The following symptoms of spiritual
deterioration call to Christians to help others in their extreme need for
understanding, compassion, a listening ear, prayer, and teaching. The basic
symptoms of spiritual oppression are:
1) Indifference against one’s will to the
Word of God, prayer, praise, worship and spiritual matters in general. A
person may lose a sense of value from spiritual oppression, they may lack
concentration in relation to the Holy Bible, and avoid Christian fellowship.
2) A person may have persistent doubts
concerning scripture. This will make it difficult to exercise faith. This
type of doubt will often lead to fear and bondage. It will be difficult for
them to overcome the fear and they may need intercessory prayer to set them
free.
3) Delusions, heresies, and religious errors
will accompany people whose lives held a good foundation in Jesus as their own
personal Lord and Savior. The symptoms of these oppressed people are
fanaticism, hardness of heart, or cynicism, and opposition to authority in the
church.
4) A recurring inability to receive the gift
of the Holy Spirit when elders lay hands upon a person. It is a misconception
if we believe a person who doesn't immediately receive the gift of tongues has
not received the gift of the Holy Spirit. There is a difference between the
gift and the baptism. The Scriptures reveal this:
Then Jesus said to them again, ‘Peace to you!
As the Father has sent Me, I also send you.’ And when He had said this, He
breathed on them, and said to them, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit. ‘If you forgive
the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they
are retained.’ --John 20:21-23
And being assembled together with them, He
commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of
the Father, ‘which,’ He said, ‘you have heard from Me; ‘for John truly
baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many
days from now.’ -- Acts 1:4-5
‘But you shall receive power when the Holy
Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and
in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.’ -- Acts 1:8
Now when the Day of Pentecost had fully come,
they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound
from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where
they were sitting. Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire,
and one sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy
Spirit and began to speak with other tongues,
as the Spirit
gave them utterance. -- Acts 2:1-4
Those of us who do not manifest this
gift of the Holy Spirit should not be concerned or alarmed. When a person
comes to the Lord they only need to reveal the fruits of the Spirit by their
testimony of an inward change of heart. The importance is that there is a
change in their value system from a carnal viewpoint to a spiritual one. The
Holy Spirit will add on the gift when He knows they are ready to use it.
5) A resistance to the reality of the occult
and spiritual realm. The usual cause of this symptom is a lack of knowledge.
A person knows the Scriptural basis and deception blinds them into believing
there are no demons. Deal with the deception by exposing the reality of
spiritual beings working in there lives. Another way is for them to renounce
any form of occult involvement. When they do repent, the release they
experience from the anxiety of not worshipping the Lord will convince them.
The love of God revealed through
Jesus Christ has again provided for the healing of our spirits too. Our
healing begins with prayer and supplication through the intercessory prayers
and the leading of the Holy Spirit. Forming a prayer chain can help
accomplish this step. This is a group of people who will let the Holy Spirit
lead them into battle so to overcome the lies of the enemy. We do this to
show them the Scriptural basis for receiving the promises of God, and to
reveal the errors preventing restoration. If a person is not in direct
opposition to God, the prayers will easily set them free. Then with their
lives balanced through the Word of God they can receive direction from the
Holy Spirit and resume where they left off on the stairway to heaven.
While Jesus Christ can set us free,
we need to remember it is by the grace of God that we have deliverance from
the enemy. When Jesus died on the cross, God gave Him the authority and took
away the keys of death and hell from the enemy. We are free from the power of
death, that is the power of sin, to walk according to the leading of the Holy
Spirit. This is the only way to please God.
Fortunately, God the Father accepts
Jesus’ death as an atonement for all of our sins -- past, present and future.
He knows that we are only human and will not always resist the temptations
before us. For He so loves us that if we confess our sins, He is faithful to
forgive us of all unrighteousness. But if we continue to sin, we can expect to
be disciplined.
God requires us to hold fast to our
profession of faith by remaining in His Word, faithful to His Spirit, and by
showing love for the brethren. As a witness to this covenant, He has sent the
Holy Spirit, the Spirit of adoption, into our lives as a deposit until He
redeems us totally. He is the very same supreme being that gave Jesus the
power of His resurrection, and is in us waiting for the trumpet call of God to
change us in a flash-in the twinkling of an eye-to be with the Lord
forevermore. Amen!
Before we can truly come to
maturity, we all have to come to the understanding and know in our own hearts
that we are no longer slaves to sin. To help us comprehend what it means to
become a son or daughter of God and an heir to the promises found in the Holy
Bible, please, take to heart the following godly advice:
Flee also youthful lusts; but pursue
righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a
pure heart. But avoid foolish and ignorant disputes, knowing that they
generate strife. And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to
all, able to teach, patient, in humility correcting those who are in
opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know
the truth, and that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the
devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will. --2 Ti 2:22-26
Examples Of Progressive Spiritual
Deterioration
Oppression over a long period of
time can result in depression when a person yields through this weakening
process to temptation and continues to sin. For this reason we must consider
oppression to be as dangerous as depression.
