WITCHCRAFT AND THE SPIRIT OF CONFUSION
The following is a vision the Lord gave my wife concerning the demon spirit known as “Azazel.” In this vision I saw three men walking with an animal which looked like a cross between a donkey and a goat. Each man was holding a wide leather strap which was tied around the goat. One of the three straps was tied around its neck, one around its midriff, and one around the back of the goat where its legs began. The men seemed very fearful and tense, and appeared to take great caution as they led the animal along a trail on top of a mountain.
The men were dressed in robes like a shepherd would wear, and each carried a walking stick or staff. They each held the staffs in their right hands and held onto the large leather straps around the creature with their left hands. The animal was a muted white color, almost tan. It had the face of a goat and was walking very docile. The animal had long ears, longer than any ears I had ever seen before on a goat, and the ears hung down past its chin when its head was up. When its head moved, its ears would move in a very unusual way as in a sweeping motion. I cannot explain exactly how they moved, but it was like a cascading effect.
The thing which unnerved me most about the animal was its eyes. The eyes were a brownish gold color and were constantly rotating and looking around. They could see in all directions at the same time and at all times. The men led the animal to a high place on a bluff. It stood and looked from side to side out over a vast valley for a long time.
The valley was enormous, stretching as far as the eye could see. The goat seemed as if it was scouting the valley below. The three men then led the animal out onto a ledge and began to untie the leather straps which were tied around the animal one strap at a time in a very slow motion. The men seemed very frightened, and left the animal immediately and very cautiously. The animal just stood there looking out over the vast valley as the men slowly walked away.
According to the Bible, Azazel was a scapegoat. We find the story of the scapegoat in the Book of Leviticus, Chapter 16. On the Day of Atonement the sins of the people were placed on Azazel. Then the priests from the Temple would take the “scapegoat” out into the wilderness and leave it there all alone. In the Bible Azazel represented Christ as the “scapegoat” for our sins. “Jesus who new knew no sin became sin as He hung upon the cross at Calvary.” (2 Corinthians 5:21). When Jesus became sin He was no longer represented as a lamb, but a goat, thus the “scapegoat.” The sins of all mankind were placed upon Him at Calvary.
In the “spirit realm” there is a demon spirit known as Azazel. He is known as the “goat demon.” Azazel is known in the regions of the damned as the “Spirit of Witchcraft.” He wanders in the wilderness (this world) fomenting wars, destruction, physical pain, conflict, and every evil work. He does this by planting seeds of deception in the hearts and minds of unsuspecting people who are unaware ofhim or his tactics.
Azazel has many demons spirits under his authority. They are called “Seirim” and are known as “goat demons.” They are less powerful than he is, however they possess the same kind of power to deceive as Azazel. Azazel sends the “goat demons” out to deceive people all over the world through the power of beguilement, manipulation, and control. He is represented in the realms of witchcraft as a goat. Azazel’s symbol is represented by a pentagram. The pentagram is a five pointed, upside down star commonly used in witchcraft and devil worship.
All sin entered into the world through the “Spirit of Witchcraft” when Eve ate of the forbidden fruit in the Garden of Eden. “The Serpent” is still beguiling and deceiving unsuspecting multitudes around the world today. The goat (scapegoat) which was led out into the wilderness by the Levitical Priests (read Leviticus, Chapters 16-17) was also a type and shadow of Azazel.
FOR WHERE ENVYING AND STRIFE IS, THERE IS CONFUSION AND EVERY EVIL WORK. James 3:16. The counterpart of John 3:16 is James 3:16. What John 3:16 is to the Kingdom of God, James 3:16 is to the Kingdom of Darkness. The Kingdom of Darkness in this world is under the authority of Satan who is the god of this world. Whereas God is the embodiment of Spiritual Light in the world--Satan is the embodiment of “spiritual darkness” in the world.
Whenever most people hear the word “witchcraft,” they immediately think of an ugly woman with a big wart on her nose, clothed in a long black dress, and riding on a broomstick. There is a “Spirit of Witchcraft” which witches entertain, but witches are not the subject in this Chapter. What we are talking about here is the Spirit of Witchcraft itself. In his letter to the Galatians, the Apostle Paul described “witchcraft” as one of the “works of the flesh.” Several years ago the Lord gave me a message which I called “The Ministry of Witchcraft.”
