There are 4 components that will set off Explosive Church Planting. It starts with “Call’, continues with “Community” and then moves to Conflict.
It’s actually quite sobering to consider, but like it or not, we are all players in a Cosmic Conflict and spiritual warfare is a reality that is ever, ever, ever present. Paul states it clearly in Ephesians 6: “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.”
Two striking examples of the supernatural realm operating in support of our efforts in the natural occur in the Old Testament. In II Kings 7 Elisha prays for his servant’s eyes to be opened and he sees the “spiritual forces” that are operative in that Kingdom on his behalf. And again in Daniel 10 we read of the spiritual forces that are put in motion in response to Daniel’s prayer!
Church planting seems to be the “big leagues” of spiritual warfare, striking in all the spheres of life, including relationships, physical, emotional and mental health, finances and even death. I have never encountered a church planter story that did not include significant experiences of spiritual conflict. Spiritual warfare is not a question of if; it’s only a question of when you will encounter it.
In 2 Corinthians 1, Paul makes and an incredible statement when he says, “we despaired of life itself”! Paul, the great Apostle experienced significant spiritual warfare, so don’t think you won’t.
Do not be naive about this – it’s real, it’s raw and it’s right around the corner and you will experience it and it will rock your world!
But take heart, Jesus has “called” you and surrounded you with a “community” of His followers. And because He has overcome the enemy, you will too. Embrace your call and move with courage, enlist your community for prayer and fasting and engage in the conflict and experience the advancement of the Kingdom of God.
