Lessons on Spiritual Warfare - Part 1

Message of the Eagle Nebula

As we are concluding the month of March, I will add a short sub-series to give a bit more detail into the spiritual warfare message to complete the victorious picture found in Aqrab and its decans.

As I mentioned in an earlier blog, the Aqrab star family is rich with Nebulas and Messier objects. Today, I will highlight the beautiful Eagle Nebula (overall image shown above), which is an open cluster of stars found in Nachash (Serpens) - a decan of Aqrab (the scorpion).

Not only is the Eagle Nebula stunning to behold in totality, it also contains many eye-catching points of interest, as is shown in the images above.

In Scripture, the spiritual warfare message of the Eagle is one of deliverance and spiritual discernment. Yahweh represents His mighty delivering power as carrying His people on "Eagle's Wings". 

Exodus 19:4 "Ye have seen what I did unto the Egyptians, and how I bare you on eagles' wings, and brought you unto Myself."

Additionally, the amazing eye-sight of the eagle represents the spiritual "laser vision" that Yahweh blesses us to have, if we seek His Heavenly eye-sight. Both of these needed elements for victory are portrayed in the amazing Eagle Nebula. 

For today's blog, let's take a closer look at the spiritual warfare value of the Eagle's vision. We've already looked at the concept of spiritual laser vision. Now let's take an even deeper look...

There are many different levels of demonic involvement in our lives. Countless Christians are prepared to recognize demonic manifestations as evidence of possession, but possession is really getting down toward the end of the road regarding the devil’s plans for our lives.

The fact is that the devil cannot take any human into a state of possession without having first gotten the legal right to do so. But most      Christians are not aware of how the devil gets legal rights over them in the first place. This is where that Eagle Vision comes in, as portrayed in this constellation family - specifically this nebula. In order to continue our prayerful quest to become victorious Christians, it is important to address this next layer of ignorance which gives Satan the advantage over us (2 Corinthians 2:11).

There are three ways the enemy of souls acquires the legal right to use, control, and enslave us in varying degrees. We will first present these three ways as the “chains” which bind our souls to death. Then, we will discuss in the next chapter the three phases of deliverance our Saviour uses to free us from this bondage. Understanding how the enemy gets the right to bind us in the first place is a vital part of being free and learning how to stay free in a victorious Christian life.

Chain #1: Inherited Bondage

The first chain the devil uses to bind our souls to death is inherited sinful bondage.  This is a chain that every member of mankind is born with. As it says in Exodus 20:5, 

“...I Yahweh thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate Me.”

It is well documented that children of alcoholics have a greater propensity to substance abuse themselves. Also, the sons of abusive fathers are more likely to become abusive parents; while the daughters of an oppressive parent will often become the battered wives of the next generation.  There is far more going on here than simple, environmental influences. The devil is exercising his legal right to extend the bondage gained in the older generation down the hereditary lines.

Chain #2: Cultivated Bondage

The second chain of bondage that gives the enemy the right to enslave us is one of our own making. We call this the chain of cultivated bondage.  It is forged, link-by-link, through repeatedly falling prey to temptation. Before we follow the chain from its first link to total possession, let us consider the source of temptation. Temptation never comes from God.

“Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth He any man: but every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.  Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death” (James 1:13-15).

In every satanic encounter we will ever have, the enemy’s object is the same: to tempt, to afflict, to torment, to enslave, and ultimately to destroy us.  Having the spiritual eyesight to understand this important fact, is in itself sufficient to lessen the attraction a temptation might have had in our eyes.

But, how does the deceiver use a temptation to take us all the way down the path to possession? Naturally, this process takes time. The chain of cultivated bondage begins with the devil implanting a demonic thought in our minds. If, instead of resisting the evil thought and doing battle through the power of Christ, we harbor the suggestion, it enters the realm of our imagination. We mull it over and give it consideration. By allowing the evil thought to hang out in our minds, for even a moment, we have fallen prey to this temptation. In the process, we have lost some of our willpower to resist this same temptation the next time the enemy sends it. Thus, we have lost ground in the area of our will to resist the   enemy. The first link in the chain of cultivated bondage has been successfully forged.

