None of us enjoy rejection. We don’t wake up in the morning excited about the possibilities of being rejected multiple times during the day. We may wake up with an expectation of rejection, but not a desire for it. Rejection wounds like nothing else because it suggests that we are unacceptable, unworthy, unlovable, or defective.

Contrary to most psychological theories today, I believe that we are born with a deep-seated sense of defectiveness that has been passed down to us since the Garden of Eden and the fall of man. Its hard to recognize but at some level it nags at us. Remember, before Adam and Eve took a bite from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, they walked around naked, “in front of God and everybody,” and felt no fear and no shame. They were completely secure in their sense of who they were and in their relationship with God and one another. Then they ate and the universe radically shifted. Suddenly, they were afraid and ashamed. They were hiding from God, scrambling to cover themselves, and blaming everyone else for what had just happened.

As a result, children (and adults) have an innate need for affirmation. Some crying is simply to find out if someone will come and comfort them so that they have a sense of significance in their own little world. Why do most small children want to be held? Why do they constantly cry, “Look at me!” if not for some kind of affirmation? Why do they constantly bring their “art” work to parents for some kind of approval, seeking coveted space on the refrigerator door? I think it is because, they are uncertain of their worth and their significance. They want someone to tell them that they are okay because, deep inside, something hints that they may not be.

Why does it take ten positive statements to overcome one negative statement? I think it is because our default setting is a feeling of defectiveness that hurts deeply when something or someone suggests that we are, indeed, defective. Children who get healthy attention, nurture, and affirmation growing up seem to cope fairly well with the niggling question of whether or not they really matter. Those who are not nurtured, but are abandoned, abused, or neglected fight a terrible uphill battle with rejection most of their lives.

Satan maneuvered Adam and Eve into a scenario that had the flavor of rejection – expulsion from the immediate presence of God. They did not see removal from the Garden as discipline or even grace but feared that it meant total rejection and abandonment by their Father. I think Satan fueled that fear. How many of us have seen a child (or an adult child) goad someone into breaking the rules and then begin to crow, “Oh, you’re going to get it now!” I sense that echoes Satan’s follow up to, “you won’t surely die.” Rejection taps into that most ancient of fears and wounds us at the deepest levels.

Rejection comes in all forms…neglect, abuse, criticism, slander, accusation, abandonment, harsh and demeaning words, being ignored, unfaithfulness in a relationships, being passed over for promotion, etc. Rejection hurts because we tend to accept the evaluation of the one rejecting us. We receive their evaluation and conclude that we must indeed be unworthy of love or consideration. Our greatest fear – that we are defective and unworthy – seems to be validated by experiences of rejection, which simply deepen our sense of defectiveness.

Jesus understood our dilemma when he told us that when the world rejects us, it is not us that the world is rejecting, but him. At the core of the gospel is the message that God counts us as immensely significant, that he will never leave us nor forsake us, and that he loved us enough to die for us. Not only that, but he has taken away our shame and made us worthy in Jesus. We are new creations, sons and daughters of the King, with an inheritance of glory. But even with that revelation, we are fragile creatures in this arena of self-image and rejection – so much so that demonic spirits come to magnify the rejection.

In most cases of demonization, the first demon on the scene in a person’s life is a spirit of rejection, who constantly accuses and condemns us, so that our early experiences of rejection, which tapped into our ancient sense of defectiveness, never heal. It is as if the demon keeps tearing the scab off the wound so that it cannot mend. That spirit then projects a filter, so that even innocent statements sound like hateful criticism. Discipline feels like abuse. Correction feels like victimization and humiliation. Because of that filter, our over-the-top pain response to innocent or neutral statements by others, invites rejection because people do not want to be around people who overreact. That demonic filter even makes us immune to compliments and affirmation by suggesting that the affirmation is insincere or that it would not be said if that person really knew us. All of that magnifies our pain and fear of more rejection.

Because of this foundational hurt in the human soul that gives the devil such opportunity, Paul says, “Let no unwholesome talk come out of your mouth but only that which is good for building up the other person according to knowledge” (Eph.4:29). The writer of Proverbs sums it up this way: “Reckless words pierce like a sword” (Pr.12:18).

We need to be a constant source of blessing and affirmation to the world around us. When we do need to point out areas that must be improved, we need to begin with sincere affirmations before we get to the problem. Notice how Paul addressed churches to whom he was writing. He was nearly always writing about some problem that needed to be corrected but, inevitably, hr started by affirming his love and telling them the things he appreciated about them before discussing the problem. He then ended with more affirmation of his love. Jesus took the same approach in his letters to the seven churches of Asia in the Book of Revelation.

The world, for the most part, struggles with a sense of rejection and the enemy fuels the flames. Encouraging, affirming words are like oxygen to a drowning man for most people. The tongue has the power of life and death (Pr.18:21) and we are to be a source of life to all those around us – as much as possible. If we are the one who is tormented by rejection, we need to seek healing from the Lord and get in the business of rebuking spirits of rejection, condemnation, and accusation.

In Christ, we are anything but rejected and we need to make a habit of saying so. We need to make a habit of saying, about ourselves, what God says about us while we ask the Holy Spirit for a revelation of that truth in our hearts. If we are in Christ, we are not rejected, not defective, not unworthy, not incompetent, and never alone. We are loved, glorified, and destined for greatness. That is the truth that sets us free. As believers, we should affirm those truths in ourselves as well as in others and we should do so at every opportunity.  Be blessed today by who you are in Jesus.

I was watching a teaching by Bill Johnson the other day. It was a teaching I had heard by him before, but my spirit was stirred again. When you hear a teaching that is anointed by the Spirit, it speaks additional things to you that the teacher has not said. The word enters and then births other things in you, in addition to what the teacher has declared. At that point, the teaching becomes your truth…a truth possessed by you that was taught by the Holy Spirit. So, I want to credit Bill with the genesis of this truth but I want to share what has formed in my heart about it, in addition to some key thoughts that Bill presented.

