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Strong's Concordance (3882 and 3867) “Leviathan”:
A wreathed animal or serpent. The constellation of the dragon; also as a symbol of Bab. To join itself, to remain, cleave. The constellation of the dragon is known as Orion (3685) means to be fat, silly, foolish. Job 9:9; 38:31; Amos 5:8.
The “spirit of Leviathan” is a powerful spirit, and it seems, one that is to be understood as a “principality or dominion” rather than a single spirit. Some of what we know about Leviathan is most clearly described in Job 41: [Amplified Bible]
Job 41 "Can you draw out the leviathan (the crocodile) with a fishhook? Or press down his tongue with a cord? 2) Can you put a rope into his nose? Or pierce his jaw through with a hook or a spike? 3) Will he make many supplications to you [begging to be spared]? Will he speak soft words to you [to coax you to treat him kindly]? 4) Will he make a covenant with you to take him for your servant forever? 5) Will you play with [the crocodile] as with a bird? Or will you put him on a leash for your maidens? 6) will traders bargain over him? Will they divide him up among the merchants? 7) Can you fill his skin with harpoons? Or his head with fishing spears? 8) Lay your hand upon him! Remember your battle with him; you will not do [such an ill-advised thing] again! 9) Behold, the hope of [his assailant] is disappointed; one is cast down even at the sight of him!
I sense the Lord calling us into a new revelation of this Leviathan; that is, for this generation of generations, this Leviathan is a “dominion, a principality of indulgence”. The Leviathan of indulgence in these times is not a single spirit that can be defeated by a single intercessor in a lonely attempt, even well-intentioned, to dethrone it from its’ powerful hold on us, individually, or as a culture and society.
We are vulnerable to this “Leviathan dominion of indulgence”, but we are not powerless, however, we can not intercede against the Leviathan of indulgence without first understanding its’ power, albeit temporary and limited to this world:
10) No one is so fierce [and foolhardy] that he dates to stir up [the crocodile]; who then is he who can stand before Me [the beast's Creator, or dares to contend with Me]? 11) who has first given to Me, that I should repay him? Whatever is under the whole heavens is Mine. {Therefore, who can have a claim against God, god Who made the un-mastered crocodile?]
God created this beast; we cannot “rail” against God for its’ presence among us – what we can choose is to own that it is present, and beseech Him to save us.
Can we “own” the fullness of its’ ugliness and behaviors?
What is at the root of our failure to “see the Leviathan of indulgence” for what it is? It seems we must first identify our fear, for “fierce and ugly” is this thing. Being “attached” to this “Leviathan of indulgence” is to be caught up with it, not being able to see it for what it is in the beginning. It seems indulgence, and indulging ourselves can occur so subtly over time that “one is so near to another that no air can come between them…they are joined to another; they stick together so that they cannot be separated…”
13) Who can strip off [the crocodile's] outer garment? [who can penetrate his double coat of mail?] Who shall come within his jaws? 14) Who can open the doors of his [lipless] mouth? His [extended jaws and bare] teeth are terrible round about. 15) his scales are [the crocodile's ] pride, [for his back is made of rows of shields] shut up together [as with] a tight seal; 16) One is so near to another that no air can come between them. 17) they are joined one to another; they stick together so that they cannot be separated. 18) His sneezings flash forth light, and his eyes are like the [reddish] eyelids of the dawn.
19) Out of his mouth go burning torches, [and] sparks of fire leap out. 20) Out of his nostrils goes forth smoke, as out of a seething pot over a fire of rushes. 21) His breath kindles coals, and a flame goes forth from his mouth. 22) in [the crocodile's] neck abides strength, and terror dances before him. 23) the folds of his flesh cleave together; they are firm upon him, and they cannot shake [when he moves]. 24) His heart is as firm as a stone, indeed, as solid as a nether millstone.
If we are blind to its’ “attachment to” us, then how do we even know it is present, that it is ugly, that it is “behaving” in a way which is ultimately destructive - to ourselves, to those in our lives, and to those we encounter on the journey? Before we consider that question, let us ponder this. Why did God question Job, “who dares not arouse the un-mastered crocodile [Leviathan], yet who dares resist Me, the beast’s Creator, to My Face? Everything under the heavens is Mine; therefore, who can have a claim against God?” For this, indeed, is a formidable enemy:
25) When [the crocodile] raises himself up, the mighty are afraid; because of terror and the crashing they are beside themselves. 26) Even if one strikes at him with the sword, it cannot get any hold, nor does the spear, the dart, or the javelin. 27) He counts iron as straw and bronze as rotten wood. 28) The arrow cannot make [the crocodile] flee; slingstones are treated by him as stubble. 29) Clubs [also] are counted as stubble; he laughs at the rushing and the rattling of the javelin. 30) His underparts are like sharp pieces of broken pottery; he spreads [grooves like] a threshing sledge upon the mire. 31) He makes the deep boil like a pot; he makes the sea like a [foaming] pot of ointment. 32) [His swift darting] makes a shining track behind him; one would think the deep to be hoary [with foam].
The root of the “attachment”, of “Leviathan, the dominion of indulgence” is pride. Fear is the accomplice. Let us go back and look at two specific references in these verses:
13) Who can strip off [the crocodile's] outer garment? [who can penetrate his double coat of mail?] Who shall come within his jaws? 14) Who can open the doors of his [lipless] mouth? His [extended jaws and bare] teeth are terrible round about. 15) his scales are [the crocodile's ] pride, [for his back is made of rows of shields] shut up together [as with] a tight seal; 16) One is so near to another that no air can come between them. 17) they are joined one to another; they stick together so that they cannot be separated.
Pride…is the “scales”…the “rows of scales that are shields…shut up together [as with] a tight seal…one is so near to another that no air can come between them…they are joined one to another; they stick together so that they cannot be separated…”
33) upon earth there is not [the crocodile's] equal, a creature made without fear and he behaves fearlessly. 34) He looks all mighty [beasts of prey] in the face [without terror]; he is monarch over all the sons of pride. [And now, Job, who are you who dares not arouse the unmastered crocodile, yet who dares resist Me, the beast's Creator, to My face? Everything under the heavens is Mine; therefore, who can have a claim against God?]
Pride has no equal among the “powers and principalities”. Pride behaves fearlessly; he looks “all beasts in the face without terror” – and “he is monarch over all the sons of pride”. Job, in his pride, was not foolish enough to arouse this “un-mastered crocodile”, and yet, he dared to resist God, the beast’s Creator, to His face. “Pride” is what caused Lucifer to fall from the heavens; pride is “the Leviathan” of all that is of the demonic realm. “Pride” is “the fuel” that “feeds”, “causing the attachment” of the “Leviathan of indulgence” to “stick” to us.
And it can only “be seen” through revelation from the Holy Spirit, by God. Things that are “attached” are “visible” only through “having the eyes of our hearts opened” to “see, own, and acknowledge” their presence. And in this "seeing", choosing to confess, repent, and beseech the Lord our God “to remove them” from us.
There “is nothing” about “Leviathan, the dominion of indulgence” that seeks to be “detached” or delivered from those to whom it attaches itself. Apart from our submitting to the Lord and allowing Him to show us its’ evil presence, we cannot be detached.
The importance of being “delivered”…
“Being delivered” is not a “spiritual event” of the past. A willingness to “be delivered” of evil is a vital part of any God-breathed, healthy, spirit-filled Christian life. To “be delivered from evil” is not necessarily, or always a public, spectacle-filled experience in the Christian life. The question for any of us may be – “am I willing to be willing to be delivered from this evil” at all costs? Even, and in the midst of the presence of "Leviathan, the dominion of indulgence”, which, in and of itself, resists every opportunity “to leave” because “indulgence” is everything about “I”, “me” and “mine”. It is everything about pleasure and pleasing, personal satisfaction and gratification. Note, again, the words in the definition of "indulge": PAMPER, HUMOR, SPOIL, BABY, MOLLYCODDLE.
It seems if we are to be detached, delivered from this dominion we must begin to choose against pampering, humoring, spoiling, babying and mollycoddling – ourselves and others. We must always remember “to choose and to behave” however, in a way that is Loving ourselves, and others, “in Truth and Love”.
It seems one of the greatest temptations in waging this great battle which only the Lord can fight and win, is for us to not confuse “detaching” with “cutting and running”. Who wants “to see” the ugliness of this “Leviathan of indulgence and pride”, much less submit to being detached from its’ presence in our lives. The very nature of this “Leviathan of indulgence” is pride, and in that pride the “power to resist” is never more “layered and tightly sealed”. The scales of pride are…ugly indeed, but not beyond the true power and authority of a God who longs to detach us from our “Leviathan of indulging” ourselves. As described in Strong’s Concordance, “Leviathan…to join itself, to remain, cleave." Lest we become lulled into a blasé, luke-warm sense of Leviathan being only a briefly referenced “unpleasantry” in Scripture, we risk, and have in many ways, succumbed to its' presence, its' "attachment".
The Hope Set Before Us…
Psalm 74:14 "You crushed the heads of Leviathan [Egypt]; You did give him as food for the creatures inhabiting the wilderness."
Isaiah 27:1 "In that day [the Lord will deliver Israel from her enemies and also from the rebel powers of evil and darkness] His sharp and unrelenting, and strong sword will visit and punish leviathan the swiftly fleeing serpent, leviathan the twisting and winding serpent; and He will slay the monster that is in the sea."
Our God will crush the heads of Leviathan, the Lord will deliver us from our enemies and from these rebel powers of evil and darkness. Dear sisters and brothers in Christ, are we willing to allow Him to open the eyes of our hearts that we might “see, own, confess and repent”? Are we “willing to be willing” and submit to being delivered from “Leviathan, the dominion of indulgence”? He is the Lord our God, and He longs to slay this monster.
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Re: Whats Happening in the Body -- John Upshaw, 11:41:02 09/02/06 Sat
>I agree with you 100% keep telling people the truth man of God least we know that there is still true prophets in the world today.Be Blessed
>
>Hello my dear brothers and sisters. I pray that as
>you read this, you allow the Lord to speak to you and
>open your eyes to what is going on in the body of
>Christ. Now some will take this as being judgmental
>and critical, but I will let you know now that what is
>going to be addressed should open your eyes. You must
>understand that when the Bible talks about judging,
>it’s referring to judging out of our own opinions and
>righteousness. And of course the Bible says that our
>righteousness is as filthy rags, so that means that
>the word of God is the measuring stick and standard
>and if things don’t line up to the standard of his
>holy word, it’s not of God.
>
>
>
>According to the Old Testament, the prophets were sent
>on assignment to direct the children of Israel back to
>the law and standard of God when they started getting
>off track. Now of course we know that the ministry of
>the New Testament prophet is a little different from
>the one of the Old Testament, however is it still not
>the job of the prophet to still point Israel (the
>church) back to the standard of God? We have gotten
>off track and it’s time for the prophets to stand up
>and tell the people to get back to what God has said.
>In this hour many of our preachers are nothing more
>than motivational speakers that are telling you how to
>better yourself and not telling you that you need to
>come out of sin and leave the world alone to follow
>whole heartedly after Christ. The only thing they are
>doing is motivating people to do is please themselves
>and to accumulate the pleasures of this world. And
>many of us look at how big their churches are and how
>much their ministries are growing, but I found out
>that cancer is also a growth but it’s not a healthy
>growth.
>
>
>
>Many of the saints are caught up in the glitz,
>glamour, and the celebrity status of many of our
>famous preachers. But the word of the Lord came to me
>recently telling me to tell his people not be caught
>up in personalities. What we are attracted to is the
>personalities of these preachers. And unfortunately
>they have caught on to the fact that we impressed by
>them, so now what they do is they wear certain clothes
>that cause us to look at their physique. One man of
>God in particular has begun to wear tight muscle
>shirts that accentuate his muscles and he has a church
>full of women. Now stop for a moment and think. If
>you are a woman who is having a struggle with lust,
>you going to that particular church where the pastor
>is wearing a shirt like that defeats the whole purpose
>of you going and trying to get delivered from your
>issue. I hope you see now what I’m talking about.
>Then we had another strong voice in the body that had
>a big event in which secular singers and comedians
>were the source of entertainment. Church, tell me
>what in the world are secular singers and comedians
>doing entertaining saints at a supposed ministry
>event? And this particular pastor’s ministry has been
>about getting men and women delivered from issues like
>sexual strongholds and other bondages. So why would
>he invite people to be the entertainment when they
>promote and do the same things he is trying to get
>people delivered from? You see this stuff doesn’t
>make sense.
>
>
>
>Not only do we have that kind of thing going on in the
>church, but we have these secular entertainers who
>have claimed to be saved and the next thing you know
>they’re on international Christian television
>preaching. This quick rise to fame in the ministry
>should really make us question if these people are
>REALLY saved and have they had proper discipleship.
>If not, then these people are just instruments of
>compromise and contamination. One man that had a
>quick rise to the ministry use to be a hip-hop/rap
>star and he had gotten saved and received an honorary
>doctorate and started pastoring a church. Now mind
>you, he just came out of the hip-hop/rap industry and
>the next thing you know he’s got an honorary doctorate
>and is the pastor of a church. That should let you
>know that something is odd. I know some of you are
>probably saying to yourselves that the Bible says that
>in the last days a quick work would be done. Yes the
>Bible does say that, but it also says to make your
>calling and election sure and it also says let him
>that ministers wait on his ministry. We must
>understand that Jesus said that many are called and
>few are chosen. So between the calling and choosing
>there is a time of preparation. And if you are not
>been properly prepared what you will do is make a
>mess. Now this same rapper turned pastor said that he
>didn’t want to rap anymore. So tell me why five years
>later he comes out with a rap album with his old pal P
>Diddy that says welcome back? When have you ever
>known sinners to welcome back a so called saint or
>preacher of the gospel to the things of the world?
