Obsession

In the secular world, there is a very popular fragrance called Obsession that has a sweet, distinct aroma. However, spiritual obsession is a poison that leads you into an emotionally persistent pursuit of an idea or feeling. This idea or feeling is birthed in the imagination; thus defining the Biblical terminology for this mindset: to imagine.

An obsession is the mental force by which a created image in the mind drives the flesh to limits, striving to fulfill the requirements of the image. This poison causes blindness to reasoning, and will deny any communication that seeks to change the mindset. Those who are obsessed are willing captives of an idol, which may be a person, persistent idea, desire or an emotion that cannot be removed by reasoning or logic.

Obsession is a mindset that results in compulsive preoccupation, total delusion and lying emotions. The reasoning faculty shuts down and one will not entertain anything that does not enhance the obsession. One may hear the truth but will not allow it to have an effect in their life because of the blindness of the heart and dullness of hearing. An obsession is also a delusion in which the created image (idea, personal disposition, desire, emotion, etc.) is accepted as fact. Though the imagery is a lie, it is accepted in the mind as real.

The fact that the image created may or may not be obtainable by the flesh is of no consequence to an obsession. In the imagination, that which is not yet accomplished in the flesh is virtually forced by the soul (heart) to be accepted in the mind as reality. This is because the heart or soul never allows the mind to see any obstacles able to hinder the vision. To the mind, they simply do not exist.

Ephesians 4:17-18

17 This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind,

18 Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart:

Blindness of the heart is also evidence of an obsession. The driving force of the obsession overtakes all the emotions, desires, appetites, imaginations, and will. The emotions are given over to feeling only those things that enhance the vision. Oftentimes, this is where the truth is denied.

Truth or reality has challenged the validity of the image, which the mind has already accepted as truth regardless of what the facts are. Therefore, any attempt to discredit the vision must be met with strong opposition. It then becomes easy to hate anything or anyone who interferes with the furtherance of the illusion.

The fruit of this operation is hardening of the heart against obvious truth. You become as a mule, stubborn and obstinate. You become determined to have your own way. In other words, you begin to kick against the prick thus causing self-inflicted pain.

OBSESSION WILL BLIND YOU TO THE TRUTH

Many have built worlds around their illusions. If you are not honest in your assessment of your own spiritual location, you too, could create an imaginary world in which a desired feeling or belief is “Lord and Master.” There are many who are perfectly happy living in their world of falsehoods. If you consistently tell yourself a lie, you will begin to believe it. The obsession that the Church has today with the acquisition of things must be constantly fueled by the old Faith and Prosperity Message.

This “name it and claim it” jargon has developed a mindset that is not the mind of Christ. Any other mind that is in us, however, other than the mind of Christ, shall be revealed according to Philippians 3:15. This is evidenced by the most recent challenges to the validity of the Faith and Prosperity Message.

The believers of such a doctrine are sometimes vicious in their defense of it. They don’t want to hear the truth, even though that message has never delivered all that it promises. Do you remember the life of Saul, who was later known as the Apostle Paul? He was obsessed with binding the saints. The letters of permission to persecute the saints, which he received from the high priest, fueled the mindset that he had received from his traditional teachings.

Saul was on his way to Damascus when a light shone from heaven and caused him to fall to the ground. Jesus then introduced Himself to Saul who submitted to the Lord and asked, “What would you have me to do?” (Acts 9:1-5). If you notice, the Lord did not send Saul back from whence he came. He knew that Saul’s traditional mindset could not serve Him. However, if we really look into the mind of Saul, we will see that he really believed in what he was doing. He trusted that his actions were pleasing to God. This brings us to the realization that the motivation for an obsession is not always one of evil intent.

But what was the danger of this obsession, especially when the intent was not evil? The danger was the fact that Saul would not hear the truth. He was present at the sermon in which Stephen superbly put the Old Testament into proper perspective. This really should have gotten his attention, considering he was an expert on the Old Covenant. However, the truth did not move him.

Saul had a one-track mind that insisted on believing that anything contrary to, or outside of, what he had learned had no merit. That is the problem with an obsession; it shuts down the ability to reason, even while hearing the truth. It will deny any communication that defies its own conclusions.

THE DRIVING FORCES IN SOME OBSESSIONS ARE POWER AND/OR CONTROL

What was the real obsession in the case of Saul and his persecution of the church? Was it the fact that Saul simply believed in the traditions of Judaism, or was he obsessed with destroying anything that opposed his belief system? I venture to say that he was obsessed with destroying the opposition to what he believed. I know that Saul or rather Paul considered himself a contender for the faith of Judaism. As noble as that may seem though, we must stay true to the principles of discernment.

