Waking the Dead: The Glory of a Heart Fully Alive
Chapter 10
Setting Hearts Free: Integrating the Four Streams
Key Verses: Can plunder be taken from warriors, or captives rescued from the fierce? But this is what the Lord says:
“Yes captives will be taken from warriors,
And plunder retrieved from the fierce;
I will contend with those who contend with you, and your children I will save.
I will make your oppressors eat their own flesh; they will be drunk on their own blood as with wine.
Then all mankind will know that I, the Lord, am your Savior, your Redeemer, The Mighty One of Jacob." -- Isaiah (49:24-26)
Pages 164-165 Recount a battle of a warrior against giants in George McDonald’s Phantastes , and then sets all the prisoners free.
FIERCE MASTERY
Let’s come back for a moment to original glory, the glory of God given to us when we were created in His image. So much light could be shed on our lives if we would explore what we were meant to be before things started going wrong. What were we created to do? What was our original job description?
Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.” So God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule. (Gen 1:26-28)
And let them rule. Like a foreman runs a ranch or like a skipper runs his ship. Better still, like a king rules a kingdom, God appoints us as the governors of his domain. We were created to be the kings and queens of the earth (small k and q). Hebrew scholar Robert Alter has looked long and hard at this passage, mining it for its riches. He says the idea of rule means “a fierce exercise of mastery.” It is active, engaged, passionate. It is fierce. I suppose such language doesn’t really fit if we were created to spend our days singing in the choir (“I may never march in the infantry”). But it makes perfect sense if we were born into a world at war. God says, “It will not be easy going. This is no Sunday school hour. Rule fiercely in my name.” We were meant to rule, as he—the god of angel armies—rules (Pages 165-166).
???—How does this image of our original purpose coincide or differ from what you have thought of human beings in the garden of Eden?
Pages 166-168 recount three examples from Jesus’ parables and the actual lives of the apostles as to what we will be doing in heaven and what life is supposed to be like here and now. First, In the parable of the talents, Jesus makes it clear that those who are faithful with authority here, will be given MORE authority in heaven. Then in the parable of the sheep and goats, Jesus makes it clear that the sheep will rule over kingdoms. When the seventy-two are sent out in Luke 10 the result is demons are subject to them and Jesus says that Satan “fell like lightning from the sky.” This was just a “trial run.” There was still much more to be done.
???—Again, How does your image of these parables and the sending out of the 72 coincide or differ from Eldredge’s summation of it?
The attitude of so many Christians today is anything but fierce. We’re passive, acquiescent. We’re acting as if the battle is over, as if the wolf and the lamb are now fast friends. Good grief—we’re beating swords into plowshares as the armies of the Evil One descend upon us. We’ve bought the lie of the Religious Spirit, which says, “You don’t need to fight the Enemy. Let Jesus do that.” It’s nonsense. It’s unbiblical. It’s like a private in Viet Nam saying, “My commander will do all the fighting for me; I don’t even need to fire my weapon.” We are commanded to “resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” (James 4:7). We are told “Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him. (1 Peter 5:8-9) “Fight the good fight.” (1 Timothy 1:18); “Rescue those being led away to death.” (Proverbs 24:11). Seriously, just this morning a man said to me, “We don’t need to fight the Enemy. Jesus has won.” Yes, Jesus has won the victory over Satan and his kingdom. However, the battle is not over. Look at 1 Corinthians 15:24-25: “Then the end will come, when he [Jesus] hands over the kingdom to God the Father after he has destroyed all dominion, authority, and power. For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet.” After he has destroyed the rest of the Enemy’s works. Until then, he must reign by bring his enemies under his feet. Jesus is still at war, and he calls us to join Him. (Page 168)
???—What would be the result if we took the passages of Scripture just read as our “marching orders” for daily life?
Next Eldredge recounts an example from the life of Catherine of Sienna, in which she engaged a spiritual battle. The key to the victory was: 1) recognizing that there was an Enemy who was on the outside (her heart was good; 2) calling on the Lord for help and being told to exercise authority in Jesus’ name; and 3) continuing in the battle until victory came, which took several months. This is our training.
???—Have you ever engaged in spiritual warfare, invoking the name of Jesus and struggling through until victory came? If so, share what took place. If not, consider what battles may be before you right now.