In Genesis 28, Jacob was traveling cross-country by himself. He stopped in a certain place to bed down for the night. As he slept he dreamed. What he saw was a stairway or ladder resting on the earth and stretching into heaven. Angels were ascending and descending on that ladder. Above the ladder stood God, who pronounced a blessing and a promise over Jacob concerning the land of Israel and the Messiah who would bless all nations. When Jacob awoke, he thought, “Surely God was in this place and I was not aware of it…How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God; this is the gate of heaven” (Gen.28:16-17). Jacob went on to name the location Bethel, which means house of God.

This must have been a vivid dream that not only made its way into his mind but into his very soul. It was the kind of dream that, when Jacob awoke, seemed as real as the sunrise. He recognized it as a revelation of God and it frightened him. What is interesting is that he declared the place to be the house of God and the gate of heaven. Gates not only mark boundaries and dividing lines, but also allow access back and forth across those lines. Jacob experienced an intersection of heaven and earth, the natural with the spiritual. He saw angels ascending to heaven as they completed assignments on earth and descending to earth as they received new assignments – most likely regarding God’s people since angels are ministering spirits sent forth to minister serve those who will inherit salvation (Heb.1:14). So the house of God is a gate that opens up and connects the natural with the spiritual realm.

In John 1, we are told that Jesus is the Word who put on flesh and “tabernacled among us.” Jesus came as both Messiah and the tabernacle where the presence of God resided and the gate of heaven. In John 1, Jesus tells Nathaniel, “I tell you the truth, you shall see heaven open and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man” (Jn.1:51). Since Jesus has ascended to heaven, we are told that now, as believers, we are the temple or the house of God. We are now the house and the gateway to heaven.

The house of God suggests that we carry the presence of God. Jacob said that God was in that place. The presence of God rested in the tabernacle or the temple. Certainly, Jesus carried the presence of God and so do we as his Spirit lives in us. Remember that the presence of God was manifested from the Holy of Holies. The temple contained courtyards and altars. Then there was the Holy place where the showbread, the candlestick, and the altar of incense stood. But the presence was in the Most Holy Place and manifested from there. The more dedicated, set apart, holy, and committed we are to God, the greater will his manifestation be in our lives.

But the part that is capturing my attention today is the gate of heaven. We are that gate which bridges both realities – the natural and the spiritual. We are the household and the temple of God. We are also the gate through which men can enter heaven and through which heaven may enter the earth. God has chosen us, his church, to be the primary way in which those two realities are connected.

When we preach the gospel, we open the gate so that those who indwelled the natural realm suddenly have access to the spiritual realm as well. As the Holy Spirit takes up residence in them, they become carriers of his presence and citizens of heaven. Through us, his church, heaven also finds its way into the natural realm through our prayers, our declarations, and our message of Jesus Christ. When Jesus told us to pray, “on earth as it is in heaven,” he invited us to pull heaven down and release its power and values onto the earth. When men are healed, heaven is released on earth. When women are set free from the demonic, heaven is released on earth. When mercy and love are released into lives where none existed before, heaven is released on earth. When prophetic words are declared, those things that were spoken in heaven are released on the earth.

God’s design is for us, as individuals and as a corporate body, to be the gate or the doorway through which men gain access to heaven and through which heaven gains access to earth. For us, that is a tremendous privilege and a tremendous responsibility. God had given that opportunity to the Jews as well who were the descendants of Jacob. Theirs was the covenant, the temple, the presence of God, and the promises. They were to be a light to the gentiles and a keeper of the gate. But Jesus proclaimed, “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You shut the kingdom of heaven in men’s faces. You yourselves do not enter, nor will you let those enter who are trying to” (Mt.23:13).

Sometimes, we shut the gate, not necessarily through hypocrisy, but more often by inactivity – neither sharing the gospel, praying, declaring, healing, dispensing mercy, nor setting captives free. It is our activity that keeps angels on assignment. It is bold, audacious prayers that cause the gate to swing open wide rather than rusting on its hinges. I’m certain that God’s desire is for the gate of heaven to be a high traffic gate. We, not St. Peter, are primarily the gatekeepers. May we know our significance and keep the gate swinging in both directions as we fill heaven with the lost and earth with the things of heaven. Blessings in Him.

The Old Testament is full of types and shadows pointing to greater realities to come. The Passover Lamb of Exodus pointed ahead to Jesus as the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. Moses, who mediated between God and Israel, pointed to Christ as the mediator between God and man. Egypt pictured sin and bondage. The Promise Land of Canaan was a type of salvation – the destination of God’s people and a land flowing with milk and honey which looked ahead to the abundant life that Jesus promises.

The Promise Land, as a foreshadowing of our salvation, is always instructive in the arena of spiritual warfare. Rodney Hogue, in a teaching on deliverance, pointed to the twenty-third chapter of Exodus for some of that instruction.

I will send the hornet ahead of you to drive the Hivites, Canaanites and Hittites out of your way. But I will not drive them out in a single year, because the land would become desolate and the wild animals too numerous for you.     Little by little I will drive them out before you, until you have increased enough to take possession of the land. (Exodus 23:28-30)

Nearly every preacher I have ever heard invites the unbeliever to come to Jesus for peace, the abundant life, and the “easy yoke” of the Savior. These are, indeed, promises made by Jesus to those that would follow him but it is only part of the story. Many come to Jesus with an expectation that as soon as they climb out of the baptistery, life gets easy, blessings flow without measure, and tragedy is always on a far horizon. When “all hell” breaks loose, they wonder what is wrong and where Jesus and all of his peace and blessings went.

We sometimes pitch the Christian life like a 1981 recruiting ad for the Navy that said, “It’s not just a job, it’s an adventure.” Of course, the add showed proud men in crisp, white uniforms standing in long lines, powerful ships launching gleaming fighter planes, and navy seals skirting across the open water in high-powered, high-tech assault vessels.   Everyone looked strong, happy, incredibly competent, and totally unafraid. There, of course, was truth in those images – but it was not all the truth. When those sailors were fighting 40 foot waves in frigid temperatures in mid-ocean and when those seals were cold, hungry, and hugging the ground as enemy fire lit up the night around them, the adventure was not so clean, crisp, or glamorous. The Christian life also launches us into war that is not always so clean, easy, or peaceful.

