"Passover, in the original language connotes this brooding and protecting power, not based on the goodness of the people...but on the receiving of the blood of the Sacrificial Passover Lamb, Jesus Himself."
When God speaks--every single time God speaks--He adds new mystery yet to be uncovered. Do you disagree?
Think of the prophecies you've received. As soon as God gives you a prophetic word, you learn the "what" of God's will. Isn't it true then, that your next questions include the, "who, when, where, why, and how" of the prophecy just given to you? I'm pretty sure it does.
Why should the celebration of PASSOVER be different? Passover is not just a feast, it's prophecy. It's meant to make you ask more questions--not just simply give you one answer.
I'm not a "feast keeper," as it were. What I mean is, I don't keep the Jewish feasts each year though I do believe God continues to speak through them, and I have organized or attended a few PASSOVER Seders myself.
In the PASSOVER story, as is true in the entire Bible, you have the original meaning, of course; but then you also have the prophetic, the hidden or mysterious meanings--the secret code, so to speak.
Who doesn't love a good mystery with secret codes? I love a good mystery story. I also love stories with multiple levels of meaning. It's the prophetic, the hidden and the mysterious messages encoded in the Bible that make the study of each story so great--so passionately and mystically GRAND!
THE ISAIAH PROPHECY
One of my favorite examples of this comes from Isaiah's famous prophecy. Even today, the Jewish community argues about its meaning:
"Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a Son, and will call Him Immanuel." Isaiah 7:14
At the time of Isaiah's prophecy, there was a civil war between "brothers." Israel and Judah (with other countries involved) were battling against one another. In this case, Judah was the "good guy." After all, "The Lion from the Tribe of Judah"--Jesus Himself--would come through this specific tribe.
So the sign to encourage Judah's king was Isaiah's prophecy that a virgin would conceive, have a male child, and He would be named "Immanuel" (which means, "God with us"). It was a promise for the future--a simple prophecy that a child, Immanuel, would be born to a woman who was at the time of the prophecy, still a virgin. Said another way, it could have been both a prophecy for a soon-to-be-born child and a longer prophecy for hundreds of years later.
However, the most important part is the "hidden" or mysterious meaning--the prophecy referred to the promised fulfillment of the Messiah, the Christ--who would be called, "Immanuel." "PASSOVER," in a very real sense, was also one of HIS NAMES. He would also be named "Jesus"--but no matter the three names we've given (and there are many more), HE would be the PASSOVER LAMB HIMSELF.
So, again, Isaiah's prophecy includes all of the above--that Judah would prevail in this war; that God would be with Judah; and most importantly that virgin, who we now know as Mary, who had "known no man," would hundreds of years later conceive a male child, Jesus. Jesus would quite literally be, "God with us," because He Himself would be the "I AM" walking on earth.
Matthew completely mystifies the reader by telling them how everything fit together. He explains Isaiah's words like this:
To Joseph, the angel said, "She (Mary) will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins. All this took place (Matthew reminds us) to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: 'The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a Son, and they will call Him Immanuel--which means, God with us.'" (Matthew 1:21-23) (Emphasis added).
Oddly enough, the angel claims that the child--who was commanded by the angel to be given the name "Jesus"--was the one-and-the same child as the prophesied "Son" who was to be given a different name--"Immanuel."
How strange! I love this stuff! I sometimes wonder if, around the house, Mary actually called her Son "Immanuel," because after all, that was prophesied to be one of HIS names.
PASSOVER--FOR ISRAEL AND FOR THE WHOLE WORLD
Every time the Bible speaks of PASSOVER--from the time of Jacob onward--Passover involves Israel (Jacob's new name). Centuries before the original, or the first PASSOVER was to come into being, God put Israel's grandfather, Abraham, into a deep sleep, and then prophesied an odd and not-so-encouraging word to him--even as Abraham was very old and still childless:
"Then the LORD said to him (Abram), 'Know for certain that your descendants will be strangers in a country not their own, and they will be enslaved and mistreated four hundred years. But I will punish the nation they serve as slaves, and afterward they will come out with great possessions.'"--Genesis 15:13-14 (emphasis added)
I don't know about you, but if God gave that promise to me, would I be thanking Him, or asking, "So what did I do to deserve THIS?"