The next time the enemy hits us with this same temptation, it will be slightly harder for us to resist his suggestions. As we continue to fall prey to temptation in harboring this demonic thought, sooner or later we will be tempted to act on this impulse. When we succumb to the temptation to heed the devil’s suggestion by performing a     single act, we have lost still more ground in our willpower to resist future temptations in this area of our lives. Another link is forged in the chain.

Next, the devil tempts us to repeat that single act. If we succumb to the suggestion at this point, the thought/act pattern grows into a sinful habit.  Now the demonic chain is very strong and our will to resist is very weak.

As we continue to fall prey to Satan in this habit, the devil takes us further down to the point that continuing in this thought/act pattern becomes compulsive.  Compulsions, by very definition, are never of heavenly origin. Compulsions are a terrible form of demonic slavery.

From a compulsion, it is a rather short drop to the bottom: possession. As the devil gains possession over us in one area, we can function just fine in all other areas. Thus, the most common form of possession is far more subtle than most Christians realize. Having one area of our body temples possessed by the enemy is a bit like having cancer in a certain organ of the body. It doesn’t usually stay in a single organ, but will spread. In the same manner, once the devil has control with either compulsion or possession, it is easier for him to spread this enslavement to other areas.

Chain #3: Transferred Bondage

The third chain the enemy uses to bind our souls to Death is transferred bondage. Just as the name suggests, transferred bondage occurs when the demonic influences in one person’s life get the right to transfer to another person. Unlike cultivated bondage chains, which are forged over time, transferred bondage is instant.

Another term for transferred bondage is “soul-ties.” A soul-tie is formed when two people become bonded together on a spiritual level.

Soul-ties were intended by God to be for our good. By having a godly soul-tie, which occurs when two Holy-Spirit filled people become spiritually bonded, the two individuals receive a double portion of the Holy Spirit. Because of the godly soul-tie they work for God more mightily than they could have separately. Such is the Heaven-intended fruit of a godly soul-tie.

David and Jonathan, of old, had a deep friendship that resulted in the formation of a godly soul-tie.  We find the account in 1 Samuel 18:1.  

“And it came to pass…  that the soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul.”

What does it mean to have one soul “knit” or “soul-tied” to another soul? To answer this question, we must deal with the biblical meaning of the word “soul.” The Bible uses the word “soul” to represent three faculties of the human   being: our mind, our desires (or will), and our emotions.  To demonstrate this, consider the following Scriptures:

· In Psalm 139:14, the word “soul” refers to our mind or intellect. “…Marvelous are Thy works; and that my SOUL KNOWETH right well”

· In Psalm 35:9 and 42:6, the word “soul” refers to our emotions. “And my SOUL shall be joyful… shall rejoice in His salvation.”  “…My SOUL is cast down within me.”

· Finally, in Revelation 18:14, we see an example of the word “soul” referring to our desires.  “And the fruits that thy SOUL lusted after are departed from thee…” 

All three applications of the word “soul” come into play in a soul-tie. Thus, when we form a soul-tie with another person, we become bonded to that person intellectually (we begin to think similarly), emotionally (we begin to feel      similarly about things), and we become bonded in what we desire.

As we have already seen; deep, loving friendships can result in the participants becoming soul-tied.  Consequently, partners in a marriage share a soul-bond. They are now joined together in a deep, spiritual bond that is far more fundamental than the signing of a contract. As it says in Matthew 19:6,  

“Wherefore they (the married couple) are no more twain (two), but one flesh. What therefore God hath JOINED together, let not man put asunder.”

Perhaps one may wonder why the bonding between godly friends, or the bonding between spouses, is listed under the category of the third chain the enemy uses for enslavement. Not surprisingly, the devil has taken the soul-bond, which God intended for our good, and has used it for our destruction.

