of their leader. When they deliver the word it is often out of order, out of season or void of love to edify the Body and restore people to a place of wholeness and function. When this happens the leader will often sit them down or not allow their gift to function until they have matured in it. A byproduct is that some have not learned to take correction from their leaders and retreat or rebel.  Either way, they become dysfunctional in the Church, and just like Uzziah, they attempt to finish their assignments outside the local Body. Many feel hurt, rejected and alone. They hide in a separate house “banned” from the temple.

The Spiritual Ninja

“The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man avails (to have or exercise force, or to push) much.”

James 5:16 AKJV

God is raising up spiritual ninjas for our nation and the Church. I have laid hands on thousands of new believers that are operating in a radical prayer anointing. There is a battle for these solders in the spirit realm. They must be trained, refined and released. The devil doesn’t see their anointing or weapons, but they are more effective than any other generation, because this group of spiritual ninjas are taking it to the streets. They don’t just “go” to church; they are the Church. They’re not distracted or out of order. They become effective and respected.

End-time intercessor, don’t be afraid to function. Simply stay in order, don’t be distracted, and function in love.

Gathering the Harvest and Advancing His Kingdom,

Shawn Patrick Williams

www.warriornarions.org

864-227-0508

Revival 3

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Take the Warrior’s Challenge!

1. We believe that partnership is based on relationship.

Partnership isn’t a veiled attempt to raise funds. It’s the joining of efforts, resources and faith to empower you for victory and bring in the last days harvest of souls.

2. We are good stewards of any gift.

As you sow into Warrior Nations, you can be assured that your money will be handled with integrity. We pray over your harvest, use the funds to share the Word of God on every available level of our reach via revivals, international “World Harvest Crusades”, books, street outreaches, media, “Impact” school of ministry, international and local humanitarian efforts, prayer ministry, prison ministry and more…

3. We pray for you every day!

Shawn Patrick and Christy, their family and the Warrior Nations volunteer staff are committed to you. We pray for your prosperity, health, victory and protection on a daily basis.

4. You will be updated monthly.

Every month, Shawn Patrick and Christy personally write a letter to their partners. We made the commitment in 2002. We stay before the Lord until we receive a fresh word just for you.

5. You get access to Word-based teaching.

We have more than 12 years in ministry teachings available for you. Whether you read the newsletters, partner letters, visit our website, watch our broadcasts on television or YouTube, attend an event or enjoy a specific book teaching, you’ll always find teaching you need.

6. Your information will never be shared.

We value your trust, and want you to understand that the information you give us is precious and protected. Warrior Nations will nevershare, rent or sell any of your information.

7. Together, we’ll make a difference.

As we join together in partnership, we share each other’s anointings and giftings—and make a bigger impact on the world because of it. By ourselves, we can do some good…but together, we’ll truly make a difference!

 

Take the Warrior’s Challenge!

Commit to PRAY for the ministry, outreaches, & the staff everyday!

Commit to SUPPORT the WNIM outreaches financially every month with $30, $50, $100, $200, $500, $1,000 or more. No amount is too small!

“So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly, or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver. And is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work”
2 Corinthians 9:7-8

Thank you and may God richly bless you for supporting the end time harvest!

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TN Appalachian Mission Trip/Boot Camp 2015

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TN Appalachian Mission Trip/Boot Camp 2015

Appalachian Mission Trip/Boot Camp 2015

Outreach

Date: July 16th-20th 2015

Location: Newport, TN

Venue: Feed My Sheep Ministries 125 C Ave, Newport, TN 37821

(423) 625-3130

 

Tuesday

4pm Orientation & Welcome

4:15pm Introduction to Staff

& Introduction to the Week’s

Schedule.

5pm Meal

6pm Devotion and Training for Weeks

Events

8pm Hotel Down Time. Swimming,

Chilling, Etc.

 

Wednesday

8am Breakfast

9am Maximum Impact Prayer Session

10am Teams Break for Daily Assignment

  • Team A: Soup Kitchen
  • Team B: Evangelism

Mobilization Preparation

  • Team C: Miscellaneous

12pm Lunch

1pm Back to Teams

4pm Video Game Tournament

5pm Dinner

6pm Devotional/Service

8pm Hotel Down Time

 

Thursday

8am Breakfast and Devotion

9am “White Water Rafting” (Daily

Activity)

3pm Hotel Down Time

5pm Dinner

6pm Downtown Pigeon Forge

9pm Hotel Down Time

 

Friday

8am Breakfast

9am Devotional

10am Housing Authority Outreach

7pm Topical Small Groups

9pm Hotel Down Time

 

Saturday

8am Breakfast

9am Devotional

10am Main Outreach Prep

12pm -5pm Main Outreach

& Closing Week’s Comments.

After Service You are Dismissed.

Safe Travels Home!
We are so excited that you are joining us in this State-side Mission Outreach. We pray that you are not the same at the end of the week as you started. We pray that God moves upon you, rearranges you, and brings out even clearer your call, to be the hands and feet of Jesus. It doesn’t matter what denomination or personal background you may come from, a WNIM mission trip will challenge and equip you to excel in your Christian faith! –Revs. Shawn Patrick & Christy Williams

 

There is no charge for this trip!!! You must get your own hotel and come ready to serve the Lord through serving others this week!

Ecclesia America: A Church in Crisis by Shawn Patrick Williams

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America has been a safe haven for the Gospel for many years. Around the turn of the millennia, America celebrated the fifth centenary of the first preaching of the Gospel on its’ soil. We have been the largest missionary sending nation in the world for over a century shining as a beacon of light, hope and an example of the great commission to all nations.

Presently, America is in crisis. We are no longer the largest Christian nation or the largest mission sending nation. South Korea has taken the lead in missions and China in having the most believers in a nation. As a matter of fact, America has the largest “unchurched” generation it has ever known. According to an article called, “Religion among the Millennials” released by the “Pew Research Center” only 18% of Millennials attend a church regularly.

Franklin Graham said in recent interviews that the two greatest threats to the American church and America are the homosexual and Islamic agenda. I know that these two topics are big controversies for America. I am intensely concerned about both; however, I do not believe that either are the greatest crisis that the Church is facing right now in America.

“To the angel of the church in Laodicea write: These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God’s creation. I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth. You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. 18 I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see” Revelation 3:14-18 (NIV).

The Church of America has lost its’ first love and as a result, all these issues have risen. American Christians for the majority have lost their commitment and passion for Jesus Christ. We have worshiped in buildings that we have not had to pay for, we have preached sermons that we have gotten online that we haven’t sought God for, and we have experienced a harvest on the seed that our forefathers have sown for.

