by Rev.Bola
A little while ago, I was having one of those days, when from the very moment I arose from bed, I felt that for me all was not in sync. Not much had been going according to plan, and I was getting quite irritated by the delays, hold ups, break downs and what I call 'unwanted developing traffic' that were manifesting in my attempts to complete my day's tasks.
I had, for many years been pondering on, why it is that such things happen in some people's lives in general, and why they were happening to me in particular that very day, was it fate, luck, destiny or 'karma'? Could it be just coincidence, or was there
something deeper going on that was requiring my attention? I already had some answers formulating in my mind, from
previous research and studies that I had done on my spiritual path. Suddenly, I started to recall some of what I had learned studying the teachings of
'The Secret', regarding the
'Law Of Attraction'. I decided now was an opportunity to practice what was recommended for such situations. I was to raise my
vibrational tone to a higher, lighter level, so I could
attract more successful outcomes for the day.I decided I needed a remedy, some
emotional first aid I suppose. A large input of
positive support and encouragement would benefit me. Having been aware for a while now, that thoughts create reality, it was time to think more positive thoughts about my day, backed with positive emotions, and to let go of the negative complaining voice in my mind. I recognized that some of my recovery would require my letting go of past mistakes, and allowing
forgiveness of any errors, whether mine, or other people's. Yes forgiveness was the key.
I continued to search out for
positive and
affirming online messages to cheer up with. My eyes scanned the headlines of an article, concerning some very courageous Liberian women, who had coined and used the slogan
'pray the devil out of hell' as their non-violent stand against the social and political justices they and their families had been subjected.
A documentary film had been produced, highlighting the determined and yet very peaceful work of these courageous women and their strategy for nonviolence in accomplishing their results amidst the political and social unrest in their country. This was very mature and very brave. The film, had received international critical acclaim, and included the slogan
'praying the devil out of hell'
Now, I have been blessed by God with a natural gift for
poetry, and I have a tendency to notice any phrases, quotations, and slogans which stand out. This one just struck a chord of recognition in me. As I had already been pondering such an idea in my mind, without knowing quite how to word the sentiment. Yet, here they were. Suddenly, the exact words I'd been contemplating about,
manifested before me in this brave article. Perfect I thought!What an awesome idea, to 'pray the devil out of hell.'
The significance of those words really hit me. First of all I had never seen or heard of any such idea discussed anywhere before. Not in all my years of religious and spiritual studies, not in any church service or ceremony had I heard of this....'praying the devil out of hell' idea. Could 'the Devil' really be prayed out of hell? Could 'the devil and his consorts' even be prayed for at all, or were they beyond redemption? Coming back to what I mentioned earlier about 'forgiveness'. Forgiveness is a major part of Christian teaching and practice. (PLease see)
Forgiveness is also taught in nearly all the orthodox religious systems as well as the more contemporary ones.
Genesis 50:17
'This is what you are to say to Joseph: I ask you to forgive your brothers the sins and the wrongs they committed in treating you so badly. Now please forgive the sins of the servants of the God of your father." When their message came to him, Joseph wept'.
Acts 13:38
"'Therefore, my brothers, I want you to know that through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you.'
# Romans 4:7
"'Blessed are they whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered'.
James 5:15
'And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up. If he has sinned, he will be forgiven'.
1 John 1:9
'If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness'.
So we know, 'forgiveness' as an activity, is one very important part of the process of
spiritual healing and
recovery. Louise Hay, the popular reverend, motivational speaker and renowned publisher of motivational literature, talks in book 'You Can Heal Your Life' of getting completely healed of cancer, after processing forgiveness towards her parents, for the traumatic abuse she received during her childhood. As a spiritual coach, I have been graced with much opportunity to hear and address some very harrowing stories. Forgiveness has been the major theme that repeatedly surfaces in people's lives, to assist all my clients. Nearly all of them received a healing from emotional maladies, by the simple, yet powerful act of forgiveness. Letting go of past negative experiences, and all the accompanying emotional attachments, is the pivotal life saver of my own personal transformation. I have gained enormously from doing my own forgiveness work.
It is said, according to Christian teachings, that the devil, is the head of all negative, unwanted and demonic spheres of existence. He is a control freak, egotistical, and lusts to steal God's role and position as ruler over all the Universe, with all beings, everywhere bowing to the devil as the sole source. He is the sole originator of all sin and negativity in the world,a fallen angel called Lucifer, and the father of all lies. See:
John 8:44
'You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father's desire. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.'
Acts 10:38
'how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him'
It was the devil who initiated man's rebellion from God, in the
Garden of Eden when he tempted Eve and Adam to both eat of the fruit that God had forbidden them to touch, thereby usurping their relationship with the Divine, and thus plunging both themselves and future generations, into a life of habitual guilt and sin,where man had lost his innocence. See:
Genesis 3
The Fall of Man
1 'Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the LORD God had made. He said to the woman, "Did God really say, 'You must not eat from any tree in the garden'?
2 'The woman said to the serpent, "We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden, 3 but God did say, 'You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.'
4 'You will not surely die," the serpent said to the woman.
5 "For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.'
6 'When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it.'
7 'Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves.'
8 'Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the LORD God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the LORD God among the trees of the garden. 9 But the LORD God called to the man, "Where are you?"
10 'He answered, "I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid."
11 And he said, "Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from?"
12 'The man said, "The woman you put here with me—she gave me some fruit from the tree, and I ate it."
13 'Then the LORD God said to the woman, "What is this you have done?"
The woman said, "The serpent deceived me, and I ate."
14 'So the LORD God said to the serpent, "Because you have done this,
"Cursed are you above all the livestock
and all the wild animals!
You will crawl on your belly
and you will eat dust
all the days of your life."
