The Abusive Spirit

May 2020

I have looked the abusive spirit in the face way more times than I care to say. I have feared it, been overtaken by it, and also conquered it. It now fears me, because it no longer can control me. I am now free – never to be trapped by its plots or plans. Many, like me, now have authority over this spirit that roams free in our country, workplaces, churches, and in many Christian homes. It’s time for it to be exposed and the victims it has held captive to be free.

A holy anger has been placed in me for some time over how this spirit has been given access and many times celebrated among our nation. What makes my blood boil the most is when I see this behavior operating in Christian circles and within the walls of the church. Although for me this has been a major place of warfare and deep intercession for many years, the Lord has recently shown me His desire on the issue to end once and for all. 

Over the past few months I've had multiple encounters where the Lord showed me His heart about this subject. Little did I know how fast this spirit would become a main focus in the media and now be exposed on a mass level. God is wanting us to see and feel His heart concerning the spirit of abuse. He desires for us to seek Him on how we can end this for good.

The abusive spirit is a controlling, power–hungry monster that seeks to create slaves among it's victims. Abuse, over time, paralyzes it's victims and causes them to fear and comply. They conform out of fear and in turn become controlled and debilitated. The paralyzed victim then surrenders and waves the white flag out of survival mode. Then, they awaken to find themselves completely lost and trapped. They have now become slaves. Slavery is a direct result of the abusive spirit.

Slavery comes in many forms and fashions, none of which are good, healthy, or a part of God's plan and purpose for our lives. Slavery ends in death of self to another human that does not place God as the head of their life or choices. 

Slavery must have a master controller. Most controlling masters see this (even sometimes unknowingly) as a sport. This spirit is sickening to me and leaves me without words. It is by far the nastiest spirit roaming freely and openly among God's people. Like I said earlier, I have even observed Christians celebrate this spirit and the behavior of these so–called "masters". Many times these masters hold high ranking among believers. I, however, don’t see these masters as anything less than slaves themselves. Slaves by an abusive spirit using their shell (or flesh) to harm and trap others. 

Wikipedia says that slavery is any system in which principles of property law are applied to people, allowing individuals to own, buy and sell other individuals, as a de jure form of property. A slave is unable to withdraw unilaterally from such an arrangement and works without remuneration.

The world has been fighting for decades to be free from the many forms of slavery. This revolt has even started many wars, petitions, protests, and out right knock–down drag–outs. Yet, we still find ourselves circling the spiral of the abuse cycle over and over with no end in sight. If you are not familiar with the abuse cycle, I encourage you to Google for more clarity on this issue.

Far too long, this issue has been ignored. Like the up and down pattern of the cycle, we have waved in and out of taking a stand and then laying back down in submission. From abortion, sex trafficking, child abuse, pedophilia, domestic violence, racism, and so many more. We have stood up to this spirit, but not yet conquered it. The spirit of abuse must be conquered so it no longer can control our nation, families, friends, and churches.

"He who justifies the wicked and he who condemns the righteous,

Both of them alike are an abomination to the Lord."

Proverbs 17:15

As we all sat and watched the shockingly abusive death of George Floyd, our eyes were once again opened to see the depth in which we have allowed this spirit of abuse to operate. Call it racism if you please, but this is plain and simple a spirit of slavery which is classic abuse at work.

Civil Rights Attorney Ben Crump who is representing his family said,

"We all watched the horrific death of George Floyd on video as witnesses begged the police officer to take him into the police car and get off his neck," Crump said in a statement. "This abusive, excessive and inhumane use of force cost the life of a man who was being detained by the police for questioning about a non-violent charge."

When is enough enough? How many will lose their lives until we take a stand? How many more babies will die in their mother's womb, children suffer a life of abuse, women sold into slavery, racism claiming lives, and adults controlled by fear? When will we join together and take a stand? More than that, when will we join together and not back down until this spirit is conquered once and for all? We must not be fooled and swept back into the cycle pattern or let this go only to find ourselves right back where we started? 

Now that we have been awakened to truth, we must not fall back asleep! We must stand and stay standing.

"For you are all children of light, children of the day. We are not of the night or of the darkness. So then let us not sleep, as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober."

1 Thessalonians 5:5-6 (ESV)

We should be mad! Very mad! But we should not back down or let this spirit hide only to return later. Let's expose it, take care of it, and gain authority over it. Not just racism, but the underlying cause and the master behind it all––the spirit of abuse.

Let’s call it for what it is and deal with it. Don’t be fooled by all the other names this abusive spirit hides behind and get distracted. Let’s join together and go full force for the main cause to take it down. 

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Types of abuse this spirit operates in include but is not limited to:

• Discriminatory

• Psychological/ Mental/ Emotional

• Verbal

• Financial or material

• Organisational

• Neglect

• Self-neglect

• Sexual

• Modern slavery

• Physical

• Domestic abuse

• Abandonment

• Religious/spiritual abuse

• Technological abuse

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We must take a stand and not forget the sacrifice of our forefathers who fought to give us freedom. We must plow further down the road they started and gain complete victory over abuse in all its forms. We have to not only stand, but fight and move forward. We have stood up, voted in all the right officials, then backed down to wait for someone else to do the work. We see how that has worked.

We often say we will just pray and fast. That is great, but we must do more, be more, and fight for a better world for our children's children. Let’s stand and not back down this time. Let’s encourage each other to not only fight and do what needs to be done in the natural but fight in the spirit. We know who and what is behind these actions and we know who wins in the end. Let’s come together in one voice and fight in the spirit and with the power of the Lord.

The Lord is pouring out His power on those willing to stand and fight in this hour. He is raising up people who will not back down, hear His heart, and know how these actions grieve Him. God is calling forth a company that will allow the Holy Spirit to use them, flow through them to overcome the enemy, and not be moved by fear of the enemy or peoples' opinions. God's chosen remnant will be consumed by the Lord’s desires and opinion. It is time to rise.

"Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you."

James 4:7 (NASB)

If this is speaking to you, He is calling you closer. He wants to show you what YOU need to do. Lean into Him and listen to His voice. He will show you, tell you, and give you the boldness and strength to stand and conquer. 

It first starts in us. We must close any open doors that the spirit of abuse has in our own lives and in those we allow to influence us. We must ask forgiveness for either being used by the spirit or abused by it. Shut the door so it no longer has access.

Fasting and time with Jesus are keys to give strength to stand in victory. The tactic of the enemy is to wait until we are weak or tired. It is vital that as we fight, we allow the Holy Spirit to fill us and give us power to not grow weary. Don’t let the enemy lie to you and say you can’t do it or no one will listen to you. Nothing is impossible with God. Having done what you can do, STAND and DON’T back down. 

"For with God nothing will be impossible."

Luke 1:37 (NKJV)

"Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm."

Ephesians 6:13 (ESV)

The Lord is saying in this hour concerning the spirit of abuse, “Enough is enough. Time is up.” Like the Word of God tells us in Matthew 21:12-17, Jesus had a holy anger because of how the house of God was being treated. That is the same holy anger I feel rising in the heart of God. By allowing the spirit of abuse to roam free in the house of God, He is coming to clear the temple.

"And Jesus entered the temple and drove out all who sold and bought in the temple, and he overturned the tables of the money-changers and the seats of those who sold pigeons. He said to them, 'It is written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer,’ but you make it a den of robbers.'"

Matthew 21:12-13 (ESV)

If we don’t clear our own temples, He will expose and clear the way. Everything shall be exposed and only truth and light shall remain. The buzzer has sounded and time is up. Exposure has begun and it will continue until all that is hidden is revealed–– like a spotlight searching for truth.