Many American Christians complain when the church service runs too long, or the air is too hot or cold. We leave the church if the leaders tell us something we don’t want to hear, even when it is biblical truth. Leaders have been more concerned about numbers, nickels and noses that we have compromised the message for being culturally sensitive or ecumenical driven.  We have spent more time over 50 years entertaining the church of America rather than training the church of America that we have produced “perverts” instead of “converts”, allowing unbiblical same-sex relationships to not only be married, but ordained. For decades, we have been “seeker friendly” rather than “seeking Him.” As a result of this shift, we now have a harvest of juvenile believers that don’t recognize truth nor desire it. With a shortage of Bible truths, there becomes no foundation to stand on when times get tough, and times are tough.

The American church has become so worldly and the world so “churchy” that we have a hard time differentiating between the two. Perhaps this is one reason people don’t frequent church as much in America anymore. We need to get back to a place where we are presence driven with a purpose, rather than purpose driven limiting His presence. Will the American Church even recognize a true awakening when it takes place? We are accustomed to “four points and a poem.” When believers wait, or tarry for the presence of the Holy Spirit in a service to start moving and have His way, will we label it as weird, witchcraft, or something foreign? The working of the Holy Spirit is sometimes considered unfamiliar to the church rather than common to it.  The pattern for how the New Testament church functions is clear in the Holy Scriptures, which is unchanging.

I have traveled on five continents to see the Church and it is in revival! Jesus is coming back. The Church is alive and well globally. They are passionate, faithful, courageous, and committed, even when they are faced with death, torture or economic isolation. Persecution is a reality and global believers are taught to be ready for this possibility from their beginning stages of discipleship.

Most American believers don’t fully understand discipleship. We have been disciplined and desensitized by our electronic addiction so much that we spend 6 to 7 hours a day on devices, but we don’t read our Bible 6 or 7 minutes a day. America has allowed Hollywood to dictate the trends and Disney to raise our kids. Now we are experiencing the results. We need a New Testament Holy Spirit shaking. Will it take this shaking to get America back to its’ first love? Will the next crisis in America be the catalyst?

I love the words of Jake Hamilton in his song entitled, “The Anthem.” “I can hear the footsteps of my King…I can hear a holy rumbling…Loosing chains and breaking down the walls, I want to hear the Father when He calls. This is the anthem of our generation. Here we are God, shake our nation. I’m gonna shake history. I’m gonna change the world.”

God is raising up a new breed of believers out of the mess in America. It’s one with a warrior spirit, but not with the weapons of this world. They have the love and power of Jesus Christ. We have seen many Muslims and homosexuals come to the Jesus Christ over the 16 years of preaching the cross. It wasn’t because we are preaching a message of hate, nor of anger. The Gospel is a message of love, grace, power, hope, redemption and holiness. That is what changes people’s lives, not comparisons or compromises.

2 Chronicles 7:14 (NIV) says, “If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”

It’s time for American to humble ourselves, seek the face of God, repent and get back to the biblical foundation on which America was founded. God has an awesome plan for America in these last days. The greatest revival and awakening we have ever known is before us, not behind us. The thing is, it’s coming through a people broken and humbled. It’s coming through a passionate cry to heaven to touch these United Sates of America with rivers of living water. It’s coming through a remnant of prayer warriors who will be relentless and “hot” in their pursuit of Jesus Christ.

So my cry today is, “Where are all the warriors?”

Revival 3

Undaunted- Daring to do what God has called you to do

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February 24, 2015

Undaunted- Daring to do what God has called you to do

Fast Time: 1st and 3rd Tuesdays 6am-6pm

Thank you for your willingness to participate in what God is doing! Above all, please be Spirit-led as you fast. Please note that this is the designated time frame set forth by the Shine Empowerment Network. You are invited — but not required — to join us in any way that you can. If you have a medical condition that prevents a complete fast, then please look for another way to participate. Use wisdom and follow the Holy Spirit.

Teaching: Undaunted- The Event

I am so excited to share with you that Shine Empowerment Network will be kicking off a new series on Saturday, March 7, 2015. I believe that it has been picked out by the Lord Himself for us to plow through. I want to encourage you to make plans to attend. Grab the book, Undaunted by Christine Caine online and meet us at 9:30 am at The Greenwood Building at 104 Maxwell Avenue Greenwood, SC.
Psalm 34:18 NIV, “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in Spirit.”Isaiah 60 NIV, “Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord rises upon you.”

Revelation 12:11 NKJV, “And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto death.” 

Come and let’s discover Christine Caine’s story of becoming undaunted. Webster defines the word “undaunted” as “not afraid to continue doing something or trying to do something even though there are problems, or dangers.”  Using her own dramatic life story, Christine writes about how God rescued her from a life in which she was unnamed, unwanted, and unqualified. She overcame abuse, abandonment, fears, and other challenges to go on a mission of adventure, fueled by faith and filled with love and courage.Her story offers life-transforming insights about not only how to overcome the trials, wrong turns, and often painful circumstances we all experience. She also shows us how to grow from those experiences and be equipped and empowered to help others.

Her Story and Our Stories Can Bring Glory To Him

I believe in the power of testimony. In Revelation 12:11, the Word speaks of how to overcome the enemy. It says, “And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and loved not their lives unto death.”

Notice, they were covered by the blood. We must be covered in His blood, having received Him as Lord and Savior FIRST. You can’t bypass the first step. He is Alpha and Omega- your beginning and your end. Everyday, we must remember it is by His blood that we overcome. Secondly, it was by the word of their testimony in Him that they overcame. There is so much power in your story. Jesus told stories to illustrate points all throughout the Word, Your very LIFE shares HIS STORY if you will let it. You are a walking illustration to either darkness or light. I don’t know about you but I want to SHINE forth His light in this dark world. Our lives daily have that potential. Thirdly, they loved not their lives unto death. Let’s say, clearly, that these folks had settled the song that we have sang for years in the church, “no turning back, no turning back.” They were sold out. There was NO PLAN B, only His plan, YAH WAY- His way. They obeyed even unto death. They obeyed no matter the danger. They obeyed fully.

We all want to be courageous, obedient, and hear “well done thy good and faithful servant.” Don’t we? The stories in this book, will inspire you to hear your own name called- just as Christine hears hers- to go into a dark and troubled world. Each one of us possess in Him what it takes to bring hope, create change, and live completely for Christ. God sets us free, to free others. Come and join us and we delve into this book and walk out together letting Christ’s light shine through us with purpose to a lost and dying world.