>
>
>
>This is the mess that’s going on and we’re trying to
>dress it up and make it look Godly. But the fact of
>the matter is this stuff stinks in the nostrils of
>God. The scriptures tell us in 2 Corinthians 5:17 “If
>any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things
>are passed away and behold all things become new.”
>The Bible also says in 2 Corinthians 6:17 “Come out
>from among them and be ye separate, saith the Lord and
>touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you.”
>It seems as though we have taken all the scriptures
>that talk about prosperity and blessings and have
>majored on them, but have pushed the ones that deal
>with the our sanctification and holiness to the
>corner. And this is why we’re not seeing the power of
>God in operation and manifestation. God cannot and
>will not move in a place where flesh and vain glory is
>on display and sin is on the rampage.
>
>
>
>Anytime when preachers can divorce their wives and
>marry other women only days after their divorce is
>final something is wrong. When it has also been
>reported that the divorce rate in the church is just
>as high or maybe higher than the divorce rate in the
>world, something is wrong. And when the spirit of
>homosexuality and perversion seems to be at an all
>time high, again something is wrong. Is this the
>church that Jesus established and is coming back for?
>Our young people (and older people depending on the
>individual) are claiming to be saved and filled with
>the Holy Ghost dress like harlots and thugs and have
>so many body piercings they look like Swiss cheese.
>They have these crazy hairstyles and hair colors that
>look like multi-flavored cotton candy with all these
>tattoos in which they have tattooed on their bodies,
>praying hands, crossed, a crown of thorns, etc.
>People of God, this is sacrilegious and God is not
>pleased with it. There’s a difference between being
>radical and ridiculous.
>
>
>
>When are we going to stop putting things in God’s face
>and trying to get him to accept things that he has
>already declared in his word he doesn’t want. It’s
>just like trying to get a baby to eat something that
>he doesn’t like. No matter how much you try to make
>it seem good, that baby has already shown you it made
>up its mind and is not going to eat that particular
>food. The Apostle Paul told us in Romans 12:1 to
>present our bodies a living sacrifice, holy and
>acceptable unto God. I have never read anywhere in
>the Bible where a mutilated sacrifice was acceptable.
>
>
>We as the body of Christ cannot allow the things of
>this world to contaminate us and desensitize us so
>that we don’t call sin, unrighteousness and
>ungodliness what it really is. We cannot allow this
>mixing and mingling that’s going on to progress any
>further. There are people mixing new age practices
>with Biblical principles and they are preaching in our
>pulpits like they have some kind of divine revelation
>from God. The devil is a lie! We are living in the
>last days and the Bible tells us that people will
>rather believe a lie and be damned rather than believe
>the truth. They’re giving heed to seducing spirits
>and doctrines of devils which is causing them to have
>itching ears to so that they can hear something that
>will allow them to continue in sin. But the Gospel of
>the Lord Jesus Christ requires change and holy living,
>and if people still remain in sin, then they have not
>received eternal life. Church, we must get back to
>the doctrine of the Bible and the Gospel of our Lord
>and savior Jesus Christ, in which there is no
>compromise. So let’s stop making excuses, and
>compromising and let’s do it the way the Bible says.
>
>
>What do you think? More importantly what is God
>Saying...
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Leviathan Is A Dragon -- Levi Athan, 20:49:51 09/01/06 Fri
Last edited 01-13-06
Myths indeed abound (Psalm 58:3), but Leviathan is no myth. He is one of the great sea creatures God created (Genesis 1:21) that is massive, breathes fire and smoke (Job 41), and lives in the sea (Isaiah 27:1). Just because you haven't seen one, doesn't mean he does not exist. God does not lie, and He says he does.
I. His Existence
The term "Leviathan" is not a translation, but rather a transliteration of the Hebrew word, livyâthân. Livyâthân is only found in Job 3:8, 41:1; Psalm 74:14; 104:26; and Isaiah 27:1. It is translated in the Greek translation of the Old Testament (LXX) as "dragon" (Greek, drakon) in every instance with one exception, Job 3:8, where it is translated as "whale" or "monster" (Greek, katos, found also in Jonah 2:1 and in Matthew 12:40, NKJV "great fish," NAS "sea monster").
Leviathan is one of the creatures God created on the fifth day of creation. Genesis 1:21 records this using the same Hebrew plural term (tanniynim) for "sea creatures" (NKJV; "sea monsters" NAS) as is used in Isaiah 27:1 in the singular (Hebrew, tanniyn). There it describes Leviathan as a "reptile" (NKJV) or "dragon" (KJV, NAS).
Some argue that Leviathan is a mythical creature, "merely poetic imagery."
All five occurrences (Job 3:8; 41:1; Pss. 74:14; 104:26; Isaiah 27:1) are in poetic passages and belong to "dead mythology," i.e., old mythological concepts are employed without suggestion that they are still believed. (The Zondervan Pictorial Encyclopedia of the Bible, copyright 1976, p. 912)
This is contrary to the Biblical text. For example, Job knows of this creature (Job 3:8), and God uses this creature Job knows about to rebuke him and to illustrate to Job His awesome power.
In His rebuke, the Lord speaks of things in His creation and He does not diverge off this discourse of reality, but continues in it to illustrate to Job that he is no match for what God has created, let alone, for God Himself (Job 38-41).
God begins by asking Job where he was when He created the world (Job 38:4-7). He asks Job who set the limits for the sea (Job 38:8-11), and if he has ever commanded the morning to dawn (Job 38:12). He points to the ocean depths and asks Job if he has been to the springs that are there, or walked about in the depths of the sea (Job 38:16). He speaks of the gates of death (Job 38:17), the breadth of the earth (Job 38:18), light and darkness (Job 38:19-20), snow and hail (Job 38:22-23), the east wind (Job 38:24), water, the thunderbolt, rain, dew, ice and frost (Job 38:25-30, 34-35), and the constellations (Job 38:31-33). He asks Job who gives wisdom to the mind (Job 38:36), and who feeds the animals (Job 38:39-41). He points out that Job does not even know when wild animals give birth (Job 39:1-4), and He asks him about the wild donkey (Job 39:5-8). In His humiliation of Job, He reminds him that he can't even use a wild ox to serve him (Job 39:9-12). He continues and speaks to Job of the ostrich (Job 39:13-18), the horse (Job 39:19-25), the hawk, and the eagle (Job 39:26-30), and even of man (Job 40:11-13), stating,
Look on everyone who is proud, and bring him low; tread down the wicked in their place. Hide them in the dust together, bind their faces in hidden darkness. Then I will also confess to you that your own right hand can save you. (Job 40:12-14)
Then finally, as a kind of grand finale, the Lord describes two massive creatures He has made. The first is behemoth, an animal with a tail the size of a cedar. Behemoth is so massive a raging river is like nothing to it, even though it flows right into its mouth. And the animal is so huge and strong, God says He is the only one who could bring a sword against it (Job 40:15-24).
The second is Leviathan, which is such a giant awesome frightful creature the Lord says,
Shall one not be overwhelmed at the sight of him? No one is so fierce that he would dare stir him up. Who then is able to stand against Me? (Job 41:9-10)
Those who claim Leviathan is a mythical nonexistent creature make God's point to Job meaningless. But in truth, it is not meaningless. It is very substantive, and Job gets the point (Job 42:1-6).
Leviathan is a certain kind of sea creature that still exists on the planet. He is not a single creature, but a certain kind, that still roams the sea. We know these things for several reasons:
1. Sometime in the past, God killed one and gave him as food for people to eat (Psalm 74:14), yet the creature still exists (Isaiah 27:1), even after one was killed. Therefore, there was not only one.
2. Even though it appears he is capable of coming upon land (Job 41:30), the Lord explicitly states that He made Leviathan for the express purpose of playing in the sea, and far from telling us Leviathan is not still in the sea, Psalm 104 indicates he's still having a good time there.
This great and wide sea, in which are innumerable teeming things, living things both small and great. There the ships sail about; there is that Leviathan which You have made to play there. (Psalm 104:25-26)
Scripture says that Leviathan is in the sea, and the Lord made him to play in it. This is written in the context of the natural course of events on the planet, which all continue to this present day. Psalm 104 speaks of the boundary God has made for the sea, the springs He causes to flow in the valleys, the rain He brings upon the hills, the grass and vegetation He causes to grow, the cedars of Lebanon which He planted, the sun and moon that He has set in order, the day and the night, the feeding of the lions, the labor of man, etc. (verses 10-24). It is all noted as the manifold work of God (verse 24), and part of this work is Leviathan that He has made to play in the sea.
Psalm 104 further reveals that Leviathan is like the other creatures God has made. It is not exempt from the cycle of death and new life (Ecclesiastes 3:19-20). Immediately after speaking of Leviathan, it says,
These all wait for You, that You may give them their food in due season. What You give them they gather in; You open Your hand, they are filled with good. You hide Your face, they are troubled; You take away their breath, they die and return to their dust. You send forth Your Spirit, they are created. (Psalm 104:27-30)
"These all wait for You" includes Leviathan. God feeds Leviathan, takes away his breath, and creates new ones (verse 29-30, "they are created"). So we see Leviathan is in the same lot as the other creatures on this planet. He is under the curse (Romans 8:20-22) and dies, but yet lives on.
3. Isaiah's prophecy of the future confirms the continued existence of Leviathan, because it foretells the slaying of Leviathan by the Lord; and it again affirms that he presently "is in the sea."
In that day the Lord with His severe sword, great and strong, will punish Leviathan the fleeing serpent, Leviathan that twisted serpent; and He will slay the reptile that is in the sea. (Isaiah 27:1)
This prophecy is made in the context of the yet future coming judgment of God. The verse just prior says,
For behold, the Lord comes out of His place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity; the earth will also disclose her blood, and will no more cover her slain. (Isaiah 26:21)
Also in this context, "in that day" (Isaiah 27:2-6), is the yet future blessing upon Israel in which it says,
Israel shall blossom and bud, and fill the face of the world with fruit. (Isaiah 27:6)
Clearly, none of this has been fulfilled and so it is yet future. This lets us know Leviathan is still in the sea.
II. His Size
Leviathan is so massive that "sorrow dances before him" (Job 41:22). When strong men encounter one, they become so fearful the men are beside themselves with terror (Job 41:25). Leviathan is so massive he leaves a large shining wake behind him as he moves through the sea (Job 41:32), and his eyes are so large God likens them to the breaking of day (Job 41:18).
Leviathan is a very large serpent. In God's rebuke towards Job, the Lord quite sarcastically speaks of Leviathan with these words:
Can you draw out Leviathan with a hook, or snare his tongue with a line which you lower? Can you put a reed through his nose, or pierce his jaw with a hook? Will he make many supplications to you? Will he speak softly to you? Will he make a covenant with you? Will you take him as a servant forever? Will you play with him as with a bird, or will you leash him for your maidens? Will your companions make a banquet of him? Will they apportion him among the merchants? (Job 41:1-6)
These are all rhetorical questions. In other words, you can't draw out Leviathan with a hook. He will not speak softly to you. And you will not make a banquet of him. In other words, he is not a fish that can be caught! Large whales can be caught, but not this puppy. He's beyond harpooning. As the Lord says,
Can you fill his skin with harpoons, or his head with fishing spears?
In other words, no! If someone were to attempt to do so, the Lord sarcastically says,
Lay your hand on him; remember the battle - Never do it again! Indeed, any hope of overcoming him is false. (Job 41:7-9)
III. His Strength
Part of Leviathan's fierceness, along with his size, is his immense strength. Besides having more than one head (Psalm 74:14), God says he has "mighty power" and "terrible teeth" (Job 41:12, 14), and "strength dwells in his neck" (Job 41:22). He has a "heart as hard as stone" (Job 41:24), and his outer covering literally has "shields."
Even though the KJV, NKJV, and NAS translate Job 41:15 as "scales" in reference to Leviathan's exterior, it is not the Hebrew word for scales (qasqeseth, e.g. Leviticus 11:9) that is used in Job 41:15 (NIV "shields"). It is the Hebrew word mâghinniym which is the word for "shields" as used in 2 Chronicles 9:16 and 26:14 for shields of war. Shields is a very accurate word, because no sword, spear, dart, or javelin can penetrate Leviathan's protective covering, as it is written,
Though the sword reaches him, it cannot avail; nor does spear, dart, or javelin. (Job 41:26)
This explains why his skin cannot be filled with harpoons nor his head with fishing spears (Job 41:7). Leviathan's outer covering is extremely strong, so strong that his "scales" (if you will) "cannot be parted" (Job 41:17). They are so tightly sealed together that "no air can come between them" (Job 41:16). God clearly has clothed this guy with some serious armor, with impenetrable shields.
Along with this strong armor, is strength that is almost incomprehensible. For Leviathan, iron is like straw, and bronze is as rotten wood (Job 41:27). That describes amazing strength. If iron is as straw to him, and bronze is as rotten wood, then he could bend iron as if it was a piece of straw, in other words, with little effort; and he could break or crush bronze as if it was a piece of rotten wood.
Also part of Leviathan's arsenal is his belly.
His undersides are like sharp potsherds; he spreads pointed marks in the mire. (Job 41:30)
From the statement about the "pointed marks" it is evident they are facing outward away from his body. Thus, anything coming in contact with that stomach is going to get cut up and possibly even shredded.
IV. His Fire
Some foolishly claim Leviathan is a crocodile (The Zondervan Pictorial Encyclopedia of the Bible, p. 912), but the crocodile is nowhere near what is described in Job 41; and it does not breathe fire. Leviathan is clearly called a serpent (Hebrew, nâchâsh) in Isaiah 27:1, a fleeing, twisted serpent, but he is no ordinary serpent. This one literally breathes fire.
