See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ. Colossians 2:8
If it is not inspired by the Spirit .. it is not of the Spirit. Be careful of adopting the philosophies of the world’s ‘wisdom’. Don’t use the world’s methods of coercion and enticement to manipulate for your own goals. Who do you know as the Lord of the harvest?
therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest. Matthew 9:38
Who’s life are you living? Who’s goals are you trying to achieve? Are you using the methods He has given you, or are you using that which you think you know is best? Have you adopted the world’s ways of … trying to ‘convince’ people?
This world is filled with voices clamoring for your attention, obedience, and agreement. What have you agreed to and don’t even know it? Want an example? How many times have you hit the “accept” button on the policies and agreements on digital apps and programs without EVER reading them or understanding them completely, just so you can ‘move on’? In the same way …do you know you have agreed to the enemy’s work in your life without ever recognizing it? That’s the way of entrapment, and snares. Example? How many fears have you accepted and agreed to .. that the enemy sent your way? And it works SO well… we adopt it as our own method when trying to get what we want done. We use coercion and manipulation .. in very nice sounding logical comfortable convincing words… just like our enemy.
To this the Spirit would say, “Repent. And turn from your wicked ways.”
But we would most likely respond to Him asking, “Lord …what wicked ways?”
We don’t even know it — but denial has already set in. IF we are sensitive to His leading …the Holy Spirit ‘checks’ us when we step in the wrong direction. However slight .. it is still there. But because of the lies we have believed from the enemy .. we push aside that still small ‘check’ from the Spirit of God. That begins the process in us called the ‘searing of the conscience’ (1 Timothy 4:1-3), for all sorts of evil ways. How pure is pure enough? How much dog poop would you allow in your cake for your child?
This is the danger of not keeping an intimate relationship with the Holy Spirit, as we fall into so many traps, snares, cages, and shackles the enemy has lured us into. How do we get free? By allowing the Spirit to show us… and we then have a decision to make. Repent? And listen to Him on what we must do to get free. Or go further into our searing of our conscience process.
How many of us actually look like Jacob Marley in the spirit right now? You know.. Ebenezer Scrooge’s partner from the classic from Charles Dickens — A Christmas Carol. We’ve agreed to SO many of the enemy’s shackles and chains that our lives are actually miserable.
So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. John 8:36
But a few links of a chain is … okay… right? There are a few things I can hold onto.. right? I can still do my business this way .. right?
Check with the Holy Spirit. Listen to His advice and instructions. Be free. Stay free.