The Spirit Of Iniquity

I was in the bed meditating on the things the Lord had said to us about prayer when suddenly He spoke to me again saying, “Iniquity is more than holding ill feelings for someone.” Immediately I thought to respond, “Yes, Lord I know,” but I have been with the Lord long enough to know that there was more to this simple truth than might seem to be. Therefore, I held my peace and continued to listen as He began to expound on the spirit of iniquity. Needless to say, I began to look at the scripture below in a new light.

Psalm 66:18

If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me:

One of the most interesting definitions of regard is, “tohave respectfor.” Therefore the above passage could read; “If I have respect for those things that are forbidden, the Father will not hear my prayer.” As far as the Father is concerned iniquity is a most serious indictment. It is the one thing that will sever our fellowship with the Father, bring worship to a halt and destroy our covenant relationship. Nevertheless, I don’t really believe the Body of Christ views this great evil in the same light as the Father. Thus, iniquity remains a very integral part of the people of God and has done the most to hinder the welfare of the Church and its movement in the kingdom of men. In order to truly understand iniquity, we must go back to its founder, Satan.

Ezekiel 28:15

Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee.

The perfection spoken of here is simply Satan’s ability to operate in what God had created him to be. It was the Most High who created this perfect being and all of his functions were ordained by God. Note the terminology used here. Thou was perfect in thy ways, implies the functions of this creature and his creation to be one. In other words, he was created for a specific purpose which could only be achieved by him functioning according to the handiwork of God.

But the day came when iniquity was found in Satan’s heart. Apparently that which entered his heart was not compatible with the will, intent or purpose of God. According to the script, it was a simple thought that dared to exalt itself above the knowledge of God. The thing to remember here is that it was not a physical deed that caused Satan to be deemed imperfect. It was the thoughts of his heart. It was the thing he had hidden in his imagination. These unlawful thoughts incubated in his imagination, creating wantonness and evil surmising that served to corrupt the anointed cherub. These thoughts were perverted and gendered a “lie.” Nevertheless, they were regarded by Satan. He kept these unlawful desires in his heart and that is what corrupted him.

The same is true with the Body of Christ. We were created for the will and purpose of the Father. We were made to function in the righteousness we were created in. However, as in the days of old; iniquity in the heart has corrupted us. It is those things we regard and hold onto in our hearts that are not within the purpose of God, but have become foxes spoiling the vines.

The clay is now saying to the potter, “Why have you made me thus? You created me in your image with your desires and your agendas, your emotions and your purpose. I want to do my own thing. I have my own desires, dreams and emotions to be fulfilled. I want to accomplish some of my own agendas. I want to make my own decisions for my life. To shun the very appearance of evil is the commandment but there are things that you declare in your Word as evil that I truly enjoy. In fact, I crave them. I like to watch movies and TV shows that are a little violent in nature, or network series that speak of sex, murder, rape and profanity.”

There is nothing new under the sun. There have been many others who felt the same way many of us do today.

Romans 1:28-32

28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;

29 Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers,

30 Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,

31 Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:

32 Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.

Saints have become fascinated with movies and movie stars that portray the evil of this world. They lust to see those shows that promote homosexuality and infidelity and all manner of moral degradation. Not only is it the appearance of evil, these shows blaspheme God. There are movies wherein the actors use profanity to describe God. These we would readily say are evil, so we tend to look for something less offensive, like a good old fashion western or some old time black and white. But the truth is most of them advocate violence which we excuse because it is not as graphic as the movies today. But again, what are the storylines? Are they wholesome and non-offensive to the Holy Ghost? Do they show the triumph of goodness, love and peace, or do they highlight treachery, infidelity, subtle violence and apathy towards that which is holy. Hollywood is the spirit of iniquity personified.

I heard a minister say, “We are so thrilled to be entertained by dead men and women.” We love them and lust to know all there is to know about them. You might not admit it, but in many ways the Church envies the stars of our day. This too is a regard for iniquity in the heart. Look into the following passages very carefully, for in them is a principle concerning the things we regard in our heart.

Romans 14:6-8

6He that regardeth the day, (a movie, a person, an emotion, or a thought), regardeth it unto the Lord; and he that regardeth not the day, to the Lord he doth not regard it. He that eateth, eateth to the Lord, for he giveth God thanks; and he that eateth not, to the Lord he eateth not, and giveth God thanks.

7 For none of us liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself. It is time to accept that we do not live separate and apart from Christ. Neither he nor the Father are on vacation while we take the world into our bosom and are so happily entertained by it. The Spirit of God in us is the very presence of the Father and the Son.

8 For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord's. All that we do is done unto the Lord. We are no longer our own. We have truly been bought with a price.

