CHAPTER 7
THE SPIRIT OF CONFUSION
AND THE LORD GOD SAID UNTO THE WOMAN, WHAT IS THIS THAT THOU HAST DONE? AND THE WOMAN SAID, THE SERPENT BEGUILED ME AND I DID EAT. Genesis, Chapter 3, Verse 13.
All sin entered into the World through the Spirit of Witchcraft which beguiles and deceives. To beguile means to deceive through false pretense and treachery. The Serpent was the most SUBTLE BEAST OF THE FIELD. The Serpent possessed the ability to cunningly, craftily and subtly deceive Eve into eating the Forbidden Fruit.
When most people think about the word “witchcraft” they picture an ugly old woman with a wart on her nose, dressed in a long black gown, riding on a broom. There is a real Spirit of Witchcraft which Witches obey and entertain. The Spirit of Witchcraft is the driving force behind their craft of deception.
On a more subtle note, every day many people use the Spirit of Witchcraft to control the lives of others. The enemy is always hiding in the shadows to draw man away from the plans and purposes of God. 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 entitled “THE MINISTRY OF WITCHCRAFT.” Witchcraft is the most subtle and dangerous work of the flesh because it creates an atmosphere of deception. The word “witchcraft” in the Bible is translated from the Greek word “pharmika.” Pharmikia is also known as sorcery. The English word “Pharmacy” is derived from the Greek word “pharmika.” It deals with the practice, or craft, of using drugs, spells or medicines to alter or control the thoughts, ideas, beliefs and/or emotional dispositions of individuals.
Certain drugs are used to alter the thought patterns of individuals by confusing their minds and feelings. For instance, a pain killer does not actually kill pain. It just helps one endure the pain by clouding or CONFUSING certain areas of the brain. The brain receives messages from the nerves which tells your brain you are hurting.
Various drugs are used by many people to “get high,” to escape reality. Many people cannot cope with reality. Mankind was never meant to bear the burden of guilt and shame which results from eating the Forbidden Fruit.
GETTING HIGH on drugs temporarily enhances emotional feelings and physical abilities by beguiling or deceiving the mind and thought patterns of men. Drugs, like Witchcraft, casts a spell upon the psyche of an individual to CONFUSE and deceive him. This causes him to become somewhat disoriented. IN THE SAME WAY the Spirit of Witchcraft confuses certain areas of the mind to control and deceive that person. Witchcraft controls by deception and manipulation.
The Spirit of Witchcraft uses the process of beguilement to alter the thought patterns of individuals through sorcery and confusion. The Spirit of Witchcraft clouds the psyche with CONFUSION in order to manipulate the soul. Satan--in an effort to control the actions, reactions and emotions of individuals-- deceives, beguiles and manipulates his victims.
Eve realized that she had been beguiled by the Serpent, and obviously, she understood what beguilement meant. Unfortunately for Eve it was too late. She had eaten of the Forbidden Fruit and, due to her disobedience, sin had entered into Eden. If we are not familiar with the ways in which Witchcraft operates, we are candidates for inclusion in its deceptively deadly schemes.
Beguilement and Witchcraft is the door by which all evil finds entrance into the hearts and minds of people. Beguilement has been a force to contend with since the beginning of time. From time to time the hearts and minds of unbelievers are controlled and/or influenced to a certain extent by the Spirit of Witchcraft. Unfortunately, many believers fall prey to the wiles of the Serpent occasionally. The Spirit of Witchcraft and the Spirit of Confusion always work together forming an ungodly alliance to confuse and manipulate unsuspecting individuals.
BEGUILEMENT AND THE SPIRIT OF CONFUSION
FOR WHERE ENVYING AND STRIFE IS, THERE IS CONFUSION AND EVERY EVIL WORK. James, Chapter 3, Verse 16. This Verse of Scripture is the counterpart to John 3:16. What John 3:16 is to the Kingdom of God, James 3:16 is to the Kingdom of Darkness. While John 3:16 reveals the Plan of God for our life, James 3:16 reveals the Plan of the Serpent for our life.
God is the administrator of Light, Love and Life. Satan is the administrator of Darkness, Hatred and Death. God is the embodiment of Spiritual Life in the World. Satan is the embodiment of Spiritual Darkness in the World. There is an ongoing furiously-raging battle in the Realm of the Spirit for the souls of men.
The opposite of peace is not conflict but confusion. All wars, conflicts and schisms are instigated by the Spirit of Confusion. People become confused because the Spirit of Confusion blinds their hearts and minds with instability, insecurity, conflict and fear.
The ability to see into the Spirit Realm is called “Discerning of Spirits.” To discern means to “see and/or understand.” This Gift of the Spirit has operated in my ministry for many years. It is not called the Gift of Discernment, but the Gift of Discerning of Spirits. Discerning of Spirits includes the seeing of good spirits (angels), as well as evil spirits (devils), as they maneuver in the Realm of the Spirit.
