Guerra Espiritual

Guerra Espiritual

The Enemy Is Prowling
por Toni Weisz/Guerra Espiritual

Referências bíblicas: 1 Peter 5:8, Romanos 8:1 and Philippians 4:13

 

Be sober, be vigilant; for your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. 1 Peter 5:8

I have been under a barrage of attacks by the evil one since I shared the gospel in a letter to two of my family members. I want them to hear the gospel one more time so they can have confidence that when they pass from this life to the next, they can know they are saved and will be in heaven when they die. Not only that, but at the time of this writing, we have three, and possibly four, Recovery Bible Studies starting within the next few weeks. That’s a lot of women hearing the gospel, being healed and set free from the trauma of abortion and abuse.

The first week, the enemy used family. My kids were not in a good place, some hard conversations happened, and people were offended. Finalmente, they were able to communicate and work things out, without my help. The enemy was trying to get me to fret and worry and jump in and to take matters into my own hands (my old character defect of codependency and fear) instead of trusting God.

Then on a Saturday, the enemy used people in spiritual leadership. Ce were in a group setting, but I felt ignored and not included in the discussions. God showed me from this example what not to do as a spiritual leader. I am to be aware of everyone in the group. Ce all need encouragement and to feel included.

Then on uma Sunday, a leader at church made a weird comment. Again, God showed me how important my words are. They can uplift people or put people down. The enemy was trying to use spiritual leaders to peuck my rejection wound, desiring to awaken my people-pleasing character defect (my old character defect of people pleasing, putting others before God, which is idolatry).

Then a few days later, tele enemy used a woman who was very involved in serving in this ministry for many years, to react in a peculiar way and say some hurtful things. This one hurt pretty deeply. Again, I did not react. I actually did not send a text I had written because honestly, I did not know what to say. Em vez de, I prayed for her because obviously she is not in a good place. My old character defect of condemnation, listening to the lies of the enemy accusing me, was trying to make a comeback.

I was thinking to myself, “What in the world is going on? Any one of these scenarios in the past would have pushed me over the edge, and I would have reacted badly or taken on rejection. Or my people pleasing would have kicked in and I would have scrambled around trying to make things right.

But because of the work God has been doing in my life over these 17 anos, I am able to see with my spiritual eyes what is going on.

I am so grateful God healed my rejection wound and that I no longer yearn for the approval of man. I want my life to please God. I am grateful there is no condemnation to them who are in Christ Jesus (referência. Romanos 8:1).

The accuser has no dominion over me. The Word of God has set me free, and the Holy Spirit protects me from the fiery darts of the enemy.

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. (Philippians 4:13)

I am so thankful to God for equipping the called. If God calls you to something, be confident that He will give you everything you need to succeed.

Perguntas para levar a sério:

  1. What kind of spiritual warfare have you been experiencing lately?
  2. Have you noticed a pattern? When are you most vulnerable to the enemy’s attacks?
  3. Como podemos orar por você?

Rezo para que este tópico tenha sido útil para você. Please reach out if you need to talk or need prayer. Envie-me um e-mail para: toni@myashestobeauty.com.

Você é amado,
Toni

Guerra Espiritual nos Estudos Bíblicos Pós-Aborto

Guerra Espiritual nos Estudos Bíblicos Pós-Aborto

Spiritual Warfare in the Post Abortion Bible Studies
By Toni Weisz/Spiritual Warfare (Blogs da Toni)
Salmo 91:1-12

Why is spiritual warfare so intense when women decide to step out to be healed from a past abortion?

I have been in the post-abortion ministry since 2006, when I went through my first post-abortion recovery Bible study. Unfortunately, no one prepared me for what was going to be one of the most tragic and saddest times of my life. Satan came in and ripped my family to shreds. My husband and children stopped speaking to each other; my husband and I had a huge conflict; my son’s roommate stopped paying rent and stole from him; my daughter broke up with her boyfriend because of a porn addiction. All of this started two-and-a-half weeks into my first post-abortion recovery Bible study. I was in shock, and I was numb. Much of that time is still a blur to me.

To give you a better idea of how this all started, allow me to set the scene for you.

It was January 22, 2006, Sanctity of Human Life Sunday. I was sitting in my Sunday school class learning about the book of Jeremiah. Mais especificamente, we were discussing how God called Jeremiah to be a prophet from the womb. Our teacher asked each of us, “What has God called you to do?”