The things you do define your fellowship with the Lord, not the prayers you pray. Even as Paul spoke to the Corinthians; Know ye not that your bodies are the members of Christ? Shall I then take the members of Christ, and make them the members of an harlot? God forbid (1 Corinthians 6:15). Christ does not leave the body while a man or woman commits fornication. Nevertheless, He does not fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness. This is an act that manifests the iniquity in ones heart. The intent and the thought itself is iniquity. Likewise, to be entertained by fornication and adultery is to join the members of Christ to an unholy thing. We look for answers to prayers and desire intimacy with God. But we only seek such intimacy in a prayer closet. Jesus said, “I do the work and speak the words of my Father.” He never deviated from that protocol. He always did those things that pleased the Father.

1 Corinthians 6:9-10

9 Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,

10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.

These are the people the Word has condemned to spend eternity in hell. But would you consider that those who crave entertainment of this nature are also condemned and shall in no way inherit the kingdom of God.

Why is it that we crave the entertainment of such degradation and moral decay? Many of us preach fervently against such things, but on the other hand will stay up all night watching the same. The answer is simple. We have not yet accepted who we are in Christ. We have not come to the realization that we are not our own and that our body is strictly for the Lord. We have not agreed with God. It is the “body” of Christ that must be redefined in our hearts.

But what about those who have walked after the Spirit and have experienced the power thereof? Why do they as well find themselves standing on the mountain of ministry one moment and down in the valley of sin the next? Oh, we do not go out and commit the acts of whoredom and violence, but we sit in front of a television and bring it all to the comfort of our bedrooms, living rooms and dens. It is the reality of taking a break from ministry and life in the kingdom of God by going into the kingdom of darkness to relax. Why is this so?

Galatians 6:8-9

8 For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.

9 And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.

As always the Lord has an answer for what ails us. Spiritual weariness is simple fatigue. There are times when we are simply tired. It is at those times that we must be careful to relax in the power of the Spirit. We must sow unto ourselves, the continual, never ending knowledge of God in order to be strengthened with the spirit of might in our inward parts. To enter the dark world of unsavory movies and television is not to relax at all. It is merely a filling station where you go to get rid of the light and take in the darkness of this world. You know this to be the truth, because once you have filled your soul with the iniquities of the world, you feel all the depression and weight of the sin you entertained. But more than that, you feel the condemnation of it as well.

This condemnation is definitely manifested when we attempt to pray. Even though we deceive ourselves (by lessening the evil in our actions), we find it very difficult to enter the presence of God in prayer without asking for the forgiveness of sin. This, too, is a deception because many believe they only enter the presence of God in prayer. The truth is you could have just finished preaching like Paul, and lived as holy as Jesus himself but the moment you begin to use Satan’s tools to relax, you destroy your ability to have any possible communication or fellowship with the Father.

In2 Corinthians 6:14-18Paul writes. Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?Communion means to communicate and fellowship; or to have intimacy or social interaction with. It means to participate or be a partner with. 15 And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? 16 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them;He is always present in the Sons.

The purpose for our existence is to provide a holy habitation for the Father. and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, 18 And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty. This is a commandment. There are no options here. Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are (1 Corinthians 3:16-17).

At some point, we must begin to take these sayings at face value. This is not idle talk on God’s part. He says what He means and He means what He says. It is the responsibility of those who have been given a bishopric over the household of faith, to seek to establish the principles of God in the hearts of His people. This must be done without compromise. Apostle Paul continues to echo the sentiments of the Father in his letter to the church at Corinth.

1 Corinthians 5:9-13

9 I wrote unto you in an epistle not to company with fornicators:

10 Yet not altogether with the fornicators of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or with idolaters; for then must ye needs go out of the world.

11 But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat.

12 For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? do not ye judge them that are within?

13 But them that are without God judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person.

It may be an unpleasant thought concerning giving up some of our favorite television shows or forbearing going to see a particular movie. But the Father has spoken of these things as a vexation to His Spirit. What do we do? How are we to respond to such a command? Once again Paul is our source of wisdom.

1 Corinthians 9:25-27

25 And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.

26 I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air:

27 But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.

Your body does not simply crave that which is forbidden. The desire of the body is dictated by the thoughts of the mind. When you do not walk after the Spirit, it is impossible to think with the mind of Christ. But it is Christ who has overcome the desires of the world. Therefore to walk in His Spirit is to walk free from the desire for that which is unholy. It is the mind of Christ that gives us the power to keep our bodies under the subjection of the Word and will of God. It is the mind of Christ that does not allow the body to come under the control of anything that is offensive to the Holy Ghost. In Christ we have overcome the world and all that is in it. It is not a hard thing to abstain from that which is not a temptation. The truth is you would have to forsake the Christ in you and push past the desire of the Spirit in order to continue to involve yourself in those things pertaining to the darkness of this world.

Like Lucifer, we were created by God and for God. He created us holy and righteous. We can only please the Father if we continue to function in the Spirit in which we were created. When we crave the things of this world, we defile the temple of God.

Only the pure in heart shall see or communicate with God.