Set this word to a rhythm and declare it out loud for at least 5 minutes and whenever you’re out walking or driving today.
“Jesus, the Son of God came to destroy satan’s works.” 1 John 3:8
The Truth Challenge
Consider honestly these questions:
“How are you involved in this spiritual fight (casting out demons) to see people set free?”
“Are you willing to get training, to learn, so you can get experience and grow in this area?”
The Response Challenge
Take some notes and share them with your warrior brother (by telephone, email, text etc.).
The Physical Challenge
Fasting
If fasting is new to you, begin with just one meal, and extend as you feel God leading you. Get advice for attempting different types of fasts, especially extended ones.
Over half of the works that Jesus did were casting out demons. Like healing, we often think of this as something for special people or special ministries.
But Jesus said matter-of-factly in Mark 16: “In my name, you WILL cast out demons.”
If this stirs your heart, ask the Holy Spirit to lead you, get training and teaching and step out in faith and obedience.
Arrange to meet for 30 to 60 minutes sometime during the week with your warrior brother to share how things have been; share and ask questions about the daily and weekly content, and pray for one another.
Similarly, consider preparing your testimony using a simple BEFORE, ENCOUNTER, NOW pattern; what you were like before you met Christ, how you met Him, and what you are like now. Search online for more advice on how to share your testimony sincerely and convincingly within two minutes.
Additional scriptures:
“Preach the word - be prepared in and out of season.” 2 Timothy 4:2
“Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect…” 1 Peter 3:15
Set this word to a rhythm and declare it out loud for at least 5 minutes and whenever you’re out walking or driving today.
“He who believes in me will do what I've been doing. Greater things you'll do, you'll do in my name.” John 14:12
The Truth Challenge
Consider honestly these questions:
“Have you ever seen people healed in Jesus’ name?”
“Did you know that it's part of your calling as follower of Christ - to heal the sick, and cast out demons?”
“Are you seeing, or expecting to see, or at least wanting to see those greater works?”
The Response Challenge
Take some notes and share them with your warrior brother (by telephone, email, text etc.).
The Physical Challenge
Heal someone
Interestingly, Jesus did not say ‘pray for healing’ but rather just simply ‘heal the sick’. What is the difference? Primarily it’s about understanding the authority we walk in as followers of Christ.
If this is an area that you are not already wanting to grow in, consider doing the following:
Do a study of the scriptures, particularly the gospels, concerning physical healing. Get God’s perspective on the matter.
Listen to or read up on testimonies of healings.
Ask God to lead you to someone who needs healing.
Ask God how to pray for them.
Step out to pray! Keep it simple and natural.
Get further training; keep asking God to teach you in this area. Keep your heart free from debates regarding physical healing that we often see. Stay grounded in the word, led by the Spirit and connected in community with your Warrior Brothers.
Set this word to a rhythm and declare it out loud for at least 5 minutes and whenever you’re out walking or driving today.
“The weapons we fight with, are not the weapons of the world.” 2nd Corinthians 10:4
The Truth Challenge
Consider honestly these questions:
“As a warrior, do you have your weapons sharpened and ready for any situation?”
“Do you know what your weapons are? Do you know how to use them?”
The Response Challenge
Take some notes and share them with your warrior brother (by telephone, email, text etc.).
The Physical Challenge
Dancing
Dancing is a powerful act of worship that helps us take control over our minds and souls through letting our spirit lead us and responding physically. It often starts as just a raw choice; David danced before the whole nation in worship to the Lord. (2 Samuel 6:14-22)
Apart from spiritual benefits, dancing is also a great aerobic exercise!
Hints:
Find a secluded place where you know no-one else will see you.
Put on some up-beat worship music that you like.
Begin with walking while clapping or moving your arms as you respond physically in worship.
Your dance might not rank on a human scale, but believe me, the Lord delights over you as you worship Him with dance! (Zephaniah 3:17)
Set this word to a rhythm and declare it out loud for at least 5 minutes and whenever you’re out walking or driving today.
“Greater is the one living in you than the enemy living in the world.” 1 John 4:4
The Truth Challenge
Consider honestly these questions:
“Do you give the devil too much attention, or not enough?”
“Are you aware of the spiritual battle that is going on around you?”
The Response Challenge
Take some notes and share them with your warrior brother (by telephone, email, text etc.).
The Physical Challenge
Silence
This has to be one of the more difficult physical challenges for me personally! I’d much prefer activity to quietly waiting in silence. But there is something powerful in silently waiting in His presence. Here are some hints:
If you battle sleepiness, consider going outside, to nature for times of silence.
Look, listen, smell, feel - engage your senses as you wait in His presence.
Use breathing and visualisation to help.