Clearly demonstrating His foreknowledge of the future--400 years ahead of time--the Lord prophesied the first Passover concerning Israel who, as a person, was actually two generations from even being born. In fact, first Isaac would have to be miraculously born in Sarah's old age, and THEN Jacob (later named Israel), would come into being. And then--the promised slavery for 400 years! Great promise, huh? And then the deliverance.
It sort of reminds me of my life! How about you?
When the proper time came--four centuries later, just exactly as it was prophesied (some might even say it was planned on purpose by God), Pharaoh, predictably refused to let the Children of Israel go.
God then initiates Passover--which was both a holiday and a prophecy. He commands Moses to tell the people to take into their homes, bond with, and then sacrifice either a one-year-old lamb or a one-year-old goat. They were to then sprinkle some of the blood on their doorposts. Not all of the blood was required, just some of it. Another prophetic picture.
Through obedience to this command, Israel's first-born children would be spared from death, though Egypt's first-born were not spared. Not even Egypt's first-born cattle were spared.
Again--Israel obeyed the command and the practice of Passover and as a result their first born were spared. Everyone got out of town in one day--with great riches. Again, this is exactly according to the 400-year-old prophecy by God. That's the story. But there's more, MUCH more...
THE PROPHETIC, MYSTERIOUS AND HIDDEN MEANINGS OF PASSOVER
Just as most countries and ethnic groups celebrate national holidays (Holy Days), God used this prophesied event to create one of His own holidays for Israel--PASSOVER. But with God, though Passover is forever about Israel and cannot be separated from it, it is also about God and the Gentiles (everyone who is not from Israel or even from the Tribe of Judah). In other words, Passover is about those who are Jewish and those who are not. Those who are not, we call Gentiles, even today.
Here is the original command by God through Moses:
"The blood will be a sign for you on the houses where you are; and when I see the blood, I will pass over you. No destructive plague will touch you when I strike Egypt. This is a day you are to commemorate; for the generations to come you shall celebrate it as a festival to the LORD--a lasting ordinance." (That's what most people call a Holiday) Exodus 12:13-14 (emphasis added)
God used His own prophetic Word, and His plan to carry out HIS own promise; the deliverance of Israel. Then he pre-determined that this deliverance would become a holiday and a perpetual sign regarding Israel as a nation. But it was a prophecy for all nations as well.
PASSOVER CLUES
While many miss the hidden symbols, some of them become obvious--even to the casual observer. Christ, the Passover Lamb, loves to play hide and seek after all--but His "Way" is to hide all that He does in plain sight!
God gives these first PASSOVER instructions:
"The animals you choose must be year-old males without defect, and you may take them from the sheep or the goats...Then they are to take some of the blood and put it on the sides and tops of the doorframes of the houses where they eat the lambs. That same night they are to eat the meat...along with bitter herbs, and bread made without yeast. This is how you are to eat it: with your cloak tucked into your belt, your sandals on your feet and your staff in your hand. Eat it in haste; it is the LORD's Passover." Exodus 12:5, 7-8, 11
Here are some of the clues in the celebration of PASSOVER--hidden, some might even say mysteriously--in plain sight:
• It must be a person's free choice to choose a spotless lamb for his Sacrifice.
• He, the Messiah, would appear as a male just prior to deliverance.
• He would have no flaw and would be young--thus a young lamb, not a grown sheep or goat.
• He could be seen (and sacrificed) as either a lamb, or a goat (what we now know as a scapegoat) who would take on HIMSELF the sins of the people and HE (the goat) would later be led outside the camp to die in the desert. Jesus was to be tested in the desert, as it turns out.
• Only some of His blood was needed. It only takes a drop of blood to cleanse all of Mankind--at least for those who would, of their free will, receive the Messiah.