I suggest Paul was obsessed with the Christians and he wanted to destroy them and their faith. He saw them as traitors to all that he held dear to his heart. The thought of their betrayal of his God and his beloved Judaism (to which he had devoted his entire life), was unconscionable, and morally unacceptable.

Now we begin to see the power of an obsession. It will blind you to the truth. If Paul only regarded the will of the Father, and had his heart been open to receive from God, then he would surely have responded differently to the message Stephen preached. But he was obsessed with having his way with the Christians.

This obsession blinded his heart and closed his ears to anything that opposed his desire. We can see then, that the destructive nature of an obsession is the desire to control another’s actions, beliefs, or convictions. Could that be the reason Jesus had to knock Saul off his mule and bring him down to the ground before he could speak to him?

The letter Paul obtained and carried with him to Damascus was the symbol of the power that fueled his violent and destructive nature. But it was the obsession itself that revealed his violent nature. Thus, we have another reality to examine . . .

OBSESSIONS REVEAL TRUE CHARACTER

Saul took pride in the fact that he reverenced the Law of God and was extremely devout in his commitment to those laws. However, he still possessed and maintained a violent, unforgiving, hateful and destructive nature. How could this be?

The truth is, oftentimes, one’s true character is suppressed until the soul discovers a desire that will satisfy a perverted will. Where there is opposition to acting out the mind’s conclusions, those violent and destructive emotions are triggered. This also proves that the Law of Moses had no power to deliver a man’s conscience unto righteousness. Neither could the law reveal Saul’s violent nature. In fact, the legalism in the law served to enhance it.

This is quite contrary to the operation of the Holy Ghost in the dispensation of Grace, wherein any mind other than the mind of Christ will be revealed (Philippians 3:15).

HATRED IS BRED IN AN OBSESSION

We have seen Saul’s denial of the truth as preached by Stephen. Even though Stephen was preaching under a heavy anointing, it did not move Saul or the men of the city to belief. Instead, it made them angry enough to kill the man of God. This is another devastating attribute of an obsession. It will breed hatred in the heart against those who would try to bring the Word or any truth into the midst of the obsession.

Over the years, I have been the victim of much hatred as I have tried to counsel saints out of their obsessions. If one is not really seeking to please the Father, then he will fight to hold on to the obsessions of his mind. Because some deny the power of God and reject the counsel of the Holy Spirit, they have no godly purpose to drive them. They promote the illusions of their imagination to the forefront of their existence and spend a great percentage of their time considering how to implement their will.

OBSESSION ACCEPTS NO DEFEAT

An obsession is an illusion. It is only real in the individual’s imagination. However, those who are obsessed, see the illusion as something they can accomplish. There is never a moment when an obsession allows you to concede defeat. If the obsession is an idea, then the idea must live; if it is a feeling, then the feeling must be maintained. You must win the cause, you must accomplish the goal.

Every detriment is considered an act of war. Anyone who tries to destroy the vision becomes the enemy, whether it is the Word of God or God Himself. This is the destruction in an obsession.

As truth becomes the enemy and the object of resentment, so are the truth-bearers and he who is the source of truth. The Lord being the author of all truth becomes the unfair intruder in the mindset. Truth brings unwanted light to the inward parts and challenges lying emotions. Since denial of the truth cannot entirely extinguish the light of truth, confusion becomes the disposition of the soul.

Confusion is also an invader in the private emotions of the obsession. The truth, which caused the confusion in the first place, must now be dealt with severely. It receives the harshest of punishments. It is more than rejected; it is converted by the mind into a lie. The truth that opposes the obsession must be sacrificed in order for the obsession to live.

OBSESSIONS DO NOT ALLOW REPENTANCE

Reasoning must also be denied in order for an obsession to live. Those who are obsessed will listen to the truth but will never hear it with their heart. An obsession can hold you captive in such a way that you will not be able to see past your desire, idea or the person with whom you are obsessed. Many are not able to do the work of the Lord because of their obsession with someone or something. Many Christians are in this state.

Hebrews 12:16-17

16 Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright.

17 For ye know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected: for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully

with tears.

One must be careful not to come before the Lord with an Esau spirit. Note that Esau’s tears were due to his loss of the blessing. However, in his heart, he never repented for having offended God. This is the detriment of an obsession. Its blindness to the truth will not allow you to take full responsibility for the consequences of your actions. You may be sorry for the consequences but may not admit to your own mind that you are the cause of such results.