Here are some relevant Bible verses: “Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!” Ps 46:10 “My soul waits in silence for God only.” Psalm 62:1
WARRIOR TRAINING WEEKENDS
Towards the end or shortly after the 33 Day Challenge, we recommend holding a Warrior Training Weekend with a small group of men. We believe that this time away can be a breakthrough for many men - and set them on a powerful journey of growth.
Set this word to a rhythm and declare it out loud for at least 5 minutes and whenever you’re out walking or driving today.
“God loves a cheerful giver.” 2 Corinthians 9:7
The Truth Challenge
Consider honestly these questions:
“Do you control your money - or does it control you?”
“Do you trust your pay-check, insurance, or your mother more than the MASTER?”
“Do you base your decisions on how much you have in the bank?”
The Response Challenge
Take some notes and share them with your warrior brother (by telephone, email, text etc.).
The Physical Challenge
Give money (or possessions)
This is possibly the most difficult challenge for many men; to trust God completely with our finances. And the antidote for fear in this area or the love of money/possessions is surrendering completely and giving generously!
Ask God for what amount or what things (possessions etc.) to give.
Ask Him who to give to.
Ask Him how to give. (Anonymously etc.)
Just do it! And keep doing it every time you receive income.
Set this word to a rhythm and declare it out loud for at least 5 minutes and whenever you’re out walking or driving today.
“Be careful how you live. Make the most of every chance because the days are evil.” Ephesians 5:15-16
The Truth Challenge
Consider honestly these questions:
“On a scale of 1-10, how well do you manage your time?”
“Are you constantly regretting how you waste time?”
The Response Challenge
Take some notes and share them with your warrior brother (by telephone, email, text etc.).
The Physical Challenge
Make a Schedule
If this is an area of challenge for you, get help. Time is a gift. Making the most of every opportunity does not mean you’re constantly busy working, but that you are in charge of your schedule and not just swept along by circumstances.
Invite the Holy Spirit to guide you into balance in this area; invite Him into every part of your life and visualise Him walking with you as you go about your day.
Arrange to meet for 30 to 60 minutes sometime during the week with your warrior brother to share how things have been; share and ask questions about the daily and weekly content, and pray for one another.
Set this word to a rhythm and declare it out loud for at least 5 minutes and whenever you’re out walking or driving today.
“Love is patient, love is kind, it's not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.” 1 Corinthians 13:4-5
The Truth Challenge
Consider honestly these questions:
“How are you when you drive? Or when you play sports?”
“Do you become a different person?”
“Are you easily offended?”
“Are you known among friends and family as short tempered, or are you un-offendable?”
The Response Challenge
Take some notes and share them with your warrior brother (by telephone, email, text etc.).
The Physical Challenge
Aerobic/Cardio Exercise
Aerobic exercise is any type of activity that increases your breathing and heart rate and benefits your heart and lungs. It can include brisk walking, swimming, running, dancing or cycling. If you don’t already do aerobic exercise, consider what you can do to add it to your regular schedule.
If you find these activities boring, consider basketball, soccer, hiking etc.
Start in a warmer season to allow your body to get used to it.
Have a normal warm shower first, do your usual washing, then turn down the temperature gradually over the first week or so, until completely cold.
Eventually, the goal should be completely cold for the last 1-2 minutes of your regular shower, and only cold for the summer months.
Set your own goals and stick to them.
Additional Bible Verses:
“Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.” Proverbs 4:23
“The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are good, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eyes are bad, your whole body will be full of darkness.” Matt 6:22-23
“Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will.” Rom 12:2
“If your right eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away.” Matt 5:29
Set this word to a rhythm and declare it out loud for at least 5 minutes and whenever you’re out walking or driving today.
“Learn to control, control your own body. Avoid all immorality.” 1 Thessalonians 4:4
The Truth Challenge
Consider honestly this question:
“Do you really understand the MASTER’S heart towards sex and sexuality, or just want a list of dos and don'ts to live by?”
The Response Challenge
Take some notes and share them with your warrior brother (by telephone, email, text etc.).
The Physical Challenge
Proactively read and study about relationships
Make an active search for blogs, books or teaching on the relationships that you are involved in; singleness, pre-marriage, marriage, divorce recovery, child-raising etc.
Of course, carefully discern and weigh the message they bring but actively learn from others who have gone before.
For young men hoping to be married one day, actively ask friends who have the type of relationship you want in the future for keys on how to prepare yourself for that.
Set this word to a rhythm and declare it out loud for at least 5 minutes and whenever you’re out walking or driving today.
“Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.” Ephesians 5:21
The Truth Challenge
Consider honestly these questions:
To Married men: “Have you ever told your wife that she needs to submit to you because you're the husband? How does the mandate for a husband to die for his wife, like Christ died for the church, measure up to that?”
