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Sunday, August 30, 2009

Spiritual Attack? God is in Control!

"Then your light shall break forth like the morning,
Your healing shall spring forth speedily,
And your righteousness shall go before you;
The glory of the LORD shall be your rear guard.
Then you shall call, and the LORD will answer;
You shall cry, and He will say,
'Here I am'" (Isaiah 58:8-9)

This verse has been my salvation lately. When I read this it speaks volumes to me. I am clinging to the promise of a healing for our church. I am clinging to the promise that the glory of the LORD will be our rear guard. I am clinging to the promise that when we call, He will answer. I long to hear Him say, "Here I am".

I have debated about this post. I have hesitated about sharing with all of you about what is going on in our church. But as I thought about it, the Lord impressed upon me that I should share for several reasons. I share this so you can all bind together and pray for us. I share so I can relate what the Lord is doing in my life and the life of our church. I share so that others who may be experiencing the same thing, can be encouraged and perhaps enlightened.

My husband and I have had the privilege to serve at our current church - Goodwill Baptist Church - for almost 3 years. It is a wonderful, loving, spirit-filled and awesome church. We have grown in number and in spirit over these 3 years and are on the verge of God doing great things in our church.

About 7 months ago, the attacks started. A deacons wife was diagnosed with breast cancer and is currently undergoing treatment. She is not doing well physically at this time as the chemo is taking it's toll on her.

A few months down the road, J.D. - another deacon - is diagnosed with brain cancer. The doctors will not give him any treatment due to the location of the mass. He has now had 3 or 4 small heart attacks and is taking several nitro pills a day. The doctors will also not do a heart cath or any other procedure due to him being so weak.

Over the next month or so, 2 deacon families were involved in an attack against the family unit. Suffice it to say, we have 2 hurting families and a hurting church, and are beginning the healing process in that venue.

About 2 weeks ago, another deacons wife suffered a stroke. She was transported to Shreveport for surgery to stop the bleeding in her brain and since the surgery has remained sedated and intubated. She is now unresponsive and has a staph infection as well as pneumonia.

On Wednesday, another one of our deacons was diagnosed with a cancerous growth in his throat/neck area. He has already lost the feeling in his tongue and has been told that surgery is not an option. As he prepares to go to Little Rock for some experimental treatment, he is playing the waiting game.

So you see, that is 6 deacon families that are under blatant, heavy, spiritual attack that comes straight from the devil. We have no doubt that satan is waging war heavily against us at this point. But I can tell you in no uncertain terms, that satan has met his match in Goodwill Baptist Church. Our church will NOT buckle under to a pitiful foe like the devil. He will NOT win any victories. He will NOT defeat us. He will NOT slither in and conquer and divide our congregation.

Our church body is united. Our church body is binding together in prayer. Our church body is forgiving. Our church body is faithful. Our church body is ready for God to be glorified!

Several of us have been meeting late at night to pray in the sanctuary. There is nothing quite like being in God's house in the dark of the night. It is peaceful and intimate.

We are expecting mighty things from God. We are anticipating that God is about to do something so awesome and so powerful through our church body. We know that God has something special for us.

We may be in the valley at this particular moment, but the mountaintop experience is just right around the corner! We are standing firmly on His Word. We are searching the scriptures and hiding the truths in our hearts.

We are allowing God to direct our paths at this time. We are laying everything at His Feet. We are desiring to hear His voice. We are pouring our hearts out to Him. We are crying out to our Lord. We are desiring to seek His Face. To see His Glory. To be found faithful.

"Wait on the LORD; Be of good courage,
And He shall strengthen your heart;
Wait, I say, on the LORD!" (Psalm 27:14)

So for now, we wait. We stand firm. We dig deep. We search diligently. We pray. We seek. We prepare for battle.

"When You said, 'Seek My face,' My heart said to You, "Your face, LORD, I will seek." (Psalm 27:8)

Oh, precious Father, I seek You with all my heart. I desire to grow stronger in my walk. I long to know you deeper. I long to hear you clearer. I long to love you more.

