The root cause of a controlling spirit is usually the result of the strongman called REJECTION! Many church leaders suffer and remain bound by the spirit of Rejection because in many local churches there’s a belief and practice that if you are the leader of a church, you are above needing spiritual help and deliverance. After all, you’re the leader, so everything about you must be okay, right? As crazy as it sounds, this unspoken belief has “jacked” a many church leader and has devastated many church members. If that isn’t enough, many Christians have been duped into believing that abuse from a pastor or leader is legal and authorized in the spirit because the one that it’s coming from is “God’s Man or Woman.” They have been seduced into believing that leaders have a right to do ANYTHING to ANYONE who is under their covering because the leader is being “directed by God.” This teaching and belief is demonic and in direct contradiction to the Law of Love in I Corinthians 13th chapter in the Bible.
“…Love never gives up. Love cares more for others than for self. Love doesn’t want what it doesn’t have. Love doesn’t strut, Doesn’t have a swelled head, Doesn’t force itself on others, Isn’t always “me first,” Doesn’t fly off the handle, Doesn’t keep score of the sins of others, Doesn’t revel (rejoice) when others grovel (shows weakness), Takes pleasure in the flowering of truth, Puts up with anything, Trusts God always, Always looks for the best, Never looks back, But keeps going to the end. Love never dies.”
1 Corinthians 13:4-8 (MSG) words in parenthesis added.
No one is exempt from obeying God’s word, no matter their call or title. Authority was never designed by God for men and women to abuse others in the church and be excused for doing so because of their office or title.
And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ…”
Ephesians 4:8-12 (KJV)
The five-fold ministry was given by God to raise-up the church body to do the work of the ministry. Ministry means preach, teach, train, activate, study, operate in all of the gifts of the spirit, help, pray, worship, win the lost to Christ and function in leadership roles to maintain order in the local church. Performing menial tasks and chores isn’t what this verse is referring to.
Many of these types of tasks actually fall under the ministry of Hospitality-the passion to serve and entertain others and this includes strangers. Many churches call it the ministry of HELPS, which is biblical. Notice that the word of God calls hospitality a gift:
“So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another. Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us…” “Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality…”
Romans 12:5-6; 13 (KJV)
However, there have been far too many incidents where church leaders have abused the gift of hospitality and turned people into personal servants in the name of God. This is a form of manipulation.
Furthermore, with all that women have prayed and fought through to be accepted and received as ministers and leaders in the Body of Christ, it shames me to say that many of them have been used by diabolical spirits of control and manipulation to abuse others. Most often, this kind of woman is guilty of not allowing the Holy Spirit to process her in the soulish-emotional areas that she may come to maturity in Christ. Not always the case, but these types of women usually are insecure, jealous, intimidated, weak (perpetrating a false strength on the outside), fearful and more. These spirits work with the Strong Man called Rejection. Women who may be suffering from such bondage did not take the time to become transparent before God and man and deal with their brokenness. Moreover, gifts and charisma catapults women to the forefront of ministry, while they are yet broken and rejected on the inside. We must allow the Holy Spirit to have His turn in us in order to bring us to the place of strength and healing within our souls. Let’s examine ourselves, my sisters so that the enemy does not use us as pawns to hurt the body. Women are a tremendous asset to the Body of Christ! We are called to equip the saints and bring healing to many because of our unique sensitivity.
If you are a leader-male or female-and you are guilty of misusing your authority to abuse others in the church, repent right now. God is ready and willing to forgive and bring restoration to you and to all others you may have wounded. If you are one who has left the church because of this kind of abuse, find a church home with balanced leadership that will train, activate and release you into the call and destiny God has always intended for your life. Balanced church leaders aren’t satisfied until they see you fulfilling your purpose in God and in the earth; whether it is in the church or other areas of society you’ve been called. God’s never ending love, mercy and healing are available to both the church member and leader who’ve found they are victims of church abuse spirits. May you receive God’s deliverance and be made whole!