FIGHTING OPPRESSION (PART 2)

by Pastor Graeme Hotter

I believe many Christians today are under spiritual oppression from the enemy - (this is not possession by the way.) It's more of an attack on our minds. The answer to overcome this problem is only solved by faith, for it's faith that overcomes the world.
There are many ways that oppression can manifest itself. While under this type of attack you may think you have sinned somewhere because of the way you feel, but you can't find out what sin you have committed as God doesn't seem to be telling you. You can go for help and have someone say that the problem is being caused by the sin of generation's back. They may feel that God has shown them that a person who practised witchcraft is back in your ancestors' past. You may repent on their behalf and go away feeling good that the apparent source of the problem has been found. From my experience I have seen that those feelings will all come back again and so you have to keep on going for counsel to find the lost source of this sin. Somewhere along the line you are going to have to use your faith and believe that Jesus has forgiven you and that no weapon formed against you will prosper, even the sins of past generations. You are now a new creature in Christ and old things are passed away. We are not in the Old Testament anymore, Jesus has solved the sin problem on the cross.

Something else that happens is that you may get accusations from Satan saying, "That was wrong," and "Don't do that," following everything you do for God. Don't forget that Satan is the Accuser of the Brethren and attacks us with doubt so that we don't operate in faith anymore. The bible says that that which is not of faith is sin. If we keep on listening we end up thinking that we are always sinning. We can get the voice of the Devil and God all mixed up and the end result is that we feel far from God and under oppression all the time.

You can also become legalistic. You try so hard to be pure and escape the oppression that comes on you that you don't do anything in faith anymore. You don't go to the movies, watch TV or go to a hotel where people drink, so that you can please God and maybe be set free from oppression. We need to realise that separation for God is primarily in the heart and not in a location. Daniel was a righteous Prime Minister in Babylon, which was full of idols yet he remained pure. Where you work is full of worldliness but that's where God wants us to be. Guess who has to change? The bible says that if you want to follow the law, but fail in just one point you are guilty of all. The Epistles say that we are not under the law anymore, but under the law of the Spirit of life. Romans 8:1-12. When you are legalistic you will also end up being unable to relate to anyone properly, which is not God's way. Paul said that to the Jews he was a Jew and to the Greeks he was a Greek - without sinning. What are you to this generation? Jesus wasn't a Farmer yet he was always talking about farming, as that was what most people did in his day. He related to them through this teaching. People today are sports mad, and watch a lot of TV and movies. Do you know what's going on in their lives? It may look impressive to be so "Holy" but you end up with a false sense of righteousness. You are not trusting in the righteousness of God anymore but in your own. Most people I meet like this are miserable and go around feeling they are the only ones left who are OK with God. Remember that where the Spirit of God is there is Liberty. 2 Corinthians 3:17. It requires great faith to walk that middle road and not be legalistic or a Space Cadet.

Another way many try and fight oppression is to be a workaholic. You are not sure which is of God or the Devil so you end up doing everything there is to do and eventually something burns out, either you or your marriage for example. You can't say no as you don't want to offend God or man, yet it may be just you or the Devil that is speaking. You'll become a tormented person.

You can also give up or battle on keeping your head above water, just running on 2 cylinders. The trouble with this is that you become irritable, moody, and miserable and can even become flaky. This is not being a good witness.

The answer to oppression is faith and this comes by prayer and reading the word constantly. Faith comes by hearing the word of God. Romans 10:17.
It's not so much a big read at the beginning of the day and then that's it until tomorrow, but it's more of a little and often. People stop to light up a cigarette every half an hour or so - why not stop for a word break, just washing yourself with words from heaven as you go through the day. Write some verses on a card and keep them in your pocket. Read them in the loo or before you drive the car or at the traffic lights. The word washes us as it says in Ephesians 5:26. It also tells us to desire the word like a baby for milk and that's more than once a day.1 Peter 2:2.