Anyone Encountered Spiritual Warfare?

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jrabs:
Like I said, you are not luke warm. You have faith and a growing one at that. The devil pays no mind to those who are luke warm because he actually already has them in his back pocket.

But your prayerful life and your desire to draw your family close to prayer disrupts the devils plans to keep them lukewarm or misguided. That’s what I mean by threat. You just jeapardize the evil one’s plan at capturing as many souls as possible.

Look -you have noticed that those lives around you seem to go along swimmingly - almost perfect and even blessed at times. And you sit back and shake your head saying, “sheesh, they don’t even pray or go to church, how can their lives be so blessed.”

Well, that is just a great illusion to make us think prayer does nothing. Just an illusion.
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Q. Are you implying that those who have relatively problem free lives are already in Satan’s back pocket ???

No one lives a totally problem free life, but I know some folks who seem to be the luckiest folks alive and they seem to be morally upright and devout Catholics.

Personally, I have been blessed many times over for which I’m very grateful. I don’t feel satanicly oppressed or under any particular attack… am I in deep trouble ??? :bigyikes:
 
Yes, I have on a few occasions, but the most creepy by far happened just last week. Two Mormons came to my house and we had a chat. I’m fairly well-versed in Scripture and Church teaching (I’m a recent convert from the Nazarene Church), so I figured this would be a good chance to try to politely challenge their beliefs. Well, just before they came (I knew they were coming, because I had spoken to them previously), I had a very strong impression (almost audible) to “put on your strongest armor.” I put on my rosary w/ water from Lourdes in it. As we were talking, and I was holding the book of Mormon, one of the elders said he would tell me “in Joseph Smith’s own words” about the revelation that Smith had. As he began to speak, a very heavy—demonic really—feeling came over me. I was totally unprepared for how strong it was. I became flushed and felt as if I were being pulled into a trance. Nothing like this has ever happened to me before. He would not take his eyes off of me; his stare was really creepy. I could not understand a word he was saying, though I could hear him speaking. Anyhow, the only thing I could think to do was say a Hail Mary. Once I did, everything turned off like a light switch. Once they left, I burned the book and threw it in the trash. This is by far the most unsettling experience I have had.
 
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jrabs:
what?
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Effective apologetics is mostly about engaging in spiritual warfare.

Jesus didn’t train people in apologetics and then send them out to do ministry. He trained people in spiritual warfare and then sent them out to release people from bondage.

And he called to him the twelve, and began to send them out two by two, and gave them authority over the unclean spirits. He charged them to take nothing for their journey except a staff; no bread, no bag, no money in their belts; but to wear sandals and not put on two tunics. And he said to them, “Where you enter a house, stay there until you leave the place. And if any place will not receive you and they refuse to hear you, when you leave, shake off the dust that is on your feet for a testimony against them.” So they went out and preached that men should repent. And they cast out many demons, and anointed with oil many that were sick and healed them.
Mark 6:7-13

And God did extraordinary miracles by the hands of Paul, so that handkerchiefs or aprons were carried away from his body to the sick, and diseases left them and the evil spirits came out of them. Then some of the itinerant Jewish exorcists undertook to pronounce the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits, saying, “I adjure you by the Jesus whom Paul preaches.” Seven sons of a Jewish high priest named Sceva were doing this. But the evil spirit answered them, “Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are you?” And the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, mastered all of them, and overpowered them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded. And this became known to all residents of Ephesus, both Jews and Greeks; and fear fell upon them all; and the name of the Lord Jesus was extolled. Many also of those who were now believers came, confessing and divulging their practices. And a number of those who practiced magic arts brought their books together and burned them in the sight of all; and they counted the value of them and found it came to fifty thousand pieces of silver. So the word of the Lord grew and prevailed mightily.
Acts 19:11-20
 
Paul B that is pretty creepy,… at one point I was considering maybe allowing one of these groups to come over so I might be able to debate them about our faith… but if it involve a satanic battle, I may just leave well enough alone.

I certainly don’t need to invite demonic forces into my home. :bigyikes:
 
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wcknight:
Q. Are you implying that those who have relatively problem free lives are already in Satan’s back pocket ???