To Single Men: “If you want to marry in the future - how are you preparing for that?”
To All Men: “Does the way you treat others reflect Jesus’ words to become servant of all - and die for others?”
The Response Challenge
Take some notes and share them with your warrior brother (by telephone, email, text etc.).
The Physical Challenge
Day of Solitude
Take a day (or half a day) for time with the Master, at home, hiking or doing something you enjoy.
Set this word to a rhythm and declare it out loud for at least 5 minutes and whenever you’re out walking or driving today.
“Stand firm in the faith; be men of courage; be strong. be strong. Do everything in love.” 1 Corinthians 16:13-14
The Truth Challenge
Consider honestly this question:
“Are you overly reliant on leaders or mentors? Do you have their role in your life in balance? Imagine if all leaders in your life were removed - would you still grow in faith?”
The Response Challenge
Take some notes and share them with your warrior brother (by telephone, email,text etc.).
The Physical Challenge
Journaling
There are countless benefits to journalling - from organising your thoughts, to being creative and writing poetry or songs. There are also many articles and books about the process. This is one such article:
• 33 doesn't have to be 33 minutes! Work up to it.
• Better to do a little every day - than try too much and only hit once every 2-3 days.
Consistency is important - we want to create DAILY habits - but don't go hard on yourself. If you're behind - no problem. Just keep persevering.
The idea is also you use TRAVEL TIME - car, walking, bicycle, train - to focus on the content.
• Really helps to do with a friend!
• Until now has been OBEY HEAVEN and SERVE PEOPLE - and from now - part 11 - serve people still for a few days.
• And finally - we're planning a weekend away November 29 to Dec 1st, near Yokohama or Mt Fuji in Japan.
We're going to add an extra video about LISTENING TO YOUR SPIRIT that Koji and I made - We recommend you use this when you get together with your warrior brother.
We'll also add some ideas about what to do when you get together with your brother.
Even if you can get 30 - 60 together - even ONLINE - It would be worth it.
Briefly -
1. Pray - invite the Holy Spirit
2. Read Psalm 33 and spend some time just thanking, worshipping and asking God things from the Psalm
3. Do some reports on the questions and content until now. Ask each other - what's been hard? What's been difficult? Send us some feedback if you have some good ideas or insight!
4. Check out the LISTENING TO YOUR SPIRIT video - and do the exercise together.
5. Share needs, and pray for one another
23 May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
1 Corinthians 2
10 The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God.
11 For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the man's spirit within him?
In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God.
Job 32
8 But it is the spirit in a man, the breath of the Almighty, that gives him understanding.
Romans 8:
15 For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear,
but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, <"Abba,> Father."
16 The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children.
QUESTIONS:
What do you want most in all the world?
What does your spirit want to say to God?
What does God want to say to your spirit?
For things to be different from this point on what do you need to do?
ARTICLE: Listening to Your Spirit - Marty Woods
Here is a useful quote from Dan Allender, a Christian counsellor-
“The disentangling of the true self is the thrilling work of Christian growth.”
This has been my journey – the disentangling of the me from the “not me.” This journey has been my call, where my dignity has come from, made sense of my life.
I met a guy who was to become my boss. I was 29. When he spoke my spirit responded in a way I never had responded before. I had to talk more with him. He believed in me and as we worked together he would help me hear my spirit. He helped me to name it and so I was able to understand it. I recall being so thankful for my spirit and grateful for someone who spent the time to help me see what was always there!
However having someone help you hear your spirit is no guarantee that you will always do it. You need some of the disciplines. It is why the story of Jacob wrestling with God and saying, “I won’t give up till you give me the blessing” has been significant. It’s been my journey – wrestling and because I haven’t given up God is giving me this blessing. It is why I am so alive now. I feel that blessing. It came because I didn’t give up.
As Solomon says in Proverbs,
“Above all else guard your heart for it is the well spring of life. Proverbs 4:23
Here is the challenge - how do you make the spirit the integrating part of who you are?
We are body, soul and spirit and, as 1 Thessalonians 5:23 says, we are to bring all three under the reign of Jesus. If the integrator is your body or psyche it is a worry. I know when I drift to my psyche and if I don’t have disciplines that make my spirit the integrating part of who I am then I lose my way.
Here are some other ways that I have learnt to feed my spirit.
Have you ever come across Wild at Heart by John Eldridge? Here are two quotes that I hold on from this book.
