Spiritual Warfare - And The Craft of Deception by Don Randolph - HTML preview

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CHAPTER 11

THE SPIRIT OF MURDER

 

YE ARE OF YOUR FATHER THE DEVIL, AND THE LUSTS OF YOUR FATHER YE WILL DO. HE WAS A MURDERER FROM THE BEGINNING, AND ABODE NOT IN TRUTH, BECAUSE THERE IS NO TRUTH IN HIM. WHEN HE SPEAKS A LIE, HE SPEAKS OF HIS OWN: FOR HE IS A LIAR AND A FATHER OF IT. John, Chapter 8, Verse 44.

John said “the devil was a murderer from the beginning.” The Spirit of Murder was present “in the beginning.” IN THE BEGINNING Cain murdered Abel, his innocent brother in a jealous rage. Innocent victims are a favorite target of the Spirit of Murder. Many people are murdered every year, but the godly and the innocent are Satan’s biggest threat. Satan hates the innocent more than anything else. He loves to spill the “blood of the innocent” because they are most favored by God. The godly and the innocent have the most potential to do harm to Satan’s Kingdom.

Thousands of innocent babies are aborted every year because they are potential threats to the Kingdom of Darkness. How many babies ordained by God to preach the gospel has Satan succeeded in destroying inside and outside the womb? The strategy of Satan is to kill as many prophets, apostles, evangelists, pastors, and teachers as he can before they are born.

The Spirit of Murder was present in the Garden of Eden. It was the intention of the Serpent to commit spiritual and physical murder in the lives of the “first parents” when he approached Eve in the Garden of Eden. The Bible tells us “the devil comes to steal, KILL, and destroy.”

Many people have encountered a “Spirit of Murder,” and have only been maimed or wounded by a person attempting to commit the act of murder. Just because someone did not die when attacked by an assailant does not mean the Spirit of Murder did not try to kill them.

Murder and hatred are companions. People commit murder due to hatred, fear, jealousy, and desperation, among other things. The Spirit of Murder is the most dangerous and violent of all devils. The Spirit of Murder is the epitome of selfishness, greed, jealousy, and pride.

Murder is also one of the works of the flesh. (See Galatians 5:21). Murder is an attempt of the heart to justify feelings of hatred for someone because of greed, envy, strife, fear, jealousy, and/or desperation to name a few.

In the Book of Genesis murder was found in the heart of Cain when he slew his brother, Abel. Cain was jealous of Abel because God accepted Abel’s offering but rejected his offering. Animosity found a home within the heart of Cain. Animosity turned into hatred, and hatred turned into murder.

In reality “animosity” is “animalistic behavior” which was introduced into the human spirit in the Garden of Eden by Satan, the Beast. The Bible says the Serpent was the most subtle “beast” of the field. It is no coincidence that the word “animal” and “animosity” come from the same root word. The prefix “ani” usually refers to something animalistic in nature. Another word for animal is “carnal.” It is no wonder the “carnal mind” is enmity with God. The origins of the “carnal mind” is rooted and grounded in the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. FOR TO BE CARNALLY MINDED IS DEATH, BUT TO BE SPIRITUALLY MINDED IS LIFE AND PEACE BECAUSE THE CARNAL MIND IS EMNITY WITH GOD: FOR IT IS NOT SUBJECT TO THE LAW OF GOD, NEITHER INDEED CAN IT BE. Romans, Chapter 8, Verses 7-8. The word “carnal” comes from the Greek word “sarkikos” which means among other things to be “animal-like in nature.” The “carnal mind” opposes the laws which govern the Kingdom of God. The “carnal mind” and the “mind of Christ” are diametrically opposed to one another. To be carnally minded is “death,” but to be spiritually minded is LIFE in Christ Jesus. (Romans 8:6).

Hatred is prejudiced thoughts and feelings toward someone. Murder is conceived in a heart which knows no peace, love, or faith. Murder is a “work of the flesh” which is found in a heart which has been corrupted by the seed of Cain.

