6. Overcoming the Spirit of Harlotry
The Spirit of Harlotry
Manifestations: Unfaithfulness/Adultery, Spirit-Soul-or-Body Prostitution, Chronic Dissatisfaction, Love of Money, Fornication, Idolatry, Excessive Appetite, Worldliness
Scriptures: (Ezekiel 16:15,28; Proverbs 5:1–14; Galatians 5:19;
Deuteronomy 23:17–18; Ezekiel 16:28; Proverbs 15:27; 1 Timothy 6:7–14; Hosea 4:13–19; Judges 2:17; Ezekiel 16; Leviticus 17:7; 1 Corinthians 6:13–16; Philipians 3:19; James 4:4)
Roots: "The Works of the Flesh," Galatians 5:19–21.
"By their fruits you will know all men," Matthew 7:20.
According to Matthew 6:10; 11:12; 12:29; 16:18; 18:18; 28:18
Bind: The Spirit of Whoredoms
Loose: Spirit of God: Pure Spirit, Holiness, Commitment, Insatiable
Ever-increasing hunger for more of God's Spirit and Presence (Ephesians 3:16; John 3:34; 14:12)
"Acknowledge wisdom as your sister and summon understanding from your relatives so they can protect you from the strange woman and the stranger who flatters you with words." Prophecy 7:4-5
In an attempt to undermine the born-again believer's spiritual journey, the world, acting as the "adulteress," attempts to start a long-term relationship with them. This occasionally involves causing the Christian to lose hope as a result of succumbing to a fault and consistently making errors related to a particular sin or weakness.
This issue can also be demonstrated by making the believer decide to follow a worldly course or practice in the hope that God will ignore it, show no concern for it, or even grant blessings, even though it may not be "exactly the right thing to do."
On the other hand, the world presents itself to Christians as the "strange woman" (also known as the harlot, whorish woman, or harlot) and uses a variety of dishonest and false tactics to persuade them that, despite the appearance of evidence to the contrary, they must be misinterpreting what God has actually said or desires of them.
The serpent in the Garden of Eden, who assured Eve that eating the forbidden fruit would not "certainly kill" her, and Adam, who died spiritually after being cut off from God, are two examples of this from the Bible.
"And when the woman realised that the tree was a desirable tree that could impart wisdom and was a good source of food, she took some of its fruit and ate it, as well as giving some to her husband, who also consumed it." Genesis 3:6
As Jesus spoke in reference to Satan:
"You belong to the devil, your father, and you will follow his lusts." He was born into a murderous family and never lived in the truth, since he is devoid of all truth. He speaks lies on his own account, since he is a liar and the originator of lies. Luke 8:44
Satan uses the world in a similar manner to how he used the serpent.
Thus, the "strange woman...flattereth with her words," as the adage puts it.
The strange woman's mouth is smoother than oil, and her lips drip like honeycomb, but her end is as bitter as wormwood and as keen as a two-edged sword. Her steps catch on hell, and her feet sink to the bottom of death. [Proverbs 5:3-5]
The Bible makes this clear. Destruction will result if the world's lie is accepted and pursued without remorse.
There is a catch to believers' freedom from judgement:
"Therefore, those who are in Christ Jesus and walk by the Spirit rather than the flesh are no longer under condemnation." [Romans 8:1]
Some people assert that God is love. What I do will not change his affection for me. First John 4:8 That's accurate. Since God is love, He will always love you. Nevertheless, what you do matters.
"Don't be fooled; God is not mocked. What a man sows, he will also reap." Because one who sows in his body will reap corruption from that flesh, but one who sows in the Spirit will reap eternal life from that Spirit. Galatians 6:7-8
The Nicolaitanes, an early Christian cult, spread the worldly lie that "the flesh doesn't matter." They held that it made no difference what a person did with their flesh, as long as they had accepted Christ as Lord and Saviour. In the Revelation, God discusses this notion as follows:
"However, you possess this: that you detest the actions of the Nicolaitans, which I also detest." (2 Timothy 6).
