I’m wondering how to be impervious to the soulish prayers and influence of others—a place of immunity. Curses, death and distraction comes from the soulish man, Christian or otherwise. I wanted to know how to be free of these effects. Free from the curses that come from those who hate God.
“Like a fluttering sparrow or a darting swallow, an undeserved curse will not land on its intended victim.”
Proverbs 26:2 NLT
THE PLACE OF IMMUNITY FROM SOULISH PRAYERS
I had this thought: is my susceptibility to another’s soulish power based more on my activity in the soul rather than their soulish strength? Is my vulnerability to the soulish nature just the results of my playing in a litter-box rather than God’s sandbox? Am I just where I shouldn’t be, and as a result, digging in poo? Do I become affected by the soulishness of others because I’m living out of my own soul rather than dwelling in Christ? All very interesting thoughts, and worth the asking!
I don’t say any of this with accusation; I’m just looking for the obstacles to immunity. I remember reading Watchman Nee speaking on the effect of soulish prayers of the saints. He states that soulish prayers cause more damage than good, because God didn’t author them. This is way too prevalent in the church today. Well-meaning Christians functioning out of sense and reason without the Holy Spirit. This is simply fodder for the enemy. When I think my way through prayers rather than listening to God, I’ll be more destructive than constructive. God’s life is the only source of actual life; everything else is but a curse. Adam and Eve thought their way straight out of the Garden, and thinking to this day still ushers His children away from His presence.
If I am IN Christ, am I not immune to this? Sure we’re in a fallen world, so I can always be affected by fallenness, but does stepping out from underneath His umbrella assure my getting wet? If I’m functioning out of the soul (my mind, my will, my emotions), does this expose me to others’ soulish behavior?
I know the goal of the soul is to multiply and increase its influence. The soul produces soulishness and spirit produces Life. If I’m soulishly motivated, what comes from me is death, and I’m sure that soul-source seeks its likeness. And conversely, if I’m Spirit-led, He’s producing Life through me, and it’s for His increase. Spirit produces spirit and flesh produces flesh. Is it just as easy as sowing and reaping? If I’m sowing into the soul, I will reap from its fruits wherever that fruit may come?
THE PLACE OF IMMUNITY Starts with Self
If the curses of the ungodly are splashing in our lives and bringing destruction, maybe the first place we need to look is in ourselves. If that accusing condemnation is assaulting my spirit, first I must ask, “Am I using the soul as source in any area of my life?”
I want to remain IN Christ, shielded from the effects of the soul, which frees Him to deal with it. If I am IN Christ, His Life is my immunity from all curses towards me. I choose to dwell in His very life rather than digging around in a used litter-box of soulish activity. This is my immunity from the curses of men…remaining IN Christ.
For you have died, and your life has been safely guarded by the Messiah in God.
Colossians 3:3 ISV
Amen John.
… Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. … If we live
by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit. …
Immunity in Christ is absolute and accomplished. Mental knowledge and assent to that as a FACT is only the beginning. There is an unavoidable process into the REALITY of living confidently INSIDE HIM. That process is called the rugged cross, which takes us to the living dynamic, the real of His indwelling Life. Without the cross there is no actual access of the finished work of Christ though we may ‘know it well.” There is always in humanity the ‘instant fix.’ (I read the book on aerobics and now I’m fit.) There is an easy way today of eliminating the… Read more »
John, this is an answer to a prayer that you didn’t know I had. But HE did.
In my opinion, you are “In Him” and you are immune. It says in 1 John that if we walk in the light as He is in the light the blood of Jesus continually purifies us from all sin. The simple, yet profound, message is: when you receive the Holy Spirit – he makes His home in you. He said he will never leave you or foresake you. It’s not your responsibility to “remain” it’s His responsibility to “stay” which He already made very clear in scripture that He will! It’s GOOD NEWS! 🙂 Love you – just my two… Read more »
Allen, you say “It’s not your responsibility to remain.” But John 15 and 1 John both are emphatic that it clearly is our choice and responsibility to remain/abide in Him. We are never relieved of that free choice and responsibility to believe and obey. That wonderful Love that gladly offers but doesn’t coerce. God wants no robots.
“IF anyone does not abide in Me….” “IF you abide in Me…” “IF we love one another, God abides in us…”
thank you John! so much to ponder here ….. thank you for raising this question ….
Mornin’ John! The word “shielded” that you used stuck out to me… And what a desired place to be in indeed – immunity!! Where words, deeds, and actions come flying but without hurting or hitting…because of being IN Christ! Which includes being surrounded, immersed, infused and aware only of Love. But I had never realized I could be SHIELDED from ME! From MY own stinky state! I think guilt can block this shield…
Mercy is miraculous!
…
John, I too want to live and remain in Christ, in HIS life that frees me from my OLD WOMAN, and everyone else’s!!! Thank you for this post of mirrors, so much to ponder and absorb. BLESS you
Absolutely John. Thank you for this! It is so clear all around us and inside of us that everything under any other place than His Kingdom is loss: Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and consuming insect* destroy and where thieves break in and steal… Matt 6:19 LEB [*Traditionally “rust,” but more likely in this context along with “moth” the term refers to “eating” by other types of insects or vermin.] Soul is like “eating insect”, moth and rust… and, as you do, I also know the effects of it. Christ’s Kingdom is the “safety… Read more »