Is it the Christian's responsibility to fight "territorial spirits?"

[Lanolin]

reincarnation is a hindu belief, the buddhists (which came out of hinduism) do believe in a sense of rght and wrong and heaven (or nirvana) but its actually quite different from hinduism, its more of a philosophy along with confucianism

dont mix up India with China...hinduism is actually not big in China. Nor do all chinese believe a 'white picket fence' or that middle class america is like a country to be reborn into! lol Dont flatter yourself. The chinese were not mormons who believed Salt Lake City Utah was the New Jerusalem either.

America, to most immigrants the world over, WAS a new land of opportunity (this is why europeans called europe 'the old world' and america 'the new world') but in their lifetimes, not a future lifetime.

In China, America is translated into 'the beautiful country' Mei Guo
But to Mexicans its El Otro Lado 'the other side'

To the spanish they saw it as El dorado which translates as 'the golden one' after a chief who was rumoured to have lots of gold

And to native americans, of course, it was just their home.

 

[Lanolin]

if anyone was being territorial, it was monarchs looking to expand their empire..the british empire, the roman empire, the ottoman...you just have to read a bit of history to understand it

republics were 'the people' rule supoosedly by everyone in a certain area. China is a republic. So is the US. Its actually politicans who are very territorial not necessarily cultures. They draw up lines on a map and expect everyone living there to be in their electorate. Cultures can actually move from place to place, they are not always static and fixed.

It is when people fight over land and boundaries that tensions come to fore. DMZ line between the two Koreas anyone? talk about territorial. what about northern ireland vs rest of Ireland?

 

[Carry_Your_Name]

reincarnation is a hindu belief, the buddhists (which came out of hinduism) do believe in a sense of rght and wrong and heaven (or nirvana) but its actually quite different from hinduism, its more of a philosophy along with confucianism

dont mix up India with China...hinduism is actually not big in China. Nor do all chinese believe a 'white picket fence' or that middle class america is like a country to be reborn into! lol Dont flatter yourself. The chinese were not mormons who believed Salt Lake City Utah was the New Jerusalem either.

Trust me, they definitely believe in that. In their world view, life and history both run in cycles like seasons of a year. One life ends, another begins. One dynasty ends, another begins. It's kind of like the "Hard times create strong men" cycle, or "wheel of karma". Most of that is from Buddhism instead of Hinduism. If you ask them where do they go after death, probably eight to nine out of ten will say they don't know, what they really mean by that is they don't know what kind of womb they will end up in for their next life. "White picket fence" is just an extreme example. Some of them still hold onto the impression from the cold war era that America is the home of the brave and land of the free, full of prosperity and opportunity, you know, that kind of stuff. What they saw from cheesy Hallmark movies is the closest version to utopia they could imagine. If they have to endure misery and pain in the present life, that is simply the penalty for all the evil they have done in their previous life. If they behave well without making any trouble, then they may earn a ticket to this "white picket fence". Simply put, that's just real life hamster in a wheel.

"Nirvana" is not heaven either, that's a state of mind in which your brain is totally emptied, totally devoid of any thought, and then you will be able to make connection with some spirits. They do that through meditation and breathing practice.

 

[Carry_Your_Name]

Christianity flourishes because there is power in the gospel that overcomes every objection. Watchman Nee was one of the most influential Christians ever. His mother was a Christian and he went to a Christian school. However, he did not believe. His mother wronged him one time. And she apologised. This was unheard of in Chinese society. Watchman Nee was saved as a result of his mother's witness. Nee founded thousands of churches, a genuine, modern day apostle.

The communists feared Nee so much that they imprisoned him shortly after Mao took power. He died in prison, 20 years later, still maintaining his faith. They found a note to that effect that they passed onto his family.

Christianity is real in China, unlike much of the Western world, where it costs little to claim to be saved. In the USA, it's an advantage to call yourself a christian. Not so much here in Australia.

Yes, for God nothing is impossible! I see a prophetic picture there that gospel travels around the whole globe, it started off in the middle east, then western Europe, then Africa and eastern europe, then north and south America since the renaissance, then far east and southeast Asia, in the end it will finally get home in modern day Israel and bring the Israelites back to God.

 

[ResidentAlien]

Just because the seven mountain mandate believes in territorial spirits means nothing.

If you're one of those who likes to keep his or her head stuck in the ground and cares nothing for what's going on around you, then yes, I agree, it means nothing to a person like that.