• The blood is over the doorposts of your life--your body, your soul, your mind, and your spirit.
• As odd as it sounds, the Passover teaches that "He" must be eaten. Jesus completely stunned His followers with this saying, "unless you eat My flesh and drink My blood you have no Life in you" (John 6:53-58 paraphrased). This sounds nearly barbaric, on its face, but Jesus was speaking in a parable. In this same passage He gives the context of His parable. He clarifies that just as the Father is in Him, so we "feed" (symbolically) on Christ--and thus become one with Him. The Holy Spirit accomplishes this when He fills us, of course.
• Bitter herbs must also be eaten because the sacrifice of this lamb would be "bitter" to all mankind.
• No Yeast is a symbol of no sin, and that no sin would later grow in HIM. It's interesting that some movie-makers today want to portray Christ as someone who sinned, just as we sinned.
• When you choose THE sacrifice, eat HIM in haste and for Him to take you suddenly and catapult you from where you are, into the desert before you inherit the Promised Land.
• He will remove you in a day from one desert of slavery, and take you with riches through another desert of testing--into a promised future.
• One only needed to apply the blood. You didn't need to be worthy, just obedient.
• One of the most important symbols in the Passover, and often missed is this: God knew ahead of time just how long they would be slaves, and exactly when they would be delivered from slavery. This is why prophecy works, by the way. God knows the future.
• God knew that the vast majority who applied the blood would neither appreciate nor enter into the fullest part of their promise. Yet the Lamb's blood kept them from death anyway. How profound. Today we call that grace!
In other words, God knew ahead of time that His people didn't deserve this good treatment. Yet because they applied the blood (symbolizing accepting Christ), they were preserved from death. In our case, we are preserved from eternal death. We are given beauty instead of ashes. Eternal life, instead of eternal death. And we receive wealth and riches that we have neither earned nor deserve.
There is so much more that we have no time to explore. But now there is a bit more to be learned at this time. Jesus, just before His death stood above the City of Jerusalem and wept:
"O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who continue to kill the prophets and to stone those who are sent to you! How often I have desired and yearned to gather your children together (around Me), as a hen (gathers) her young under her wings, but you would not! Behold, your house is forsaken (abandoned, left to you destitute of God's help)! And I tell you, you will not see Me again until the time comes when you shall say, 'Blessed (to be celebrated with praises) is He Who comes in the name of the Lord!'" Luke 13:34-35 AMP (emphasis added) (see Psalm 118:26; Jeremiah 22:5)
As we think of Passover, we see death working its way through Egypt and an angel taking a glance at the blood, and telling death to stay away. But no, it's more than that. It's like the brooding of a mother hen over her chicks, covering all of the people.
It's not a Passover in the sense that the spirit of death would only see blood and PASS OVER it one time and one time only. NO! Instead, the picture is closer to what Jesus said while looking over Jerusalem, "I wanted to gather, protect and brood over you, just like what happened in the Passover. I wanted to be your complete and ongoing covering, not based on your goodness but instead, based on your acceptance of Me" (Matthew 23:37 paraphrased).
The word used for PASSOVER is not in other Semitic languages, except in passages derived from the Hebrew Bible; the Egyptian word "pesht" corresponds, "to extend the arms or wings over one protecting him." It reminds one of Psalm 91 and the "hiding under His wings."
"He will cover you with His feathers, and under His wings you will find refuge; His faithfulness will be your shield and rampart." Psalm 91:4
So, Passover, in the original language connotes this brooding and protecting power, not based on the goodness of the people, for there "is none good, not even one," but on the receiving of the blood of the Sacrificial Passover Lamb, Jesus Himself.
Many see the weeping of Jesus in the "O Jerusalem" passage as a curse. "...I longed to gather you," Jesus said, "but now your house is left to you desolate because you wouldn't have any of it" (see Matthew 23:37; Luke 13:34) (paraphrased).