You are my rock. My fortress. My deliverer. My Redeemer. My God. Thank you for what you are preparing to do in our church. Thank you for holding us in the palm of your hand. Thank you for your healing hand upon our church. You are mighty and powerful. You are the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords. You are God.

Beth

25 comments:

petrii said...

Beth,
My heart just aches for you. I am so sorry for all you and your church are going through. I have added you to my prayer journal and will be praying for you dear one.

I love you sweet one.

Have a Blessed day,
Dawn

Lisa said...

Oh Beth, I join with Dawn in saying that this just makes my heart ache.

Now is the time when circumstances are clamouring for your attention that you must remember to only glance at your circumstances and gaze at your God.
Our God is OVER all of these circumstances. He is in control.

Lifting you up in prayer!
Blessings ~ Lisa

TRUTH SHARER said...

I agree the attacks are heavy handed and hard blows right now on many of our churches and even our own lives. I started a new Bible study on prayer 3 weeks ago and boy did the enemy raise his ugly head. But the women have been faithful to trust God's strength and power over that of the enemy. God is doing amazing things in this study. I received calls and e-mails after last week's study that several stayed up all night praying and doing Bible study into the wee hours of the night. The enemy wants nothing more than to quench that - but he cannot do it!

OUR GOD IS OVER ALL - IN ALL - and ABOVE ALL. HE is SOVEREIGN and IN CONTROL of it all!

I agree with Lisa who said to take our eyes off our circumstances and gaze upon our God! That is where the battle lines are drawn. The enemy's best tool is distraction. If he can get us to take our eyes off of God - he's won that round.

PRAYER is key! Staying connected to our LIFELINE!

REST IN HIS ARMS - even in this devastating time. HE will see you all through!

Choosing JOY, Stephanie
[JESUS - for His Name's Sake]

Every Day Blessings said...

Beth,
So many things to so many families at the same time, Satan is real. He does want to kill, steal and destroy. He likes to attack when we are doing something against him and for the Lord.
I will be praying for you and your husband , what a heavy burden.
Stand firm, those families are so blessed to have the two of you for shepherds.
Debbie

Unknown said...

Beth! God is planting in His people all over the world a desperate need to seek heaven! 24/7 prayer to cover the great needs, purifying the ground of our hearts and bringing us the wisdom of Heaven, which is opposite of this worlds ways. We are all desperate for more of Gods presence, bringing the rain of healing, provision and abundance of His goodness. He is Jehovah Rapha, our Healer! He sent His word and healed us! I'll be praying with you!

Thena said...

Though weeping may last for the night joy comes in the morning.
To God be the glory for the outcome. We praise you Lord because by your stripes we are healed.
My thoughts and prayers to ya'll.

Anonymous said...

Beth,
I knew that you were praying at your church every night-I knew that something was going on-I had no idea of the extent of it all. I have had your church on my heart since I learned of the prayer night...I just thought (every night at 10ish) I need to add to their prayers...I need to help up lift them as they pray for the need they know about.

I believe in miracles...I believe that the SAME miracles that were performed in bible by our Lord and Savior Jesus can still and is still being performed today.

We have to seek Him out-we have to seperate ourselves from the world, we have to listen and do as comanded, but our GOD is ALIVE our GOD is still on our side. I believe that healing can occur throughout your church.

I am standing firm with you on this!

Love ya
Tessa

Yolanda said...

Beth,

AND NOTHING, not one thing, is impossible with God.

Grab His hem Sister (and church family) and don't let go.

Love ya,
Yolanda

Nancy said...

Searching the scriptures and finding His answers for the moment. You are doing that and He will direct your paths. He is so faithful to speak and do all His will. My prayers are with you.

Heart2Heart said...

Beth,

Here are some scriptures that came to mind after reading this post.

"Some trust in their war chariots and other in their horses, but we trust in the power of the Lord our God."

"I know that the Lord saves His anointed; He will answer him from His holy heaven with the saving strength of His right hand."

Psalms 20:6-7

Keeping these believers in our prayers and asking God to intervene and cover them in His holiness.

