Daryl Priest on High Level Spiritual Warfare - Intense Message

[Y***@gmail.com]

Rev. Daryl Priest of Hickory, NC preaches on High Level Spiritual
Warfare. The Sunday message for October 7, 2007 has been posted at
http://www.darylpriest.info
Please email him at http://www.darylpriest.info

Rev. Priest answers each email personally and prays personally for
each need.

Let him know what you think of his message today.

Thanks.

~YP

[Steve Hayes]

Post by Y***@gmail.com
Rev. Daryl Priest of Hickory, NC preaches on High Level Spiritual
Warfare. The Sunday message for October 7, 2007 has been posted at
http://www.darylpriest.info

I see that that is a "video portal".

I don't have the bandwidth to waste on watching online videos so perhaps you
could give an outline or summary of what he means by "high level spiriaula
warfare".

Post by Y***@gmail.com
Please email him at http://www.darylpriest.info

That is not an e-mail address.

Post by Y***@gmail.com
Rev. Priest answers each email personally and prays personally for
each need.
Let him know what you think of his message today.

A few months ago a group of us did a synchroblog on spiritual warfare -- see:

http://tinyurl.com/ybkm3r

It was quite interesting to see the many different understandings of
"spiritual warfare", so that when people use that term they can often be
talking at cross-purposes. For Orthodox Christians it usually means war
against the passions, but for some others it seemed to be much closer to
carnal than spiritual warfare.

[Matthew Johnson]

[snip]

Post by Steve Hayes
http://tinyurl.com/ybkm3r

I looked at the opening page of the synchroblog. I was pleased to see
that it is much more efficient with the user's bandwidth that Daryl's
Video Portal;)

However, just as you do not have the time for watching his videos, I
decided I do not have the time to explore much more than the first
page of the synchroblog. But even the first page generates enough
questions for several thread in this NG. I will try to control myself
and limit it to a few points;)

1)Please correct the spelling of 'spiritual' on that page, which once
came out as 'spiitual'.

2)the example of 'money' vs. 'counterfeit money' was great.

3) just as in 1, please correct the spelling 'Godf', where you clearly
meant just 'God'.

4) the Exodus as typology of Baptism is not just an Orthodox
tradition, it is clearly described in Scripture, too. It is no
accident that we even use that very reading for the Blessing of the
Water on Epiphany (but to make the context clear, I wish we read
more, i.e. 1 Cor 10:1-6).

5) the section on dispassion (apaqeia) sounds more confusing that it
has to be, because (I think) it does not note the distinction
between the various senses of the word 'passion'. To make this
clearer, St. John of Damascus used the word 'energies', as in
'natural energies', defining those passions that are our enemies as
the _misuse_ or _abuse_ of our natural energies. Then it is the
energies, not the passions, which are "transfigured by communion with God."

6) I just -know- people are going to get the wrong idea out of "So
domestic violence too is spiritual warfare"! I am afraid to even
mention it here, since I am sure so many will get the wrong
idea. So I will try to steer as many away from this wrong idea as I
can, by saying what I think you really mean. You can tell me how
close I got;)

What I think you must really mean is: the person tempted to commit
domestic violence (not the same as corporal punishment) must wage
spiritual warfare against that temptation. At the same time, the
person suffering domestic violence must remember St. Monica's example,
hard to believe and understand though that is for us today.

Post by Steve Hayes
It was quite interesting to see the many different understandings of
"spiritual warfare", so that when people use that term they can often
be talking at cross-purposes. For Orthodox Christians it usually
means war against the passions, but for some others it seemed to be
much closer to carnal than spiritual warfare.

Well, I didn't go into the links, so I didn't see any idea of
"spiritual warfare" that is closer to carnal (except for a brief
mention of satanists). But I do want to remark here that what you just
referred to as the understanding among the Orthodox really is the
understanding in Scripture, too.

You know this already, no doubt. But it will not be obvious to those
reading your post, nor even to many of those who take the additional
effort of reading the synchroblog.