The account of Israel taking Canaan (the promised land) should alert us to that. First of all, like salvation, the land was given to them by God. It was theirs by grace. But one problem existed; the land was full of hostile tribes who were not ready to give up their parcel of ground. The land had been deeded to the Hebrews, but they had to go take it from enemy hands. God promised victory and promised that he would go ahead of Israel into each battle but they still had to face an enemy who knew how to use a sword and often who had much more battle experience than they did. According to the book of Joshua, it took years and dozens of battles to secure the land and enjoy all of its abundance.

That is a picture of sanctification – the process in which we become more and more like Jesus and walk in more and more of his promises. In one sense, salvation is experienced as an event – the moment a person truly surrenders his or her heart to Jesus. Sanctification, however, is a life long process that often includes some real battles.

The interesting thing about the passage from Exodus 23 is that it points to a “principle of occupation.” God only frees us in areas that we are ready and willing to occupy. Those of us, who are involved in spiritual warfare and deliverance, typically want to free a person from every stronghold and every demon in one sitting. But we also know that driving out a demon may not always be in the best interest of that person and that sometimes, even when we try, we just don’t get it done.

Jesus tells a parable of a man who was demonized and received deliverance (Mt.12:43-45, Luke 11:24-26). The demon stayed away for a bit, but then returned to inspect his former dwelling place. Jesus said that the demon found the “house” clean and in order and so returned and brought seven other demons with him that were even more wicked than the first. The point of the story seems to be that any unoccupied house or territory invites tenants, and the new tenants may be much worse that the former.

In Exodus 23, God promised that he would go before Israel and give them victories over their enemies but would not do all at once. He said that to clear the land that Israel could not occupy and develop would simply turn agricultural fields into wild thickets, where wild animals would take up residence and become too numerous for Israel to manage. As Israel became stronger and more adept at war, God would then give them more of the territory he had promised. In our terms, God may not set us free and give us spiritual territory within us that we are not willing or able to occupy – to fight for, to maintain, and to develop. Hogue pointed out that the grace of God might keep us where we are until we are truly ready to hold onto our freedom or healing.

It is counter-intuitive, but not everyone wants to be healed or set free from sin and demonic oppression. Sometimes, when praying for people, praying over people, or in commanding spirits, the will of the individual is a greater obstacle than the spirit, the sickness, or the situation. Many want to be freed from the painful consequences of sin, but not the sin itself. Others have had their lives defined by an illness or brokenness so long that they have organized their lives around those things. To be healed or set free may be more frightening than inviting to those individuals because it represents the unknown. Israel was enslaved in Egypt, but their lives had become predictable and in some degree manageable. They thought they wanted freedom, but as soon as they faced the unknowns of the wilderness they wanted to go back to what they knew. They were not yet ready to occupy the new territory of freedom.

As we pray for people and minister to them, we may want to take measure of how ready they are to occupy – fight for and maintain – any new territory the Lord gives them. Some simply do not know how to fight and must be taught how to fight and cultivate the new ground that has been given to them. Others may not be sure they want it. We may need to ask the Holy Spirit if that is the situation and what to do about it. We may want to help them explore their hearts and their will in the matter.

I am certain we need to teach people how to fight and maintain freedom before casting out demons, because that demon will eventually return or others will drop be to see if there is unoccupied territory in the heart of a person. That space must be occupied by the things of God and the individual must be willing to fight to guard those things when the day comes. God is willing fight with us and he assures the victory, but we must take up a sword and fight. Let’s be sure that we know how to do that and teach others to do so as well. As Paul said, we have to fight the good fight. After all, it’s not just a job, it’s an adventure!

Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. (Phil.4:8)

In his letter to the church at Philippi, Paul encourages us to evaluate and choose what we think about, what we ponder, and what we entertain on the big screen of our imagination.  In other words, be intentional about everything…even your thought life. Everything we think about, focus on, or entertain in our minds leaves an impression on our brain and in our soul. The theological term for intentional or prolonged thinking about an issue, a principle, or an experience is meditation. Scripture mentions that process frequently.

Speaking of Isaac, the son of Abraham, we are told, “He went out to the field one evening to meditate, and as he looked up, he saw camels approaching” (Gen.24:63). Isaac had intentionally set time aside in the evening to meditate, to think about things, to mentally process his day and his relationships. After the death of Moses, the Lord spoke to Joshua and commanded him, “Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful” (Jos.1:8). David prayed, “May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer” (Ps.19:44; See also Ps.1:2, 48:9, 63:6, 77:12, 119:5, 143:5).

Meditation is a way to intentionally understand experiences, expand our understanding of people and events, reinforce positive thoughts, grasp biblical truths, establish God-directed goals, and deepen relational values in our heart and mind. For the believer, it is a time set aside to hear the Holy Spirit lead him into truth and shape his life and character. It is also a great way to detox spiritually, at the end of a day, after you have encountered hurtful people and slogged through a sin-soaked culture. What you think about most often, what you reflect on frequently, what you consider and process in your mind will rule the day in your heart.

The psalmists mention several things about which they frequently meditated: God’s creation, God’s wonderful and miraculous acts, their personal history with God – his blessings and faithfulness, the Word of God, and God himself. The apostle Paul would add, “whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things” (Phil. 4:8). He also tells us, “Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things” (Col.3:1-2). The writer of Hebrews layers on another dimension. “Therefore, holy brothers, who share in the heavenly calling, fix your thoughts on Jesus, the apostle and high priest whom we confess” (Heb.3:1).

There may be more, but that is plenty to reflect on. Again, meditation is simply the act of intentionally thinking about, chewing on, reflecting, studying, talking about, praying about, etc. certain things you want to understand and get in your heart.

For us it is a dialogue with the Spirit, asking him to give us understanding, insight, revelation, and reinforcement of his truths and values in our life. In scripture, meditation seems to occur most often in the evening or during the “watches of the night.”   I tend to believe that the last things we focus on before falling asleep get the attention of our subconscious which continues to process those things during the night. When we invite the Holy Spirit to be involved in our sleep, we may receive truth we had never recognized before. “For God does speak—now one way, now another— though man may not perceive it. In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falls on men as they slumber in their beds” (Job. 33:14-15).

