Spiritual Warfare

Ephesians 6:10-16 points out that as Christians we wrestle not against flesh and blood but against spiritual powers and principalities.

I am an avid viewer of Fox News and CNN. I especially like the shows where there is a democrat and republican who go head to head with each other. It is interesting the word choices they use to bring negative or positive connotations to their arguments. And most of the time we find the truth is somewhere in the middle.

But it sometimes seems we have turned our church leadership boards into halls of congress. If you use the right catch word your programs get approved. If you align yourself with the right people you receive positions with more influence. Could this whole system be influenced by principalities and spiritual forces?

Perspective is not reality. Perspective may be reality if God did not exist. There is a verse that says God does not only look at the outward appearance but also at the heart. In the same way, leaders feel the pressure of dressing up programs and ministry which are only having limited positive effects in order to keep their credibility and money flow. By comparing these programs to others that may not be wrapped as pretty they gain favor. Many leaders who don't have the skills of promotion and marketing are changing lives but are being harangued by others because of the outward appearance of the program.

I believe it is time for us to go deeper in spiritual leadership. It is time for us transcend the "politics" of human kind and negotiate through the "love" of the kingdom. This will need major prayer. We need to ask to walk by faith and not by sight. We need to ask to be emptied of selfish ambition. We need to ask for Holy vision.

Right now we are calling out for revival. I don't know how that might begin? Maybe it begins with our churches having massive emotional events. Or maybe it begins with us leaders, on our knees, putting on the belt of truth, so that we may fight against the temptations of negative leadership.