What Is a Leviathan Spirit and How Can You Identify It?
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What Is a Leviathan Spirit in the Bible?
The references in the Bible to Leviathan have to do with a description of an animal similar to a crocodile. Job 41 dedicates a whole chapter to reference of the leviathan. More than likely, it was a powerful and untamable sea creature with scary teeth (The KJV Study Bible, Barbour Publishing, 2011).
From the beginning of time, serpents have been representative of evil spirits. The devil or Satan is often referred to as the great dragon. Isaiah 27 verse one states, “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.” This verse also references the enemies of Israel and how they will be slain.
The leviathan represents the forces of chaos. Of course, this is still no match for the power of God. See Psalms 74. Here God kills the leviathan and gives him as meat to the people in the wilderness. Also, read Psalms 104:25-26. “So is this great and wide sea, wherein are things creeping innumerable, both small and great beasts.
What Are the Characteristics of a Leviathan Spirit?
Much of what we know about the characteristics of a leviathan spirit come from theologians and biblical scholars. More than likely this type of spirit is linked to a principality. Principalities are a higher rank of demonic power. Of course, no power is greater than God’s power, but the enemy is working overtime to hinder the saints. Ephesians 6 encourages us to put on the whole armor of God so that we can fight the whiles of the devil. “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” (Ephesians 6:12).
If you have ever been around someone that keeps confusion going all the time, that is a leviathan spirit. I have never seen anything like it before in my life. That individual cannot stand for there to be peace. That is very troubling. The Bible says that God is not the author of confusion. 1 Corinthians 14:33). Some may think that causing confusion is a game. The end result can be deadly. Homes have been broken up over the spirit of confusion. Churches have split. Wars have been started.
James 3:16 (emphasis mine) declares “For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.”
Confusion causes unrest. Even people who believe in Jesus can still be possessed by spirits. They have to take it a step further and get the Holy Spirit. The spirit that is in them needs to be replaced with the spirit of truth. Being saved is a work in progress. We have to read the word, pray, and ask God for His spirit.
Why Are There Different Types of Evil Spirits?
We know that many distinct types of evil spirits exist. We have to avoid things that open up the gateway to evil spirits. Do not play around with tarot cards, witchcraft, or Ouija boards. Do not worship idol gods. If you are a Christian, stay one. People who have a murderous spirit and shed innocent blood open themselves up to demonic spirits or may already be possessed by one. Drug use can put people in harm’s way and open up the gateway to a demonic spirit. Some of these drugs cause hallucinations.
Do not let people send you out by having you sample their god unless it is Jesus or God Almighty Himself. Do not let them introduce you to drugs and lifestyles with sexual perversion. Sometimes, you do not know what people are dabbling in. It is important to get young people really saved before leaving your household. When temptations come, they know how to go to Jesus for themselves.
Another is the spirit of divination listed in Acts 16:16. The young lady could foretell the future. We also know that God will send an evil spirit. I Samuel 16:14 shows that Saul was troubled by an evil spirit from the Lord.
We also know of Jezebel in the Bible. She represents evil. Jezebel was so evil that she had the prophets of God hiding. She was married to King Ahab of Israel. See I Kings 16:29-33. She worshipped the idol god Baal and Ahab began too as well.
1 Kings 19:1-3 tells us why Elijah the prophet ran for his life. Ahab told Jezebel that Elijah had killed some prophets of Baal. Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah and promised to kill him by the next day at the same time. Scripture says that Ahab did more to provoke the Lord God of Israel than all the kings of Israel that came before him (1 Kings 16:33).
How Does a Person Overcome a Leviathan Spirit?
We have been instructed to fast, pray, and read the word of God. The Bible is clear that some spirits will not come out or stop oppressing us unless we fast and pray. Jesus showed us this example in Matthew 17:14-21. There was a man who came to him and asked that He have mercy on his son. He described his son as a lunatic and many times he would fall into the fire and often times the water. I have seen enough movies to know that his son was no doubt possessed by a demonic spirit.
The man told Jesus that the disciples could not cure him. Jesus told them to bring the young man to Him. The Lord rebuked the devil. And the evil spirit departed out of him that very same hour. The disciples wanted to know why they could not cast the spirit out. Jesus told them that they had unbelief. If they had exhibited faith, they could have cast the spirit out. However, He told them, that particular spirit would not go out unless you fast and pray.
When we fast and pray, we are giving up some things and that is impressive to God. We eat three meals a day plus snacks. If we gave up one meal, this would draw God’s attention. Give up a whole day’s meal and He is really listening. Fast for three days and there is no telling what might happen.
It was commonplace in the Bible for the prophet to go places and tell the people what thus said the Lord. Those who feared the Lord would call a fast and pray so that they could avoid whatever punishment was coming their way. That was basically the way things operated through the priest or prophet. Since Jesus died on the cross, we can go to God ourselves to obtain grace, mercy, and help in a time of need.
I am so glad that I was born after Christ. I have read the Bible and have seen how God has dealt with those who were not pleasing in His sight. I do not know if I could have made it during those times. Standards were definitely high. We have Jesus pleading our case. We have access to Bibles, ministries, television, and radio. We really do not have an excuse not to be saved. We have churches on every corner in many cities. If you are not saved, I would admonish you to try Jesus. He will keep you safe and give you peace. His power will also fight against oppressive spirits that might be hindering you.
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Dr. Sandra Hamer Smith is a Christian and wife to Sylvester Smith. She has one stepson, Greg. Smith lives and resides in Memphis, Tennessee. The University of Memphis alumnae has been in education for about 20 years after receiving the call to teach. Dr. Smith primarily teaches language arts. Prior to education, she worked in local and national television news for 13 years including positions as an overnight news anchor, reporter, and assignments editor at two local network affiliate stations. Smith was also a freelance correspondent for BET news. Dr. Smith has freelanced for the Tri-State Defender newspaper and Contempora magazine. She is the author of the self-published novel GLORY…THE HAIR. Smith is also a playwright and poet. The Tennessee native is a member of Temple of Deliverance COGIC, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc, Omicron Delta Kappa, The Golden Key International Honour Society, and Kappa Delta Pi.