Spending time in the evening reflecting on God, his truth, the goodness of Christ, his Word, etc. seems like a God-given way to detox spiritually from all the contaminates we have encountered during the day. Satan spends the day trying to pull us away from the truth of God, twisting it, and enticing us to agree with him rather than the Father. Meditation helps to realign our thoughts and feelings with the Lord and in doing so takes away places where the enemy might find a foothold. So much around us that we hear, see, and read – even unintentionally – defiles the temple of the Holy Spirit. An evening scrub with meditation will help to keep that temple a place where the Spirit can rest without offense.

As I examine the life of Jesus, everything seems so intentional. I suffer from being right-brained. Structure and concrete goals are not my style. Intentionality gives way to random responses to things I encounter during the day. I want to “get in the mood” before doing anything introspective and the mood is elusive. I’m working on consistent meditation. Writing this blog is a form of that but I want to lay in a godly habit of detoxing at the end of the day and inviting the Spirit to rule over my dreams and even the thoughts churned up by my subconscious. I believe meditation is one of God’s great divine weapons (2 Cor.10:4) and can make a huge difference as we follow Him. Perhaps, you’ll join me. Blessings in Him today.

The importance of the seventy-two disciples that Jesus sent out in the gospel of Luke cannot be overstated. It is their testimony that opens the door for all believers to do what Jesus did. They were the first, beyond the apostles, to minister in the power and authority of Jesus.

Many Christians are still being taught that the miracles of the New Testament were confined to Jesus and his twelve apostles as confirmation of Christ’s deity and of the apostle’s inspiration and authority for writing the New Testament. The argument goes that once Jesus and the apostles were confirmed by signs and wonders, there was no need for miracles and so the age of miracles faded away. This is not an old argument but one that still carries great weight in many evangelical churches and seminaries.

In Luke 9, Jesus sent out his twelve apostles on a mission. Luke tells us that Jesus gave the twelve power and authority to drive out all demons and to cure diseases while they preached the kingdom of God. This fits the “confirmation theory” for these twelve men would be given leadership over the church that would be birthed at Pentecost and would write much of the New Testament. However, one (Judas) fell away and most of the New Testament was not written by one of the twelve apostles at all: the gospel of Luke, the book of Acts, the epistle of James (written by the Lord’s brother who was not a follower until after the resurrection), Hebrews, Jude, and all of the letters written by Paul. Paul was an apostle, but was not one of the original twelve.

In Luke 10, Jesus appointed seventy-two, no-name disciples and sent them out to preach in towns where Jesus was about to go. This “advance team” was not just putting up posters announcing upcoming healing services. In his directives to the team, Jesus said, “When you enter a town and are welcomed, eat what is set before you. Heal the sick who are there and tell them, ‘The Kingdom of God is near you’” (Lk.10:8-9). When the advance team returned, the text says, “The seventy-two returned with joy and said, “Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name!” Jesus replied, “ I saw Satan fall like lightening from heaven. I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and overcome all the power of the enemy: nothing will harm you. However, do not rejoice that spirits submit to you but rejoice that your names are written in heaven” (Lk. 10:18-20).

Jesus had given the same power and authority to the seventy-two, non-apostles that he had given to the twelve so that each of them could preach the kingdom of God and then demonstrate it. At the end of Matthew’s gospel, Jesus commissioned his church to go into all of the world and preach the gospel, making disciples of all nations. He began “the Great Commission” by emphasizing his authority. “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given unto me” (Mt.28:18). He ends the commission by declaring that he will be with his disciples always – to the very end of the age. If Jesus is with is and he has all authority, then his authority is with us as well.

Paul sums up the issue when he declares, “For the kingdom of God does not consist in words but in power” (1 Cor.4:20). Any gospel that does not convey not only forgiveness but also power is not the gospel Jesus preached, nor the twelve, nor the seventy-two, nor Paul.

Power comes through the Holy Spirit whom Jesus has sent to every believer. He equips us for ministry as Jesus modeled it. In fact, the disciples of Jesus had received the Spirit before Pentecost. In John 20, Jesus appeared to the disciples (not just the apostles) and said, “As the Father has sent me, I am sending you. And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit” (Jn.20:21-22). But a few days later, he told the same group to wait in Jerusalem until they were further equipped for the mission he had given them. “Do not leave Jerusalem but wait for the gift my Father promised…in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit…you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you and you will be my witnesses” (Acts 1:4-8).

Luke is clear that the power of the Spirit did not just fall on the twelve, but on all the believers who were gathered in Jerusalem – about 120 of them (Acts1:15). This entire group had begun to meet together in Jerusalem for prayer (Acts 1:14) and was still together on the day of Pentecost when the Holy Spirit appeared like fire and rested on each of them (Acts 2:1-3). They all were filled with the Spirit and began to speak in tongues (Acts 2:4). From that point on, the church began to move in power through the authority of Jesus and the power of the Holy Spirit, manifested in spiritual gifts.

When Jesus said, “As the Father has sent me, I am sending you,” he implied that we should do the things that he had done – preach the gospel, heal the sick, raise the dead, cast out demons, and cleanse lepers. He highlighted this future ministry of the church when he said, “I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these because I am going to the Father” (Jn.14:12). “Anyone” takes it out of the hands of a few and grants that potential to every believer since the days of Jesus.

The present day evidence that Jesus rose from the grave and ascended to the Father is found in the power of the Holy Spirit expressed through spiritual gifts in the church. Jesus kept telling his followers that when he took his place by the Father’s side, he would send the Spirit who then would give us power for ministry (See Jn.14 and 16). Power confirms the presence of the Holy Spirit and the presence of the Holy Spirit confirms the presence of Jesus at the right hand of the Father. No power, no confirmation.

The need for power in the church is greater today than ever. The world is in bondage to sin and to Satan. The Jews have the Torah, the Muslims have the Koran, and we have the New Testament which testifies of Christ. Stories about what happened two thousand years ago are not convincing to those who study from another book. However, when the works of Jesus are done today in the name of Jesus, Jews and Muslims are convinced as well as pagans of all stripes.