You seem to be under the misguided notion that I'm trying to persuade. Persuasion is the last thing on my mind. I'm an educator not a persuader. I'll leave that to you and others.

 

[Edify]

If you're one of those who likes to keep his or her head stuck in the ground and cares nothing for what's going on around you, then yes, I agree, it means nothing to a person like that.

You seem to be under the misguided notion that I'm trying to persuade. Persuasion is the last thing on my mind. I'm an educator not a persuader. I'll leave that to you and others.

Oh, now you're a educator? The only thing you educated me to do is not believe a word you say.

 

[ResidentAlien]

Oh, now you're a educator? The only thing you educated me to do is not believe a word you say.

That' fine. I never said you have to.

The things I post I always back up with links or references. If not it's because the information's so easily-accessible a six-year-old could find it if the wanted to. I've never asked anyone to take my word for anything. So your feeble attempts to discredit me are just that, feeble; because I've never asked anyone to give me any credit whatsoever, only the truth.

 

[oyster67]

There is a spiritual war, like it or not. There are no non combatants in God's kingdom. Sadly, there are way too many who remain captive to the devil because of ignorance of spiritual law.

We are commanded to resist the devil. We are warned that we are at war. We are warned that it possible to be devoured by Satan. We need to take God seriously.

Yes. We fight by resisting the desire to get even by means of striking back with eye for eye and tooth for tooth (the old nature.)

That is a cop out.

??????

 

[oyster67]

Christ's call to follow him is a call to spiritual war:

Luke chapter 14

[25] And there went great multitudes with him: and he turned, and said unto them,
[26] If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.
[27] And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.
[28] For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it?
[29] Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him,
[30] Saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish.
[31] Or what king, going to make war against another king, sitteth not down first, and consulteth whether he be able with ten thousand to meet him that cometh against him with twenty thousand?
[32] Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sendeth an ambassage, and desireth conditions of peace.
[33] So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.
[34] Salt is good: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be seasoned?
[35] It is neither fit for the land, nor yet for the dunghill; but men cast it out. He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.

Whether we're coming to Christ ourselves or attempting to help lead others to him, we must "sit down FIRST, and consult" whether or not we can endure the spiritual war which we're about to enter into.

The only other option apart from actively fighting in the same is to "send out an ambassage, and desire conditions of peace" with the very enemies of our souls or Satan and demons.

Sad to say, multitudes of professing Christians have chosen this latter option.

We are not called to political activism in the affairs of this world.

 

[Live4Him2]

We are not called to political activism in the affairs of this world.

When/where did I say anything about "political activism"?

 

[ResidentAlien]

There's no question that the Seven Mountains and warfare against territorial spirits go hand-in-hand, at least as far as the New Apostolic Reformation are concerned. As an example I'll share an excerpt from The Seven Mountain Prophecy: Unveiling the Coming Elijah Revolution by Johnny Enlow:

"Before we can fully displace powers and principalities, apostles will have to be properly positioned on the tops of the mountains. Again, an apostle is someone who has been given authority to displace top-of-the-mountain demons and bring the reign of heaven in their place. We will not fully take the mountain of government without this gift in place. The apostle gift is specifically a government gift, whether inside or outside of the church. This does not mean we will need the title of apostle, but only the actual anointing of apostle. I’m fairly convinced that modern-day apostles will function better with other titles than 'apostle.' It’s a very distracting title and carries a great deal of baggage, particularly at this time."—The Seven Mountain Prophecy, 2008, PDF version, pg. 57 (underlining added).​

Enlow advocates apostles in high-level positions within an organization (that is, at the top of the "mountain"). From there they're in a better position to cast out the territorial demons. Notice where he says modern-day apostles will do better if they don't use the title of "apostle." The reason for this he says is because these days the title "carries a great deal of baggage."

This isn't the only place he advocates subterfuge. He emphasizes generally the importance of secrecy for Christian moles within an organization. This is the exact opposite of the example given us by the Lord!

I'll not post any links but this PDF is very easy to find free online.

 

[wolfwint]

These days warfare against territorial spirits—especially among the New Apostolic Reformation—has become a pretty big deal? Is there a scriptural basis for this, anyone know? I don't recall ever hearing the phrase "territorial spirit" mentioned in scripture, much less any instruction or teaching for believers to occupy themselves with such things.

I cant find in the bible such an instruction for Christians.

 

[oyster67]

When/where did I say anything about "political activism"?

I do not know. Is this a quiz?

I was kind of hoping we agreed on the idea of not being sucked into the cares and affairs of this world's political babblings and strife, yes?