So to that end, it is definitely worth citing a few of the verses you
already mentioned, and commenting on them as follows:

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put
on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the
wiles of the devil. For we are not contending against flesh and blood,
but against the principalities, against the powers, against the world
rulers of this present darkness, against the spiritual hosts of
wickedness in the heavenly places. (Eph 6:10-12 RSVA)

Now from the context, which has just given a list of moral
commandments, it should be clear that "be strong in the Lord" refers
to resisting temptations to evil. So also it should be clear that "to
stand against the wiles of the devil" is _also_ resisting temptations
to evil. But finally, this same resisting must be what he is referring
to as "contending against the principalities" etc.

Then again, there is a dirty little truth hiding behind all these
repetitions of the word 'clear': that is that it will _not_ be clear
to the reader who is too strongly addicted to any of these passions,
who therefore wriggles as hard as he can to avoid seeing that
Scripture admonishes him. But this is because even just reading
Scripture and understanding it for what it is calls for spiritual
struggle, and is made _possible_ only by spiritual struggle.

[Y***@gmail.com]

Post by Steve Hayes

Post by Y***@gmail.com
Rev. Daryl Priest of Hickory, NC preaches on High Level Spiritual
Warfare. The Sunday message for October 7, 2007 has been posted at
http://www.darylpriest.info

I see that that is a "video portal".
I don't have the bandwidth to waste on watching online videos so perhaps you
could give an outline or summary of what he means by "high level spiriaula
warfare".

Post by Y***@gmail.com
Please email him athttp://www.darylpriest.info

That is not an e-mail address.

Post by Y***@gmail.com
Rev. Priest answers each email personally and prays personally for
each need.
Let him know what you think of his message today.

http://tinyurl.com/ybkm3r
It was quite interesting to see the many different understandings of
"spiritual warfare", so that when people use that term they can often be
talking at cross-purposes. For Orthodox Christians it usually means war
against the passions, but for some others it seemed to be much closer to
carnal than spiritual warfare.
--
Steve Hayes from Tshwane, South Africa
Web: http://hayesfam.bravehost.com/stevesig.htm
Blog:http://methodius.blogspot.com
E-mail - see web page, or parse: shayes at dunelm full stop org full stop uk

Steve,

Rev. Priest speaks on personal encounters with supernatural warfare
relative to the demonic realm.
Christians are often the enemy and at the aim of the devil. Often
attacked by Satan because of the impact of the effects
certain Christians have on the devil. These attacks are spiritual and
often weird and/or unexplained.

Feel free to email him personally at ***@gmail.com
And I will see he answers any questions you may have that I can not
really explain for him.

Thanks!

Jeff @ YP

[Matthew Johnson]

Post by Y***@gmail.com

Post by Y***@gmail.com
Rev. Daryl Priest of Hickory, NC preaches on High Level Spiritual
Warfare. The Sunday message for October 7, 2007 has been posted at
http://www.darylpriest.info

[snip]

Post by Y***@gmail.com
Rev. Priest speaks on personal encounters with supernatural warfare
relative to the demonic realm.

But what is he doing this for?

Post by Y***@gmail.com
Christians are often the enemy and at the aim of the devil.

Not just 'often'. Always (1 Pet 5:8).

Post by Y***@gmail.com
Often
attacked by Satan because of the impact of the effects
certain Christians have on the devil. These attacks are spiritual and
often weird and/or unexplained.

This is all true, but you seem to be missing the point. The attacks _start_ as
temptations to obey the passions instead of the commandments. So the spiritual
warfare against them must start with fighting the temptations and defeating not
just the temptations, but the passions themselves.

This is why Mat 5:21-44 lists OT commandments and NT commandments in contrasting
pairs: each OT commandment is a command against an external action, each NT
commandment is a commandment to defeat the corresponding passion.

