Cut the Strings: A note from Pastor Kelli

Ephesians 6:12 (NKJ) "For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places."

The other day, I was contemplating this verse that is often quoted to remind us that, when we are in conflict with others, those people are not our enemies.

We read this and have been taught, that the real enemy is Satan and his demonic partners that have a collective agenda, “to kill, steal and destroy” the children of God and their purpose.

I believe this and do my best to live with this truth hidden in my heart as I go about life interacting with others each day. However, this day I was wrestling with God with this scripture and He challenged me with a fresh thought that I thought worth sharing.

I want to preface this by saying the former statement is absolutely true and we should let it settle deep in our hearts! This life is full of conflicts involving other human beings and we will experience FREEDOM in knowing who our actual enemy is.

With that in mind, here’s this fresh new layer of revelation.

When it comes to this scripture, I have always had this picture in my head of people being dangled like a puppet, hands, feet and head at the end of long strings that are being bobbed up and down by some unseen, towering, demonic puppeteer.  

The reality is that the person on the end of the strings could be your worst enemy, the man down the street, your coworker, your best friend or even your spouse. Sometimes the marionette is even us!

We read this verse and as devoted followers, we may decide that it’s not anyone’s fault. We or they are just being used unwittingly, and we need to forgive, callig out the enemy and his schemes. This is where the wrestle began for me, however . "Where is the accountability in that Lord?" I cried out as I meditated on the scripture over and over. In response to my wrestling, the Lord in His infinite grace and wisdom challenged me to ask some important questions.

When it comes to believers, “Why are we able to be used by the enemy?”  

We see a real life example of this when Jesus rebuked Peter in Matthew 16 saying “get behind me Satan,” when Peter suggested that Jesus not do the very thing he came here to do: die on the cross.

And even further, “If the enemy has the power to use, even the followers of Jesus, and it’s “not our fault,” then what defense do we have against it?”

The Lord in His goodness, promptly answered His own question.

“The brokenness in my children is like a crack. It is a vulnerability that the enemy targets and takes advantage of. It’s like an opening where he can slip in and tie the string initiating his puppeteer act to begin. If he can slip into those cracks, he can gain a foothold to manipulate your perception and can wield you like a weapon against even your own brothers and sisters in Christ. He can wield you like a weapon to wound even the ones you love most. One of the enemy’s favorite tactics is to use one believer’s brokenness to prod and poke at the brokenness in another believer. It is why Church hurt, I believe, is so prevalent. Not because the Church is a corrupt, hypocritical establishment, but because, being filled with broken people, still on the path to recovery, this is such an effective strategy to bringing it down. And it’s not a new strategy!

So the answer to what is our defense against it?

Our defense… is to heal.

We must devote ourselves to walking in step with the Holy Spirit and the Word of God to close those gaps, FIRST in ourselves and then in others. This is a process that requires diligence and a life long humility. I must decided that I am committed to standing in the mirror, with the Lord by my side, showing me the places that I must surrender to Him. If I do this, He can heal, transform and turn that which was broken into a testimony, which is my weapon AGAINST the enemy! And what an epic plot twist, the weapon that he used to exploit and wield, is now effect AGAINST the enemy. Wow. Our strongest defense against the enemy is to heal.

"For we overcome but the blood of the lamb and the word of our testimony. "(Rev. 12:11)

Here at Rescue Church, it has been a mandate of the Lord, not only to begin with healing, but to walk a continuous path surrendered to the work of the cross. We heal and we lead other's to the Great physician, that He might do His work in them as well. I want to heal for my family, for my children, and for my calling. My purpose will inevitably lead me to broken people and I want to know that when God entrusts me with them, I have done the hard work of healing so that the enemy can’t succeed in his puppeteer act. Not with me.

Will you join us? If you need prayer or would like to become a part of this journey to healing and wholeness, message us and we would love to connect with you and talk to you about how you can step into life with the body of Christ as we heal together.

Yes! I want to heal.