His breath kindles coals, and a flame goes out of his mouth. (Job 41:21)
The dragon is no mythical creature. There may be mythical dragons, and myths surrounding dragons, but this dragon is no myth. Dragon is a term that well describes Leviathan. He is a massive fire breathing terrifying serpent that not only breathes fire, but smoke as well, as it is written,
Smoke goes out of his nostrils, as from a boiling pot and burning rushes. (Job 41:20)
This characteristic of fire within Leviathan is so prevalent that when he sneezes, light flashes forth (Job 41:18), and,
Out of his mouth go burning lights; sparks of fire shoot out. (Job 41:19)
He even makes the water around him boil as he abides in the sea (Job 41:31). Fire is very much a part of Leviathan's make up. He is clearly a dragon. It is no wonder different cultures have different myths about dragons. The existence of the dragon is no myth. The Bible calls him Leviathan.
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Spirit Of Leviathan -- Todd Bentley, 20:46:23 09/01/06 Fri
In the last few weeks in prayer, I have come up against a spirit called Leviathan. I have recently heard other ministries talk about this spirit. One pastor recently in a vision saw this serpent crawling into the church basement. I believe this demonic power works hand in hand with the spirit of Jezebel. Some have even had a vision of them both hand in hand. When we get victory over Jezebel we need to watch out for this Leviathan spirit. There are only a few direct references to this spirit in the scripture, but as I have studied out these passages I have received some revelation on how this spirit attacks. Who is Leviathan? How do you expose and counter attack his assaults?
We have in the book of Job 41 and the first 6 verses of Job 42 a large portion of scripture on this spirit. The first thing I want to establish in this article is, who is Leviathan? I believe that this spirit is a principality not just a demon and primarily attacks ministries.
Definition of Leviathan
The transliterated Hebrew word for Leviathan (livyathan) means, "twisted," and "coiled." In Job 3:8, (Revised Version, and marg, of Authorized Version), it denotes the dragon which, according to Eastern tradition, is an enemy of light.
In Job 41:1 the crocodile is meant; in Psalms 104:26 it denotes "any large animal that moves by writhing or wriggling the body, the whale, the monsters of the deep." This word is also used figuratively for a cruel enemy, as some think "the Egyptian host, crushed by the divine power, and cast on the shores of the Red Sea" (Psalms 74:14) As used in Isaiah 27:1 "leviathan the piercing [RSV 'swift'] serpent, even leviathan that crooked [RSV marg, 'winding'] serpent."
Leviathan Is Not A Demon But A Principality
When we read Job 41 and other passages that we will look at in this teaching, it will be clear that unlike popular belief, that maybe this Leviathan was a dinosaur, or as the scripture describes in Ps 74:14 and in Job 41:1: "as a large sea monster of unknown identity". I believe that this creature is more than Ogo Pogo or some Lock Ness monster.
Leviathan is a demon principality not just a demon spirit. Lets look at a few verses;
Job 41:1 "Can you draw Leviathan out with a hook?"
Job 41:10 "No one is so fierce that they would dare stir him up."
Job 41:26-32 "If one lay at him with the sword, it cannot avail; nor the spear, the dart, nor the pointed shaft. He counteth iron as straw, and brass as rotten wood. The arrow cannot make him flee; sling stones are turned with him to rubble. Clubs are counted as stubble; he laugheth at the rushing of the javelin. His under parts are like sharp potsherds; he spreadeth as it were a threshing wain upon the mire. He maketh the deep to boil like a pot; he maketh the sea like a pot of ointment. He maketh a path to shine after him.
It is clear that natural weapons cannot destroy him. Isaiah 27:1 "In that day the Lord with his severe sword, great and strong, will punish Leviathan the fleeing serpent, Leviathan the twisted serpent, and he will slay the reptile that is in the sea."
It will take the sword of the Lord to overcome this Leviathan; it is more than just a natural large sea mammal.
I believe that the primary purpose of the spirit it to attack ministries.
PS 104:25-26 "This great and wide sea, in which are innumerable teeming things, living things both small and great. There the ships sail about; there is the Leviathan which you have made to play there."
When the scripture speaks about the Leviathan, it is always in the sea or in the rivers. The Egyptians both feared and worshiped this creature. They feared him in ancient Greek mythology as the "God of Chaos" and also worshiped him as the great serpent in their rivers responsible for prosperity and good business. The Egyptians believed they had created the rivers just because they learned to use it. This pride was one of Egypt’s greatest sins.
I asked God about this verse in Psalm 104 and He showed me the sea is a picture of the
"Sea of humanity" the world. In Isaiah 27:1 it is clear that when God is speaking about Leviathan in the sea He is speaking about the enemy nations of Israel in the world. This serpent like creature or as some believe crocodile that lived in the Nile, is seen along side of the ships.
Psalm 104:26 "There the ships sail about; there is the Leviathan. Ships are prophetic of merchants and business."
I believe ships are ministries those who are at labor in the "sea of humanity". This spirit wants to destroy ministries, especially those at labor in the harvest. This spirit wants to destroy and bring down ministries and as we will see he will do it with his greatest weapon, his tongue.
Who is Leviathan?
It is clear in the bible that Leviathan is a serpent snake like creature. Isaiah 27:1 "In that day the Lord with his severe sword, great and strong, will punish Leviathan the fleeing serpent, Leviathan the twisted serpent, and he will slay the reptile that is in the sea."
Psalm 74:13-14 "You broke the heads of the sea serpents in the waters. You broke the heads of Leviathan in pieces."
I also believe that Leviathan was like or even was a crocodile (Job 41:2) "because of his crashings they are beside themselves," (Job 41:14-15) "who can open the doors of his face, with his terrible teeth all around? His rows of scales are his pride."
It is interesting that not only did Egypt worship this Leviathan but also that Pharaohs crown had the emblem of a large serpent with a ruby in it. There is a connection in Ezekiel to this principality, Egypt and Pharaoh.
Ezekiel 29:3-5 "Thus saith the Lord Jehovah; behold, I am against thee, Pharaoh king of Egypt, the great monster that lieth in the midst of his rivers, that hath said, My river is mine own, and I have made it for myself. And I will put hooks in thy jaws, and I will cause the fish of thy rivers to stick unto thy scales; and I will bring thee up out of the midst of thy rivers, with all the fish of thy rivers which stick unto thy scales. And I will cast thee forth into the wilderness, thee and all the fish of thy rivers; thou shalt fall upon the open field; thou shalt not be brought together, nor gathered; I have given thee for food to the beasts of the earth and to the birds of the heavens."
In Job 41: 2 the scripture speaks about hooking the jaw of Leviathan. In Ps 74:14 it speaks about Leviathan being food for the people and the inhabitants of the wilderness. In Ps 104:26 it is clear that Leviathan is living in the sea and rivers.
I believe that this principality worked through Egypt and Pharaoh and even helped to make Egypt what it was. What is clear in Ezekiel 29: 3-5 is the connection between Pharaoh and Leviathan. We will look a little bit later at the connection between Egypt and Leviathan in helping us understand how the spirit gains access, attacks and what we can do to overcome him.
Leviathan’s Seven Heads
Ps 74:13-14 "You broke the heads of the sea serpents in the waters. You broke the heads of Leviathan in pieces. You broke the heads of Leviathan in pieces."
It was recently pointed out to me in my studies on Leviathan that the seven heads of Leviathan are found in Proverbs 6:16-19 "There are six things which Jehovah hateth; Yea, seven which are an abomination unto him; haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood; a heart that deviseth wicked purposes, feet that are swift in running to mischief, a false witness that uttereth lies and he that soweth discord among brethren."
I have seen the way Leviathan attacks and how this spirit works, but I found the seven heads to be great revelation. As I studied this out further on my own I found the connection between Leviathan and the dragon in Rev 12:3 "A great red fiery dragon having seven heads and 10 horns."
Like Jezebel this spirit is anti-Christ and against the anointing on ministries.
It is interesting to note in the Hebrew and Greek translations of the word Leviathan, we will see clearly as it is and will be established in this article that Leviathan is translated: serpent, crocodile and even more clear that the dragon, satan himself is all these in one. I believe that Leviathan is either or definitely carries the very nature and works of the accuser of the brethren.
1. The first way that this spirit will attack is with his tongue. (Job 41:1) Can you draw out Leviathan with a hook, or snare his tongue with a line?
The lying tongue: This spirit attacks out of his mouth with lies, gossip, accusation, criticism, faultfinding and slander. (Job 41:19) Out of his mouth go burning lights, sparks of fire shoot out.
I asked the Lord about this and he showed me (Rev 12:15) so the serpent spewed water out of his mouth like a flood after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away with the flood.
This Leviathan wants you to be destroyed and carried away with the lies, gossip, slander and accusations he will bring against you and if he can he will carry your friends and those who labor with you in the ministry away in the lie and deception. He wants people to believe the lie and accusation against you. Number one, he wants to slander your character and bring reproach on your name.
I believe that Leviathan is behind lies and deception. One time early in my marriage the devil was looking for a way to accuse me and stir up mistrust in my new marriage. Shonnah my wife knew that before I was saved that I had been involved in many immoral relationships and had many girlfriends.
A young woman who had a crush on me before I was married unknown to me, starting spreading a rumor that I asked her to have an immoral relationship, of course this never happened, but it stirred up a lot of mistrust and fears in a new marriage. It was my word against hers. My wife and I saw it as the worker of the accuser of the brethren and we had a great victory. In the future I wanted to be sure that every area of life was covered and accountable, so today years later and now in the ministry I rarely if ever travel alone, I will not find myself alone with another woman or in a compromising situation.
If the devil cannot get you in sin, he will accuse you or even make up a lie against you when you are innocent (Prov 6:19 a false witness that uttereth lies} is one of his heads. We need to be sure to respond to these demonically inspired attacks that even can come from those closest to you being used by the devils purpose that we do not wrestle against flesh and blood and we remember to respond in a right spirit. We can not afford to allow Leviathan to operate in us, as we can become offended at the lie and accusations, criticisms or judgments spoken of us and strike back. To strike back or lash out is what Leviathan wants. It is with his tail in (Rev12:4) that he withdrew a third of the angels in heaven.
Leviathan is working today through the body of Christ and we see many churches, ministers and organizations bringing accusation against one another. There is a critical, faultfinding spirit at work in church today judging and speaking against moves of God, ministries and denominations different from one another.
We do not need fault finders and those who feel to be the watch dogs of Christianity but those who will restore the body of Christ (Gal 6:1) Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted.
Let us not forgot how many have been quick to judge harshly and criticize the body of Christ, find fault and publicly publish Christian dirt have too be over come by the same sins. Lets not let Leviathan work through us but lets operate in the anointing of Galatians 6:1.
Another way we can counter attack this demonic assault of the tongue and lies, gossip and slander by claiming Gods promise. "the mouth of the lies shall be stopped and ( Isa 54:17) No weaponed formed against you shall prosper and every tongue that rises against you in judgment you shall condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord.
We need to start speaking this verse out and acting on it in prayer.
We also want to be sure this spirit has no truth in what it says. We don't want to give him a foot hold by living in a lie in our lives. We can only effectively counter attack this spirit by living in truth in every area of our lives.
2. Miscommunication
(Job 42: 3 and 5) 3Who is this that hideth counsel without knowledge? Or in the amplified: who is this who darkens or obscures counsel without knowledge? Or as in another translation: who is this who seals up counsel?
In Job 42: 3 Job also declares Therefore have I uttered that which I understood not, v 5 I had heard of thee by the hearing of the ear, but now mine eye seeth thee:
Job is trying to understand why what is happening to him is happening? God has this lengthily discussion with Job in ch 41 and reveals this principality Leviathan. Job repents in ch 42 and confesses that counsel and true understanding were kept from him. This spirit wants to get between you and the revelation of God and distort the word of the Lord. Leviathan will seek to hide from you true revelation and confuse the true meaning of things.
This Leviathan spirit will hide the meaning behind what is said and cause they're to be miscommunication and misunderstanding. That's how this spirit can sow discord among brethren. Have you ever been at the office or maybe in your marriage and something you say is taken the wrong way, someone will say, "you said this" and you say no "I said this" and you both think your right, or you say one thing and they hear it as another i.e.: you said it is black and they hear blue. Leviathan wants to get in between your conversation and hearing and distort or mutter what one is really saying. This can happen between friends, ministry and even children and parents.
When you become aware of this attack on your ministry or in your relationships it is important to simply say "levithan I bind you in Jesus name"
Recently we had a small misunderstanding in our ministry. A woman had given a large donation to our ministry and the church that hosted our ministry failed to let us know one individual had given a certain sum of money. We sent a thank you letter to the donor but we were unable to specifically mention the amount given.
The enemy worked on this woman's mind and the accuser that he is told this woman that maybe we could not be trusted as a ministry or that because we did not specifically mention the size of her donation in the thank you letter that maybe the church only gave me a honorarium and not the full amount which I said would be entirely used for missions.
This individual who was previously working in another church had seen the church hold back on offerings. Leviathan works in suspicion and mistrust. This woman contacted our ministry and inquired about the gift she gave and again my office didn't know a woman had given a large gift in the offering. The woman also believed I said I would use the entire missions offering specifically for Somalia. The devil in his lie nearly had this woman convinced that maybe I was truly not up front with my word and cast doubt, mistrust and questions on our ministry.
I never said that I was using any money for Somalia and the tapes and transcript of that nights service also verified we had never said that. The seeds of mistrust, lies of the enemy, and misunderstanding nearly cost me a dear partner. I met with the lady later and we prayed together and cut the devil out of our business.
