Snakes in the Grass ““Kick out the troublemakers and things will quiet down; you need a break from bickering and griping!” Proverbs 22:10, The Message
When I saw the black snake sneaking through the underbrush along the trail my two grandsons and I were walking on, I was immediately drawn to a subject by the attention of the Holy Spirit. This could be a message one should consider more fully in writing about.
The words contention and strife came to mind, moving as snakes in the grass. In 1990, a popular book was circulating among those involved in the deliverance ministry. It was written by Frank and Ida Mae Hammond, titled "Pigs in the Parlor." Those confronting the evils that existed then, and still do even to a fuller extent, found this book to be very practical and instructive. It was a necessary tool in bringing freedom to those bound by satanic forces.
In many ways, Christians limit the acknowledgment of evil activity, along with the subtle forms of its expressions, to the “deep dark jungles of Africa”, believing it does not exist in our modern, exalted Western societies.
Oh really? Everything that affects the natural, spiritual, and physical mind and body is just a result of a lack of job opportunity, low levels of education, and/or dismissal of mental health, so that drugs cease to have any effect, in a positive way?
The Holy Spirit spoke to me to address an issue that I have noticed more frequently in our midst. It is the contentious spirit, the one that seeks to bring continual strife among families, neighbors, communities, and nations.
We know that the devil, Satan himself, goes about seeking to kill, steal, and destroy. Scripture also says of him, “Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.” 1 Peter 5:8
Contention in a home can be evidence of a spiritual presence that is not of the Holy Spirit. Strife, arguments, and ongoing conflicts can certainly point to the work of the enemy, who is trying to inflict his wrath on those he hates. He especially goes after all who call upon the Name of the Lord Jesus, Yeshua HaMashiach, Christ the Messiah. Bring them down, and his mission is successful.
As the world grows darker, the Lord promises to shine His light on the activities of our enemies. We are witnessing it in many areas of government, education, and world events. Allowing it to shine down to a more personal level in our homes, bringing peace and harmony by driving out the works of the enemy, further enhances the shalom of the Living God of Israel.
Consider this matter more closely and do not dismiss it as just everyday life that you have to live with. We can and must change our cultures, beginning in our homes, by the grace and love supplied by the Lord Himself.
We all can have more of life in the Lord. Live it more fully in freedom and within His expression of love.
(For further study on the subject of demons, Satanic activity, and the deliverance ministry, I recommend two more books.
One of my favorites on the subject of deliverance is Don Basham’s Deliver US From Evil.
Derek Prince, whom I consider the best Bible teacher I have known, also gave strong, biblical teaching on the subject of spiritual warfare in his messages. For a complete look at Derek’s full library on spiritual warfare, check here: Derek Prince Ministries USA.
Ahava and Shalom,
Steve Martin We welcome your prayers and support as we together bless Israel and His people in their Land.
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