Instead, you will blame whatever or whoever becomes the agent of reality. Hatred then builds for those who oppose your will, even the Father Himself. Yes, many hate the Lord today because He has not allowed their obsessions to be fruitful. To the obsessed mind He becomes the enemy. You may never verbalize this; nevertheless, the mindset is true.

I have conducted many counseling sessions over the years. They involved men and women who were extremely obsessed with their own ideas, people, desires and even a gift in ministry. One such case comes to mind . . .

DEBORA

I think one of the most interesting and bizarre obsessions is when one is obsessed with his or her self. Debora was obsessed with her perception of herself. Her image was her number one idol and her desire to be rich and famous followed closely behind her obsession with authority and control. Those whom she worked with, her children and even her spouse characterized her adult life as mean and hateful.

Looking into that life, it was obvious that she was very unhappy in her marriage and the dead end street she thought to have found herself on. But lo and behold, ministry was supposed to change all that. But when she found herself faced with the same marital issues she had endured for so many years before, she became bitter and even more self-serving. All she wanted was to make her own mark.

She became obsessed with making a name for herself. She resented the fact that her position or station in life was tied to her husband. Her face became set like a flint to become the woman of her imagination; successful, famous and wealthy. The wealth would guarantee her power, control and independence.

No matter how much truth she learned, Debora was determined it would not deter her from reaching her goals. Nothing and no one would get in her way. People in her life became a means to an end. The ministry God gave her became leverage to use in manipulating the saints into giving into her bosom.

But obsessions often, as in this case, lead to other unspeakable sins. She became an expert at using feigned words that bewitched the people of God. They fell under the spell she cast with pretense, lies and perverted truths. She could manipulate the saints into believing anything she said. Even when they didn’t believe her, she could get them to do whatever she wanted. That is the amazing power of ministerial witchcraft. But not only were her words feigned (pretense), but her deeds as well. They were calculated and designed to make the saints believe she had certain sentiments she really did not possess.

I thank God for the power of the Word. By it, many have been delivered from this spell and are able to identify its tentacles in their lives and the lives of others. Some had to be counseled against harboring bitterness and resentment, but the power of the Word in their lives has made them free from the devices of satan.

Nevertheless, Debora’s obsession survived in spite of the fact she understood the consequences of doing despite to the Holy Ghost. When the grace of God exposed the tactics used against the saints, she refused to submit to the chastening of God and simply left the ministry she was in and went to start another.

In doing so, she freed herself from the righteousness of God she had preached to others. This is sad because the wrath of God will be revealed against all ungodly men and women who hold the truth in unrighteousness. Those who do such things will suffer severe chastening or worse will find themselves given over to their own mind.

Debora’s obsession has hardened her heart against the ways of God. She is no longer sensitive to the truth. She is altogether free from righteousness. This simply means the truth regarding her negative behavior is without conscience. Repentance is more than words; it is the act of returning to the will of God. It is submission to the way of God. It is relinquishing our way and accepting His way.

Debora’s lack of remorse for the deception and abuse she inflicted on the people of God has fortified her pride and caused her to become spiritually blind to the truth. She does not believe that hell is her destiny, if she does not embrace the truth God has exposed.

The obsession will not allow Debora to see that she is not really competing with men or women, but with the design the Holy Ghost has set for her life. I pray God will not turn her over to her obsession, because the end of it is eternal damnation.

OBSESSIVE AND COMPULSIVE LYING

There is a reason Paul wrote, Lie not to one another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds (Colossians 3:9). Our former master, satan, is the author of the lie. Those who lie are advocates of his objectives. The purpose of a lie is to deceive, to paint a false picture of something or someone. It is designed to mislead and misdirect.

Proverbs 6:12-19

12 A naughty person, a wicked man, walketh with a froward (perverse, deceitful, lying), mouth.

13 He winketh with his eyes, he speaketh with his feet, he teacheth with his fingers;

14 Frowardness is in his heart, he deviseth mischief (evil) continually; he soweth discord. (strife, calamity, trouble, chaos)

15 Therefore shall his calamity come suddenly; suddenly shall he be broken without remedy.

16 These six things doth the Lord hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him:

17 A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood,

18 An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief,

19 A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.

It does not matter what you confess to be if your actions place you in the middle of the scriptures above. As far as the Lord is concerned, you are evil and perverse in your ways. To make matters worse God classifies you as a lover of chaos. That means you enjoy causing strife in relationships, stealing the joy of believers, killing the spirit of the innocent and destroying the peace among the saints.

