“Watch out! Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, and the leaven of Herod.” Mark 8:15
Dear Saints
In May 2020, I sensed the Lord warning the church. We were urged to be on the alert for the spirit of deception. Beware of the Spirit of Deception. Since the days of the early church, Satan has actively opposed the truth of God’s Word. He is particularly active with regard to the gospel. “Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour” (1 Peter 5:8-9). This spirit seeks false teachers within the church. It attempts to deceive God’s people. Paul warned the Ephesian elders that men would arise from among their own selves. These men would speak perverse things. They would try to draw away the disciples after them. —Acts 20:30.
For the past few months, I have been observing these destructive spirits working in world today. As the Church prepares for a great awakening, satan has a strategy. His plan is to come in and steal the word. He aims to choke out what God is trying to do before it even sprouts. We need purpose in our hearts to confront and thwart this spirit of deception.
Divisiveness and splintering of this nation because of differing political and religious beliefs takes place daily. It’s time for the façade of corrupt governing systems and religious hypocrisy of our day to be further exposed. With this understanding, how can we as Christians bring this nation back together truly as “one nation under God”.
Even in a global pandemic, these spirits work to undermine health. They endanger the welfare of many. They do this under the guise of government control. Meanwhile, people are dying, including children. The lives of the next generation are at stake. We battle the Delta variant. Some political leaders are mandating mask restrictions as a ploy against our freedoms. They are attempting to turn the situation to their own advantage. Anyone in their right mind should be concerned about the health and welfare of their constituents.
What drives people to lose their moral compass in pursuit of power. Political propaganda masquerading as a quest to save the nation. Propaganda is the output of information. It is often biased or misleading. Such information is used to promote or publicize a particular political cause or point of view. Sadly, many of our political leaders are using this tactic as a means to promote false narratives for political purposes. This has become so prevalent in today’s culture. On the afternoon of January 6, 2021, a mob of supporters of then President Donald Trump attacked our nation’s capital. The mob wanted to overturn his defeat in the 2020 presidential election. They attempted to disrupt the joint session of Congress assembled to count electoral votes. This would have formalized President-elect Joe Biden’s victory.
Ephesians 6:12-13 says, “Your hand-to-hand combat is not with human beings. It is with the highest principalities and authorities operating in rebellion under the heavenly realms. For they are a powerful class of demon-gods and evil spirits that hold this dark world in bondage. Because of this, you must wear all the armor that God provides. This ensures you’re protected as you confront the slanderer. You are destined for all things. You will rise victorious”.
The political spirit often ends up destroying the people it is trying to control. This is important to understand right now. We are witnessing the leaven of Herod play out before our eyes. Both political parties are competing for power midst the Covid-19 epidemic. There are good people in both parties. They have the best interest of the American people at heart. Still, some are using this epidemic to push their own agenda.
The religious and political spirit in our time has affected even the health and welfare as a nation. Thousands of Americans have lost their lives during the Covid-19 pandemic. Today, the battle over vaccination and wearing a mask has become so politicized. Our children’s and grandchildren’s lives are at risk. Our healthcare system and professionals are overran and exhausted by the daily influx of Covid patients. Why? Just to prove a political point or garner support for a government office. This has got to stop! There is no way a just God is pleased with what is happening in America!
Albeit, this battle is being fought in the political realm in the natural, this is spiritual warfare. We are to war in the Spirit against these evil forces set on bringing constant divisions among our nation’s leaders. Our battle is not against flesh and blood, but against wickedness is high places (Eph. 6:12). This is why we are encouraged to pray for our leaders (1 Tim. 2:1-4). Romans 13 is written to an embattled Christian church, to instruct them on how to view those in secular authority. It’s central concern is the righteousness and justice of God. The very foundation of His throne (Ps. 89:14).