As a precaution within any
fellowship we need to extend the arms of warmth and friendship. Our love for
one another is lived out by giving unselfishly to each other for the
strengthening of the body. To be more hospitable and take care of each other
is not spiritual; it is only what we can see in the world. As my pastor would
say it, 'We need to become vulnerable.' Then we will find our place in the
body where we are usable, and our local church will become our 'Home Sweet
Home'.
When trials and tribulations come
our way, depression can follow and we become useless to the body. There is a
trend to regress if we don't understand that the problems of life are there to
get us to move on, to grow, or, to change. They are not a punishment from
God. Some people believe this, but they are wrong.
My brethren, count it all joy when you fall
into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.
But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete,
lacking nothing. If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to
all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. -- James
1:2-5.
We don't really have an option when
trials come our way. God knows what we need and He loves us enough to take us
all the way through any problem we may face. If we understand this we can
walk with our hand in His and overcome any obstacle in life. If we resist we
will only have to face the problem later on. Until then, we can expect to
continue going around the mountain again and again. Get the point!
When a person becomes unteachable
and they continue to go through the valley, life can be pretty depressing. In
this weakened condition the enemy can begin the attack again and continue
dragging them through the mud. To intercede for them we need to pray through
for them. This means to continue in prayer until the Holy Spirit gives us a
release in our own spirits. To correct the situation, we need to lift the
person up in prayer and stay the course. If we have genuine concern, we will
lay our life down, pick up our cross and pray until their is a confidence
in our heart that God is intervening for
them.
Experience is always the best
teacher, but a wise person learns from others' experiences. From the
scriptures we have an innumerable amount of such testimonies of how God can
give us wisdom through other peoples' trials and tribulations. The following
study will deal with these occurrences of people who suffered some form of
spiritual deterioration:
Now Judas Iscariot walked with Jesus and
the apostles; even with his knowledge of the Lord and witnessing of the
miracles, he betrayed our Savior. Judas did not submit his life to God and
become obedient, but remained a thief. He continued to walk in sin and Satan
possessed him. This is very evident in the word of God:
Then Mary took a pound of very costly oil of
spikenard, anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped His feet with her hair. And
the house was filled with the fragrance of the oil. Then one of His disciples,
Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, who would betray Him, said, ‘Why was this
fragrant oil not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?’ This
he said, not that he cared for the poor, but because he was a thief, and had
the money box; and he used to take what was put in it. -- John 12:3-6
And supper being ended, the devil having
already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, to betray Him,
-- John 13:2
When Jesus had said these things, He was
troubled in spirit, and testified and said, ‘Most assuredly, I say to you, one
of you will betray Me.’ -- John 13:21
Then, leaning back on Jesus' breast, he said
to Him, ‘Lord, who is it?’ Jesus answered, ‘It is he to whom I shall give a
piece of bread when I have dipped it.’ And having dipped the bread, He gave it
to Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon. Now after the piece of bread, Satan
entered him. Then Jesus said to him, ‘What you do, do quickly.’ -- John
13:25-27
Satan deceived Judas because of his
unyielded heart. It was through his unbelief and constant willful sin. He
lived according to his corrupt nature. Therein, the father of lies took
possession of Judas' soul. The devil had the right because he was serving him
until the end.
It is not enough to serve God's
permissive will. Baptism alone does not save anyone. We are to walk in the
way of the Spirit. Being 'born-again' is a process, we have to have knowledge
and we have to be obedient to it. It is a rebirth of water and of Spirit.
The Holy Spirit in our daily walk is the only way we can properly mature. The
baptism of the Holy Spirit is not a matter of believing we have it. Salvation
is an everlasting event that is the start of an intimate relationship. We
know that He is living in our hearts because of the anointing we continually
receive throughout our walks.
Satan deceived two early believers
and then they lied to the Holy Spirit. Their unrepentant sin cost them dearly
as we can see:
But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira
his wife,
sold a possession. And he kept back part of
the proceeds, his wife also being aware of it, and brought a certain part and
laid it at the apostles' feet. But Peter said, ‘Ananias, why has Satan filled
your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and keep back part of the price of the
land for yourself? ‘While it remained, was it not your own? And after it was
sold, was it not in your own control? Why have you conceived this thing in
your heart? You have not lied to men but to God.’ Then Ananias, hearing these
words, fell down and breathed his last. So great fear came upon all those who
heard these things. And the young men arose and wrapped him up, carried him
out, and buried him. Now it was about three hours later when his wife came in,
not knowing what had happened. And Peter answered her, ‘Tell me whether you
sold the land for so much?’ And she said, ‘Yes, for so much.’ Then Peter said
to her, ‘How is it that you have agreed together to test the Spirit of the
Lord? Look, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door,
and they will carry you out.’ Then immediately she fell down at his feet and
breathed her last. And the young men came in and found her dead, and carrying
her out, buried her by her husband. -- Acts 5:1-10
Even being baptized doesn't free us from the
bonds of iniquity if we have unrepentant sin. Simon believed and was baptized
but he had not received the Holy Spirit. He was still unworthy and unclean
because of his past unrepentant sins.
