Oppressed
There are so many reports of suffering. It is evident that many who have chosen and truly desire to follow the leading of the Spirit, are going through awful things.
Such sickness, so much trouble and despair, to the point of even wishing to give up.
It’s no terrible fault to admit that we’ve sometimes come to this place. We are human beings and I assure you, there is only just so much ours minds and bodies can take.
God knows that. He understands this very well; He created us. Even the Apostles came to a time when they were so pressed and pressured, they “despaired even of life.”
I don’t feel now that Apostle Paul was always jumping up and down happy when he was being beaten and left for dead. He never said he was.
There’s some verse that we may have needed to give more time to study and ask for understanding. The scripture says that Jesus went about “healing those that were oppressed of the devil.”
I don’t recall a lot of teaching on what that must have meant. I believe it meant exactly what it said. It was not written that they were possessed; it said they were oppressed.
Without an intense definition of that word, it simply means that you are shoved, pushed, strained, pressed down and attacked to the point of actually being bruised.
In body, mind and in your spirit. Pressure; beyond measure. Hammered on; squeezed!
Sickness in our own bodies and our loved ones, can often deplete our level of peace and feelings of safety.
Our jobs, our relationships, our kinfolk and problems with those we thought we could trust can bring so much grief.
I want to share something I read here some years back. It said we often focus on the person that is giving us such a hard time.
They won’t stop; they are relentless in pushing our buttons or being outright caustic and demeaning. It never really occurred to us that there was more to this than what we realized.
A spiritual kind of event. Something beyond what we were seeing.
Too many times, it was actually an evil spirit pressing and working behind and through that person to oppress us and even torment us.
To shorten this part, the individual I was reading made a truly real statement. Discern what is really going on.
Bind that devil that is behind that person and take power and authority over it and command it to go, in Jesus name.
Yes, the affronting individual bears the true blame for such a thing but often they are even unaware themselves that they are being used so badly. A key word here is “used.”
For many of us, our energy is gone. We have no more strength and we simply can’t take anymore.
I’m not ashamed to say I’ve been that way many times in these past years and I’ve prayed for God to just take me on and let me go from here.
Saying this does not make me weak; it makes me honest. People today need to hear the truth about what others are facing and the struggles they are having to endure.
We are supposed to tell one another; the scripture says so. We’re not talking about someone who complains all the time and wimps about every thing they encounter.
There is great healing in confessing and being able to talk to someone else about what we’re going through.
There is great chaos and upheaval all around us on seemingly every side.
There are so many tragedies, deaths and betrayals among us. I have never know such oppression; such sickness and such suffering.
It was only by studying the writings of King David that I found out just how honest and outspoken he was with God.
Hearing the man after God’s own heart say “I can’t take it anymore.” Telling God that He had to do something and do it now, stunned me at first.
Until I became aware of the relationship the two of them actually had.
I needed healing; more than I ever did in all my life. Where were the ones that had such Gifts.
Because they were so suppressed by those in authority who didn’t have them, these gifts did not disappear.
And all those to whom they were given did not lose them either. Jesus has healed me so many times; especially in mind and spirit.
I would no longer exist on this earth if He had not. Often times, I feel I must be healed every day. I want to stop and say, that many of those on here arguing about doctrine and baptism and such, need to get out there and heal some people.
That has its place. But being sick in your mind and your heart and staying that way, is not necessary. We have tools.
God, in the name of your Son Jesus Christ, heal the damage and the bruising done by all of this oppression.
Help us to renew the love and concern we once had for our brothers and sisters and all those around us who don’t know what we know.
It’s being said a lot on here. Stop being so religious and be spiritual. Be so acute in the Spirit that you can actually pick up on someone’s trouble and despair standing right next to you.
Read people’s spirits, by The Holy Spirit. Help them — even if they are in the pew next to you.
Please — for all our sakes.
~ Robert Blackburn
Love this. Thank you.