A Word From Christy

Pick up a copy and make plans to attend on March 7, 2015. I believe that this book is going to be a catapult to you having the courage to say “yes” to ALL that God is calling you to do. I believe that you will gain insight into a strong woman of God’s life, perhaps see somethings in your own walk come to the light and purpose in your heart that YOU can make a difference where ever He plants you. There is power in your story. There are those awaiting you to share it. There is purpose in your story and I believe it is partly to set others FREE! Hope to see you all there! Much love!

Shining Brightly for the King,

World Harvest Outreach Pakistan Update!

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In August the Holy Spirit started dealing with me about our ministries international focus being more in the Asian Pacific area and the “10/40″ window the years ahead. The World Harvest Pakistan Outreach was one of the most important and defining outreaches for WNIM since we started international evangelism.  I believe that the fastest church growth the earth will ever see is about to take place in this window. In an Islamic Republic that is 97.6% Muslim the Gospel of Jesus Christ is not only needed, it’s persecuted! Here are some facts about Pakistan.

  • 2nd Largest Muslim nation in the world
  • World’s 7th Nuclear Power.
  • 6th Largest Military
  • 30% live in extreme poverty
  • 10% of the World’s children who do not go to school live here
  • #10 on the world’s most Christian persecution nations

“And they went forth, and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following.” Mark16:20

Over two weeks WNIM conducted 18 meetings over 9 cities. We had well over 30 churches working together to plan and prepare for this awesome time of meetings. In one city close to the Afghanistan boarder we had a ring of heroin traffickers come in a meeting to hear my testimony and give their lives to Jesus Christ. They came to the pastor the next day to “get started with Jesus.” One out door meeting was held 3 blocks away from the largest Muslim protest ever held in Karachi where they protested the French magazine that made fun of their prophet Mohammad. This is considered blasphemy under Sharia law.

In the northern area of Faisalabad, we had the Pakistan equivalent to the CIA in many of our meetings checking to see if we were breaking this law. One the last night I saw them one came forward in the altar call and asked for prayer to receive Jesus. In one area we held a 2 night outdoor meeting two blocks away from a mosque. We had to lower the volume if the hour of prayer took place, but these Christians are bold over there and they don’t care.

Many listened to us from the top of the mosque and came over into our meeting for the altars. We had many people testify of healing, including a boy blind from birth and a lady that lost her voice from cancer. The boy pointed to his mom and said he could see her and the lady said, “Halaluha” after not being able to talk at all.

We had over 230 people receive a call to preach in these meetings and over 3200 salvation decisions, which most were Muslim women. We praise God for Pastor Khalid Naz who has been helping us with these outreaches. Thank you partners for stepping up to fund this outreach. Your giving has impacted the last day church in Pakistan like never before!

Christians in Pakistan face very real danger for their life. Most churches have snipers and pastors carry guns. It is that dangerous. Pastor Khalid tells his people in this end time church region, “The danger is real, but the fear is a choice.”

 

 

Shift! by Christy Williams

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Great News! It’s Time To Shift Into Promise!
View this email in your browser

December 16, 2014

Great News- A Shine Update

Fast Time: Every Other Tuesday (1st & 3rd)
6am-6pm

Thank you for your willingness to participate in what God is doing! Above all, please be Spirit-led as you fast. Please note that this is the designated time frame set forth by the Shine Empowerment Network. You are invited- but not required- to join us in any way that you can. If you have a medical condition that prevents a complete fast, then please look for another way to participate. Use wisdom and follow the Holy Spirit.

Teaching: Time to Shift! Are You Willing and Ready?

Anything that is alive, should change. We grow as children into adults, yet in between that process are stages. If a ministry is alive with the Spirit of God, it should be growing, changing, and evolving more and more into the image of Christ. Now, I know we don’t like the word- change, but it doesn’t have to have a bad connotation. We can grow from glory to glory. Change, shift, focus – should all be words that provoke us as Believers to take a closer look. Currently in the Body of Christ, the word “shift” keeps coming up. It also keeps coming up in my spirit. Folks, get ready, it is time to shift! Change is here.
Isaiah 60:1-2, “Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD rises upon you. See, darkness covers the earth and thick darkness is over the peoples, but the LORD rises upon you and his glory appears over you.”(NIV)

Isaiah 1:19, “If you are willing and obedient, you will eat the good things of the land;”(NIV)

Mark 9:29, “And he said unto them, This kind can come forth by nothing, but by prayer and fasting.”(NIV)

We are entering into the season of change this New Year. It is coming quickly. God is calling for us to arise. He wants us to shift from fear to faith, from doubt to courage, from hiding to shining. God wants the world to see Him. He wants His glory to be experienced. He is ready to show out! His question to us is, “Are you willing and ready?” If so, get ready to eat the good of the land (Isaiah 1:19)!

Shine Empowerment Network was birthed out of an encounter with God during my prayer time around 11 months ago. We started by obeying the call of God with a one-night conference called, “Shine-Come to the Light Encounter.” It was a powerful night where many were touched by the hand of God. I preached a message from Exodus about Moses encountering the burning bush. Moses encountered the glory of God through that experience and left with instructions directly from God. He was chosen, appointed, and called yet unsure of his abilities to do exactly what God had called him to do.

He may have stuttered his way through fulfilling the call of God, but through it, He met the God of his ancestors. The one His mother had whispered to him about as she nursed him as a child. Through the burning bush, He met face to face, the One and true God. He had heard and been taught of all the gods of Egypt as a Prince, yet in his running from his sin, he ran right into the Most High God. He ran into the one and only one who held his destiny- to be a deliverer of God’s people, foreshadowing the Messiah, Jesus Christ.

Let me share this with you. WE CAN’T WALK OUT THE CALL OF GOD ON OUR LIVES ALONE. It MUST be through His Spirit. We just have to be willing and obedient. The rest is up to Him. Folks, this is simply have I have decided to live my life. As Chris Tomlin sings on his Passion cd, “I will follow You- no turning back, no turning back.” God is not calling us to sit down somewhere, but to arise and shift into the promises of God that He dies to give us. It’s not time to quit but to refocus and advance.

Prayer & Fasting
Shine Empowerment Network’s “Shiners,” folks who simply believe and act on the fact that we are called to shine forth His light in a dark world(Isaiah 60:10), are committed to fulfilling the commission that the Lord has given us. We have been doing so faithfully for 10 months through prayer and fasting every Tuesday from 6am-6pm. By direction of the Lord, we will shift and start fasting every other Tuesday in 2015. These will be the first and third Tuesdays of every month. We have seen so much fruit from these days.
Testimonies of deliverance for individuals and others have poured in. Testimonies of financial breakthroughs, healings, and restoration have been sent in. Saints of God have received impartation from the Lord, grown closer to Him, and heard Him clearer in these times. Family members have been saved and lots more have been interceded for on these days. Praying combined with fasting can have exponential effects. He wants to start with you and then extend to others as you intercede.

