Divine Confrontation

By Charlie Erickson

You will be either mad or glad that you read this book. It will confront your beliefs with provocative, outrageous and preposterous statements. Statements that you should challenge. You will learn what you said yesterday impacts-no, it determines-what happens today and your whole future!
This book came about because your author has seen too many believers who desperately need help but cannot find it in their churches. Yet, some women and men have risen from a life of deceit, lies, emptiness and defeat to one of love, fulfillment, truth and victory. How? By speaking the source of all wisdom, God’s Bible.
You will be confronted with new ways to look at Bible verses that will rattle your cage.
This book will prove that words are seeds: either seeds from a worldly perspective or Seeds that are God’s. Seeds left in a bag do not produce anything. They must be planted, i.e. spoken. Most Christians speak (plant) worldly seeds received from TV or experience. They do not speak (plant) God’s Words (Seeds). God’s Seeds left in your bag by only reading or thinking about them will profit you very little. You must speak His Words in order to plant them!
You will learn how to speak regarding homologeo, healings, spiritual warfare, faith, the Holy Spirit, forgiveness and four very vital Greek words.
This book will prove that despite all you have done wrong and all the sins you have committed that your future is full of hope!

• Language: English
• Publisher: WestBow Press
• Release date: Nov 19, 2019
• ISBN: 9781973678342

Charlie Erickson

He has led a rollercoaster life: college graduate, majored in Russian, served in the Army, worked in the White House, successful in the business world, was born again in ’75, led many to Jesus, jumped into financial sin and was incarcerated in a Federal prison! Happily married with 3 children and 11 grandchildren; retired… a teacher of God’s Word.

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Copyright © 2019 Charlie Erickson.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the author except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

This book is a work of non-fiction. Unless otherwise noted, the author and the publisher make no explicit guarantees as to the accuracy of the information contained in this book and in some cases, names of people and places have been altered to protect their privacy.

WestBow Press

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Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

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ISBN: 978-1-9736-7833-5 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-9736-7835-9 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-9736-7834-2 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2019917273

WestBow Press rev. date:  11/19/2019

Unless marked otherwise, all Scripture quotations are taken from the King James Version.

Scripture quotations marked NLT are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, Copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked NIV are taken from The Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Scripture quotations marked HCSB are taken from the Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Holman CSB®, and HCSB® are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers.

Scripture quotations marked DRA are taken from the Douay-Rheims Bible.

Scripture quotations marked ESV taken from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®), Copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. All rights reserved.

Dedication

This book is dedicated first to my wife, Debbie. She has been a blessing from God for over 53 years. I marvel at how sensitive she is to others’ needs and her relationship with her Lord. She has been with me through the plentiful and lean times and was also the first person to let me see an inkling of Jesus’ mercy.

Second, many thanks to the countless tens of thousands, hundreds of thousands and perhaps the millions of men and women who have served and/or are serving as Sunday school teachers. Your church or denomination may give them another title, but nonetheless they teach tirelessly and often without any thanks from the parents who have entrusted their children to them. Thanks be to God for your efforts and dedication!

About the Author

It took four years to write this book: eighteen months of them while incarcerated in a Federal prison;

His life has been a spiritual and financial rollercoaster. He has led a somewhat successful life: graduated from college with a major in Russian studies, then spent 5+ years in the US Army, four of them in the White House serving as Chief Presidential Russian translator and was promoted to vice presidency at a couple of life insurance companies. He married a wonderful woman and they have three great kids. Yet, all this while there was a gnawing at his spirit. A hole in his existence

The gnawing continued, and the hole grew wider and deeper. The Holy Spirit convicted him of his extremely sinful condition, and he accepted Jesus and was born again on February 1, 1975!

Time passed, he served the Lord as a deacon and then as an elder, but (and what a horrible word that is when placed into your testimony) the love of money, greed, fear and sheer stupidity began to work their ways back into his life. He wants to emphasize that he did not fall into sin. No, he jumped into sin! 100% of the fault was his.

He pled guilty to wire fraud and was sentenced to two years in a Federal prison. Fortunately, even in prison… Jesus was there! The Lord used him to help grow a bible study from being ill-attended to having anywhere from 10 to 20 men attend and to lead 3 or 5 of them to Jesus.

