Message - Spiritual Puppets - P.eople U.nder P.rincipalities P.owers E.nslaving T.heir S.oul

I always enjoyed watching puppet shows on TV when I was a kid. Puppets shows are very interesting if they have a good puppeteer or puppet master. A good puppeteer is skilled at remaining hidden and operating behind the scenes, he or she is often so skilled that you might even forget that they are there behind the curtain. There are many different  kinds of Puppets.

There are hand held puppets, sock puppets, full body puppets, there is even a puppet called a marionette.

The marionette is a puppet that is controlled by wires or strings which are attached to pieces of wood affixed to the puppet. I think we can learn something through this illustration. You see the bible says that you are a slave to whomever it is you  choose to obey. Don't you know that when you offer yourselves to someone to obey him as slaves, you are slaves to the one whom you obey--whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness Romans 6:16. In light of what the Bible tells about this we need to ask ourselves who are are we serving and who are we obeying because in the end it is a matter of life and death. We are no longer Spiritual Puppets to do the work and the will of the Devil. Ephesian chapter 2 teaches about how we once were and how we are now. As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.Ephesians 2:1 - 5.

You must understand that the bible teaches us that there is a worldly spirit operating in those that do not know God; or who know Lord but choose to live a lifestyle of disobedience. Lets look again at the marionette we were discussing earlier you see in puppetry there is a name for the person who is skilled at operating the marionette he or she is called the manipulator. The Devil and his angels are also very skilled at manipulation and we need to be aware as Christians that he is constantly actively trying to manipulate us or make us fall into temptation and sin.There is no excuse though because the devil cant make you do anything and if you are a christian he has no claim or dominion over you. All that the enemy can do is suggest things and attack you with thoughts images and ideas that would cause you to stumble or sin. You have a free will and choice as to how you choose to respond to these suggestions because you are not a puppet on a string. The Bible says that Greater is he that's in me than he that's in the world  You are from God, little children, and have overcome them; because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world. 1 John 4:4

So the question now is how do we fight against this sin, temptation, and the corrupting influences of the world? The answer is simple The Word of God..We must stand on the written word of God Jesus did not argue with Satan he said it is written, we must follow the best example and Christ shows us how to fight the enemy we stand on the Promises contained in the Bible in Gods Word.We do not live according to our feelings, our situations, our moods, our trials or anything else but the Word of God and faith and trust in God and the promises contained in his Word which can never be broken. The bible says the Just shall live by Faith.But my righteous one will live by faith. And if he shrinks back, I will not be pleased with him.Hebrews 10:38. We live by this faith but we also must remember not to shrink back in fear and doubt. We need to recognize that we are free we are not in bondage to the past or our old ways or addictions to drugs and alcohol we are not controlled or manipulated by these things anymore because Jesus Christ has set us free the bible says 

So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. John 8:36 

There is One final thing i want to teach you about the puppet and its this, once you choose to cut the strings of the marionette 

you are left holding is a cross