Conferences 

We will also add 1-2 annual conferences to the schedule of Shine, so be on the lookout for advertisements this upcoming year. These conferences will be held to bring the Body of Christ together as one. We will hold themed conferences as the Lord directs, to be an asset to individuals, couples, families, and ultimately community for the glory of God. No matter what church you attend, God wants us to come together as one body. We will have out of town speakers and worship at these conferences. We will advertise on Facebook, email, and on HIS Radio, so be on the lookout.

Outreach 

At the very beginning of Shine, the Lord impressed on my heart that we would do outreach. One outreach that He showed me would have to do with backpacks. Recently, he has opened a door for us to participate with an agency already set-up and distributing backpacks to the community. We are partnering with The United Way with their “Backpack Snack Packs” outreach to the local elementary schools. We are so excited! I learned a while back that when someone is already doing something well, there is no need to reinvent the wheel. We should come together.

This January 8, 2015 we will participate in our first outreach under Shine Empowerment Network. I shared this information at our last Shine meeting and we signed up folks to help. If you would like to be added as a driver (we already have three), then please contact me by responding to this email or calling. The outreach entails packing small boxes into our cars (at least 4 drivers/cars are desired) and then driving them to your assigned school. The backpacks have to be received by the school anywhere between 12-2 pm. We will meet at 11am to pack cars at The United Way (929 Phoenix Street • Greenwood , SC 29646) and then set out. Sign-up ahead of time (864-337-4965) is a must and being faithful is also a must. We are representing God, by being called Christians. Let’s be His hands and feet, represent Him well, and SHINE!

Shine Emails

The bi-monthly Shine emails will continue. These emails are designed to empower and teach. We believe that you are empowered through His Spirit to live out your faith and shine. We also believe that we are to continue learning because knowledge is key along with wisdom and understanding. Proverbs 24:3-4 (NIV) says, “By wisdom a house is built, and through understanding it is established; through knowledge its rooms are filled with rare and beautiful treasures.” We want to be houses for His presence ever increasing in wisdom, understanding, and knowledge, filled and shining with beautiful treasures. May we continue to be expanded in the knowledge of Jesus Christ!

Brunches

The Rise and Shine Brunches will also continue being held once a month on a Saturday. This is a time of food, fellowship, and impartation through teaching. We will be periodically adding local guest speakers. Make plans to join us. Your presence is needed and welcomed!

As you can now see, change doesn’t have to be bad. Change happens, shifts happen, ALL for the glory of God. Let’s continue growing and make His light BRIGHT for the New Year. May you enter into the promises of God, may He bring restoration and reconciliation, and may He make your way prosperous as you are willing and ready to be obedient. Time to eat the good of the land- SHIFT!

A Word From Christy

Don’t grow weary. Change is on the horizon. Suddenlies are being released. Keep your hope up. It’s not time to faint, but to forge ahead. God is about to show out. Even recently God has been showing out in the sunrises and sunsets. This is only a foretaste to come of the creative power of our Lord. Get ready, get set- SHINE forth! Declare He is coming!

Shining Brightly for the King,
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Demons: Are They Oppressing You?

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Demons: Are They Oppressing You?
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November 4, 2014

Demonic Oppression: Are You Kidding Me?

Fast Time: Tuesdays 6am-6pm

Thank you for your willingness to participate in what God is doing! Above all, please be Spirit-led as you fast. Please note that this is the designated time frame set forth by the Shine Empowerment Network. You are invited- but not required- to join us in any way that you can. If you have a medical condition that prevents a complete fast, then please look for another way to participate. Use wisdom and follow the Holy Spirit.

Teaching: Demons: Can They Do That?

With Halloween just passing, I thought, what a better time to talk about this subject. Demons. Some folks don’t even believe that they exist. Some folks believe they do, but they don’t need to concern themselves with the subject. And then there are the others. The ones that are called, chosen, and appointed to do God’s work and are faithful about it. They can tell you that demons certatintly are real and active. You can’t argue with those people. You simply won’t win. You can’t tell them that the enemy that they fight- isn’t real. There is simply too much evidence.
1 Peter 5:8 (KJV), “ Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:”

I John 3:8 (KJV), “He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.”

Acts 10:38 (KJV),  “God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.”

God wants us to come into maturity in our understanding of Satan and his demons. How can you fight, what you do not even acknowledge? He wants us to enforce His victory over their kingdom of darkness. Afterall, He did fight a battle and arise victoriously, right? He wants us to know the Truth and the Truth shall make us free. Only free people, can free others. He wants us to grow in maturity and faith and to appropriate His freedom by casting out demons.

Whether you realize it or not, when you became a Christian, you became an enemy to darkness and everything associated with it. You signed up for war, even if you weren’t aware. But the Good News is, that the war between good and evil- it’s already been decided who the winners are. You just have to know which you are: the loser or the victor! You just have to decide where you stand because God has already offered a better way.

Many Christians do not realize that they can be oppressed by demons. As a result, they do nothing to stop this oppression, which leaves them at the mercy of the Devil. That’s not the place that Jesus left us at. Many people question whether Christians can “have” a demon. A Christian cannot be possessed by demons because possession implies ownership. A Christian is “owned” by God. God tells us that we were bought with a great price. However, Christians can be oppressed by demons if they have provided any open doors or legal ground through which demons can work. To stop demonic oppression, the legal ground must be reclaimed.

Let’s look at two definitions:
1. Demons are invisible spiritual entities with minds, emotions and wills of their own, in league with and under the control of Satan. They are out to do his bidding and to torment the people of God” (Derek Prince). 2. Demonic Oppression is the term used to represent the “pressure” exerted by demons to get us to sin, to keep us involved in sin, to blind us to God’s truth and/or to keep us bound in limitations. Usually demons have an open door to gain access to us.

Many Christians have allowed Satan to deceive them into believing one of two major lies: 1) That he and his demons don’t exist; OR 2) That he and his demons are too powerful for Christian believers. Either lie is devastating to the successful Christian life. These are Ungodly Beliefs that we must get rid of.

It is recorded on many occasions that Jesus did demonic deliverance. It was never strange or hidden. In John 3:8 it says that Jesus came “to destroy the works of the Devil.” Jesus also passed on His ministry to His disciples. The main requirement for doing demonic deliverance is being a Christian believer. “And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name they shall cast out demons; they shall speak with new tongues” (Mark 16:17). The deliverance ministry is clear. Equally obvious is the fact that Jesus extended His authority and Name to believers to also do deliverance.

