I will like to speak to you today about breaking the spell of duality. Duality is a state of being two different things at once. We have had the case of both a very spiritual and yet extremely carnal personality living in one person.
[Genesis 9:18-27] “And the sons of Noah, that went forth of the ark, were Shem, and Ham, and Japheth: and Ham is the father of Canaan. [19] These are the three sons of Noah: and of them was the whole earth overspread. [20] And Noah began to be an husbandman, and he planted a vineyard: [21] And he drank of the wine, and was drunken; and he was uncovered within his tent”.
[22] “And Ham, the father of Canaan, saw the nakedness of his father, and told his two brethren without. [23] And Shem and Japheth took a garment, and laid it upon both their shoulders, and went backward, and covered the nakedness of their father; and their faces were backward, and they saw not their father’s nakedness”.
[24] “And Noah awoke from his wine, and knew what his younger son had done unto him. [25] And he said, Cursed be Canaan; a servant of servants shall he be unto his brethren. [26] And he said, Blessed be the LORD God of Shem; and Canaan shall be his servant. [27] God shall enlarge Japheth, and he shall dwell in the tents of Shem; and Canaan shall be his servant”.
We have seen this in Samson and we are seeing it in Noah too. Samson was both spiritual and anointed, yet at the same time, he spent a lot of time with strange women. And now, we are reading about how Noah was also very spiritual to have heard the voice of God and yet the first thing he did with the grapes God blessed him with was to make wine. Noah really loved God and obeyed Him, yet he drank and got drunk.
It is a common thing to find this condition in many Christians and even among ministers. Many have all sorts of weaknesses and addictions that cast doubt on their integrity. Many ministers are struggling with certain fundamental problems. The pathetic part is that although the signs show clearly, many in the congregation and even among the church elders fear to confront the minister to offer help or intervention.
Many ministers like Noah, Samson, or even David struggle with;
1. Codependency:
This is the let me help you because I can’t help my self syndrome. Many ministers spend so much time helping others because they can’t help themselves.
2. Substance addiction:
The addictive use of alcohol, smoking, or drugs is common among ministers.
3. Sex addiction:
Some ministers depend on sex, pornography, strange women or other illicit sex to escape fear, pain, and loneliness. They depend on these things as drugs to help them escape the pain and stress of life and ministry.
4. Workaholism:
Some ministers also bury their heads into work, to escape the real issues that confront them in life. Sometimes to get away from an abusive wife or spouse.
5. Eating disorders:
For most ministers, it’s either eating too much or too little. Many take solace in food to escape pain.
6. Gambling:
This addiction is just like chemical addiction; the surge of norepinephrine in the brain is similar to cocaine buzz and it is a strong driving force.
Now, we also see that duality has the tendency to leave the immature very confused. Ham, the younger son of Noah, mocked his father because he could not stand his duality. It could be very confusing to see a very anointed man of God being so carnal. He is both anointed and carnal. His spirit man is so trained but the flesh is not tamed. I pray that as we wait on God the spell of duality will be broken. I pray that we will all be on fire for God, and be done with every lukewarmness. We have learned that one thing that destroys a church is lukewarmness.
In any case, the journey to recovery is long and sometimes lonely. It will take a lot of courage and tough love to help your pastor or any minister come out of these dysfunctions. It is important to remember that the road to recovery is long. It will take time, faith, patience, love, understanding, education, and prayer to help an ailing minister. It is important to state that as long as we keep meddling in sin, we will be disgraced, feel ashamed and reproached because righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to every people.
Unfortunately, however, many ministers don’t see their bondage, neither are they seeking help. The most pathetic aspect is that they begin to take advantage of their father’s weakness to control or to reproach him. Ham mocked his father and told of his nakedness and his father cursed his generation. A father will always bless those who cover up his nakedness and shame. I pray that as we wait on God, you shall be delivered from controlling spirits and you shall escape every deep-seated weaknesses and foolishness that leads to scandals. You shall escape the lure of strange women and strange men. You shall escape the appeal of substance abuse. Unlike Noah, you will not be trapped by wine.
The following are 6 routes to escape duality:
1. Establish the root cause of the problem:
You cannot just uproot the problem if you really want to kill it. Sometimes, whereas many think sex, alcohol, gambling, workaholism is our problem, it is not. Most often, your problem is not the illicit sex, drugs, gambling or workaholism; very often, your problem is a need for attention, love, acceptance, affirmation, or support. Most often, the sex and drugs and gambling is actually what you take as a solution. A minister may fall into sin with a member, because he needs affirmation, or he or she is afraid of something. Until you are able to establish the root cause, you will be running from your shadows.
2. Put on the belt of truth:
Many of us are dual and bound because we are not honest. We are not truthful. We pretend and act holy but we are not truly separated. David slept with Bathsheba and killed Uriah, and pretended that nothing has happened. Most often than not, the devil plays on your lies and hypocrisy to destroy and hold you captive. The most important secret to success is to be bold to speak the truth to yourself and to others. The more you speak the truth, the less you will have to lie.
3. Believe the decree for your release:
I exhort you to get involved as we command these things. It is important to understand that deliverance is both preached and commanded. In both the book of Isaiah and of Luke, we understand that the Lord is anointed to proclaim deliverance and liberty to the oppressed. Isaiah 61:1-3, teaches that “The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me; because the Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound; To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord , and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn; To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord , that he might be glorified.”
4. Build accountable relationships, avoid people or situations that take advantage of your vulnerability:
Until you submit to be accountable to someone, you will be a Lord to yourself and can’t win. You need friends who are trustworthy and loyal to your well-being. You will not win if you are not accountable to anyone. It is also important to walk away from Ham and stay away from Ahithophel. There are people who wish you were always down because your downfall makes them feel good, keep your distance from such people. Don’t stay close to those who mock your mistakes and don’t cover your nakedness. They are dangerous.
5. Depend on the Holy Spirit for strength and resist unto blood:
He is given as our helper. He came to help our infirmity, allow Him to help you. Together with Him, you are a great team and you will win. You cannot be free from any form of bondage except you are ready to resist unto blood. We are fighting a spiritual battle and we must be willing to fiercely contest until you win.
I believe that now is the time that someone must arise and command the chains to fall off. I speak over you the liberty and redemption of the Lord. You shall escape the chains of addiction and sin. You shall not be overcome. You will escape and not be bound.
Be blessed, I love you!
Noah Simpe Bediako
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‘build accountable relationships’!!- grateful for the counsel