Elohim, Our Authority and Nephilim

I may be jumping into this subject mid-stream. I have learned a lot since I regularly blogged, so there are quite a few things I may have to explain from the middle. Hopefully I won't confuse you!

There may be a past blog where I talked about Psalm 8, in which the word Elohim is used. I used to reference this verse as evidence of our being placed above the angels, in God's creation/authority order. I have since learned I was a bit off. Not in our authority, but where we actually sit in the creation/authority order. I won't rehash my old thoughts here unless I need to reference them to explain something.

In Hebrew, the word "Elohim" can be singular or plural. In it's singular form, it refers to Yahweh/God- the One and Only; there is none like him. In it's plural form, it refers to the "gods" (beings) that Yahweh created. As far as I can tell at the moment, all heavenly beings God created are Elohim (plural). In other words, there are no "beings" that are angels. 

In Psalm 8, we have BOTH the singular Elohim and the plural form of the word.

The word "angel" means "messenger." An "angel" is not a being, as such, it is a "job description." So any Elohim given a specific task is considered an angel. I guess when they complete that task and go back to "normal operation," they are no longer considered an angel (sorry for all the quotes!).

Moving on to the creation order, we have God, gods, human-kind, then Nephilim. So we are below the gods, but above the Nephilim. Yes, there are gods who have fallen and they may have done so while they were angels (are you following?), but my point is that I no longer believe demons are fallen angels, rather fallen Elohim/gods. The more I think about this, the more it makes absolute sense to me regarding our authority to cast out demons.

I used to say we were created ABOVE the angels, so when they fell, we naturally still had authority over them; to cast them out. But that thought process fell apart when I realized we were BELOW the gods/angels.

I now believe demons are the disembodied spirits of Nephilim, whom God did not create, so they have nowhere to go, after they die. They go around looking for another physical body to inhabit, so they can do something/anything in the physical realm (remember Jesus and the herd of pigs?). This understanding is nothing new, as it has been around for a long time. Why do we often lose the understanding of things we used to know?

Nephilim came about by Elohim's (the gods) physical union with human women- they were god/human hybrids. Like Hercules, as it were. See where a lot of mythology has come from? I find it fascinating that so much mythology has its basis in reality. Hmmm, I wonder if there actually WAS a Nephilim named Hercules . . . mind blown!

Well if I haven't confused you by now, I'll finish with my purpose of this post- we do have authority to cast out demons. No surprise, since many of us have seen/done this over the years (and Jesus told us to do so), but for me this explanation is the reason we can do it.

 

Fear Factor

Scene One: Central New Jersey, a quiet little suburb of Red Bank near the East coast of the Atlantic Ocean. Fade slowly in:

I was sitting in my living room reading. It was early evening and my family was moving around the house doing their respective routines like homework, watching TV and washing clothes. It was a typical evening in the Burr home.

I don't remember what I was reading, except that it was spiritual in nature. Probably something by Peter Wagner, as I have read almost everything he has written! Anyway, I was comfortable, I was enjoying a good book and I was in a fine mood.

Out of the blue, God called for my attention. I was so totally drawn away from my reading, I closed my eyes to avoid any unnecessary distractions. I wanted to be open to what God had to say to me. I listened carefully.

I began to well up with a sense of the spiritual realm around me. I was aware that angels were all around, but it wasn't like they were around me specifically- they were just everywhere. Moving around, watching, protecting, whatever else angels do.

I perceived God wanted me to go outside. It was a cold night and the wind was blowing a bit, so I put on a coat and stepped out into the frosty air.

"Well, I'm outside, what do you want me to do?" I asked God.

I soon knew I was to pray for the people in the houses that surrounded ours. I started with the house right across the street and made a full circle to the right until I was back to the first home again. We lived almost at the end of the street, so there were six houses, one being at the very end of our three block long street. Part of my prayer was to request that God station angels at these homes. I prayed that these angels would guard and protect these homes and the people who lived in each.

When I finished with these six neighbors, I looked up the street. That's when I knew I should continue, so I moved off my lawn and onto the pavement. Walking down the middle of the road, I eventually went all the way to the other end, stopping momentarily to pray at each home and asking God to position angels at each location. I asked for a legion of angels at both the Police station and a ladies league building next to it.

When I reached the other end of the street, I just understood I was finished with my assignment. I had no clue what it was all about, but I did what was asked of me. So I turned and began my short walk back home, praising God and rejoicing with the angels that were now stationed all up and down the street where I lived. I went back into my living room, picked up my book and continued reading from right where I left off.