15 "And I will put enmity
between you and the woman,
and between your offspring [a] and hers;
he will crush [b] your head,
and you will strike his heel."
16 'To the woman he said,
"I will greatly increase your pains in childbearing;
with pain you will give birth to children.
Your desire will be for your husband,
and he will rule over you."
17 'To Adam he said, "Because you listened to your wife and ate from the tree about which I commanded you, 'You must not eat of it,'
"Cursed is the ground because of you;
through painful toil you will eat of it
all the days of your life."
18 'It will produce thorns and thistles for you,
and you will eat the plants of the field.'
19 'By the sweat of your brow
you will eat your food
until you return to the ground,
since from it you were taken;
for dust you are
and to dust you will return."
This situation continued for humanity until many generations later God, Yahweh, sent his son Jesus Christ of Nazareth, to earth to be born into a humble yet very spiritual family so as to save and deliver all of humanity
1 Thessalonians 5:9
'For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.'
The
Scriptures tell us that God sent His son Jesus Christ to deliver all of humanity from
this devil, (and his consorts eg demons etc)otherwise known as Satan, Lucifer and the Antichrist...meaning the nemesis, and arch-enemy to humanity, God and to his Son our Lord Jesus Christ,
Christ Jesus had the divine power and authority to caste out
demons from people:
Mark 1:34
'and Jesus healed many who had various diseases. He also drove out many demons, but he would not let the demons speak because they knew who he was.'
Christ Jesus was the ultimate teacher in the practice of Divine, unconditional deeply unwavering LOVE.
Let's take a look at what the bible had to say about LOVE.
1 Corinthians 13:1
<
span style="font-weight:bold;">Love
'If I speak in the tongues[a] of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal'.
Psalm 48:9
'Within your temple, O God, we meditate on your unfailing love.'
Psalm 48:8-10 (in Context)
John 21:15
[ Jesus Reinstates Peter ] 'When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon son of John, do you truly love me more than these?" "Yes, Lord," he said, "you know that I love you." Jesus said, "Feed my lambs."
Lets do a quick summary of what has been learned from the
bible scriptures: that God created man in His own image called Adam, and then later woman called Eve. He placed them in the Garden of Eden which had every luxury they needed for sustenance and were innocently happy. God forbade them to eat of a certain fruit tree which had the knowledge of good and evil, but the devil entered the scene and tempted them until they gave in and ate it. When God found out, Adam and Eve became guilt ridden and ashamed. They lost their innocent and things were never the same for them or their offspring again, until centuries later when God through His compassion for humanity, sent Jesus Christ the totally innocent Messiah to redeem mankind. Jesus Christ gave up his life dying by crucifixion to save all those who believed in him.
Now, one might ask, what has all this got to do with the slogan
'Praying the devil out of hell'?
Well good question. As we further, also learn from the
bible that;
All those who believe in Jesus Christ as their Messiah and are faithful to their dying day, will be born again and live all together in pure comfort, love and luxury, having all of
our needs met freely with no charge, and complete unity with Jesus Christ and God in
heaven, whilst all those who refused and continued to act according to the devil's will, would find themselves in the painful and torturous realm of hell, along with the Devil and his demons. So here is the thing; if God being all goodness and purity in unconditional love and forgiveness of our sins, so much so that, he created mankind in His likeness, and out of pure Forgiveness and Compassion sent His blessed and dearest Son
Jesus Christ (who is also pure in love and forgiveness, so much so that He can cast out demons) to save humanity; could it be possible for that spirit of
LOVE and FORGIVENESS also be extended to the devil and his demonic consorts?? No you did not misread that.Is it possible that as
humanity prays and is prayed for and forgiven, that the devil, Satan, Lucifer or whatever other name he has, could also be prayed for and forgiven? In short could we even
'pray our devil out of hell?
Before you write me this idea of as madness, let's consider the implications for a minute. It has been well noted that every human-being (except Christ)has fallen short of perfection and to some larger or smaller decree erred in their life in some way. That is everyone, from the penniless street begger, to top 100 people on the Forbes magazine celebrity list; yes all of us humans, from the most hardened prisoner waiting on death's row to be executed, to the most
highly respected personalities of our time, including Mother Teresa, Martin Luther King, Oprah Winfrey, Tom Cruise, President Obama, Madonna, and the Queen have all erred in life at sometime or other too. No human-being is exempt from the tendency to make mistakes and to learn from them. Some very little mistakes as well as much larger issues. By acts of commission or omission if we are honest we have ALL erred at some point or other, and could all do with some forgiveness for something done to hurt another whether done openly or in secret. Yet we are taught in the
scriptures that the ultimate source of all evil which includes sin, error, mistakes, illness, deceit, fighting, lack, idol worship, pain and suffering of any sort, is the devil, also known as Satan. So what if every human-being who has ever been affected or possibly 'infected', tempted and swayed by the devil's will, (this includes everyone, including you reader and including me), suddenly stopped for 5 minutes today, to pray earnestly and humbly to God (the loving Creator of the universe, the Loving Source of Life, and of all
beings both visible and invisible), asking God, for complete forgiveness of the devil and all his rebellious actions, present, past and future against both God and humankind? What if billions of people were to start doing that together on the magnitude of 'Live Aid' and 'Band Aid'or gave as much attention to that prayer as to death of a favourite celebrity? What might happen? No more devil equals no more sin, and no more sin equals no more suffering? What if what starts with the devil, ends with the devil?
Could we pray for even the devil, so that even he the lowest of low, at the bottom of all evil, can be without any sort of negative influence or power over us?
Indeed I ask again,
Can we pray the devil out of hell?
by Rev.Bola A
(copyright: 9/9/09 - all rights reserved)
For more information please go here:
*Reverend Bola's Universe