Just as in gardening, pulling the weeds out by the leaves does no good, you must
pull them out by the roots, so also in spiritual warfare, you must pull the
demons out by their roots, the (evil) passions. This is _why_ Eph 6:1-17 reads
the way it does: he starts with moral exhortation to resist certain temptations,
then reminds us we are warring against demons, and then reminds of of how the
"armor of God (Eph 6:13)" is used in this warfare -- against the "darts of the
devil (Eph 6:16)" which are _passions_ and _temptations_ to sin.

Listening to tales of 'supernatural' warfare may have a bigger 'wow' factor, but
they are not so helpful for the day-to-day spiritual warfare against the
passions. They may even prove a distraction from the basics, which are what we
_really_ need (Mt 5:21-44).

[Steve Hayes]

Post by Matthew Johnson
[snip]

Post by Steve Hayes
A few months ago a group of us did a synchroblog on spiritual warfare
http://tinyurl.com/ybkm3r

I looked at the opening page of the synchroblog. I was pleased to see
that it is much more efficient with the user's bandwidth that Daryl's
Video Portal;)

I'm glad you thought so. I don't might newsgroup postings that refer to web
sites, provided that there is at least a sumary or indication of the content
in the newsgroup, so that it can be discussed, and the web site referred to
for more detail. And thanks for pointing out the typos. I'll try to correct
them.

Post by Matthew Johnson
4) the Exodus as typology of Baptism is not just an Orthodox
tradition, it is clearly described in Scripture, too. It is no
accident that we even use that very reading for the Blessing of the
Water on Epiphany (but to make the context clear, I wish we read
more, i.e. 1 Cor 10:1-6).

I don't see a separation between "Orthodoxy" and "scripture".

Post by Matthew Johnson
5) the section on dispassion (apaqeia) sounds more confusing that it
has to be, because (I think) it does not note the distinction
between the various senses of the word 'passion'. To make this
clearer, St. John of Damascus used the word 'energies', as in
'natural energies', defining those passions that are our enemies as
the _misuse_ or _abuse_ of our natural energies. Then it is the
energies, not the passions, which are "transfigured by communion with God."
6) I just -know- people are going to get the wrong idea out of "So
domestic violence too is spiritual warfare"! I am afraid to even
mention it here, since I am sure so many will get the wrong
idea. So I will try to steer as many away from this wrong idea as I
can, by saying what I think you really mean. You can tell me how
close I got;)
What I think you must really mean is: the person tempted to commit
domestic violence (not the same as corporal punishment) must wage
spiritual warfare against that temptation. At the same time, the
person suffering domestic violence must remember St. Monica's example,
hard to believe and understand though that is for us today.

Yes, that is what I mean, or close enough anyway.

Post by Matthew Johnson

Post by Steve Hayes
It was quite interesting to see the many different understandings of
"spiritual warfare", so that when people use that term they can often
be talking at cross-purposes. For Orthodox Christians it usually
means war against the passions, but for some others it seemed to be
much closer to carnal than spiritual warfare.

Well, I didn't go into the links, so I didn't see any idea of
"spiritual warfare" that is closer to carnal (except for a brief
mention of satanists). But I do want to remark here that what you just
referred to as the understanding among the Orthodox really is the
understanding in Scripture, too.
You know this already, no doubt. But it will not be obvious to those
reading your post, nor even to many of those who take the additional
effort of reading the synchroblog.

I think a lot of people's conception of "spiritual warfare" has been formed
neither by Holy Scripture, nor by Orthodox theology, but by such things as the
novels of Frank Peretti -- especially people in North America. Peretti puts
forward a very materialistic notion of "spiritual warfare".

Some of the others wrting in the synchroblog assumed that "spiritual warfare"
meant fighting against people rather than passions, and some suggested that
the term "spiritual warfare" should be dropped, because it was misused in that
way.

[Matthew Johnson]

Post by Steve Hayes

Post by Matthew Johnson
[snip]

Post by Steve Hayes
A few months ago a group of us did a synchroblog on spiritual warfare
http://tinyurl.com/ybkm3r

I looked at the opening page of the synchroblog. I was pleased to see
that it is much more efficient with the user's bandwidth that Daryl's
Video Portal;)

I'm glad you thought so. I don't might newsgroup postings that refer to web
sites, provided that there is at least a sumary or indication of the content
in the newsgroup, so that it can be discussed, and the web site referred to
for more detail. And thanks for pointing out the typos.

You are welcome.

[snip]

Post by Steve Hayes
I think a lot of people's conception of "spiritual warfare" has been formed
neither by Holy Scripture, nor by Orthodox theology, but by such things as the
novels of Frank Peretti -- especially people in North America. Peretti puts
forward a very materialistic notion of "spiritual warfare".

You are giving us 'Americans' too much credit if you think we even know who
Peretti is. The popular notion is more under the influecne of the movie, "the
exorcist" than any novel:-(

Post by Steve Hayes
Some of the others wrting in the synchroblog assumed that "spiritual warfare"
meant fighting against people rather than passions,

Ouch! Talk about missing the point!

Post by Steve Hayes
and some suggested that
the term "spiritual warfare" should be dropped, because it was misused in that
way.

That would be a 'cure' far worse than the 'disease'.

BTW: I don't "make a separation between Orthodoxy and Scripture" either, but I
am willing to make at least some allowance for the distinction most Western
Christians notice pretty quickly between Scripture and the Tradition, which says
many things that are hard to see in Scripture -- if they can be seen there at
all.

[Steve Hayes]

Post by Matthew Johnson

Post by Steve Hayes
I think a lot of people's conception of "spiritual warfare" has been formed
neither by Holy Scripture, nor by Orthodox theology, but by such things as the
novels of Frank Peretti -- especially people in North America. Peretti puts
forward a very materialistic notion of "spiritual warfare".

You are giving us 'Americans' too much credit if you think we even know who
Peretti is. The popular notion is more under the influecne of the movie, "the
exorcist" than any novel:-(

Possibly; I didn't see that film myself, though I have seen "Dracula" and even
read the book (several times). I was lent one of Peretti's books by an
American friend (haven't seen them on sale here), and from remarks I've seen
in newsgroups and other electronic forums I get the impression that quite a
number of US Protestants have read them and been influenced by them.

That's why I'd prefer at least the basic information about Daryl Priest's view
of spiritual warfare to be posted on the Newsgroups. I don't mind being
referred to a URL for further details, or as a source of information, but when
ALL information about it is missing from the post, and the URL concerned is
not written information but a video, then it's not enough. A URL should be
given like a footnote in a book. If all the text were removed and only the
footnotes remained, one would not have much of a book. If Daryl Priest is so
good at answering e-mails, perhaps the original poster could get one from him
and post it here, or get Daryl Priest himself to post an abstract of his views
on spiritual warfare here.

Post by Matthew Johnson

Post by Steve Hayes
Some of the others wrting in the synchroblog assumed that "spiritual warfare"
meant fighting against people rather than passions,

Ouch! Talk about missing the point!

It seems to be quite widespread, though.

Though St Paul says "the weapons of our warfare are not carnal", it appears
that for some people a slogan like "Nuke Iraq" is a call to spiritual warfare.

Post by Matthew Johnson

Post by Steve Hayes
and some suggested that
the term "spiritual warfare" should be dropped, because it was misused in that
way.

That would be a 'cure' far worse than the 'disease'.

Indeed.

Post by Matthew Johnson
BTW: I don't "make a separation between Orthodoxy and Scripture" either, but I
am willing to make at least some allowance for the distinction most Western
Christians notice pretty quickly between Scripture and the Tradition, which says
many things that are hard to see in Scripture -- if they can be seen there at
all.

Well if this thread ever develops into a serious discussion of spiritual
warfare (whether Daryl Priest participates or not), I'll be happy to give
scriptural references.

[Y***@gmail.com]

On Oct 10, 7:16 pm, Matthew Johnson <***@newsguy.org>
wrote:
...