Witchcraft is the most subtle and dangerous work of the flesh because it is the “craft of manipulation and deception.” The word “witchcraft” in the Bible comes from the Greek word “pharmika.” Pharmika is also known as sorcery. The English word “pharmacy” is derived from the Greek word pharmika as well. It deals with the practice (or craft) of using drugs, medicines, or spells to alter or control thoughts, ideas, beliefs, or the mental dispositions of individuals.
Certain drugs and spells are used to alter the thought patterns of individuals by clouding and confusing their minds. Pain killers do not actually kill pain, they just makes one endure pain by masking or confusing certain areas of the brain that receive messages from nerves telling the brain they are in pain.
Many different drugs are used by many people to “get high.” Opioids temporarily enhance and entrance emotional feelings in the brain by beguiling the mind and thought patterns. An opioid works like a chemical in the brain. It attaches itself to nerve cells within the brain which are called receptors. These receptors control the part of the brain which deals with pleasure and the ability to mask pain.
Like opioids, witchcraft casts a spell upon the psyche of an individual and confuses the mind into believing a falsehood. In the same way the Spirit of Witchcraft confuses, clouds (or drugs) and confuses certain areas of the mind into receiving (receptors) and believing a lie. Witchcraft controls people through the power of manipulation and deception. The Spirit of Witchcraft uses the process of beguilement to alter the thought patterns with the drug of deception. The job of the Spirit of Witchcraft is to cloud the psyche with confusion in order that the perpetrator, Satan, can control the actions, will, and emotions of people.
Witchcraft is the door by which all evil enters into people’s lives. Beguilement has been a force to contend with since the beginning of time. It was first found in the Garden of Eden when the Serpent, through beguilement, tempted Eve to eat of the fruit of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. (Genesis 3:1-13). The minds and hearts of all nonbelievers, as well as many believers, are controlled and/or influenced at times by the Spirit of Witchcraft which works in conjunction with the Spirit of Confusion.
The opposite of peace is not conflict--but confusion. Confusion is “the cause” of conflict. All wars and conflicts are instigated by people who are deceived and manipulated by the Spirit of Confusion. People become confused when the Spirit of Confusion and the Spirit of Witchcraft besieges, envelopes, and inundates their minds with instability, insecurity, strife, conflict and fear.
The ability to see into the realm of the spirit is called the “discerning of spirits.” This gift has operated in my ministry for years. It is not called the gift of discernment, but the gift of “discerning of spirits.” Discerning of spirits includes seeing good spirits (angels) as well as evil spirits (devils) as they move about in the realm of the spirit.
I have known many Christians who operate in what I call the “gift of suspicion.” This gift is not really a gift at all, but a hindrance to the body of Christ. All spiritual gifts are given to the body of Christ for edification and correction, not accusation and subjugation.
Several years ago as I was praying in my den, I saw what looked to me to be several demons running around me in a circle. I said to the Lord “Lord what is that?” The Lord spoke to me and said “that is a (one) “Spirit of Confusion.” The demon was running around me so fast it looked like I was seeing more than one demon. This was my first encounter with a Spirit of Confusion. I rebuked the spirit and it immediately left.
I realized the Lord was trying to teach me something regarding the Spirit of Confusion and how it operates. I immediately went into my study and started doing research on the word “confusion” in the Old Testament. As I was studying about confusion, the Lord revealed to me that the Spirit of Fear and the Spirit of Confusion usually work together as a team in order to perform their evil deeds.
The term “running around in circles” refers to “being confused.” We have all heard that term before, however, we have not really understood what confusion or running around in circles actually has to do with conflict or confusion. People “run around in circles” because they are experiencing conflict or confusion in their mind. Some animals are known to circle their prey in order to confuse it so they can have an advantage they attack.