Cain’s “unfaithful offering” was rejected by God. Because God accepted Abel’s offering and not Cain’s offering, his unjustified feelings toward his brother turned into rage, and the outcome is history. Abel’s faithful sacrifice was accepted by God because it was what God required. Tin order to be accepted by God we must all bring offerings and sacrifices of faith and conscience instead of what WE choose to bring. Any offerings and sacrifices which are not of faith will be rejected by God.

Cain’s offering was rejected because it was not an offering of faith, but of works. It was Cain’s responsibility to know which sacrifices were acceptable to God. After all, Cain was raised by the same parents as Abel. They both ate at the same spiritual table as they were growing up. They both attended the same church, and they both heard the same “sermons.”

Cain’s sacrifice was not accepted by God because it was not a sacrifice of faith, but rather a sacrifice of self-justification. He did not know what was acceptable to God because he had not taken the time to find out what God expected of him. After murdering Abel, Cain tried to justify his actions within his heart.

Cain’s offering was a “works-based offering.” It was not a “heart-felt” offering, but an offering of his own choosing. There are many “works-based” churches today which “base” their “reasonable service” to God on what they DO for God, not on what He has done for them. Many people think if they bring a “works based” offering to the altar, it will get them into Heaven. However, works can and will never justify anyone. It is each individual’s responsibility to know and understand what God requires of them. We are “justified by faith” in the “finished works of Christ.” Faith which is based on works alone is “dead faith.” Faith in the finished works of Christ will lead us to “perform good works.” However, works alone can and will never justify anyone.

Cain’s sacrifice was not acceptable because it was not a sacrifice of faith, but of self-justification. Like many today, Cain did not care what was acceptable in the eyes of God. Pride sat upon the throne of Cain’s heart, and “he” decided what was and was not acceptable behavior before God.

I was preaching at a Church in Knoxville, Tennessee, one Sunday morning when the Lord interrupted me in the middle of my message. He told me to tell the congregation that someone who was present there “had committed murder.” When I obeyed the Lord and related to the congregation what the Lord had spoken to me, many people started looking around the building as if in shock, wondering who “among them” was a murderer.

Then the Lord spoke to me and told me to tell them “Whoever hates his brother is a murderer.” That statement eased tensions a little, and the congregation began settling down. I continued with the thought regarding people committing murder within their hearts and the seriousness of this sin. The pastor of the Church came to me after the meeting and told me there was a minister visiting the Church that morning who was going through a bitter court battle with his siblings over the Last Will and Testament of a parent. The Bible says “if you hate your brother you have committed murder in your heart.” (1 John 3:15)

The capacity to commit murder was passed down to Cain and his descendants when Adam and Eve partook of the “forbidden fruit.” In many ways Cain had become like the Serpent who had beguiled his mother. The “seed” which contains the “propensity to commit murder” was subtly concealed within the beguiling words of the Serpent in the Garden of Eden. Jesus said Cain was a “murderer from the beginning.” (John 8:44).

God put a curse directly upon Cain, and “drove him” from His presence. Cain became a vagabond and fugitive from justice. Final judgment will come for Cain at the Great White Throne of Judgment where he will be judged and punished for his sins. Cain was a murderer and a slave of sin. Not once did Cain portray remorse for his sin. Not once did he attempt to imply the deed he had done was wrong. Cain murdered Abel because he thought in “his mind” it was the only acceptable thing for him to do at the time.

Penitence was not an issue Cain considered because in his heart he believed HE was the one who had been wronged. He was not his brother’s keeper, and therefore he was not responsible for his brother’s demise. Many in churches today do not believe they are their brother’s keeper. They care nothing about their brothers and sisters in the Lord, thus harbor animosity, bitterness, hatred, and/or jealousy in their hearts toward them.

Cain’s only regret was that his sin had been discovered, and he now was now facing punishment for his murderous deed. The only sorrow Cain felt was for himself. The judgment God pronounced upon him was “more than he could bear.”

