Unmasking the Political and Religious Spirit Part 2

“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 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, especially 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 NIV This spirit seeks to raise up false teachers within the church in attempts to deceive God’s people. Paul warned the Ephesian elders that “from among your own selves men will arise, speaking perverse things, 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 the a great awakening, satan has a strategy to come in, steal the word, and 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 during the midst of a global pandemic these spirits have been working to undermine the health and welfare of many under the guise of government control all the while, people are dying including children. The lives of the next generation is at stake as we battle the Delta variant and some political leaders are encouraging and mandating mask restrictions as a ploy against our freedoms as a designed 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, especially of a biased or misleading nature, 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 that on the afternoon of January 6, 2021 there was an attack at our nation’s capital by a mob of supporters of then President Donald Trump. The mob sought to overturn his defeat in the 2020 presidential election by disrupting the joint session of Congress assembled to count electoral votes that would formalize President-elect Joe Biden’s victory.

Ephesians 6:12-13 says, “Your hand-to-hand combat is not with human beings, but 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 so you’re protected as you confront the slanderer, for you are destined for all things and will rise victorious” (Eph. 6:12-13 TPT).

The political spirit often ends up destroying the people it is trying to control. This is important to understand right now as we are seeing the leaven of Herod play out before our eyes as both political parties compete for power in the midst of the Covid-19 epidemic. While there are good people in both parties who have the best interest of the American people at heart, there are also those who are using this epidemic to push their own agenda.

The religious and political spirit in our time has impacted 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 that our children’s and grandchildren’s lives are put 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 amongst 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 by author/lawyer David McIlroy, he identifies three functions of government emerging from Romans 13 noted by Dr. Brian Mawhinney who was a a British Conservative politician. Dr. Mawhinney stated government functions to (1) the preservation of order; (2) the promotion of good and the punishment of evil; (3) the raising and spending of taxes in the interest of the common good. With that idea in mind it appears 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 incongruence. “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” (James1:17). He loved the world so much that He wishes that no should perish

Jesus forwarned His disciples to be on guard for the political and religious spirits prevalent in His time. “Jesus [repeatedly and expressly] charged and admonished them, saying, Look out; keep on your guard and beware of the leaven
of the Pharisees and 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, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons.
1Timothy 4:1 NASB

So what exactly was Jesus warning them about and how does this impact the church and the world today?

If Jesus warned and admonished His followers repeatedly to beware of two types of leaven in His day, the leaven of the Pharisees, and 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 and the leaven of Herod that Jesus warned of in Matthew and Mark (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 in light of our current state as a nation and the political upheaval we are witnessing of a daily basis. Author Faisal Malick

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 by author/lawyer David McIlroy, identifies three functions of government emerging from Romans 13 noted by Dr. Brian Mawhinney who was a a British Conservative politician. Dr. Mawhinney stated, government functions for the puroses of (1) the preservation of order; (2) the promotion of good and the punishment of evil; (3) the raising and spending of taxes in the interest of the common good. With that idea in mind it appears our government may be missing the mark as it relates to the common good of it’s citizens. The Covid-19 has bought about a significant impact on the livelihoods of many people throughout the world. It has bought about dramatic loss of human life worldwide and 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 as millions of people are at risk of falling into extreme poverty, and potentially homelessness. A nation divided against itself cannot stand.

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 (NASB) gives us direct instruction: “First of all, then, I urge that requests, prayers, intercession, and thanksgiving be made in behalf of all people, for kings and all who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity. This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who wants all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.” We can see that Paul did not distinguish between whether the leaders represent the left or right, but all people.

Minister Dr. A. Francine Green

Notes: All Scripture is taken from the New American Standard Bible unless otherwise noted.