The second time I saw a Spirit of Confusion I was outside praying in my yard. My wife and I lived on a bluff on Lookout Mountain south of Fort Payne, Alabama, at the time. As I was praying, I glanced up and saw a Spirit of Confusion circling over a city in the distance. I recognized it immediately as a Spirit of Confusion because it was running around in a circle like the one I had previously seen in my den. This Spirit of Confusion was much larger than the one I had seen years earlier.
This spirit had more power and authority than the first Spirit of Confusion I had seen. The sphere of influence of the larger demon was greater than that of the smaller Spirit of Confusion which I had seen years before in my den. I immediately started dealing with this spirit and commanding it to relinquish control over its area of authority. When God shows us an evil work in progress, He expects us to deal with it expeditiously.
The Spirit of Confusion is also known as the “Spirit of Babylon.” The word Babylon means “confusion.” This world is ruled by the “Spirit of Babylon.” You could say that this world is in “Babylonian captivity” today and is under the spell of the Spirit of Confusion.
Satan is known as the Prince and power of the air. This world is ruled and dominated by spirits which confuse the mind and propagate pride, self righteousness, and self indulgence. The nation of Babylon and its religious ideologies were a type and shadow of the inner workings of the Kingdom of Darkness.
The Spirit of Babylon is found today in every area of our society. “Confusion rules the realm of darkness on the Earth through spiritual adultery and various acts of sexual perversion, lust, and apathy, to name a few. People who are not born again are under the influence in one way or another of the Spirit of Confusion. Many Christians, even though they are born again, are at times influenced or under the influence of the Spirit of Confusion. This happens when they have been drawn away from the purpose and plan of God in their lives for a season.
Many people in churches today are under the control of the Spirit of Confusion. Many fail to completely understand what Jesus accomplished on their behalf at Calvary. The “full gospel” is not being “fully preached” in many churches today. Without the ‘full gospel,” people lack the full knowledge and understanding of the Word of God.
The Church has not yet matured into the fullness of Christ and is still in its infancy. Church members hold animosity against others in the Church. There is strife, division, jealousy, and self-righteous attitudes among the members of the Church. The scripture says, “Where envy and strife is found confusion rules and reigns.” People in some denominations think they are more spiritually superior than others, and thus will not have fellowship with them. False doctrines flourish in many areas of the Church because many are under the seductive influence of the Spirit of Confusion.
Not all evil spirits are equal in power and authority. Sometimes spirits work together to entice, control, and deceive their victims. Principalities have more authority and possess greater power and dimensions of evil than lesser demons. They are called “Principalities” because they have greater authority, as well as an army of demon spirits under their control.
However, only one evil spirit possesses ALL the evil powers and dimensions that are spread abroad in the Kingdom of Darkness. He is the “Chief Prince” and is also known as the Dragon, the Serpent, and Satan. There are other demons who are able to transform themselves into dragons or into angels of light, but none possesses ALL POWER in the Kingdom of Darkness except Satan. However, all demons respond to the name “Satan” when someone calls them by that name because they are under his authority.
When casting out demons, you do not always have to know what kind of demon or demons you are dealing with. The Lord spoke this truth to me several years ago. However, it can be helpful to know what kind of demon or demons you are dealing with when casting them out of people or dealing with them harshly and responsibly. If the Lord does not show you what kind of demons you are dealing with, you still have the power to cast them out and send them away.
IN THE BEGINNING the Serpent was envious of God’s new creation and the fellowship God had with Adam and Eve. The Serpent beguiled Eve in the Garden of Eden by “confusing” her with thoughts which were contrary to the truth which God had instilled in her and Adam “in the beginning.” The “seed of confusion” planted in her mind by the Serpent had some truth in it. However, the idea that “God did not mean” exactly what He said regarding the “forbidden fruit” was confusing to her. The Serpent’s words caused Eve to “question the validity of God’s Word.” She saw that the forbidden fruit was able to “make her wise.” This is the modus operandi of the Spirit of Confusion. Where there is envy and strife, there is confusion and every evil work. (James 3:16).
Adam confessed to God he was afraid after eating the forbidden fruit, and he hid himself from God. He was not only afraid, but confused as well. The Spirits of Fear and Confusion work together. Adam had never before experience the emotions which he was feeling after disobeying the commandment of God. He was experiencing an entire new world of emotions which he did not understand. Many of his emotions were “conflicting” one with another. The Spirit of Confusion is also the Spirit of Conflict.”