Instead, Jesus pronounces a temporary desert experience, once again, but more importantly, He prophesies blessing to Israel and all who would receive HIM as the Christ:
"And I tell you, you will not see Me again until the time comes when you shall say, Blessed (to be celebrated with praises) is He Who comes in the name of the Lord!" Luke 13:35 AMP
Jesus is blessing Jerusalem with a stated prophecy. Let me put it in modern language:
Jesus: "I prophesy this to you Jerusalem and to everyone else. The very next time you say to me, 'Blessed is He (Jesus; Yeshua) who came from God,' then I will gather you like a Hen gathers and protects its chicks. And I'll be your PASSOVER Lamb and I'll become yours SUDDENLY. And no eternal death will come to you. You will gain eternal life, because you accept my blood" (Matthew 23:37 paraphrased).
That's a great promise!
Finally, we note this about how Jesus shared His heart regarding THE PASSOVER:
"When the hour came, Jesus and His apostles reclined at the table. And He said to them, 'I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. For I tell you, I will not eat it again until it finds fulfillment in the kingdom of God.'" Luke 22:14-16
Though Jesus knew that the Passover referred to HIMSELF, He eagerly desired to eat the very meal referring to HIS OWN SACRIFICE. He wanted to bond with His followers one last time BEFORE He "suffered."
Blessings,
Steve Shultz
Chosen people of God, the Holy Spirit wants us to pay attention to a very important point. This has everything to do with the unity of God's people. It is not about the unity of Christians in leadership, rather about unity under specific ministries.
The Lord showed me, that as He handles the Dolphins, so He handles different ministries. I heard Him say, "Be with people who are likeminded!" The Holy Spirit explained that we need to be with likeminded people in likeminded ministry that are under the same annointing. When we do this, we enter into a stronger anointing and presence of God.
2 Kings 2:9:
9 When they had crossed, Elijah said to Elisha, "Tell me, what can I do for you before I am taken from you?"
"Let me inherit a double portion of your spirit," Elisha replied.
I can confirm that out of experience. I want to encourage you, when you are in a position of leadership and looking out over all the different ministries or from inside your church and looking out at others, that you would look to those that are likeminded.
Every ministry or relationship has a spiritual character from God, that He has given them, in which He works, exactly like humanity in which we have our own character. I feel, although there are those would disagree, that not every Christian is called to a deep friendship with just any other Christian.
God gave people and ministries different characters, He also created many different units. Maybe this sounds paradox to you, but God has the overall view of His church. Even Jesus had a specific circle of friends and those were the 12 disciples. There were 72 other disciples who were not as deeply connected to Jesus, however that does not mean, that they had less worth.
We must, as God's people, be godly in grouping our different groups and not splitting our different groups. When we start to undestand this, then the annointing in our lives, ministries, friendships... increase.
Why Dolphins?
God is a sovereign God and speaks to His people loud and clear even when we see things a bit blurry. Still, God's language is clear. We must learn to understand His language and be ready to act on it. The Holy Spirit loves to speak to us creatively which is why He uses so many symbols. Symbols that we need to understand and the Dolphins fit under this category.
Dolphins, part of the whale family, are aquatic and have 40 different species. They are found in every sea. Dolphins are social animals and live in groups or "schools".
The leadership in the group is not permanent, they change in and out. Through this the animals can have a stronger bond with each other that grows, especially in times of sickness or injury.
Because of their high adaptability large dolphins are held by the military in the USA and in Russia, in order to install, for example naval mines at hostile ships or defuse mines.
The Meaning of Dolphins for the Body of Christ
The Holy Spirit is taking different ministries in different places and combining them together in which to release a greater amount of His power and presence. On this very point, the devil is looking for Christians who and sitting on a wealth of knowledge, but are misusing it in regards to the movement of the Holy Spirit and the result is, that the manifestations will cease.
Turn around and repent! Turn around and repent! Turn around and repent!
Dolphins stand for the readiness to swim in the fullness of the Holy Spirit and maintain contact with the people in the world, which is what springing and diving ultimately symbolize. They are a clue to the prophetic, warfare, watch ministry and healing. They stay with one eye open and are ready at any moment.
