(Every year I spend 3 to 5 weeks in India leading pastors’ conferences and ministering to people and churches. I teach about spiritual warfare, which is very real in India, as this blog shows. Prayers for my ministry there would be greatly appreciated. For more information see India.ChristianTrainingOnline.org) Spiritual Warfare in India 5
We took another couple of small steps on water today and God held us up! We had our first teaching sessions – spiritual warfare conference which lasted all day. We had 2 morning sessions and one long afternoon session (combined 2 into one). We did that because it is quite cold and that makes everything harder for everyone. It is in the 40’s and 50’s (mid afternoon only). It’s very foggy and gloomy. They are setting record low temperatures at night. The problem is that no one has any source of heat in their homes. All buildings are concrete or brick with concrete or stone floors. There is no carpet anywhere. And we didn’t come prepared for weather THIS cold. Others suffer more than us because we are more used to the cold. Everyone, including us, wears 4 and 5 layers trying to stay warm. I don’t think my feet will ever feel warm again! Its even cold sleeping at night. I don’t know what we’d do without Nancy’s hot flashes!
The first time I was in northern India (this is my 3rd time) it was July and therefore up to 120 during the day. The monsoons would cause terrible downpours and massive flooding everywhere. The people, especially the poor people (which are about 90% of them) suffer greatly in either extreme of weather. How thankful we are for the blessings God has given us in Pennsylvania!
The spiritual warfare conference went very well. It’s a deep subject to start with, and talking through a translator to those in an entirely different culture doesn’t help make it any easier. I went through the Bible tracing the development of the conflict between God and Satan. I applied that to us and how we can have victory in the battle. The end was an extended time of prayer leading them through deliverance. There were about 35 or 40 people there – very good considering the weather and how everyone tries to stay home and not go out. We made some new friends and have a great time of fellowship as well as prayer with some of them. God’s presence was with us and He used it all for whatever He chose. We thank Him for His faithfulness!
Tomorrow I will be speaking in a church about spiritual warfare. We will be doing visiting and other things in the afternoon and evening. Last night we slept from 7 PM to 4:30 AM – not quite on India schedule yet!
Thanks for your prayers, please keep remembering us. I’ll attach some pictures for you to see. (January 8, 2011)
The cold continues to be the major factor we face these days. Schools have been closed and many activities cancelled. People don’t venture outside unless absolutely necessary, although staying inside doesn’t really make much difference. Temperatures in the 40’s and 50’s aren’t bad for us at home, especially this time of the winter, but here homes are open to the elements and there is no source of heat. Thus homes are as cold inside as it is outside. Everything is concrete and stone, so floors and walls hold the cold. The dampness is strong as well – garments left to dry take days to air dry. We wear 3 pairs of socks, 2 pants (Nancy wears 3), 4 layers of shirts and then a jacket and a hat. To sleep we add another layer and get totally under the blankets. About 3 PM if the sun is out and you can find a sunny place with no wind the temperature gets into the lower 60’s, but that doesn’t last long and it doesn’t penetrate the homes. At least I don’t have to be barefoot to teach, although socks (even 3 pairs) don’t seem to do a lot of good standing on cold concrete all day. And to think I was looking forward to a break from the winter cold at home! (January 10, 2011)
An interesting sidelight that sheds light on things is that several perceptive mature believers here feel there is a spirit of stress (pressure, burdens, etc.) that is the opposite of peace and relaxation and that works against those in this town. It is clearly something demonic. That would go a long way to help understanding what I felt last year and this year when here. I thought the first week was transition and by the time I got to Hyderabad I was better adjusted, but this helps me better understand how to pray. Please pray against this for us. It is worse during the night, when we awake after 4 or 5 hours of sleep. It is very, very difficult to relax my mind and to get back to sleep. (January 11, 2011)
PRAYER REQUEST I just found this out. Please pray! One of the more sold exMuslim believers at our 2-day conference in Lucknow brought his 16 year old son to the conference. They traveled almost 24 hours by bus to get here. The father had another stop to make on the way home so the boy went ahead with a friend but disappeared when they stopped to switch busses. He hasn’t been heard from in a month and is assumed kidnapped. Please pray for the boy and his family. (February 16, 2011)
Revelation 3:14-17 “To the angel of the church in Laodicea write: These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God’s creation. 15 I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! 16 So, because you are lukewarm — neither hot nor cold — I am about to spit you out of my mouth.
How would you say your spiritual temperature is? Are you lukewarm, or even cold? How can you tell when you begin to get cold? What are some of the first signs? Ask God to convict you if there is anything between you and Him or if you have drifted from Him. What did it ‘look like’ when you were really, really close to Him? How does that compare to now? What needs to happen for that to be evident again?
(If I can answer questions or offer personal counsel, or if you would like a free copy of my Spiritual Warfare Handbook, email me at Jerry@ChristianTrainingOrganization.org or download it from http://sw.christiantrainingonline.org/. My next book, Spiritual Warfare in the Bible, which is a more advanced treatment of spiritual warfare, is also available for free.)