By Eddie and Alice Smith
We have a question to ask you.
Does what people who visit your church don’t see prevent them from returning?
When we prepare our church buildings for Sunday morning services, we vacuum the carpets, pick up the trash, straighten the furniture, and such. Those relate to the physical atmosphere of the church. But how many among us ever consider the spiritual atmosphere of our churches?
Saved or lost, everyone has, to one degree or another, the capacity to sense the spiritual atmosphere around them. I (Eddie) sometimes sense things in the spiritual atmosphere, but Alice is much more spiritually sensitive than I am. I’ve never seen angels or demons, but some of my quite normal friends do see them on occasion.
Frankly, I’m quite satisfied not seeing such things. <smile>
Consider the following: The spiritual atmosphere of any place is largely determined by the prevailing spiritual
presence manifested there; either the Holy Spirit’s presence, the absence of any spiritual presence, or a manifestation of the demonic.
And the prevailing spiritual presence is largely determined by the things people have done there. In other words, spiritual trouble sites are so because of wicked things that were done there. Like bird seed attracts birds, evil deeds attract evil spirits; even in church!
Conversely, a church where godliness has prevailed for many years typically maintains a holy spiritual atmosphere.
How does a church’s spiritual atmosphere become polluted?
We’ve known of churches that bought property on which they built their new buildings. From the moment they
moved onto the new premises, the churches began having financial difficulty, as did the members of the church.
It was only when we spiritually mapped the church and property that we discovered that the property was part of a bankruptcy sale. There was a spirit of poverty attached to the property. Once the pastor led the church through the process of reconciling those issues the church’s and members’ finances turned around.
We known a church that was built on property that two brothers had fought over for 27 years. The church
bought the property at auction and built their new building. Within weeks of moving in there was great dissention in the body, and in the marriages. There was a spirit of division attached to the property.
What about a church where the pastor fires a piano player he discovers is living in homosexuality, then politely announces to the church the next Sunday, “I’m sure you notice that our wonderful pianist, Bro. Joe, is not here today. He offered his resignation this week feeling that his assignment here at ABC church is finished. Be praying for him as he moves on to his next ministry assignment.”
The pastor’s lie opens the door to lying spirits. The spirits of perversion, who are already active in the church because of the pianist’s sin are now strengthened by the lie. Sin is compounded and the spiritual atmosphere even more polluted.
Guests visit churches like these, and in spite of the beautiful surroundings, the wonderful music, and articulate
sermons, they don’t return. Why? They don’t come back because, although they may not be able to identify or explain it, there was something atmospheric that troubled or discomfited them. What was it?
They were impacted by the unseen, but quite real prevailing spiritual atmosphere.
In our best-selling book Spiritual Housecleaning, we explained how Christians can cleanse their homes to purify the spiritual atmosphere and protect their family from spiritual pollution. Now, in our new book, Spiritual Housecleaning Workbook we have a much-needed chapter on Spiritual Churchcleaning.
This may be the overlooked PR (public relations) activity that will release your church to reach it’s full potential in
Christ. Don’t miss it!
Both Spiritual Housecleaning and this new book, Spiritual House Cleaning Workbook: Amazing Stories and Practical Steps You Can Take to Protect Your Home and Family from Spiritual Pollution are available at www.prayerbookstore.com
What pastors do you need to order additional copies for?
BONUS: Order this new book and receive a bonus, Eddie’s unique teaching entitled Bringing Balance to Spiritual Warfare on audio CD.
The book will be released on October 1st. We will ship your book and audio CD the day we receive them!
Order yours now!
Toll Free: 800-569-4825 (9-5; Mon-Fri; Central)
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