A hint of the destructive nature of a demonic soul-tie is mentioned in 1 Corinthians 6:16 

“What? Know ye not that he which is JOINED to a harlot is one body? For two, saith He, shall be one flesh.”  

The word “harlot” is an old term which refers to a prostitute. Obviously, one’s involvement with a prostitute isn’t based on a deep love relationship. Rather, this is a reference to fornication.

We have probably all heard the A.I.D.S. warning, “you are sleeping with everyone he/she has ever slept with.” Yet, this warning does not only apply to us in the physical sense, it is also so on the spiritual level. Often immense soul-ties are formed by “joining” with a harlot. Not only does the unsuspecting individual become soul-bonded with the prostitute, but also with everyone who has ever been with him/her.  This is a small indication of the tremendous demonic work being accomplished through the sex industry, which we will consider in greater detail at the end of this chapter.

When a follower of God becomes soul-tied with a partner who does not have the Holy Spirit as the driving force in his/her life, the follower of God becomes instantly bonded, not only to the ungodly person, but also to all the demonic entities present in that person’s life. Thus, the demons that are influencing or controlling the ungodly person’s thoughts, feelings and desires gain instant access to the Christian, putting those same thoughts, feelings, and desires into the now-tainted Christian’s temple.

In addition, the tainted Christian becomes immediately enslaved to the degree that his/her ungodly partner is enslaved.  This is the reason the devil is so busy attacking people in the area of transferred bondage. Rather than having to achieve enslavement through the time-consuming process of temptation to fantasy, to a single act, to a habit, to a compulsion, to possession; the devil can potentially achieve full possession instantaneously. (Possession may not  involve manifestations—as we will discuss later).

The fact that becoming joined to humans bonds us with the spiritual driving forces in their lives, is plainly taught in Scripture. Consider the story in Numbers Chapter 25.  The men of Israel had become soul-bonded with women who worshipped idols.  The result, the Bible states, is that because of the soul-bonds formed with pagan women, those men had become JOINED to BAAL PEOR (Numbers 25:5). In this Bible story, so serious was the threat to God’s people through this joining, that the men involved were put to death.

Baal Peor was the name of the false god worshipped by many idolaters at that time. If Baal Peor only referred to a carved image in stone, there would be no serious threat to the camp of Israel through some of their men becoming “joined” to it. Ultimately, the recipient of this false worship was the devil himself (see 1 Corinthians 10:20). He was the entity behind Baal.  Thus, the term “joined to Baal Peor” really referred to the men of Israel becoming bonded to the devil and his demons.  The fact that the men of Israel had willfully created this joining made it necessary for God to cleanse the camp of this terrible threat by ending the unrepentant, satanically bonded lives.

The Bible refers to people as “pagans” who do not worship God. This is so, whether or not they have an idol shrine on their premises. How so? Because, as we have already discussed, we are spiritual temples. There is no neutral ground. We are either being indwelt by the Holy Spirit, or by enemy spirits. There is no such thing as a human “house” “swept clean” and left empty. (See Matthew 12:43-45 and Luke 11:24-26).

The deadly intent Satan contrives through Christians becoming joined in ungodly soul-ties is that he gains instant access for the demons to move at will from the unconverted individual into the Christian soul-partner.  The Bible warns us plainly that when we become bonded with “pagans,” or those who do not worship GOD, we become instantly bonded to the demons working in their lives. 

“...What pagans sacrifice they offer to demons and not to God. I do not want you to be partners with demons” 1 Corinthians 10:20.

There are several ways in which a soul-tie is formed:

· Through any sexual act (intercourse, petting, kissing, etc.) — This point is brought out in Scripture in 1 Corinthians 6:16.

· Through marriage — As the Bible states in Matthew 19:6.

· Through deep, emotional bonds (such as are found in very close friendships) — 1 Samuel 18:1.

· Through partnerships (which may include business partnerships) — 1 Corinthians 10:20,              2 Corinthians 6:14-18.

· Through lustful fantasy (which includes romance novels) and the pornography industry (as we will discuss in the next paragraphs) - James 1:14-15.