I knew when I was in India and I received this bad report that this was the work of leviathan and we began to pray immediately. There was opportunity for us and this lady to be offended and accuse one another and the devil nearly cost me money for souls and a crusade but the Lord showed me in the midst of this attack the spirit of Leviathan and his accusation.
Leviathan will attack prophetic word
In (Gen 3:1-5) the serpent ( leviathan) is wanting to distort and hide the true word of the Lord from Eve. Leviathan wants to cast doubt, mistrust and suspicion on Gods word.
1 Now the serpent was more subtle than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, You shall not eat of every tree of the garden? 2 And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden: 3 But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall you touch it, lest you die. 4 And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: 5 For God does know that in the day you eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and you shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.
The famous Has God said? Or is that really what he meant? Leviathan wants to twist God's truth and rob us of our promise.
When this happens just simply bind this spirit from your prophetic promises.
I believe It was the spirit of leviathan that was keeping Job from the true counsel of the Lord and hiding from Job his own small areas of pride and self righteousness in is life.
When God brings Job to chapter 42 he is no longer the one who justifies himself but confesses that he had not really known God by revelation. Lets be sure to give all these areas of any pride or self-righteousness to the lord and ask for the Spirit of wisdom and revelation in our life and ministry.
3. Sons of pride (Job 41: 34) He beholds every high thing; He is king over all the children of pride.
This spirit carries an attitude of superiority, haughtiness, boasting and arrogance. He not only works in this kind of environment but attacks ministries and individuals with the temptations of pride. Can you hear this spirit smooth and deceptive whispering in your ear? Who do they think they are? They do not move in the power like you do. Who gives them the right to speak into my life? The bible says too not to think of ourselves more highly than we ought to.
This spirit promotes self and self-serving agendas. We need to watch out for a false confidence, and keep a humble trust in the Lord. When God is using you mighty there is a constant temptation to play the name game or measure yourself with another and feel like were more successful because of how much money we raise or how many come to our church or how many miracles we see. How big are your meetings?
Power, numbers and what looks like God's favor based on power. miracles or healing and success in casting out demons does not always mean we always are right with God. We need to guard ourselves from the "well I am to good for that attitude" I will only do this or that is you do this and that. This spirit wants to set you up with a false confidence and getting your identity out of what you do, rather than who you are.
Egypt and Leviathan
Lets look at Egypt for some insight on how Leviathan operates and what he did in that nation. In Ezekiel chapters 29-32 we have a series of prophetic utterances against Egypt and pharaoh.
One of the first sins of Egypt was its pride and boasting out of a false confidence in things rather that intimacy with God. Egypt puts its trust and confidence in its wealth, how many horses and chariots it had and the numbers of its people. This Leviathan Spirit wants to promote you ahead of the Lord's leading and move you into a place, where you no longer totally depend on the Holy Spirit but on your gifting, charisma, finances, or denomination, traditions or programs.
There can come a place in ministry where we can get it done without Him, email lists, mailouts, websites, who you know! or monthly partners, lets go to the investors. We can begin to lose sight of Jesus and hearing his voice and getting our inspirations, visions, initiative or new ideas from his presence. Sometimes the devil will give you a ministry machine if he knows it will move you out where it all started in the secret place, if he can distract you and keep you busy and feeling like all is well because the marketing tools and infrastructures are in place, God is blessing me, the machine is running well.
There is nothing wrong with all these things that God uses, our ministry is a large ministry with all the tools, many staff, partners, huge infrastructure and were growing more every day. All these are vehicles to help me fulfill the blessing of God, but I need to keep my eyes on Jesus and remain broken daily before him.
There can be a place where we put our trust in the wrong things and this spirit will be your best cheerleader. In (Rev 12:4) it was with his tail that he withdrew a third of the stars, the angelic hosts who cast their lot with the devil we need to watch for the tail of leviathan.
Pride attitudes
Here is a small list of attitudes we can ask the Lord to show us any of these in our lives.
Condescending Attitudes towards Others in the Body: We are to esteem others as higher than ourselves. If we catch ourselves thinking of another as less than ourselves in any way, especially in regards to spiritual gifting, understanding, etc. must repent quickly.
Independent Attitude: We are to be united in heart as one, although we may all have different functions. If we ever feel "out there like we are just wanting to do our own thing" while maybe we are forgetting the fuller purpose of the kingdom which is to embrace the whole body of Christ.
Self Glory: Although it is good for one to enjoy the workings, dealings, gifting and blessings that the hand of the Lord brings to us, we must be careful not to think that it is because of our own greatness. All things are given to us as a gift of grace (undeserved, unmerited favor) and all the worship and delight in these blessings must be returned to Him who authored them. Remembering our helpless and humble estate without Him. We can never glory in our own righteousness; it is as filthy rags.
Self-Confidence: When we begin to feel a confidence in our own abilities to produce the anointing and the fruit of the Kingdom, we must be alert to the tempter.
Lack of Time in His Presence: Often times this is a sign that a temptation to pride has come. It indicates a possibility that we have become self sufficient and self ruled and no longer need all that we have and all that we are to flow from His Presence and Counsel. This is dangerous in that it can produce a mindset of "self rule" that subsequently asks God to bless and serve what man has initiated.
Critical and Condemning Attitudes and Thoughts: The heart of a "critic or accuser" is postured above others. The heart of a savior is postured in servanthood.
Boasting Over Achievements and Revelation, often times this is not an outward action but an inward attitude. (Note: this is of the sin nature, not the "boasting in the Lord" as Scripture speaks of.
Dishonor of Authority: We are to esteem and honor those in authority (even if they are NOT under Holy Spirit control, i.e. David's attitude towards Saul). Attitudes of dishonor towards leaders often indicate pride in the heart.
Desiring to be served: Jesus did not come to be served but to serve. This is the posture of humility.
Desire for Reputation: Jesus was a man of no reputation in heart. He emptied Himself. If we have inner desires to be esteemed by others, we need to be watchful. Pride could be lurking.
Desiring to Control Others.
Use of a Position of Authority or Gift to Fulfill Selfish Ambition and Vision."
The only way we can effectively counter attack this assault is to live in humility.
( Jam 4:10} Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord and he will lift you up. Do you notice it says, "humble yourselves", this is something we chose to do daily and in every moment we feel the attack of Leviathan in pride. Choose to go low, take the position of (Phil 4).
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JESUS THE KINSMAN REDEEMER -- Unknown, 04:17:48 08/27/06 Sun
Hebrews 2:11-18
He has sent redemption to His people; He has ordained His covenant forever; holy and awesome is His name. (Psalm 111:9).
Slavery was a very common institution in the ancient world. There were a number of ways in which a man might become a slave.
He might he born into slavery. The son of a slave was himself considered a slave.
He might be captured by an invading array and become a prized captive, led away in chains to a foreign country to be sold as a slave.
He might fall into debt so that he was forced to declare bankruptcy. This involved selling yourself into slavery to pay the debts that were owed.
Picture the situation of this last scenario. An Israelite living in the land of Palestine is hit with economic disaster. Perhaps a famine has come over the land and wiped out his crops. Rather than resort to begging, he sells himself into slavery, using the proceeds to pay off his debts and to care for his starving family.
And so, he becomes a slave. Can he ever regain his freedom? Yes. But it can only happen if the redemption price is paid.
Now if the means of a stranger or of a sojourner with you becomes sufficient, and a countryman of yours becomes so poor with regard to him as to sell himself to a stranger who is sojourning with you, or to the descendants of a stranger’s family, 48 then he shall have redemption right after he has been sold. One of his brothers may redeem him, 49 or his uncle, or his uncle’s son, may redeem him, or one of his blood relatives from his family may redeem him; or if he prospers, he may redeem himself." (Leviticus 25:47-49).
This was the Law of the Kinsman Redeemer. It listed four qualifications which were necessary for a man to fulfill the role of Kinsman Redeemer. It was only when a man possessed these four qualities that he was permitted to perform this task.
1. He must be a Kinsman.
The passage is very explicit that this redeemer must be related to the one whom he is going to buy back out of slavery.
2. He must be Free himself.
A slave was unable to purchase another slave. A Kinsman Redeemer must be himself free of the debt and of the bondage which had fallen on the one who was to be redeemed.
3. He must be able to Pay the Price.
If he did not have the necessary sum of money which was required to pay the purchase price, then he would not be able to redeem his relative.
4. He must be Willing to pay the price.
It was not enough to have a kinsman who was able to accomplish the work of redemption. He must also be willing to may the sacrifice of paying the price. I imagine that there were a number of slaves with rich uncles who just didn’t want to spend the money to release their unfortunate relative from slavery.
Each of these qualifications was fulfilled in Jesus Christ. God sent Jesus into the world s slave market of sin to purchase men from their bondage of sin. He alone met the qualifications of the Kinsman Redeemer.
He became a Kinsman by taking on flesh and becoming a man. He was free from the bondage of sin. He was able to pay the ransom price. He was willing to pay the price.
THE PROMISE OF A KINSMAN
For both He who sanctifies and those who are sanctified are all from one Father; for which reason He is not ashamed to call them brethren, 12 saying, "I will proclaim Thy name to My brethren, in the midst of the congregation I will sing Thy praise."
And again, "I will put My trust in Him." And again, "Behold, I and the children whom God has given Me." (Hebrews 2:11-13).
The Old Testament prophets promised that One would come who would be the Kinsman Redeemer of all men. He would set right those things that had been made wrong by sin. He would set free those who were in bondage to sin. He would purify those who were unclean. He would sanctify His people.
For both He who sanctifies and those who are sanctified are all from one Father (2:11).
The work of Christ did much more than merely provide a fire insurance claim from hell. He set you apart. He sanctified you. He made you a part of a special people which is known as the family of God. This is what it means to be sanctified.
If you have come to Christ, then you have become a member of the family of God. God is now your Father. You are His child. You have entered into an eternal relationship.
This principle of sanctification was rooted in Jewish theology. To sanctify something meant to set it apart for a special purpose. For example, when a man went up to Jerusalem and gave an offering of money to the Temple, those coins were sanctified - that is, they were set apart for the use of the Temple.
The Jews were a set apart people. Their entire culture set them apart from the rest of the world. They ate differently than other people. They dressed differently than other people. They lived differently than other people. They worshiped differently than other people. They were different.
Jesus came to make men different. He loves you just the way you are, but He loves you too much to leave you the way you are. If you come to Him, then He is going to change you. He is first going to bring you into the family of God and then He is going to change your life so that there will be a growing family resemblance between you and your Heavenly Father.
The Jews were set apart on the outside. They did all sorts of exterior things to set themselves apart. But Jesus came to set you apart on the inside. He came to make you a child of God. He entered the family of men so that men could enter the family of God.
This is not a new teaching. It was prophesied by the Old Testament prophets.
I will proclaim Thy name to My brethren (2:12).
This quotation is taken from Psalm 22:22. It is a Messianic Psalm. It is the Psalm that opens with the cry of Jesus upon the cross when He screamed, "My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?" It is the Psalm that focuses on the sufferings of the Messiah.
But now, He who was once crucified has been exalted. On the basis of the ministry of His death, He now proclaims the name of the Lord to His people. This is important. The reason that Christ became man and was made lower than the angels was so that He could call men His brethren. It is through Him that we can be known as the children of God.
I will put My trust in Him (2:13).
This second quotation is taken from Isaiah 8:17. Isaiah writes in a day when the Assyrian armies loom on the horizon. They will soon march against Israel and devastate the land. There will be only one way of escape — to trust in the Lord and to wait for His salvation.
The book of Hebrews is written to such a people. Now it is the legions of Rome which loom on the horizon. Within a few years, the Roman general Titus will besiege the city of Jerusalem and the land will be laid waste. There will be only one thing that the people can do - trust in the Lord.
There is a lesson here. It is that adversity teaches us to trust in the Lord. One day after we had experienced a series of rather expensive automotive problems, my wife said, "I wish that someone would give us a lot of money." Now, I want you to know that I would not complain in the least if someone were to fulfill that wish. However, the Lord has given us those needs for a reason. They are given so that we will trust in Him.
Behold, I and the children whom God has given Me (2:13).
This third quotation is also from Isaiah 8. It quotes from the very next verse. It describes the identity of those who are trusting in God. They are the children of God. This is important. The Jews thought that they were the children of God because they were descended from Abraham. But a child of God is one who trusts in God.
The same principle is true today. Having Christian parents will not save you. Joining a church will not help you. Your faith must be in God.
THE COMING OF THE KINSMAN
Since then the children share in flesh and blood, He Himself likewise also partook in the same, that through death He might render powerless him who had the power of death, that is, the devil; 15 and might deliver those who through fear of death were subject to slavery all their lives. (Hebrews 2:14-15).
Jesus fulfilled all of the requirements of the Kinsman Redeemer. We covered those requirements at the beginning of this chapter.
He must be a Kinsman.
He must be Free himself.
He must be able to Pay the Price.
He must be Willing to pay the price.
Each of these qualifications was fulfilled in Jesus Christ. They are seen in this passage.
Since then the children share in flesh and blood, He Himself likewise also partook in the same (2:14).
Since the ones who were to become children were flesh and blood - that is, they were mortal men — so also Christ took on flesh and blood and became a mortal man.
This was one of the requirements of the Kinsman Redeemer. He must be a Kinsman.
He must be related to the ones whom he is going to purchase from slavery.
And so, Jesus took on flesh and became a Kinsman to the human race in order that He might redeem men from sin.
Christ was our Kinsman Redeemer. He fulfilled all four of the requirements of the Kinsman Redeemer.
1. He became a Kinsman.
It was impossible for God to save us apart from the incarnation of Christ. God could not die for us because God cannot die. He is eternal life and He is the source of all life. Only by being born as a man and taking on human flesh could He experience death for us.
