"This world is very spiritual, deeply spiritual and ruled from the spiritual realm."
Modern technology and the comfies of the emerging New World Order have boxed us in a physical world, killing our sensitivity to the spiritual world thus leaving us very vulnerable to evil spiritual enticements and manipulation.
Everything is now possible at the touch of a button, including love - "just send an sms to 52** with the word love."
With the increasing incidents of violence, marital break-ups and addictions being solely blamed on psychological states, we ought to re-orient ourselves with the truths of the word of God.
The torment of a man I'll just call John is a case of a little lesson forgotten by a well meaning man. John called seeking counsel on what to do with the deep feelings he was developing for an ex-lover. John was a happily married and in his own words he lacked nothing in his marriage that could make him step outside. Unfortunately, the pressure to seek out Jane was just too much to ignore. Jane was his last lover before he got married. A girl-friend of five years. Not easy to forget with memories of hot sex sessions.
Unlike many men today, John was a bit wiser. He knew a fling with Jane would be disastrous to himself, his wife and children. As his feelings grew so did his search for an answer. On that he was wise. That was one man without animal instincts.
Initially he thought he was not having enough quality time with his wife. He increased that. He later thought it was their sex-life. He secretly consulted a sex therapist. All was well. He thought it was money. With a little effort his business expanded. All along the attraction to Jane who lived in the same city was increasing.
As he narrated his story nothing in this world seemed to point to the problem until I asked him about his spiritual life. That's when he remembered the little lesson of attraction and demons.
After giving his life to Jesus Christ, John was the kind of man any woman would have died to marry. Always truthful and ever well-meaning. However, somewhere along the way the issues of life choked his spiritual life. The cares of this world and the pressure to buy the next hot gadget left him with very little time to fellowship with God.
I felt for him when he described himself using Luke 8:14 -And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection.
John had heard the gospel, grew his faith but slacked along the way and now he was staring at the adultery button. Would he press it or not?
As he continued talking I could see the torment in his eyes and face. He knew he was about to lose his marriage. It was like a stone rolling down hill -gaining momentum with every roll. He felt powerless and hopeless. He looked like a guy drenched in a very heavy downpour.
He came up with a suggestion or it was something which had been in his mind for a while. He was thinking of channeling his feelings for Jane to a female colleague whom he 'related' well with, meaning they shared a lot about their emotions. Ever well meaning, John was the kind who would give the whole world a shoulder to lean on. The female colleague had described him as the best husband she'll never have. It wasn't meant to stir anything though it might have.
Suddenly John stood up, looking me straight in the eyes he told me that he knew he was going down but he would do so with a fight. I liked that. He added that he wasn't in my office for a pity-party but to get a brother help him roll-up his sleeves and face his Goliath. It's always a good site to behold when a man decides to face his inner-man issues.
He knew very well that Jane and his female colleague were not the problem as he quoted James 1:14 -But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.
As he took his seat I took him back to this little lesson about attraction and demons. The fighter's face darkened and he looked like one cornered by a fierce enemy. I knew we were approaching his break-through and I had to encourage him with Romans 8:37 and Philippians 4:13.
"Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him that loved us." Romans 8:37.
"I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me."Philippians 4:13.
He wondered how he had forgotten that everything in this world has a spiritual dimension, visible to those who heed 1 Peter 5:8 - "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:"
He said he wouldn't be meat for the devil easily. I thanked God in my heart for the Holy Spirit who was leading John to victory.
John knew he had been attracted to the wrong things and he realized there were spiritual forces behind all that had befallen him.
With a busy schedule he had resorted to button worship. This is the kind of worship where he would wake up in the morning, name the things he needed and claim them. It's just like pressing a button. He had fallen for easy believer, that mere wishful utterances would translate into truckloads of horses.
The good old John was gone. The John who would study the word of God, pray,repent his sins and worship God with Hymns had been enticed to a queer form of worship. He could no longer remain still in prayer or Bible study so that he could prove what is good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. He had conformed to the faiths of this world where God is more of a tool of accomplishing a task than a sovereign God who desires true worship.
Easy believism had denied him the privilege of sitting calmly and hearing from God. The Prayer-less lifestyle left him vulnerable to demonic enticements.
As we read Genesis 3:1 he confessed to have been involved in 'small' corrupt activities, giving 'small' bribes in the name of facilitation fees to win government tenders, etc. The once firebrand part-time evangelist who wanted to win everyone into God's kingdom was now a tribalist who saw everything through the lenses of his tribe. What a sad enticement.
Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden? Genesis 3:1.
(Emphasis added).
As he joined the dots to how he became spiritually blind, he couldn't believe how easily he had opened doors to demonic control. From 'small' sins to the verge of breaking a happy marriage. Surely, men do not fall because of the temptation outside but because of the lust within.
For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. 1 John 2:16.
John had become of the world and the evil enticements of the god of this world, who is the devil- king of demons, were ruining him.
In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, 2 Corinthians 4:4.
As he finished sharing the steps of how he was enticed into worldliness, he confessed that the feelings for the two women had 'somehow' evaporated.
Strange? It wasn't.
The moment you start addressing your issues in the light of the Word of God and confessing your sins to the relevant person(s),the devil can only flee. Coming into agreement with the word of God that He had sinned, was heading to sin more and was seeking a Biblical answer to his sin problem, John was actually on the path to submitting to God.
Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. James 4:7.
Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. James 5:16.
It was a wonderful moment with John. I was glad to see him rededicate his life to Christ as he identified his enemy;Ephesians 6:12.
For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Ephesians 6:12.
Finally, we prayed together, read Psalm chapter one and sang a hymn - the devotion and prayers had to start in my office!
As he stepped out he asked me "Do you think Christian marriages are hurting because people no longer worship God in truth and in Spirit?"
