War on Consciousness Pt. 4 – CHARMED

There is a pervasive element within western society that isn’t given the attention that it deserves. This element needs to be addressed, because of the damage that it does to individuals, families, neighborhoods, and society at large. This pervasive element makes strong men weak, and enslaves them. It sets traps for the simple, and then devours them. It manipulates the innocent in order to perverts them. Coming as a friend, while it is actually an enemy, it is a deceiver at heart. Although many times it appears to be benevolent, it is a ravenous wolf in disguise. It gains the trust of the unsuspecting in order to infiltrate their circles.  It sows the seed of corruption for the sake of destruction. The pervasive element that needs to be brought to our attention is the “seducing spirit”.

The seducing spirit operates from two positions. One is the position of weakness, and the second is the position of strength. The seducing spirit must start off from the position of weakness in order to gain the position of power. The goal of the seducing spirit is control. Whenever the seducing spirit operates from the position of weakness it usually uses deception, subtly, and appeals to the one’s desires and convictions.  Manipulation, and is the best way to operate when one is weaker than one’s opponent, because instead of fighting a battle which one cannot hope to win, it instead, tricks the opponent into believing that both parties are actually on the same side. The result of this deception would be for the opponent to believe the solicitation, which is to either take from the deceiver, what is being offered, or to join forces with the deceiver, being convinced that both parties are on the same side, and therefore, should work toward a common goal. However, the goal of the seducing spirit is never to help, but only to gain control over the opponent.

The control that the seducing spirit desires is that of making the opponent dependent upon the spirit so that the opponent cannot break free from its hold. Whenever this happens, the opponent becomes a slave to the spirit, who is now operating from a position of strength. The spirit has gone from that of a solicitor, to a tyrant. For example: this transition from solicitor, to tyrant can be seen in the Genesis chapter 3 account, which is the fall of man. The serpent comes to Eve, and convinces her that disobeying God, and listening to the serpent instead, is in her best interest. Satan is the serpent, and his goal is to steal, kill, and destroy (John 10:10). Yet, he isn’t able to do anything to Adam and Eve, because they belong to God. However, Satan knew that if Adam and Eve did not keep God’s law, which was to not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, they would have to die. Therefore, Satan had to work from the position of weakness, as a solicitor, in order to convince Eve to make a decision that would destroy her. The result was for Adam and Eve to become subject to the control of sin, as well as their descents (Romans 5:12). This fall into sin, which was rebellion against God, allowed Satan to become the god of mankind, because whomever one submits to then becomes that one’s slave (Romans 6:16).

Another aspect of the seducing spirit’s solicitation is for the purpose of gaining the love and adoration of the opponent. In this way, the stronger opponent voluntarily submits to the weaker spirit as though it is worthy of honor and adoration. This approach can be extremely difficult to resist when one is deceived by the solicitor, because of the influence the spirit has over the opponent’s conscience, and because it is hard for the opponent to refuse the demands of the one it is in love with. An example of this can be seen in the account of Samson, who had two lovers that committed emotional blackmail against him by crying until he give them vital information that could cause him trouble. Samson’s enemies were too weak to over power or out smart him, so they gained the advantage over him by causing his lovers to play the role of the seducing spirit. This brought Samson to complete ruin and oppression by his enemies, who trapped him, blinded him, enslaved him, and made a mockery of him before their nation, and before their pagan gods.

Whenever a seducing spirit gains the position of tyrant over a person, it plays out in various ways. For Samson, he was physically, and emotionally, enslaved. First he was enslaved by the women he love, and later he was enslaved by the Philistines, which he hated. Because of the effects of the seducing spirit, people should not be naive, but careful in regards to who and what they fall in love with.

The seducing spirit is the enemy, and it comes to steal, kill, and destroy. It comes in many forms, but it is always the enemy. This is always true, whether it is a teacher, pastor, family member, politician, musician, actor, friend, media personality…etc.

The hardest person to turn away from is the one that we’re in love with.

The hardest idol to identify and turn away from is the one that we love and worship.

The hardest false teacher to turn away from is the won that we love and learn from.

The hardest artist to turn away from is the one whose art we love.

The hardest false doctrine to identify and call a lie, is the one that we love.

The hardest worldly philosophy to turn away from is the one that we love.

We are not exempt from seduction, because no one of us is all-knowing and sinless. That is why we put our trust, not in our own moral fiber, but Christ’ righteousness, which is perfect, and never fails. This perfect righteousness of Jesus is what made him a suitable sacrifice for our sins. Not only that, but if we sin, he is also our mediator between us and the Father. Therefore, if we confess our sins, instead of defending ourselves before God and others, he is faithful and just to forgive us of all our sins, and will cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Furthermore, we can be sure that we belong to God if we abide in the teachings of Christ through studying, meditating upon, and obeying them. In this way, we will both know the truth, who is Jesus Christ – the Son of God, and will be set free by him. That includes being set free from the sins of the seducing spirit, and its control over our soul.

The seducing spirit is indeed a trap, but thanks be to God, that through Jesus Christ, we can be brought back from the deceiver. In fact, this is the reason that Jesus came into the world; to destroy the works of the ultimate seducer & tyrant, who is that old serpent, the devil, and Satan, who deceives the who world. Satan has brought the whole world into the darkness of deception and sin, but the light has come into the world, and whoever abides in him will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life. Therefore, we all must repent of our sins, turn away from the seducer, who is Satan, and believe Christ’ good news of salvation. If we do not turn from our sins, and put our trust in Christ, we will die in our sins. Yet, everyone who believes in the Son of God has the right to become the children of God, and are set free from sin and the seducing spirits of this world.

John 8
12    Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.
23    And he said unto them, Ye are from beneath; I am from above: ye are of this world; I am not of this world.
24    I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins.
31    Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;
32    And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
34    Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin.
35    And the servant abideth not in the house for ever: but the Son abideth ever.
36    If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.

John 1
11    He came unto his own, and his own received him not.
12    But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:
13    Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

1John
5    This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.
6    If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:
7    But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.
8    If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
9    If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
10    If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

1John 2
1    My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:
2    And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.
3    And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments.
4    He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.
5    But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him.
6    He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.

1John 3
3    And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.
4    Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.
5    And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin.
6    Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him.
7    Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous.
8    He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.
9    Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.
10    In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother.

1John 5
1    Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him.
2    By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments.
3    For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.
4    For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.
5    Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?
18    We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not.
19    And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness.
20    And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.
21    Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen.