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Leadership Journal Conversation: My most intense experience with spiritual warfare

Rich Kirkpatrick — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 08:01:53 +0000

This post is part of a blog initiative for Leadership Journal’s Conversations. This is a new site and I was invited with some others to contribute to the conversation.

There have been plenty of intense times of spiritual battle. I remember one encounter that was especially powerful. It is not often that specific prayers of spiritual battle are verified after the fact. Most of the time I have prayed against the devil, for protection of people, and when I was scared of the dark. My most intense time of spiritual warfare stands out because it was more than my own experience. Others were sharing it. And, they were thousands of miles away.

I traveled to Chicago with my wife to interview with a church ministry in regards to a worship pastor position they were soon filling. Besides meeting hospitable midwesterners, experiencing fireflies, and eating authentic bratwurst, not much else from this trip was memorable. This season in my life included several interviews like this one.

I tossed and turned in bed. At first I thought it was the bratwurst influencing this deep pressure and emotional turmoil I felt. It soon became clear to me that I was supposed to get up and pray. A friend from my small group Bible study came to mind. It was as if I could almost see him in my mind.

There were no words heard in my mind, but I knew that my friend at that exact moment was in a spiritual battle and God chose to include me in the fight. I took note of that moment on the clock. With my wife sleeping in our hotel room bed near me, I got up and silently prayed. The few moments of prayer passed and I went back to sleep.

There was a moment when I wondered if it all was really the bratwurst. So, talking to my friend about the experience took some nerve. I asked him what happened at the actual time I woke and prayed for him. The timezone difference made it clear he was not in bed. His response amazed me.

My friend frequented a bookstore coffee shop in Northern California. He purposed to talk to people about his faith. He sat at a table and began a conversation with a man. My friend described something odd happening to him. He could not speak. Some force would not allow him to talk to this man. He said he knew it was a spiritual attack. From Chicago, I fought with my buddy in California.

The reality of spiritual warfare became much more real to both of us. In our small group Bible study, a friend experienced ritual sacrifices on a his property. In my circle of friends, marriages were under attack, and families were struggling as well. I received a gift to be included in the heavenly intervention of my friend’s attempt to share his faith. Looking for a fight? Spiritual warfare can find us, sometimes.

What is your most intense spiritual warfare experience?

Leadership Journal, from Christianity Today, convenes leading ministry thinkers together and engages them in honest dialogue about issues in the church that concern you. Check out their new site at LeadershipJournal.net and sign up for a free trial issue of their quarterly publication.

Doodle of the Week: iPray Application…

Rich Kirkpatrick — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 01:17:28 +0000

Today’s doodle is fairly obvious, or is it? I guess I was wondering whether or not the new iPhone 3.0 software release would allow my prayer life a boost.

Online Gaming and Prayer: Is that possible?

Rich Kirkpatrick — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 18:06:12 +0000

Is online gaming and prayer possible? I think Russ Hutto thinks so. Check out his post: Can An Online Game Help You Pray For People?

In today’s world of social media, gaming is something that I think a window in reaching out to people can be employed. As I said in a workshop I presented at, “Remember there is a real person on the other side of that screen.”

BTW, my Xbox LIVE handle is reddinggamer!

High expectations and Obama… pray, pray, pray

Rich Kirkpatrick — Sat, 27 Dec 2008 19:10:29 +0000

This famous 2008 Youtube “Obama Is Going to Pay For My Gas And Mortgage” represents the high expectations Obama has to live up to. Biden seems to think that its not domestic, but international issues that bring high expectations for Obama.

“You asked me earlier if I am worried about the exceedingly high expectations that people have for President Barack Obama,” Biden told CNN’s Larry King in advance excerpts of his interview with the talk-show host.

“I said domestically I wasn’t so worried about that but internationally I am,” Biden said, adding that foreign hopes for the incoming administration were overwhelming.

Regardless of your political views, its is obvious expectations by some of Obama are strataspheric and perhaps a challenge in and of themselves. So, I think we should pray for our new leader to succeed. (1 Timothy 2:1-2). Pray.

Twitter and prayer: Thanks for spreading the word about Randy Miller

Rich Kirkpatrick — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 18:37:04 +0000

I am with the Miller family this weekend and was searching twitter and know that Randy and family are grateful for the support from my fellow tweets:

@imagedesigns
@kayoodle
@mattmahermusic
@stonestreet
@sambam87
@SpiritCoach
@loswhit
@RKWeblog
@wethechurch
@donavanhill
@joymark
@scbubba
@tonysteward
@nickhoss
@mufan96
@steveb7
@kmueller62
@BillGiovannetti
@trevormeier
@tehillamusic
@theworshipcomm
@locustfist
@cwdaniels
@aboutCCM
@absolutepunk
@a_skart
@RocktheCrossWes

BTW, you can find me on twitter here @rkweblog. Prayer works… and twitter surely helps in that process!

Compassion and Prayer can be VIRAL… links to Randy Miller’s story keep growing

Rich Kirkpatrick — Sat, 29 Nov 2008 04:05:08 +0000

I am very moved by the big hearts of bloggers and twitter friends who have shared the story of Randy Miller of The Myriad linking to his video or mentioning how people can pray and help. If you do not know his band, they are fantastic. However, I first got to know Randy as a concrete contractor who played drums in my church’s worship team. I know his wife, kids and my family loves the Millers! They are family to us.

So, as an encouragement to them, I am showing how many of you bloggers have linked and are praying for them. Today there are 520 LINKS, so I am gonna just give you a sample of 12 blogs…

Ragamuffinsoul.com

Evan Courtney blog

Independent Music

Consuming Worship blog

Sarah’s So Bored Since She Stopped Drinking

Leif’s Blog

Rock Dirt

Mike Dalton

VIva Cecelia

RamblingsOfABoyMom

Tony Chavez Blog

Stereo Truth

**UDPATE: Some MORE sites keep popping up with support and prayer (12/5/08)

A Renewed Revolution of Hope

Maxgrace.com

MyWorshipRevolution.com

BabuLife

RockTheCross.net

Also, those of you who Twitter (twitter.com) have been generous to spread the word. Please pray. The prayer is working. Medi-Cal has been approved and Randy starts chemo treatments this Monday. Here is the link to help.

Randy Miller’s Story: Help out a friend of mine, please watch this video and spread the word

Rich Kirkpatrick — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 16:54:36 +0000

Hey readers of RKWL… PLEASE watch this short video put on by Randy Miller’s band, The Myriad. Randy is an amazing person who really needs help in his battle for cancer. Go to www.themyriad.net to support Randy and his family.