Then Simon himself also believed; and when he
was baptized he continued with Philip, and was amazed, seeing the miracles and
signs which were done. Now when the apostles who were at Jerusalem heard that
Samaria had received the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them, who,
when they had come down, prayed for them that they might receive the Holy
Spirit. For as yet He had fallen upon none of them. They had only been
baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Then they laid hands on them, and they
received the Holy Spirit. Now when Simon saw that through the laying on of the
apostles' hands the Holy Spirit was given, he offered them money, saying,
‘Give me this power also, that anyone on whom I lay hands may receive the Holy
Spirit.’ But Peter said to him, ‘Your money perish with you, because you
thought that the gift of God could be purchased with money! ‘You have neither
part nor portion in this matter, for your heart is not right in the sight of
God. ‘Repent therefore of this your wickedness, and pray God if perhaps the
thought of your heart may be forgiven you. ‘For I see that you are poisoned by
bitterness and bound by iniquity.’ Then Simon answered and said, ‘Pray to the
Lord for me, that none of the things which you have spoken may come upon
me.’ -- Acts 8:13-24
Surely, Peter did pray for Simon.
Did his heart change? It is for us to surrender our heart to God as
individuals. Simon's mistake was a common one. Today many people still fail
to realize that money or possessions cannot secure the blessings of God.
God wants to bless us. Remember, He
first loved us and this He revealed by sending His Son to die for us even
while creation was in sin. Jesus will redeem us from sin and give us the
power over sin. All we have to do is ask for a change of heart and ask God
for repentance. Then we will be able to give up our own selfish ambitions and
allow God to transform our lives into the image of His Son. So when we pray,
'thy will be done', if we would surrender our life to Him, He will set us free
from the worries and fears in the world. Then we will have the confidence in
Him to overcome any trial or tribulation coming our way.
The obstacles in our path are there
so we can lean on God, His Word and rely on the Holy Spirit. We need to learn
to trust God as much as He wants to trust us. Faith in God is one of the
foundation stones of Christian living. We can lean on our own understanding
and that is just what we will get. Or, we can be obedient to God's word and
receive the blessing. God loves us and will time things perfectly. Jesus
will never allow an obstacle in our life we cannot overcome or a temptation we
cannot resist if we trust in Him to live through us.
Jesus commissioned Saul of Tarsus,
whom the Lord renamed Paul, to preach the gospel to the Gentiles. While he
was serving the Lord, God decided to use Paul for an example of how sufficient
His grace is to take us through any trial. Paul became a model of devotion
and praise because of the things he suffered:
And lest I should be exalted above measure by
the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a
messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure. Concerning
this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me.
And He said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made
perfect in weakness.’ Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my
infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take
pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in
distresses, for Christ's sake. For when I am weak, then I am
strong. -- 2 Corinthians 12:7-10
We all have to make the decision to
trust in God and walk with Him as individuals. It is not for us to question
or judge the works and ways of God. He is the creator. God expects us to
trust in Him. To help us, He has given us of His Spirit as a witness to our
hope, to wit, the redemption of our bodies. By the grace of God we have
received the gift of faith. Our faith in God, and the leading of the Spirit,
will take us through any trial or tribulation ahead. Through the word of God
and His leading, He will bring us step by step and glory to glory, into the
everlasting knowledge and kingdom of His Son. As we mature we will see how
God is working all things out for our good as we learn to walk according to
His will and for His purposes.
At some point in our walk we may
suffer from some sort of spiritual affliction. This may happen because we
have hardened our heart. It happens in a non-believer's heart to break up the
fallow ground so they might receive some of the water of the word and call
upon Him. All these things happen to get us to trust in God again after we
stop walking in the light. He cares and loves those who oppose Him, so then
how much more do you think He will do for us who have called upon Him. Our
God is a God of miracles. He is standing at the doors of our hearts waiting
to miraculously heal us. Whatever the reason is, the cure is the same,
repentance from any sin in our life and breaking the curse of iniquity. We
can all find freedom by making a commitment to taking up our Cross and by
letting our Lord Jesus Christ set us free to walk with the Holy Spirit.
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