This was a quote from a pastor as we were having a discussion in a Bible Study. They were very serious. And unfortunately very naive as well..
Maybe it's a scary concept? Maybe they don't know enough about or understand how demons work? Maybe they just want to believe that their building contains the most holy of God's people and that demons are simply held at bay by God's mighty angels standing guard at the doors (and I don't doubt that does happen a lot as well, just to be clear) but.... the Truth is...
If "church" is being done right, then it is a place where light clashes with darkness all. the. time. What do I mean by that? Well, think about it, church is supposed to be a place of discipleship for God's people, a place where people who love Jesus, learn how to live for Him yes? So with that, comes the part where we strip away those things that displease God in our lives and where we deal with our sin. Some of those things can be connected with demonic oppression and influence. No Christians, real Jesus followers, cannot be possessed but they most definitely can be oppressed by demons.
I'm really not even sure where to start here, this is HUGE and it is literally everywhere! Dear Pastors, our people, Christian people are turning to witchcraft more and more every day! Do you know how many of your people are dabbling in it? Does anyone in your church look at a horoscope ever? Do they talk about their "sign"? Do they believe in ghosts? Do they struggle with addictions? Are they obsessed with "dark" things? There are so many signs that our people are allowing demonic influence in their lives and they don't even realize it. But leader.... that's part of what we do... we look out for and pay attention to what has influence over people. Everyone has a free will and we cannot be dictators, but are we even noticing our people holding hands with demons? This is serious and it is everywhere. And yes, it is walking into our churches every Sunday, clinging to the backs of the people we are trying to speak Truth to. Think that might have an affect on their hearing? Not to mention.... there has been a shift in our Christian Culture as well, we now tend to focus more on "bringing the lost" into church, reaching them, not by our people being lights in this world and telling people about Jesus themselves but by gathering all the people who don't even know the Lord and getting them involved in our churches.... don't you think that might be opening all kinds of windows of opportunity for demons to walk through the doors...and start ministering within the "Body of Christ".... we're really not too smart sometimes are we?
"Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times, some will depart from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons..." 1 Timothy 4:1
I honestly believe that we have such an increase in demonic strongholds in our world today because the Church has opened that door! We have strayed away from God's Word and because we have allowed ourselves to make exceptions, we've gotten caught up in "reaching the lost" by... looking like the lost we're trying to reach. We've taken our focus off of the cross and we've focused it on worldly acceptance instead. We started straying off the straight path and little by little we've followed Satan down a different path all while giving God lip service and glory. We've allowed false teachers to lead us, to lead ministries, and minister to our people. False teachers who have led people away from the Truth of who God is, and we have not even been able to tell the difference.
"Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world." 1 John 4:1
"For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ. And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works." 2 Corinthians 11: 13-15
Do you know that most of the time, false prophets don't even know they are false prophets? When you twist God's Truth and encourage others to follow suit, you are a false teacher. We must be so careful pastors, leaders, teachers, ministry workers... Child of God.... that we are accurately following His Word, that we are accurately representing Him to the world and to each other, that we are not compromising on the things that He has told us not to do. The Enemy's greatest tool... has always been, starting with Eve in the Garden... "God didn't really mean that did He?" Doubt. That's all it takes, we just have to start doubting that God really means what He says... then we open the floodgate of wickedness into our lives, into our churches, into our culture. It's dangerous and we must know what God says, and stick to it.
It amazes me how many people believe that just because someone is a "pastor", that we have no right to question them, and if we do, we are the ones sinning. Truth.... QUESTION EVERYTHING! It is our responsibility to know God and His heart. God does call pastors and teachers and evangelists and prophets, ect. BUT... so does Satan. So wake up! Test what you are seeing and hearing against God's Word always. Make sure YOU are staying within God's Word in your teaching. Make sure you are solid in your faith and encourage your people to know Him well so that none of you will be deceived by false doctrine.
Demons know scripture... frankly better than us! They've been around a long time and they know exactly how to use it. Just look around at our world today. Look at what is now acceptable and even being called "godly" in our society and churches today. You and I both know it's not true. God has not changed His mind according to what the world is doing? This Truth alone should make us all stop and think: Are we being fooled by demons?
"You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons. You cannot partake of the table of the Lord and the table of demons." 1 Corinthians 10:21
God does not share His power, His glory, or His Children. We are either His or we are not. This is very serious friends, we the "Church" have opened the floodgates and allowed demons to infiltrate and contaminate our witness to the world. But more importantly than that... we've allowed demons to infiltrate our own lives and the lives of our people and they are taking us away from the things of God. We've held hands with demons while preaching the Gospel and we have to stop! We must repent and turn from ALL our wicked ways. We have to know God's Truth and we must know His voice. Stop giving way to demons in our houses of worship but more importantly, first and foremost, stop allowing demons residency in our own lives and homes. The Enemy is taking ground that belongs to God's people and it is up to us to stand our ground and take it back! Demons are not spending their time chasing after people who are already going to Hell... they are coming after us. they are coming hard to get inside our churches and taint the Truth of the Gospel. That's really all they have to do, because if people believe they are following Jesus, that's all that matters to a demon isn't it? Deception is their game... their best game... and they are exceptionally good at it. We must wake up and fight pastors, leaders, ministry workers... we must stand firmly, boldy, courageously on the Truth of who God is and not back down, give in, or give up anything to the Enemy of our souls.
The world needs to hear the Truth. The world needs to see the Truth. God's people should stand out from the world, not blend in, What hope can we offer if we look, act, and live like the world? We cannot offer peace. hope. love. or joy if we are holding hands with demons now can we?
"Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. 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. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done it all, to stand firm. Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord's people. Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should."
Ephesians 6:10-20
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