ISOLATION: A KEY STRATEGY OF THE ENEMY

Written on: 04 – 03 – 2013

Isolation in this case can be referred to as the divide and conquer mechanism of the enemy (the devil).

This is a veritable tool of the enemy. Satan’s goal is to destroy the link between mankind and God. The most formidable way to do that is to isolate individuals and thus weaken the collective strength of a target group.

Remember, God has always highlighted the strength that lies within bond and unison in action. His word says; one will chase a thousand and two will chase ten thousand. His word also says, where two or more are gathered in my name, therein will I be. The importance of collectiveness in actions, deeds and assembly/fellowship; in Christendom cannot be overemphasized.

The devil is a very cunny creature and master strategist at that. The only thing going against him is that he never seems to learn that God has the capacity to change/turn any and every situation for the good of His children. No matter how far gone the devil thinks he has succeeded in a particular life, God is always capable of using that to His advantage. God maketh all things work for our good. God’s good plan for believers is the perpetual spanner in wheel/work of the devil.

HOW DOES THE DEVIL GO ABOUT THIS?

First and foremost, we must always realize that we are only as strong as our weakest member! Instead of pushing away that person who seems more prone to falling off the track, we ought to even draw him/her closer both in prayer and otherwise.

The devil targets the most vulnerable point, in fact he diligently seeks it out. The scripture affirms this when it says he is moving to and fro like a lion seeking whom to destroy. Note, this scripture is so apt in describing the devil in the context of this write-up because, just as a pride a lion seeks to isolate a target amongst a herd, so also does the devil and his agents work. The weakest link is the easiest target and the dirty player he is, will not hesitate to strike that individual and thus weaken the group.

We should never be ignorant of the devils devises. By causing strife and disaffection with those who are true allies, associates and friends and creating illusionary and ephemeral  bonds with fair-weather friends, sycophants and individuals who speak what we desire and want to hear and not what we need to hear(the truth – for it is only the truth that can set us free), he begins his divisive work. This brings about ISOLATION from those who are supposed to lift us up and provide support when we need it.

When he successfully draws out the weakest, he has already succeeded in isolating that person, and the sycophants and illusionary friends dissipate into the thin air, leaving him/her all alone.

At other times he doesn’t necessarily target the weakest link. Let’s take the case of Joseph as an example. He knew that Joseph was destined for greatness. He figured (wrongly I must add) that his greatest chance of destroying Joseph was isolating him from his brethren and parents. He strategically went about doing this, thus;

He first and foremost capitalized on the preferential treatment given to Joseph by Jacob – their father – to sow the seed of discord and hatred. The second step was ensuring that Joseph spoke of His dream without wisdom and without contemplating the implication of doing such. Who knows if it was even the devil that showed Joseph the dreams, for it was not revealed in the scripture that God was responsible for the dreams. After successfully doing that, he ensured that a second dream further watered the seed of strife and sowed a similar one in Jacobs’ mind thus further isolating Joseph. The rest they say is history.

Further to the above, Joseph was beginning to form a new ally in Potiphar, but yet again the devil came up with a proposition for a seemingly good ally in Potiphar’s wife, but Joseph was wise and didn’t fall for this. At the end, God came good and turned the whole story around.

Through the ages past, the devil has employed the tool known as isolation to attack great destinies. He tried it with Moses, with David and even attempted it with Christ. In Christ’s instance, he didn’t isolate Christ, He waited for an opportune time when Jesus was on His own and seemingly vulnerable, but we know how that panned out.

We know that though God has our backs, we still have to be wise and wary. Though we trust in the power of God that worketh in us, we should not underestimate the devil and definitely not rest on our oars, for the scripture says – let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he falls! 

Image gotten from: http://www.clipartpanda.com/categories/isolation-20clipart

DEALING WITH MASTURBATION AS A BELIEVER

Masturbation is one of the commonest habits besetting believers as they try to curb their urges to indulge in fornication.

Masturbation seemingly gives temporarily, ephemeral and deceptive feeling of happiness, in the end only leads to destruction both physically and spiritually.

Once beset with this sin or habit as the case may be, people have often found out that it is very difficult to pull out of it and drop aside its accompanying ‘evil’. ‘Accompanying evil’ in the sense that masturbation never comes alone. It tends to cause the individual to be drawn in on several negative habits as well; such as, pornography, perverse thoughts and imaginations, reading demonic and evil literatures, to mention but a few.

In order to fully deal with the demon of masturbation, we have to take certain actions/steps;

1.       Acknowledgement of masturbation as a sin and destructive habit. The first step is admittance. Admittance of masturbation as self-destroying habit and a habit that can only bring about negative consequences in the end. You must acknowledge that you need help and you need to stop the habit as a matter of urgency.

2.       Repent and ask God for mercy.

3.       Ask the Holy Spirit for help in overcoming this habit. You need to go on your knees and prayerfully ask the Lord to help you overcome this habit. Acknowledge to him, that on your own you are not capable but you can only prevail by His Grace. Tell Him that in accordance to His word, he should make His strength perfect in this weakness of yours.

4.       Memorize scriptures and meditate on them. One of the major ammo that the enemy uses to keep us in bondage to this habit is our thoughts and imagination. The trick he uses is to always plant negative and perverse imagery (probably from what we’ve viewed, heard or read) in our minds to trigger the urge. Once you sense such, you need to be alert and start quoting – either internally or loudly – the scriptural verses you have committed to memory; and the thought will flee instantly. You need to concentrate while doing this.

5.       Limit and control information. You need to ensure that you are careful of what you see, hear, or read. Carefully select the type of TV programmes you watch, the type of books you read, the type of individuals you interact and converse with, the type of discussions you indulge in. At this moment it takes very little to trigger the urge. What you internalize determines what your mind and subconscious dwells upon. While in this state, your mind is quite adept and ever willing to interprete and misconstrue any information - with the slightest hint of perverseness – to connote sexual perverseness. So you need to be very careful, and learn to curb your thoughts from deviating by applying step 3 above.

6.       Indulge in a (marathon) spiritual exercise you hold sacred. Fasting is usually an exercise that we hold sacred and in which we assume a sanctified state. We tend to not only abstain from food but other vices which we believe that God detests. So once we have acknowledged that God detests masturbation in step 1, we should then on proceed to keying into one of the numerous fasting programmes (be it RCCG’s 40 days fasting programme, MFM’s 70 days fasting programme, Winners chapel 21 days fasting programme and the likes). If none is close by then you can start one in conjunction and agreement with some brethren or friends, or even by yourself. It is not compulsory you fast through the whole programme, or even break at the specified time. The most important thing here is holding the entire duration of the fasting programme as a sacred period and a period of sanctity. Once you are able to successfully go through this period without indulging, then you have made a major breakthrough.

7.       Dealing with the demon behind it. Behind every negative vice/habit, and behind every sin, there is a demon, either pushing us deeper or enforcing it in our lives. We need to prayerfully deal with the demons (could be during the fasting) aggressively. Destroy the yoke and embargo of masturbation on your life and ask that the Lord Jesus replace it with his own, for he says make yoke is easy and my burden is light.

8.       Offer thanks to God. As believers we need to offer thanks to God at every time, in every condition and wherever we find ourselves. This is no exception! Give him the praise for helping you and leading you on the way to overcome this challenge. Thank him for even giving you awareness to see what the habit is and for providing a way of escape from it.