For years I had asked God to reveal my calling to me. Up until that day, I thought it was just to be a godly wife and mother. But the Holy Spirit spoke to my heart and said, “I want you to help other women feel forgiven for their past abortions.”

Immediately, I raised my hand and told our group what God had just shared with me. I then shared with my Pastor after the service what God had said. I was so excited but had no idea what this would mean or how this would change my life forever.

então, I told my husband, “God wants me to help other women heal from their past abortions.” His reaction was, “No, that’s not good for you; that will be too hard. You should be in children’s ministry. You will be happier there.”

To respect my husband, I did nothing. I just waited. During the third week of waiting, my Pastor preached on obedience. The Holy Spirit moved in me so strongly that I couldn’t let it go. I went to my husband again and said, “John, you don’t understand. God is calling me to this, and I have to obey.” Thus began my healing journey.

Ao longo dos anos, I have learned so much from the things that have happened to me on this journey. It has shaped the way I think, speak, and treat others. Unfortunately, I was not treated with kindness during the early parts of my journey.

Em vez de, I received harsh, condemning feedback and was told it was my fault my marriage was not going well and that I was in sin. These painful words led me to accept unacceptable treatment from my husband. My facilitators and mentors did not have experience in any kind of recovery work or co-dependency issues. They did not recognize I was being bullied and emotionally abused.

I thank God for the equipping He has given me. He has given me patience, gentileza, and love toward women who have lost a child to abortion. I know from experience that many factors go into the decision to have an abortion. We don’t grow up as young girls thinking, “I want to abort my baby.” No. It’s not a natural thing for a woman to do.

I decided to write this blog post about the spiritual warfare surrounding post-abortion recovery because many of us will be involved in these healing Bible studies in some capacity. Whether you are a prayer partner, co-facilitator, or a participant, each of us will experience some kind of spiritual warfare.

Know this: the enemy does not want Christian women healed from a past abortion. He wants to keep us in bondage and chains, locked away in a dungeon to be tormented. This frightening truth inspired the name of our eBook, “Leading Them into His Light.” Long before the eBook, God gave me a vision of a dungeon and women sitting in darkness and in chains. Jesus held my hand as I went into the dungeons to grab the women out so they could be rescued from the enemy. It’s a beautiful picture of God’s love for us.

Our eBook is available on our website for a donation of any amount. In it, we share 17 women’s abortion stories (including my own) and how God turned our ashes into something beautiful for our good and His glory.

Right now, the enemy is trying to trip you up. I am experiencing it in my own home, and you might be also. The enemy will use those closest to you to take you down and discourage you. But do not waiver. God is greater and stronger than the enemy. Stay close to Him and He will protect you.

About six months ago I started reading Psalm 91 every day. I suggest you meditate upon it too. It will strengthen you for the inevitable battle ahead.

 

Perguntas & Considerações finais:

  1. What spiritual warfare have you experienced as a result of stepping out and wanting to be healed from a past abortion?

    2. What do you do to protect yourself from the enemy’s fiery darts?

    I am looking forward to an exciting year in which more women will be healed from the trauma of abortion. With the healing power of Jesus, we can reach even more women and stop this cycle of death in their families.

Você é amado,
Toni

Leia mais sobre os blogs de Toni AQUI.
As armadilhas do diabo (Series): David

As armadilhas do diabo (Series): David

As armadilhas do diabo: DAVI
Uma série tirada do Dr.. Carlos Stanley

(2 Samuel 11:1-17-12:1-10)

Essa semana, veremos os pecados do rei Davi, um líder militar de sucesso e um homem segundo o coração de Deus. Desviados pela luxúria, ele persegue ativamente a esposa de outro homem e se abre a todos os tipos de mal. Davi tenta esconder seu pecado de adultério com Bate-Seba, esposa de Urias. Ela fica grávida do filho de David, o que leva David a assassinar Urias. Deus envia Natã, o Profeta, para mostrar a Davi o erro de seus caminhos, e David é condenado. Embora, ele não escapa do castigo e das consequências de seu pecado. A vida de seu filho é tirada por Deus, e a espada nunca sai da casa de Davi (2 Samuel 12:10uma).

Através das Escrituras, observamos a rápida progressão do pecado na vida de Davi para que possamos aprender a proteger nossos próprios corações do diabo e de seus ardis. Ninguém está isento do pecado. Devemos fazer tudo o que pudermos para permanecermos imaculados do mundo, confessando os pecados diariamente, estando na Palavra e orando durante todo o dia.