Let us stay with the facts here. Jesus said, “The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly” (St. John 10:10). We cannot escape the fact that such character is that of satan.

Many saints are used by him to be spiritual thieves in the congregation of the people of God. Could this be their purpose for being in the church? Again, let us keep the facts straight. From the leadership’s perspective, it would be the desire of the pastorate to bring such souls into spiritual perfection; for this is the will of the Father for our life.

From their own perspective, however, pride and hard-heartedness has opened the door for them to be consumed by their obsessions and the need to sow discord among the saints. One might wonder, “Why do they continue to come to church?” Especially when it is obvious, that it is their obsession with chaos that leads and guides them.

They have created a vision in their imagination regarding the destruction of others; including those leaders who have continuously counseled them. They want to see them fallen and humiliated. Like satan, they want to gloat at their demise. They are obsessed with seeing the people of God placed in predicaments that belittle them before all who holds them in high esteem. They work to see them discredited and brought to an open shame. This is what they live for. They fantasize about it daily; and their daydreams are consumed with it. They are lost and completely given over to satan. As long as these obsessions live in them, they will always be an adversary of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Consider those who reside in your sphere of influence. Can you identify those who may have made themselves willing captives of their obsession with causing chaos in and among their family, friends and even the church? In order for them to break free, they must first admit that the obsessions are real.

Then, they must renounce all the hidden things of dishonesty lurking in the heart. They must repent of the evil they have wrought in the lives of the people of God and seek forgiveness. Perhaps the Lord will pity them and extend His mercy. We must continue to pray for them as many have great spiritual potential. If they would hear the truth and obey counsel, they would have a chance to live a productive life in God. But if they continue to nurse their obsession, the ditch they dig for others will surely become their own grave.

EXCHANGE OF INFLUENCE

It is necessary for us to discover how to get saints delivered from their obsessions. The truth is deliverance from all sin is accomplished in the same manner. One must simply repent (renounce and turn away from the sin), submit to God (the heart must change and it will, if you simply agree with God), and walk in the Spirit (if you walk in the Spirit, you will have the emotions of the Spirit). An impression must be made in the heart and on the fleshy mind that is more powerful than the obsession itself.

In the case of Saul, it was the supernatural visitation of Jesus. This made an impression that was more powerful than his desire to destroy the Christians. The heart and mind must be introduced to something more impressive than its present desire. It must be provided with something else to love, consider, and entertain. When this happens, the obsession is purged. There must be an exchange of influence. In the exchange, one must be willing to embrace that new idea, feeling or truth.

Saul demonstrated this when he humbled himself and asked the Lord, “What would you have me to do?” Since he obeyed the vision and proceeded to walk in the way of instruction, he was able to experience the love, mercy, and overwhelming grace of God. These were things he had never experienced under the law. But note, Paul was only afforded this opportunity after he obeyed. Many are never delivered from an obsession or any other negative mindset, because they never allow themselves to experience the attributes of God.

If there is never an understanding of that which is holy, which is the Spirit of Knowledge, there is nothing else powerful enough to adequately impress the soul or the fleshy mind. David said, “Oh taste and see that the Lord, He is good!” Until one embraces the Word, which is God, there will never be deliverance from any obsession or any other negative mindsets.

Our obedience to the Word of God causes the Father to reveal Himself to us. Only then will one experience His love that surpasses all understanding, His faithfulness, security, and comfort, knowing that the Master is always present and that He will never leave nor forsake us.

As powerful and captivating as an obsession may be, the way out is always the same. Submit to the Word and agree with God. When He forbids you to have something, agree. When He instructs, obey. When He directs, follow. Hear the Lord and agree with His will for your life.

The power of obedience is far more powerful than any obsession. It allows you to truly experience the love of the Father. It is when we obey the Word and agree with the will of God, that our paths are made straight and our way is filled with eternal peace.

1. Beloved there is no magic formula; nor is it hard to achieve total freedom from the bondage of sin of any kind.

2. You must face the destructive nature of the obsession.

3. You must also agree that the fanaticism of your actions is fueled by a desire to obtain or maintain power or uniqueness in a situation, circumstance or relationship.

4. You must admit that this driving obsession has made you void of all reasoning or submission to obvious truths.

5. I encourage you to try the one thing you have never experienced: obedience. Obey the Word of God.

6. I guarantee the Lord will meet you in the midst of your mindset and help you destroy the power of obsession.

We are the sons of God. Our deliverance is within us. For the Word is nigh unto us, even in our mouth and in our heart. Obey that Word and hear the counsel of the Lord. The joy you will experience in doing so will be your strength to walk in the Spirit.