 

[ResidentAlien]

I cant find in the bible such an instruction for Christians.

Neither can I. Believers are in a spiritual struggle, but nothing of the sort taught by Enlow and others in the NAR.

 

[Live4Him2]

I do not know. Is this a quiz?

I was kind of hoping we agreed on the idea of not being sucked into the cares and affairs of this world's political babblings and strife, yes?

lol.

No, it's not a quiz.

I was just wondering why you said what you said because I didn't see the correlation between that and my post that you quoted.

Anyhow, personally, I don't get caught up in what you called "this world's political babblings and strife", and here is why:

I'm not physicist, but I understand that darkness is the absence of light, and this world is a dark, dark place.

Who is to rightly be blamed for said darkness?

Our politicians?

The Media?

Our schools (read: indoctrination camps)?

Granted, they're all evil (as are many other groups or institutions), but they're more a result of the problem than the cause of the problem.

In my estimation, the only ones to blame for this world's current darkness is THE CHRISTIANS because we are the ones who are called to be "the light of the world" and "the salt of the earth".

Why is there so much darkness in this world?

Because too many professing Christians aren't being "the light of the world".

Why is there so much decay in this world?

Because too many professing Christians aren't being "the salt of the earth".

That's how I see it.

That said, people like Joseph, Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego held places of political sway, so I'm not saying that there's no place for Christians in the political arena.

 

[oyster67]

That said, people like Joseph, Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego held places of political sway, so I'm not saying that there's no place for Christians in the political arena.

OT. Jesus instituted a new and better way.

 

[Lanolin]

Trust me, they definitely believe in that. In their world view, life and history both run in cycles like seasons of a year. One life ends, another begins. One dynasty ends, another begins. It's kind of like the "Hard times create strong men" cycle, or "wheel of karma". Most of that is from Buddhism instead of Hinduism. If you ask them where do they go after death, probably eight to nine out of ten will say they don't know, what they really mean by that is they don't know what kind of womb they will end up in for their next life. "White picket fence" is just an extreme example. Some of them still hold onto the impression from the cold war era that America is the home of the brave and land of the free, full of prosperity and opportunity, you know, that kind of stuff. What they saw from cheesy Hallmark movies is the closest version to utopia they could imagine. If they have to endure misery and pain in the present life, that is simply the penalty for all the evil they have done in their previous life. If they behave well without making any trouble, then they may earn a ticket to this "white picket fence". Simply put, that's just real life hamster in a wheel.

"Nirvana" is not heaven either, that's a state of mind in which your brain is totally emptied, totally devoid of any thought, and then you will be able to make connection with some spirits. They do that through meditation and breathing practice.

no I dont trust you

who is 'them'?
are you chinese
reincarnation is not a chinese belief it is a HINDU belief. Get your religons straight.

Most chinese do not believe in reincarnation. The folk religions of China are not about reincarnation. and no, karma it is not about a white picket fence!

Chinese folk religion are about achieving immortality. longevity, prosperity and blessings are prayed for in THIS life not the next...there is no bodily transmigration of the soul. The ghosts either haunt the earth or end up in an afterlife not america lol

where do you get your info from, and why do you insist on spreading misinformation? . Sorry, but you need correction

Indian and Chinese empires are two different beasts.

 

[Lanolin]

most immigrants emigrate to other lands because life is just tough in their own country and there are no jobs and less food its not actually about religion.

a lot of people emigrste to give their families a better life or for education, but also because they are refugees too. it is not just the chinese diaspora that do this. in nz, the british emigrated here, as well as germans, dutch, some french,

the irish and scots were evicted from lands they had been living on for centuries by the english ruling elite.

it is, as the Bible says, the principlaities and the powers in high places...i.e the rulers and govt. wanting more territory...because, they can then govern a wider land, have farms for their colonies, supply them with food to enrich their palaces etc.

 

[Lanolin]

The US as a nation also exapanded beyond their borders into the Pacific and set up military outposts on the islands. and africa is carved up into territories by the ruling european elites.

of course the africans living there did not actually agree to this it was just imposed on them. Millions of people are then displaced because of this not to mention effects of slavery.

 

[Live4Him2]

OT. Jesus instituted a new and better way.

Yeah, well, here was part of the Apostle Paul's New Testament commission:

Acts chapter 9

But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel:

Paul testified before such political figures as the deputy Sergius Paulus, Felix, Festus, and, of course, Caesar.

Anyhow, I'm not here to argue with anybody.