Hello, I'm John Eldridge, and welcome the Ransomed Heart Audio Podcast.

For more information on Ransomed Heart Ministries, our resources and events, please visit

us online at W.W. Ransomed Heart.com.

We began last time what we didn't anticipate or intend, but is probably going to turn into sort of

a series on things that are killing the church.

I've been accused of being against the church, which is an absolutely tragic

accusation and one that saddens me very much. The reason for the accusation is that in my books and in some of our teaching we're pretty straightforward about the failures of the church.

But I don't say those things because I hate the church or I'm against church.

I say those things because I love God and I love his people and I want the church

meaning the people of God to experience what God intended us to experience.

And so when things get in the way, yeah, I guess I do get pretty passionate.

And I was describing last time, you know, speaking at a conference recently and talking to people afterwards and just being reminded of what the experience of, I think, kind of the average believer, follower of Jesus Christ is right now at least in the United

States and oh it just began to just awaken this passion and this fierceness in me to say oh no there is more and some of these things that are in the way yeah I'm mad about

Because they're in the way, you know, of people really experiencing

all that God intended when he gave his life for us.

So last time what we focused on was intimacy with God

and that intimacy is the point.

It's not that intimacy is something for the chosen few.

Jesus says, I no longer call you my servants, I call you my friends.

And we were reflecting on how even something like a servant mindset, you know, these things get in the way and and so we want to continue on with that just to unpack some things that have sort of crept into the church.

There are assumptions, convictions, positions, distractions, that are really in the way.

I want to talk about spiritual warfare.

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