Freedom from Sin and Satan
When I first went through an Encounter Retreat, Jesus set me free from bursts of anger, love of money, and way too much liberty in watching movies, etc. Up to that point, I really didn’t think I needed to go through an Encounter Retreat. Although I had studied Encounter Retreats in a wide variety of cell churches, I really didn’t think that our church (the Republic Church in Ecuador) needed Encounter Retreats because of the added administrative responsibilities. All that changed when I actually went through an Encounter retreat and Jesus set me free and gave me a new sense of holiness.
But why Encounters? Part of the reason is that Satan is alive and well and likes to gain ground in the lives of believers.
John says, “We know that we are children of God, and that the whole world is under the control of the evil one” (1 John 5:19). In Matthew chapter 4, Jesus took Jesus up to a high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. He then offered those kingdoms to Jesus in return for Christ’s worship. Satan had the power to give the kingdoms of this world to Jesus. He’s the prince of this world and controls those who don’t know Jesus. The reality is that he’s also ferociously attacking believers and looking for ways to make them stumble and fall.
And he has a hosts of helpers to do his dirty work. Scriptures indicate that when Satan was cast out of heaven, he took a myriad of fallen angels with him called “angels who abandoned their place of habitation” (Jude 6), demons (Mark 1:34), or unclean spirits (Mark 3:11). Ephesians 6:12-18 says, ” For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.”
Yes, I believe that God is sovereignly in control–even over all demonic power. Scripture says that God in us is greater than the demonic powers in the world (1 John 4:4).Yet when believers live in unholiness and compromise with the world, they give the demonic forces entry points into their lives. And thus, I’ve come to believe that having regular Encounter Retreats is one essential component in maintaining a healthy, victorious church.
I’m only half way there! Come back for more on Wednesday’s blog.
Comments thus far?
Joel
Jerry Kinard said,
August 28, 2007 @ 5:07 am
Joel,
I just came from a retreat with our house church leaders. What resource do you recommend for an encounter retreat and when should we take our members through them?????
Randall said,
August 28, 2007 @ 9:07 am
I could not agree with you more! Deliverance must be one of the very first steps in the discipleship path for any church who desires to live out their mission through their cell groups. All the successful models do this in one form or fashion.
However, I would add that many people only experience a temporary freedom from strongholds after going to a single weekend event. The saying of people being like onions is really true. The encounter weekends I have been on as a participant (three of them, to be specific) were amazing experiences for me. Exhausting, humbling, power, and amazing.
But, I needed something far deeper, and I think most Christians need a lot more inner healing from relational and sexual brokenness. Praise God, the Comsikey family can help us with that too! Your brother Andy’s ministry (Desert Stream) and the Living Waters program was radically and permanently life-changing for Etna (my wife) and I two years ago when we went through it at our home church, the Houston Vineyard. The program was originally designed for those exiting the homosexual lifestyle, but it’s been expanded for anyone who needs deliverance and deep healing. Anyone interested in reading more about this intensive, six month ministry process can find out about it through: http://www.desertstream.org/
Joel Comiskey said,
August 28, 2007 @ 2:08 pm
Thanks, Jerry and Randall, for your comments! Randall, I just say AMEN to my brother Andy’s ministry. I’ve heard so many amazing testimonies from people who have gone through it and you are one of them!
Jerry, there are some great encounter materials out there. The first one that really ministered to me was JIM EGLI’S material called ENCOUNTER WITH GOD, sold by Touch Outreach. Great stuff.
I’ve also heard BETHANY WORLD PRAYER CENTER’S Encounter Retreat series, and it’s effective as well.
Of course Neil Anderson has led the way for years in the famous BREAKING BONDAGE series that can also be used in Encouter settings.
I’ve also studied and used material from Brazil and Bogota in Encounters that I’ve done (I’ve personally led about ten Encounters now).
Thus, I decided to develop my own ENCOUNTER MATERIAL that you can find in my BOOKSTORE called ENCOUNTER (and yes, I’m biased!).
blessings,
Joel