Confronting the Spirit of Leviathan
By
Pastor M.L. Maughmer, Jr.
Matthew 11:12 says “And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force”.
Luke 17:20-21 says “And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation: Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you”.
WATCH THIS:- the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence and the violent take it by force, yet the kingdom of God is within you; therefore the violence that is being fought is within me as well. James 4:1 says “From whence [come] wars and fightings among you? [come they] not hence, [even] of your lusts that war in your members” So when the kingdom suffereth violence it is me and you that suffer the violence because we must constantly fight against this flesh. This flesh is enmity against God and we must crucify it and bring it under subjection. See the biggest fight we have is not with demons but with ourselves. Demons are subject to the spirit of God so we can rebuke demons in the name of Jesus and they have to flee, but it is within us that spiritual warfare often takes place and the battlefield is the mind. Because demonic spirits try to influence my flesh to do certain things or act in certain ways and that is violence, but because I crucify flesh daily I am violent and take victory by force.
Paul said it best in Romans 7:15-25 “For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I. If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that [it is] good. Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but [how] to perform that which is good I find not. For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do. Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me. For I delight in the law of God after the inward man: But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin”. That’s Spiritual Warfare!!
The devil is upset with Apostolic Glorious Church we are destined to work the work of Him who has sent us. There is an anointing upon the church to be fruitful and make disciples for the Kingdom of God. We say that “We are the church that Loves everybody” and because we have this as our motto, the enemy is going to try to do everything in his power to see if that is true.
1st Corinthians 13:13 says “And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these [is] charity”. Charity is Love.
There has been an attack that has come against the church and us as members of the church. If we look at it and be truthful with ourselves we will see that there have been things in our individual homes as well as the church that has been under attack. We have come up against a spirit called Leviathan and in this lesson we will expose this principality and confront Leviathan and defeat him in the name of JESUS.
I read of one pastor who said he had a vision and saw this serpent, Leviathan, crawling into the church basement. See the adversary will try to sneak into the church in order to destroy it and if we are not aware of the tricks that he is trying we will fall victim.
Several weeks ago I taught on the spirit of Python and told you how this spirit will try to squeeze life out of you. Well this spirit of Leviathan operates in similar fashion; however, some of the characteristics of this spirit are more devastating. There are only a few references to this spirit in the scripture, but as we search these scriptures we shall receive some insights on the attack methods of this principality.
Who is Leviathan?
How do you expose and counter attack his assaults?
We have in Job 41 and the first 6 verses of Job 42 a large portion of scripture on this spirit. The first thing I want to establish is who is Leviathan?
Leviathan is more than just a demonic spirit it is a powerful principality its primary focus is to attack ministries; whereas, the spirit of python attacks individuals. It is not limited to ministries, but will attack an individual associated with a particular ministry in such a way that the ministry is affected and can cause devastating consequences if not handled in the name of Jesus.
Definition of Leviathan
The transliterated Hebrew word for Leviathan (livyathan) means, a riverine, a serpent, crocodile, or a sea monster, twisted, and coiled, also the constellation of the dragon. When looked at as a demonic spirit or principality the definition is defense, defensive, strife, Pride, Arrogance, Self righteousness, Self exaltation, Self-will, Self centeredness, Critical attitudes, judgmental attitudes, worldliness, stiffneckedness, rebellion, hard-heartedness, hardheadedness, disobedient, rebellious, hinders of spiritual growth, wars against deliverance, laziness, divides brethren, false humility, talkativeness, mockers or mockery, scorners and the Spirit of Pharisees to fight the move of God and men of God.
In Job 41:1 the crocodile is meant; in Psalms 104:26 it denotes "any large animal that moves by writhing or wriggling the body, the whale, the monsters of the deep." This word is also used figuratively for a cruel enemy, as some think "the Egyptian host, crushed by the divine power, and cast on the shores of the Red Sea" (Psalms 74:14) As used in Isaiah 27:1 "leviathan the piercing [RSV 'swift'] serpent, even leviathan that crooked [RSV marg, 'winding'] serpent."
