Under Attack


Last night was our first Alpha back after our weekend away. This Alpha retreat was one of the best in my memory, comparatively speaking. In addition to the leaders' team of four, there were six guests on the weekend. Every one except one came for private prayer to be filled with the Spirit. (The one who didn't was my wife, and she wanted to, but every time she came there was someone else in the room.) Two guests received the gift of tongues and one prayed the prayer giving her life to Christ. Our plan had been to run the first morning session, "How Can I be Filled With The Spirit?" ending at 10:30, then be available for half an hour for prayer. Our prayer time ended up lasting until after noon.

Last night's talk was on the reality of evil, and healing. There is a reason why Satan and the powers of evil are addressed immediately following the weekend retreat. That is because, if there is a wonderful Spiritual experience on the weekend, there is often an attack right after, not only on new believers but also on the leaders. The enemy does not like what we are doing. He does not like to lose those he considers his nor does he appreciate those who lead them away. At our pre-session leaders meeting last night, we all remarked on how tired we were following the end of the retreat Saturday afternoon, even though we slept well at the wonderfully peaceful Star of the North Retreat Centre in St Albert, Alberta (product placement). I lay down after it was over that afternoon and fell asleep for about two hours. 

Before last night's talk I asked how many of our guests felt tired after the retreat and every one of them raised their hand. I notice this after practically every Alpha retreat. We can have the most wonderful time of blessing and renewal, but immediately, the enemy comes in and attacks; causes doubt. He tries to get us to question, "Was that really real?"

But it's never the first time he has used that tactic. From the very beginning he has used the doubt-raising question, "Did God really say..."

Blessings,
John

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