Good Afternoon Sisters and Brothers in Christ,
We’ve learned in our previous studies Satan is the god of death and curses. As the god of death, Satan cannot create newness or new life. He can only take that which God created and pervert it. Everything good and perfect God created, Satan has taken and perverted or corrupted it. The only exception is Jesus Christ. Because Jesus was not corrupted or perverted, He triumphed over Satan and took the keys to hell and death from him.
In the first six books of the Old Testament, God references giving the Promised Land to the Children of Israel by driving out other nations and in some places God specifically names the nations:
Deuteronomy 7:1
When the LORD thy God shall bring thee into the land whither thou goest to possess it, and hath cast out many nations before thee, the Hittites, and the Girgashites, and the Amorites, and the Canaanites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites, seven nations greater and mightier than thou;
These nations reference seven evil spirits that oppose the seven Spirits of God. The seven spirits of evil work to counter each of the Spirits of God. Below is a chart of the Seven Spirits of God, the seven spirits of Satan, and the attributes of each. Obviously, Satan’s seven evil spirits are designed to oppose God’s Seven Spirits in their attributes. Think of Sodom and Gomorrah. Why did God allow the cities to be destroyed? Because of sexual perversion and sexual addictions. Sodom and Gomorrah were inhabited by the Canaanites. These people were known for all kinds of sexual perversion, addictions, and child sacrifice.
| Spirit of God | Attributes | Evil Counterpart | Attributes |
| Spirit of Judgment | Wisdom to Judge | Jebusite | Suppression of spiritual authority in fellow Believers, legalism |
| Spirit of Self-Sacrifice | Willingness to die for others | Hittites | Subliminal torments, phobias, terror, depression, deceit |
| Spirit of Head Authority | Ability to conquer in the spirit world | Amorites | Obsession with earthly fame and glory, domineering |
| Spirit of Service | Desire to serve and to please | Canaanites | Addictions, perversions, exaggerated people-pleasing |
| Spirit of Perfection | Desire to complete what is missing | Girgashites | Focus on earthliness, unbelief in what cannot be seen |
| Spirit of Dreams and Visions | Visions of great things while still being small | Perizzites | Limited vision, laziness, low self-esteem |
| Spirit of Prosperity | Abundance and Shalom Peace | Hivites | Vision limited to enjoying an earthly inheritance, hedonism |
The purpose of this message is not to discuss the seven Spirits of God or the seven evil spirits of Satan. It is simply to call our attention to the fact when we read the Scriptures, both Old and New Testament, we need to understand what is being referenced so we can rightly divide The Word of God (II Timothy 2:15; II Timothy 3:16-17). Don’t be mistaken and think these evil spirits were only in the Old Testament or the Old Covenant. These seven evil spirits are very active today throughout the world.
Paul, in Ephesians 6:12, references the spiritual battles WE wage.
Ephesians 6:12
For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
We, as Believers, have to guard against these same evil spirits gaining a foothold in our lives or in the lives of our family. Yes, Jesus has won the war, but the battles still rage on. We’ve been given the Spiritual Armor, the Spiritual Sword (The Word), and the Spiritual Name of Jesus the Christ to battle Satan and his evil spirits. But, if we’re ignorant of God’s Word and lack understanding how this works in the spiritual realm, you’re going to suffer defeat when you should always win. In the military we are first taught to know the enemy and to know ourselves. This principle originated from God’s Word.
Let’s take an example of how being ignorant or not understanding can cause us to miss very valuable hidden mysteries in God’s Word. These mysteries are for OUR GOOD. Look at Genesis 12:6.
Genesis 12:6
And Abram passed through the land unto the place of Sichem, unto the plain of Moreh. And the Canaanite was then in the land.
Most Believers just read right over it. If God puts a name in the Scriptures, there is significance to the name. As we can see, the Canaanite spirit is one of perversion, addiction, and exaggerated people pleasing. What did God call Abram to do in Genesis 12:1? To leave behind the world and obey God. God is teaching and imbuing Abram with the Spirit of Service, whose attributes are the desire to serve and please. Guess what evil spirit is there to battle this – the Canaanite spirit. This evil spirit is there to draw Abram back into the world, to knock him off the foundation of faith. We won’t go into it here, but what happened to Lot? II Peter 2:7 tells us Lot was a righteous man. So, Lot was a Believer. What happened to Lot? He allowed the Canaanite and Perizzite spirits to knock him off the foundation of faith. This, too, can happen to us.
Let’s take another example in the next chapter of Genesis; specifically Genesis 13:7.