O primeiro erro de Davi foi quando ele decidiu ficar no palácio na primavera, quando os reis costumam ir para a batalha. Um dia, entediado de deitar na cama, David decide caminhar até seu telhado, de onde observa uma linda mulher tomando banho. Quando não estamos fazendo o que Deus nos chamou para fazer e ficamos preguiçosos ou entediados, somos presas do diabo e seus demônios. Esteja sóbrio e vigilante porque seu adversário é o diabo, como um leão que ruge, anda em busca de quem possa devorar (1 Peter 5:8). Quem você acha que estaria morando perto do palácio de Davi? Provavelmente, seus guerreiros mais confiáveis. Ele pergunta sobre Bate-Seba e descobre que ela é filha de Eliam e esposa de Urias., ambos são membros das forças especiais de David, conhecidas como David’s Mighty Men. Ele os conhecia bem, pois eles serviram ao rei por muitos anos e sacrificaram suas vidas para mantê-lo seguro. Mas isso não impede David de persegui-la.

Vamos aplicar a situação de David às nossas vidas. Como eu me lembro, Eu tinha marcado minha consulta para fazer meu aborto, e eu sabia como me preparar para o próximo procedimento. Contudo, a caminho da clínica, Eu estava com tanta ressaca que parei para comer alguma coisa. Eu também estava dirigindo, o que mostra o quanto eu não sabia sobre os efeitos do aborto no corpo de uma mulher. Quando finalmente cheguei à clínica e descobriram que eu tinha acabado de comer, eles cancelaram o procedimento. Aqui estava Deus me dando uma saída. Mas eu peguei? NÃO! Remarquei meu aborto para dezembro 10, 1980, e no momento em que escrevo este artigo, semana que vem será 40 anos desde meu aborto. Eu deveria ter parado para reconsiderar o que estava fazendo, como David deveria ter feito, ainda assim, nenhum de nós fez. Como resultado, muitas pessoas sofreram um destino horrível por causa dos nossos pecados.

Deus lhe deu uma maneira de escapar do pecado, mas você não deu ouvidos ao Seu aviso?

Lemos que Davi envolve outras pessoas em seu plano pecaminoso quando pergunta a seus servos sobre a bela mulher e lhes diz para trazê-la de volta para seus aposentos.. Neste ponto, sua luxúria secreta foi tornada pública e conhecida por seus servos. Eles sabem que ele ama o Senhor, e ele está prestes a cometer adultério. Quando alguém está na liderança, ele ou ela é um alvo para o inimigo destruir, especialmente uma pessoa de fé em Jesus. Devemos nos proteger e ser diligentes porque o inimigo adoraria destruir nosso testemunho e nosso ministério. Guarde seu coração com toda diligência, pois dele brotam as questões da vida (Provérbios 4:23).

Como você se protege do inimigo?

À medida que avançamos na história, Davi elabora um plano para trazer Urias da batalha para casa, para que ele durma com sua esposa e pareça estar concebendo um filho, escondendo assim a gravidez de todos., exceto de seus servos e Joabe, seu comandante militar. Urias se recusa a ir para casa, para sua esposa, porque a Arca da Aliança e seus companheiros guerreiros ainda estão no campo de batalha.. Como resultado, ele não dorme com sua esposa, mas deita-se na porta do rei com todos os outros servos. Eles provavelmente estavam sussurrando, Não é esse Urias, marido de Bate-Seba??

Sempre que tentamos encobrir nosso pecado com outro pecado, nunca acaba bem para ninguém. Durante o tempo do meu aborto, Eu tive que esconder o fato de que meu namorado, o pai do meu bebê abortado, e eu estávamos morando juntos. Meus pais viriam à cidade para assistir à minha formatura na faculdade, então eu precisava encontrar uma solução rápida. No 3 anos que morei em Ohio, meus pais nunca visitaram, então pude viver como o diabo sem medo de ser descoberto. Mas o dia do acerto de contas estava chegando. Quando minha irmã cancelou seu casamento no verão de 1982, seis meses antes da minha formatura, Eu decidi me casar para encobrir meu pecado. Dessa forma, quando meus pais vieram em dezembro, meu estilo de vida seria aceitável. Olhando para trás, foram necessários muitos anos de aconselhamento cristão e trabalho de recuperação para finalmente me tornar a mulher que Deus me criou para ser. Ao longo dos anos, meu marido e eu tivemos um casamento muito difícil e estivemos à beira do divórcio duas vezes. Deus interveio graciosamente, e agora nosso casamento está mais forte do que nunca.