"Interesting," I thought, but had no idea what it was all about.

Scene Change: Next evening, same setting, but it's later. It's dark out, everyone else is in bed.

This night as I'm reading, I begin to feel afraid. We all get those weird "alone in the dark" sensations, but this was completely different. I tried to ignore it, but it was growing stronger. Before long, I was really frightened. Of what, I didn't know. All I did know was that moment by moment, I was becoming more terrified than I could ever remember.

It got so bad that I put my book down and started praying. I closed my eyes tightly and prayed for dear life. Nothing happened except that my fear grew greater. After some time of this, I realized my hands were stiff. I then noticed that I hadn't moved a muscle for a long time. I was frozen in place; I was "scared stiff!"

I wanted to open my eyes, but was afraid to do so. I imagined all kinds of evil beings hiding in the dark outside my living room window, peeking from behind furniture, ducking out of sight in the kitchen, creeping down the stairs, crawling up the chair I was sitting in. In short, I didn't know what to do! I could hardly even pray and my fear was getting worse by the second. I sensed evil all around me and it was out to get me.

I have no clue how long I sat there transfixed in my seat, but I finally got up the courage to drag myself out of the chair and into the kitchen. You have no idea how hard that was! I grabbed the phone off the hook, punched the speed dial to my pastor (my brother) and slid down the wall to hide beside the counter on the floor as low as I could get. I closed and locked the basement door and turned on every light, while I avoided looking out the window or into the other room.

"Howie- 9-1-1!" I cried, as I filled him in on my situation. I knew I needed prayer support, so I was glad when he began to give it. But nothing happened; I continued to get worse. He was praying alright, but covering everything under the sun- sort of like wide spread buck-shot- hitting everything, but not doing much damage to anything in the process.

We talked a moment and together decided we needed to be more specific. I was afraid, so Howie said we should pray against the spirit of fear. "Do it," I said. "I'm not going to be much help in my present state of mind." I remember he prayed that God would send His angels to help us in this fight.

As he prayed specifically now, my mind began to clear a bit. Suddenly, I understood we were praying against "the Strongman of Center Street" (the street where we lived). When I told Howie that, he began to pray even more specifically using that name I was given.

Then I realized the Strongman of Center Street was not fear. Fear was much more powerful than he and seemed to be coming in as if called alongside the Strongman to help him intimidate me- or worse.

When I told Howie this, he began to pray that people in Fear's area of responsibility would begin hearing and understanding the Gospel. That they would start accepting Jesus as their savior and overthrow the enemy's hold on their lives. Now we were getting somewhere! I could pray again and we continued to pray that people would come to the Lord in droves and Fear would be caught with his pants down, so to speak. We envisioned Fear away on a pleasure trip while those under his control were leaving the enemy's camp and turning to Jesus. I imagined people in bars, just getting up and leaving, sensing there was more to life. We could almost see "the Boss" coming in and screaming red-faced: "What is happening here?! Where is Fear?!"

Needless to say, Fear dropped everything he was doing with me and ran away so fast, it must have made the Strongman of Center Street dizzy! We took advantage of his stupor and ousted him from his assignment on Center Street.

Right then it was if a light switch was flipped. I was no longer afraid. Fear did not leave slowly, little by little, as it had come. It was instantaneous! We had finally hit the nail on the head.

I stood up confidently and looked through the window. I was not afraid. I opened the basement door and gazed down into the dark. Nothing. Things that moments before had unnerved me, held terror no more!

It was about then I remembered what had happened the night before. God had me station angels all up and down my street. Every house had at least one standing guard and there were two legions watching from the other end of the street. When we asked for angelic help, they didn't have far to go! God, in His infinite wisdom, knew what the enemy had planned for me and made sure help was nearby to assist ASAP. And help they did! The worst thing that happened to me was merely a sensation of fear. I suppose it could have been much worse if I wasn't being protected from the unseen realm. We rejoiced!

After I thanked my brother for his aid, I went outside, knelt on my lawn and praised God for His awesomeness. I could smell the cleanness in the air- almost like the way a fresh Spring rain cleans the air- but this was in the spiritual realm. I was aware of God's cleansing blood that flowed down the three blocks of Center Street that night.