No matter what your church background, let me encourage you not to settle for anything less than a gospel of both of grace and power. Jesus modeled it, Jesus commanded it, and Jesus purchased it with his blood. We cannot represent Jesus (re-present) on the earth without the power he himself displayed.

Additionally, most of the deliverance and the healings referenced in the gospels were expressions of God’s compassion for the plight of men rather than an attempt on the part of Jesus to prove who he was. How often did he tell someone he had just healed not to tell anyone? To fail in the exercise of power today is to crimp the compassion that Jesus still wants to express through his church. When we do not pursue all the gifts of the Spirit and the power of the kingdom of heaven, we not only fail ourselves but also Jesus and those who need his transforming touch. Not just words, but power. Blessings in Him today.

There are certain things that seem to get in the way of answered prayer, healing, and deliverance on a regular basis. Believers, who are attending church and serving God, often wonder why God has not answered their sincere prayers or why nothing seems to be working out in their lives.  Eventually, they begin to question God’s reliability, promise keeping, and faithfulness in those instances, but often the fault lies in the heart of the believer. The number one hindrance, that I see, to the move of God in the lives of believers is unforgiveness.

Jesus is very clear about this issue. “For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins” (Mt. 6:14-15). In the parable of the unmerciful servant (Mt.18:21-35), Jesus tells of a man whose master forgave his unpayable debt of ten thousand talents. The man immediately went out demanding payment from a few who owed him inconsequential amounts and when they couldn’t pay, he had them sent to a debtor’s prison. When the master heard about it, he withdrew his mercy and turned the unmerciful man over to the “tormentors.” Jesus finished the parable by saying, “This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother from your heart.”

Forgiveness is not optional if you want the blessings of the kingdom in your life. I was reading through Jonah and I thought how much we are often like the old prophet. You remember the story. God directed Jonah to go to Nineveh and declare that catastrophic judgment was on the way unless they repented. Nineveh was the capital of Assyria, a world power that had killed, brutalized, and deported thousands of Jews over a period of decades. In the mind of Jonah, no grace nor forgiveness was due the Assyrians. My guess is that Jonah felt as if God were being unrighteous and unjust in even considering delaying his judgment on that city – a day that Jonah had privately prayed for.

Rather than obeying God and being an instrument of God’s grace, Jonah ran as if he could hide from the Creator of heaven and earth. Many of us believe that those who have betrayed and wounded us should experience the wrath of God in their own lives. When we hear the command to forgive, we run away in our minds – we find other things to talk about, think about, and focus on. We find a dozen reasons why we should not forgive at that moment. Instead of instant obedience, we put if off – sometimes for decades.

After being cast overboard by a crew of pagan sailors out of Joppa, Jonah was swallowed by a fish prepared by God for that moment and after three days and nights he was vomited onto the shore. (The life of a prophet is not always glamorous.) In his refusal to forgive and express mercy toward Nineveh, Jonah had been turned over to a tormentor – in this case a great fish. Then the Lord commanded Jonah, a second time, to go preach repentance to Nineveh. This time, Jonah went.

Remarkably, Jonah’s less than half-hearted preaching did the trick. The entire city, from the King to the dogcatcher, repented in sackcloth and ashes. Jonah was furious. In his mind, God had no right and no business extending grace to these godless people. In fact, Jonah confessed that he had run away because he knew what would happen – God would withhold devastation.

The book ends with Jonah still pouting about God’s goodness. We are not told what happened to Jonah after that. What is clear is that God’s heart is to forgive whenever possible and he wants that to be our heart as well. Here is the key: we don’t forgive because those who have wronged us deserve it, but because Jesus deserves it. To refuse to do so leaves us in the hands of the tormentors.

Who or what are the tormentors? Sometimes, they are simply our own emotions. Anger, bitterness, blaming, revenge – all of these poison our own well, rob us of joy, increase our blood pressure, and spill over on the innocent who are then driven away by our harshness. Sometimes they are demonic spirits who gain access to us by our anger, resentment, and disobedience. “Do not let the sun go down on your anger and do not give the devil a foothold” (Eph.4:26-27).

Sometimes, we interpret Jesus as saying that we must forgive when those who have wronged us when they come crawling to us, pleading for our forgiveness. In our minds, if they don’t repent we don’t have to forgive. Jesus did not set that condition on our forgiveness. Again, we forgive because he forgave us. We forgive those who owe us debts because the master forgave us an unpayable debt.

On several occasions, we have labored to cast out a demon that will not budge until we discover that the person we are ministering to has not forgiven someone in his or her life. When they do forgive, the demon looses its place (his legal right to be there), and then comes out quickly. I believe this situation is repeated when some are not healed and when blessings never seem to find their way to a person or a family.

In those situations, God is not withholding – we are. I wonder if the command came to Jonah for his benefit more than for the benefit of the Assyrians. I imagine Jonah as an angry prophet, beaten down by the years, and bitter in spirit. Perhaps, his bitterness was toward the Assyrians and it was God’s grace that gave him a chance to be freed from that bitterness by seeing the citizens of Nineveh as frightened and broken people rather than just evil enemies. Jonah turned down that opportunity and at the end we see the sun setting on a prickly curmudgeon who is still mad at God rather than a man whose heart had been healed by grace.

Forgiveness is not optional, although reconciliation may be. When the people we have forgiven are still hurtful or dangerous we are not required to let them back into our lives. But forgiveness (releasing their wrongs to the judgment of God along with a decision to no longer make them pay for what they did) is an imperative in the Kingdom. Like Nineveh, they may eventually fall to the judgment of God because they will not repent or change, but it will be his action not yours.

Does it seem that something is blocking your blessings or binding your heart? Is there someone you have not forgiven? Maybe it is someone from so long ago that you rarely think about him or her and so assume you have forgiven that person. Like many things, you need to verbalize that forgiveness and ask God to bless them as he sees fit. Forgive them in the name of Jesus because of what he has freely forgiven in our lives. It is a freeing and healing experience – one that God wants you to have.