Let us, as God's people, swim together with Ezekiel in the flowing river of the Father. (Ezekiel 47:5)
Ezekiel 47:5:
5 He measured off another thousand, but now it was a river that I could not cross, because the water had risen and was deep enough to swim in a river that no one could cross.
Amen and Amen.
Daniel Glimm
THE SPIRIT OF ELITISM AND IT’S DEVASTATING EFFECTS
(Control, Manipulation, False Shepherding Spirit. Spirit of Abortion, Grief)
Have you ever been around a church or group and gradually began to feel left out, excluded? Not part of the "in" group, or inner circle?
What is this exclusiveness or elitism and where did it come from? How did it get there? What opened the door for this to enter? Elitism is a form of pride -and the Bible says that "God resists the proud and gives grace to the humble."
As Christians, what constitutes humility? True humility is a dependance upon God. Knowing that apart from Him, His power and care - we cannot make it in life or in ministry. We are kept by His grace. "We are kept by the power of God unto Salvation" (1Pet:1.5).
Warning signs
When an individual or group gives the impression they have some kind of "special" calling, or revelation, or when they feel and give the impression they have been called by God to fill some kind of "special" position, the signals are flashing. The attitude, "We are the only ones who are really doing the work of the ministry" is like an offensive odor. Other ministries are deemed as OK, but do not have the great importance our ministry has.
This often happens when there has been some kind of success in growth, or a move of God and blessings are manifest. It’s often when things are going well, people are not on guard and the this exclusivism slips in. What begins as a cry of "GOD is visiting us." Gradually becomes "God is VISITING us," to finally, "God is visiting US."
God pours out His Spirit because we are hungry and because we need Him - not because we have "qualified" or earned some special favor. He (Jesus) is the One who will "present us faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding Joy" (Jude 24). It is the Spirit who changes us (2 Cor 3-18). "We are His workmanship - created in Christ Jesus" (Eph 2:10).
Unfortunately, in the midst of blessing it seems easy for us to forget it was only because of His great love and grace and mercy and lovingkindness that the blessing came. We begin to feel, with the encouragement of a few demonic forces, that somehow it had something to do with us. Gradually there begins an attitude of resistance to anyone who disagrees with anything the controlling person(s) says or does.
Instead of being able and open to receive input, pride sees anything that is not strongly pro ( in agreement the group or individual) as a threat to their position.
Control and Manipulation
When a leader starts to operate in elitism, or exclusivism, they often see others as subjective -and inferior in some way, and deception comes in the form of believing that this one person or persons are in a better position spiritually to know what is right, or hear from God and know the mind of God. Gradually anyone who questions anything, (any decision or teaching etc.) becomes the target of some kind of spiritual attack. Often being accused of being a "Jezebel" or "Rebelliou"s. The person bringing the word or question is dismissedas irrelevent. If that person stands their ground they are usually rejected and their own ministry gift is questioned, dismissed, and often aborted by the strong religious spirit coming against them.
When a spirit of control comes into a leadership, often the spirit of abortion is active and the move of the Spirit in the church and in the individual is aborted. If that happens the person involved usually needs prayer for deliverance from the spirit of abortion and also the spirit of grief. The spirit of abortion usually hangs around and continues to abort things in that persons life i.e. ministry opportunities, job, finances, relationships.
The False Shepherding Spirit
The desire to control opens the door to the false shepherding spirit. What exactly is a false shepherding spirit someone may ask? The famous Ezekiel 34 chapter spells it out, the shepherd forgets his real calling, to care and tend and nurture, feed and care for the flock of God and begins to be only concerned about his agenda. A harsh spirit comes in usually in the guise of "Doing the will of God" and the sheep are not loved, comforted or edified. Nor are their gifts and callings brought forth. They are not equipped to do the work of the ministry as commanded in Ephesians 4.