2. He was free from the bondage of sin.
Jesus Christ was the only man who has ever been free from sin. From the day that Adam sinned in the Garden of Eden to this day, all have been under that bondage. Only Christ was qualified to set us free.
3. He was able to pay the ransom price.
Even if there had been another man who had been without sin, the death of such a man would still be lacking the infinite merit to pay for the sins of the whole world. At best, the sacrifice of a finite man could only atone for the sins of a single man.
But the death of Christ was not the death of a mere man. It was the death of an infinite being. It was the death of God in the flesh. God died in our place. Only the death of such a One could have been sufficient to save the world.
4. He was willing to pay the price.
This is the most amazing truth of all. God loved us enough to send His Son to die in our place. When the venerable theologian, Karl Barth, was asked what was the most profound truth that he had ever learned, he replied:
Jesus loves me, this I know,
For the Bible tells me so.
This is the great message of the gospel. It is the message that God’s love has triumphed over the work of Satan to set us free.
That through death He might render powerless him who had the power of death, that is, the devil (2:14).
Here is the reason why Christ became flesh and joined the human race. It was so that He might nullify death. It was so that He might bring to naught the work of Satan.
What does Satan have to do with death? It was Satan who deceived the woman in the Garden of Eden and thereby brought sin into the world. Satan’s plan was to undo God’s perfect work of creation. God had created man in His own image. Satan caused that image to fall. Christ, through His death on the cross, restored that perfect image and conquered death. Not all the hosts of darkness were able to keep the Son of God in the grave. He arose from the dead, proving that He had conquered Satan once and for all.
And might deliver those who through fear of death were subject to slavery all their lives" (2:15).
Men have always suffered from a fear of death. You have only to watch the reaction of a man in his physician’s office as he is told the he has a malignant cancer to understand that this fear is a reality.
We have been set free from the fear of death. We can actually look forward to death. Death is no longer the end. It is now the beginning. It is a promotion to a higher kind of living.
THE NECESSITY OF A KINSMAN
For assuredly He does not give help to angels, but He gives help to the descendant of Abraham.
Therefore, He had to be made like His brethren in all things, that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. (Hebrews 2:16-17).
The writer now ties in these truths concerning the Kinsman Redeemer with the previous message about how Christ is better than the angels.
Jesus is better than the angels even though He took on flesh and became a little lower than the angels. He did not do that for the sake of the angels. He did it for the sake of the descendants of Abraham.
Do you remember the promise that was made to Abraham? It was a promise that God would bless him.
Now the Lord said to Abram, "Go forth from your country, and from your relatives and from your father’s house, to the land which I will show you; 2 and I will make you a great nation, and I will bless you, and make your name great; and so you shall be a blessing; 3 and I will bless those who bless you, and the one who curses you I will curse. And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed." (Genesis 12:1-3).
God appeared to Abram and told him to leave his family and his country and to move to a new land. In return, God promised to bless Abram and to make him a blessing. Notice the last phrase of this promise. "In you all the families of the earth shall be blessed." This blessing to Abram will have far-reaching effects. It will extend to all the families of the earth.
Don’t miss this! You can partake of that blessing which was given to Abraham when you put your faith in the God of Abraham.
And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to promise. (Galatians 3:29).
Do you belong to Christ? It is only those who belong to Him who will be heirs with Abraham.
Therefore, He had to be made like His brethren in all things (2:17).
In order to bring salvation to Abraham and his descendents, Christ had to become one of Abraham’s descendents. He did not merely become a man. He became a Jew. He did this in fulfillment of the promise. He is the blessing through which all the families of the earth shall be blessed.
That He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God (2:17).
Here we see a theme introduced which shall be developed more fully in the chapters which follow. It is the theme that Jesus is our high priest.
The office of high priest was the highest religious office in Judaism. The high priest was the one who entered the Holy of Holies once a year to offer sacrifices for the sins of the nation.
The high priest in the days of Jesus had been Caiaphus. He was anything but merciful or faithful. He was a false shepherd. He was not merciful, for he was ready to condemn the One who had never sinned. He was not faithful, for he rejected the message of the Son of God.
But Jesus is the true shepherd. He is merciful with those who have transgressed against Him. He is faithful and just to forgive their sins. He offered the perfect sacrifice.
To make propitiation for the sins of the people (2:17).
The word "propitiation" refers to an appeasement, a payment which satisfies. This word was used by the Greeks to describe an offering that was brought to appease the wrath of an angry god. For example, in the midst of a violent storm, the people would think that they had offended Posideon, the storm god. In an effort to satisfy his anger, they would offer a sacrifice. When the storm ended, they would say that his anger had been propitiated.
But there was also another use of this word. In Jewish theology, the place of propitiation was located inside the Temple. At the very center of the Temple was the Holy of Holies. Within this room there had stood a single article of furniture. It was the Ark of the Covenant. It was a wooden box overlaid with gold. It held Aaron’s rod, a bowel of manna, and the broken remains of the Ten Commandments. The cover of the Ark was made of solid gold. This was known as the Mercy Seat.
It also had another name. It was called the Hilasterion. It was called the Propitiation.
It was here that the high priest would come once a year to offer a sacrifice for the sins of the nation.
Jesus is our high priest. He has made an offering for our sins. He has appeased the righteous anger of God. He bore the wrath of God in His own body on the cross.
THE REDEEMER WHO SUFFERED
For since He Himself was tempted in that which He has suffered, He is able to come to the aid of those who are tempted. (Hebrews 2:18).
Here is another reason that Christ became flesh and joined the human race. It is so that He might be tempted as we are tempted and that He might suffer as we suffer. Jesus didn’t just come to earth and then die. He also went though all the hurts and the pains and the testings that are part of life.
He suffered bodily hunger. He suffered the grief of the death of a loved one. He suffered the betrayal of a friend. He suffered the taunts of his enemies. He suffered the temptations of Satan.
Because He suffered all these things, He is able to understand and empathize with our sufferings and our temptations. Are you going through hard times? Jesus understands.
He has been there. He went through those same kinds of experiences. He knows how to help. You don’t have a cosmic God who is indifferent to your daily problems. You have a God who is intimately acquainted with your problems. You have a God who has been there. He has hurt where you hurt. He has cried where you cry. He has been tempted where you are tempted. And, because of that, He is able to help.
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[>
JESUS THE KINSMAN REDEEMER -- J.J. Smith, 04:19:05 08/27/06 Sun
>
>Hebrews 2:11-18
>
>He has sent redemption to His people; He has ordained
>His covenant forever; holy and awesome is His name.
>(Psalm 111:9).
>
>Slavery was a very common institution in the ancient
>world. There were a number of ways in which a man
>might become a slave.
>
>He might he born into slavery. The son of a slave was
>himself considered a slave.
>He might be captured by an invading array and become a
>prized captive, led away in chains to a foreign
>country to be sold as a slave.
>He might fall into debt so that he was forced to
>declare bankruptcy. This involved selling yourself
>into slavery to pay the debts that were owed.
>Picture the situation of this last scenario. An
>Israelite living in the land of Palestine is hit with
>economic disaster. Perhaps a famine has come over the
>land and wiped out his crops. Rather than resort to
>begging, he sells himself into slavery, using the
>proceeds to pay off his debts and to care for his
>starving family.
>
>And so, he becomes a slave. Can he ever regain his
>freedom? Yes. But it can only happen if the redemption
>price is paid.
>
>Now if the means of a stranger or of a sojourner with
>you becomes sufficient, and a countryman of yours
>becomes so poor with regard to him as to sell himself
>to a stranger who is sojourning with you, or to the
>descendants of a stranger’s family, 48 then he shall
>have redemption right after he has been sold. One of
>his brothers may redeem him, 49 or his uncle, or his
>uncle’s son, may redeem him, or one of his blood
>relatives from his family may redeem him; or if he
>prospers, he may redeem himself." (Leviticus 25:47-49).
>
>This was the Law of the Kinsman Redeemer. It listed
>four qualifications which were necessary for a man to
>fulfill the role of Kinsman Redeemer. It was only when
>a man possessed these four qualities that he was
>permitted to perform this task.
>
>1. He must be a Kinsman.
>
>The passage is very explicit that this redeemer must
>be related to the one whom he is going to buy back out
>of slavery.
>
>2. He must be Free himself.
>
>A slave was unable to purchase another slave. A
>Kinsman Redeemer must be himself free of the debt and
>of the bondage which had fallen on the one who was to
>be redeemed.
>
>3. He must be able to Pay the Price.
>
>If he did not have the necessary sum of money which
>was required to pay the purchase price, then he would
>not be able to redeem his relative.
>
>4. He must be Willing to pay the price.
>
>It was not enough to have a kinsman who was able to
>accomplish the work of redemption. He must also be
>willing to may the sacrifice of paying the price. I
>imagine that there were a number of slaves with rich
>uncles who just didn’t want to spend the money to
>release their unfortunate relative from slavery.
>
>Each of these qualifications was fulfilled in Jesus
>Christ. God sent Jesus into the world s slave market
>of sin to purchase men from their bondage of sin. He
>alone met the qualifications of the Kinsman Redeemer.
>
>He became a Kinsman by taking on flesh and becoming a
>man. He was free from the bondage of sin. He was able
>to pay the ransom price. He was willing to pay the
>price.
>
>
>
>THE PROMISE OF A KINSMAN
>
>For both He who sanctifies and those who are
>sanctified are all from one Father; for which reason
>He is not ashamed to call them brethren, 12 saying, "I
>will proclaim Thy name to My brethren, in the midst of
>the congregation I will sing Thy praise."
>
>And again, "I will put My trust in Him." And again,
>"Behold, I and the children whom God has given Me."
>(Hebrews 2:11-13).
>
>The Old Testament prophets promised that One would
>come who would be the Kinsman Redeemer of all men. He
>would set right those things that had been made wrong
>by sin. He would set free those who were in bondage to
>sin. He would purify those who were unclean. He would
>sanctify His people.
>
>For both He who sanctifies and those who are
>sanctified are all from one Father (2:11).
>
>The work of Christ did much more than merely provide a
>fire insurance claim from hell. He set you apart. He
>sanctified you. He made you a part of a special people
>which is known as the family of God. This is what it
>means to be sanctified.
>
>If you have come to Christ, then you have become a
>member of the family of God. God is now your Father.
>You are His child. You have entered into an eternal
>relationship.
>
>This principle of sanctification was rooted in Jewish
>theology. To sanctify something meant to set it apart
>for a special purpose. For example, when a man went up
>to Jerusalem and gave an offering of money to the
>Temple, those coins were sanctified - that is, they
>were set apart for the use of the Temple.
>
>The Jews were a set apart people. Their entire culture
>set them apart from the rest of the world. They ate
>differently than other people. They dressed
>differently than other people. They lived differently
>than other people. They worshiped differently than
>other people. They were different.
>
>Jesus came to make men different. He loves you just
>the way you are, but He loves you too much to leave
>you the way you are. If you come to Him, then He is
>going to change you. He is first going to bring you
>into the family of God and then He is going to change
>your life so that there will be a growing family
>resemblance between you and your Heavenly Father.
>
>The Jews were set apart on the outside. They did all
>sorts of exterior things to set themselves apart. But
>Jesus came to set you apart on the inside. He came to
>make you a child of God. He entered the family of men
>so that men could enter the family of God.
>
>This is not a new teaching. It was prophesied by the
>Old Testament prophets.
>
>I will proclaim Thy name to My brethren (2:12).
>
>This quotation is taken from Psalm 22:22. It is a
>Messianic Psalm. It is the Psalm that opens with the
>cry of Jesus upon the cross when He screamed, "My God,
>My God, why have You forsaken Me?" It is the Psalm
>that focuses on the sufferings of the Messiah.
>
>But now, He who was once crucified has been exalted.
>On the basis of the ministry of His death, He now
>proclaims the name of the Lord to His people. This is
>important. The reason that Christ became man and was
>made lower than the angels was so that He could call
>men His brethren. It is through Him that we can be
>known as the children of God.
>
>I will put My trust in Him (2:13).
>
>This second quotation is taken from Isaiah 8:17.
>Isaiah writes in a day when the Assyrian armies loom
>on the horizon. They will soon march against Israel
>and devastate the land. There will be only one way of
>escape — to trust in the Lord and to wait for His
>salvation.
>
>The book of Hebrews is written to such a people. Now
>it is the legions of Rome which loom on the horizon.
>Within a few years, the Roman general Titus will
>besiege the city of Jerusalem and the land will be
>laid waste. There will be only one thing that the
>people can do - trust in the Lord.
>
>There is a lesson here. It is that adversity teaches
>us to trust in the Lord. One day after we had
>experienced a series of rather expensive automotive
>problems, my wife said, "I wish that someone would
>give us a lot of money." Now, I want you to know that
>I would not complain in the least if someone were to
>fulfill that wish. However, the Lord has given us
>those needs for a reason. They are given so that we
>will trust in Him.
>
>Behold, I and the children whom God has given Me
>(2:13).
>
>This third quotation is also from Isaiah 8. It quotes
>from the very next verse. It describes the identity of
>those who are trusting in God. They are the children
>of God. This is important. The Jews thought that they
>were the children of God because they were descended
>from Abraham. But a child of God is one who trusts in
>God.
>
>The same principle is true today. Having Christian
>parents will not save you. Joining a church will not
>help you. Your faith must be in God.
>
>
>
>THE COMING OF THE KINSMAN
>
>Since then the children share in flesh and blood, He
>Himself likewise also partook in the same, that
>through death He might render powerless him who had
>the power of death, that is, the devil; 15 and might
>deliver those who through fear of death were subject
>to slavery all their lives. (Hebrews 2:14-15).