Cain did not ask for mercy. He felt no remorse, nor did he think about asking God for forgiveness for murdering Abel. In “his mind” Cain’s whole world had been turned upside down because his brother had provoked him to wrath. He was the victim, and Abel was his tormentor. Cain failed to show any sign of conscience or guilt for murdering Abel. Because of Cain’s failure to repent and ask God for forgiveness, he had been cut off and driven from the presence of God. He was doomed to roam the Earth, forever ostracized from the grace and mercy of God. WHOSOEVER HATETH HIS BROTHER IS A MURDERER: AND YE KNOW THAT NO MURDER HATH ETERNAL LIFE ABIDING IN HIM.” 1 John, Chapter 3, Verse 15.

People do not actually have to perform a physical act in order to murder someone. If you hate someone in your heart, you have already committed murder according to scripture.

The judgment for committing murder within the heart is the same as it would be if they had actually committed murder. Murder is always committed for selfish reasons. When the desire to commit murder enters into the heart through hatred, people can become unable to control their own actions. Whether or not the person they hate is guilty of any sin against them does not make any difference. The only thing which will satisfy them is the death of that person.

Jesus said that “murder proceeds out of the heart.” (Mark 7:21). If you hate your brother, you have already stepped over the line and brought yourself down to the level of the Spirit of Murder.

Murder should never be found in the heart of a believer. All murderers will find their abode in the “Lake of Fire” if they do not repent of their sins. An uncontrolled spirit is a rebellious spirit. The Spirit of Murder is a spirit which lacks compassion, self-control, and the capacity to forgive. Murder is an “act of rebellion” against the authority of God’s Word. The sixth commandment says “thou shall not kill.” Rebellious and depraved people will not adhere to any rules except their own.

Evil men will always try to justify themselves by making excuses for their evil deeds. They become pawns of Satan on the “chessboard of life.” Harboring hatred and murder in the heart never punishes anyone except the one with the evil heart. Once the commandment of “thou shall not kill” has been broken, justice and judgment become eminent. Justice, judgment, and justification belong to the “Lawgiver.” It is God who judges, justifies, and/or condemns. God always prefers justice and justification over judgment and condemnation. Therefore, there is hope for all those who sincerely repent of the murder found within their hearts.

Jesus said, “In this world you will have trouble.” People will do things against us which make us want to retaliate and seek vengeance. However, we must not entertain the Spirit of Murder regardless of how we are treated by others. If we fail to do what the scripture says, like Cain, sin will feloniously and lawlessly “lie in wait at our door.” A root of bitterness and unforgiveness will always cause one to commit murder in his heart. As Christians, when a person has wronged us compassion is the only thing which should enter into our hearts. The scripture says “if we do not forgive others of their sins, God will not forgive us of our sins.” (Matthew 15:5).

The Scribes and Pharisees hated Jesus, and thus they had already committed murder in their hearts before the Romans nailed Him to the cross. Yet, as He was hanging on the cross, Jesus cried out “Father forgive them for they know not what they do.” People who speak evil of you, revile you, and wish you ill, do not really know or understand they are being controlled by evil spirits. If we could see people through the eyes of Christ, we would understand why they do the things they do. We would willingly forgive them of the sins they commit against us.

If we could see others as God would like us to see and love them, we would have compassion for them. If we could see through the eyes of Christ, we would forgive those who treat us unfairly.

Those who hate their brother need to look at their own lives and find out what is “motivating” them to feel the way they do. “Vengeance is mine” says the Lord, “I will repay.” We must pray, be obedient, and allow God do “His job.” He is more proficient at it than we are.

If we were more concerned about our own sacrifices rather than the sacrifices of others, we “would do well.” If the sacrifice we offer to the Father is the sacrifice of faithfulness, God will be pleased. Cain’s sacrifice was unacceptable to God, so he chose another sacrifice--the life of his brother, Abel. Cain’s hatred and murder of his brother, was a type and shadow of the Scribes and Pharisees who had the innocent Lamb of God, “Jesus,” put to death on the cross.

The sacrifice of a bitter and jealous heart will always end up in death. The only one who was satisfied with Cain’s sacrifice was Cain himself. In killing Abel, he had eliminated the “object of his jealousy and rage.” Self-satisfaction came at the expense of the innocent life of his brother.

Murder arises within the hearts of men where chains of unscrupulous, corrupt, and ruthless motives and attitudes blind and bind them. That dungeon of deceit is controlled by the sadistic manipulating tactics of the King of Darkness himself, Satan. He was a murderer from the beginning, and the father of all murderers. Satan is motivated by pride, jealousy, greed, and hatred, to name a few.

Cain was a “tiller of the ground.” He knew that if he failed to keep the ground free of thorns and thistles, they would soon overtake the fruit of his labors--thus causing his crops to fail. He should have recognized that the “thorns” in his spiritual garden (heart) had nothing to do with Abel. If we fail to realize our emotional problems are engendered by our own selfish attitudes, desires, and motives, we will continue to blame others for our mistakes. Spiritual blindness will always prevent people from seeing the “darkness” which prevails within their own souls.

The thorns and thistles in Cain’s heart produced jealousy, pride, and a lack of self-restraint and self-discipline. Cain could not commit to being his “brother’s keeper” because he did not love him. Cain loved only himself, as many do today; and if there was anything to be kept, he made sure it would be “kept” in his own selfish kingdom.

A murderer does not consider the life of another human being to be of any value. Life is a “cheap commodity” to many who commits murder. However, as far as their own life is concerned, nothing is more precious to them. Murder is one of the most selfish sins a person can commit.

As I write this chapter on murder, there have been three school shootings in less than a week in the United States resulting in several fatalities. In these last days the Spirit of Murder will increase its crimes through more and more barbarism, brutality, and bloodshed. Murder will become so commonplace during the Tribulation that many people will stand by and watch as others are being butchered and murdered in the streets in many areas of the world.

ABORTION

Abortion is another form of murder. When murder is legalized it always brings a curse upon a nation. A Spirit of Murder is present at every abortion which takes place on this Earth. Many people in this world have stood by and condoned and/or participated in these atrocious acts of barbarism on the most innocent of all human beings.

When Cain slew Abel, God told Cain He could HEAR THE VOICE of the innocent blood of his brother “crying out from the ground.” The principle of “innocent blood crying out from the ground” still holds true today. Biblical principles NEVER change. God’s Word is settled forever in Heaven; and no matter how hard man tries, he cannot change “what is written.” The Bible tells us “life begins at conception.” The Bible says the “ life of the flesh” is contained in the blood. In the eyes of God when innocent blood is shed, it is called murder.

Murder brings a curse upon those who break the commandment of “thou shall not kill.” When murder is legalized by a nation, it always brings a curse upon that nation and its inhabitants.

Babies have been murdered by the tens of millions in this country since abortion was legalized in 1973. That blood is spilled on the operating tables in abortion clinics all over this country. The “blood of the innocent” continually cries out from the abortion clinics to God in Heaven seeking justice for their murders.

The blood-stained hands of the doctors and nurses who commit these murders also cry out to God who cares about every hair on each head of every aborted child. All of the innocent blood which has been shed since Cain murdered Abel is continually crying out for justice. Murder cannot and will NEVER be justified by any law or laws which man may legislate.

In abortion clinics around the world, the blood of the innocent is washed down drains and/or flushed down toilets. That blood eventually flows into the sewer systems and drains out into the water ways, water plants, and water systems everywhere across the Earth. Their little bodies are dismembered and sold on the open market to and by greedy people who have no discernable conscience.

The life which was in the blood is dispersed into drinking water, bathing water, and water to wash our unclean garments. The blood of the innocent also rises up into the clouds in water vapor, and eventually falls back to the earth in the form of rain, thus repeating the cycle again and again.

That rain descends from skies with great condemnation upon all who support, legislate, or participate in the sin of murdering the innocent. If we had “ears to hear,” we could hear the cries of the innocent crying out from the ground and from the rain as it falls upon the heads of the violent. Every time we pass by an abortion clinic, we should be hearing the cries of babies being murdered, as well as those who have been previously murdered. I have heard some Christians testify that they have actually heard the “cries” of those innocent babies as they walked by abortion clinics.

Abortion is the scourge of this nation. They can call it Planned Parenthood, pro-choice, or by any other name, but murder by any other name is still MURDER. No matter what name is put on the offence, the consequences for breaking the laws of God are still the same as they were “in the beginning.”

During the reign of Nebuchadnezzar, the Babylonians sacrificed their children to a god which they worshiped called “Astaroth.” The Canaanites worshiped this same god, but they called him “Baal.” The Canaanites also sacrificed their children to this false god as an offering for their sins.

Sin cannot be washed away by the blood of innocent children. One of the seven things God hates most is the “shedding of innocent blood.” The only blood which is able to cleanse and purge people from their sins is the Blood of Jesus. Many children are sacrificed (aborted) today because they are a result of sinful acts or because they were “mistakes.” God loves every child whether they are conceived in sin or not. God hates the SIN which produces illegitimate children, but loves the children.

Unless the conscience has been seared, sin always produces guilt, and a guilty conscience is hard to live with. The only thing which can cleanse a guilty conscience of sin is “the Blood of Christ.” The sacrificial blood of innocent children will never remove the stain of sin, but creates more sin.

Only repentance from “dead works” can bring freedom from the curse of the Law. If the murderous abortionists do not repent of the innocent blood they have spilled, they will face the same judgment as those who have committed other types of murder.

THE PALE RIDER

The Lord told me a few years ago a new “Spirit of Murder” had been released upon the Earth. That Spirit will encourage and incite many people to commit murder. During the “end of the age” murders will increase at an alarming rate. The “Pale Rider” of Revelation will increase in strength and authority as mankind falls deeper and deeper into sin and chaos. The Spirit of Murder has many companions--greed, selfishness, violence, and hatred, to name a few.

The capacity to commit murder has been passed down from generation to generation through the seed of Cain. The Spirit of Murder avails itself to assist those who desire or entertain thoughts of committing this sin.

In history the Mongols were considered to be more “ruthless” than any other nation in history. More than 56,000,000 people were slaughtered by the Mongols during the Twelfth and Thirteenth Centuries. That was a lot of people, even in today’s standards. The Mongols were ruled by leaders which were known as the “Khans.”

The Khan Dynasty of rulers were known to be savage murderers which used the tactics of terrorism. They conquered a large portion of the known world during their “reign of terror” on Earth. The Kahns created the second largest country in world history through plundering, murdering, and laying waste to other countries.

The first leader of the Kahn Dynasty was named Genghis Kahn. The name “Khan” is a variation of the name “Cain.” I have read that the “Khans” were direct descendants of Cain, the first born of Adam and Eve. To say that the seed of Cain was passed down to them from generation to generation would be a no-brainer.

I want to make it clear that just because someone who has the last name of “Khan or Cain” does not mean they are direct descendants of Cain or the Kahns. The names Khan and Cain are found among many nationalities who are not descendents of these murderous individuals.

Their favorite weapon of the Mongols were the bow and arrow, and the spear. An arrow, of course, is just a short spear-type object which is shot or released from a bow. It is used in much the same manner as the spear in order to maim and/or kill. This tactic which they used to kill people was a little different, but the result is the same.

The name “Cain” means “lance or spear.” I doubt that Adam knew the prophetic significance of the name “Cain” when he named his first born son by that name. After all, Adam and Eve did not know the prophetic significance of the trees or anything else in the Garden of Eden. If Adam and Eve would have understood the prophetic significance of the name Cain, they probably would never have given him that name.

I watched a documentary about a tribe of Indians called the “Waodani” who live in the rain forests of Ecuador. A movie called “The End of The Spear” was made about them. The Waodani was a tribe of people who had very little contact with the outside world. When they did come in contact with outsiders, the outsiders usually ended up murdered by “the end of the spear.”

The Waodani carried spears as weapons, and used them quite frequently on outsiders which they came in contact with. Even amongst themselves, the Waodani had little tolerance for each other, and would not hesitate to kill their own tribesmen over any small disagreement. They had little respect for the sanctity or value of human life. The phrase “end of the spear” was a common one used by the Indians to describe what they did, or would do, to those they disliked or to those who opposed them.

According to the documentary, five missionaries found the Waodani Village in the jungle and went in to share the gospel with them. The five missionaries were murdered by the Waodani Tribesmen with the “end of the spear.” The five missionaries had guns with them, and they could have killed the Indians to save their own lives. However, they had made a pact with each other not to harm them. They agreed that they were all Christians and were going to Heaven if they died, but if they killed the Waodani, the Indians would be lost for eternity.

The five missionaries sacrificed their own lives so the Waodani would have a chance to someday hear the gospel of Christ and accept Him as Lord and Savior. Eventually, the wives and children of the slain missionaries went back to the Waodani Village and shared the gospel with the Indians, and the entire village accepted Christ as their Savior.

To the Waodani, murder was part of their lifestyle. They had no comprehension of what they were doing when they killed someone, or what happened to people when they died. The Waodani were probably the ultimate example of the seed of Cain or the “end of the spear.” Thank God, the gospel is for anyone and everyone who will repent of their sins and ask Jesus into their hearts regardless of what crimes they have committed or what commandments they have broken.

One evening a minister friend of mine, Joe Hughett, was in the terminal at the Hartsville International Airport in Atlanta, Georgia. He was walking down a hallway in the terminal when he saw a huge demon walking down the hallway toward him. He said the demon was around seven feet tall, had a muscular build, and a “pale face.”

He said the demon seemed very angry about something and was cursing as he stormed down the hallway. The demon walked past him through a set of double doors. When the demon approached the set of doors, he violently pushed them open. Joe said as the demon pushed the door open the hallway and entire building seemed to shake. He said he had never seen anything in his life which compared to this incident.

Joe said he asked the Lord “what kind of demon “he had seen.” The Lord told him it was a “Spirit of Murder.” The next day Joe turned on his television and heard that a murder had taken place around the corner from where he had seen the demon spirit the night before.

The Spirit of Murder is the most “violent” of all demons. Murder in the heart of someone can only be countered by grace, forgiveness and love. To love, forgive, and show mercy, is divine. Whether someone murders a person physically or in their heart, murder is still murder. To murder someone by hating them in your heart is still murder in the eyes of God.

If we hate our brother in our hearts we are not showing mercy, love, or kindness. We are entertaining the SEED of Cain if we harbor hatred toward or desire the death of another person. May we all find forgiveness of sins whatever they may be. May the peace and grace of God guide us in all that we do and say.

Many people are murdered every day in many different ways and for many various reasons. Murderers kill innocent men, women, and children by the score. Abortion, ethnic cleansing, jealous rages, and violent homicide are all the work of the Spirit of Murder. The act or thought of murdering someone, whether it is actually carried out or not, is attributed to the seed of Cain and the Spirit of Murder.

THE SPIRIT OF ALCOHOL

One day my wife was praying for the son of a friend of ours who was an alcoholic. As she prayed, the Lord showed her a “Spirit of Alcohol.” The spirit was shaped like a bubble or an M&M. It was holding a bottle of alcohol in its hand, and was stumbling and falling as it attempted to walk.

The spirit had large, bulging, bloodshot eyes, and huge ears which were red on top. It had a very large red nose with a ball--shaped end. The spirit had a rather large mouth, along with large wet lips from drinking alcohol. Its arms were very long and skinny. The spirit had very large hands, and long fingers which were completely out of proportion with its arms. The legs were equally long and skinny. It had large feet and had on a pair of very large shoes on its feet. Each time the spirit tried to stand upright, it would flounder around and stagger as if trying to get its balance.

Alcohol and strong drink are referred to as “spirits” in many circles. These “spirits” work together with the Spirit of Confusion to create great delusion, confusion, and spiritual fornication. Al