Genesis 13:7
And there was a strife between the herdmen of Abram’s cattle and the herdmen of Lot’s cattle: and the Canaanite and the Perizzite dwelled then in the land.
Interesting. From the time Abram and his family went into Egypt and then returned to the Land of Canaan, not only was the Canaanite spirit still there, but now there is the Perizzite spirit. The attributes of the Perizzite spirit are limited vision, laziness, and low self esteem. Why is the Perizzite spirit there now? Let’s look at Genesis 12:2-3 and Genesis 13:14-16 to see.
Genesis 12:2-3
2 And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing:
3 And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.
Genesis 13:14-16
14 And the LORD said unto Abram, after that Lot was separated from him, Lift up now thine eyes, and look from the place where thou art northward, and southward, and eastward, and westward:
15 For all the land which thou seest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed for ever.
16 And I will make thy seed as the dust of the earth: so that if a man can number the dust of the earth, then shall thy seed also be numbered.
The Perizzite spirit comes against which of God’s Seven Spirits? The Spirit of Dreams and Visions. Look at the above verses where God is making promises to Abram. God is doing what in these verses? God is creating or painting a vision in the heart of Abram for the people and nation of Israel. God later communicates to Abram that from Abram’s seed, the Messiah of Israel and the world would come. Yet another vision!! No wonder Satan has the evil Perizzite spirit there. Abram has to participate in the accomplishment of God’s vision for him by faith. And the Canaanite and the Perizzite spirits are there to knock Abram off his foundation of faith in God’s promises.
Satan can understand any language spoken in this earth with exception of the Spirit of Tongues given when one receives the Baptism of the Holy Spirit. The Baptism of the Holy Spirit is NOT the baptism you received by water. It is completely different (read the first two chapters of Acts). This message is not discussing this, but I don’t want anyone to be confused. The Baptism of the Holy Spirit gives one the ability to pray and speak in the Holiest of Tongues that only the Spirit of God can understand. Satan and his evil spirits, demons, and the like have NO clue what is being said.
Satan uses these seven evil spirits to try and influence us as Believers. His primary objective is to knock us off the foundation of faith. If Satan can create doubt or unbelief in us, we are over into fear and operating in the physical realm. Satan wants us operating here because he is the god of the physical, carnal world. We, as Believers, want to operate in the Spiritual realm. We do so by constantly keeping our minds, our words, and our deeds focused on Jesus Christ. If Jesus didn’t think it, speak it, or do it, we have no business with it.
Has God given you a dream or a vision of something He wants you to do for Him? He could have given it to you 20 years ago or a week ago. When this happens, guess who is going to show up? Yes, the Perizzite spirit of evil. Satan wants to steal God’s vision or dream from you. He wants to knock you off the foundation of faith into fear. What if I don’t have enough money? What if what God calls me to do doesn’t make it? What if I fail? What if I just did this much? I’m scared to go there because they may not like me, etc. Yes, this is the Perizzite spirit, the Hittite spirit, and the Girgashite spirit coming against you. Satan DOES NOT want you accomplishing what God has planned for you. We have to learn to recognize the evil spirit(s) plaguing us and take authority by speaking The Word of God against them. The Spiritual battle is no different than a doctor in the physical realm. If you come in with a cough, and I, as the doctor, give you antifungal cream for your feet, what would you think? How effective will the antifungal cream be against your cough? If I have a money problem and I’m decreeing healing verses over myself and my money situation, will I resolve my money situation? No. God makes it clear in II Timothy 3:16-17.
II Timothy 3:16-17
16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
17 That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.
If you’re not understanding of how to attack and stand against the evil in your life, you will not obtain spiritual maturity or perfection (understanding how to operate in The Word of God and The Kingdom of God) and you will NOT be “thoroughly furnished unto all good works.” Verse 17 means you have learned the doctrine and instruction in righteousness and know how to use The Word of God, in The Kingdom of God, to abundantly do ALL GOOD WORKS. There is no substitute for loving and studying The Word of God.
Don’t be condemned, rather take offense against Satan. Stand today and decree to Satan you will not be a Scriptural illiterate and you will not be a vessel of fear. If you have the heart and desire to learn, the Holy Spirit will lead and guide you into ALL Truth (John 16:13) and will teach you ALL things (John 14:26). Become a Mighty Warrior of Christ who laughs when they say “hurricane,” or “inflation,” or “downturn,” or “shortages” or “fear.” These words don’t exist in God’s vocabulary. We have no business thinking them, saying them, or participating in them. Jesus didn’t while here on this earth. Neither should we. Let’s learn to follow His example and always have His results. That’s God’s will for us as Believers.
Much love in Christ.
Larry