Post by Matthew Johnson
This is all true, but you seem to be missing the point. The attacks _start_ as
temptations to obey the passions instead of the commandments. So the spiritual
warfare against them must start with fighting the temptations and defeating not
just the temptations, but the passions themselves.
This is why Mat 5:21-44 lists OT commandments and NT commandments in contrasting
pairs: each OT commandment is a command against an external action, each NT
commandment is a commandment to defeat the corresponding passion.
Just as in gardening, pulling the weeds out by the leaves does no good, you must
pull them out by the roots, so also in spiritual warfare, you must pull the
demons out by their roots, the (evil) passions. This is _why_ Eph 6:1-17 reads
the way it does: he starts with moral exhortation to resist certain temptations,
then reminds us we are warring against demons, and then reminds of of how the
"armor of God (Eph 6:13)" is used in this warfare -- against the "darts of the
devil (Eph 6:16)" which are _passions_ and _temptations_ to sin.
Listening to tales of 'supernatural' warfare may have a bigger 'wow' factor, but
they are not so helpful for the day-to-day spiritual warfare against the
passions. They may even prove a distraction from the basics, which are what we
_really_ need (Mt 5:21-44).

...

We disagree. This form of spiritual warfare has to do with satanic
attacks into the kingdom realm.
We are not talking about petty sin temptations and roots of sin. We
are discussing major serious satanic and demonic warfare.
This is where 99% of Christians are blind to the fact that Satan
attack those who are an oppression to his efforts.
If you have not experienced this, you should be prayerfully thankful.
YP

[Matthew Johnson]

[snip]

Post by Y***@gmail.com

Post by Matthew Johnson
This is why Mat 5:21-44 lists OT commandments and NT commandments
in contrasting pairs: each OT commandment is a command against an
external action, each NT commandment is a commandment to defeat the
corresponding passion.
Just as in gardening, pulling the weeds out by the leaves does no
good, you must pull them out by the roots, so also in spiritual
warfare, you must pull the demons out by their roots, the (evil)
passions. This is _why_ Eph 6:1-17 reads the way it does: he starts
with moral exhortation to resist certain temptations, then reminds
us we are warring against demons, and then reminds of of how the
"armor of God (Eph 6:13)" is used in this warfare -- against the
"darts of the devil (Eph 6:16)" which are _passions_ and
_temptations_ to sin.
Listening to tales of 'supernatural' warfare may have a bigger
'wow' factor, but they are not so helpful for the day-to-day
spiritual warfare against the passions. They may even prove a
distraction from the basics, which are what we _really_ need (Mt
5:21-44).

...
We disagree.

I can't say I am surprised. But what surprises me is that you don't
seem to be aware that you are disagreeing with Scripture, not just
with me. There is a _reason_ for all my Scripture citations
above. What is your reason for not responding to any of them?

Post by Y***@gmail.com
This form of spiritual warfare has to do with satanic attacks into
the kingdom realm. We are not talking about petty sin temptations
and roots of sin.

Why do you call them 'petty'? Is it because you believe it doesn't
matter whether you fall or not? Then I have to ask: what part of Eph
6:1-17 did you not understand?

But more importantly, why do you believe it is even profitable to talk
about "satanic attacks into the kingdom realm" with people who have
not yet made progress in the _other_ form of spiritual warfare, the
warfare against passions and temptations? Scripture certainly never
commanded any such thing.

There is a reason for this, too.

Post by Y***@gmail.com
We are discussing major serious satanic and demonic warfare.

So am I. This "major serious and demonic warfare" starts with
temptations. Very often, it does not _have_ to progress further, since
so many fall to temptation so quickly these days.

Post by Y***@gmail.com
This is where 99% of Christians are blind to the fact that Satan
attack those who are an oppression to his efforts.

What 'this' are you referring to? Does it have something to do with
that "kingdom realm" you mentioned"? But yet again, more importantly,
this blindness you mention takes root in the victim's soul much
earlier, when they are blind to the fact that the demons are behind
the temptations they succumb to.