After Adam and Eve partook of the “forbidden fruit,” fear and confusion gripped their hearts and minds. Adam experienced fear and confusion for the first time after he had sinned. Adam’s disobedience brought a whole new plague of negative emotions which he had never before experienced. He was confused. Adam did not understand what was happening to him emotionally after he had eaten of the “forbidden fruit.” He was experiencing guilt, shame, and fear which were all confusing emotions he had never before experienced. Adam hid from the presence of God because the fear of judgment ruled in his heart where the peace of God once ruled.
According to the Apostle Paul, “fear hath torment.” (1 John 4:18). Adam was tormented by fear because he knew there would be consequences for his sin. The Bible says “the consequence of sin is death,” but God gives eternal life to all those who repent of their sins.
Adam told God he was “ashamed” because he was naked. He did not exactly know what he was dealing with emotionally or how to regain the peace of God which he had always known. He started making excuses for his sin by blaming what he did on Eve. Sounds like what many people are doing today. Everybody is a victim, and no one wants to take responsibility for the mistakes they make or the evil things they do. No one wants to be responsible for their own sins so they blame someone else for their mistakes and sins.
The right thing for Adam to have done was to repent of his sin and ask God for forgiveness. Instead, he blamed Eve for his sin. If Adam had felt any godly sorrow for what he had done, he would have surely repented. Godly sorrow worketh (brings) repentance. (2 Corinthians 7:10). Apparently Adam had taken on some of the ungodly characteristics of the “seed of rebellion and deception” found in the Serpent.
All the filthiness of sin in mankind which has been and will be committed on Earth was transferred from the “seed of the Serpent” to Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. We find that a Pandora’s Box of evil was opened up as sin found a way into the Garden of Peace. Instead of peace, now the Garden was filled with bitterness, envy, strife and every evil work. Where envy and strife is found, confusion and every evil work will be present. (James 3:16).
The Serpent became the author of confusion and every evil thought which has been conceived in the hearts of mankind since the beginning of time. That confusion will remain in the hearts of those who are under the “spell of Babylon” until the day of Christ’s return.
Habakkuk, Chapter 1, Verses 3-4 states: WHY DOST THOU SHEW ME INIQUITY, AND CAUSE ME TO BEHOLD GRIEVANCE? FOR SPOILING AND VIOLENCE ARE BEFORE ME: AND THERE ARE THAT RAISE UP STRIFE AND CONTENTION. THEREFORE THE LAW IS SLACKED AND JUDGEMENT DOTH NEVER GO FORTH: FOR THE WICKED DOTH COMPASS ABOUT THE RIGHTEOUS; THEREFORE WRONG JUDGEMENT PROCEEDETH.
Confusion will always cause our judgment to be clouded. Wrong decisions come forth when the mind is confused. Man cannot make righteous judgments or decisions without the counsel of God, especially decisions which pertain to spiritual matters.
Habakkuk said that strife and contention (confusion) impeded God’s laws, righteousness, and judgment from being implemented. People perish because they lack spiritual understanding and good judgment. People fail because their emotional and spiritual makeup qualifies them for failure. However, we have an advocate in Jesus Christ who has shown us how to cast down the ungodly emotions, thoughts, and strongholds of confusion, strife, and contention.
Christ, the Prince of Peace, frees us from the contentious Spirit of Confusion. We are free from the judgment of sin and death because He has become our peace through faith in His redemptive works. Because of the finished works of Christ, we have access to spiritual understanding and godly judgment. We are able to make godly decisions and use godly wisdom and judgment because of His redemptive work if we RELY upon and TRUST in Him.
In order for us to rest in Christ, we must cast down ALL ungodly imaginations and thoughts which exalt themselves against the knowledge of God and take into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. If we are going to live at peace in Christ, our emotional thoughts cannot be ensnared, enslaved, and imprisoned by the fear of judgment or the power sin may have over our lives.
