Confronting the Enemy Within Part 7 of 7
PART 7 of 7
An excerpt from Chapter 5 in David Orton's book,
"Snakes in the Temple: Unmasking Idolatry in Today's Church"
“But I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent’s cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ”
2 Cor 11:2-3 NIV
The spirit of the world in the church
The spirit of the world has seduced us. We used to joke that “Jesus saves – and Jesus shaves!” But, many actually believe that the spirit of the world is Rock and Roll, spiked hair, and nose rings. Come on – let’s get real! Do you think the devil really cares where you wear your jewellery or what hairstyle you have? What he, as the master strategist, is after is the thing that controls it all - the heart. This is why the wisdom- writer exhorts to,
“Watch over our heart with all diligence, for from it flow the springs of life” (Prov 4:23)
It is the citadel of God’s presence – the spring from which flow the sweet waters of the Spirit or the bitter waters of covetousness, competition, and pride. Where better for Satan to set up shop than in the temple of God itself – in our hearts! But, as silent as a serpent, we are unaware of his entry.
The spirit of the world enters in three ways:- through “…the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life…” (1 Jn 2:16 NASB).
- The lust of the flesh
The “lust of the flesh” is not so much sexual sin, but the strength of our human nature. It fills the church with human organisation, programs, and agendas. Do not get me wrong - excellence in management and creativity is basic to our service for God. But it has become the head rather than the tail. The spirit of man has taken control.
- The lust of the eyes
The “lust of the flesh” is fed through the “eyes.” We are captured by the “outward show of things without enquiring into their real values”.88 Mesmerised by the outward display of success or spirituality we lose our discernment. Our five senses govern our approach to the things of God and determine our values. We are easily persuaded by the pragmatism of results, without inquiring into their true values or motivation.
- The pride of life
The final step is the “boastful pride of life”. The lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes have been sated. And so now, a smug self-satisfaction in our external circumstances – in our wealth, prestige, or position, sets in. It boasts in our achievements and the rewards gained by them. It can come through in an air of triumphalism when we experience some growth and success. This boasting prideful spirit can operate through the work of God when we advertise and promote the size of our movement and churches, our budget, our mailing lists, or our ministry. When success comes, we reward ourselves with the trappings of prestige and power. With a bigger office, or a more prestigious motor vehicle. Or with bigger and better titles - senior minister, bishop, overseer, president, and in many cases now, apostle. This is despite the fact that Jesus said,
‘‘But you are not to be called ‘Rabbi,’ for you have only one Master and you are all brothers. … The greatest among you will be your servant. For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted” (Mtt 23:8-12 NIV).
The Glory of God Lifts
Ezekiel saw the manifest presence of God:
“and there before me was the glory of the God of Israel, as in the vision I had seen in the plain” (Ezek 8:4)
Although as a seer, he not only saw the splendour of the “shekinah glory” but also the secret depths of Israel’s idolatry. What a roller coaster! One minute, the full radiance of the glory of God, the next, the hidden depths of Israel’s idolatrous heart. The prophetic ministry always moves between these two polarities. It stands before the light of God’s glory to call an adulterous people back to faithfulness and truth. The temple was holy – set apart as the sole preserve of God’s presence – his dwelling place. But, it had been invaded by the “idol of jealousy” and God’s presence had no option but to lift:
“Now the glory of the God of Israel went up from above the cherubim…and moved to the threshold of the temple” (Ezek 9:3)
And in time, not only from the temple, but the city as well (10:4, 18; 11:23). Just as in Samuel’s day “the glory departed” and “Ichabod” was written over the house of God.89 The Lord had warned that their idolatry would “drive him far from his sanctuary…” (8:7). It had now happened.
Understanding the root cause of spiritual decline is not difficult: when the people of God shift the glory of God lifts.
Our worship of other images – of success and spirituality moves us from a place of covenant faithfulness and opens the temple of God to another spirit – to spirits of deception and pride. The experience of previous generations is equally true today:
“For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles” (Rom 1:21-23 NIV).
Please refer to the four (4) part series “Idols of Power” posted in our Articles Archive (www.lifemessenger.org) for how we define idolatory and to see how it works in the life of a Christian.
88 John Stott, Tyndale NT Commentaries, The Letters of John, p. 105
89 1 Samuel 4:21
…. an excerpt from David Orton’s book, "Snakes in the Temple: Unmasking Idolatry in Today’s Church".
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Copyright © David Orton 2008
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