Why you really need to be connected to a local church

See what I've given you? Safe passage as you walk on snakes and scorpions, and protection from every assault of the Enemy. No one can put a hand on you. All the same, the great triumph is not in your authority over evil, but in God's authority over you and presence with you (Lk. 10:19, 20, MSG).

It's no surprise for me to tell you there's a lot of evil in the world. From suicide bombings and beheadings to domestic violence and cancer, you can find the work of the enemy anywhere you look.

We are supposed to be aware of the evil around us. As Jesus sent his disciples out, he told them, "As you go, proclaim this message: 'The kingdom of heaven has come near.' Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received, freely give. (Mt. 10:7, 8).

Confronting wickedness is part of Jesus' commission to us. If we refuse to look at the evil in the name of self-protection, we are useless in extending the kingdom as he directed. But there's a snare there for those not on their guard. The key is in the passage from Luke quoted above.

God's ultimate goal for his people is to walk hand-in-hand with him, drawing from his presence and releasing his goodness, re-establishing his rule and reign on the earth. Authority over evil is an obvious part of that. But if evil becomes our focus, we've gotten off-track.

My own heart has been broken over and over as I've watched those around me struggle with sickness, oppression, fear, and other tormenting things. It is right to fight hard for their freedom.

But when I start spending more time looking at the darkness than at the Light, I end up in trouble myself. We are called to be face-to-face with God, not evil.

We are not going to run out of opportunities to see darkness at work. You may be in a job or family situation that puts it in your face every day. Spending time with God, submitting to his presence and authority, is not an option - it's a job requirement.

If we fail at this, we are going to fail at the life to which we are called.

It might not feel like it at first. Fighting the devil can be exhilarating as you draw on the might of God in the battle. But even natural soldiers get exhausted when they have to go from battle to battle without time to rest and recover.

This is even more true in the kingdom. The more I fight, the more war wounds I incur and horrors I see, the more of God I need. The more evil I encounter, the more I must encounter and re-encounter God.

It's only in his presence that I can encounter a beauty that washes away the bloody stains of battle. Only in him can the hurts and brokenness be healed, and the sights and sounds of the battlefield be replaced by the innocence of the lamb.

Where can I find this presence? I can pray at home, but I find the most healing moments as part of a corporate body. There is strength in numbers. Ecclesiastes 4:12 reminds us: "A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken."

Three (or more) can stand and fight, and then they can press together into the presence of God once the fighting is done. The anointing of God increases the more people are gathered together in his name.

"Me and God" isn't enough. Isolation is dangerous and a favorite tool of the enemy. When we are alone, we are limited to our own discernment and perspective. I love how Paul points out that God scattered a diversity of gifts throughout his body, planning for us to need and help each other (see 1 Cor. 12:7-31).

If you've been battling a long time, I encourage you to find your strength in the body. If you're not connected, find a way to do so. God can certainly encounter us in our prayer closet, but he wants to use the people and ministries in the Church, as well. We're not meant to fight alone.