Quando você tentou encobrir seu pecado com mais pecado?

Uma citação famosa, “O pecado irá te levar mais longe do que você quer ir, mantê-lo por mais tempo do que você deseja e custar mais do que você deseja pagar.

Você é amado,
Toni

 

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As armadilhas do diabo (Series): Achan

As armadilhas do diabo (Series): Achan

As armadilhas do diabo: ACHAN
Uma série tirada do Dr.. Carlos Stanley

“Achan”

(Joshua 6 & 7:1–12)

Why is the love of money the root of all kinds of evil?

 

1 Timothy 6:10 states, “For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.”

Joshua 6:18-19, God warned the Children of Israel, “And you, by all means abstain from the accursed things, lest you become accursed when you take of the accused things, and make the camp of Israel a curse, and trouble it. But all the silver and gold, and vessels of bronze and iron, are consecrated to the Lord; they shall come into the treasury of the Lord.”

After Israel had won a huge victory in battle over Jericho where the Lord caused the walls to come crashing down, Joshua went to take the city of Ai. God commanded the children of Israel to refrain from taking anything that belonged to the people in Jericho. All the gold and silver would be brought into the storehouse for the Lord. If anyone were to disobey God’s command, they would be accursed. Unfortunately, there was an Israelite who did not heed the Lord’s warning as a result of his disobedience the battle was lost and 36 men died. Devastated, the children of Israel could not understand what went wrong. Joshua and the leaders of Israel cried out to the Lord, rent their clothes and put ashes on their heads. God responded by telling Joshua, “Get UP! There is sin in the camp, and that’s why you lost the battle. Someone has taken the accursed things from Jericho.” Joshua was given the responsibility to seek out the person responsible for sinning against God and for betraying the people of Israel.

Israel’s situation paints a vivid picture of how destructive sin can be. Many people are often affected by just one act of sin. Joshua discovered that it was Achan who had touched the accursed items by bringing them back into his tent and burying them. Because he allowed the sin of greed to control his actions, Achan’s whole family was punished for his actions. What a powerful example of the deadly effects of sin on an entire family and group of people. Sadly, Achan’s family suffered the consequences of his greed, which is the case for many families today. When a person in a family falls into grievous sin, all the members of the family are harmed by the effects of it. Because of God’s awareness of the destructiveness of sin, He protects us by giving us laws to guide us, not to punish us.

Why didn’t Achan trust God to provide for his family?

Why don’t we trust God to provide for all of our needs?

Why do people steal and take things that don’t belong to them?

Is it out of fear that I will not have enough, doubting that God will provide for me?

We may say to ourselves, I cannot trust God to provide. então, I must take matters into my own hands and steal and cheat and lie to get what I need. No one will find out.

Let’s apply 1 Timothy 6:10 to our society today.

Why does the love (obsession) of money open us up to all kinds of evil?

What is our motivation for the money?

Is it to provide for our families and to help others, or is it for personal gain?

Some people want to acquire large sums of money so that they can have greater power, control, and influence. We see this very same situation occurring today in several professions where the accumulation of wealth leads to pride, arrogance, power, influence and lawlessness. They become deceived and consumed with the notion that they are somehow better than you and me. I pray they repent and turn from their sins and receive the gift of salvation, which was purchased for them with the precious blood of Christ. If such people die without having repented of their sins, then they will stand before Christ and will be judged, according to what they have done, Romanos 2:6. They will be cast into hell where the fire is not quenched and there is wailing and gnashing of teeth. Separated from God for eternity, they will be tormented with the memories of all the evil they have committed in their lifetime. God will be much harsher with them than we could ever imagine. Let’s pray for those who believe they are superior to others and have no fear of God, that they come to faith in Christ.

Will you pray with me that the God of heaven and His Mighty Warrior Angels will dismantle this evil world system, which is opposite of God? They strive to divide, steal, kill, cheat and lie to get what they want all because they have chosen to follow Satan, the prince of this world.

Stay in community and be accountable to one another so you do not fall into temptation and a snare.

 

Você é amado,
Toni

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