Both answer to prayer and divine healing require an atmosphere that is conducive. There is a certain air in which the Lord is not free to move, just as some of us cannot operate conveniently in an environment that is filthy or polluted.
The presence of certain people in a place of intercession, worship or ministration can serve as a hindrance to the operation of the anointing of God. Elisha felt bound or limited by the very presence of the Kings of Israel and Moab and would have canceled the meeting he was to have with them but for the reassuring presence of the King of Judah. Even so, he had to seek help through a godly minstrel. The Lord Jesus similarly found Himself in a limiting atmosphere in Nazareth because of the unbelief of the people there who were tied inextricably to mischief.
You will not have heaven’s best where the atmosphere is dominated by people operating a contentious or contrary Spirit. This is why you enter certain worship environments dry and leave completely drained. The Spirit is unable to embark on His work of healing and restoration where He is grieved.
Many of us imbibed this notion that you can have communion with the Lord anywhere His name is being mentioned. Just imagine saturating yourself with God’s anointing and grace in your quiet time by having some worldly music play softly in the background, even if it echoed the name of Jesus repeatedly!
A fellowship is a communion or union of spirits. It is one place where two don’t walk together without agreement. I think those operating consciously on the enemy’s side understand this. They came to disrupt and make the blessing of genuine seekers impossible. Those who are confused are the sitters on the wall, who are neither here nor there. They chose their seats purposely in the Court of the Gentiles because they did not want to be fully involved in kingdom business. Bible describes such as “ever learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth”.
In our passage, Luke 14, 1- 6, the religious crowd who were present in the Chief Pharisee’s home when Jesus was there as his guest represented a wall of resistance to the healing of the man who suffered from the dropsy. Isn’t it contradictory that God’s work is opposed by the very ones presenting themselves as His chiefest adherents?!
We ought to mature quickly in the things of God and be alive to this fact that, not everyone is happy when someone is healed or raised in life. Those who are the loudest or make themselves conspicuous in God’s affairs are usually the first to be grieved when someone receives his or her freedom.
So what are we to do when confronted by an atmosphere that is heavy or impenetrable spiritually? Number one, there is the need to spiritually assess the situation in order to discern what is really happening and believe God for direction on how to tackle it. Paul had a young woman operating an impure spirit following him and Silas around, proclaiming that they were the true servants of God. The right words were declared by a wrong spirit. Paul took action only on the fourth day. This was after he had weighed and assessed the situation thoroughly.
God helps to purify His church by causing a shaking. It can erupt through a subtle or open rebellion against the leadership, as a result of which the tares are separated from the wheat, and sifted out. A healthy church will experience this from time to time.
Where there is a lack of clarity regarding what to do, you may consider using your feet by seeking freedom elsewhere. Unfortunately, some remain bound to certain missions for sentimental reasons.
In instances where an oppressive spirit has completely taken root, believers may form a band of the significant minority who set time apart to pray. Break out fellowships of this nature are at the foundation of some early pentecostal movements in Nigeria. Ironically, over time, the Pentecostals themselves congealed into a new orthodoxy where another round of breaking out became necessary, having turned worse than the original organs they raised their spiritual armour over.