SETTING CAPTIVES FREE
Eldredge next moves to Stephen’s story, and how he overcame. First, Stephen shared with Eldredge what happened—this is the stream of Counseling. In this case, the wounds Stephen had suffered centered around betrayal and abandonment. The next piece of evidence is often overlooked, according to Eldredge and that is that the Enemy will frequently seek to get the counselor to do to the person what he is doing. In Stephen’s case Eldredge felt the sense that he should give up – or abandon him. Eldredge recounts other examples where he felt led toward lust in the case of a woman; to despise a man who had a deep wound of emasculation. Eldredge points out that it is very helpful to be aware of this since it can often be a tool for diagnosing what the problem truly is. Next, Eldredge and Stephen prayed and listened to God—here is a key—they LISTENED and Jesus confirmed that there were spirits of Betrayal and Abandonment pinning down his heart, along with a spirit of Desolation. (Anytime someone totally loses his sense of God, can’t worship, can’t pray, loses faith, Desolation is usually a part of things.) Yes. spirits have personalities and specific functions. (Pages 169-170)
???—How do you respond to what Eldredge has shared in the paragraph above? What do you think of the idea that Satan will often try to use a counselor by giving the same feelings/actions to the counselor that he is already using? What about spirits of evil having personalities and specific functions?
Eldredge follows up with this: Now I know—there is a great deal of debate today around the issue of a Christian’s being “possessed” by a demon. I am not saying that Stephen was possessed. I am saying that there were spiritual enemies present in his life—set against him, trying to make an illegitimate claim over him. Paul teaches in Ephesians that unresolved emotional issues can create spiritual strongholds in our lives---“In your anger do not sin: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold” (4:26-27) The word means more than just “opportunity”; it conveys a place of influence, even strong influence….Paul is not writing about non-Christians; he is clearly speaking to believers and he is making it clear that we can have demonic footholds in our lives.” -- After this Eldredge says that Stephen had to confess his part in the mess—confessing his vow not to let anyone get close to him as a child, his bitterness held toward God for the death of his mother, and toward the two men who betrayed him. By bringing those sins under the blood of Christ, the Enemy lost his hold. (Colossians 2:13-15; Rev. 12:11) (Page 171)
???-How does this aspect of Stephen’s situation compare with anything going on in your life? Are you holding onto childhood vows, or unconfessed anger and bitterness?
Eldredge points out that the devil seeks to devour us. This is to “really harm” us. Therefore, “…it was time to get fierce. Time for the stream of Warfare. You’ll notice that sometimes Jesus had to command foul spirits with a stern voice (Luke 4:35). In fact, when he first tried to deliver the man with Legion in him, the demons didn’t leave—and Christ was doing the commanding! ….. Now I know that setting people free from demonic oppression may seem really weird to our modern, scientific world, but it has been a normal part of Christian ministry ever since Jesus modeled it for us. (Remember—things are not as they seem. We are at war.) Eldredge then points out that the disciples used deliverance as a key part of their ministry, and records a long deliverance prayer offered by John Chrysostom.
???—What role has “deliverance prayers” played in your life as a follower of Jesus? How does this compare with the role it played in Jesus’ ministry and the ministry of the early church?
Finally, Eldredge and Stephen moved from the Stream of Warfare to the stream of Healing. And it worked! Stephen is writing music again, hearing God’s voice, and starting another fellowship group. He is free.
FIFTEEN MINUTES TO FREEDOM
The remainder of the chapter is devoted to a description of how John and Stasi Eldredge developed a process of daily prayer to engage the enemy and win the victory. Here is how he describes it: All spiritual warfare follows the simple pattern given us in James 4:7: submit, and resist. We always start by submitting ourselves to Christ, and then resist whatever has come against us or against those we love. I’ve found that it is best to do this daily. There is a “dailyness” to our walk with Christ that follows these themes. So what I offer here is a walk through the prayer that Stasi and I, and our ministry team pray every day. I’m going to unpack it for you as we go along, to help you understand why we pray this way. This is not a formula, but a model, an example. It might seem a bit more involved than the prayer most of us shoot up to God as we run out the door, but I promise you, this is fifteen minutes toward freedom! Quick little prayers aren’t going to do it anymore.
Steps: CHOOSE to abide in Christ.
My dear Lord Jesus, I come to you now to be restored in you—to renew my place in you, my allegiance to you, and to receive from you all the grace and mercy I so desperately need this day. I honor you as my sovereign Lord, and I surrender every aspect of my life totally and completely to you. I give you my body as a living sacrifice; I give you my heart, soul, mind and strength; and I give you my spirit as well.
