Spiritual Contractor

Spiritual Contractor

Text Judges 16:1-5

Introduction

I want to use the book of Judges chapter 16 the first five verses for this topic, but all bible students know something about the story in this book. The story in this book is centered on one of the most powerful if not the most powerful man in the history of mankind since the world has been in existence till this moment, the man called Samson and his relationship with a woman called Delilah.

We however would need to temporarily put our knowledges on this chapter; man and woman, on hold to read through what God has imprinted in my heart here as I titled it spiritual contractor.

I am using the woman as a prototype of what and how spiritual contractors behave and some of the things expected and or seen about spiritual contractors in the world.

Definitions

Spiritual here is adjective according to the grammarians. In the King James Version of the Bible Spirit could be found mentioned 505 times while spiritual is mentioned 28 times in the bible.

In Hebrew, the common word used for spirit is “רוּח”, rûach (pronounced as roo'-akh) while the Greek word for spirit is “πνεῦμα”, pneuma (pnyoo'-mah as its phonetic spelling is) and both words are translated to mean wind, breeze, breath. The author of the book of Acts of the Apostles describes this very well for believers in chapter two of his book when talking about the emergence and the appearance of Holy Ghost on believers.

“And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.

“And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.” (Act 2:1-2)

Wind is used to represent or show the appearance of (Holy) Spirit on believers in this book. And this is the meaning given to the Hebrew and Greek words, roo'-akh and pnyoo'-mah, as seen above.

However, another word used for spirit in Hebrew is “אוב”, 'ôb, (obe as it is pronounced). However, wherever this word “obe” is used in the Old Testament it is sure to be related to the familiar spirit, necromancer which the Lord hates and strongly warns his children not to associate themselves with, and peradventure anyone is found associated with such, they are told to kill the person.

“A man also or woman that hath a familiar spirit, or that is a wizard, shall surely be put to death: they shall stone them with stones: their blood shall be upon them.” (Lev. 20:27)

This kind of word, that distinguishes spirit from familiar (demonic) spirit is not found in the New Testament.

Contractor is someone (or group of people) who has entered into formal agreement with someone (or some group of people) to carry out a task which most often is associated with reward(s).

It would interest us to note that spirit cannot be seen with the naked eyes as we all know that wind (breeze) cannot be seen neither handled. Jesus while talking with Nikodemus says this about wind,

“The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.” (Joh 3:8)

Having seen the above we can now bring the definitions together, when we bring the definitions together we shall discover that this topic means unseen person or people assigned by unseen (unknown) person or people to carry out a work by mingling with the breeze on another person or group or things which would later be felt or seen.

In shedding light on what I have above said, I will like to use physical illustrations for this explanation as Jesus said, he is using physical illustrations to help the people listening to him in understanding what he is saying. The scientists also add credence to this when they say, going from the known to the unknown would help researches and students.

“Verily, verily, I say unto thee, we speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen; and ye receive not our witness.

“If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things?” (Joh 3:11-12)

Therefore, to enhance our understanding of this topic, I have subdivided the topic into ten simple sub-sections which are:

a) Who are contractors,

b) Types of contractors,

c) What gives rise to contractors,

d) Why using contractors,

e) Who are spiritual contractors,

f) Who are sending them?

g) Responsibilities of contractors,

h) Their Effects

i) Our Responsibilities,

j) How to achieve these

a) Who Are Contractors?

The followings are true of contractors and they are

1. In the past in my country, Nigeria, many of those who are contractors are not employed by the government of the land, unlike now that we have many government officials also working under anonymous names, to secure contracts from the government. They are those who will issue out the contracts and they are those who will win the contract and execute the contract themselves. By doing this they block the way for others who are not government workers, others who are seeking such to make ends meet. That is part of the reasons why joblessness is high among the populace.

2. They are people who are looking for additional source of income. It is a widespread belief by people in this part of the world that salary relying on monthly stipends one would not be able to meet with other family demands that have to do with money. Part of the reason for this in this part of the land is what we practice and because people are grossly underpaid in this part of the world as compared with other parts of the world. If the rate of payment be improved upon and increased, this saying would be reduced if not eliminated and the government workers who are seeking for additional source of income would leave such for those who are not government workers.

On the other note, many of those who are business men also go into the field of obtaining contracts because they want additional source of income for their businesses or works.

3. They are those who seize presenting opportunities to bid for contracts. In the book of Judges 16 we shall see that the philistines seized the presenting opportunity to approach Delilah to work for them, assist them in pulling down Samson.

“And the lords of the Philistines came up unto her, and said unto her, entice him, and see wherein his great strength lieth, and by what means we may prevail against him, that we may bind him to afflict him: and we will give thee every one of us eleven hundred pieces of silver.” (Jdg 16:5)

They knew that if they do not seize the opportunity of using their own, the woman to help them in catching Samson, they would not be able to do that again. And who knows, they may have been approaching different ladies in the past, but which they have been failing.

Some who are not contractors, when they see an opportunity, they will seize the opportunity, make use of the opportunity to get what they want as it is being said that opportunity comes but once.

4. Sometimes contractors are those who are knowledgeable in the work, but they are not employed, they are jobless. Let us see someone in the bible who knows how to conquer nations, a great warrior but who could not exercise what he knows until Caleb issued out a statement.

“And Caleb said, He that smiteth Kirjathsepher, and taketh it, to him will I give Achsah my daughter to wife.

“And Othniel the son of Kenaz, the brother of Caleb, took it: and he gave him Achsah his daughter to wife.” (Jos 15:16-17)

Othniel here becomes a contractor, works to smite Kirjathsepher, and took it for caleb, because of what he did, Caleb also fulfilled his promise for anyone who does that for him. Othniel was a warrior, and has been longing to go to war, to exercise his power, but he was not employed, he has not wherewithal to carry out what he knows and what he can do until Caleb asks for people who can do the work for him with emoluments attached.

This is akin to some of people in the world today, they know the work, they have undergone several trainings on the job, but because of recession and other factors, they could not be employed. However, when an opportunity presents itself to showcase what they know, they will come out, come forth to carry out the work.

5. They are sometimes, those who want to be independent. Some people do not like working for people, they hate depending on people, because they have heard that anyone who wants to make it big in life would have to be independent, because of this such people also do not seek for job, and if they seek for job, they would resign from the job after a while because they want to be alone. After retiring or resigning, they would become a contractor.

b) Types of Contractors: Many of the things God created in the world are in pairs, “twos”, right and left, male and female, in the same way the scientists also discover things in pairs, positive and negative etc. The types of contractors are also two, spiritual and physical contractors.

These types can further be divided into good and evil ones.

c) What Gives Rise to Contractors? In this subsection we shall examine some of the things that give rise to contractors and they are:

1. Civilization: as the world continue to develop, and grow, with many innovations coming into place, things couldn’t be handled by a single person as such there is need to involve others in bringing to pass some of the things that should be done in the world.

2. Increase Knowledge: it is obvious that the world is not like it was in the centuries past, the revelation shown unto prophet Daniel was being fulfilled because there is increase in knowledge all over the world.

“But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased.” (Dan 12:4)  

The increase in knowledge has brought about many innovations into the world setting. It is because of the increment in knowledge that we could reach unto the seemingly hidden places of the world now with relative ease.

This increase in knowledge could not be carried out alone by a singular person, thus there is need to involve others in it, and this is what brings about the use of contractors to execute some works for the person.

3. Expansion of Town/Country: The expansion of towns or countries also makes the use of contractors inevitable.

4. Interacting With Others: as we interact with one another, as countries interact with other countries, it is sure that such cannot be done alone, thus, there would be a time when contractors would be contacted to carry out some tasks.

d) Why Using Contractors? We employ the services of contractors because of one or all of the followings.

1. Being Occupied With A Work: When we are busy doing something in the office or at home and we do not wish to be distracted neither leave what we are doing at that time, we employ the services of a contractor.

The apostles clearly stated that they do not wish to leave preaching for serving the table during the first uproar among the church in Jerusalem.

“And in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplied, there arose a murmuring of the Grecians against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration.

“Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and said, It is not reason that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables.

“Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business.

“But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.” (Act 6:1-4)

2. Little or No Knowledge About A Work: When there is little or no knowledge about a work, we shall be counseled to employ the services of contractors to carry out the work for us.

“And king Solomon sent and fetched Hiram out of Tyre.

“He was a widow's son of the tribe of Naphtali, and his father was a man of Tyre, a worker in brass: and he was filled with wisdom, and understanding, and cunning to work all works in brass. And he came to king Solomon, and wrought all his work.” (1 Ki 7:13-14)

When king Solomon wanted to build his own house and he needs the work of an expert to put finish touches to some of the things he desired to have in his house, he contacted Hiram who he used to do the work for him to his taste.

3. No Power to Carry Out The Work: sometimes when one wants to do something one would not have the power to carry out the work as such one would employ the services of contractors to help him or her out in the work.

Consider the case of the Israeli army and Philistine army as led by Goliath during the days of King Saul. No one among the Israel warriors could face the great warrior Goliath until the teenage David arrived to greet his senior ones at the battle field.

David on the order of his father was at the battle field, he did not know that King Saul had contracted out the work with reward for anyone who could kill the strong man. When he heard the remunerations associated with it, he decides to take the risk and God gave him victory.

“And David left his carriage in the hand of the keeper of the carriage, and ran into the army, and came and saluted his brethren.

