In any theology of how God relates to man and the universe, of divine things and truth, where the study of God and God’s attributes — which according to Romans 1:20 are His “divine nature” (JESUS) and His “eternal power” (THE HOLY SPIRIT); being at the same time the divine pattern of sending out “two-by-two“ — is a study of God that operates in isolation from and separate from the person and the power of the Holy Spirit, such a theology is not only “in major deficit”, but is a theology that will always be a “cup half empty”.

     For even as we speak, are there not those within the body of the church today that are “spiritually asphyxiated”? Who have had the breath of “all life” and “all truth” effectively suffocated or starved out of them? Which are all those in the church today who are being led and ruled by “a religious spirit”? Being a euphemism for those who are “in bondage” to the deism of a belief in the existence of God based on the evidence of reason and nature only, but with a rejection of any “supernatural revelation”. Being, therefore, the rejection of the ministry of helps and works of the Holy Spirit. Being those who, having constantly grieved the Holy Spirit, He has “now turned from them“. (Isaiah 63:10).

     For even today, existing within the four walls of the fabric of the Body of Christ, are there not those who resist the help of the Helper? Being the gifts, the power, the revelation, and the counsel of the Holy Spirit (Isaiah 11:2)? And in effect, therefore, have rejected all manner and form “of relationship” with the person of the Holy Spirit? Being those spoken of in Acts 7:51: “You men who are stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears are always resisting the Holy Spirit; you are doing just as your fathers did.” And in some cases, being those who are unable to cope with the wisdom of the Spirit. “But they were unable to cope with the wisdom and the Spirit with which he was speaking.” (Acts 6:10).

     Which is the evidence that abounds aplenty throughout the church today of all those who, like the Pharisees, live only by the “letter” of the law, and not also by the “spirit” of the law. Being those who, rather than embrace the precious and priceless gift that is the Holy Spirit, prefer to err on the side of doubt than on the side of faith. Having, therefore in effect, “insulted the Spirit of grace.” (Hebrews 10:29). Believing through deception and false teaching that to open oneself up to the “supernatural revelation” of God, and to the “supernatural operation of the gifts”, which in these end times are vital for equipping the body for all things righteous, somehow makes them vulnerable to, and guilty of, the criticism of the time spoken of in 2 Timothy 4:3: “They will follow their own desires and will look for teachers who will tell them whatever their itching ears want to hear.”

     Which are all those, who through fear, rebellion, deception or doubt, have fallen into the enslavement and captivity of bondage unto “a religious spirit”. For in a theology or belief system where the Holy Spirit is sidelined or uninvited, or is slowly and methodically suffocated and muted, being the devil’s primary goal — which is to render as both silent and impotent “He that is in you is stronger than he who lives in the world” — what is plainly evident is that not only is such a theology in significant deficit and denial, but another spirit is most certainly at work and thriving. Being the religious spirit that is also the spirit of Leviathan.

     For is the end game of a religious spirit not to constrain and curtail the Body rather than liberate and empower it? And is constricting and constraining not the very same behaviour and nature of a serpent? And is Leviathan likewise not a serpent? And is the “prince of the air” likewise not a serpent (Revelation 20:2)? And just as with a serpent, are the devil's insatiable appetites for “killing, stealing and maiming” not all aimed at suffocating all life from the Body of Christ by asphyxiating the Body unto death by cutting off the blood supply? For was the devil not “a murderer from the beginning” (John 8:44)? For as in the natural, does the blood not carry the breath of life? And is the Holy Spirit not the breath of all life? And would it not thoroughly delight the devil to render the Body powerless and lifeless by censoring the Holy Spirit through bondage unto a false theology?

     And from the book of Job, do we not know that Leviathan is “a spirit”? For does Job not only call him out by name as Leviathan, and also say, “Can you draw out Leviathan with a hook, or snare his tongue with a line which you lower? Can you put a reed through his nose, or pierce his jaw with a hook?” (Job 41:1-2). For if he was physical, and not a spirit, would it not be possible to draw him out with a hook? Or to fill his skin with harpoons? “Can you fill his skin with harpoons, or his head with fishing spears?” (Job 41:7).

     For are there not many spirits? For is it not written: “Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God.” (1 John 4:1). And have we not all been warned: “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.” (Ephesians 6:11-12).

     And do we not know from Job 41:15 that Leviathan is “a serpent”? “His rows of scales are his pride, shut up tightly as with a seal”. For does a serpent not have scales? And because of the scales of his pride, has the devil not been shut up “as tightly as a seal” in his domain? For was the devil’s downfall not his enormous pride? And of this pride, was it not like scales upon his eyes? For did the scales of his pride not render the eyes of his understanding and of his heart veiled with utter darkness?

     For does it not say, “When He the Spirit of truth has come, He will guide you into all truth”? (John 16.13). So if those of a religious spirit have rejected the supernatural revelation of the Holy Spirit, then without the Holy Spirit of John 16:13 to guide them into all truth, can it be said that they are living and walking in ALL truth? And if it is “the truth” that sets us all free (John 8:31), without the Spirit of truth, can it then be said that they are even “free”?

 Continued with Part II....