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Teaching, Modeling, and Imparting Responsiveness
August 2005 to the Holy Spirit for life and ministry
Teaching: Handling Fear in Today's World by
Mike Flynn
Almost daily suicide bombs, violent crimes, worries
about finances or car accidents or loved ones in danger-there's plenty
in the world to be fearful about. An observer of a bombing cried out,
“Where the hell is God?” But we've known for a long time
that when there's a tragedy/need/sickness/crime, the problem's not
on His end but on ours. So how do we hold up our end of the deal,
which frees Him to hold up His end?
George MacDonald, a favorite author, has one of his
characters, Robert Falconer, make this statement:
“Jesus taught-
First, --That a man's business is to do the will of God.
Second, --That God takes upon himself the care of the man;
Third, --Therefore, that a man must never be afraid of anything; and
so,
Fourth, --be free to love God with all his heart, and his neighbor
as himself.”
Words like this are worth posting over one's desk
and pondering and praying over periodically.
Regarding fear, it's not denial of the possibilities
or cocky braggadocio or chronic quavering that's going to turn the
trick. There's got to be some basis for assuming an attitude of protection.
That's what MacDonald's first two propositions provide:
“a man's business is to do the will of God
God takes upon himself the care of the man.”
This is a solid basis for becoming fearless. If, indeed, I make it
my occupation to learn and satisfy the will of God, then I can rely
on Him to take care of me. If He is indeed taking care of me, then
it's also my business to refuse to cave in to potentially or actually
fearsome things.
This is why I teach so emphatically that faith is
a matter of will, not of emotion or of intellect. With my will I determine
to do the will of God. With my will I declare that God is taking care
of me. With my will I then refuse to allow myself to be manipulated
by fear. With my will I then direct my capabilities and resources
into the love of God and neighbor.
A few years ago I heard for the first time a song
that has become a favorite. It is “In Christ Alone” written
by Stuart Townend and Keith Getty in the UK. Here's the verse that
caused me to exult in appreciation as I first heard it:
“No guilt in life, no fear in death: This is the pow'r of Christ
in me.
From life's first cry to final breath, Jesus commands my destiny.
No pow'r of hell, no scheme of man can ever pluck me from His hand
'til He returns, nor cause me harm; here in the pow'r of Christ I'll
stand.”
Such words are to be mediated upon, savored, cherished,
and shouted out in confident joy.
In my latest book, How To Be Good Without Really
Trying, I relate an incident when Jesus asked me: “What good
am I if I'm not good in you?” I've profited many times from pondering
that question. If He's not capable of handling fearsome things, what
good is He? If He can't handle them through me, what good am I?
Are there dangerous things? Of course there are.
Might they be nearby? Sometimes. How do I avoid them? By focusing
on Him and letting Him handle them and handle me in the midst of them.
What else do I need to do? I put protection very
thoroughly on my self, family, and associates every single morning
(FreshWind intercessors, donors, board members, board of reference
members, team members, clients, and associates). To “put on the
whole armor of God” is to get dressed in it daily. What that
does is pre-empt the enemy from taking shots at those I've prayed
for. From that point on, it's my job to know and apply myself to the
will of God, trusting that He is watching out for me and mine. See
the re-print of how to put on protection following this article.
What if I get killed in a bus bomb attack? Well,
if I have failed to put on protection, then the blame's on me. But
if I have put it on, then Ahhh! for it's clear in Scripture that there's
a special place in heaven for martyrs. To be a martyr for God is a
glorious thing. But to be a martyr for fear is never to have truly
lived in victory.
Teaching: Preemptive Spiritual Warfare,
by Mike Flynn, from WindSock, June 1999.
Everyday we in the Denver area are still reminded
of the Columbine shooting. But headlines almost anywhere speak of
other life-ending disasters as well: murders, accidents, natural calamities,
diseases, suicides, wars, smart bombs that end up being stupid and
the like.
Too often God is somehow blamed or defended as the
culprit basically responsible for such events. Now it is certainly
true that we can respond to tragedies with the kind of faith that
frees God to bring good out of them. We're seeing hundreds come to
the Lord because of the witness of those killed at Columbine, and
there are other wonderful results as well. The snake is being forced
to bite his own tail. But to claim that God somehow caused the Columbine
shootings is to betray spiritual ignorance and simplicity.