While searching for scriptures on “confusion” in the Old Testament, I found two things mentioned which were always linked to confusion. Those two things were: “adultery and sexual perversion.” Two other things which were always mentioned with adultery and sexual perversion were “shame and nakedness.”
In the Old Testament we find that adultery and sexual perversion are types and shadows of spiritual adultery and rebellion. Israel continually committed spiritual adultery against God by worshipping other gods. Like Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, these sins left them “spiritually naked and confused” before God
In the Bible shame is a negative emotion which always comes as a result of sin. Adam sinned and hid himself from God because he was ashamed. Adam told God he was ashamed because he was naked. He was spiritually naked because he had sinned against God, and God’s glory was no longer a covering for him.
Today many people remain “spiritually naked” before God, and have no fear of the consequence of their sins. The Bible says the “fear of the Lord” is the beginning of wisdom. Unless people “wise up,” they will eventually die in their sins. Wisdom escapes the ungodly, and will continue to do so UNLESS they repent of their sins.
According to the Bible, Adam was physically naked before he sinned. However, he was not ashamed because he was unaware that he was naked. Being physically naked in front a wife or husband is not a sin. Before Adam sinned he was clothed with the glory or the “presence of God” in his heart. After Adam sinned he hid from the glory “presence of God” because in his heart he was fearful of the judgment and punishment he knew (conscience) he would receive for his disobedience.
In the same way the glory of God clothed Adam and Eve before the fall, the second Adam, Jesus, adorns us with the garment of His “righteous Blood.” However, if hearts are not covered with the Blood of Jesus, nakedness and shame will rule within the heart.
If we have not cast down and disposed of every carnal imagination, reason, philosophy, or stronghold, certain areas of our psyche will be vulnerable to the deceptive schemes of the Spirit of Confusion. The Spirit of Confusion comes to bring contention, strife, and every evil work to any area of the mind which has not been spiritually renewed and covered by the Blood of Christ.
Confusion and fear reign in the hearts and minds of men when they reject the WHOLE council of God. The Spirit of Confusion enters into the psyche in order to deceive and manipulate through the practice of witchcraft and sorcery. Confusion even challenges the Word of God in the minds and hearts of believers to try and entice them into believing false doctrines. Confusion changes and perverts the will and way of God in the hearts of men. Christians who are not rooted and grounded in the Word of God are no match for the deceptive tactics of the Spirit of Confusion.
Jeremiah, Chapter 3, Verse 20 says: SURELY AS A WIFE TREACHEROUSLY DEPARTS FROM HER HUSBAND, SO HAVE YE DEALT TREACHEROUSLY WITH ME, O HOUSE OF ISRAEL, SAITH THE LORD.
The disobedience of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden is called “spiritual adultery.” They chose to play the harlot with the Serpent, and ended up committing spiritual adultery. We see that spiritual adultery was passed down to all of mankind through the ages, and is even prevalent today in certain areas of the Church.
When Israel sinned against God, their enemies always triumphed over them in battle. However, when they turned from their wicked ways and repented of their sins, God was always there to bring them victory over all their enemies.
David wrote in Psalm, 109, Verses 29-30, “Let mine adversaries be clothed with shame, and let them cover themselves with their own confusion, as with a mantle. I will greatly praise the Lord with my mouth; yea I will praise Him among the multitude.”
The enemy comes to clothe us with shame and confusion. However, repentance and the sacrifice of praise unto God can and will bring victory. The Blood of Jesus brings confusion to and routs the enemy. Satan has no defense or weapon he can form against the Blood of Jesus. If the Princes of Darkness would have known about the power in the Blood of Jesus, they would have never crucified Him. The Blood of Jesus brings confusion and defeat into the ranks of devils and demons.
Isaiah, Chapter 30, Verses 1-3, says: “Woe to the rebellious children, saith the Lord, that take counsel, but not of me, and that cover with a covering, but not of My Spirit, that they may add sin to sin. That walk to go down into Egypt (the world), and have not asked at my mouth; to strengthen themselves in the strength of Pharaoh (Satan), and to trust in the shadow of Egypt (the world)! Therefore shall the strength of Pharaoh (Satan) be your shame, and the trust in the shadow of Egypt (the world) your confusion.”