Paul also speaks of the falsle shepherds in Acts 20. The apostle exhorts the elders of the Ephesus church, "Take heed therefore unto yourselves and unto all the flock of which the Holy Ghost has made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which HE HATH PURCHESED WITH HIS OWN BLOOD. ...........also of your own selves, shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them." ( Acts 20:28- 30).
The true shepherds are called to take authority, and come against that which comes against he sheep, to harm them, but this spirit turns it around and the leadership begins to come against the sheep to control and manipulate them. A true shepherd does not lead his sheep to a field, and pull up grass and ram it down their throat - he leads them to good pasture and they feed themselves. He makes available good food (ministry) and watches out for the them.
The good or true shepherd sees it as an honor to be given charge among the precious Body of Christ. He can acknowledge the Christ in everyone, even the children -( they do not have a junior Holy Spirit). He is not threatened by their gifts and abilities. He will work to bring forth younger men and women, and consider it is delightful to see them begin to move out in God.
When my husband, David, has miracle meetings and God begins to use the children that have been under his anointing, he sits down and allows God’s Spirit to use them. Many miracles happen through the "laying on of sticky fingers" as David calls it. David loves to see God use the kiddos in such a powerful way. It is life changing for them, as well as those who receive healing, -so is the heart of the true shepherd.
Mis-use of God- Given Authority
I was once involved with a group of powerful evangelistic churches. The leader of this group was a man of great vision and faith. But he became very verbally abusive in his role of leader, and extremely controlling
People really did not have the opportunity to hear from God for themselves and be led by the Spirit. A kind of dictator type spirit manifested toward the people. Those who disagreed were branded as "rebellious" "Jezebels" and accused of not having an submissive spirit.
When you come under a false shepherding sprit, you also end up needing deliverance from a spirit of false submission. True submission is not a matter of just blindly doing whatever you are told, but being open to others. That God may speak to you through whoever He wishes, especially a loving, caring shepherd. And, always being open to the fact that something may need to be corrected in your direction, or your walk with God.
As people learn to yield to the Spirit, God will fit them into the right place in the Body of Christ, and the true shepherds of Jesus can help them to fulfill their destiny.
The Lord gave me a word for the leader of a group of churches, I was not at all willing to bring it. "Who do you think you are"? said a voice in my ear. "I’m not anyone at all" I thought, - But "God has chosen the foolish things of the world........ and the things which are not -to bring to nothing the things that are .." ( 1 Cor: 27-28).
Reluctantly, I delivered this word to a leadership meeting in which it was read out. "You have one year to rid the ministry of the of the false shepherding spirit." That’s all it was , so I left it there. When God gives you a word, its not your responsibility to make it happen - it’s His. I continued to fellowship with this group and didn’t think too much more about it.
A year later at the same annual leadership meeting, the whole ministry began to become unglued. Three months later it was out of action and no longer existed as an entity. God removed the rod of authority because it was being mis-used and hurt the sheep. "Touch not my anointed and do my prophets no harm." (Ps 105:15) is often quoted with regard to leadership people as a way of saying "Leave me alone -you have no right to question me or my decisions." But, the "anointed" referred to in the Psalm, also includes the whole the Body of Christ, including all the sheep.
The elitist spirit ensures that leaders forget that every believer has the capability of hearing from God and being used by Him. A child filled with God’s Spirit can be used in a mighty way. That’s why it’s so important to be open to anyone in the Body. God can use whoever He desires. The Life of Christ is deposited in each member.
What is the responsibility of the members towards the leadership? To be caring of them, praying for them, helping, encouraging, working with them. Knowing that God has called them to help His people be equipped for the Kingdom and ministered to, and enabling the
members of the Body to behealthy. "...that ye may grow up into Him in all things which is the head even Christ. From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplies, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love" ( Eph 4:16).
You have the witness of the Spirit inside you, to teach you. It is ultimately your own responsability to put yourself under godly men and women and receive teaching and instruction that comes from God, and is really from the Word. Biblical grounding is important.