“And as he talked with them, behold, there came up the champion, the Philistine of Gath, Goliath by name, out of the armies of the Philistines, and spake according to the same words: and David heard them.

“And all the men of Israel, when they saw the man, fled from him, and were sore afraid.

“And the men of Israel said, Have ye seen this man that is come up? surely to defy Israel is he come up: and it shall be, that the man who killeth him, the king will enrich him with great riches, and will give him his daughter, and make his father's house free in Israel.

“And David spake to the men that stood by him, saying, what shall be done to the man that killeth this Philistine, and taketh away the reproach from Israel? for who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?

“And the people answered him after this manner, saying, so shall it be done to the man that killeth him.” (1 Sam 17:22-27)

They lack the power and might in God to face the warrior, but God gave David this power and might.

4. To Create Time For Other Things: leaders use contractors when they know they are busy and would not be able to attend to other equally important matters. As the economists would say, it is a division of labor sort of thing when leaders ask people to do the work for them.

“And the king of Assyria sent Tartan and Rabsaris and Rabshakeh from Lachish to king Hezekiah with a great host against Jerusalem. And they went up and came to Jerusalem. And when they were come up, they came and stood by the conduit of the upper pool, which is in the highway of the fuller's field.” (2 Ki 18:17)

King of Assyria sent those people to go and talk to the people of Israel that they cannot be saved from him and his gods, because of what he has done on other countries of equal might and or more than the Israel army were, thus, he contracted the work to Tartan, Rabsaris and Rabshakeh, so that he would leave other matters of rulership unattended to.

5. To Bless Them: People contract works out so that they would be able to bless those people who work for them. The Philistines contacted and contracted the work to Delilah so that they would bless her, they would transform her financial status.

“And the lords of the Philistines came up unto her, and said unto her, Entice him, and see wherein his great strength lieth, and by what means we may prevail against him, that we may bind him to afflict him: and we will give thee every one of us eleven hundred pieces of silver.” (Jdg 16:5)

The amount which they would give her was stated. A life transforming money during their days.

6. For Assistance: sometimes when a project is big such that the contractor could not finish it alone, he could contract part of it out to other contractors. 

e) Who Are Spiritual Contractors?

1. Spiritually Endowed Ones: Spiritual contractors are those who have been spiritually endowed

“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.” (Eph 6:12)

As God endowed his own children with his Spirit so does the devil endowed his own people too with his own spirit, demonic spirit and power as could be seen in the book of Ephesus that we do not fight with ordinary flesh, but we fight with spiritual wickedness in high places of the world.

Such beings and people with such demonic powers would be contacted by the devil to carry out some works for him.

2. Devils: the devils as used in the New Testament are unclean spirit which the devil (or Satan) sends to possess people and would start controlling them. Sometimes such unclean spirits would be so many that they couldn’t be numbered again as it happened to the insane man whose account, we read in the Gospel according to saint Mark 5, Matthew 8 and Luke 8.

“And he asked him, what is thy name? And he answered, saying, my name is Legion: for we are many.” (Mar 5:9)

3. Angels: Angels spiritual contractors used by God to deliver messages to the saints and unbelievers on rare occasions. The author of the book of Hebrews called them ministering spirits.

“But to which of the angels said he at any time, sit on my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool?

“Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?” (Heb 1:13-14)

f) Who Are Sending Them? Two powers control the events in the world and those are power of the devil and power of God. This therefore means that those who are sending those forces could either be God or Satan.

1. Satan: Satan is the one sending those who belong unto him when he sends his spirit to their hearts, immediately the spirit enters their hearts they started doing, carrying out his desire. This is what happened in the garden of Eden because the devil entered the heart of the serpent and it pushed our fore-parents to go against the will of God.

“Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?” (Gen. 3:1)

“Then goeth he, and taketh to him seven other spirits more wicked than himself; and they enter in, and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first.” (Luk 11:26)

“Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.” (Joh 8:44)

2. Jesus: Jesus also sends those he has empowered to go into all the world to work for him.

“After these things the Lord appointed other seventy also, and sent them two and two before his face into every city and place, whither he himself would come.

“Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.” (Luk 10: 1, 19)

“And he said unto them, go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.

“He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.

“And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;

“They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.” (Mar 16:15-18)

Having empowered us for the service he commissioned us, and we cannot afford to fail him, we cannot afford not doing the work.

g) Responsibilities of Contractors: some of the responsibilities of contractors are these

1. To fulfill the desire of their masters,

2. To carry out the work with precision,

3. To succeed in what they have been assigned to do,

“Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,” (Heb 12:1)

h) Their Effects

the effects of spiritual contractors could also be divided into two, those who are working for the Lord and those who are working for the Devil.

i) Those Working For The Lord: the followings among others are the effects of those working for the devil on what or whom they have been sent to.