     

Soul-ties are serious. Once formed, they don’t just dissolve because the relationships have ended. (We will discuss how to scripturally become cleansed of soul-ties later in this book.) Nor do they disappear merely because we’ve decided to put them “out-of-mind.” Through soul-ties, we become bonded with each soul partner in thoughts (mind), desires (will), and emotions (feeling). Additionally, we are bonded to each soul partner’s driving spiritual force(s), which in ungodly soul-ties is always demonic. 

Considering this serious and sobering look at the third of Satan's chains which bind us to death, Paul’s warning in 1 Corinthians 6:16-20 gains a great deal of significance. 

“What? Know ye not that he which is joined to an harlot is one body? For two, saith he, shall be one flesh. But he that is joined unto Yahweh is one spirit. Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body. What? Know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.”

Additional Ways Soul-Ties are Formed

(in addition to the soul-ties formed through fornication, lust, or through marriage)

1) Groups with a common purpose—We become soul bonded with the groups we join.  A group of people with one common purpose is spiritually joined as well. (e.g. Masonic brotherhoods where men call each other ‘brother’) We also become soul-bonded to the Body of Christ.

· “So all the men of Israel were gathered against the city, knit together as one man,” Judges 20:11.

· “For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function, so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another,” Romans 12:5.

2) Close friendships—We become bonded with a very close and beloved friend.

· “And it came to pass, when he had made an end of speaking unto Saul, that the soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David. and Jonathan loved him as his own soul,” 1 Samuel 18:1

· “That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgment of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ.” Colossians 2:2

3) Bonding rituals—Ritual is a powerful way of 'joining' people. We often see sports teams going through a team ritual before a game in order to bond into one unit for the duration of the game. In Christianity we have Communion, Sabbaths, and baptism, which are right and good bonding rituals. Through partaking of these, we become “one Body” - the Body of Christ.

· “...Though many, are one bread and one Body; for we all partake of that one Bread?” 1 Corinthians 10:17.

· “...We were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been united together in the likeness of His Death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His Resurrection,” Romans 6:4-5.

Satanism, witchcraft, Mafia and paramilitaries understand the power of ritual, especially ritual with spoken vows. These dark organizations use it, intentionally, to strongly bind their members together. Freemasons rely on such rituals and refer to the powerful influence of the “Mystic Tie” that spiritually bonds all the world’s freemasons into “one” universal brotherhood with one language and one altar.

“That sacred and invisible bond that unites men of the most discordant opinions into one band of brothers, which gives one language to men of all nations and one altar to men of all religions, is properly from the mysterious influence it exerts, denominated the Mystic Tie. And Freemasons, because they alone are under its influence, or enjoy its benefits, are called ‘Brethren of the Mystic Tie’.” - Albert Mackey, 33rd degree Mason, An Encyclopaedia of Freemasonry, Vol. 2, p 778.

4) Companionship/Partnerships— Soul-ties are formed through companionship and partnership, including business partnerships. Joining with those who do not follow God gives us an automatic partnership with the demonic spirits in their lives.

·  “…I am a companion (knit together) of all that fear thee...” Psalm 119:63

·  “...the same is the companion (knit together) of a thief,’ Proverbs 28:24 (see also 1 Corinthians 15:33)

· “...What pagans sacrifice, they offer to demons and not to God. I do not want you to be partners with demons.” 1 Corinthians 10:20

Now that we better understand the ways that the enemy of souls gets rights over us, our "Eagle Vision" of spiritual discernment is strengthened. Thus, in this beautiful nebula found in the Aqrab star-family, we find the promise that Yahweh is strong enough to deliver us, bearing us on Eagle's Wings. And we also find the message of how important it is to have discernment to recognize the enemy's points of attack against us. This is the significance of the Eagle Nebula being positioned within the Nachash constellation. 

Tomorrow, we will take a look at how the Strong Man (Gibbor) does battle with the serpent (Nachash), in practical terms - and our part in this battle.

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