„I would no longer exist on this earth if He had not. Often times, I feel I must be healed every day. I want to stop and say, that many of those on here arguing about doctrine and baptism and such, need to get out there and heal some people.“
This kind of honesty is very rare among believers in the charismatic area, because confessing this kind of truth would be a negative confession and belief!
I have contless times been comforted by the honesty of saints who have been pressed and oppressed in different ways, the prophets, Jeremiah, Job, David, Paul, Elijah and others………! They all did not blame the Devil though, but saw God behind all things. So I say, – if we are suffering like this (in my case since more than fourty years, it must have a deep meaning that will turn out for our good finally. It‘s the only light for me in the tunnel times…….
Thank you so very much your words encourage me that the pressure and all out assault is not just me! Thank you for always
“ being real” in your posts God bless you
Thank you Robert for your honesty, I needed to hear this, Blessings
Discernment is what’s needed in the body of Christ. The Word clearly speaks of different scenarios. Is it oppression? Is it a demonic spirit controlling someone? Ask the Holy Spirit for HIS revelation, wisdom, and understanding of what’s truly going on.
There is no condemnation for those whom are in Christ Jesus. Jesus is the One whom sets us free.
Let us not be entangled in disunity of one camp vs another. The Word speaks of both senarios, so let’s follow Christ in humility and love for each other. Let’s grow in Christ’s ways and ask HIM to lead us in this area of discernment.
“Real talk” man of God, for anyone pressing into the things of God. Healing is God’s wiLL yet, often there’s a wrestling of a spirit of infirmity. Whether we receive healing miraculously, or gradually. Luke 17:11-14(b) If we have 1 real person, we can talk and relate to about struggles we ALL have…..you are “blessed”. Celebrate!
His timing……wow!!
It’s been a long hard journey through this hot dry desert, that’s for sure.
This thorn, sent to buffet me, though it seems at times unbearable, is necessary for the humility needing to be produced within me to carry the weight of His Glory and release the Kingdom of God upon the Earth in this Hour.
I’m sitting on the edge of my bed this morning after fighting theough hell, yet again, all night long. I’m tired. I’m going to get up, get ready, and go back up to the hospital I’ve been covering under the Blood of Jesus Christ all night, and hopefully bring my mother back here to her home……again.
My body and my mind are afflicted and infested, and witchcraft has had a field day with it. But in the precious words of King David I declare that I am still confident of this, I will see the Goodness of the Lord in the land of the living, I will be strong and take heart and wait upon the Lord.
God bless your beautiful heart Robert. I would have never made it this far without the encouragement and kindness of His Saints. And together, in His Strength, we will cross the Fonish Line!!
Oh, yes I can relate sometimes it`s so tough but if we sit at God`s feet enough he will heal us because he knows that sometimes it`s very difficult to say what we are going thro` to people who themselves are not emotionally healed. Church has to do healing regularly even for Pastors so that noone grows bitter.
God is good all the time
Thank you Robert. It has been really tough. To the point of wanting to quit. It seems like every time I try to step out and write or work on a kingdom project everything falls apart in explosive ways…and then I end up dropping what ever I was working on. I don’t want to drop this writing project. I want to run this race well and finish it well.
Good post Robert and right on the mark for what is needed in the church. God bless you, Joyce
Robert, I always look forward to your posts and your ‘take’ brings such wonderful understanding of things we sometimes overlook. As I have been praying for my son ‘diligently’, my mind kept ‘casting out’ the spirit I was fighting. When I read this word, the Lord corrected me that I could not see my son’s heart and He was not possessed but tormented and OPPRESSED!! I thank God for your obedient heart to just endeavor to ‘tell it like it really is’. May God’s richest blessings abound in your life as you walk in humility and obedience, Sandi Holman
Sending Jesus healing love to your son`s heart !
Thank you, dear brother Robert. I remember some of your articles. You always have been honest to the core.
A Holy Scripture about the topic comes to my mind: 2. Corinthians 4:8
We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecutee, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body.