No one lives a totally problem free life, but I know some folks who seem to be the luckiest folks alive and they seem to be morally upright and devout Catholics.

Personally, I have been blessed many times over for which I’m very grateful. I don’t feel satanicly oppressed or under any particular attack… am I in deep trouble ??? :bigyikes:
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where did I say that?
 
Saint Fasutina experienced a great deal of these:

** (April) 26. On Friday, when I was at Ostra Brama to attend the ceremony during which the image was displayed, I heard a sermon given by my confessor (Father Sopocko). This sermon about Divine Mercy was the first of the things that Jesus had asked for so long ago. When he began to speak about the great mercy of the Lord, the image came alive and the rays pierced the hearts of the people gathered there, but not all to the same degree. Some received more, some less. Great joy filled my soul to see the grace of God.

Then I heard the words, “You are a witness of My mercy. You shall stand before My throne forever as a living witness to My mercy.”

When the sermon was over, I did not wait for the end of the service, as I was in a hurry to get back home. When I had taken a few steps, a great multitude of demons blocked my way. They threatened me with terrible tortures, and voices could be heard: “She has snatched away everything we have worked for over so many years!” When I asked them, “Where have you come from in such great numbers?” the wicked forms answered, “Out of human hearts; stop tormenting us!”

Seeing their great hatred for me, I immediately asked my Guardian Angel for help, and at once the bright and radiant figure of my Guardian Angel appeared and said to me, “Do not fear, spouse of my Lord: without His permission these spirits will do you no harm.” Immediately the evil spirits vanished, and the faithful Guardian Angel accompanied me, in a visible manner, right to the very house. His look was modest and peaceful, and a flame of fire sparkled from his forehead.

O Jesus, I would like to toil and wear myself out and suffer all my life for that one moment in which I saw Your glory, O Lord, and profit for souls. **
 
Paul Barry:
… I figured this would be a good chance to try to politely challenge their beliefs. Well, just before they came (I knew they were coming, because I had spoken to them previously), I had a very strong impression (almost audible) to “put on your strongest armor.”
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👍

A perfect example of what I meant when I said that apologetics is 95% spiritual warfare and 5% rational discussion of the truth.
 
A perfect example of what I meant when I said that apologetics is 95% spiritual warfare and 5% rational discussion of the truth.
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gosh - if that was your perfect example, I’m hurting here. I still can’tfigure out what you’re trying to say.
 
March 21, 1935, Often during Mass, I see the Lord in my soul; I feel His presence which pervades my being. I sense His divine gaze; I have long talks with Him without saying a word; I know what His divine Heart desires, and I always do what will please Him the most. I love Him to distraction, and I feel that I am being loved by God. At those times when I meet with God deep within myself, I feel so happy that I do not know how to express it. Such moments are short, for the soul could not bear it for long, as separation from the body would be inevitable. Though these moments are very short, their power, however, which is transmitted to the soul, remains with it for a very long time. Without the least effort, I experience the profound recollection which then envelops me - and it does not diminish even if I talk with people, nor does it interfere with the performance of my duties. I feel the constant presence of God without any effort of my soul. I know that I am united with Him as closely as a drop of water is united with the bottomless ocean.

Last Thursday, towards the end of my prayers, I felt this grace, and it lasted for an unusually long time, for it was throughout Mass, so that I thought I would die of joy. At such times, my knowledge of God and His attributes becomes more acute, and also I know my own self and my misery much better. I am amazed at the Lord’s great condescension to such a miserable soul as mine. After Holy Mass, I felt completely immersed in God and am still conscious of His every glance into the depth of my heart. About midday I entered the chapel for a moment and again the power of grace struck my heart. As I continued in a state of recollection, Satan took a flowerpot and angrily hurled it to the ground with all his might. I saw all his rage and his jealousy.
 