Look, “Jesus Christ came to destroy the works of the devil”
(I John 3.8); that's one of those summary verses which distills complex
realities into sharply focused points. Spiritual warfare is the primary
dynamic occurring on the surface of this planet. And to blame God
for the things that Satan does is both slanderous and counterproductive.
As I have written elsewhere (Holy Vulnerability, ch. 7; Mustard Seed
Book, ch. 6; Inner Healing, ch. 12), Satan does his work through temptation,
accusation, deception, and harassment-which includes illness, attack,
miscommunication, accidents, mechanical break-downs, glitches. “Know
your enemy” is one of the first principles of warfare. Scripture
says he is tempter, liar, murderer, accuser, adversary, destroyer,
devil. Do you know the truth of this assertion by C. S. Lewis: “There
is no neutral ground in the universe: every square inch, every split
second, is claimed by God and counterclaimed by Satan”?
My purpose in reminding you of these things is not to make you frightened
but savvy. If you take 15 minutes in the morning, you can preempt
the activities Satan would like to do against you, your family, your
possessions, and those you are responsible for. Just as you wouldn't
think of going out into the world without getting dressed, you must
come to the realization that you mustn't go out spiritually naked
either.
When you put God's available protection on each day, you can claim
a vast immunity from the works of Satan. Does this mean than nothing
bad ever happens to those who've got the Lord's protection on? No
it doesn't. We're in war, and there are causalities in any war. What
it means is that Satan can't just pop off any attack on you without
God's explicit permission. See Job ch. 1. God will only permit Satan
to afflict you in ways He means to bring triumph out of. But if you're
not covered in His protection, then Satan can do whatever he has the
imagination and power to do. And that's substantial.
So on a daily basis, here's what I recommend you
do.
“I sign myself with the sign of the cross (do it)
I cover myself with the Blood of the Lamb (some motion to convey covering)
I surround myself with the Light of the Cross (describe circle around
you)
and in the Name of Jesus Christ, nothing shall come through to hurt
me.”
Then put the Blood of the Lamb and the Light of the Cross on your
loved ones (one-by-one), home, vehicles, place of work. Then on any
special cases or needs-the sick, those traveling. Then on any you
think the Lord has given your responsibility for-governmental officials,
missionaries, schools, airplanes, athletes, soldiers, policemen, erratic
drivers and potential terrorists (to contain their evil), etc.
Another form (from my book, Holy Vulnerability) based
on Eph. 6:
"Lord Jesus Christ, I greet you this morning as my commander
and chief, reporting for duty. But first, I need to clothe myself
with your armament, for my own is of no use against the enemy. Therefore,
I take to myself the belt of truth. I will desire, speak and act in
accordance with the truth. Second, I take on the breastplate of righteousness.
Thank you that this is your righteousness, and that it protects my
vital organs, especially my heart. I will speak, think, and act righteously.
Third, I put on the shoes of the gospel of peace, and I will prepare
that good news by reading your word and by being ready to give an
account for the hope that is in me. Fourth, I take on the helmet of
salvation. Save me, Lord, from the world, the flesh, and the devil.
And I will trust you to give me the mind of Christ and to think your
thoughts in
my mind.
Next, I take the shield of faith by which to quench all the flaming
arrows of the enemy--arrows of temptation, accusation, deception,
and harassment.
Finally, having seen to my defense, I take the sword, that particular
word which the Spirit gives, to utter against Satan in whichever way
you lead. And I decide that I am perfectly protected aggressively
and defensively in body, soul and spirit, in mind, will and emotion,
in circumstance, finance and relationships, and against all assaults
of the world, the flesh, and the devil.
Over it all, Lord, I take the mantle of love, asking you to give me
your love for all
whom I encounter today.”
Then ask for protection for others, as indicated
above. Daily!
Then walk in the peace that Jesus promises to His followers. The time
spent investing you and yours with protection is small price to pay
for the peace you can walk in.
Mike's Books Discount Deal
If you buy How To Be Good Without Really Trying and at least one other
of my books, you'll get a 25% discount off the total price.
For example: How to Be Good plus Holy Vulnerability: $13 + $12 = $25,
minus 25% = a price of $17.50.
If you buy all 5 of my books, you'll get a 40% discount
in which the total price is $33.
This deal only works if you order the books from me (amazon.com and
others will not honor it). So send in or email us your order and we'll
promptly reply with a shipment and invoice. Please include your street
address.
The stack of letters of commendation for our events
is over 5” high, a fourth of which is about the books. So send
in your order and we'll promptly reply with a shipment and invoice
(including about $1 each book for postage).