I was first “discipled” in a fellowship that warned against spiritual experiences and snubbed anyone who chased miracles and manifestations of God. All claims to miraculous healings were immediately suspect and were eventually written off as fraudulent acts perpetrated by faith-healing con men, excessive emotionalism, or psychosomatic healings. In that fellowship, we approached God through reason and intellect. The Word of God was to be studied, dissected, debated, and unlocked through the logic of sound reasoning. Any other approach was a prelude to deception.

The Holy Spirit spoke through the written word and the written word only and there was no current revelation beyond the last paragraph of the Book of Revelation – preferably in the King James Version. Experience was deemed untrustworthy and entirely subjective. To know God was to study about him. Any other approach was invalid. There were some wonderful people in that fellowship, but I also noticed some men who could quote almost the entire Bible, but the fruit of the Spirit seemed to be glaringly absent in the lives of some of these learned men.

In the New Testament, there are two words that are often translated “to know.” One is gnosis and the other is epígnōsis. Gnosis is the accumulation of knowledge or information about a thing. I can know about God by studying the Bible, reading commentaries, hearing sermons and so forth. Epignosis is knowledge gained through a first-hand relationship. It is “contact-knowledge” gained from first-hand, experiential knowing. It is the difference between saying that I know about someone or that I personally know that individual and have spent extensive time with him.

In my part of the country, everyone knows about tornadoes. We have all seen Twister five times, read about tornadoes in science class since the third grade, and have seen numerous pictures and reports of the devastation left in their wake – usually on the ten o’clock news. However, our knowledge does not compare to the knowledge of those who have actually huddled in a home while the roof was torn off, while the shift in barometric pressure was ravaging their eardrums, while they actually heard the tornado approaching like a freight train, or after they opened the door of the closet they were cringing in to step out onto a bare foundation. Their knowledge and understanding is epignosis – a personal, experiential understanding of a person or thing.

Peter speaks of “knowledge” several times in just a few verses in his second letter. He says, “Grace and peace be yours in abundance through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord. His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness” (2 Peter 1:2-3). Both times, he uses the word epignosis for knowledge. He says that grace and peace cone to us through an experiential understanding of God, an experience, as well as everything we need for life and godliness. A few verses later, Peter says, “make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control…” (2 Peter 1:5). In that verse he uses the word gnosis.

We need both a learned and studied knowledge and personal experiences with God to have a full understanding of who he is. Feeling the overwhelming presence of God as peace, joy, or love in prayer or worship is epignosis. Experiencing God through a prophetic word, a healing, or deliverance is epignosis. Receiving supernatural provision, miraculous protection, or hearing the voice of God as you wait quietly for him is epignosis. Operating in a spiritual gift and knowing that God just did something through you that was beyond your ability is epignosis. Receiving a warning or a truth in dreams and visions is epignosis. Nothing changes us like those moments. Those are experiences of God that shaped the faith of men and women from Genesis to Revelation. They still do if we receive them.

There is an interesting section of scripture that seems out of place in the text but it says, “Now Moses used to take a tent and pitch it outside the camp some distance away, calling it the “tent of meeting.” Anyone inquiring of the Lord would go to the tent of meeting outside the camp. And whenever Moses went out to the tent, all the people rose and stood at the entrances to their tents, watching Moses until he entered the tent… The Lord would speak to Moses face to face, as a man speaks with his friend. Then Moses would return to the camp, but his young aide Joshua son of Nun did not leave the tent” (Ex.33:7-11).

This text suggests that although anyone could go to the tent for an encounter with God, only Moses and Joshua seemed brave enough or hungry enough to do so. Joshua is about the only hero in scripture about which there are no recorded failings. His faith was phenomenal and his obedience was sure. Perhaps, it was because he so often experienced God at the tent, which he rarely left during Israel’s years in the desert.

The written word is essential and foundational, but experiencing God takes our understanding and faith to a different level. Epignosis (experience) without gnosis (understanding from the Word) will likely lead to deception, but data without experience will lead us to another kind of deception…a sterile knowledge of God without the impact of his presence. The Pharisees produced the fruit of extensive study without a personal experience of God. When experiences with God came as miracles of healing and deliverance, they rejected them. If they couldn’t deny the miracle, they ascribed it to Satan. Not only that, but they never recognized in Jesus the God they had studied about for endless hours, even though Jesus said that if we have seen him we have seen the Father. Intellect, untrained by encounters with God, will often blind us to his revelation.

Studying about God is essential, but so is experiencing him. I would encourage you to pursue both so that you can love him with all of your heart and mind. The promise is, “If you seek him, he will be found by you!” (1 Chr.28:9). Be blessed in your pursuit.

If you are a believer, why aren’t you “all in” for Jesus?” That was the question raised from our pulpit yesterday. In other words, why do so many of us hold some or most of our lives in reserve, not giving it all or submitting it all to Jesus? After all, Jesus is pretty clear about our priorities as believers:

Anyone who loves his father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves his son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; and anyone who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it (Mt.10:37-39).

At our small group Sunday evening, we discussed that question. Just about everyone admitted that they were not all in for Jesus all the time. We talked about various reasons for our frequent hesitancy to be fully obedient … even when we know the Spirit is prompting us to some action or attitude. For some, it was the aggravating fear of man that seems to constantly plague us. For others, it was a lack of spiritual toughness because life in America has been comfortable and easy for the most part. Some had experienced great disappointment with God when life had been filled with losses and seemingly unanswered prayers and there was a reticence to trust him with everything again. It was pretty honest evening.

The other honest response echoed the words of the apostle Peter when Jesus asked if they would leave him as well as the crowds who had just departed. “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We believe and know that you are the Holy One of God” (Jn.6:68-69). As much as we struggle with fully trusting and being willing to put Jesus first in every circumstance, everyone wants to desperately hold on to Jesus and the Father through him.

As the discussion progressed, it seemed that the ultimate solution to our problem was to know the Father better. Paul prayed that God would give the Ephesian church a spirit of wisdom and revelation that they might know the Father better (Eph.1:17). In our fears and disappointments, we lack trust or take offense because we are not convinced of God’s love for us and his constant goodness that hovers over every difficult path on which we may find ourselves.