- - - - -

Today I am reminded of Daniel, when he prayed seeking an answer from God for 24 days. An angel came with that answer and told Daniel that God had sent him immediately after he had spoken to God about it the first time. But on the way, the angel had encountered an evil enemy who deterred him all that time until Daniel's continued prayers gave the angel a more powerful reinforcement to help him get through to Daniel (Daniel 10). I wonder what would have happened if Daniel's answer angel had already been stationed nearby?

There really IS a war going on in the heavenlies. We might not see it daily (it's probably a good thing we don't!), but that does not deny its existence. Our prayers cause things to happen that would not happen if we didn't pray. When we start praying, we should not let our entreaties quickly fade. The "ammo" we pray into the spiritual realm gives strength to those on our side. The "ammo" we fail to pray defaults our enemies an advantage because our side is not strengthened.

Epilogue: It's been about ten years since that night. Fear has not bothered me from that day to this. Oh, he tries now and then, but I know his secret and how to defeat him, so he doesn't stay long. He used to have much more control over my life, but it's hard for me to even remember those days. I won my Fear Factor challenge thanks to Jesus.

Fade to Blood red.

- - - - -

Prayer: Lord, our enemy would keep us in fear. He would keep us blind- especially to his existence, that he could better hide his evil work. But we have the truth! We know he exists; we know he fights against us and we know that when we stand up against him, he runs like a frightened puppy.

We are tired of blindness and tired of being afraid. We choose to open our eyes and fear no more.

I speak the truth over you, that you would be free from the enemy's lies and his hold over you. You were created to be victorious and I proclaim that destiny. Seek and find your place in the war.

I speak peace and joy into you, from the Holy Spirit of God Himself. Go with that blessing upon your life and spread it around.

Amen.

Did You Know Jesus Can Play Basketball?

I'm back home in Bangor now, but I've got so much to say about my visit to The War College, I'm not sure how I can possibly cram it all in here! I'll probably miss half of it, but I'll try my best to share in the next few days. I've even been energized to blog more, so maybe you'll see me get back to the daily blogging I did for over a year straight. Hope you can handle it all (heh, heh).

Each War College session seems to take on a "personality" of its own. I discovered this one's quite by accident during my prayer ministry times. Not all, but many students had a very similar experience with Jesus: he had them stop "running" around and sit with him. That was the gist. In fact one student spent the entire hour doing nothing, but sitting with Jesus- together watching a sunset. At one point, they were heard to mumble to those supporting her in the prayer time: "I'm sorry, guys, that nothing more exciting is happening!" But I wasn't sorry at all. Sitting with Jesus tends to "radiate" his awesome presence to everyone in the room- at least I get that wonderful sense of God's presence and can sit there as long as Jesus wants to!

So I gather this session of students is very industrious! Perhaps almost too much? If you want to see my thoughts on "Being Over Doing," you can look back to my Saturday, August 12, 2006 Blog entry. I had to remind quite a few of this truth this year.

Here's a great personal testimony of one of my prayer ministry times. I got permission to give you this reference to Lisa's Blog where she talks about her experience. I was again pleased we were meeting in the War Room, so such a deliverance like this was easy and painless! Actually, we had quite a bit of fun playing basketball and such. Lisa (who started out the most nervous of anyone this year) found out Jesus can play basketball BIG time!

I praise God for his deliverance! It is available to anyone who wants it and I have been witness to dozens and dozens of such times of prayer and victory. Why should we let demons mess with us anyway?

Hallelujah!

"Daily" Blog

Heh, heh.

Yeah, I was hopful. However, I've been extremely busy these last couple of days! We started out with a small session of War College students and longer prayer slots to schedule. But those quickly filled up so we added another session at night and squoze a couple in here and there. End result: I've been going full out and I think there's still someone not on the schedule. I got back to my room around 9:30 last night; morning came a little too quickly for me!

Needless to say, I've been having trouble taking the time to blog "daily." But I've got a few minutes now, so let's get started.

This year it was decided to hold my prayer ministry sessions in the war room (614's 24/7 prayer room which has been going strong for over 2 years, I believe!). That fact alone seems to have attributed to the "easy" sessions I'm having. Last year some of the sessions were a bit rough- dealing full on with demons and such. This year, we're having a lot of quiet times with Jesus. So much so, that one student was heard to say during her prayer time: "I'm sorry nothing exciting's happening. But Jesus is just sitting with me." "I'm sorry?" Ha! Those are the times when I get some of the overflow, so I can bask a bit in Jesus' presence as well. Not too shabby, I'd say! Actually, I love it when that happens!

