Rom 11:8 (According as it is written, God hath given them the spirit of slumber, eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear;) unto this day.
SLUMBER: G2659, katanuxis, kat-an'-oox-is
From G2660; a prickling (sensation, as of the limbs asleep), that is, (by implication [perhaps by some confusion with G3506 or even with G3571]) stupor (lethargy): - slumber.
If the word sounds and looks slightly familiar it is because our English word “catatonic” is derived from this Greek word, which was originally a medical description of a syndrome experienced by schizophrenics expressed by muscular rigidity and mental stupor, sometimes alternating with great excitement and confusion.
If you find yourself continually spending hours of time “vegetating” in front of the television/computer or you just cannot seem to find time to pray and read your bible, you may be under the influence of the spirit of SLUMBER. The spirit of SLUMBER is in direct opposition to God’s WISDOM.
The most obvious example of the spirit of slumber in dramatic action is when a hypnotist puts a subject “under” and then gives them “suggestions”, which the subject then follows with a blank stare, even if the hypnotic suggestions seems to be physically impossible.
I believe if you ever willingly went to a hypnotist to “help” you stop smoking, drinking, overeating, etc., you probably unknowingly opened yourself up to the demonic spirit of SLUMBER and you may need to cast this demonic spirit out. Simply command SLUMBER to leave in the name of Jesus Christ. Then ask God to give you His Wisdom.
Isa 29:10 For the LORD hath poured out upon you the spirit of deep sleep, and hath closed your eyes: the prophets and your rulers, the seers hath he covered.
Isa 29:11 And the vision of all is become unto you as the words of a book that is sealed, which men deliver to one that is learned, saying, Read this, I pray thee: and he saith, I cannot; for it is sealed:
DEEP SLEEP: H8639, tardêmâh, tar-day-maw'
From H7290; a lethargy or (by implication) trance: - deep sleep.
Other examples of the spirit of SLUMBER are people who have put themselves under the authority of a cult.
CULT: 1) a system of religious veneration and devotion directed toward a particular figure, object, or belief.
- a relatively small group of people having religious beliefs or practices regarded by others as strange or sinister.
- a misplaced or excessive admiration for a particular person or thing.
I believe cultic behavior is only possible if you suspend your own critical reasoning facilities and follow the wrong course of action regardless of any and all negative consequences. I have always found it fascinating that a mountain of evidence can be presented to some people and they simply shut down. They smile and nod their heads then continue in the same wrong direction and continue believing the same wrong ideas.
I have noticed this cultic behavior by atheists, who like to blame religion for all the ills of the world, but when you mention that atheistic communist governments have murdered tens of millions of their own citizens in the last hundred years, they simply shut down.
I have noticed this cultic behavior by “patriots”, who call themselves Christian then blindly join the military, or another government agency, and then commit all kinds of atrocities because they “love” their country. When you mention the fact that various government employees have confessed to starting bogus wars, torturing people, experimenting on citizens without their knowledge, and being involved in all kinds of illegal and immoral activity, all under the orders and authority of their superiors, these people seem to simply shut down.
I have mainly noticed this cultic behavior in “Christians” who blindly follow people and doctrines that are expressly contradicted by the Word of God. If “Christians” would read the Word of God and BELIEVE, there is no telling how God could mightily use them for the spreading of the Gospel.
WISDOM: G4678, sophia
Thayer Definition: 1) wisdom, broad and full of intelligence; used of the knowledge of very diverse matters.
Luk 21:14 Settle it therefore in your hearts, not to meditate before what ye shall answer:
Luk 21:15 For I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay nor resist.
Wisdom is simply the perfect answer for every question, problem, or circumstance. It is an answer provided directly by God; therefore, it will always provide the perfect solution…if we will listen.
There is an interesting character in the Old Testament named Ahithophel. This is what the Bible said about him:
2Sa 16:23 And the counsel of Ahithophel, which he counselled in those days, was as if a man had enquired at the oracle of God: so was all the counsel of Ahithophel both with David and with Absalom.
Apparently Ahithophel possessed the spirit of wisdom and King David recognized that his counsel was the same as if God Himself was giving him advice. Unfortunately for Ahithophel, he decided to conspire with Absalom against King David. It appears that Bathsheba was Ahithophel’s granddaughter and when King David committed adultery with her, it turned Ahithophel against the King.
2Sa 11:3 And David sent and enquired after the woman. And one said, Is not this Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite?
2Sa 23:34 Eliphelet the son of Ahasbai, the son of the Maachathite, Eliam the son of Ahithophel the Gilonite,
We see that King David’s sin of adultery came back to haunt him in more ways than one. Not only did King David lose his son, but he also lost his wisest counsellor, and he nearly lost his kingdom.
When we knowingly reject God’s wisdom, He will allow the spirit of SLUMBER to take its place. I remember when three Jehovah Witnesses came to my door and I told them I was a Pentecostal. One of the ladies told me she once attended a Pentecostal Church and decided to become a Jehovah Witness because they “helped her understand the Bible”! She could have knocked me over with a feather.
Heb 6:4 For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost,
Heb 6:5 And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come,
Heb 6:6 If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.
I do not know what you can do for somebody if they have been baptized in the Holy Spirit, then turn their back on the heavenly gift and then join a cult. I read one blogger, who claimed he spoke with tongues, but stopped because he decided it was crazy, and then joined a Baptist Church.
Although, I admit there are a lot of legalistic Pentecostal Churches and people, most Baptists take legalism to a whole new level. They remind me of the Apostle Paul’s censure of the Galatians.
Gal 3:1 O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you?
Gal 3:2 This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?
Gal 3:3 Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?
Gal 3:4 Have ye suffered so many things in vain? if it be yet in vain.
Gal 3:5 He therefore that ministereth to you the Spirit, and worketh miracles among you, doeth he it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?
I may have offended some people, but the Lord willing, perhaps somebody will read this and ask themselves, “Could there be more to being a Christian than simply attending Church on Sunday, listening to some windbag for a couple of hours, and then living like the rest of the world for the next six days of the week?”
You can join a Church, and play Christian all you want, but it will not deliver you from the bondage of the world system. As a matter of fact, I think it would be better to stay home and watch football or play golf rather than go to some legalistic Church…legalism is the worst kind of bondage.
Legalism is the bondage the Jewish people have suffered under for the last two-thousand years. Only the physical return of Jesus Christ will deliver them…and then only the few who remain after the great tribulation.
If you want to be a REAL Christian, if you want REAL RIGHTEOUSNESS, if you want REAL HOLINESS, if you want REAL WISDOM then you need to ASK GOD!
Jas 1:5 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.
ALL THE REALLY GOOD STUFF…the fruits of the spirit, and the gifts of the spirit are FREE! That is why they are called GIFTS! They are also REAL … I don’t care what anybody says. I do not care if they have multiple PhD’s or a doctor of divinity. I do not care if they have written multiple books, or have a radio show, or have a television show that reaches millions. All WE need to do is BELIEVE and TRUST GOD!
You don’t need to stop sinning in order to get close to God, you NEED to get close to God in order to stop sinning!
Jas 1:16 Do not err, my beloved brethren.
Jas 1:17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.