>
>Jesus fulfilled all of the requirements of the Kinsman
>Redeemer. We covered those requirements at the
>beginning of this chapter.
>
>He must be a Kinsman.
>He must be Free himself.
>He must be able to Pay the Price.
>He must be Willing to pay the price.
>Each of these qualifications was fulfilled in Jesus
>Christ. They are seen in this passage.
>
>Since then the children share in flesh and blood, He
>Himself likewise also partook in the same (2:14).
>
>Since the ones who were to become children were flesh
>and blood - that is, they were mortal men — so also
>Christ took on flesh and blood and became a mortal man.
>
>This was one of the requirements of the Kinsman
>Redeemer. He must be a Kinsman.
>
>He must be related to the ones whom he is going to
>purchase from slavery.
>
>And so, Jesus took on flesh and became a Kinsman to
>the human race in order that He might redeem men from
>sin.
>
>Christ was our Kinsman Redeemer. He fulfilled all four
>of the requirements of the Kinsman Redeemer.
>
>1. He became a Kinsman.
>
>It was impossible for God to save us apart from the
>incarnation of Christ. God could not die for us
>because God cannot die. He is eternal life and He is
>the source of all life. Only by being born as a man
>and taking on human flesh could He experience death
>for us.
>
>2. He was free from the bondage of sin.
>
>Jesus Christ was the only man who has ever been free
>from sin. From the day that Adam sinned in the Garden
>of Eden to this day, all have been under that bondage.
>Only Christ was qualified to set us free.
>
>3. He was able to pay the ransom price.
>
>Even if there had been another man who had been
>without sin, the death of such a man would still be
>lacking the infinite merit to pay for the sins of the
>whole world. At best, the sacrifice of a finite man
>could only atone for the sins of a single man.
>
>But the death of Christ was not the death of a mere
>man. It was the death of an infinite being. It was the
>death of God in the flesh. God died in our place. Only
>the death of such a One could have been sufficient to
>save the world.
>
>4. He was willing to pay the price.
>
>This is the most amazing truth of all. God loved us
>enough to send His Son to die in our place. When the
>venerable theologian, Karl Barth, was asked what was
>the most profound truth that he had ever learned, he
>replied:
>
>Jesus loves me, this I know,
>
>For the Bible tells me so.
>
>This is the great message of the gospel. It is the
>message that God’s love has triumphed over the work of
>Satan to set us free.
>
>That through death He might render powerless him who
>had the power of death, that is, the devil (2:14).
>
>Here is the reason why Christ became flesh and joined
>the human race. It was so that He might nullify death.
>It was so that He might bring to naught the work of
>Satan.
>
>What does Satan have to do with death? It was Satan
>who deceived the woman in the Garden of Eden and
>thereby brought sin into the world. Satan’s plan was
>to undo God’s perfect work of creation. God had
>created man in His own image. Satan caused that image
>to fall. Christ, through His death on the cross,
>restored that perfect image and conquered death. Not
>all the hosts of darkness were able to keep the Son of
>God in the grave. He arose from the dead, proving that
>He had conquered Satan once and for all.
>
>And might deliver those who through fear of death were
>subject to slavery all their lives" (2:15).
>
>Men have always suffered from a fear of death. You
>have only to watch the reaction of a man in his
>physician’s office as he is told the he has a
>malignant cancer to understand that this fear is a
>reality.
>
>We have been set free from the fear of death. We can
>actually look forward to death. Death is no longer the
>end. It is now the beginning. It is a promotion to a
>higher kind of living.
>
>THE NECESSITY OF A KINSMAN
>
>For assuredly He does not give help to angels, but He
>gives help to the descendant of Abraham.
>
>Therefore, He had to be made like His brethren in all
>things, that He might become a merciful and faithful
>high priest in things pertaining to God, to make
>propitiation for the sins of the people. (Hebrews
>2:16-17).
>
>The writer now ties in these truths concerning the
>Kinsman Redeemer with the previous message about how
>Christ is better than the angels.
>
>Jesus is better than the angels even though He took on
>flesh and became a little lower than the angels. He
>did not do that for the sake of the angels. He did it
>for the sake of the descendants of Abraham.
>
>Do you remember the promise that was made to Abraham?
>It was a promise that God would bless him.
>
>Now the Lord said to Abram, "Go forth from your
>country, and from your relatives and from your
>father’s house, to the land which I will show you; 2
>and I will make you a great nation, and I will bless
>you, and make your name great; and so you shall be a
>blessing; 3 and I will bless those who bless you, and
>the one who curses you I will curse. And in you all
>the families of the earth shall be blessed." (Genesis
>12:1-3).
>
>God appeared to Abram and told him to leave his family
>and his country and to move to a new land. In return,
>God promised to bless Abram and to make him a
>blessing. Notice the last phrase of this promise. "In
>you all the families of the earth shall be blessed."
>This blessing to Abram will have far-reaching effects.
>It will extend to all the families of the earth.
>
>Don’t miss this! You can partake of that blessing
>which was given to Abraham when you put your faith in
>the God of Abraham.
>
>And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s
>offspring, heirs according to promise. (Galatians
>3:29).
>
>Do you belong to Christ? It is only those who belong
>to Him who will be heirs with Abraham.
>
>Therefore, He had to be made like His brethren in all
>things (2:17).
>
>In order to bring salvation to Abraham and his
>descendents, Christ had to become one of Abraham’s
>descendents. He did not merely become a man. He became
>a Jew. He did this in fulfillment of the promise. He
>is the blessing through which all the families of the
>earth shall be blessed.
>
>That He might become a merciful and faithful high
>priest in things pertaining to God (2:17).
>
>Here we see a theme introduced which shall be
>developed more fully in the chapters which follow. It
>is the theme that Jesus is our high priest.
>
>The office of high priest was the highest religious
>office in Judaism. The high priest was the one who
>entered the Holy of Holies once a year to offer
>sacrifices for the sins of the nation.
>
>The high priest in the days of Jesus had been
>Caiaphus. He was anything but merciful or faithful. He
>was a false shepherd. He was not merciful, for he was
>ready to condemn the One who had never sinned. He was
>not faithful, for he rejected the message of the Son
>of God.
>
>But Jesus is the true shepherd. He is merciful with
>those who have transgressed against Him. He is
>faithful and just to forgive their sins. He offered
>the perfect sacrifice.
>
>To make propitiation for the sins of the people (2:17).
>
>The word "propitiation" refers to an appeasement, a
>payment which satisfies. This word was used by the
>Greeks to describe an offering that was brought to
>appease the wrath of an angry god. For example, in the
>midst of a violent storm, the people would think that
>they had offended Posideon, the storm god. In an
>effort to satisfy his anger, they would offer a
>sacrifice. When the storm ended, they would say that
>his anger had been propitiated.
>
>But there was also another use of this word. In Jewish
>theology, the place of propitiation was located inside
>the Temple. At the very center of the Temple was the
>Holy of Holies. Within this room there had stood a
>single article of furniture. It was the Ark of the
>Covenant. It was a wooden box overlaid with gold. It
>held Aaron’s rod, a bowel of manna, and the broken
>remains of the Ten Commandments. The cover of the Ark
>was made of solid gold. This was known as the Mercy
>Seat.
>
>It also had another name. It was called the
>Hilasterion. It was called the Propitiation.
>
>It was here that the high priest would come once a
>year to offer a sacrifice for the sins of the nation.
>
>Jesus is our high priest. He has made an offering for
>our sins. He has appeased the righteous anger of God.
>He bore the wrath of God in His own body on the cross.
>
>
>
>THE REDEEMER WHO SUFFERED
>
>For since He Himself was tempted in that which He has
>suffered, He is able to come to the aid of those who
>are tempted. (Hebrews 2:18).
>
>Here is another reason that Christ became flesh and
>joined the human race. It is so that He might be
>tempted as we are tempted and that He might suffer as
>we suffer. Jesus didn’t just come to earth and then
>die. He also went though all the hurts and the pains
>and the testings that are part of life.
>
>He suffered bodily hunger. He suffered the grief of
>the death of a loved one. He suffered the betrayal of
>a friend. He suffered the taunts of his enemies. He
>suffered the temptations of Satan.
>
>Because He suffered all these things, He is able to
>understand and empathize with our sufferings and our
>temptations. Are you going through hard times? Jesus
>understands.
>
>He has been there. He went through those same kinds of
>experiences. He knows how to help. You don’t have a
>cosmic God who is indifferent to your daily problems.
>You have a God who is intimately acquainted with your
>problems. You have a God who has been there. He has
>hurt where you hurt. He has cried where you cry. He
>has been tempted where you are tempted. And, because
>of that, He is able to help.
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HOW TO RECOGNIZE EVIL SPIRITS ! -- Gene Moody, 19:40:54 08/16/06 Wed
1. Discerning of spirits, word of knowledge and word of wisdom: three gifts of the Holy Spirit.
2. Names claimed by demons which describe their work: such as anger - to make angry.
3. Counterfeiting and imitating spirits of God (spirit of divination for word of knowledge).
4. Synonyms for evil spirits (Roget's Thesaurus).
5. Personality of demon (soul - mind, will and emotions). Just like you are except it does not have a physical body.
6. Cause demons to manifest and identify their names and characteristics (spiritual warfare).
7. Detection by common symptoms or problems: emotional, mental, speech, sex, addictions, physical and religious (false religions, Christian cults, occult and spiritism, false doctrine) (Pigs In The Parlor, "Seven Ways To Determine The Need For Deliverance").
THE SPIRITS OF GOD AND SATAN (EXCERPTS)
1. Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God (I John 4:1).
2. We can bind and loose spirits.
3. Therefore, we are safe in assuming that for every ministering spirit of the Lord, there will be one, and often many satanic counter spirits.
4. Loosing spirits from the Lord.
GENERAL
1. We bind the spirits (demons) of Satan and loose the spirits (angels) of God. We cast the demons out of people and God directs the angels to minister to our needs.
2. Godly spirits commonly mentioned are spirit, Spirit of God, Spirit of the Lord, Holy Spirit (human spirit, angels and Holy Spirit).
3. Ungodly spirits commonly mentioned are evil spirits, demons and devils. There is actually only one Devil, Satan; demons are the correct terminology. There are millions of fallen angels and billions of demons.
4. The following are lists of godly and ungodly spirits found in the Bible. You can identify many more after you have been in deliverance awhile. Ungodly spirits generally are found grouped in families. Where you find one demon, you frequently find a family of demons with the same characteristics.
GODLY SPIRITS
Spirit of Wisdom (Ex. 28:3) -- Poor in spirit (Matt. 5:3)
Spirit of God (Gen. 1:2) -- Spirit of your father (Matt. 10:20)
Spirit of the Lord (Jud. 3:10) -- Strong in spirit (Luke 1:30)
Right spirit (Psalm 51:10) -- Spirit of truth (John 14:17)
Holy Spirit (Psalm 51:11) -- Spirit of life (Rom. 8:2)
Broken spirit (Psalm 51:17) -- Spirit of adoption (Rom. 8:15)
Spirit of princes (Psalm 76:12) -- Fervent in spirit (Rom. 12:11)
Faithful spirit (Prov. 11:13) -- Spirit of meekness (I Cor. 4:21)
Humble spirit (Prov. 16:19) -- Spirit of faith (II Cor. 4:13)
Excellent spirit (Prov. 17:27) -- Spirit of Jesus Christ (Phil. 1:19)
Spirit of man (Prov. 20:27) -- Eternal spirit (Heb. 9:14)
Patient in spirit (Ecc. 7:8) -- Meek and quite spirit (I Pet. 3:4)
Spirit of the ruler (Ecc. 10:4) -- Spirit of glory (I Pet. 4:14)
Spirit of judgment (Isa. 4:4) -- Spirit of prophecy (Rev. 19:10)
Spirit of understanding (Is. 11:2) -- Spirit of Elijah (II Kings 2:15)
Spirit of counsel/might (Is. 11:2) -- Contrite spirit (Psalm 34:18)
Spirit of knowledge (Is. 11:2) -- Good spirit (Psalm 143:10)
New spirit (Ezek. 11:19) -- Spirit of deep sleep (Isa. 29:10)
Spirit of holy gods (Dan. 4:8) -- Spirit of living creature (Ez. 1:20)
Spirit of grace and -- Spirit of holiness (Rom. 1:4)
supplication (Zec. 12:10) -- Spirit of Christ (Rom. 8:9)
Spirit of grace (Heb. 10:29) -- Quickening spirit (I Cor. 15:45
Free spirit (Psalm 51:12)
UNGODLY SPIRITS (FAMILIES)
Spirit of infirmity or -- Spirit of Antichrist (I John 4:3)
weakness (Luke 13:11) -- Spirit of fear (II Tim. 1:7)
Deaf spirit (Mark 9:25) -- Perverse spirit (Isa. 19:14)
Dumb spirit (Mark 9:25) -- Sorrowful spirit (I Sam. 1:15)
Blind spirit (Matt. 9:27) -- Spirit of slumber (Rom. 11:8)
Foul spirit (Mark 9:25; Rev. 18:2) -- Spirit of whoredoms (Hos. 5:4)
Unclean spirit (Matt. 14:43; -- Destroying spirit (Deut. 13:15)
Mark 1:23, 26; 3:30; 5:2,8; -- Evil spirit (Judges 9:23;
7:25) -- I Sam. 16:14-16, 23; 18:10; 19:9
Spirit of divination (Acts 16:16) -- Another spirit (II Cor. 11:4)
Spirit of bondage (Rom. 8:15) -- Hasty of spirit (Prov. 14:29)
Spirit of error (I John 4:6) -- Haughty spirit (Prov. 16:18)
Spirit of false doctrines -- Perverse spirit (Isa. 19:14)
(Ex. 23:1; Matt. 16:12) -- Spirit of jealousy (Num. 5:14)
Seducing spirits (I Tim. 4:1) -- Sad spirit (I Kings 21:5)
Jealous spirit (Num. 5:14, 30) -- Wounded spirit (Prov. 18:14)
Lying spirit (I Kings 22:22-23; -- Proud in spirit (Ecc. 7:8)
II Ch. 18:21-22) -- Spirit of burning (Isa. 4:4)
Familiar spirit (Lev. 20:27) -- Spirit of Egypt (Isa. 19:3)
I Sam. 28:7-8; I Ch. 10:13; -- Spirit of heaviness (Isa. 61:3)
II Ch. 33:6) -- Spirit of unclean devil (Luke 4:33)
Spirit of the world (I Cor. 2:12)
DICTIONARY OF CLASSICAL MYTHOLOGY - "A knowledge of the classics and an acquaintance with the imaginary characters, places, and incidents of ancient mythology which have been such an inspiring influence to writers of all ages adds greatly to ones enjoyment of literature, art and conversation. The people outside literary and educational pursuits have sufficient opportunity or leisure to acquire or keep up a knowledge of this popular branch of learning. It is important, therefore, to present in dictionary form the story of gods, goddesses, heroes, and heroines of the old Grecian and Roman literature. It will lead to a better understanding of the countless references which are made from time to time in the literature of the day to classic subjects. It is a great wonderland of posy and romance, and forms a realm all its own, the realm of antiquity's gods and demons and of prehistoric heroes."