CLEANSE selves with blood of Christ; TAKE PLACE UNDER THE AUTHORITY of Jesus & extend our authority and covering over those who are under us.
I cover myself with your blood—my spirit, my soul, and my body. And I ask your Holy Spirit to restore my union with you, seal me in you, and guide me in this time of prayer. In all that I now pray, I include (my wife, and/or my children, by name). Acting as their head, I bring them under my authority and covering, and I come under your authority and covering. Holy Spirit, apply to them all that I now pray on their behalf.
HUMBLE OURSELVES, CONFESS any sin or agreement we’ve made with the Enemy.
Dear God, holy and victorious Trinity, you alone are worthy of all my worship, my heart’s devotion, all my praise and all my trust and all the glory of my life. I worship you, bow to you, and give myself over to you in my heart’s search for life. You alone are Life, and you have become my life. I renounce all other gods, all idols, and I give you the place in my heart and in my life that you truly deserve. I confess here and now that it is all about you. God, and not about me. Your are the Hero of this story, and I belong to you. Forgive me, God, for my every sin. Search me and know me and reveal to me any aspect of my life that is not pleasing to you, expose any agreements I have made, and grant me the grace of a deep and true repentance.
PRAY TO GOD AS TRINITY
Heavenly Father, thank you for loving me and choosing me before you made the world. You are my true Father—my Creator, my Redeemer, my Sustainer, and the true end of all things, including my life. I love you; I trust you; I worship you. Thank you for proving your love for me by sending your only Son, Jesus, to be my substitute and representative. I receive him and all his life and all his work, which you ordained for me. Thank you for including me in Christ, for forgiving me my sins, for granting me his righteousness, for making me complete in him. Thank you for making me alive with Christ, raising me with him, seating me with him at your right hand, granting me his authority, and anointing me with your Holy Spirit. I receive it all with thanks and give it total claim to my life.
THE WORK OF JESUS ON THE CROSS—extended prayer on the work of Jesus on the cross.
THE WORK OF THE RESURRECTION—extended prayer on claiming the resurrection in our lives.
RECEIVE JESUS AS OUR AUTHORITY AND BRING FULLNES OF JESUS’
CROSS, RESURRECTION AND ASCENCION AGAINST SATAN—extended prayer of receiving the authority and rule of Jesus in our life, and the fullness of Jesus’ work against Satan, his kingdom and against all his emissaries and all their work against me and my domain.
RECEIVE THE HOLY SPIRIT AND ALL HE OFFERS!
Holy Spirit, I sincerely receive you as my Counselor, my Comforter, my Strength, and my Guide. Thank you for sealing me in Christ. I honor you as my Lord, and I ask you to lead me into all truth, to anoint me for all of my life and walk and calling, and to lead me deeper into Jesus today. I fully open my life to you in every dimension and aspect—my body, my soul, and my spirit—choosing to be filled with you, to walk in step with you in all things. Apply to me, blessed Holy Spirit, all of the work and all of the gifts in Pentecost. Fill me afresh, blessed Holy Spirit. I receive you with thanks and give you total claim to my life ( and my wife and/or children).
FINAL PREPARATIONS FOR THE DAY
Heavenly Father, thank you for granting to me every spiritual blessing in the heavenlies in Christ Jesus. I receive those blessings into my life today, and I ask the Holy Spirit to bring all those blessings into my life this day. Thank you for the blood of Jesus. Wash me once more with his blood from every sin and stain and evil device. I put on your armor—the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, the shoes of the readiness of the gospel of peace, the helmet of salvation. …and I wield these weapons against the Evil One in the power of God. I choose to pray at all times in the Spirit, to be strong in you, Lord, in your might.
Father, thank you for your angels. I summon them in the authority of Jesus Christ and release them to war for me and my household. May they guard me at all times this day. Thank you for those who pray for me; I confess I need their prayers, and I ask you to send forth your Spirit and rouse them, unite them, raising up the full canopy of prayer and intercession for my home, my family, my life, and my domain. I pray all of this in the name of Jesus Christ, with all glory and honor and thanks to him.
Eldredge closes out the chapter by urging the reader to pray this prayer for a couple of weeks and to see the difference…then says: The primary reason most people don’t know the freedom and life of Christ promised is that they won’t fight for it, or they have been told not to fight for it. Friends, we are now in the midst of an epic battle, a brutal and vicious war against an Enemy who knows his time is short. Open war is upon you, whether you would risk it or not.
???—How do you respond to Eldredge’s suggestion to pray this prayer for daily victory?