He believes that God’s Word with practical examples will help bring you either out of the darkness of sin or if you are already a Christian into a more fulfilling life in Christ.

About the Book

You will be either mad or glad that you read this book. It will confront your beliefs with provocative, outrageous and preposterous statements. Statements that you should challenge. You will learn what you said yesterday impacts – no, it determines – what happens today and your whole future!

Do you doubt that bold statement? Then simply continue saying what you are saying and watch the results. It is folly to believe that if you continue saying the things that you are saying; that they will produce a different result.

This book came about because your author has seen too many believers who desperately need help but cannot find it in their church. Yet, some women and men have risen from a life of deceit, lies, emptiness and defeat to one of love, fulfillment, truth and victory. How? By speaking the source of all wisdom, God’s Bible.

You will be confronted with new ways to look at Bible verses that will rattle your cage.

This book will prove that words are seeds: either seeds originating from a worldly perspective or Seeds that are God’s. Seeds left in a bag do not produce anything. They must be planted, i.e. spoken. It is amazing that Christians go through their lives speaking (planting) worldly seeds they hear on TV or read, but they do not speak (plant) God’s Words (Seeds). God’s seeds left in your bag by only reading or thinking about them will profit you very little. You must speak His Words in order to plant them!

You will learn how to speak regarding homologeo, healings, spiritual warfare, faith, the Holy Spirit, forgiveness and four very vital Greek words.

This book will prove that despite all you have done that your future is full of hope!

Contents

Introduction

Preface

Chapter 1     Homologeo

Chapter 2     Talking positives… not simply talking

Chapter 3     Tell me why?!

Chapter 4     Old Testament references to healings

Chapter 5     Jesus’ healings in the four Gospels

Chapter 6     Jesus simply had mercy and/or compassion

Chapter 7     Person being healed was related to the person speaking with Jesus

Chapter 8     Healings performed by Jesus on a group

Chapter 9     Healings by Jesus’ disciples

Chapter 10   Are Healings Still for Today?

Chapter 11   Faith, Victory and Positive Confession Scriptures

Chapter 12   Exousia and Dynamis Delegated Authority and Power

Chapter 13   Faith

Chapter 14   Forgiveness

Chapter 15   Logos/Rhema

Chapter 16   Lips/Tongue

Chapter 17   The Holy Spirit

Chapter 18   Spiritual Warfare

Chapter 19   Your Future is full of HOPE

Introduction

He was feeling as good as dead. He hated his fake life, his trying to live up to more spiritual people and the vast, open, bottomless pit of his existence. In the dark of night, fear and trembling raised their ugly heads. He would cry if he could, but he was too dullened for even a tiny show of emotion. He attended a church but even that was drudgery and most certainly not fulfilling in any way. The hypocrisy of going weighed on him too. IF he was truly born-again, where was the joy and victory in his life? In addition, he was even now doubting his very salvation. How can some people actually know they were heaven bound, or are they faking it too?

And praise and worship, what a farce. Turn to page 91. Kneel. Stand. Bow your heads. Why? Does God prefer to see the pate of your head? I’m so hurting that I just want to scream out for God to be real, but if I ever did that in the assembly I would probably be excommunicated. Where is the power? Where is the Love of Christ?

His wife was equally disappointed, frustrated and tired of it all. If they only knew what he was really like! My goodness, if they learned what I’m like…! If this sounds like you, you are not alone! But most importantly the down-to-earth accounts in this book will help bring you closer to God, help you to conquer life and bring you out of despair.

This book will confront many of your dearly held beliefs by looking at what God’s Holy Writ, the Bible really has to say about them. No fluff. No Bible-speak. No political correctness. You will be forced to examine your beliefs.

Many things put forth are provocative and can also be outrageous! These things will challenge your beliefs. You will be confronted with new ways to look at Bible verses. It is all meant to rattle your cage. But do not simply believe your author. If you find some applications preposterous, Good!