When we read Job 41 and other passages that we will look at in this teaching, it will be clear that unlike popular belief, that maybe this Leviathan was a dinosaur, or as the scripture describes in Ps 74:14 and in Job 41:1: "as a large sea monster of unknown identity". I believe that this creature is more than some Lock Ness monster.
Job 41:1 “Canst thou draw out leviathan with an hook? or his tongue with a cord [which] thou lettest down”
Job 41:10 "None [is so] fierce that dare stir him up: who then is able to stand before me”.
Job 41:26-32 "The sword of him that layeth at him cannot hold: the spear, the dart, nor the habergeon. He esteemeth iron as straw, [and] brass as rotten wood. The arrow cannot make him flee: slingstones are turned with him into stubble. Darts are counted as stubble: he laugheth at the shaking of a spear. Sharp stones [are] under him: he spreadeth sharp pointed things upon the mire. He maketh the deep to boil like a pot: he maketh the sea like a pot of ointment. He maketh a path to shine after him; [one] would think the deep [to be] hoary. Upon earth there is not his like, who is made without fear. He beholdeth all high [things]: he [is] a king over all the children of pride”. It is clear that natural weapons cannot destroy him. Isaiah 27:1 “In that day the LORD with his sore and great and strong sword shall punish leviathan the piercing serpent, even leviathan that crooked serpent; and he shall slay the dragon that [is] in the sea”.
It will take the sword of the Lord to overcome this Leviathan; it is more than just a natural large sea mammal.
As I have said the purpose and desire of this Leviathan spirit is to attack people associated with certain ministries and ministries. The Bibles says in 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]”. Understand that we are in a wrestling match. A wrestling match is different than a boxing match. In a boxing match the fight is won by a knock out. In wrestling matches there is no knock-out blow but you must hold your opponent down. In order to hold an opponent down you must know how to over-power your opponent.
Psalms 104:25-26 "[So is] this great and wide sea, wherein [are] things creeping innumerable, both small and great beasts. There go the ships: [there is] that leviathan, [whom] thou hast made to play therein"
When the scripture speaks about the Leviathan, it is always in the sea or in the rivers. The Egyptians both feared and worshiped this creature. They feared him in ancient Greek mythology as the "God of Chaos" and also worshiped him as the great serpent in their rivers responsible for prosperity and good business. The Egyptians believed they had created the rivers just because they learned to use it.
If we look at the Book of Revelation we notice that when the sea is mentioned it refers to people or what is often called the “Sea of humanity the world”. In Isaiah 27:1 “In that day the LORD with his sore and great and strong sword shall punish leviathan the piercing serpent, even leviathan that crooked serpent; and he shall slay the dragon that [is] in the sea” I like to believe that God is speaking about Leviathan in the sea of humanity. This serpent like creature or as some believe crocodile that lived in the Nile, is seen along side of the ships.
Psalm 104:26 "There go the ships: [there is] that leviathan, [whom] thou hast made to play therein”. Ships are prophetic of merchants and business." WATCH THIS:- our business is to win souls to Christ by making disciples.
I like to use ships are people and ministries that labor in the "sea of humanity". This is just another interpretation of this scripture, but stick with me for a while. My job is to cause you to think about something’s. This spirit wants to destroy ministries, especially those at labor in the harvest. This spirit wants to destroy and bring down ministries and as we will see he will do it with his greatest weapon, his tongue.
James 3:5-8 says “Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth! And the tongue [is] a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell. For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind: But the tongue can no man tame; [it is] an unruly evil, full of deadly poison”.
Who is Leviathan?
It is clear in the bible that Leviathan is a serpent snake like creature. Isaiah 27:1 " In that day the LORD with his sore and great and strong sword shall punish leviathan the piercing serpent, even leviathan that crooked serpent; and he shall slay the dragon that [is] in the sea.."
Ps 74:13-14 "Thou didst divide the sea by thy strength: thou brakest the heads of the dragons in the waters Thou brakest the heads of leviathan in pieces, [and] gavest him [to be] meat to the people inhabiting the wilderness."
