~Daily Devotion 7th~

The second great attack against the church is from the spirit of witchcraft, closely related to the Jezebel spirit. The goal of this spirit is to dilute, subjugate, and destroy biblical teaching and subsequently, the Christian life. Because it is a deceptive spirit, many Christians suffer under its bondage without being aware of it.

The apostle Paul warns us to "put the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles (or trickery) of the devil." (Eph 6:11).

We have no reason to fear our enemy, for the Scriptures teach us that "greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world" (1 John 4:4).

But, the greatest among us is vulnerable to the attack of the enemy if we fail to recognize his tactics. Our ignorance and complacency will defeat us.

Witchcraft can be simply defined as the "technique of manipulating supernatural forces to attain one's own ends." It may involve the use of psychic powers to project an inner force onto some person or situation. When we try to us emotional power to manipulate others we are engaging in a basic form of witchcraft.

"Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envying, murders, drunkenness, reveling, and such like...(Galatians 5: 19 - 21).

The spirit of witchcraft is a counterfeit to true spiritual authority God gives the believer spiritual authority for the purpose of edifying other believers. But an unholy or evil spirit will counterfeit true spiritual authority by using domination, manipulation, intimidation, and control over other believers. We will only be free from the power of the spirit of witchcraft when we are completely submitted to the power and authority of God.

The obvious sources of satanic cults or New Age philosophy are not the only sources for the spirit of witchcraft. It can come from well-meaning though deceived Christians. Even prayer, if it is motivated by desire for control or manipulation, is a work of witchcraft, with powers as real as those experienced from black magic. "Charismatic" witchcraft finds its source in gossip, political maneuvering, jealousies, and envying.

Marriage partners work it on their mates; children on parents; and even businessmen and women on customers as they scheme to make a deal. Any manipulative tactic used in order to reach a selfish end can qualify as a basic form of witchcraft. Using emotional manipulation or hype to enlist the service of others, even for the work of the Lord, is a basic form of witchcraft.

We may recognize these forms of witchcraft and refuse to be manipulated. But if we become resentful or bitter toward the person projecting these tactics toward us, the enemy has gained ground with us. He will bring discouragement, disorientation, and depression as surely as if we had submitted to a controlling spirit. If the enemy can get us to respond negatively in any of these situations, we will be defeated. His strategy is to cause us to depart from exercising the fruit of the Spirit and to combat him on his own terms--fighting anger with anger.

Satan can't cast out satan; Jezebel can't cast our Jezebel. Fighting on the enemy's terms only increase the enemy's power.

The Scriptures teach us to overcome evil with good (Romans 12:21). Jesus Himself gave us the diving strategy for overcoming evil: "Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you" (Matthew 5:44).

As we pray blessings on our enemies through the power of forgiveness, the evil power of control will be broken. By not returning evil for evil, but overcoming evil with good, we destroy the power of the enemy over our lives.

To forgive does not mean we maintain fellowship with one who is determined to use manipulation and control through the power of witchcraft. Unity will not be restored in our relationship with such people without true repentance on their part. But forgiveness will free us from bitterness and resentment, and our prayers for them will be effective for their deliverance.

Our greatest defense against counterfeit spiritual authority is to walk in true spiritual authority, establishing our lives on truth. Though we may seem to gain a position of influence through manipulation or self-promotion--forms of counterfeit authority--such gain will ultimately become a stumbling block to receiving a true commission from God. When God establishes us in His purpose for our lives, no man or devil can undo it. But using manipulative tactics to establish and maintain our position amounts to witchcraft.

The Scriptures are clear that we should relate to one another in love. They teach us to "be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility." (1 Peter 5:5). such an attitude will protect us from the manipulative work of our flesh that desires to seek its own glory. Anything done through the power of witchcraft is doomed to failure. Though we may even justify our tactics by declaring that our goal is to build the church. God will not bless fleshly manipulation. He will build His church according to the working of the His Holy Spirit. Anything else is an affront to the cross and ultimately will oppose the purpose of God.

The more secularized society become, the more magnified the huger of man for the supernatural. The vacuum created within man for the reality of spiritual life intensifies as society declares, "There is no God." If the spiritual void in every man is not filled with real power and authority from God, as a society e will become subject to witchcraft increasingly as we draw closer to the end of this age.

Some churches that once preached the evangelical message have not followed the move of the Spirit, becoming liberal in their theology and being deceived by New Age philosophy.

We do not have to settle for counterfeit authority or be enslaved by any form of witchcraft. As we submit our lives to God and to one another in love, He will cleanse us and set us free from every evil tendency in our flesh that would thwart the purposes of God. We can be established in God's purposes and rejoice s we see the downfall of the spirits of Jezebel and of witchcraft.

Then we will be prepared to combat still another enemy that has threatened the church through betrayal and disloyalty--the Absalom's spirit.