“Time with God each day is not academic study or getting through a certain amount of scripture. It’s about connecting with God. Do whatever helps to keep the line of communication open. Sometimes I will listen to music, other times I will read scripture or a passage from a book, often I will journal; maybe I will go for a run – then there are days when all I need is silence and solitude and the rising sun. The point is simply do whatever brings me back to my heart and the heart of God…the whole point of a devotional life is connecting with God.” (Page 171)
“Don’t ask yourself what the world needs. Ask yourself what makes you come alive and go and do that because what the world needs is people who have come alive.” (Page 200)
The clearer you know your story the more it will resource you and, yes, it mentors you, calls you out to be the person God has called you to be.
It was a long journey for me to name my narrative and to summarise it and to keep building on it is an empowering experience.
When I know it I feel so productive – that rudder on my boat.
As I reflect in my journals (journaling helps me see what is going on) I have seen this…
What takes away my voice?
Self-doubts, confusion, shame, guilt and embarrassment.
Caught up in my mind – not listening to my heart.
The unresolved of the past – that leads to me withdrawing, avoiding and procrastinating.
Accusing voices that strangely became in a weird way – comfortable. I have listened to them for too long.
When this happens:
I lose my story.
I lose my sense of self.
I set myself up to feed the flesh as I lose my internal resources. It is when I am most vulnerable as I don’t have the inner resources to say “no”.
I am distracted and not alive – at times it feels I live in a shell.
I don’t tell the truth to myself.
My past thoughts just seem to take over.
What strengthens my voice and breaks the flesh?
A pure heart- wholeness in all parts of me – being whole-hearted.
Listening to You, God.
Celebration and enjoying God. Doing what I enjoy “When I run I feel His pleasure.”
A spirit free to resource me –it clears up and speaks to self-doubts and confusion.
Knowing my narrative and living it.
Whenever I speak up, say “no” for the right reasons, confront, and not avoid, I am empowered. I am alive.
Understanding brings freedom.
Knowing and experiencing this freedom – life can be different - I don’t have to be trapped. I remember how good it feels.
A thankful spirit – always finding things to be grateful for. “It is the praising life that honours me.” Psalm 50:23
When my soul is at rest; I love this.
When all of me is praying.
Telling others the truth of what is happening in me/being accountable even if it is embarrassing and I find myself saying “I don’t need to tell them this.”
When I stand up with a strong adult advocating for my values.
Living in and knowing your grace/deeply knowing I am forgiven.
When tempting thoughts come I try to scramble them – sometimes I even yell out “No” audibly.
Don’t give up hope that life can be different.
Courage to face anything – no withdrawing.
A value to say sorry when I need to and own up when I haven’t told the truth. Initially it is embarrassing but it helps liberate me.
Catching any time I am avoiding conflict or worrying what people are thinking.
Try to take a genuine Sabbath each week. Will I advocate for it and don’t let it get taken away from me?
Caring for my body as well – getting enough sleep. Often makes a big difference.
I love God’s Word. My spirit seems to dance to it at times. Most days as I read something there it feeds and strengthens my spirit.
I appreciate these words:
Sow a thought – reap an action. Sow an action – reap a habit. Sow a habit – reap a character. Sow a character – reap a destiny.
Scary that a thought can lead to a destiny – both positive and negative!
So it is a wrestle between the flesh and the spirit. In your struggle with the flesh, know this: it can never be tamed but it can be held back.
I hold on to James 4:7
“Yell a loud ‘No’ to the devil and watch him scamper. Say a quite ‘yes’ to God and he will be there in no time.”
Again Eldredge:
“To put it bluntly the flesh is a weasel, a poser, a selfish pig. And your flesh is not you. It is not the real you… the real you is on the side of God against the false self. Your flesh is your false self… We are told to shoot the traitor. How? Choose against him every time you see him raise his ugly head. Walk right into those situations you normally run from. Speak to those issues you normally remain silent over. If you want to grow in true masculine strength then you must stop sabotaging yourself. (Page 145)
Jeremiah says in Chapter 15:
“If you separate between the precious and the worthless you will be my spokesperson.”
That is our job, to be able to separate between the precious and the worthless.
So, if I could sun this up it would be these words: “Trust your spirit.”
And remember, your spirit is your ministry.
Set this word to a rhythm and declare it out loud for at least 5 minutes and whenever you’re out walking or driving today.
“Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.” Gal 6 vs 2
The Truth Challenge
Consider honestly this question:
“When did you last have a face-to-face, extended, deep, vulnerable conversation?”
The Response Challenge
Take some notes and share them with your warrior brother (by telephone, email, text etc.).
The Physical Challenge
Crunches, sit-ups or other core exercises
As we age, it becomes increasingly important to build core strength. The natural deterioration of core muscle strength begins as early as mid 30s and without regular training, lack of core strength may cause back issues by the time we reach 50. Prepare yourself for the future by making core exercises a part of your day now.
There is also advice against traditional sit-ups and introducing some alternatives; check out other exercises that exercise the core area from the experts: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pIvDbMEdAxI