It is interesting to note in the Hebrew and Greek translations of the word Leviathan, we will see clearly as it is and will be established in this article that Leviathan is translated: serpent, crocodile and even more clear that the dragon, satan himself is all these in one. I believe that Leviathan is either or definitely carries the very nature and works of the accuser of the brethren.
Lies
This spirit will attack is with his tongue. Job 41:1 Can you draw out Leviathan with a hook, or snare his tongue with a line?
The lying tongue: This spirit attacks out of his mouth with lies, gossip, accusation, criticism, faultfinding and slander. Job 41:19 says “Out of his mouth go burning lamps, [and] sparks of fire leap out”.
WATCH THIS:- Rev 12:15 says “And the serpent cast out of his mouth water as a flood after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away of the flood”.
This Leviathan wants the church and you to be destroyed and carried away with the lies, gossip, slander and accusations he will bring against you and if he can he will carry your friends and those who labor with you in the ministry away in the lie and deception. He wants people to believe the lie and accusation against you. Number one, he wants to slander your character and bring reproach on your name. You have heard me say something my mother always taught us, “You can’t stop people from talking about you but you can make sure it’s not true”. We also want to be sure this spirit has no truth in what it says. We don't want to give him a foot hold by living in a lie in our lives. We can only effectively counter attack this spirit by living in truth in every area of our lives.
If the devil cannot get you in sin, he will accuse you or even make up a lie against you when you are innocent Prov 6:19 “A false witness [that] speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren”. We need to be sure to respond to these demonically inspired attacks that even can come from those closest to you being used by the devils purpose that we do not wrestle against flesh and blood and we remember to respond in a right spirit. We cannot afford to allow Leviathan to operate in us, as we can become offended at the lie and accusations, criticisms or judgments spoken of us and strike back. To strike back or lash out is what Leviathan wants. It is with his tail in Rev12:4 that he withdrew a third of the angels in heaven. The tail represents the aftermath of the initial attack – your response.
Leviathan is working today through the body of Christ, there is a critical, faultfinding spirit at work in church today judging and speaking against moves of God, ministries, the set Apostle over the church, and individuals in the church itself. Whenever the word of God hits a person instead of that person striving for repentance they will get attitude and react in ways that can cause great devastation to the ministry.
UNDERSTAND:- We do not need fault finders and those who feel they need to be the watch dogs of Christianity but we need those that will restore the body of Christ Galatians 6:1 “Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted”.
Let us not forget how many have been quick to judge harshly and criticize the body of Christ, the church, or the pastor finding fault and publicly publish Christian dirt only to be overcome by the same sins. Let’s not let Leviathan work through us but let’s operate in the anointing of Galatians 6:1 “Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted”.
Another way we can counter attack this demonic assault of the tongue and lies, gossip and slander by claiming Gods promise. Every tongue that rises against you in judgment you shall condemn the mouth of the lies shall be stopped. Isaiah 54:17 “No weapon formed against you shall prosper and every tongue that rises against you in judgment you shall condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord”.
Miscommunication
Job 42: 3 and 5 says “Who is this that hideth counsel without knowledge?
In Job 42: 3 Job also declares “Therefore have I uttered that which I understood not, I had heard of thee by the hearing of the ear, but now mine eye seeth thee”.
Job is trying to understand why what is happening to him is happening? God has this lengthy discussion with Job in chapter 41 and reveals this principality Leviathan. Job repents in chapter 42 and confesses that counsel and true understanding were kept from him. This spirit wants to get between you and the revelation of God and distort the word of the Lord. Leviathan will seek to hide from you true revelation and confuse the true meaning of things.
This Leviathan spirit will hide the meaning behind what is said and cause there to be miscommunication and misunderstanding. That's how this spirit can sow discord among brethren. Have you in your marriage or in life in general say something that is taken the wrong way, someone will say, "you said this" and you say no "I said this" and you both think your right, or you say one thing and they hear it as another i.e.: you said it is black and they hear blue and this causes you not to speak to one another and have dissension between eachother. Leviathan wants to get in between your conversation and hearing and distort or mutter what one is really saying. This can happen between husband and wives, family members, friends, ministry and even children and parents.