Some Ways Demons Oppress

See if you relate to any of the following ways that demons oppress us, working hard to destroy us and our lives.

  • Afflict. To inflict something hard to endure
  • Harass. To annoy or disturb persistently, to wear out by frequent attacks
  • Influence. To exercise indirect power over in order to sway or affect
  • Oppress. To lower in spirit or mood
  • Torment. To cause severe suffering of body or mind
  • Torture. To punish or coerce by inflicting excruciating pain
  • Worry. To disturb one or destroy one’s peace of mind by repeated or persistent torment
  • Wrong. To inflict injury on another without justification
The question arises whether or not demons know our thoughts. The answer seems to be that if the demons are “inside” a person that they can, but they cannot if they are on the “outside.” However, demons do plant thoughts in our minds, so they often know what we are thinking because they have planted the thought! They also study us to know our weaknesses, so they try to predict and influence our behavior.

The first goal of demons is to prevent us from receiving salvation. If that fails, they work at preventing Christian maturity. They try to shut us down and make us ineffective. Their chief strategy is to try to get people to turn away from God. They do this through many forms of temptation, harassment, and also from challenging God and His Word. Demons lie to us and work hard to have us lie to ourselves!

Another form of harassment is accusation and criticism. Demons will interject condemning thoughts into the minds of believers. They particularly like to stir up the past with thoughts of, “You really should have…” or “If only you had done…differently.” Demons are on a “seek and destroy” mission. They work together and strategize. They take advantage of our weaknesses and they love times when people are either physically and/or emotionally weak or vulnerable. They attempt to affect all areas of a person: body, soul, and spirit. They don’t’ play fair. We shouldn’t take demonic oppression lightly.

If we don’t know our weakness, we are in for trouble, because the enemy sure does know our weaknesses.

Open Doors

Demons sometimes target people for special attacks; particularly those who are serious about serving God and who are advancing the kingdom of God. Demons target people, also, where there has been occult involvement and/or dedications in the past generations, or where the person himself has been involved in occult. There are some very specific “open doors” by which demons frequently gain entrance into a person’s life.

Common open doors include:

  • Inherited Curses
  • Sins of the Flesh
  • Emotional Trauma
  • Passive/Trance State of Mind
  • Occult Involvement
The sins of the flesh are the door that we most frequently open. This is particularly true if the sin is repeated and becomes a pattern or lifestyle of indulging the flesh.

It is important to remember who you are in Christ. Christ has given you as part of your identity the authority and rule over Satan and his demons. “Behold! I have given you authority and power to trample upon serpents and scorpions and (physical and mental strength and ability) over all the power that the enemy possesses and nothing shall in any way harm you” (Luke 10:19 AMP).

It is also important to remember who the deliverer is! Jesus delivers us from demonic oppression. It is the power and authority through HIM that allows us to be free from demonic oppression. We command the demons to leave in the name of Jesus, which is above EVERY name.

“You know Jesus of Nazareth, how God anointed Him with the Holy Spirit and with power, and how He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him” (Acts 10:38 NAS).

Tips For Walking It Out

  • Satan is always roaming around seeking whom he may devour (I Peter 5:8). Therefore, be aware that he will make attempts to get you to return to past behaviors and sin. By returning to the old, you will re-open doors that have been closed through the prayer time. Remember God always provides a way of escape for you in the midst of every temptation. Many times that way of escape is simply the power of your choice (I Corinthians 10:13).
  • If you realize you have re-opened a door, then be quick to repent. Simply get honest with God, confess our sin, and ask for forgiveness. (I John 1:9)
  • Satan may be persistent in trying to draw you back to the old patterns, sin, and behaviors. Stand firm in your authority, and fight those battles. You will get stronger with each victory.
  • Remember to first submit yourself to God (which means you surrender to His way of doing things) and then you resist the Devil and he WILL flee from you. (James 4:7)
  • You can help resist the enemy by guarding your mind, mouth, and your activities. There may be changes in your lifestyle that need to take place, so you can help yourself. (Example: build Godly relationships, let go of ungodly relationships, limit the amount of television, or what you watch on television, don’t listen to ungodly secular music or particular types of music, etc.)
  • You have been learning how to fight and stand against’ Satan. There will be moments in your life as a Christian that you need to engage in spiritual warfare on your own. Remember that as a believer, you have the same authority as any other believer. You just need to  know who you are in Christ.
  • Stay in the Word and spend time in prayer. These two aspects are vital to your growth and life with Christ, and will help you know how to stand against Satan and his tactics. Battles may come daily, so you need to use the weapons of God’s Word and daily prayer, as well. The Bible tells us to pray without ceasing which means to talk and communicate with God constantly (Ephesians 6:18).
  • Praise and worship are mighty weapons. If you read the book of Joshua, there are many examples of times in battle where the Israelites praised their way to victory. Turn on a praise and worship CD in times of temptation or struggle and begin to praise and worship God. This helps you get your focus on God, and not on the battle or temptation.
  • Accountability – you may want to develop a one-on-one relationship with someone to help keep you on track in a specific area of your life where you have struggled the most. This type of a relationship offers you prayer support and encouragement that is helpful in the midst of temptation and struggle.
  • Grow in and be filled with the fruits of the Spirit. These are love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. (Galatians 5:22)
  • Daily put on the WHOLE armor of God. This includes truth, righteousness, the gospel of peace, faith, salvation, and the Word of God. (Ephesians 6:14-17)

A Word From Christy

Friends, I can personally testify to the freeing power of the Name of Jesus. It is unlike any other name and carries with it authority and power. We come to Him just as we are, but praise God, He doesn’t leave us that way. He didn’t pay the ultimate price, His very life, to have His children walk around defeated and oppressed. He truly came to set the captives free, no matter how long we have been captive, no matter who put us in captivity, no matter what! God is so good that He provides good gifts, good things, and ultimately grace, mercy, and sustaining power to overcome.

I came to the Lord with a lot of issues in my life. I had sinful patterns, generational sins, and life hurts that I needed freedom from. The enemy didn’t want me to gain freedom, but wanted to continue to harass me in these areas. He wanted these doors to remain open in my life so that he could continue to oppress me.

It was a process of finding freedom, retraining my mind in the Word, and becoming comfortable in my new authority as a child of God. I had to grow in it. I never gave up because I had tasted of the freedom and new life in God. So, I continued to work in areas of my life to gain freedom. Let me tell you it is worth it. Any areas that you are experiencing these symptoms, I believe that God is enough to set you free. Will you surrender these area to Him today? Will you trust Him to set you free in His mighty name today from these areas? He is interceding for you right now at the right hand of the Father. He is willing and ABLE to make you free! Just dare to believe, ask, and act!