I have seen many Christians operate in what I call the “Gift of Suspicion.” This is not a gift at all, but a hindrance to the Body of Christ. Suspicion has caused and continues to cause much trouble in the Body of Christ. All spiritual gifts are given to members in the body of Christ for edification and correction, not accusation and the subjugation of its members.
Several years ago as I was praying in my den I saw what looked to me like several demons running around me in a circle. I asked the Lord, “what is that?” The Lord spoke to me and said “That is A Spirit of Confusion.” It was only one demon, but it was running around me so fast that it looked like I was surrounded by several demons. This was my first encounter with a Spirit of Confusion. I rebuked the spirit in the Name of Jesus and it left.
I realized the Lord was wanting to teach me something about the Spirit of Confusion. I immediately went into my Study and started doing research in the Old Testament regarding confusion. As I was studying, the Lord spoke to me and told me the Spirit of Confusion and the Spirit of Fear usually work together as a team to perform their evil deeds in order to confuse their victims.
The term “running around in circles” refers to confusion. We have all used the word confusion, but we have not really understood that confusion or running around in circles pertains to conflict or the Spirit of Confusion. Generally, people are running around in circles because they are experiencing conflict or confusion in their mind.
Many societies have differing opinions, philosophies and religions which causes conflict with each other. These conflicts are some of the causes of divisions, wars, and seditions.
A lack of understanding in a person’s mind plays a large role in the SCHEME OF DECEPTION. Some animals are known to circle their prey in order to “confuse it” so they will have an advantage over their prey. When their prey is CONFUSED, it does not know in which direction to flee.
The second time I saw a Spirit of Confusion was when I was outside praying in my yard. At that time my wife and I lived on a bluff on Lookout Mountain in Northern Alabama. As I was praying, I glanced up into the sky toward Sand Mountain which was across the Valley from where we lived. I saw a much larger Spirit of Confusion in the distance circling over a large area on Sand Mountain.
I immediately recognized this spirit as a Spirit of Confusion because it was running around in a circle over the Mountain. This demon looked just like the demon I had seen in my den except for its size. Because the Spirit of Confusion over Sand Mountain was much larger than the one I had previously seen, I realized its powers of deception and sphere of influence were much greater.
This area of Sand Mountain has been called the “Meth Capitol of the United States” by some authorities. Sand Mountain is also known to be a place where many UFO sightings and extraterrestrial activities have occurred. These sightings and activities are still occurring according to some residents. However, I do not believe it is EXTRA-TERRESTRIAL activity, but demonic activity disguised as extra-terrestrial activity.
The Spirit of Confusion I saw over Sand Mountain was much larger and had more power than the first one I had seen.
The sphere of influence which this Spirit controls is much larger. I immediately started dealing with that Spirit, 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. I would never try to deal with an evil spirit without the Lord leading me to do so, especially one with this much authority.
The Spirit of Confusion is also known as the “SPIRIT OF BABYLON.” The name” Babylon” means “City of Confusion.” This World is ruled and dominated by evil spirits (demons) which confuse the mind and promote self-righteousness, self- indulgence, selfishness, pride and many other sins. The Nation of Babylon found in history and its religious ideologies and religions were all types and shadow of the inner workings of the Kingdom of Darkness.
The Spirit of Babylon (confusion) is found in every area of society. Confusion rules the Realm of Darkness in the Earth through spiritual adultery, various acts of sexual perversion, lust and apathy, just to name a few.
In the Garden of Eden it was the act of spiritual adultery which Adam and Eve committed that caused them to be removed from their Heavenly Paradise. The Lord tells us to “COME OUT OF HER (Babylon), MY PEOPLE, THAT YE BE NOT PARTAKERS OF HER SINS, AND THAT YE RECEIVE NOT OF HER PLAGUES.” Revelation, Chapter 18, Verse 4. Even though this scripture concerns an end-time prophecy, the command to “COME OUT OF HER” has, is, and always will be relevant to each child of God.
To “COME OUT OF BABYLON” is a command---not an option! When we fail to follow the COMMANDS, or the Commandments of God, we will suffer the consequences. If we do not adhere to the Commandment to “COME OUT OF HER,” we will suffer the same plagues as Babylon.
Many Christians at times, even though they are born- again, can be deceived and find themselves under the influence of a Spirit of Confusion. This happens when they are drawn away from the plans, purposes and influence of the Holy Spirit.
In many ways the Church of Jesus Christ is under the control of the Spirit of Confusion because they do not understand how God ordained the Church to function. There is not supposed to be divisions, schisms, infighting and accusation amongst the Brethren. Many members fight among each other and many church organizations are divided because of petty jealousies and false doctrines. Wherever envy and strife are found, we will find confusion and “EVERY EVIL WORK.”