Government was established by God and has a role in God’s purposes. In A Biblical View of Law and Justice, author/lawyer David McIlroy identifies three government functions. These emerge from Romans 13 and are noted by Dr. Brian Mawhinney who was a British Conservative politician. Dr. Mawhinney identified government functions as preserving order. They also promote good and punish evil. Additionally, they raise and spend taxes in the interest of the common good. With that idea in mind it seems our government is missing the mark as it relates to the common good.1
God is perfectly loving and perfectly just. He is perfectly holy. Infinite in wisdom. In Him their is no shadow of turning. Every good thing given is from above. Every perfect gift comes down from the Father of lights. With Him, there is no variation or shifting shadow (Jas.1:17). He loved the world so much that He wishes that no should perish
Jesus forewarned His disciples to be on guard for the political and religious spirits prevalent in His time. “Jesus [repeatedly and expressly] charged them. He admonished them, saying, Look out. Keep on your guard and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees. Beware of the leaven of Herod and the Herodians” (Mark 8:15 AMP).
“To be forewarned is to be forearmed.” That old saying captures a scriptural truth. Discernment forewarns us so that we do not fall prey to subtle deceptions.
The Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith. They will pay attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons (1 Tim. 4:1).
So what exactly was Jesus warning them about and how does this impact the church and the world today?
Jesus warned and admonished His followers repeatedly. They were to beware of two types of leaven in His day. One was the leaven of the Pharisees. The other was the leaven of Herod. What would He say to the church today? These are unsettling times and the Church must be on guard against adversaries in unseen places. With the ongoing drama in the political realm, I want to examine the topic of the leaven of the Pharisees. I also want to examine the leaven of Herod that Jesus warned of in Matthew and Mark. These represent political and religious spirits. These two spirits are alive and well, and running rampant in the world today and must be exposed.
Let’s examine these two spirits a little further. We need to consider our current state as a nation. We are seeing political upheaval on a daily basis unlike we have ever seen before.
Albeit, this battle is being fought in the political realm in the natural this is spiritual warfare. We are to war in the Spirit against these evil forces set on bringing constant division within our nation. Our battle is not against flesh and blood, but against wickedness is high places (Eph. 6:12). This is why we are encouraged to pray for our leaders (1 Tim. 2:1-4). Romans 13 is written to an embattled Christian church, to instruct them on how to view those in secular authority. It’s central concern is the righteousness and justice of God. Government was established by God and has a role in God’s purposes. In A Biblical View of Law and Justice, author/lawyer David McIlroy identifies three government functions. These emerge from Romans 13 and are noted by Dr. Brian Mawhinney, a British Conservative politician. Dr. Mawhinney stated that government functions for specific purposes. These are the preservation of order. They include the promotion of good and the punishment of evil. Additionally, they involve the raising and spending of taxes in the interest of the common good. With that idea in mind, it seems our government is missing the mark. This is particularly relevant about the common good of its citizens. The Covid-19 has bought about a significant impact on the livelihoods of many people throughout the world. It has led to a dramatic loss of human life worldwide. The pandemic presents an unprecedented challenge to public health, food systems, and people’s ability to work. The economic and social disruption caused by the pandemic is devastating. Millions of people are at risk of falling into extreme poverty. There is also a risk of becoming homeless. A nation divided against itself can’t stand.
God is perfectly loving and perfectly just. He is perfectly holy. Infinite in wisdom. In Him their is no incongruity. “Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow” (Jas.1:17). He loved the world so much that He wishes that none should perish.
I urge you to pray for our government authorities and the people. When it comes to praying for our leaders, 1 Timothy 2:1-4 gives us direct instruction. “First of all, then, I urge that requests, prayers, intercession, and thanksgiving be made in behalf of all people. This includes for kings and all who are in authority. The aim is so that we lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity.” This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior. He wants all people to be saved. He desires everyone to come to the knowledge of the truth. Paul did not distinguish. He did not care whether the leaders represent the left or right. He cared about all people.
Minister Dr. A. Francine Green
Notes: All Scripture is taken from the New American Standard Bible unless otherwise noted.
- Mcllroy, D. (2004). A Biblical View of Law and Justice, Christian Perspective on Law, Patermoster Press.
afrancinegreen.com 