When you become aware of this attack on your ministry or in your relationships it is important to simply say "Leviathan I bind you in Jesus name"
Recently I had this happen in my marriage and because I allowed this spirit to come in there was some dissension between my wife and me. However, when you understand what the enemy is trying to do you can rebuke it and fight against in the name of Jesus.
Leviathan will attack prophetic word
In Gen 3:1-5 the serpent ( leviathan) is wanting to distort and hide the true word of the Lord from Eve. Leviathan wants to cast doubt, mistrust and suspicion on God’s word.
“Now the serpent was more subtle than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, 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 hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall you touch it, lest you die. And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: For God does know that in the day you eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and you shall be as gods, knowing good and evil”.
Leviathan wants to twist God's truth and rob us of our promise.
Psalm 42:7. “Deep calleth unto deep at the noise of thy waterspouts: all thy waves and thy billows are gone over me”. The deep is where the real you is located. There is a deep in us and we are very careful about who we allow to come in there. God can get in there, deep calls unto deep. The Leviathan spirit will cause that deep to boil with restless turmoil inside. Sometimes sleep is disturbed because of something boiling around buried inside. This might be a Leviathan spirit at work. This boiling is not only in you but it also stirs up other people.
Job 41: 34 “He beholds every high thing; He is king over all the children of pride”.
Children of pride:-
This spirit carries an attitude of superiority, haughtiness, boasting and arrogance. He not only works in this kind of environment but attacks ministries and individuals with the temptations of pride. Can you hear this spirit smooth and deceptive whispering in your ear? Who do they think they are? They do not move in the power like you do. Who gives them the right to speak into my life? I am 3x7 who do they think they are?
This spirit promotes self and self-serving agendas. We need to watch out for a false confidence, and keep a humble trust in the Lord. When God is using me to preach a dynamic word I must keep myself aware of the constant temptation to think I have done something. If when the church begins to grow and the choir begins to sound utterly amazing we must always be aware never to feel like we’re more successful or special than anyone else.
Power, numbers and what looks like God's favor based on power. miracles or healing and success in casting out demons does not always mean we always are right with God. We need to guard ourselves from the "well I am too good for that attitude" I will only do this or that is you do this and that. This spirit wants to set you up with a false confidence and getting your identity out of what you do, rather than who you are.
When God brings Job to chapter 42 he is no longer the one who justifies himself but confesses that he had not really known God by revelation. Let’s be sure to give all these areas of any pride or self-righteousness to the lord and ask for the Spirit of wisdom and revelation in our life and ministry.
LEVIATHAN EXPOSED
Leviathan Spirits Operates in the following
Self-Will:- Willfulness, especially in satisfying one's own desires or adhering to one's own opinions. Philippians 2:7 says “But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men”.
Stiffneckededness:- obstinately proud, extremely obstinate and arrogant. As it is figuratively used, both in the Old Testament and in the New Testament, the word means "stubborn," "untractable," "not to be led." The plow was usually drawn by two oxen. As the plowman required but one hand to guide the plow, he carried in the other an "ox-goad." This was a light pole, shod with an iron spike. With this he would prick the oxen upon the hind legs to increase their speed, and upon the neck to turn, or to keep a straight course when deviating. If an ox was hard to control or stubborn, it was "hard of neck," or stiff-necked. Hence, the figure was used in the Scriptures to express the stubborn, untractable spirit of a people not responsive to the guiding of their God (Exodus 32:9; Exodus 33:3 Deuteronomy 9:6 2 Chronicles 36:13 Jeremiah 17:23, etc.). See also the New Testament where sklerotrachelos, is so translated (Acts 7:51), "Ye stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Spirit.". 2nd Chronicles 30:8 says “Now be ye not stiffnecked, as your fathers [were, but] yield yourselves unto the LORD, and enter into his sanctuary, which he hath sanctified for ever: and serve the LORD your God, that the fierceness of his wrath may turn away from you”.
