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Author: Maurice Perry Article source: http://www.prayway.com/. Used with author's permission.
John 20:23
23 Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained.
This article is written to reach the mind and hearts of church leaders (Apostles, Prophets, Evangelists, Pastors and Teachers), but it is also relevant for all members in the body of Christ.
As the body of Christ begins to walk in greater authority, greater anointing and greater power, it must not forget that love and forgiveness are essential for sustained favor and blessings. It is very easy to get caught up in the advancement of the kingdom of God, its signs and wonders, its accurate and timely prophetic words and utterances. But being focused on these wonderful things can sometimes blind us of the fundamentals of Christianity - love and forgiveness. Walking in love and forgiveness are the key elements to the anointing, favor, wisdom and blessings of God.
Church leaders can become calloused and hard when being taken to higher levels in the things of the kingdom of God. Aggravation and frustration that church leaders may have for members in the body can be a hindrance to the anointing. An unforgiving heart and anger can not only place a yoke of bondage on church leaders themselves, but also on those that the anger and unforgiveness is geared for.
Proverbs 18:21
21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.
It is the power of our words that have the ability to lift up, or cast down. Church leadership must always keep in mind that their main objective is to lift up those that have been weighed down. Constant beating and bashing of church members is not productive for Christian maturity. Of course, chastisement comes through the Word of God. But involving the human emotions to the point where jealousy and unforgiveness may be generated is not excusable. Church leaders most know that their words carry more weight than the words of anyone else because they hold an office of authority. Aggravation, anger and unforgiveness from the roles of authority in the church can indeed place a curse on those in which the lashing out is for, as well as cut off the blessings that were in store for the church leaders.
There are nine evident affects of this type of church abuse:
1) Individuals find it difficult to receive impartation - These individuals find it hard to hear from God and advance in the things of God. Harsh words can paralyze individuals to the point where their emotion and longing for God is shattered and they become couch potatoes in churches and no longer have the desire to grow.
2) Outsider feeling - Church abuse can make an individual feel like he or she is not part of the body of Christ and that he or she is all alone.
3) Feared loss of salvation - Church abuse can make an individual question whether or not they are saved. He or she may feel that if the leaders of the church are constantly reprimanding them, then there must be something wrong with them, creating a sense of condemnation.
4) Gifted person operating in deception - A gifted person is the most dangerous person if they are operating without the heart of God (operating with love, compassion and forgiveness). Witchcraft begins to work in the circle of intercessors, giving them controlling spirits, spirits of jealousy, envy, greed and pride.
5) Evil soul ties with a former church - Constant bickering and complaining about a former church or its leadership is the end result of an unhealthy relationship between church leadership and its flock. The bickering and complaining turns into curses in the spirit realm, which conjure up a spirit of unforgiveness, which blocks the flow of blessings into that individual's life.
6) Back-sliding spirit - Church abuse is evident when church leadership hates other churches and tells their members that if they leave, they are headed straight to hell. It is amazing how many individuals are held in bondage by such nonsense. Unfortunately, this continues to go on in churches because of a serious lack of understanding of the Word of God. So in essence, a person that is held under this type of bondage begins to feel that if going to hell is the end result of joining another church, then he or she might as well have a good time by diving back into the lusts of the world. Again, this is evidence of witchcraft and mind-control.
7) Hard time making decisions in personal life - A person who is the subject of church abuse will find it difficult to make his or her own decisions because they have become accustomed to the church making decisions for them. The church begins to make the decisions instead of decisions being aided by the Spirit of God. This is yet another instance of witchcraft.
8) Wandering spirit - Church abuse may cause an individual who has left the church to be uncomfortable with any churches they may visit or may be led to join. The thoughts of past church abuses can keep on popping up in the mind of an individual, making them hesitant to submit to another church leadership.
9) Loss of spiritual or natural identity - Church abuse erases an individual's identity and places its own stamp on them. This is nothing more than modern day communism - the act of erasing personal traits and characteristics in order to masquerade them with the image of the church leaders. Once again, this is witchcraft.
Do not fall victim of church abuse. More importantly, do not find yourself in a church office or role of authority, perverting your authority and abusing the members. Church abuse is a common phenomenon and can only be discerned spiritually. Use wisdom when approaching church leaders if you sense church abuse. Always be in a place of prayer and seeking God for the divine appointed time. Always pray for church leadership also.
Church leaders, remain humble and broken on the Rock, who is Christ Jesus. Staying in a place of love and forgiveness will not allow the ugly head of church abuse to appear.
1 Chronicles 16:22
22 Saying, Touch not mine anointed, and do my prophets no harm. Maurice Perry is an up and coming author in the kingdom of God. He is currently writing his first two books on spiritual warfare in the urban community.
If you are interested in knowing more about this anointed young man of God, sign up for his Christian Newsletter today at http://www.todays-word.com/signup.html
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