So in other words, those "99% of Christians" you refer to as 'blind',
are blind _precisely_ because they did not notice the spiritual
warfare when it started with temptations. Once blinded there, they
will certainly be blind to the warfare you are concerned with. Even if
they enjoy some 'success' in this warfare, that 'success' is only a
prelude to a much greater fall.

This should not suprise you, especially if you really do have the
experience you and Daryl claim with spiritual warfare. For such a fall
is precisely what happened to St. Isaac of the Kiev Caves, when he
sought out such warfare before he was ready.

His story is documented in full in the book advertised at
http://www.eastview.com/xq/ASP/sku=K2009276/f_locale=/Kiev/Ukraine/English/qx/russian/books/product.asp.

Unfortunately, I am not finding a version online in English. I did
find it in Russian at http://www.sedmitza.ru/index.html?did=6362.

[Rev. Daryl Priest]

Brother,

I am sorry we are not on the same page here. I do not think you have
experienced what we are discussing apparently. Maybe I should pray
that the Lord shows you and lets you experience just a minute of the
attacks we experience. If you had watched the video this week you'd
hear a response to your statements. The program entitled "For your
information" is a response to you.

Son, maybe one day you will have had the spiritual maturity and
discernment/experience to talk about demonic spiritual warfare. This
is not do to any actions on your part. It is a spiritual realm of
attack from those against the army of the Lord. Those satanic
infulences working to stop the Kingdom of God.

Not to be rude, but until you experience this warfare you will be
blind to the reality of it and not understand the principalities and
power of darkness unleashed in this world of death.

Rev. Jeff Montanari
Freedom Center Global Ministries, Inc.
www.fcchurch.us

[Steve Hayes]

Post by Y***@gmail.com
We disagree. This form of spiritual warfare has to do with satanic
attacks into the kingdom realm.

Isn't "kingdom realm" tautologous?

And what does it mean?

Post by Y***@gmail.com
We are not talking about petty sin temptations and roots of sin. We
are discussing major serious satanic and demonic warfare.

Could you explain the difference, with a few examples of the latter?

Post by Y***@gmail.com
This is where 99% of Christians are blind to the fact that Satan
attack those who are an oppression to his efforts.

I don't know about the percentage, but yes, that's why monks, for example,
have to be careful not lo lose their nepsis.

[Steve Hayes]

Post by Rev. Daryl Priest
Brother,
I am sorry we are not on the same page here. I do not think you have
experienced what we are discussing apparently. Maybe I should pray
that the Lord shows you and lets you experience just a minute of the
attacks we experience. If you had watched the video this week you'd
hear a response to your statements. The program entitled "For your
information" is a response to you.
Son, maybe one day you will have had the spiritual maturity and
discernment/experience to talk about demonic spiritual warfare. This
is not do to any actions on your part. It is a spiritual realm of
attack from those against the army of the Lord. Those satanic
infulences working to stop the Kingdom of God.

Hi brother/dad (isn't that a bit incestuous?)

As I've said before, I don't watch online videos -- they consume too much
bandwidth.

So I would be grateful if you could explain what you are talking about clearly
and concidely, in writing, which consumes very little bandwidth.

Being cagey about it and padding it out with innuendoes about how much more
spiritually mature you are doesn't cut it.

[Matthew Johnson]

[snip]

Post by Steve Hayes
So I would be grateful if you could explain what you are talking about clearly
and concidely, in writing, which consumes very little bandwidth.
Being cagey about it and padding it out with innuendoes about how much more
spiritually mature you are doesn't cut it.

Not only that, but being so cagey, responding with unjustifiable innuendo (as
you describe), even leads some of us to suspect the reason he wants us to watch
the video is because he thinks he can get a bigger 'wow' out of us if we see his
visual tricks. But what nefarious goal he could have in mind that he wants to do
this is what mystifies and concerns me.