The Demonic Realm
I don’t write about the demonic much because I don’t think about it much. If I encounter a demonic spirit when ministering I cast it out and move on. I don’t entertain it. I don’t have lunch with it. I don’t let it put on a show. I tell it to go away. Nevertheless we can’t be ignorant of the devil’s devices.
A few weeks ago while I was traveling I was visited by a demonic spirit. If that sentence freaks you out you may want to stop reading now.
This demonic spirit visited me in my place of prayer. I found my mind wandering to an unclean place and I struggled to make it stop. I had to fight this thing for the next twelve hours. In that time, the enemy’s plan was uncovered. I submitted to God, resisted the devil and he fled. Praise God.
I was talking to my worship leader Sergio and began to share the details of this story. His eyes lit up because a very similar thing had happened to him the same week. As I began to talk to some of my leaders I found that there was a pattern with the attacks.
The Mission seeks to shelter those who have fallen. We do not condone sin but we also do not condemn sinners. All of that is the job of Jesus. The Bible says that a test of spiritual maturity is the ministry of restoration, not condemnation.
The enemy knows nothing about restoration. Neither do immature believers. When the immature believer gets hurt or offended they take their ball and leave the game. They close up their hearts and then focus all their efforts on protecting themselves. The mature pours their lives into helping others without regard to themselves.
There are so few mature believers in the body.
Perhaps you were one of the many that had conflict this past few weeks. Go back and look at how you handled it. Did you walk in forgiveness or condemnation? Did you look to restore your brother or did you look to spread shame? When faced with the smoldering flames of disgrace did you throw water on it or gasoline?
Which side of the restoration struggle are you on? One day you will be judged with the same measure of judgment.
The devil hates what is happening at The Mission. God is at work. Even in these attacks believers will be strengthened and matured, the lost will be won, and freedom will come to the house. In the end, the enemy will be defeated again.