1. They Preach the Gospel,

“But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.” (Act 1:8)

2. They instruct the people in the way of the Lord,

3. They sharpen one another (brethren),

4. They correct in love,

5. They are loving,

6. Constructive warning,

“Arise, go unto Nineveh, that great city, and preach unto it the preaching that I bid thee.” (Jon 3:2)

“And when they were departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee word: for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him.” (Mat 2:13)

7. Bless people

“Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not.” (Rom 12:14)

ii) Those Working For Satan: These are the agents to darkness whom the devil uses to perform his enterprise, achieve his aim in the world. The underlisted are their effects on the persons or whatever they have been sent to.

1. Liars

“Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.” (Joh 8:44)

2. Thieves: “The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.” (Joh 10:10)

3. Destroy,

4. Kill,

5. Destructive warning,

6. Accusers of brethren

“And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.” (Rev 12:10)

7. Hinders answers to prayers:

“Then I lifted up mine eyes, and looked, and behold a certain man clothed in linen, whose loins were girded with fine gold of Uphaz:

“And he said unto me, O Daniel, a man greatly beloved, understand the words that I speak unto thee, and stand upright: for unto thee am I now sent. And when he had spoken this word unto me, I stood trembling.

“Then said he unto me, Fear not, Daniel: for from the first day that thou didst set thine heart to understand, and to chasten thyself before thy God, thy words were heard, and I am come for thy words.

“But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me one and twenty days: but, lo, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me; and I remained there with the kings of Persia.” (Dan 10:5, 11-13)

8. Inflict diseases and suffering on people

“He said unto them, an enemy hath done this. The servants said unto him, wilt thou then that we go and gather them up?” (Mat. 13:28)

9. They curse

“And Balak said unto Balaam, what hast thou done unto me? I took thee to curse mine enemies, and, behold, thou hast blessed them altogether.” (Num 23:11)

10. They teach people how to put stumblingblock on the path of brethren or others

“But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication.” (Rev 2:14)

i) Our Responsibilities:

1. Getting set always,

“Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil” (Eph 6:11)

When someone knows that she or he would leave for a journey very early the following day, such a person would not have deep sleep as others around, the person would be intermittently waking up. This becomes more heightened if the person would be going with his senior partner, maybe he has no money for the trip or does not know the place, and the person told him that very early the following morning the person would be leaving and if he is interested in going, he should join him. The person would barely close his eyes before opening it again, because he does not want to miss the trip, he does not want to miss the flight.

That is how it is if we want to walk with the Lord in facing those spiritual contractors, we must be alert always, our spiritual person must not sleep.

“I sleep, but my heart waketh: it is the voice of my beloved that knocketh, saying, Open to me, my sister, my love, my dove, my undefiled: for my head is filled with dew, and my locks with the drops of the night.” (Son 5:2)

A believer’s heart must always be awaking as the heart of a lover couldn’t have a deep sleep until the lover sees his love.

2. Strive to Know God More

In getting set always, we shall need to know more of God, and Jesus said believers would know him more through the reading of the bible.

“Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.” (Joh 5:39)

When we read our bibles and we follow him through the injunctions of the spirit and other means that we know are Godly ways we shall know him more and would be able to do his will would always be ready spiritually.

j) How to Achieve This

1. Prayer

“Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” (Mat 26:41)

Pray here in Greek is “προσεύχομαι”, proseuchomai, (which has this phonetic spelling pros-yoo'-khom-ahee) meaning supplicate, worship, talking earnestly to God for something. This we need to do because the devil sleeps not, he walks about seeking whom he may devour like a lion.

“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:” (1 Pe 5:8)

2. Watchful

“Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” (Mat 26:41)

Greek word for watch here is “γρηγορεύω”, grēgoreuō (pronounced as gray-gor-yoo'-o) which means keep awake, be vigilant. To be able to know the devices of the devil and his cohorts we need to be vigilant, we do not have to sleep like others are spiritually.

“Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.” (1 Th 5:6)

“Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.” (2 Co 2:11)

3. Put your body (flesh) under control. Flesh works against the spirit, and the spirit works against the flesh, to be able to overcome devil, we shall need to mortify our flesh, put our flesh under control. This is one of the greatest errors made by Samson, he was unable to put his flesh under control.

“For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.” (Gal 5:17)

4. Having good friends or partners in the spirit

“Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.” (Prov 27:17)

An adage says show me your friend and I will tell you the kind of person whom you are. When we are friends with believers, we shall be rubbing minds together in the way and the things of God, but when we become friends with unbelievers, he will be instructing us in the way of the devil as did Delilah unto Samson. He couldn’t control her because they are incompatible for what has light to do with darkness? They do not have things in common.

“Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?” (2 Co 6:14)

Summing this up, we can see that spiritual contractors sent by the devil, are always out to fulfill the desire of their master by pulling believers down, destroying believers and they need to be withstood in prayers and in our uprightness.