con’t

There was no one in the chapel, so I got up, picked up the pieces of the flowerpot, repotted the flower and tried to do all this before anyone came in. But I did not manage to do so, as Mother Superior (Borgia) came in at that moment together with the sister sacristan and several other sisters. Mother Superior was surprised that I had been touching something on the altar and thus caused the flowerpot to fall. Sister sacristan showed her displeasure, and I did my best not to explain or excuse myself. But towards evening I felt very exhausted and could not make my Holy Hour, so I asked Mother Superior to allow me to go to bed early. I fell a sleep as soon as I lay down, but at about eleven o’clock Satan shook my bed. I awoke instantly, and I started to pray peacefully to my Guardian Angel. Then I saw the souls who were doing penance in purgatory. They appeared like shadows, and among them I saw many demons. One of these tried to vex me; taking the form of a cat, he kept throwing himself onto my bed and on my feet, and he was quite heavy, as if (weighing) a ton.

I kept praying the rosary all the while, and toward dawn these things vanished, and I was able to get some sleep. When I entered the chapel in the morning I heard a voice in my soul, “You are united to Me; fear nothing. But know, my child, that Satan hates you; he hates every soul, but he burns with a particular hatred for you, because you have snatched so many souls from his dominion.”
 
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wcknight:
Paul B that is pretty creepy,… at one point I was considering maybe allowing one of these groups to come over so I might be able to debate them about our faith… but if it involve a satanic battle, I may just leave well enough alone.
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Be not afraid.
For though we live in the world we are not carrying on a worldly war, for the weapons of our warfare are not worldly but have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every proud obstacle to the knowledge of God …
2Cor. 10:3-4

… the gospel must first be preached to all nations. And when they bring you to trial and deliver you up, do not be anxious beforehand what you are to say; but say whatever is given you in that hour, for it is not you who speak, but the Holy Spirit.
Mark 13:10-11
 
Sugar Ray:
Always in my sleep, sometimes it’s difficult to breathe as if a hand is over my mouth…I’d love to know if anyone else has ever experienced anything like this.
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I have experienced something similar. I would describe it as feeling trapped, trying to wake up, trying to yell out, but not being able to. And when it happens, I do pray to be let out of it. It hasn’t happened recently. I don’t know if it’s spiritual warfare or just a nightmare. But it is a scary feeling.
 
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jrabs:
gosh - if that was your perfect example, I’m hurting here. I still can’tfigure out what you’re trying to say.
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What don’t you understand?
 
In reading Saint Faustina’s diary it seemed the closer she got to Jesus the more visible and angry the devil became.

Why don’t more people have these battles - could it be the devil already has them?
 
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aaronjmagnan:
A couple of years ago I was stabbed. I heard a voice tell me that if I wanted to die, I could, and if I wanted to get out of it all, I could. It was a voice, not just a linguistic construction in my mind.

God bless,
Aaron
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This is amazing. One of my good friends who is a surfer paddled out in some huge surf a few years ago. A wave broke on him and held him under the water for a long time. He told me he remembers feeling tempted to give in. He heard a voice saying wake up. And he was adamant about the voice.
 
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buffalo:
In reading Saint Faustina’s diary it seemed the closer she got to Jesus the more visible and angry the devil became.

Why don’t more people have these battles - could it be the devil already has them?
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Succinctly well said. I think you have it.
 
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Matt16_18:
Which statement? What part of it don’t you understand? :confused:
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Good grief man. :confused: The entire statement. Forget it - I’ll stay on topic. You’re statement is not for me to figure out I guess.
 
Gee let me see:

cousin is a lesbian

another cousin unmarried, two children

Her brothe married outside the church

My brother married outside the church

My other brother cohabited. So did the civilly married one.

Only three in my famiy attend Mass regularly

three cousins became protestant. several just left all worship of God.

several divorces in family

Yeah, my spiritual warfare was when I rightly refused to go to my brothers civil “wedding”. He and his girlfriend were both confirmed Catholics. They are not married in the eyes of God and I refused to attend.

Join the club. I also have liberal priests and one liberal bishop who are card carrying members of the lavendar mafia - protecting pro-homosexualist organizations like Big Brother Big Sisters, renting them office space so they can have “same sex” mentoring outings.

Whoever said being a Christian did not entail suffering was wrong.

Oh and did I mention all my Catholic local politicians who voted for homosexual marriage and abortion?
 
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