Sometimes I admit I get a little impatient with people who have sat under control, deception, false shepherding for a long time. They are in a big mess, but when I question them, they tell me that they sat there knowing inside that something was wrong -( that’s the witness of the Spirit) instead of checking with the word and with the Holy Spirit. They sat there and got deeper into it.
If you feel the Lord gives you something for the church or leadership, present it humbly (you could be wrong!). If the leadership is godly they will consider what you have, but you must leave it there.
God once put me in a position where I had to pray for many people who came out of a group who were operating in a false shepherding/discipleship spirit. These were young Christians being trained and discipled by a man who obviously had a great anointing for evangelism, he did get them saved and dedicated to God. The success of the group went to his head and he began to put pressure on these young men and women. "If you really want to serve God you must do what I say, as I am your father (teacher), sent by God to be over you." Then came, "You must do as I say - it is a test of your willingness to obey God."
You can guess where it ended up! He eventually had sex with most of the young women. And then sent young single women to live with a married couple to be "discipled." Really they were servants. I talked to one or two young women who had been told that part of the discipleship was to learn about how to be a good sexual partner for their future husband. Guess how? Of course the husband in the home they were living was told it was his "duty" to educate them ( in a practical way)!!
When we got round to praying deliverance for these people, we prayed for the following and they got free.
Elitism, false shepherding, false submission, false covering, false yoke, false responsability, control, witchcraft, false brotherhood, bands (the group gets yoked together with a band that is not of God, they become a "family".) Fear, fear of disapproval, rejection, grief, abortion ( they were not allowed to operate in any spiritual gifts - I wonder why?)
Guilt, shame, condemnation. False martyr spirit ( suffering wrongdoing for Jesus). This spirit told people that they just had to put up with all this unpleasantness as they were being a sacrifice for the kingdom. In this group, as in many others like it, there was a lot of other kinds of deception taught. i.e. "If you really love someone and want them to be healed, you will pray for their sickness to come to you so they can be free from it."
False martyr spirit, spirits of deception, unfruitfulness, barrenness, dead works etc.
Are there really all these spirits involved? Yes there certainly are, they roam around like a little army, each one in position to take over. These folks did not get free until we had broken the power of all these things. I believe everything would have been discovered much sooner if the gifts of the Spirit were flowing.
Then a deaf and dumb spirit comes in, as they are not allowed to hear from God for themselves and certainly not allowed to speak up. THE FIRST SPIRIT TO ENTER IS ELITISM OR PRIDE - that is why it IS SO IMPORTANT TO WATCH FOR THESE THINGS.
The Bible says "Lest Satan should get an advantage over us for we are not ignorant of his devices, (2 Cor 2:11), but sadly, so often we are ignorant and God’s people have not been taught to listen to the witness of the Spirit. That is why the anointing is there within us, the believer, to teach us. Please read these scriptures, they are so important for us all.
"And this is the promise that He has promised us, even eternal life. These things have I written to you concerning them that seduce you, But the anointing which you have received from Him, abides in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but the same anointing teaches you of all things, and is truth; and is no lie; and even as it has taught you, you shall abide in Him."
"And now little children, abide in Him, that when He shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before Him at His coming. If you know that He is righteous, you know that everyone that doeth righteousness is born of Him" (1 John 2:25,29).
Does this mean that we no longer need teachers and instructors? Of course not - Paul urges Timothy to teach and "Preach the word; be instant in season and out of season," (2 Tim 4:2) he exhorts him to teach sound doctrine. It means that when we receive teaching we must still watch the witness of the spirit within us.
If you understand how these spirits operate, you can pray and get free, you do not have to "qualify" to receive from God .
A note for Pastors and Leaders:
This booklet is intended for people who have been abused by authority in the church. As you are aware there have been many leaders who have mis-used their position in the church and mis-represented the true leadership that is God appointed. Unfortunately many of these wounded sheep are not yet healed, but God is touching and restoring them and giving them understanding of the spiritual realm.
Kathie Walters