Jesus made an interesting response to men who had come from John the Baptist asking Jesus if he were the Messiah or if there was another to come. John had seen the Holy Spirit descend on Jesus at his baptism. John had declared Jesus to be the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. But John was in Herod’s prison and things were not working out as John had anticipated. He was beginning to wonder if Jesus was the One after all. Jesus pointed John to the miracles he had been performing and his preaching of the gospel but ended with the phrase, “And blessed is the one who is not offended by me” (Mt. 11:6, ESV).

Offended how? I think Jesus was saying that we might take offense when he didn’t act as we thought he should. He anticipated that he would often act in ways that we don’t understand or even approve of. We might feel betrayed or abandoned or simply disappointed by his choices. Why is one healed but not the other? Why is one married and the other still single after a thousand prayers for a loving mate? Why did God not intervene when missionaries to Syria were being tortured and crucified? Why did God not protect a young child from molestation or a young woman from rape?

Those questions raise doubts about God’s character, his sovereignty, and his ability to deliver on his promises. It is easy to take offense when we consider the evil in the world. To avoid the trap, I must maintain a view of the eternal – that what we experience will seem “light and momentary” (2 Cor.4:17) compared to what God has for us in eternity. Injustices on this side will be fully dealt with on the other side. Losses here will be compensated for there, in exponential terms. This isn’t the life God has for us – that life is in his eternal presence when Satan and his angels have been cast into the lake of fire. Our present suffering is storing up eternal blessings and joy that will eclipse anything we can experience now. We must keep an eye on the eternal to avoid judging God in the temporary realm we now know.

We must also believe in his character when we cannot see in the dark night of tragedy. There are times that I get up in the middle of the night and navigate my way through my house without lights or, at least, with very little light. I can do that because I have often walked that way when the sun is up and the lights are on. Memory shows me the way in the dark times. I need to trust the character of God that I have experienced in the good times to navigate through the dark times believing that no one has rearranged the furniture. He is the same God who has walked with me before, protected me before, and blessed me over and over before. His heart toward me has not changed because he has not changed.

When I get eternity in my heart and am convinced of the goodness of God toward me, then I can be “all in” for Jesus. Ask God, persistently and passionately, for a continuing revelation of those two realities. Ask him to speak those realities to our hearts in every possible way. I believe that is the path to where we want to be. Be blessed in Him today.

I don’t know about you, but when I became a Christian, I had a subtle belief (whether taught or assumed I don’t know) that Jesus would deliver me from all my troubles…before the troubles began.   I assumed that he would bless me with abundance and make the road of my life smooth – no detours, no potholes, no icy pavement, no carjackers. Now I know that my assumption was wrong and it really only takes a little biblical reflection to know that.

First of all, Jesus said, “These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world” (Jn.16:33). In the context, Jesus was telling his little band of followers (and us) that we will have trouble in this world – so that when it comes we should not be confused. But he also promises victory in that conflict. Think about it. Can you recall any major character in scripture whose life was not marked by battles and crises? It is the nature of living in a fallen world and of living in enemy territory.

I remember reading a book back in my college days entitled, “Man’s Search for Meaning” by Viktor Frankl. Frankl was a World War II Nazi death camp survivor. In his book he talked about the brutal environment of the camp – bitter cold, torture, starvation, and the constant threat of random execution. He also talked about the difference in those who eventually survived and those who didn’t. Frankl’s conclusion was that those prisoners who could find no meaning in their suffering did not survive. The idea of senseless suffering could only engender hopelessness and a sense of futility in lasting another day. Those who found some meaning in their suffering, could face another day and another, because they believed that something significant would come from their endurance.

Christians need to have some sense of meaning for the struggles they endure on earth as well. I have seen far too many Christians marked by hopelessness and despair when one of life’s ahrd seasons was prolonged. Of all people, we should be filled with hope and optimism eved in dark hours. I like how Graham Cooke gives meaning to all struggles at every level in the life of believers. Depending on what you are facing at the moment, his perspective might be helpful for you.

“Champions have a view of God that sets them apart in their day. They understand that all crises are part of a process that God has set in motion. They are not overwhelmed by the event because they are aware of the process that God is developing around them to train, equip, and empower them in his name. The process is always about our development into the place the Father has set aside for us in Christ. Through all the ups and downs of our life’s journey, when we commit ourselves to the process of God, we grow up in all things in Christ. Immature people only focus on the crisis itself, not the bigger picture of their own development….Process is where we discover God at work in our lives. It is where we submit to the work of his hands. Process is everything. There is no growth or maturity without it. If we do not submit to the process, the enemy will not submit to us. The process is the foundation for our obedience which results in our authority. There is no authority outside of our submission” (Graham Cooke, Qualities of a Spiritual Warrior, p.126).

Cooke’s point is not that God sends trouble our way, but that he uses the tribulations of the world to do two things: (1) Shape us into an accurate representation of Christ on the earth, and (2) help us discover who God is for us. When we submit to the work that God is doing on our faith and character and discover God’s provision and his character in every obstacle of life, we become more than conquerors. When crisis comes, our response should be to find God’s meaning in our struggle which then gives perfect meaning to the hardship. God never wastes an experience. The only question is whether or not we will waste it.

Believe me, I know this is not what you want to hear if you are in the midst of a painful season. In those seasons we just want out…now! And I am not saying we should gleefully bounce through every hardship as if suffering isn’t real. It is. But finding God’s purposes enables us to grow through the crisis rather than just enduring it. Remember the promise, “And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son” (Rom.8:28-29).

Again, God doesn’t send the troubles but when they come he uses them to perfect his people and to make them more like Christ. As we become more like him, our love increases, our peace increases, and our joy increases which is what all of us want anyway. Most of us want that in pill form rather than having to work for it, but is doesn’t come that way. So whatever your struggle is today, ask God to show you his hand and his purposes for you in this season. Finding meaning in your suffering redeems it and gives it value and that makes all the difference. Blessings today in whatever season you are walking through.

In my last blog I discussed the need for all Christians to be equipped for spiritual warfare. I then encouraged readers to find books, churches, or ministries that can equip them in the exercise of “divine weapons,” if their church does not provide such training. I want to suggest some resources, but before I do, let me also offer some wisdom.

