Know your enemy
Sermon by Pastor Phil, summary by Chrisme Visagie
Visions and dreams
The bible is full of examples where God speaks to people through visions and dreams.
God gives dreams to reveal his purpose and plan – sometimes to the individual receiving the dream/vision and sometimes to someone else or even to a country.
Mostly it is to his children, but there are even examples where he speaks to non-believers through dreams! (Abimelek in Gen 20:3, Pharos dreams in Gen 41 and others)
One of the best examples in the bible is the story of Joseph:
Gen 37:5-11 And Joseph dreamed a dream, and he told it his brethren: and they hated him yet the more. And he said unto them, Hear, I pray you, this dream which I have dreamed: or, behold, we were binding sheaves in the field, and, lo, my sheaf arose, and also stood upright; and, behold, your sheaves stood round about, and made obeisance to my sheaf. And his brethren said to him, Shalt thou indeed reign over us? or shalt thou indeed have dominion over us? And they hated him yet the more for his dreams, and for his words. And he dreamed yet another dream, and told it his brethren, and said, Behold, I have dreamed a dream more; and, behold, the sun and the moon and the eleven stars made obeisance to me. And he told it to his father, and to his brethren: and his father rebuked him, and said unto him, What is this dream that thou hast dreamed? Shall I and thy mother and thy brethren indeed come to bow down ourselves to thee to the earth?1And his brethren envied him; but his father observed the saying.
Joseph’s brother were so jealous of him, that they eventually sold him as a slave. He ended up working as a slave for Potiphar and later got thrown into jail (even though he was innocent!). Joseph could have been bitter or depressed, but he held unto the dreams God gave him and did everything he had to do in excellence. He was even appointed as head over the other prisoners. Two other prisoners then had dreams, which Joseph interpreted, and eventually, when the pharo had a dream, Joseph was taken from the jail and asked to interpret Pharo’s dream. Pharo then appointed Joseph over all of Egypt! Joseph dreams came true, but only because he kept trusting in God and standing on the promises God has given him. In the same way, we should hold fast to the promises, dreams and visions God has given us. Unfortunately, the devil will do everything in his power to prevent God’s plans and purpose in our lives to be fulfilled! The bible warns us:
1Peter 5:8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
John 8:44b You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies.
2 Cor 11:14 And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.
Satan will use any possible way to get to you and we need to be alert and aware of his schemes. Satan almost always uses people to get to people. Often these people are not even aware they are under the influence of Satan. Some ways this can manifest is through a Herodian spirit, a python spirit, a Jezebel spirit and an orphan spirit.
Herodian spirit
Herod was the king that ordered all babies to be murdered when he found out that a new king (the Messias) was born.
Characteristics of a Herod spirit:
- Usually an influential person
- Tries to destroy God’s promises and purpose in our lives
- Seeks to destroy anything it feels threatened by
- Will try to gather people against you
- Often attacks the young (children and youth or new converts) or new ideas
- Tells lies to bystanders, hoping they will believe him and do his work
- Their words and actions are rooted in fear, jealousy and intimidation
- Only has respect for self, worships the self, no place for God
Python spirit
In Acts 16:16 we read about the slave girl that had a spirit of divination. The Greek word for divination in this verse is “pythena”. The girl followed Paul around and cried, saying: “these men are servants of the most high God , which shows us the way unto salvation“. Although she pretended to be on Paul’s side, she was actually hindering his work. Finally (after many days), Paul got fed-up and drove the spirit out of her.
In the same way, the python spirit comes alongside people and slowly squeezes the life out of them. They are often very religious and they work by interfering with the communication of the Holy Spirit and thwarting prayer. They can create a feeling of spiritual dryness, lethargy and a sense of being overwhelmed by life’s challenges.
Jezebel spirit
Jezebel was the wife of King Ahab (Kings 18-21) and was evil in every way. She manipulated her husband and influenced other people to do her dirty work.
The spirit of Jezebel is characterized by:
- unpureness of heart, corruption, manipulation
- twisting of the truth
- makes you doubt what God has spoken
- exalts self, no submission to anyone, not even God
- causes division in marriages, churches and organisations
- persecutes the prophetic
- promotes worship of Baal
- seduces and uses witchcraft to get her way
- likes to play the victim
Orphan spirit
The orphan spirit often manifests in people that haven’t dealt with previous hurts and rejections. People that did not have a father (in the true sense of the word) are especially susceptible. This spirit makes you feel unworthy of God’s love and acceptance and also other people’s love. One might easily be led to believe that the orphan spirit is less dangerous than some other spirits, but it can cause just as much problems if not recognized and dealt with!
The orphan spirit attaches to people that has experienced rejection and the only way to get rid of it, is to replace is with the truth of God’s word.
Characteristics of the orphan spirit include: (taken from What is an Orphan Spirit? +16 Character Traits – ADORNED HEART)
- Unbelief that God forgave your former sins.
- Feeling stuck, hopeless, defeated, and giving up quickly.
- Constantly fearing that God will punish you.
- Competing and comparing yourself to other Christians.
- Fasting and praying from a place of guilt, fear, and striving.
- Feeling unworthy of salvation.
- Distrust that biblical promises are your portion.
- Fear of walking in your purpose and calling
- Relying on your own self-effort rather than God’s strength.
- Allowing offense and fear to separate you from a spiritual family.
- Doubting the power of God to intervene in any situation.
- Fear of intimacy with God and others.
Someone who has an orphan spirit will see everyone and everything through the lense of bitterness and anger. They never feel accepted, so they try and perform and be the best. They need affirmation for everything and if they don’t receive it they feel rejected and angry. They can be very competitive and cannot celebrate in others’ successes. Since they don’t feel like they belong anywhere, they struggle to function in a group and tend to withdraw and be loners. They also don’t trust anyone and are always looking to find a flaw and expose it.
These spirits are out to steal and destroy the dreams, visions and purpose that God has given us. We need to be aware of them, but we don’t need to fear them! When we know who our Father is and know our identity in Him, we have the power and authority to stand on his promises. We call that having the spirit of adoption.
Spirit of adoption
Romans 8:14-17 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: and if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.
Having the spirit of adoption means you know you are fully accepted and loved by God just as you are!
No need for performance, no need to earn his love, no need to look to others for acceptance and affirmation. You are able to serve out of love and not with the purpose of getting something out of it.
Eph 1:3-6 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: according as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, to the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace; wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence; having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself:
I just love this scripture!
Read this and declare it with me:
- I am blessed with all spiritual blessings
- I am the chosen of God
- I am adopted by God
- I am accepted by God
- I have redemption through his blood
- I have been forgiven of all my sins
- I am able to know God’s will
