The tree was diseased and the fruit was worm-riddled. It had to go. We had tried to treat that apple tree for a couple of years without success. We had gathered up the wormy fruit and added it to the dumpster for more than one season. The tree took our time and energy without giving us any benefit back. We cut it down. Then for a couple of years, we had to deal with roots sprouting up. Over time, we now removed all evidence of this worthless tree.
This past week I have been immersed in a Prayer Seminar presented by the Sycamore Commission. I learned that my spiritual life can be changed as I deal with unwanted “trees.”
Mike and Cindy Riches used an illustration of a tree structure as they taught about dealing with strongholds in our spiritual lives. A core stronghold, such as fear, was compared to the trunk of a tree. The fruit produced can be control, anger, inflexibility, perfectionism, headaches, isolation and a wide range of other behaviors. I can focus on plucking off unwanted fruit, but another crop will soon surface. I can cut off the trunk and demand, in prayer, that fear be gone, but it will likely continue to re-emerge until the roots are dealt with. When the trunk is “fear,” I learned that some roots include generational issues, curses or lies or love deficit issues.
Here is a guide to follow for this process:
1. Prayer Team Preparation - Confession
If needed, address any known unresolved issues that might compromise freedom for the Holy Spirit to work through you.
2. Protect the Time
Of the two or three who have come to pray, select a captain who will lead the prayer time. The captain prays a prayer of protection over the time.
An example prayer: "In Jesus' Name, I rebuke every demonic spirit that would oppose or try to compromise this prayer time in any way. I bind you and command you to go to the feet of Jesus. I exercise authority over and bind our fleshly thinking and imagination that conflicts with God's revelation. I bind any previous knowledge of this person in any way that it might get in the way of God's revelation. I ask You, Holy Spirit, to fill us so we may minister in the power of God, and I thank you for speaking clearly and specifically to us in Jesus' Name. Amen"
3. Strongholds
In prayer, ask God, "What are the core strongholds that may hinder _______ from fully living in your original design and purpose that you want to address at this time?" The team should listen to what God says and ask the one being prayed for if it resonates.
4. The Root
Ask "Lord, what is the source (root) of this stronghold (name it) in _______’s life?" It may be a curse or something else that God will reveal.
5. Pray
After asking if the individual is willing, lead through a prayer to deal with the revelation that they have received. Here is a pattern we use:
a) Repent of the sin and receive God's forgiveness and cleansing (also if a "root" revealed requires forgiveness such as injustice, love deficit, etc., grant forgiveness at this point).
b) Rebuke the enemy's hold on you
c) Replace all lies with God's TRUTH - declare that with God's power you will walk in specific truths
d) Receive the Holy Spirit's in-filling, impartation and blessing prayers
6. Encouragement and Exhortation
Provide practical advice
- Warn of the enemy's challenge and how to counter it
- Make sure that the person has scriptures and truth s/he can use to stand strong
- Assure the person of their authority in Christ
This approach has been used many times in our church with amazing results and freedom. Thanks to Mike & Cindy Riches from the Sycamore Commission for teaching us how to live free.
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