"If you love me, keep my commandments," declared Jesus. Matthew 14:15
We might learn more about this worldly illusion by examining the texts in Proverbs regarding the harlot:
And lo and behold, a woman with a delicate heart and harlot-like clothes appeared before him. (She is noisy and unyielding; her feet don't stay in her home; she is currently homeless, waiting to be found somewhere.) Proper 7:10–12
"I have peace offerings with me; this day I have paid my vows," she remarked to him, pouting as she seized him and kissed him. I thus came to see you and carefully searched for your face, and I have now located you. Proper 7:13–15
"Because the excellent man is not at home, he has made a lengthy voyage. He will return on the scheduled day with a bag of money. She made him give up by speaking quite fairly and forcing him to do so with her lips. Proper 7:19–21
She "lieth in wait at every corner," as we can witness once more. Satan stalks Christians by using the outside world. He will make sure that you face the world's temptations head-on.
"If thou doestest well, shalt thou not be accepted?" God asked Cain. and sin is at the door if you do not act well. Genesis 4:7
God wants us to understand that temptation will always be there for us while we are here on Earth. Choosing between the way of the flesh and the way of the spirit will always be an option for us.
"I have paid my vows on this day," declares the harlot. Put another way, she's implying that everything is OK since she's already made the sacrifice to God in anticipation of her wrongdoing.
Similarly, the world claims, "Everything will be okay as long as you believe in God."
As God declares:
"You do well because you believe in the existence of one God; the devils likewise believe and shudder." Matthew 2:19
We are aware that the devils will not live in heaven for eternity with God. It requires more than merely faith in God.
"Go to church, pay your tithe, give God his day, and the rest of the week is yours," is what the outside world says.
As God declares:
"What?" Do you not realise that your body is the dwelling place of the Holy Ghost, a gift from God, and that you are not your own? Since you were purchased at a cost, honour God with your body and spirit, which belong to God. Corinthians 6:19–20
It requires more than one day per week.
A service is not what God desires. God longs for a connection. "Walk in the Spirit and fulfil not the lust of the flesh" is what God desires from you.
"The good man is not at home. He will come home at the appointed time," the harlot concludes. Stated differently, "We have plenty of time." We don't need to be concerned about being discovered.
"I've heard about Jesus coming my whole life, and he hasn't come yet," is what the world says it is saying today. "That's nothing to worry about until it happens."
Scripture states:
"Yet you have no idea what tomorrow holds." What is your life about? It even resembles a mist that briefly appears before disappearing. James 4:14, 14
However, why are you judging your brother? Or why do you set your brother at nothing? because everyone of us will be present before Christ's judgement throne. [Romans 14:10]
"And as it is appointed for men to die once, but judgement follows this:" Hebrews 9:27
When we pass away, whether it be today, tomorrow, or years from now, that will be our window of opportunity for Christ's second coming since we will finally meet Him face-to-face.
And "...of that day and hour knoweth no man," regardless of whether it is the day that Christ returns to this world or the day when it is our time to face death. Matthew 24:36
"God has more important things to worry about besides me," the world says.
Yet Jesus asserts:
"Not a single sparrow is forgotten before God, even though five are sold for two farthings." (Church 12:6)
However, every hair on your head has a unique number. Therefore, do not be afraid; you are more valuable than many sparrows. (Church 12:7)
"Therefore, get ready as well, for the Son of Man will arrive at an hour that you do not anticipate." Matthew 24:44
"He is gone on a long journey," the odd woman remarks.
This represents the Church Era. this moment that we are in. the period preceding Christ's second advent.
"Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, shall he find faith on earth?" said Jesus. (verse 18)
A people or church that is "not having spots, wrinkles, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish" is what Jesus is coming for. (Romans 5:27)
The Christian life is like competing in a race, according to the apostle Paul (Heb. 12:1). Which way are we running—straight towards the Lord or the world?
We are following the Spirit if we are moving away from the world.
.