I did get to witness a new first for me though. When one student was meeting with Jesus, she was in a hard place. Jesus appeared playing the piano. The student moved over and sat beside him. Jesus put his arm around her and kept playing on the outer keys. He then nudged her to play with him on the inner keys. She started playing with Jesus and it dawned on me he had given her the spiritual gift of music at that moment in her life! Wow!

Yesterday, two different students had to use their "Sword of the Spirit" on some demons. To put it mildly Demons don't respond very well to The Word of God when it is used correctly! To sum those moments up: those demons are gone! I'm expecting those students to see some marked change in their lives from here on out.

God has been giving me a simple Word for each student I am praying for so far; sort of a prophetic statement about them or a new title for them. Here are a few: Mighty Warrior, Beloved of God, Strong One, Receiver of My Radience, Full of My Wonder, Priceless Jewel, etc. This is very cool! Maybe I'll put the full list up when I finish.

Today, class delves into Demonology and our Authority. That's probably my favorite section of my teaching notes (probably because of my particular giftings). However, it is truly a misunderstood facet of our Christian walk. When we grasp our true placement in God's order of creation, real power can come from that. Demons shudder when faced with that truth from a person who really knows their place of authority over them.

Well, I need to get moving. Another long day ahead of me! Thanx for your continued prayer support!

Posting a Notice of Eviction!

Saturday we got to spend a little time with some good friends. Part of our purpose in getting together was to pray through their corps building to "oust" some evil spirits that had lodged themselves in places they were not welcome. We've done this kind of thing before, but the reason I write about this particular situation was a very interesting thing that happened while in the process.

First we walked through every room in the building listening to things God wanted to tell us about those rooms (this gives us the "road map" of where we're to go and what we're to do when we get to the actual praying part). Sometimes he tells us these things through our spiritual senses, but other times he tells us these things through our physical senses. It just takes some discernment to know what God is saying- especially when it could be the burrito you ate for dinner speaking instead of God!

The pertinent gift mix of those present included 2 prophetic gifts, 2 different types of discernment and 1 gift of deliverance. This is important to understand as you go into such a mission, because you need to know how each person will sense things and contribute to the task at hand. And each person plays a part in reaching the final outcome (sounds vaguely like a body, huh?).

The officers appointed to this particular corps were present- and this is vitally important, because they have the legal authority to extricate such unwanted squatters. They have this authority because of their official appointment by The Salvation Army, the entity that owns and resides (operates) in the property. They are the ones who must ultimately tell them to leave (demons are so legalistic! [which, by the way ought to tell you something about where legalism comes from]). Without that authority present and participating, it is near impossible to deal with such situations- demons just won't leave, because not just anyone has the right to make them. The corps officers do have that right, just as owners or renters of a house would have the right to deal with their property.

At one point we opened a door and immediately, 2 of us (with discernment) felt sick to our stomachs. I was also "afraid" to venture in the room. I put afraid in quotes, because I wasn't really afraid, I just felt like something was trying to make me feel that way. I sensed the fear in that room, even though I wasn't really afraid (I know my place in God's created order of things and my standing as a child of God, so there is no need to fear demons). In effect, it didn't want us in that room, so it was emanating fear, in the hope that we wouldn't go in and deal with it. I have found that demons know when their time is short and when backed into a corner, they fight fiercly. I knew this was such a situation and knew we had found the source of our infestation.

Later as we moved through the building praying and pushing the evil ahead of us (and finally out the back door), we reached that central room. Interestingly enough, it was central to the building and also central to the issue that had been plaguing this corps for many years. This was the room where it had all begun- who knows how many years ago.

Here's the part that I have never experienced before: All of a sudden we could smell a terribly foul odor in that room. All of us knew it was not there before that particular moment. THAT was a confirmation that what we were doing was right on target. And the fact that the odor left just as quickly as it had come after we finished praying in that room, had no small effect on our sense of victory!

And victory it was! When we were through, there was no more atmosphere of fear and lying (the ultimate root of the problems) hanging around that place. It was like a fresh rain had washed through the whole building and left behind a fragrant smell of flowers. I'm counting on the fact that there will be a lot of people almost confused at the different atmosphere from here on out!

Demons should have no right to influence our lives, but unfortunatly we often give them the right- usually without realizing it. And then for years we wonder what's going on! However, I am so glad God has provided for our freedom from such demonic guerillas.

If you're curious, check out how many times Jesus dealt with demons in the New Testament. He gives us a great example and we know his blood is all powerful!

PTL!