I am becoming aware of
my tendency to bow to idols I never realized existed.
There are spirits that can control us. They can be spirits of unworthiness, arrogance, control, subjection, passivity, legalism, or hyper-emotionalism. You name it. I believe those of us who are in Christ and live lives controlled by the Holy Spirit should not fulfill the desires of our flesh. But I also believe that there are times when our flesh wins, and in those times, we are corrupted by sin. Sin is like a sticky substance that allows spirits to attach themselves to our lives.
The remedy for us is to
confess our sins. When we do, the Bible promises that He is faithful to forgive
us.
When we do not confess
and receive forgiveness for sin, we begin to walk in a manner controlled by a
spirit other than the Holy Spirit. We then can become a spiritual
tripping hazard for others and for ourselves. We will begin to process our
environment through the lens of that controlling spirit. As we do, we will in
essence be bowing down to that spirit. If we stay in it long enough, we will
begin to expect everyone else to bow down to it as well.
When encountering
someone under one of these influences, we will either bow down to that spirit
as well, or we will reject the person. I believe we have to stand up to those spirits.
My tendency is to back
away. I am beginning to understand that my passivity to a spirit is, in itself,
me bowing down or being controlled by a spirit of passivity. Many of us
Christians see combat, warring, and standing up, as the opposite of
Christianity. But I am beginning to see a bit differently. Why were we told in
scripture to be courageous and not fear? Why are we told to get our ARMOR on?
Why are we told to grab our sword of the Spirit and our shield of faith? It is because
we are in a war. We are in a battle.
As believers, we are commanded to put on Christ, to be empowered by the Holy Spirit, and to live our lives in obedience to our Commanding Officer’s marching orders, which are found in His Word.
If I am to take a stand
for Him, I cannot bow to spirits that are attracted to my sin–nor can I bow to
those spirits in others. In our modern world, we no longer bow down to statues
erected as idols. Our idols are more subtle. If we give into the influence of a
spirit in ourselves or in others, we are bowing down to it. It is time to stand
up against this. We need to know who we are and Who we belong to. We need to be
filled with the Holy Spirit, ask for forgiveness for our sins, cooperate with
the Holy Spirit, and obey the Word of the Lord. This is the best way to stand
up against controlling spirits.
As I processed these truths before the Lord, I discussed what I wrote with a trusted set of friends. I had one of them review it for me. I am so glad that I did. It was great to get another view or perspective on my story. She simply asked me, "Are the spirits and idols interchangeable or distinct." As I ruminated over that question, it was obvious that I must clarify this. They are indeed one and the same. I think that was the major epiphany I had after I sensed the Lord calling me out on this. I thought I was being godly, and He showed me I was actually bowing down to idols in the form of spirits that were controlling my behavior. He called me out and I see it very clearly now. That clarity is what motivates me to share it with others.
As Christians, we stand
for the gospel. Our lives are to be lived in love, yes. But love tells us to do
what is best for ourselves and others–not what makes us feel good. We all need
to stand up and fight the spirits that are not in agreement with the Holy
Spirit. How will we recognize the difference? The Holy Spirit will always line
up perfectly with the Word of God. Always.
If you would like further clarity, feel free to comment or send a message to me with your questions.
