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04-26-01

This word is submitted by Kari Macus (KariMacus@aol.com)

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Burning Bridges

I saw a picture of a woman who had a lot of cuts and bruses on her, and she was crossing one of those hanging suspension bridges. I could see that she was very wounded and every step was an effort for her. She became angry as she crossed the bridge because the going was so difficult. But the difficulty was not the bridge's fault, it was the severity of the many wounds she had. When she got to the other side, she pulled out a book of matches and she set fire to the bridge. She watched in satisfaction as it burned.

And then I heard God say that the enemy is launching a strategy against the church right now. The strategy is to cause people to "burn their bridges" -- in other words to bring separation in the body of Christ, to increase offenses and misunderstandings and to cause fissures in important and God ordained relationships. The enemy is shooting firey darts at people and they are getting wounded. And as they are wounded, it makes the going more difficult. Then the enemy is confusing people by making them think that the source of their problems and the source of their difficulties is another person -- so that relationships can be messed up. The enemy is doing this because he knows that if the church gets into unity, that the power of God will advance through it.

The Lord's message to each of us is so simple: Don't burn your bridges. Don't damage your God-appointed relationships. Direct your righteous anger towards the enemy.. not towards each other. Be patient and kind. Ignore one another's faults and build each other up. Bind up each other's wounds and assist one another. Let mercy and grace and love flow. And then you will see God's power and God's victory come into your situation. And then God Himself will bid up your wounds and give you His victory.