8 months into my new Spirit-filled life in Christ, I realize how many people, other than myself are wounded or in serious bondage from their experience with the institutionalized church and some of the ways it falls short in it's calling.
In my own life, this in an area Satan has reaped havoc. I married my husband, who was currently serving as a youth minister in 1995. I just felt excitement that he and I and the church were going to storm the gates of Hell and pluck people from the fire! Things went well until the gracious hand of the Lord , my husband, and his team grew the youth ministry from 4 to over 80 youth. At that number, the kids in church out numbered the adults. It was a church of about 100 members of which 60-70 would attend regularly, not including the kids. So on Sundays the kids took up the whole back two sections, until they were chided for always sitting in the back... then they moved to the front and everyone in the front lost their "usual seat". It is funny how people get attached to seats in church, like they own them, but you can see the dynamic.... The youth were overtaking the church. We (Micheal, I and the kids) thought it was awesome! And God was really at work there.
Anyways, we couldn't get the families of the kids to stay for various reasons. When we made suggestions on women's ministry, men's outreach, missions or obedience to the Great commission, we were met with uncomfortable looks. Until one day we had a meeting with the elder of the youth. He just flat out told us, they liked the church the way it was and didn't want to change. It broke my heart and I wept bitterly in front of him. How could they not want to grow? That is what we are called to do! He just looked at me sheepishly.
We left that church after a series of yucky events, but I and (I would say) many of the kids were broken hearted and disillusioned with the church after that season. Finally one day, the Lord spoke to my heart about forgiveness and said, "All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. Man is imperfect. That is why he needs a Savior." It then occurred to me that the church (as I understood it at the time) was a gathering of sinners saved by Grace who met together. So sometimes, it would be imperfect. I let it go after a couple years as best as I could. But in each ministry, I have taken deep wounds to the heart and my faith as I have watched what I thought was God's church fall short over and over again. It was almost (and this is a lie that needs to be addressed) as if God was falling short. My faith began to fail and my hope withered... making my heart sick and bitter towards not only the church but the Lord. (I praise Him that He has shown me the truth and that He forgave me for this bitterness. He is always fair and right and He never disappoints when our expectations are in line with His word.)
Since encountering this discipleship movement and the 7 steps of freedom, learning how to really repent, and feeling the wholeness that comes from taking back the ground which Satan seeks to steal in our lives, I feel led to put together some deliverance stuff on this subject. I was certainly bound with chains of unforgivness, bitterness, hopelessness, cynicism, and disgust. And just for the sake of honesty, I will tell you that I still struggle from time to time with the issue of distrust of other christians. But I know if I trust the Lord, He will continue to heal me and give me greater discernment. I know there are others out there who need to work through these issues too. So I am going to brainstorm in the comment section about topics, renunciations, lies etc. and invite you to do the same. Maybe we can put something together that will really help set the captives free and give people eyes to the the living bride of Christ Chruch that He wants us to see and be a part of.
To God be the Glory!
Caryn
The Gospel of Charlemagne
9 years ago
19 comments:
Lord I renounce the lie that when my youth minister left our church, that you failed me or left me. I choose to forgive the leadership of the chruch during that time... listed seperately, even though it made me feel........ Please bless ......... in Jesus name.
Lord I renounce the lie that you dwell in church, building made of stones and morter. I announce the truth that you are wise and dwell in the hearts of men.
I renounce the lie that when ministers fall into sin (list specifially as has affected your faith, such as adultry) That you are in anyway diminished. You are Holy and Faithful regardless of man's testimony.
Many of us have wounded hearts from "church people" We must choose to forgive them. Sometimes they are even harder to forgive then someone outside of the chruch because we had greater expectations of them, or they not only wounded our heart, but our faith. We however must forgive them. So.... Lord I choose to forgive..... even though it made me feel........ Lord, please bless ............. in Jesus name!
I renounce the lie that the baptism of the Holy Spirt does not exist. I announce the truth that it does and Lord ask you to baptism me in your Holy Spirit.
I renounce the lie that some of the spiritual gifts have passed away. I announce the truth tha is until that which is perfect, CHRIST, comes, no spiritual gifts will pass away. Lord I ask you to free me in my gifts.
Lord I confess that I have been ashamed of my spiritual gift. I know this is evil and offensive in your sight. Thank you for forgiving me. Please give me wisdom that I might was in maturity of my gift.
I renounce the lie that we are a Christan nation and that I am a christan because I believe in god and live in America. I announce the truth that if I believe in my heart, confess with my mouth that Jesus Christ is Lord, REPENT (confess and turn away from my sin), and receive the Holy Spirt and make it my one aim to endure in obedience that then I will be saved.
I renounce the lie that saying the Sinners Prayer is repentance. I announce the truth that choosing to confess all my sins to to God and other, to turn away from these sins and not do them any more, and to walk in concecration is repentance.
I renounce the lie that I can not walk in freedom from sin (although I will still sin, it will not master me) and announce the truth that God has called me to be holy and has given me the tools to walk in holiness and santification.
I renounce the lie that just because someone is in ministry that they know god and that god knows them. I announce the truth that many will come in that day and say, "But Lord, we cast out demonds and did many works in your name." But the Lord will say, "Away from me, I never knew you."
I announce the truth that there is a crused priesthood who stands before the people and talks of the things of God, but God says He makes an oath against them that they will never enter in and minister before Him. Lord lead me to the priesthood, that ministers before you in linnen.
... rent the vail with the Holy Spirt as I repent, give me eyes and hears to see and hear you.
I renounce the lie that the living church of Jesus Christ is prejudice. I announce the truth that in Christ their is no paritiality and the that God love any and eveyone who will repent... as should I.
I renounce that lie that the Church of the living God is there to minister to themselves and announce the truth that as we minster to the world, God will minister to us!
I renoune that lie that issues in churches specifically in the areas of worship, and youth are only due to the failure of people. I announce the truth that the battle is in heavenly place and what we see in chruch as failure is often that manifestation of the loss of the battle in heavely places. I also announce the truth that these things often happen because people do not know how to or choose not to war in the Spirit.
I renounce the lie that what seems like failure in the physical relm is failure in the spritual relm. I announce the truth that Joseph was sold into slavery for the the glory of God and what man meant for evil, God meant for good.
random... i renounce the lie that God wants to humiliate me, and announce the truth that He wants to hummble me that I might walk closer to Him in greater dependence.
I renounce the false gospel that results in a form of godliness, but denies it power through a wrong understanding of the Holy Spirit. I take that ground back in Jesus name. I trust you Lord, and Holy Spirit to teach me about the true power of the gospel, the blood of Jesus Christ and the powerful name of Jesus. Thank you for setting me free of this bondage.
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