Impotent Church; Impotent Spiritual Leadership 4

Impotent Church; Impotent spiritual Leadership 4

They went to Capernaum, and when the Sabbath came, Jesus went into the synagogue and began to teach. The people were amazed at his teaching, because he taught them as one who had authority, not as the teachers of the law.  Just then a man in their synagogue who was possessed by an evil spirit cried out,  "What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are — the Holy One of God!"   "Be quiet!" said Jesus sternly. "Come out of him!"  The evil spirit shook the man violently and came out of him with a shriek. The people were all so amazed that they asked each other, "What is this? A new teaching — and with authority! He even gives orders to evil spirits and they obey him."  Mark 1:21-27NIV

Oh! what a great difference lively preaching from spirit-filled pastors will make in our congregations! Demons are always at home in congregations where preachers are entertainers. They entertain with grammar, designer suits, flashy cars, and if they can afford it, comedians and worldly musicians. You will need your dictionary by your side if you will understand some preachers today.

For example, “If you don’t relocate, you will suffocate. If you are not informed, you will be deformed”. They boast about wisdom and give excellent interpretation of grace. Yes, they have to remain with grace because it allows them to say much while addressing nothing in the life of the people. They quote their great mentor and how he built the magnificent cathedral in the largest city in his country with the costliest aircraft in his fleet. They also quote many world leaders- I even heard one quoting Adolf Hitler. They rarely quote Christ; if they do, they quote Him out of contest, because there is no way to quote the grace Jesus presented without facing the truth He also brought. My own bible says that GRACE and TRUTH came from Jesus (John1:17), I don’t know what their bible say.

It is then not surprising that their messages are lifeless. It is the Holy Spirit that quickens the preacher’s preaching. By that He puts His signature to the message by declaring it a message from God. But the Holy Spirit cannot compromise His holiness hence cannot put His signature on lies, false testimonies and manipulations of disconnected preachers. You can now see why their messages are dead; sorry, the messages are poison. They are poison because they are just letters. Letters kill. Any person under such an atmosphere cannot have spiritual life. Only evil spirits can feel comfortable in such environment. But evil spirits need bodies to express themselves. So you can now understand why a neatly dressed man in the congregation was the mouth piece of the demons. This man could have been a board member of the congregation. Perhaps he was chairman of the men’s fellowship Imagine a man like this in a meeting where the church is talking about soul-winning. Imagine a man like this in a meeting where they have to talk about the choice of guest minister they have to invite to their conference. Imagine this kind of man in the midst of young ladies in the church. Imagine this kind of man in a meeting where they have to talk about the minister’s welfare.

Note his statement; "What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are — the Holy One of God!

There is a difference between the man in Mark5. In Mark5 they were many demons in one man but in this case there is only one demon - The evil spirit shook the man violently and came out of him with a shriek.

Why then did he say “us”? He had dominated the congregation and won them over to his side. He has gained total control of their minds and makes them see things as he wants them to see it. He was quite at home.

If you are a minister and find yourself in this kind of assembly let me tell you some things you must not try. Do not call them for a general meeting to find a way of resolving the matter. Don’t try to reason with them, don’t try to come down to their level and help them come up to your level. Don’t invite a motivational speaker to stir up their self-confidence. In fact, don’t try any of the things you were taught in the bible schools, simply because it will be a waste of time and energy. They won’t work. The problem does not have a natural cause.

Apostle Paul once found himself in that kind of assembly. Hear what he said-

When I came to you, brothers, I did not come with eloquence or superior wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God.   For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.  I came to you in weakness and fear, and with much trembling.  My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit's power, so that your faith might not rest on men's wisdom, but on God's power. Cor 2:1-5NIV

 That was also what Jesus Christ did; the people were amazed at his teaching, because he taught them as one who had authority, not as the teachers of the law. … The people were all so amazed that they asked each other, "What is this? A new teaching — and with authority! He even gives orders to evil spirits and they obey him.

Powerful preaching backed up with the evidence of the Holy Spirit’s power. Demons cannot endure this kind of preaching. If you don’t upset those demons, you can’t move forward with the people. But how can you get such powerful preaching? Are they gotten by reading books of great men of God? Are they gotten by listening to their audio-messages? Are they gotten when mighty men of God lay hand on your head? Are they gotten when you sow a “power seed” into the life of a “super-rich-city-pastor”? No! My friend, total No!

Prayer! Withdraw into a solitary place and pray. Spend at least three hours in prayer before you mount the pulpit. Pray! I say again, Pray!  (Luke5:16). It is not possible to command power without prayer. Without power demons will mess-up your life, ministry and family. Demons are everywhere. When you soak yourself in prayer, you gain upper hand over them. Only by that can you cast them out.

May the grace that moved Jesus to pray begin to stir you now, in Jesus Name! May an extraordinary anointing of prayer rest upon you now in the mighty name of Jesus! Receive the grace of brokenness in prayer in Jesus Name! Demons cannot endure your presence in Jesus Name! Demons cannot hide under any cover in your home any more in Jesus Name!

Just begin to pray in the Spirit for at least five minutes as the Holy Spirit takes over. Continue in PRAYER!