Shining Brightly for the King,
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Word of the Lord For Texas.

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                                                                     Warrior Nations International Ministries

Oct 31st 2014, I was on a flight to Miami for a Spiritual Warfare conference and I was halfway between asleep and the reality realm when I heard the Word of the Lord, “Why am I talking to you about Texas? Because I AM pouring My Spirit out there and I AM about to display My nature and power there. In Dallas, in Houston, in Austin, and even in San Antonio says the Spirit of Grace. An open heaven is taking place and this is why Texas is a battle ground.  Battles on the borders and the judicial benches. Battles in politics and pulpits. Texas will prevail and My people have proven to be battle ready. What the enemy meant for harm to My people has not prospered. It has brought them unified. Texas is an example and forerunner to the Nation of America of what is about to come. “Let My People Go!”

                                                       

Apostles and leaders will rise to strength in this Texas and My Spirit will sweep the land. Texas will display, restoration and even rediscovering its pioneering foundation, but now in the forefront of the Church. A fresh new church planting movement will come forth from this great land and it will reform failing denominations sayeth the Spirit of Grace.

“If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.” 2 Chronicles 7:14

Shawn Williams

Ungodly Beliefs: Freed To Be Free

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October 21, 2014

Ungodly Beliefs: Freed To Be Free

Fast Time: Tuesdays 6am-6pm

Thank you for your willingness to participate in what God is doing! Above all, please be Spirit-led as you fast. Please note that this is the designated time frame set forth by the Shine Empowerment Network. You are invited- but not required- to join us in any way that you can. If you have a medical condition that prevents a complete fast, then please look for another way to participate. Use wisdom and follow the Holy Spirit.

Teaching: Ungodly Beliefs- Freed To Be Free

Our beliefs should line up with God’s Word. Have you ever heard a Christian say something that they believed and you thought, “Well, that’s completely not true.” Our beliefs shape us. If we are His, our beliefs should reflect His beliefs. The only way to find out what He believes is to read His Word. Society nor culture should be our foundation for what we believe. It should be the Word of God.
Proverbs 23:7 (AMP), “For as he thinks in his heart, so is he.”

2 Corinthians 10:5, “Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.”

Romans 12:2, “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”

Your thoughts have power.  We know that your thoughts have an influence on your actions. You can have godly beliefs or ungodly beliefs. Satan influenced Eve in Genesis 3:4 to disobey by twisting the truth. He deceived her in her mind (her thoughts) before she acted and committed the sin of eating the forbidden fruit. Our thoughts affect our action. They must be taken captive and made to line up with the Word of God. We must be aware and diligent to guard our thought life. After all, thoughts affect our entire life. We have a responsibility to take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ (2 Corinthians 10:5). Living in a fallen world, we must daily renew our minds (Romans 12:2).

Everyone, to some extent, lives out of wrong beliefs. Ungodly beliefs are “lies” about ourselves, about others, and about God. They are dangerous because they affect all of our perceptions, all of our decisions, and all of our actions. Let’s take a look at the source of ungodly beliefs, their power in our lives, and how to exchange ungodly beliefs for godly beliefs.

What Is A Belief System?
How do Our belief system includes our beliefs, decisions, attitudes, agreements, judgments, expectations, vows and oaths. Any beliefs that agree with God (His Word, His nature, His character, etc.) are our godly beliefs. Any beliefs that do not agree with God (His Word, His nature, His character, etc.) contribute to our ungodly beliefs. Our beliefs affect who we are, how we perceive ourselves and how we relate to others, to the world around us, and to God. They determine how Christ-like we become, and even the quality of our Christian lives. The ungodly beliefs can be like a vise grip putting tight constraint on our lives, choking out the abundant life that Jesus promises.

The “perfect” ungodly belief is one that appears to be absolutely true based on the facts of our experience and yet it is absolutely false based on God’s word.

  • “No one loves me.”
  • “I am all alone.”
  • “I am defective.”
  • “God doesn’t love me.”
Although these statements are completely false, most people who think this way do not even realize it. Until an ungodly belief is pointed out to us, we continue on, day after day, living our life based on a lie. When we finally recognize an ungodly belief, we realize how completely at odds it is with God’s Word. John 8:44 clearly warns us that Satan is a liar, it is his character and he hates the truth. Exposing ungodly beliefs exposes Satan’s continuous attempts to drive us away from God’s truth which states we are His beloved children (John 1:12).

What Are Ungodly Beliefs And How Are They Formed?

  • We inherit wrong beliefs from our families or friends.
  • They are lies that have been formed in us since childhood about ourselves, others and God.
  • They are formed out of our experience.
  • Beliefs are formed from hurts, traumas, negative experiences, and words people say to us.
  • Beliefs are formed from the facts of our experiences.
  • An ungodly belief is a belief or attitude that does not agree with the Word of God.
The most tragic ungodly beliefs Satan has introduced to this generation are:
  • You came from nothing.
  • You live for no reason.
  • You are going nowhere.
  • You will never succeed.
Some Results of Ungodly Beliefs
Ungodly beliefs:
  • Set us up for unhappy relationships.
  • Cause distortion so that we make mountains out of mole hills.
  • Cause us to take everything personally.
  • Cause us to be a prisoner to put-downs or sarcasm, anger or other unhealthy patterns of relating.
  • Cause us to hurt and defile those we love.
  • Cause our faith to be eroded.
  • Undermine our relationship with God.
  • Give place for Demonic Oppression.
  • Hinder God’s blessings.
  • Trap us so that we don’t fulfill our destiny.

The Belief-Expectation Cycle

To better understand the Belief – Expectation Cycle, consider this example:
  • Experience.  Teacher embarrasses you in front of others.
  • Belief.  I’m not smart and/or teachers are mean.
  • Expectation.  I’m stupid and/or teachers will always treat me that way.
  • Behavior.  Refusal to study, i.e. What’s the point of studying for a test because I’m stupid? (and/or) I’ll act up in class since teachers will embarrass me anyway.
The way to stop the Belief – Expectation cycle is to intervene between the Experience and the Belief stages of the cycle. We must choose God’s truth as our new belief. When we replace the old lie with God’s truth, then the other parts of the cycle will change.

Think of an example of an ungodly belief that has operated in your life. What experience got this belief established? What expectations and behaviors come out of this belief? Are you ready to change this belief? Let’s do it!

Breaking Free of Ungodly Beliefs

So how do you stop thinking the way you have always thought about things? Romans 12:1-2 says don’t be the way the world is and don’t’ think the way the world thinks, but be transformed into the image of Christ by the renewing of your mind. So how do you do that?