AND HE SAID UNTO THE WOMAN, YE, HATH GOD SAID, YOU SHALL NOT EAT OF EVERY TREE OF THE GARDEN? AND THE WOMAN SAID UNTO THE SERPENT, WE MAY EAT OF THE FRUIT OF THE TREES OF THE GARDEN: BUT OF THE FRUIT OF THE TREE WHICH IS IN THE MIDST OF THE GARDEN, GOD HAS SAID, YOU SHALL NOT EAT OF IT, NEITHER SHALL YOU TOUCH IT, LEST YOU DIE. AND THE SERPENT SAID UNTO THE WOMAN, YOU SHALL NOT SURLEY DIE: FOR GOD DOEST KNOW THAT IN THE DAY YOU EAT THEREOF, THEN YOUR EYES SHALL BE OPENED, AND YOU SHALL BE AS GODS, KNOWING GOOD AND EVIL. Genesis, Chapter 3, Verses 1-5.
IN THE BEGINNING Satan was envious of God’s new creation and the fellowship which God had with Adam and Eve. Satan, because of his jealousy, challenged the Commandment of God NOT TO EAT the Forbidden Fruit. Satan planted a “seed of confusion” in the mind of Eve. The “seed of confusion” had some truth embedded within it, however, the seed was not the entire truth. The seed was cursed because it came from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil.
The seed the Serpent planted in Eve clouded her mind and confused her thinking. The Serpent was then able to manipulate Eve into partaking of the Forbidden Fruit. “AND SHE GAVE ALSO UNTO HER HUSBAND WITH HER; AND HE DID EAT.”
Adam confessed to God he was afraid after eating the Forbidden Fruit. He immediately hid himself from the Presence of God. Fear of judgment will always cause people to hide from the Presence (glory) of God. Adam was not only afraid, but confused as to what had happened to him. Anyone who has experienced such a tragic transformation in their thinking and their entire emotional disposition would be thoroughly confused.
Adam had never before experienced such negative and tragic emotions as he felt after disobeying the Commandment of God. FEAR HATH TORMENT, and there can be no greater torment than knowing harsh judgment is imminent and the fact that you had brought on that judgment by an act of your own disobedience.
Sin always produces a Harvest of Conflict, Fear and Judgment. The Tree of Life will always produce a Harvest of Peace, Faith and Justification.
The Spirit of Babylon has conquered, and continues to conquer, nations and capture the hearts, minds and souls of many great men and women through its powers of deception. The roots of the Forbidden Tree reaches to the lowest parts of Hell. Confusion and fear will condemn all those who fall into its subtle traps.
IN THE BEGINNING when Adam sinned, fear and confusion gripped his heart. Adam experienced fear for the first time in his life because he had disobeyed God and eaten of the Forbidden Fruit. Adam’s disobedience brought a whole new plague of negative emotions which he had never known before and did not understand. Adam was experiencing guilt, confusion and fear, just to name a few. He hid himself from the PRESENCE of God because “FEAR OF JUDGMENT” now ruled within his heart where the peace of God once rested.
“FEAR HATH TORMENT,” according to the Apostle Paul. Adam was tormented by his emotions because he realized there were serious consequences for his disobedience. The consequence of sin is death, but God gives Eternal Life to all who will repent of their sins and trust in Christ. Unfortunately, Adam and Eve did not repent, they tried to hide their sin and shame by placing fig leafs over their nakedness.
Adam told God he was ashamed because he was naked. Adam did not know exactly what he was dealing with or the way to find that peace he had once known. Fellowship with his Creator had been replaced by something so terrible and unspeakable he could not stand to be in the PRESENCE of God.
He started excusing his own sin by blaming it on someone else. This sounds like what many people still do today. No one wants to be responsible for their own sins so they blame someone else.
If Adam had felt any remorse over having sinned, he would have surely repented. Instead he blamed his sin on Eve.
GODLY SORROW WORKETH REPENTANCE. 2 Corinthians, Chapter 7, Verse 10. Many people are sorry they get caught doing something wrong, however, HEART FELT REPENTANCE is the result of GODLY SORROW. A person portraying Godly Sorrow does not blame someone else for his sins. Apparently, Adam had taken on the attributes of unrighteousness from the Seed of 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 as a result of their disobedience. We find that a Pandora’s Box of Evil was opened on Earth as sin found a way into Adam’s Garden of Peace. Instead of Peace and Righteousness, Adam’s Garden was now filled with fear, confusion, bitterness and strife. WHERE ENVY AND STRIFE IS FOUND, confusion and every evil work will be present.