The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons. Such teachings come through hypocritical liars, whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron. (I Tim.4:1-3)

Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. (I John 4:1)

Now the Bereans were of more noble character than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true. (Acts 17:11)

But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come. He will glorify Me, for He will take of Mine and will disclose it to you. (Jn.16:13-14)

First of all, not everything written or taught about spiritual warfare is on target. Some are way off target. There are those who would use spiritual gifts for their own promotion and profit and you need to stay away from those individuals (See Acts 8 regarding Simon the sorcerer). There is always truth mixed in with deception, so be cautious. Jesus said that you will know false prophets by their fruit so look at the ministry, it’s emphasis, whether it points to a man or to Jesus, and whether it seems to care more about money and power or people.

Secondly, consider whether what you are being told or taught is based on sound biblical interpretation. Our experience and methodology should line up with scripture. I’m not saying everything you need to know about spiritual warfare is in the Bible. Methodology is often a matter of culture and experience. For instance, we are not told in detail how to lead others to Christ, only that we are to present the good news. Methodology is left up to us.

But we know whether what we are being taught seems to contradict scripture or line up with scripture or the character of scripture. We know in whose name we are to pray and cast out demons. We know that incantations and magic amulets are not consistent with scripture. We know that channeling, angel worship, and speaking to the dead is forbidden in God’s word. We know that all ministry should point people to Jesus and a holy lifestyle. You get the drift. If a teaching is presented with arrogance or the promise of special knowledge or blessings that no one else possesses or embraces new age approaches to healing and revelation, turn off the channel. So, if you are not familiar with an author, church, or ministry… proceed with caution and consider the fruit and the spirit with which the training is presented.

Thirdly, ask the Spirit to lead you into all truth. If something des not resonate with your spirit or if it troubles you, then proceed with caution. I would suggest that you not dismiss something immediately but pray about it more, study more, ask people you trust about it more. Our discomfort may come from our cessationist teaching or our lack of personal experience more than from an unbiblical or untrue teaching.

Also, be willing to receive some teaching without receiving all teaching. An “unbiblical teaching” may not come from a bad or deceptive heart. None of us can teach beyond our best, current understanding or experience and that changes over time. My first response to the “Toronto blessing” of uncontrollable laughter released by the Holy Spirit was one of skepticism and criticism. Then someone pointed out that “joy” is a fruit of the Spirit. Do I accept all things coming out of Toronto? No, but I don’t dismiss all things from that event either.

Jesus told a parable in which a man planted wheat and, while he slept, an enemy planted weeds in the same field. When the wheat grew, so did the weeds. The servants asked it they should dig up the weeds but the master said to wait so that the wheat would not also be pulled up with the weeds. Sometimes, there are weeds mixed in with the wheat, but the wheat us still good. As you read or receive training, be open to receive some things and reserve judgment on others. Spiritual gifts find different expressions in different people. How some express their gifts may just not fit you, but it may not be a false teaching. In summary, test the spirits, check the fruit, and pray for God’s Spirit to lead you into all truth.

Having said that, let me list some books and ministries that have helped me grow in the area of spiritual warfare. Remember, I don’t necessarily accept everything from these teachers nor do I incorporate everything they do into my ministry to others. I consider the scriptures, ask the Spirit to lead, and wait for confirmation in my Spirit before moving ahead with things that just don’t resonate with my spirit. Paul said. “We know in part and we prophecy in part,” (1 Cor.13:9) so don’t hold people to perfection, but rather gauge the heart and spirit of the teacher, as well, in testing the spirits.

Recommended Books Related to Spiritual Warfare:

• Intercessory Prayer (Dutch Sheets) – This is a must read about the power and purpose of prayer and will motivate you to pray more with greater intensity and endurance.

• Approaching the Heart of Prophecy (Graham Cooke) – This is a great book on prophetic gifts and how God speaks to us. You must be able to hear God in moments of spiritual warfare.

• When Heaven Invades Earth (Bill Johnson) – This is a great book to open you up to the supernatural move of God in our lives today.

• Born to Be Free (Tom Vermillion) – This book is designed to help people find freedom and maintain freedom from the lies and oppression of the enemy and, I think, maintains a healthy balance in doing so. This book includes chapters on hearing God, our identity in Christ, the authority of believers, and deliverance.

• Deliverance from Evil Spirits – A Practical Manual (Francis MacNutt) – This is an entire book on deliverance and delves into the theology and methodology of deliverance. Good book.

• The Essential Guide to Healing (Bill Johnson and Randy Clark) – This is a sound book on healing theology and methodology. It will encourage you to go out and pray for supernatural healing.

• Authority to Heal (Ken Blue) – This is another excellent book on healing and how to pray for healing. It is an older book but has some things to offer more recent books seem to miss.

• Drawing Near (John Bevere) – This is a great book about intimacy with God and has one of the best chapters on speaking in tongues that I have run across.

• Freedom in Christ (Neil Anderson) – This book is almost a classic in the deliverance arena and has been around a number of years – but is a good place to start if you are just learning about deliverance.

• The Handbook for Spiritual Warfare (Ed Murphy) – This is another extensive book on spiritual warfare and deliverance. Good resource book.

• Shadow Boxing (Henry Malone) – Very readable book on deliverance. Henry Malone Ministries / Vision Life Ministries also trains and ministers in deliverance.

• Can You Hear Me? Tuning into the God Who Speaks (Brad Jursak) – This is an excellent book on learning to hear God, which is critical in our growth and in spiritual warfare.

Churches with Freedom Ministries:

These are a few churches that I am aware of that offer healing/deliverance ministries that are balanced and healthy. I’m sure there are many more, but these are a few I am aware of. If you know of others, please reply and I will get those posted. It would be great to develop a directory of churches and ministries who bring a balanced and healthy approach to this arena.

Mid-Cities Community Church – Midland, Tx

Bethel Church – Redding, Ca.

Beltway Park Baptist Church – Abilene, Tx

Gateway Church – North Richland Hills, Tx

Trinity Fellowship – Amarillo, Tx

I hope these resources and cautions will be helpful. Blessings.