When you think, your brain generates electrical energy that travels from “neuron” to “neuron.” As these electrical pulses travel across your brain, the neurons involved develop more, creating a pathway that is ever more easier for the electrical pulses to follow. Thus your brain develops a system of trails or highways. When you think a thought over and over again, that trail becomes a deep rut. Having thought the thought over and over again, it will begin to affect your reasoning and become a part of your belief system. You will eventually justify or defend your actions even though they may be ungodly. You will eventually convince yourself that you have a good reason or right for your beliefs and resultant actions.

To break out of this downward spiral, it will take some determined effort. It takes time to o change a direction. Just as it took time and repetition to form your ungodly beliefs, it will take time and repetition to replace them with your new godly beliefs. God has provided the way, but you have to choose it. 2 Corinthians 10:3-5 instructs us to pull down, tear down, every thought that is against God.

Ungodly beliefs are not God’s thoughts, so those thoughts are trying to put themselves above God. God and His thoughts should be what are exalted in our life, not ungodly beliefs. The battleground is in the mind. We need to apply God’s weapons against everything that would try to keep our thought patterns and habits in the old way. Strongholds of fear, worry, bitterness, anger, shame, control, etc. need to come down and be replaced by Christ’s thoughts. Ungodly beliefs are open doors inviting Satan to come into our minds. If we don’t reject Satan’s lies, then we accept them as truth. Isn’t it awful to think that we are believing and trusting what Satan says about us more than what God says about us? God promises He has given us all we need. (2 Peter 1:3-4).

We become what we believe we are. It is important that we not only verbally agree with the Truth of what God says, but also that we believe it in our hearts. “For as he thinks in his heart, so is he” Proverbs 23:7 (AMP). The following ideas are practical ways to help you walk out what you have learned about changing your ungodly beliefs to godly beliefs.

  • Remember you have prayed breaking agreement with Satan’s lies. Satan will attempt to bring more lies into your mind, or remind you of old lies. When he does, apply words from II Corinthians 10:3-5 and replace any lies with a Godly Belief.
  • For a season you will need to continually “take captive your thoughts” until Satan understands you are not buying into his lies any longer. Satan may attempt to “hound” you with specific ungodly thoughts or beliefs, but if you continue to take your ungodly thoughts captive and renew your mind with the Word of God, Satan will eventually back off.
  • Since you have gone through the process with your counselor/minister of breaking agreement with ungodly beliefs and replacing them with godly beliefs you are now responsible for applying your new godly beliefs to your entire life.
  • Speak aloud your godly beliefs consistently every day for at least one month. Speaking your godly beliefs aloud helps your mind to be renewed and your heart to be transformed. Some godly beliefs may take several months. Work on them until you know your mind has been renewed.
  • Remember, your mind often wants to continue in the old thought patterns. Do not give up.
God tells us in Philippians 4:8 that we are to think on positive truth, to renew our minds. We begin renewing our mind with the following things. As you think and mediate on these things, they will begin to take root in your heart. He also tells us in Hebrews 4:12 that His Word is alive and powerful. It will expose ungodly beliefs. If you continue to speak your godly beliefs and take time to pray over them, they will become a part of who you are and what you believe.

Reap A Destiny Poem

This poem shows the progress from our experiences leading to a belief and ultimately to our destiny. Our belief system is very important!
BELIEF SYSTEM
If you accept a belief,
You reap a thought.
If you sow a thought,
You reap an attitude.
If you sow an attitude,
You reap an action.
If you sow an action,
You reap a habit.
If you sow a habit,
You reap a character.
If you sow a character,
You reap a destiny.
-Anonymous

A Word From Christy

Friends, this prayer counseling material completely set me free when I became a Christian. Thank the Lord for revelation and knowledge. I was stuck for years in wrong beliefs about myself, the world around me, and a lot of other areas! I had to have my mind renewed with the Word. First, I had to recognize the lie, break my agreement with it, and then, replace it with the Word.

I had a precious Christian couple walk me through this process, helping me identify the ungodly beliefs that I spoke and believed. This wasn’t a one time thing. With help from the Holy Spirit, our Helper, I continued to identify ungodly beliefs that I spoke and thought. This is a continual process that brings so much freedom. I pray that you find this material helpful and that pick it up as a tool and break free from the lies of the enemy. Remember, only those who are free, can free others! Choose the abundant life that Jesus died to give you.

Shining Brightly for the King,
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Copyright © 2014 Warrior Nations International Ministries, All rights reserved.
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Our mailing address is:

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PO Box 2352

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What Do You Do When Life Happens And Leaves You Hurt?

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What Do You Do When Life Happens And Leaves You Hurt?
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September 8, 2014

Life Hurts, But God Heals

Fast Time: Tuesdays 6am-6pm

Thank you for your willingness to participate in what God is doing! Above all, please be Spirit-led as you fast. Please note that this is the designated time frame set forth by the Shine Empowerment Network. You are invited- but not required- to join us in any way that you can. If you have a medical condition that prevents a complete fast, then please look for another way to participate. Use wisdom and follow the Holy Spirit.

Teaching: Life Hurts But God Heals

If you have lived for any length of time, you have probably experienced pain at some level.  No one is exempt from life. It happens to all of us- sinners and saints alike. The difference is who we turn to for help. It may be that life slapped you in face in the form of adultery, it could be dealing with your prodigal children and your broken heart, or it may be that life showed up as rejection. Unfortunately, the forms of life’s hurts ALL come in various situations and scenarios; however, the answer to ALL of it is the same. We are all born into this world with the same nature- the sin nature. We are born into it as a result of the Fall recorded in Genesis. As a result of this nature, people hurt people. It’s inevitable. It may have been your beginning, but doesn’t have to be your end.

Isaiah 61:1-3, “The Spirit of the LORD is upon Me, because He has anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed; to proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD.” (NKJV)

Psalm 142, “I cry out to the LORD; I plead for the LORD’s mercy. I pour out my complaints before him and tell him all my troubles. When I am overwhelmed, you alone know the way I should turn. Wherever I go, my enemies have set traps for me. I look for someone to come and help me, but no one gives me a passing thought! No one will help me; no one cares a bit what happens to me. Then I pray to you, O LORD. I say, “You are my place of refuge. You are all I really want in life. Hear my cry, for I am very low. Rescue me from my persecutors, for they are too strong for me. Bring me out of prison so I can thank you. The godly will crowd around me, for you are good to me.” (NLT)

The pain of past hurts rules many lives. It simmers, it stifles, and sometimes it shuts a person completely down. However, God heals hurts. He is waiting and ready to touch our deepest pain if we will let Him. In a sense, His healing is another divine exchange, in which we offer to Him our hurt and He offers to us His healing. Psalm 147:3 states, “He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds (or sorrows).”  “Brokenhearted” refers to the wounds in the innermost portion of ourselves. Most of us do not know how to go about receiving this wonderful healing gift of God. Some of us have not been aware that this level of deep healing was available. Jesus came to bind up the broken hearted and to heal all our infirmities: spiritual, emotional, and physical.

