APOSTLE PAUL A FRONTLINE WARRIOR
Paul was ever mindful of his need for the intercessors of the church to pray for him. Moreover, Paul pleaded , “Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.”
Among the most highly respected intercessors and spiritual warriors today is Johannes Facius of Germany, coordinator, of Intercessors International. This point is made to signify that we are not talking about a novice, but a veteran. Facius tells how back in 1986, a team of intercessors went to the Soviet Union and entered the Lenin Mausoleum in Mosco. They felt they should pronounce judgment upon the “gods of the Soviet system,” Vladimir Lenin. Facius declared,“What happened in the heavenlies at that time we do not know. However, we do know that Soviet Communism soon crumbled and it was through this move against Satan that I suffered one of the strangest attacks of sickness that I have ever experienced.”
The initial attack lasted one day, but soon afterward came a debilitating heart disease. He sees it as a counterattack of the spirit of death that they had resisted in the Lenin Mausoleum. Three years of severe depression followed. After that he was delivered in a session that lasted less than 30 seconds! Wagner warns us against spiritual arrogance saying, “If we go into spiritual warfare and expect to have God’s power without humility on our part we are in trouble.” Paul said to the Corinthians, “I was with you in weakness, in fear, and in much trembling,” (I Cor. 2:3), and, “When I am weak, then I am strong,” (2 Cor. 12:10). Nonetheless, Paul was one of the most powerful spiritual warriors in the New Testament and made even the satanic goddess, Diana of the Ephesians to tremble!
Effective spiritual warfare requires a delicate balance of weakness and power. The minute we begin to think we are doing it ourselves, we become vulnerable to the enemy’s attack. Johannes Facius admits he was to stay in unbroken, intimate fellowship with the Lord but he let it slip. Facius said, “Due too much busyness in the Lord’s business, I came to the point where I let go of my dependency on the Lord.”