If your beliefs have produced misery in your life and you do not challenge their validity you will remain where you are. But if you are willing to become like the Bereans there is hope and victory awaiting you! All because the answers to life reside in the Bible! Read this book with an open mind and check out the teachings as you go along. Furthermore, I urge you to not blindly accept–or reject-what your author is saying. Check it all out, behaving like the Bereans.

¹⁰ And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea: who coming thither went into the synagogue of the Jews. ¹¹ These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so. ¹² Therefore many of them believed; also of honourable women which were Greeks, and of men, not a few. (Acts 17:10-12)

What you thought yesterday–and as you will learn, more importantly–what you said yesterday impacts–no, it determines–what happens today and what will take place tomorrow! Do you doubt that bold statement? Then simply continue doing what you are doing; saying what you are saying and watch the results. Do you believe that if you continue as you are that things will change? It is folly to believe that if you continue doing the things that you are doing; they will produce a different result.

No, my reader, they will not. I will not say it nicely. Keep doing, believing and speaking the same things and you will continue down the same path.

Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. (Galatians 6:7)

If you sow bitterness, strife, confusion, discord, unbelief and discouragement, you will reap it!

If you are a downtrodden, born-again believer or a devout atheist this book will help bring you victory. How can your author state this? Because the preponderance of it is scripture. Your author adds his thoughts and suggested practical applications, but it is God’s Holy Word–His Bible–that will produce the changes you so desperately seek.

Let’s take a peek at things to come.

• For ever, O LORD, thy word is settled in heaven. (Ps 119:89)

• O how love I thy law! it is my meditation all the day. (Ps 119:97)

• Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path. Ps 119:105)

Love, forgiveness, justice, prophecy, nutrition, salvation, spiritual and physical health, self-doubt, finances, sex, betrayals, extra-terrestrials, Israel, history, 666, wisdom, the great tribulation, homologeo and many other subjects are in God’s Holy, and wholly inerrant (in the original Hebrew and Greek) Word, the Bible

We are going to examine only a few subjects, but His entire Word is an exciting trip. One goal your author hopes to accomplish is that this book will put into you a deep, desperate craving to read and study the whole Bible.

Let’s set some provocative and preposterous statements

• The entire Bible points to both the first and second coming of Jesus. He is the Center of it all. He is the Beginning and the End. The Alpha and Omega. The A and the Z.

• God cannot do everything!

• The Bible is God’s love letter to His people–us-and from the book of Genesis through Revelation it points to Jesus – the Savior of the world.

• The Bible is also a legal document.

• Satan or Lucifer, the devil is the god of this world (Note the small ‘g.’)

• Jesus is restricted from operating as He did before His death because He no longer has an earthly body. His believers are now His only body here on earth.

• One of Jesus’ missions is to anoint His followers to enable them to war against that old serpent, Lucifer. Points to ponder:

o Jesus kept the law perfectly and lead a sin-free life. Yet, He performed no miracle and did not come into His public ministry until after He was baptized in the Jordan river by the Holy Spirit.

o As we become accustomed to ‘Bible-speak’ we tend to forget the meaning of words and especially names. Jesus was simply Jesus until that baptism took place. Then He became Jesus the CHRIST. The meaning of the word Christ is anointed. The word Christian is the diminutive form of the word Christ. [Similar to what Johnny is to John.]

• We have been anointed to do His will.

• If you have been only reading His Word and not speaking it out loud, repent

• Your author wants you to be either mad or glad that you read this book. If you turn out to be lukewarm, I have failed. I want to confront your beliefs or lack thereof!

It took four years to write this book: about one year prior to being incarcerated in a Federal prison (see the Preface); one year there re-examining my own beliefs; six months of concerted effort with the help of a fellow inmate, Lou Soteriou and about eighteen months after I was released. If you believe that all things work together for good…. Then the self-administered trials I went through add realism to my statements, especially that despite all you have done that your future is full of hope!

The entire Bible points to Jesus. Following its lessons will change our husband and wife examples and it will change you. So, fasten your seatbelt and let’s begin and see what parts make you mad and what parts make you glad!

Preface

Even in prison… Jesus was there!

Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. (Heb 13:5)

I asked God for four specific things while I was incarcerated:

o My wife would be protected while I was away

o He would use me for His glory while I was incarcerated by putting men in my life whom I could lead to eternal life.

o He would send me Christians who knew and lived His Word

o He would reveal a way to pay back those from whom I took money.

He has done the first three, and by faith the fourth one will manifest itself too!

Born once, die twice! Born twice, die once! One of the most quoted verses in the Bible is, "Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." (Jn 3:3) To have eternal life in heaven you must be born twice here on earth. Once on a physical level and the second time on a spiritual level.

This book does not pretend to be a theological or doctrinal treatise. Its impact will come about because it mostly quotes the Bible and provides down-to-earth examples showing the great relevance of the Bible for today and how He can solve your problems whether they be financial, relational, sexual (yes, sex is very prominent in His Word), health related or generational.

It took four plus years to complete this book. It is a series of homilies and teachings on Biblical subjects that I believe will change your life! The Holy Spirit inspired its contents. The purpose of these teachings and homilies is to introduce you to some new subjects, firm up some (many?) of your beliefs and make you question others. It is my hope that it will bless you and, in many instances, cause you to become either glad or mad that you read it!

Most of the scripture is quoted from the King James Version (KJV). Why not a more up-to-date translation? Because it is the most accurate one and one based on the Textus Receptus and not via the writings of Westcott and Hort.

I have left the spellings of words when quoted in the KJV as they are. You will note that the KJV does not use quotation marks but begin a quote by simply capitalizing the first letter of the first word of the quote.

If you say, I do not agree with such-and-such, all well and good. I want you to challenge any new beliefs presented here. But why don’t you agree with it? Is it because someone told you something different? Or do you have Bible for what you believe? This book will challenge your beliefs. Do not simply believe me. Base your beliefs on the Bible. But, if we were to meet face-to-face and you said, I do not agree with your teaching on ‘such-and-such.’ Good. But would you get offended if I were to ask in return, Why?

I would like to acknowledge the following individuals who were instrumental through their Christian lifestyle examples: Lou Soteriou who encouraged me when I needed it, Bret Gordon who challenged my beliefs, Clay Porter who is a walking Word-man and my wife Debbie who tolerated my ramblings, stops and starts and provided great support.

There is a tremendous worship song by Hillsong Worship, Who You say I am from which I would like to quote a few lines:

"Who the Son sets free Oh is free indeed

I am a child of God, Yes I am

Free at last, He has ransomed me, His grace runs deep

While I was a slave to sin, Jesus died for me,

Yes He died for me.

I am chosen not forsaken, I am who You say I am

You are for me not against me, I am who You say I am"

Can you really sing that and mean it?

Do you believe that God is for you and not against you? Do you actually know what He says about you? Who you are in Him? Well, we are going to discover who you are in Him!

Please note that I have added emphasis to many portions of the scriptures by: printing them in bold ink, underlines, quotation marks and different font sizes. Hopefully, these endeavors will bring out the meat of the subject and stir your spirit. The emphasis in mine.

Let’s pray!

Father, in the name of Jesus I ask You to use these writings to bring many to you. I ask the continuing anointing of the Holy Spirit on it. Use it to move women and men from defeat, depression, despondency, destitution and despair to a life filled with Your love, grace, mercy and power.

I ask You Holy Spirit to JOLT the readers into action and to fall on them. Change them by Your power. Convict them of their sins and let them realize that if they are born-again, that despite their sins they are the righteousness of God in Christ!

May they be ever conscious that Your Word is a living seed which must be spoken. If Jesus Himself spoke the Word out loud, we must do it.

But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. (Mt 4:4)

And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God. (Lu 4:4)

God’s word is a seed that for it to produce fruit, it must not remain in a bag (our minds) but must be planted (spoken) to produce after its kind!

Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God. (Lu 8:11)

Amen.

Chapter 1

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Homologeo

Before we get into the meat of this book, and in order to understand the revelatory nature of its teachings, we must first open our minds and spirits by shucking the peas or husking the corn of some of our old thoughts and beliefs. We have all accepted certain biblical teachings as biblical truths, when they really are not. So, in order to learn what a certain word or verse really means we must realize that we perhaps have mis-learned it from the beginning.