Notice the underlining and what it says to you. It is talking about gods, goddesses and demons. There is a demon behind every god and goddess worshiped by man!
You are seeing products with these names more and more today. Is this innocent or deliberate? The definitions of these names can be found in unabridged dictionaries. We recommend that you purchase one for spiritual research.
IDOLS WORSHIPPED BY COUNTRIES - The names of idols are the same as names of demons. There is a demon behind every idol that is worshipped by man. Notice that there are male and female gods and goddesses. Satan has something for everyone. Temple prostitutes included male homosexuals, female lesbians and female prostitutes.
TABER'S CYCLOPEDIC MEDICAL DICTIONARY - The following is Taber's definition of multiple sclerosis: "A chronic, slowly progressive disease of the central nervous system characterized by development of disseminated demyelinated glial patches called plaques. Symptoms and signs are numerous, but in later stages those of Charcot's triad (nystagmus, scanning speech, and intention tremor) are common. Occurs in the form of many clinical syndromes, the most common being the cerebral, brain stem-cerebellar, and spinal. A history of remissions and exacerbations is diagnostic. Etiology is unknown and there is no specific therapy."
Notice the underlined words. They tell you the symptoms of the disease and where it is located in the body. With this information, you can pray more effectively. The symptoms can be called out as names of demons such as plaques, Charcot's triad, nystagmus, scanning speech and intention tremor. Demons will answer to their medical names, common names, symptoms or names they are given in the spiritual world.
We worked with a woman in deliverance who had this disease by using the above method. We would get manifestations as we called out the demons by their medical names. She was delivered and healed.
NEUROTIC AND ABNORMAL PERSONALITIES (The Three P's - Psychoneurosis, Psychoneurotic and Psychopsychosis) - These lists of demons help you to understand those you are ministering to who have these personalities. A study of psychology and psychiatry can be very helpful in deliverance. The method of treatment can also open the door to demons.
PHOBIAS - Phobias are fears. There are 210 phobias recognized by psychiatrists.
SOURCE AND BRANCHES OF FALSE RELIGIONS
Diagram:
Catholic -- Masonic -- Occult
(Religious) -- (Business Success) -- (Drugs, Sex, Power)
Nimrod
(Tammuz & Semiramus)
The first false religion in the Bible can be traced back to Nimrod, his wife, Semiramus, and her child, Tammuz. From this source branched out other false religions. The Catholic religion is for those who want to be religious. The Masonic religion is for those who want business success. The Occult religion is for those who want power, sex and drugs. This is true of anyone who follows a bloodless religion without the blood of Jesus Christ and has not had a born-again experience with Jesus Christ, our Lord, Master and Savior.
REFERENCES
1. Pigs In The Parlor - 3 R's (Root of Bitterness, Rebellion and Rejection) and 53 Common Demon Groupings.
2. Demolishing The Hosts Of Hell, "Names Claimed By Demons" - pages 51-59 (1300 Demons).
3. Roget's Thesaurus - Synonyms (names of demons).
4. Battling The Hosts Of Hell - "Names of Demons", pages 233-235
5. Conquering The Hosts Of Hell - "The Spirits of God and Evil Spirits Mentioned or Implied in Scripture", pages 61-62.
6. Education Book Of Essential Knowledge, An Addition Of Webster's Encyclopedic Dictionary, Consolidated Book Publishers, U.S.A.
7. Unger's Bible Dictionary by Merril F. Unger, Moody Press, Chicago
8. Taber's Cyclopedic Medical Dictionary, F.A. Davis, Co., Philadelphia, PA
9. Psychology Made Simple, by Abraham P. Sperling, Made Simple Books, Double Day and Company, Inc., Garden City, New York
JESUS IS THE DELIVERER
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What is Divinations? -- unknown, 17:17:38 08/14/06 Mon
Divination is the attempt to foretell the future or discover occult knowledge by interpreting omens, or by using paranormal or supernatural powers. The practice was widely known in the ancient Middle East, especially among the Babylonians who developed it into a highly respected discipline. The Babylonians and the Assyrians employed several methods. The Babylonians commonly used hepatoscopy; the divination by the liver. The liver of a sacrificial animal by virtue of being considered the seat of life could be observed carefully by specially trained priests to determine the future activities of the gods. There is also the use of augury which is the practice of foretelling to future by omens and natural signs especially the direction of birds in flight. There was also the practice of what is called, hydromancy, the practice of mixing liquids. The casting of lots was a common practice and is another form of divination. Astrology: The interpretation of the heavenly bodies as it relates to foretelling of the future. It is amazing that there are those Christians who observe their horoscope from the daily news paper. Another form of Divination is Necromancy; Necromancy is the attempt to contact the dead and receive counsel from them concerning events yet to happen. Divination is condemned in the Holy Scriptures as an abomination unto the Lord. The use of magic and the casting of spells are also under the umbrella of divination. In the ancient Greco-Roman period, there was the oracle of Delphi. The priestess of Apollo known as the Pythia of Delphi gave out oracles and prophesies in respond to questioners while in a trance. As believers we know that the end of all those who practice Divination will be the lake of fire and brimstone.
Here are some other forms of Divination that would be of interest. There is aeluromancy: the divination of dropping wheat cakes into water and interpreting the results. Aeromancy: the divination by examining the effect of air on certain things. Alectoromancy or Alectryomancy: divination by the rooster: grains of wheat would be placed on letters and the rooster “spells” the message by selecting grains. Alphitomancy: the divination of dropping barley cakes into water and interpreting the results. Anthropomancy: divination by examination of the organs of newly sacrificed humans. Astragalomancy or Astragyromancy: using knucklebones marked with letters of the alphabet. Axinomancy: divination by the hatchet: interpreting the quiver when whacked into a table. Belomancy: divination nation by arrows. Bronchiomancy: divination by the examination of the lungs of sacrificed White Llamas. Capnomancy: the divination of smoke from alters or from sacrificial incense. Cartomancy: the divination by the use of cards such as the tarot. Cantoptromancy: using mirrors, lenses, shiny stones, or crystal balls. Cephalomancy: divination of a donkey’s head. Chiromancy; the reading of the palm (palmistry) and many other forms of Divination not mentioned here, but are found in, “The Skeptic’s Dictionary.”
Hebrew noun: Qecem- divination, witchcraft, fortune-tellers, sorcerers.
Hebrew verb: Qacam- to practice divination or witchcraft.
Deut. 18:9-14 “When thou art come into the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee, there shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire. Or that useth divination, or an observer of time, or an enchanter, or a witch, or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer. For all that do these things are an abomination unto the Lord: and because of these abominations the Lord thy God doth drive them out from before thee.”
It is clear from this reference that from the very beginning God warned us to avoid such practices. These are the avenues of demonic powers to deceive men into seeking hidden knowledge apart from God. We have a natural curiosity for the unknown and the hidden. This is why there are so many so-called secret societies promising its adherences the knowledge of hidden. It is our natural curiosity along with our pride that is the driving force behind why there are so many people involved with the cults, and secret societies. Our President is among the ranks of those who are members of a secret society. He is a member of the Skull and Bones, and claims to be a “Christian” at the same time. I have heard of Pastors who are devout members of the Masonic lodge. To be involved with the secret societies or to practice divination is not a neutral position. Those who are involved with these things are in direct opposition to God, and that’s a serious position to be in. False prophets were condemned in Israel for there involvement in the practice of divination, and thereby misleading the people. So the question must come: How is it that God’s people can get involved with divination? How it is that Satan can successfully bring into the Church such practices that are clearly condemned by God, and why can it enter unnoticed? We know without a doubt that there are those in the world who practice divination, but can the same be said of some who call themselves, “Spirit-filled” or, “Charismatic” or, “Pentecostal”? I believe the unfortunate answer to this question is, yes.
I. Beware of “Thus saith the Lord…”
If we know of any history concerning the nation of Israel we know that there were false prophets among the people. Satan has always opposed the people of God with the counterfeit, and I believe that evil spirits just as in the history of Israel are operating in the Church-world. There are many deceivers who are under the influence of seducing spirits that desire to control the lives of God’s people with the phrase, “Thus saith the Lord…” The Old Testament examples are worthy of note on this subject. We can readily see that Israel had the same problem of being plagued by false prophets. In the book of the prophet Ezekiel chapter thirteen, we see the rise of the false prophets and God’s opposition to them. The false prophets and backslidden priesthood were the main contributors as to why Israel was judged by God and carried away as captives. In the book of Deuteronomy we read how the Israelites were forbidden from practicing divination like all the nations around them. They were told that they who practice such things were an abomination to the Lord. So how could something so obvious and so openly condemned by God find its way into the lives of God’s people? There is only one way, deception. One thing we can say without any fear of contradiction; Satan did not attempt at the first to bring in false teachers from without. Later as Israel went into apostasy, it was easy for evil spirits to come in because they were welcoming the practices of the heathen around them, but at first I am sure that it was subtle.
Satan would succeed by using false prophets who appeared as true prophets of Jehovah. They looked like true prophets; they seem to be anointed and were so passionate about their messages. They even had the right lingo, “Thus saith the Lord” so it would seem that they were speaking for the true God of Abraham. But these were prophets out of their own hearts and not of Jehovah. In Ezekiel 13:2-3 we read, “Son of man, prophesy against the prophets of Israel that prophesy, and say thou unto them that prophesy out of their own hearts, Hear ye the word of the Lord: Thus saith the Lord God; Woe unto the foolish prophets, that follow their own spirit, and have seen nothing.” Then in the sixth and seventh verses it says, “They have seen vanity and lying divination, saying, The Lord saith: and the Lord hath not sent them: and they have made others to hope that they would confirm the word. Have ye not seen a vain vision, and have ye not spoken a lying divination, whereas ye say, The Lord saith it: albeit I have not spoken? Satan successfully used these pseudo-prophets to seduce the people of God away from the truth. They were cleverly cloaked as true prophets using the same language as any true prophet would while all the time deceiving the people. Jeremiah also tells us of the deceptive nature of these false prophets when he write in chapter fourteen of his book; “Then the Lord said unto me, The prophets prophesy lies in my name: I sent them not, neither have I commanded them, neither spake unto them: they prophesy unto you a false vision and divination, and a thing of naught, and the deceit of their heart.” The false prophets never had any trouble with a following. They always had the majority of the people supporting their evil efforts because they always told the people what they wanted to hear. Their messages were always light and pleasant to the ears, and their messages never convicted the people of sin and of God’s judgment. Instead their messages appealed to the sinful nature and fleshly appetites. This is why the Lord through the prophet Ezekiel said to Israel, “O Israel, thy prophets are like the foxes in the deserts.” (13:4) their preaching was smooth and soothing with great swelling words of vanity, they were as sly as a fox in their ability to deceive while their inward condition was that of ravenous wolves.
Today in the 21st. century nothing has changed; we have our pulpits filled with soothsayers and hype-masters that have no other message but what is gratifying to man. The prophet Micah speaks of such when he writes, “If a man walking in the spirit and falsehood do lie, saying, I will prophesy unto thee of wine and of strong drink; he shall even be the prophet of this people.” Micah 2:11. Nothing has really changed but only has gotten worse, and will get worse as we are inundated with more pseudo-prophets and soothsayers. There is a seductive spirit of divination sweeping across the church-world seeking to control the lives, and the destinies of God’s people. The apostle Paul warned of the kind of spirit in the church that we as believers are to beware of. In the book of II Corinthians eleven verses 13-15, we read, “For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ, and no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed into the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.” Let us return back to the book of Ezekiel and see what else we need to know as believers that will keep us safe from being brought under the control of divination. In chapter thirteen of the book of Ezekiel verse seven, we have essentially what is meant when a person is practicing divination in the name of the Lord. In verse two it says of these false prophets that they “prophesy out of their own hearts. . .” in verse three the Lord says of these that they are “. . . foolish prophets, that follow their own spirit, and have seen nothing!” and in verse seven the Lord says, “Have ye not seen a vain vision, and have ye not spoken a lying divination, whereas ye say, The Lord saith it: albeit I have not spoken.” To speak presumptuously in the name of the Lord when he has not spoken is the same as divination according to these verses of scripture.