God could not have made things any clearer then He has in these scriptures. When people listen to the counsel of Satan, they become clothed with shame. If people trust in what Satan says and believe the lies (spells) he has conjured up and plants within their minds, they become confused. People commit spiritual adultery against God when they choose to believe “the Serpent” rather than the “wisdom of God.” The purpose and mission of the Spirit of Confusion is to bring shame, conflict, and turmoil into the hearts and minds of men and women whenever and wherever he can.
In Leviticus, Chapter 20, the Bible calls all forms of sexual perversion “nakedness and confusion.” All sexual perverseness wars against the soul, and is instigated and directed by the Spirit of Confusion.
Sexual perversion is prophetic of spiritual adultery against God. They are both a result of being beguiled by the Spirit of Confusion. Those who commit sexual and spiritual perversion are encompassed about or “encircled” by the Spirit of Confusion.
The Spirit of Confusion wars against the Spirit of Truth, godly knowledge, wisdom, and understanding. Satan knows TRUTH transforms the heart and sets people free from the bondage of sin. Israel rejected godly knowledge many times and found themselves in bondage to the Spirit of Confusion. A person who is confused will always miss God’s direction and counsel. Confusion always tries to draw people away from the purpose and plan of God for their lives. All who are not born again by the Spirit of God are under the spell of the Spirit of Confusion.
Several years ago I was hunting in the Catoosa Wildlife Management Area near Crossville, Tennessee. I walked out into the woods to hunt in an area where I had hunted many times. I had a compass with me, but “who checks their compass when they are going into an area they are familiar with???”
After a few hours of hunting I suddenly realized my surroundings were unfamiliar. I turned around and started walking back in the direction where I thought I had entered into the woods that morning. After walking a long time, I realized I was “lost in the woods” for the first time in my life. I had hunted these woods for years and always had a good idea of where I was at all times. Finding my way back to where I had parked my truck would not be a problem, as far as I thought.
I turned around and looked in every direction to see if any landmarks were familiar–they were not! Suddenly I realized I was lost! I walked around searching for a way out of the woods for about two hours. Finally, I saw something which looked familiar. Unfortunately, it was the same spot I was in when I realized I was lost. When you are lost in the woods you can become disoriented, and everything begins to look the same.
I cannot describe the negative emotions which started enveloping my heart. They were emotions of hopelessness, helplessness, confusion, and fear. I turned from left to right and then from right to left searching for something which looked familiar. I was confused and unable to determine which direction I should go to find my way out of the woods. Everywhere I looked, “everything” looked the same.
Over the years I had read several stories about people being lost in the wilderness and eventually found dead of exposure after only a few days. Many seasoned hunters have been found dead within a quarter of a mile of their camps or vehicles because they became disoriented, confused, fearful, and helpless when they became lost. Confusion and fear will always exacerbate a problem.
For a moment I began to panic, but the Holy Spirit rose up within me, and I rebuked the Spirits of Fear and Confusion. I searched for a place where I could stay in case I had to spend the night in the woods. I found a big rock which I could use as a shelter. With a little food and water, and plenty of ammunition, I knew I could last a few days if no one found me. Spending the night in the woods would not be very pleasant or warm, but I knew I would safe be at the rock. The territory I was hunting in was very dangerous because many wild hogs, bears, and big cats were known to roam that area on the mountain.
After walking around for a long time, I remembered the sun was behind me when I walked into the woods that morning. It now was late, and the sun had long past its position at high noon. After much prayer, the thought came to me that all I had to do to get back to my vehicle was to walk in the opposite direction of the sun and keep the sun at my back. After all, I had the sun at my back when I went into the woods which would have been due east. With the sun going down in the west, if I kept the sun directly behind me, I knew I would be walking in the direction of my truck.
To make a long story short, I walked about two miles and found myself at the spot where I had entered into the woods. I had been in the woods most of the day, and had probably been lost at least five hours. I hate to admit it, but that was not the last time I got lost in the woods. Each time I got lost in the woods, I would remember the lesson which I had learned about the sun, and had no trouble finding my way out.
Being lost without Christ is like being lost in the woods, not knowing