What if you were to learn something so revolutionary that it would change how you looked at God and then how you looked at yourself? It would change your life! That is what I believe this book will accomplish because you will see yourself more as God sees you.

In order to do this, we are going to have to crack some eggs, confront some issues and reassess some of our beliefs. So, hold onto your hats and let’s examine some commonly held teachings.

Delilah cut off Samson’s hair. (Judges 16:4-20)

⁴And it came to pass afterward, that he loved a woman in the valley of Sorek, whose name was Delilah. ⁵And the lords of the Philistines came up unto her, and said unto her, Entice him, and see wherein his great strength lieth, and by what means we may prevail against him, that we may bind him to afflict him; and we will give thee every one of us eleven hundred pieces of silver. ⁶And Delilah said to Samson, Tell me, I pray thee, wherein thy great strength lieth, and wherewith thou mightest be bound to afflict thee. ⁷And Samson said unto her, If they bind me with seven green withs that were never dried, then shall I be weak, and be as another man.

⁸Then the lords of the Philistines brought up to her seven green withs which had not been dried, and she bound him with them. ⁹Now there were men lying in wait, abiding with her in the chamber. And she said unto him, The Philistines be upon thee, Samson. And he brake the withs, as a thread of tow is broken when it toucheth the fire. So his strength was not known. ¹⁰And Delilah said unto Samson, Behold, thou hast mocked me, and told me lies: now tell me, I pray thee, wherewith thou mightest be bound.

¹¹And he said unto her, If they bind me fast with new ropes that never were occupied, then shall I be weak, and be as another man. ¹²Delilah therefore took new ropes, and bound him therewith, and said unto him, The Philistines be upon thee, Samson. And there were liers in wait abiding in the chamber. And he brake them from off his arms like a thread.

¹³And Delilah said unto Samson, Hitherto thou hast mocked me, and told me lies: tell me wherewith thou mightest be bound. And he said unto her, If thou weavest the seven locks of my head with the web. ¹⁴And she fastened it with the pin, and said unto him, The Philistines be upon thee, Samson. And he awaked out of his sleep, and went away with the pin of the beam, and with the web. ¹⁵And she said unto him, How canst thou say, I love thee, when thine heart is not with me? thou hast mocked me these three times, and hast not told me wherein thy great strength lieth.

¹⁶And it came to pass, when she pressed him daily with her words, and urged him, so that his soul was vexed unto death; ¹⁷That he told her all his heart, and said unto her, There hath not come a razor upon mine head; for I have been a Nazarite unto God from my mother’s womb: if I be shaven, then my strength will go from me, and I shall become weak, and be like any other man. ¹⁸And when Delilah saw that he had told her all his heart, she sent and called for the lords of the Philistines, saying, Come up this once, for he hath shewed me all his heart. Then the lords of the Philistines came up unto her and brought money in their hand. ¹⁹And she made him sleep upon her knees; and she called for a man, and she caused him to shave off the seven locks of his head; and she began to afflict him, and his strength went from him. ²⁰And she said, The Philistines be upon thee, Samson. And he awoke out of his sleep, and said, I will go out as at other times before, and shake myself. And he wist not that the LORD was departed from him.

Note in verse 19, she called for a man, and she caused him to shave off the seven locks of his head.

Delilah did not cut off Samson’s hair but a man–some translations say a barber-did it.

One pair of each animal went into Noah’s ark. (Genesis 6:5 - 7:1-2)

We have all seen paintings of a pair of sheep, a pair of horses, a pair of cattle, etc. walking into the ark. But once again, let’s examine the Scriptures.

Genesis 6:5-22

⁵And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. ⁶And it repented the LORD that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart. ⁷And the LORD said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; for it repenteth me that I have made them. ⁸But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD.

⁹These are the generations of Noah: Noah was a just man and perfect in his generations, and Noah walked with God. ¹⁰And Noah begat three sons, Shem, Ham, and Japheth. ¹¹The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence. ¹²And God looked upon the earth, and, behold, it was corrupt; for all flesh had