Last week we considered the need for “advanced weaponry” in light of the increased spiritual warfare in ministry. Hanging on to truth, deepening our spiritual lives, and learning to hear God’s voice are all part of the necessary arsenal.
What follows is more from the manual I am producing for those who work with people entangled in BDSM. The nature of this work requires us to be equipped for the possibility of pushback from the enemy.
The more sensitive and, perhaps, controversial portion of this post is blocked by a paywall for paid subscribers.
Recruit a Prayer Team
Over my 35 years of pastoral ministry, God has raised up prayer warriors for me.
One night over twenty years ago, I was sleeping on the couch. No, I hadn’t misbehaved. My snoring and coughing simply made sleep difficult for both my wife and me!
At 3:00 am, one of our pet guinea pigs began to squeal like I’d never heard her squeal before. I jumped out of bed, turned on the kitchen light, and approached the cage. Everything seemed OK, so I went back to “bed.”
Four hours later the phone rang. A lady from our church asked, “What happened last night? I woke up at 3:00 with an urgency to pray, so I prayed until I felt the burden lift!”
Wow! So apparently some evil presence entered the house, awakening the furry rodent, and threatening to do only God knows what. But the Holy Spirit alerted an intercessor.
From that experience and others, I have learned the importance of having a team of intercessors, especially when taking on a task or ministry which will make me a target. When God told me to write a book on sexuality, I formed a team of those I knew would be faithful. Years later, I had about 35 people who had agreed to receive occasional emails when I was about to teach a seminar or minister at a retreat.
In recent years, I’ve trimmed the team back to about a dozen who could pray daily and would be willing to receive a weekly email with requests. But I know these days are darkening and we need to be surrounded with the prayers of those skilled in intercession.