For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Ephesians 6:12
How do you put evil in a box and contain it? This has been the promise of every leader trying to gather support to be put into power. Somehow they think that evil is an easy solve. How long has evil been loose on this earth? Now all I hear from political leaders are ‘solutions’ that they say will work, but when you look at it critically it will only exaggerate the problem. What is the ONLY answer to evil? God. If the leader doesn’t recognize the sovereignty of Jesus and His Father and accept them personally — they are doomed to evil flooding in every crevice of their realm. (Hint: read the book of Revelation and God’s plan for evil and the pit)
The answer to evil is beyond the machinations of the human imagination. The spiritual forces who rebelled against God are older than humankind. I’m extremely frustrated that most Churches no longer really teach about the spiritual realm, demons, fallen angels, and those aligned against God and His chosen ones. My suspicion is most seminary trained spiritual leaders have had very little experience with spiritual realms. They’ve never faced down a demon possessed person, or had a ‘vision’, or spiritual dream, or realized the spiritual reality right around them. The Church is supposed to the ‘light’ to the world! But most of the leaders of the Church are just as bent on gaining and maintaining power, control, and money… and they’ve become worthless to the Kingdom of God.
Jesus said..
You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people’s feet. Matthew 5:13
There were plenty of corrupt spiritual leaders in the time of the first church (first century). Evil infiltrated the freshly growing movement called The Way from the very first few steps. Look up Ananias and Sapphira (Acts 5). Peter and Paul also warned of corrupt and dangerous leaders (wolves) who were infiltrating the Body of Christ. So what are we to do?
God ALWAYS begins with us and our ‘plank’ in our ‘eye’. We can’t point at evil without allowing the Holy Spirit to point it out in our own lives first. The institutions of the Church have mechanized the rituals. They have become powerless in spiritual realms. Because they have dismissed the very personal convicting work of the Holy Spirit in their own lives. And then dismissed the work of the Holy Spirit in the lives of those they are attempting to ‘teach’. They dismiss the gifts and power of the Holy Spirit claiming their ‘intelligence’ because of their academic degrees.
You want to know God better and deeper? It will ONLY come through the Holy Spirit. Someone the academics have cast aside. Seek the Holy Spirit and His Voice in your life. Nurture that relationship.
The next wave God will use …will be the ‘unknowns’ who have been walking with Him most of their lives, and who have a vibrant intimate relationship with the Holy Spirit, and learned what His power is like. The next effective leaders of the Body of Christ won’t have academic degrees, but the power of the Holy Spirit in demonstration and Truth. They’ll be humble and ONLY be concerned about the assignments the Holy Spirit has given them and not building a big ‘following’ or money machine.
Are you one of them? Are you pursuing Him with your whole heart?