Imani MCC of Durham

During the month of February, our Bible study topic will be spiritual warfare. We will ask questions (which may or may not be answerable), examine scripture, and consider what we believe. As always, it is understood that we do not all have to believe the same thing.

I have figured out this much - sometimes the “blockages” I encounter that prevent me from functioning at my best are spiritual in nature. Sometimes it feels like something other than me is fighting me to prevent me from getting unstuck. I know that may sound weird; but there is plenty of scriptural support for the belief that there are spiritual forces that operate in opposition to God and to God’s will for God’s children. Personally, I find it as easy to believe that as I find it to believe in God. In both cases, we are talking about spirit-beings which are other than human. What makes it easier to believe in good spiritual forces than in bad ones?

We’re having a shut-in at Imani this Friday, January 24th, beginning at 8:00 p.m. For those who don’t know, a shut-in is an all-night worship experience in which participants engage in a variety of spiritually edifying activities - prayer, sharing testimonies, Bible lessons, readings from other inspirational literature, singing, listening to music, watching inspirational videos, and whatever else the Holy Spirit inspires in the moment.

I grew up in a church that had shut-ins regularly, once or twice a year, usually at the beginning of the year or in preparation for a revival. Although, occasionally, the congregation was called into a shut-in just because God led the pastor to call the people into a time of intense and focused prayer together. I cannot remember the last time I heard of anyone having a shut-in. I don’t know whether that is because folks aren’t doing it anymore, or I simply haven’t heard of it being done. But I want to explain why I find it to be a completely worthwhile thing to do.