There are many strategies and things you could do to deal with strangers in your family. Don’t be careless or naïve by thinking that there will be no such strangers. To be forewarned is to be armed to fight the good fight of faith against the individuals and forces that seek to break your family.
TAKE THE BATTLE TO THE GATES:
The serpentine and demonic strangers seek to take hold of your personal gates. These personal gates include your eyes, ears, heart and reproductive organs. The serpentine stranger took hold of the personal gates of Eve and then Adam.
“So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree desirable to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate. She also gave to her husband with her, and he ate” (Genesis 3:6). That is why 1st John 2:15-17 warns us to beware of the lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh and the pride of life.
“Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life —is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.”
Again, Proverbs 4:20-27 says “My son, give attention to my words; Incline your ear to my sayings. Do not let them depart from your eyes; Keep them in the midst of your heart; for they are life to those who find them, And health to all their flesh. Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life.
Put away from you a deceitful mouth, and put perverse lips far from you. Let your eyes look straight ahead, and your eyelids look right before you. Ponder the path of your feet, and let all your ways be established. Do not turn to the right or the left; Remove your foot from evil.”
CAST OUT THE DEMONIC STRANGERS:
Demonic spirits have for years operated in families to scatter relationships. They sometimes “possess” or influence husbands and wives with intolerant immoral and despicable attitudes which make it impossible for spouses to relate to one another with respect and cordiality. The spirit of anger has often led to physical and verbal attacks that lead to separation and eventually divorce.
These demonic spirits are like “pigs in the parlour.” The pollute the environment and must not be tolerated or permitted to remain in your relationship or family. Mark 16:16-18 tells us what to do to demonic strangers: “He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.
And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; they a will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.”
REPENT OF GIVING HAGAR-TYPE STRANGERS TO YOUR HUSBAND OR WIFE:
Hagar-type strangers are people whom we deliberately and consciously bring into our families to perform a function which we feel we cannot perform.
Hagar was the woman Sarah gave Abraham, her husband, for the purpose of having children by her. “So Sarai said to Abram, “See now, the LORD has restrained me from bearing children. Please, go in to my maid; perhaps I shall obtain children by her.” And Abram heeded the voice of Sarai” (Genesis 16:2).
Hagar-type strangers could also be men. One husband discovered that he was impotent and therefore could no longer satisfy the sexual appetite of his wife who was highly sexually active. This man’s wife understood his plight and was willing to do everything in her power to help her husband recover.
He, however, became so depressed that he made an unusual suggestion to his wife. He arranged for his best friend to have sex with his wife to not just meet her needs sexually, but also to have children for him, since they had none.
This man’s wife was at first appalled about her husband’s suggestion. She vehemently opposed her husband’s suggestion. But he pleaded with her and even threatened to kill himself if she refused. Heart-broken and afraid that her husband could actually make good his threat to kill himself, this woman agreed to her husband’s evil proposition.
This man’s wife began to have children by his best friend. He watched his wife, whom he loved, sleep with his best friend to produce “their children.” Deep down he knew that something was wrong. His depression did not end, but actually increased. The man ended up committing suicide.
Carnal solutions do not solve spiritual problems. Repent of giving “Hagar” to your husband or wife. 1st John 1:8-9 says “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
DEAL WITH JEZEBEL BEFORE JEZEBEL DEALS WITH YOU:
Do not tolerate anyone who seeks to manipulate, dominate and control any member of your family. Deal with them promptly. However, remember that the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but nighty to the pulling down of strongholds. “For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh.
For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled” (2nd Corinthians 10:3-6).
Be aggressive to the spirit of Jezebel, the way Jehu was aggressive to Jezebel, the wife of Ahab. Ask God to throw down and trample the operations of the spirit of Jezebel in your home. “Then he said, “Throw her down.” So they threw her down, and some of her blood spattered on the wall and on the horses; and he trampled her underfoot” (2nd Kings 9:33).
PRAY AGAINST THE AHITHOPHEL-TYPE STRANGERS THE WAY DAVID DID:
Prayer and practical actions are re quired to deal with every stranger. David did not deal with Ahithophel with kid gloves.
He both prayed and adopted a practical action against Ahithophel. David’s prayer was short and simple; but also very powerful. “Oh Lord I pray, turn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness.” David also adopted the Hushai strategy to deal with Ahithophel.
He sent his friend into Absalom’s camp, both to get information for him and also to counter the counsel of Ahithophel. “And so it was, when Hushai the Archite, David’s friend, came to Absalom, that Hushai said to Absalom, “Long live the king! Long live the king!” So Absalom said to Hushai, “Is this your loyalty to your friend? Why did you not go with your friend?”
And Hushai said to Absalom, “No, but whom the LORD and this people and all the men of Israel choose, his I will be, and with him I will remain. Furthermore, whom should I serve? Should I not serve in the presence of his son? As I have served in your father’s presence, so will I be in your presence” (2nd Samuel 16:16-19).
