Cornerstone Christian Counselling Centre
by Rev. Roger Rayner
The Challenge of Spiritual Walls, Part 1
Have you ever felt like the man above? Have you ever come up against a wall in your spiritual life where part of you is trying to break out, yet another part of you wonπt seem to let go? Why are spiritual walls so challenging, whether in praying for ourselves or for others? Websterπs dictionary defines a wall as a structure of stone, brick, or other materials, raised to some height, and intended for defense or a means of protection.
Ezra and Nehemiah tell of Jerusalemπs walls that were broken down, badly needing repair. ≥For we are slaves; yet in our bondage our God has not forsaken us, but has extended lovingkindness to us in the sight of the kings of Persia, to give us reviving to raise up the house of our God, to restore its ruins and to give us a wall in Judah and Jerusalem. (Ezra 9:9 NASB) They said to me, ≥The remnant there in the province who survived the captivity are in great distress and reproach, and the wall of Jerusalem is broken down and its gates are burned with fire.≤ (Nehemiah 1:3)
Physical walls keep the bad out and the good in. However, ungodly spiritual/emotional walls do the reverse, keeping the bad in and the good out. Ungodly spiritual/emotional walls are "false comforters" ineffectual substitutes for godly, protective walls and boundaries: A person without self-control is as defenseless as a city with broken-down walls. (Proverbs 25:28 NLT) Perhaps you will recognize some of the following aspects of ungodly walls.
The Spiritual Twins of "Walls" and "Wounding"
Like physical walls, spiritual/emotional walls are constructed to protect something. But what are they protecting? Individuals often indicate that "a wall" is blocking their spiritual and relational progress. Why are these walls so difficult to identify and take down?
Ungodly spiritual/emotional walls are there for a reason. A wall is usually not the primary problem: it has simply been a response, a survival strategy for a deeper core issue of wounding and unresolved pain. It can also be another layer of "bricks" on top of a generational stronghold. In addition, the demonic can reinforce the strength of the wall, like additional mortar around the bricks. Yet if the wounding was not there, there would be no need for a wall! So a key question is, "What is on the other side of the wall and how did it get there?"
The Double Bind of "Spiritual Walls"
Struggling individuals are often caught in a double bind. They want to get rid of an ungodly spiritual wall so they can deepen their walk with God. Yet, on another level, often unknowingly, they depend on the very same wall for whatever protection it might purport to give from the pain it encloses.
The Apostle Paul writes: "for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses. We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ." (2 Corinthians 10:4,5)
An ungodly spiritual wall is like a hindering fortress, even if raised up in ignorance or immaturity. When an individual raises up a "fleshly fortress" around an issue, it is raised up against the knowledge of God and His healing power.
Christ Can Transcend "Spiritual Walls"
The good news is that the resurrected Christ is able to transcend walls, whether physical or spiritual. Notice how the disciples, after Christπs crucifixion, had put physical walls around their spiritual walls of fear:
So when it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and when the doors were shut where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in their midst and said to them, "Peace be with you." (John 20:19)
Despite the closed doors, Christ supernaturally came into their midst, addressing their fear by bringing His peace. Christπs ability to transcend walls was again demonstrated eight days later, specifically for Thomas' benefit. Yet this time Jesus passed through physical walls enclosing a spiritual wall of unbelief:
But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples were saying to him, "We have seen the Lord!" But he said to them, "Unless I see in His hands the imprint of the nails, and put my finger into the place of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe." After eight days His disciples were again inside, and Thomas with them. Jesus came, the doors having been shut, and stood in their midst and said, "Peace be with you." (John 20:24-26)
Ungodly walls can form around wounds where the resurrected Christ has not yet been allowed to reveal Himself and His healing appropriated.
Christ reveals His wounds He bore on our behalf, inside the closed walls, for "by His wounds you were healed" :And when He had said this, He showed them both His hands and His side. The disciples then rejoiced when they saw the Lord. (John 20:20)
He doubly assures of His peace. His commissioning flows out of His peace: So Jesus said to them again, "Peace be with you; as the Father has sent Me, I also send you." (John 20:21)
He then empowers by filling with His Holy Spirit, still inside the walls:And when He had said this, He breathed on them and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit." (John 20:22)
He then amplifies His commission and delegates authority for life outside the walls: "If you forgive the sins of any, their sins have been forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they have been retained." (John 20:23)
Christ invites an unbelieving disciple to touch Him, within the walls, and to choose to trust again: Then He said to Thomas, "Reach here with your finger, and see My hands; and reach here your hand and put it into My side; and do not be unbelieving, but believing." (John 20:27)
Seeing and touching the living Christ, within the walls, results in worship as He gives a garment of praise to replace the spirit of despair: Thomas answered and said to Him, "My Lord and my God!" (John 20:28)
In Part 2 we will look at some aspects of how to pray into spiritual walls.
Cornerstone Christian Counselling Centre
258 King St. N.,
519-883-3922
Fax 519-883-3924
Waterloo, Ontario, Canada.
mail: Box 38029 at 256 King St. N. Waterloo Ont. N2J 4T9
For further information contact us at www.cornerstonechristian.ca or info@cornerstonechristian.ca