In an excerpt from He Still Moves Stones, Max Lucado, helps us to see how much God wants to heal our hurting hearts.

“Why did God leave us one tale after another of wounded lives being restored? So we could be grateful for the past? So we could look back with amazement at what Jesus did? No. No. No. A thousand times, no. The purpose of these stories is not to tell us what Jesus did. Their purpose is to tell us what Jesus does. ‘Everything that was written in the past was written to teach us.’ Paul penned. ‘The Scriptures give us patience and encouragement so that we can have hope.’ (Romans 15:4) These are not just Sunday School stories. Not romantic fables. Not somewhere-over-the-rainbow illusions. They are historic moments in which a real God met real pain so we could answer the question, ‘Where is God when I hurt?’ He’s not just doing it just for them. He is doing it for me. He’s doing it for you.”

Hurts of either the soul or spirit of a person are carried and experienced within that person himself. They are hurts on the inside that have been suppressed and hidden. They are invisible. Hurts affect the mind, beliefs, emotions, will, relationship with God, and relationships with others. Sometimes our hurts come not only from what was done to us but also from what was not done.  There are many different intensities of hurt. Some hurts are the result of a one-time incident, but some are ongoing and constant. Ongoing hurts need ongoing healing. Some of you have experienced hurts that only God knows. God cares about your hurts and wants to heal them. Hurts also have consequences when not dealt with. Here are some facts about hurt:

  1. Hurts begin in the family and affect the entire family.
  2. Hurts affect the entire person.
  3. Hurts cause other hurts.
  4. Hurts cause lies (ungodly beliefs) to be established.
  5. Hurts cause ongoing vulnerability and hopelessness.
  6. Hurts cause shame.
  7. Hurts cause defense mechanisms.
  8. Hurts cause us to wear “masks”.
  9. Hurts cause restricted growth.
  10. Hurts cause blocked emotions.
  11. Hurts can lead to demonic oppression.

Hurts cause our real identity to become unrecognizable. Defense mechanisms that we use either to express our hurt or to protect ourselves from further hurt are disguises, like masks, covering the real identity. Do we recognize the hurt underneath these cover-ups and disguises? God explains in Isaiah 61:1-3 and Luke 4:18-19 that Jesus came specifically to heal us and set us free from hurt and Satan’s lies which helps us to remove our masks.

Hurts restrict our vision of who we are and who we can become. Hurts also block intimacy in relationships, affecting whom we relate to and what we let ourselves do. They are like invisible walls, holding us in and others out. They also act as invisible chains that will not let us move too far away from our hurt-distorted concept of ourselves. Hurts, the birthing place of fears, cripple our potential and keep us from becoming all that God has ordained for us to be.

I Pour Out My Complaint
When we find emotions of anger, frustration, helplessness, etc., stored inside of ourselves, it is important to release these negative emotions to the Lord. We were not designed to carry emotions, particularly negative ones. They need to be released so that we can receive healing to our bodies as well as our soul and spirit. God has given us permission to release these in ways that are safe for us and for others.

There are many examples in the scriptures when God’s people “Poured Out Their Complaint” before the Lord. One excellent example is David in Psalm 142. This is a crucial part of the healing process. We are to take the innermost issues of our heart to God. His message is unmistakable – be real. We are to hold nothing back from our heavenly Father who already knows everything that is hidden in our hearts.

There is no formula on how to pour out your heart to God or on exactly how he will minister to you. You just need to be willing to believe and trust God wants to touch the hurt places of your life. This is the time when God wants to do a great exchanging of joy for mourning, healing for pain, purity for shame, love for abandonment, and freedom for captivity. As you are able to release your pain to the Lord, He then is able to fill you with healing, His love and His truth. Remember God is not a taker; He is a receiver and a giver. As you give Him your wounds, pain, and bondage – He receives them and in turn gives you liberty, healing and restoration.

Jesus is the healer. Healing takes place as we invite Him into our situation of hurt. As we encounter Him, He shows us how He sees our particular situation. He gives us the truth so we can begin to change the lies we have believed into Godly Beliefs. He shows us His love, and that He was there with us (even when at times we didn’t realize it). Sometimes He shows us His own pain about what we went through. Sometimes He helps us forgive others, or forgive ourselves. Other times, He may lovingly correct us – and show us where we acted wrongly. When Jesus comes, He brings with Him the full power of the cross – forgiveness, restoration, freedom from hate, fear, anger, guilt and shame.

When we are deeply wounded, we need to continue allowing Jesus to heal our wounds, until there are no more hurts left to heal. The problems may be different that we experience in life, but the answer is the same- Jesus Christ of Nazareth who came to save, deliver, and heal!

A Prayer for Healing from Life’s Hurts

“I ask You, Holy Spirit, to reveal the hurt You want to heal. I choose to pour out my heart, to express my hurt and frustration, my pain, fear, or anger. I humble myself before you repenting of unforgiveness, removing any hindrances in my life that may block your healing from fully healing me. I pour my complaint out. (Tell Him about it.) And I receive Your healing touch. I break my agreement with any and all of the ungodly beliefs or lies attached to this hurt that I had received. In Jesus name, Amen.”

A Word From Christy

I am reminded of a quote from Life Coach/Minister Amanda Wells, from Amanda Wells Ministries in Brisbane, Australia, that we hosted as a guest speaker at a recent i3 service in Greenwood, SC. She said, “You really don’t have a purpose, if, you haven’t had a complaint.” Wow. What good news. The events and hard things that you have went through in life, God can turn around and use for His kingdom. You just may have gone through all that mess to bring about a message! The problem comes when folks wanna skip the healing process for the promotion to the pulpit. God has ordered in His word a process that is beneficial and produces much fruit, if we will submit to the process. Healing is for today- physical, emotional, and spiritual. It is found in Him and His Word. I dare you to get healed today. Stop carrying that hurt and hurting others. Let it go today and pour it out before the Lord. He wants you to be healed more than you want to be healed. After all, He gave His best while we were still in our mess! Let Him bring a wonderful, awe-inspiring, provoking message out of you so that where He has planted you, you may bloom. Don’t forget- He wants the glory. Let Him have it starting today in your life with your life hurts. Let Him make them into Life’s Hallelujahs! Get ready, get set, it’s time to Shine!

Shining Brightly for the King,
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