Normal pricing:
Holy Vulnerability, $12
Inner Healing, $14
Mustard Seed Book, $11
Making Disciples, $5
How To Be Good Without Really Trying, $13
Finally, many are making gifts of my books to loved ones and associates.
Word of Mouth Advertising
FreshWind does very little to promote its ministries,
trusting the Lord to bring us to the minds of those He wants us to
work with. But God does indeed use His followers to share words about
ministries He wants to deploy.
If you have been blessed in a FreshWind event, would
you consider sharing that information with your pastor, local pastor's
fellowships, and the like? Perhaps you'd encourage them to look us
up on our website for further information: www.freshwindministries.org.
Here are some of the types of groups who have engaged us: Episcopal,
Vineyard, Presbyterian, Methodist, Four Square, Adventist, and Anglican
churches; ministries such as the Order of St. Luke, Episcopal Church
Missionary Community, YWAM, and InterVarsity; schools such as seminaries,
bible colleges, and missions training organizations. Thank you.
Memorial Donations
Bill and Susan Reed have made a donation to FreshWind
to honor the memory of Julie Hawley.
Cliff and Geraldine Batham have made a donation in memory of Kathy
Jenkins.
These gifts are gratefully received and prayers for those memorialized
have been offered.
FreshWind Scheduled Events
DATE
PLACE THEME CONTACT
Aug 19-21 Butler, PA Cross-denominational Healing
Fr. Bruce Geary
for the City 724-287-1869
Oct 3-7 Brownsville, TX Cross-denominational Healing Fr. Chuck Sharrow
for the City 956-542-3869
Nov 7-9 King's Seminary Healing and Worship conf. for Rev. Jack Hayford
Van Nuys, CA Pastors, with Francis and Judith 818-779-8500
MacNutt, Jim Garlow, Paul Chappell
Parnell Lovelace, Ron Luce
Jan 27-29 Bloomington, MN Healing, for Leaders Betsy Lee, Prayer
Ventures
952-831-3125
Responses
FreshWind often donates its time and energy to foreign
and domestic churches and organizations that cannot afford to pay
normal honoraria and travel expenses. Many of these are missions-focused,
as is FreshWind.
About 75% of FreshWind's budget comes from people like you who believe
in and feel led to support what we're doing to extend the kingdom.
Here's the bottom line:
+ renewed, discipled, and anointed people produce ministry and mission
+ FreshWind produces renewed, discipled and anointed followers
We ask you to help us "produce" FreshWind.
We highly value all forms of aid: prayer, finances, and ministry team
participation. Please look over this response form and see if the
Lord would speak to you about your support of this ministry.
Prayer:
I/we would like to receive Mike's monthly intercessor's letter and
pray regularly for your ministry. Our email address is __________________________________.
Please copy and email this to Mike or mail by postal system.
Financial Support
+ I/we pledge: $_______ per month for the support of FreshWind Ministries.
I understand that FreshWind is a 501(c) (3) religious non-profit corporation
and that I will receive regular IRS-approved statements for tax deduction
purposes.
+ I do not feel that the Lord is leading me to pledge regularly at
this time, but I want to send a one-time gift of $____________.
name
_____________________________________________
street city state zip
_______________________________________________
signature
Please make contribution checks to FreshWind Ministries. Thank you.
FreshWind Ministries
811 Moby Dick Lane
Oxnard, CA 93030
(805) 487-9259
mkfln@aol.com
freshwindministries.org
Board Members
Larry and Pat Adams (Episcopal)
Bob and Donna Bowker (Lutheran)
Lloyd and Carol Ann Harris (Presbyterian)
Gary and Cyndee Watts (Adventist)
Mike and Sue Flynn (Episcopal)
Administrator & Treasurer
Geraldine Batham
818-842-0113
Board of Reference
Jane Campbell, Editor
Chosen Books
Rev. David Collins, President
Windsong Ministry
John Dawson, President
Youth With a Mission
Rev. John Guernsey, Rector
All Saints Epis. Woodbridge, VA
Rev. Chuck Irish, Past Director
Episcopal Renewal Ministries
Geri Rodman, President
InterVarsity Canada
Sharon Steinmiller, Director
Epis. Ch. Missionary Community
Edwina Thomas, Director
Sharing of Ministries Abroad
Rev. Greg Thompson, Sr. Pastor
Vineyard, Aurora, CO
Director
Rev. Mike Flynn
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