Only God almighty knows how many in the church-world who claim to be speaking by the Spirit, or by the oracles of God, who are in reality practicing divination. Those who continue to follow their own spirits and not the Holy Spirit when they proclaim, “Thus saith the Lord” or something similar as,” “the Lord show me. . .”, “the Lord spoke to me etc. will soon cross over into a spirit of divination. This is the judgment of God for those who refuse to take heed not to follow their own spirits, or some strong impulse, or impression of the mind that may seem to be from the Lord, but may in fact be something of their own spirit. “And if the prophet be deceived when he hath spoken a thing, I the Lord have deceived that prophet, and I will stretch out my hand upon him, and will destroy him from the midst of my people Israel.” This is not only true of those who claim to be prophets, but this can apply to any of us who continues to speak presumptuously in the name of the Lord. While Ezekiel dealt with the situation in Babylon, the prophet Jeremiah wrestled with the same at Jerusalem before the Lord destroyed it. In the book of Jeremiah chapter fourteen, the prophet complains of the contradictory message these other “prophets” were bringing to the people. But the Lord says of these pseudo-prophets, “. . The prophets prophesy lies in my name: I sent them not, neither have I commanded them, neither spake unto them: they prophesy unto you a false vision and divination, and a thing of nought, and the deceit of their heart.” (Jeremiah 14:14) Once again we can readily see from the Holy Scriptures that prophesying from one’s own spirit will ultimately lead to being overcome by a spirit of divination.
Another factor that comes into play as we study the subject of divination are those who say, “I have dreamed, I have dreamed” The Lord can speak to us in a dream, but we need to seek the leading of the Lord to see if the dream is from him, or not. We should never assume that just because a dream is palatable to our liking that it must be from the Lord. It would seem that any dream or so-called vision that is grandiose with a wonderful and glorious future is accepted without question. This is especially true when it comes to dreams, and visions about the ministry. It seems that to many, ministry is conducive to money, power, and fame. This is one of the reasons I grieve for many of my Pentecostal and Charismatic brethren: many in our ranks are being lead more by feelings, deep impressions of the mind, and some times strong impulses of emotion that are not always from the Lord. The Lord God speaks to the prophet Jeremiah concerning this in the twenty-third chapter we he says, “I have heard what the prophets said, that prophesy lies in my name, saying, I have dreamed, I have dreamed.” (vs.25) As I have stated earlier; the Lord can speak to us by dreams, but we must not be lead by dreams, we must be lead by the written word of God. In verses 26-29 of this same chapter the Lord continues, “How long shall this be in the heart of the prophets that prophesy lies? Yea, they are prophets of the deceit of their own heart; which think to cause my people to forget my name by their dreams which they tell every man to his neighbor, as their fathers have forgotten my name for Baal. The prophet that hath a dream, let him tell a dream; and he that hath my word, let him speak my word faithfully. What is the chaff to the wheat? Saith the Lord. I not my word like as a fire? Saith the Lord; and like a hammer that breaketh the rock in pieces?” A man that says, “The bible says. . ” is far better than the man that says, “I have dreamed, I have dreamed” .The man that says, “The bible says. . .” can judge the man that can only say, “I have dreamed, I have dreamed” Why? The bible is the inerrant, infallible, unchangeable, inspired word of Almighty God. The Spirit and the word agree, not the Spirit and our dreams agree, or the Spirit and our visions agree, but rather the Spirit and the word of God agree. (I John 5:7) This teaches us that the word of God is to take precedence over any dream, vision, prophesy, or “word from the Lord” that we may experience. We are to judge by the word of God and the inward witness of the Holy Spirit by the word to see if a thing be from the Lord, or not. We should never base our judgment of a dream or a vision on feelings, or astaticism but solely on the word of God. The Lord says in verse 31, “Behold, I am against the prophets, saith the Lord, that steal my words every one from his neighbor.” God says that his word is as a fire and therefore it is the word of God that is to try in the fire all doctrine; all dreams; all visions, and all prophesies. When prophets or anyone of us for that matter replace the word of God with a false dream, or some so-called vision; we are stealing the word of God from the people. This is the spirit of divination that seeks to control God’s holy people instead of being lead by the Holy Spirit from the word of God.
II. Warning signs
There are warning signs that we should look for when it comes to the spirit of divination. Any power or influence that seeks to control our lives and our future should be judged by the word of God to see if it is the precious Holy Spirit seeking to lead, or an unholy spirit seeking to deceive, control and ultimately destroy. As a foundation scripture, I would like to quote the epistle of James 3:17-18, “But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.” In conjunction to this, I would also remind you that Jesus said, “Beware of false prophets which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.” With the coming of the Lord drawing nigh, I believe this warning is more pertinent now than ever.
1. A controlling spirit
I believe that this is one of the greatest signs to look for when it come to the spirit of divination. Do you know that it is possible to control people with, “Thus saith the Lord”? There are many who are being controlled by those who may call themselves prophets, or even apostles who may have spoken unto them in the name of the Lord. Many of these individuals are being controlled by a spirit of divination and are seeking to control the lives of others. Even the apostles of the New Testament (upon whose foundation the true church is built) did not seek to control the lives of the people. In II Corinthians 1:23-24 Paul said to the Corinthians, “Moreover I call God for a record upon my soul, that to spare you I came not as yet unto Corinth. Not for that we have dominion over your faith, but are helpers of your joy: for by faith ye stand.” Notice the apostle realized that they did not have dominion over the faith and lives of the Corinthians to control them, but rather they were to lead and admonish the flock of God. The apostles and all ministers are to lead by their example. Even if called upon to rebuke or to reprove, it is not to control the people, but rather to call the people to conform to the will of God. This means that the people should follow their Pastors and church Elders so long as they are following Jesus Christ. That means that it is the responsibility of the individual Christian to follow the Lord, and if he or she is lead astray, they only have themselves to blame.
2. Guilt and Condemnation
I believe that this is also a characteristic of a spirit of divination. Not only an attempt to control you, but to make one feel guilty and condemned if they question, instead of blindly follow what is spoken to you in the name of the Lord. First, I would like to say that God does use individuals to speak into our lives at times. The Pastor of the local assembly if he is lead by the Spirit of God will speak into our lives every Sunday. But there are those times when God can send someone to you with a true word of exhortation. However, the word spoken to you will not be some strange thing to you; it will be familiar to you and will confirm what God has already said to you personally. For example, when Saul who later became Paul was converted, he was told by the Lord Jesus himself that he would send him to the gentles. In the book of Acts 9:15 we read, “. . . Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel.” This is what the Lord told Ananias when he sent him to Paul to pray for him, but the Lord had already spoke to Paul concerning his calling to take the gospel to the gentiles when he saw him on the road to Damascus. So when Ananias arrived to the house where Paul was praying, Paul already knew what Ananias told him from the Lord: it confirmed what Paul knew already. In the thirteenth chapter of Acts, we have another instance where both Paul and Barnabas were told by the Holy Ghost in a prayer meeting, “. . . Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them.” Once again Paul and Barnabas already knew by the Spirit of God that they were called to the gentiles. They were not being told something new that they had not heard from the Lord. Unfortunately, people are often lead by a so-called “word from the Lord” into a ministry of some kind that God had not distinctly commanded them. Instead, they allow themselves to be brought under the control of divination. We can not simply follow some prophesy someone gives us; we must follow the leading of the Holy Spirit in our hearts by the word of God. For example: if God wants you in the ministry, he will tell you first and foremost himself; others may come along and confirm what God has already spoken to you, but one thing is certain, it will not be something altogether new to your ears. Another example worthy of note is when the apostle Paul in the twentieth chapter of Acts sent for the Ephesians’ elders. One of the things he told them in reference to his arrival in Jerusalem is that, “. . I go bound in the spirit unto Jerusalem, not knowing the things that shall befall me there: Save that the Holy Ghost witnesseth in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions abide me.” Paul did not know all the particulars, but he knows there would be trouble for him in every city he visited, and that would include the city of Jerusalem. Later, as they journeyed towards the city of Jerusalem, they met some disciples in Tyre in the twenty-first chapter of Acts. While in fellowship with these precious believers they told Paul through the Spirit that he should not go up to Jerusalem, because there would be trouble. The point is clear; Paul already knew that what they were saying was true because the Holy Ghost had already witnessed in his own heart concerning these things. This trouble that Paul would experience in Jerusalem would be confirmed again by a true prophet named, Agabus. God will always disclose to you concerning his will for your life, and at times he will confirm his will by others that he chooses to use to encourage you. If someone comes to you and tells you, “Thus saith the Lord” or, “The Lord showed me this is what you should do. . .” or any such thing and you know that God himself hasn’t spoken to you on that particular thing no matter what that “prophesy” or “word from the Lord” may be, don’t do it, and do even entertain the thought of pursuing it; you have every right to question it, and pray that God would lead and guide you in the right direction. If the person or persons who gave you this so-called “word” try and pressure you with guilt and condemnation, something is obviously wrong and I would suggest you separate yourself and pray for the individual(s) they are under a spirit of divination.
I have even heard of cases where people were told by so-called “prophets” that, “you should marry so and so” This is ridiculous and it should also be obvious that God will tell you who you are to marry if you are to marry at all. Often times the people who are told such foolishness don’t even know each other. Only God knows how many marriages ended in divorce over such frivolity.
3. Unquestionable
One of the reasons that so many people are deceived today is no one wants to ask questions. We must be at liberty to question the things we hear. Jesus said that we should be careful how we hear, and when it comes to prophesy, visions, dreams, this most certainly applies. Anyone who says they have a “word from the Lord” or, “I have dreamed, I have dreamed” should have no problem with being questioned if they are speaking by the Spirit of the Lord. In fact they will encourage those to whom they minister to be Berean Christians and search the scriptures and pray to see if those things are so. No real minister of the gospel want the people to blindly follow him, but to become discerning and thinking Christians. Nothing would make a godly preacher happier than to know that his flock are people of the word and their not going to believe something just because he says it, they are going to go the scriptures for themselves, and not allow their lives to be directed only by what the preacher says, but according to what God says to them out of his holy and precious word.
The problem with some of these so-called “prophets” is that they dislike being questioned when they have uttered a thing. This should send up red flags immediately, because obviously there is something wrong with this attitude. There are those who would “prophesy” a thing and almost demand total and immediate submission to what they say is, “Thus saith the Lord” Some of them get very upset when they are questioned about their “word from the Lord.” There is not a minister of any kind or preacher that is above questioning. Only the Lord should be trusted 100% for it is impossible for God to lie, or to be mistaken. Some of these people will try to make you think that you are in disobedience to God if you do not readily and immediately accept what they say is from the Lord. This spirit is a spirit of divination, a Jezebel spirit seeking to control the lives of God’s people. Some have gone as far as convincing some that they would be cursed if they did not submit to the “word from the Lord” over their lives. Never be afraid to question a word from the Lord or some prophesy or dream or vision. This is what the Lord himself expects from responsible Christians who really want to follow him. “The simple believeth every word: but the prudent man looketh well to his going. (Proverbs 14:15). Remember ask questions, probe the scriptures, and pray for the guidance of the Holy Spirit. If the so-called “word of the Lord” or dream; or vision are not from the Lord, reject it, it might be a matter of life or death.
4. “Rabbi, Rabbi” self-exaltation, and the infatuation with titles.
In Philippians 2:3-4 Paul writing to that wonderful Church said, “Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.” According to Paul here in Philippians, he instructs the believers not to do anything out of a spirit of contention, and not to do things out of selfish ambition. In the succeeding verses (5-11) Paul gives us the perfect example that we are to follow, the Lord Jesus Christ. The apostle speaks of the humility of the Master, who humbled himself to the point of death, even the death of the cross. This is the example we should follow and not the pride, and arrogance we see today in many Churches. Unfortunately, for those who are under the spell of a spirit of divination, they love the recognition of a title. It is nothing wrong with acknowledging a call on someone to a particular office of ministry, but the person themselves should never encourage, and especially demand that others call them by their supposed title (e.g. Prophet, Apostle, Evangelist, etc.) This is spiritual pride and self-exaltation. The Lord Jesus said of the Pharisees in Matthew 23:6-7, “And love the uppermost rooms at feasts, and the chief seats in the synagogues, and greetings in the markets, and to be called of men, Rabbi, Rabbi.” Jesus is saying here that they (the Pharisees) love to draw attention to themselves, and love to be outstanding among men. They of the Pharisees also love to be greeted with bows of reverence and respect in public places so that others may see that they are some great one. The Pharisees also loved to be recognized by titles of honor and distinction. It is the same today with many of those who have a controlling spirit of divination; they desire to be in admiration in the eyes of the people to control them. They love to draw attention to themselves at Sunday worship when the focus should be the Lord Jesus Christ.
In some cases as a result of selfish ambition, these who are under a spirit of divination can never commit to one body of believers for too long. They cannot be just “one of God’s little sheep” they desire the preeminence. Because of this self-exaltation, they will “hop” from Church to Church seeking a platform of ministry and recognition, and wherever they find some poor preacher that will let them come in, and do whatsoever their heart’s desire, there will they abide. Another sign of the spirit of divination is when the precious individual who is under this kind of spirit places themselves above in position to others in the Church. I am reminded of a song I heard long ago that goes like this: “It will always be Jesus, it will always be Jesus. Let no man exalt himself in the presence of my King.” And to that I say, Amen. Maranatha.
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Father God, we count this day -a day or restoration, a day where the shackles of religion has been destroyed, a day where the blind can now see, a day that the deaf can now hear, and a day where the lost can be found dwelling in your presence and doing their part in the will of God. May each participant in this forum be enlightened in you. It is so... so shall it be....[ Contact Forum Admin ]
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