Love and Hugs ~ Kat

Sharon said...

Please know I am standing in agreement, And I apply the blood of Jesus over the top of your heads and everyone in your church to the bottom of your toes. I am praying for this all begone in the Name of Jesus. I will get with my prayer warriors tonite, and we will pray for you and the church!
God Bless you my friend

Nancy M. said...

I am saddened to hear about the terrible things your church and it's people are going through. As long as God is with y'all, the devil will not win!

Unknown said...

Beth, we heard a sermon on spiritual warfare just yesterday. Our church, too, is under heavy spiritual attack and our wonderful pastor wanted us to take a few minutes to pray a hedge of protection around each other and those specifically under the hardest attack in our church. It was a comforting time for us to bond together even more in these trying days...and he even asked those who felt led to come to the front of the church and we laid hands on them to lift them up to the feet of God Himself. I lift you and your church up now:

Father God, You are our Protector and Provider, our Guardian and our Creator. You know each and every situation inside and out - we pray Father that You might lift up the hurting, the overwhelmed and the exhausted. We pray Your provision over those that need and Your protection over those being hurt. We ask for Your peace that passes all understanding to encompass each life within this church and that you strengthen this body of believers because, Father God, they need You now even more than before. In Your precious and holy and sovereign Name we pray. Amen.

Farmgirl Cyn said...

Beth...I am in agreement with the folks who have already commented and will be praying for you and your church. We do indeed, have an enemy...but greater is He that is in me, than he that is in the world.

Amy said...

I will be praying for you and your church. I am so sorry that you all are being put through all of this. God is still with each of these families and He will overcome all so that His will may be done. Hugs and prayers,

Amy

elaine @ peace for the journey said...

We live in the highest cancer county (statistics) for our state. We understand the battles of cancer firsthand, so we stand with you in this plight. I am also relieved that there is unity in the body. I was afraid your issues were rooted elsewhere.

Thanks for sharing your heart with us. You are exercising your faith mightily. Our Father is well-pleased.

Keep vigilant; God is on the move.

peace~elaine

Jennifer @ JenniferDukesLee.com said...

I get chills thinking about you all gathering in the darkness of your sanctuary in prayer -- so that you may bring Light to the congregation.

Glory to God!

We're in a battle, too. We belong to the ELCA, which is reeling from a vote taken last month in Minneapolis, Minn., and I fear what is ahead for our church family. Will you pray for us?

Beth in NC said...

Oh Beth, this is horrible! I'm going to email you about this.

Bless you and your church family!
Beth

Laurie said...

Thank you for sharing and I will pray. It is great that you all can stand together, recognizing the attack and praying for God's will- divine healing and intervention! I hate that it is such a battle sometimes (especially with illnesses), so I will pray for your strength and faith to remain strong! God is the same yesterday, today, and forever, and nothing is too hard for Him! Standing w/you, Laurie

Unknown said...

Beth,
I will be praying for you and your church family.

More Than Words said...

There is a boy at our church who felt led to go to public high school this year. He really wants to reach the kids his age, and share the Lord w/ them. Anyway...not a coincidence, we know...he ended up getting 6 staph infections before school started! We know the enemy does not want him there to share the Gospel. But, he is not discouraged. He is pressing on!!!

Jane In The Jungle said...

Will be praying for your church Beth as well as for your people who are hurting...may God bring them comfort!

Pia said...

beth, you may have no hint about what you have just written here but this has just answered a question i've been asking God. thank you and i pray for blessings for you.

christy rose said...

Beth, I would definitely say that your church is under spiritual attack. I am coming into agreement with you and your church body to stand firm against it. It is exciting to think that in all of this He is going to be glorified.
Amen

Christy

LisaShaw said...

Beth, I continue to stand in agreement with the WORD of GOD for your church family. This is definitely a spiritual attack BUT the devil is a liar! JESUS IS IN CHARGE not the enemy!!

Your words here say it all:

"Several of us have been meeting late at night to pray in the sanctuary. There is nothing quite like being in God's house in the dark of the night. It is peaceful and intimate. We are expecting mighty things from God."