A Time To #6

Kill

God is associated with life.  He's the great Creator, raiser of the dead and provider of eternal life and salvation.  Why then is one of the earliest seasons associated with God and walking in His ways one associated with death and destruction?  We examine what the season of killing truly means and how it will offer hope for us and others in the Kingdom of God

The word kill here means to slay, destroy or ruin.  Once again, this is not the first thoughts of many people when they think of Christianity and serving God.  However, there are things that Christians must look to slay, destroy and ruin in our lives and the world around them.

Sin, worldly desire must die out, and we talked about this in our 3rd entry in this series.  However, in order to see vines and weeds die out in your garden, you have to kill the roots.  What is the root cause of our sin or desire?  It's the tempting spirits behind them:

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)

While our addiction/sin/lifestyle may can be traced to an original action or substance, it goes back further to a spirit.  The spirits of depression, peer pressure, slothfulness, bitterness, fear, hate, and much more try to drive us to sin against God and become bound to this world and its impending destruction.  When we identify which spirit is the originator of our sin, we can come against it in prayer and supplication to God.  

Many people find deliverance from all manners of sins and bondage at their altar with Christ and then fall back into that sin or bondage later on.  The reason is because they allowed God to cut back the vines, but didn't let him take it to the root.  Uncovering the spirits that dwell behind our past sins often produces awful memories, other troubles and fear.  After all, you're exposing an evil spirit.  To be honest, that can be frightening if its never been done.  However, if we don't expose and root out the spirits behind our past failures, they'll lurk in the shadows of our lives and wait for the opportune moment to reclaim us. 

So how do we kill a spirit? 

Well, you don't actually kill a spirit.  Spirits are eternal beings destined to live forever in heaven or hell.  What you can kill is their influence in your life.  We kill their influence by replacing them with the things of God.  Facing a depression Spirit?  You kill it with the joy and peace of God.  Facing bitterness or hatred?  Kill it with kindness, love and mercy.  We gain access to these and more weapons when we receive the Holy Ghost from God.  All we have to do is call upon God to start developing these weapons in our lives and looking ourselves for how to develop them according to God's Word. 

If you have been saved but still feel that you are facing things or your past keeps creeping back up, try this practice:

• Research the spirit that is attached to your past/current sins.
• How did those in the Bible handle facing this spirit?
• For those who overcame, what did they do to overcome the spirit?
• What do you find to be the opposite, Godly attribute to this spirit?
• Pray for God to help you to be like those who overcame before
• Pray that God will develop the attributes that will kill the spirit's influence in your life

If you are still bound by sin and the world, repent today before considering taking on the spirit.  If you need help with what to say, try something similar to this:

Lord Jesus, I know I am a sinner.  I have made mistakes and transgressed against you.  My sins are (name your sins).  I know that if I turn to you, you will be just to forgive me and start me on the path to redemption.  I commit my life to turn from sin and the world and to turn to your ways.  Have mercy on me, Jesus.  Thank you.

Now, contact a local minister to learn what you need to do next to make sure you are saved.  Use the following link to help in your search:  www.upci.org.  Scroll to the bottom of the screen and you can find a church in or near your neighborhood that can help you.

Due to the sensitive and personal nature of this season, we are not recommending anyone-especially those just starting to overcome their past-to take on other people's spirits.  Simply serve others by encouraging them to seek out the solutions like you are doing.  Offer prayers for their situation that they will overcome.

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