Stubbornness:- unreasonably determined, unreasonably and obstructively determined to persevere or prevail. 1st Samuel 15:23 says “For rebellion is as the sin of withcraft and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, he hath also rejected thee from [being] king”.
Disobedience:- refusal or neglect to obey. 1st Samuel 15:22 says “And Samuel said, Hath the LORD [as great] delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey [is] better than sacrifice, [and] to hearken than the fat of rams”.
Rebellion:- opposition to one in authority or dominance open, armed, and usually unsuccessful defiance of or resistance to an established government an instance of such defiance or resistance. 1st Samuel 15:23 says “For rebellion is as the sin of withcraft and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, he hath also rejected thee from [being] king” Rebellion is anything that is against God’s will or against his standard. If there is any part of our lives, whether it is in our homes, or our churches that does not line up with God, let us seek today to remove it. Simply put “if the Word of God says it- then do it”. “If Jesus spoke it- live it”. If the Word says no, then our answer is no- not maybe. We cannot live by a part of the Word, but must live by the whole Word. Meaning we must accept it all as truth, and apply it to our lives or we live in rebellion to that truth. Let us make the choice of truth, and live it today.
Condescending Attitudes towards Others in the Body: We are to esteem others as higher than ourselves. If we catch ourselves thinking of another as less than ourselves in any way, especially in regards to spiritual gifting, understanding, etc. must repent quickly.
Independent Attitude: We are to be united in heart as one, although we may all have different functions. If anyone ever feels like I am wanting to do my own thing, you better check yourself because you maybe forgetting the fuller purpose of the kingdom which is to embrace the whole body of Christ.
Self Glory: Although it is good for one to enjoy the workings, dealings, gifting and blessings that the hand of the Lord brings to us, we must be careful not to think that it is because of our own greatness. All things are given to us as a gifts of grace (undeserved, unmerited favor) and all the worship and delight in these blessings must be returned to Him who authored them. We must always remember our helpless and humble estate without Him. We can never glory in our own righteousness; it is as filthy rags.
Self-Confidence: When we begin to feel a confidence in our own abilities to produce the anointing and the fruit of the Kingdom, we must be alert to the tempter. 1st Peter 5:8 says “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour”.
Lack of Time in His Presence: Often times this is a sign that a temptation to pride has come. It indicates a possibility that we have become self sufficient and self ruled and no longer need all that we have and all that we are to flow from His Presence and Counsel. This is dangerous in that it can produce a mindset of "self rule" that subsequently asks God to bless and serve what man has initiated.
Critical and Condemning Attitudes and Thoughts: The heart of a "critic or accuser" is postured above others. The heart of a savior is postured in servanthood.
Boasting Over Achievements and Revelation, often times this is not an outward action but an inward attitude. (Note: this is of the sin nature, not the "boasting in the Lord" as Scripture speaks of.
Dishonor of Authority: We are to esteem and honor those in authority (even if they are NOT under Holy Spirit control, i.e. David's attitude towards Saul). Attitudes of dishonor towards leaders often indicate pride in the heart. 1st Chronicles 16:22 & Psalms 105:15 says “[Saying], Touch not mine anointed, and do my prophets no harm”.
Desiring to be served: Jesus did not come to be served but to serve. This is the posture of humility.
Desire for Reputation: Jesus was a man of no reputation in heart. He emptied Himself. If we have inner desires to be esteemed by others, we need to be watchful. Pride could be lurking. Philippians 2:7 says “But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men”.
Desiring to Control Others. Paul said follow me as I follow Christ. 1st Corinthians 11:1 says “Be ye followers of me, even as I also [am] of Christ”. His desire was not to have control but lead people to Christ.
The only way we can effectively counter attack this assault is to live in humility.
James 4:10 says “ Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord and he will lift you up”. Notice it says, "humble yourselves", this is something we chose to do daily and in every moment we feel the attack of Leviathan in pride. Choose to go low, take the position of Philippians 4.
