The latter part of this article reveals the secret strategies of the devil, and how to be healed from spiritual blindness.

In the first part of this article, I mentioned the recruitment of false preachers by the devil as a means of pandemic spread of spiritual blindness. Listen to the view of Jesus about such teachers in the book of Matthew chapter 15: 13-14:

“But He answered and said, “Every plant which My heavenly Father has not planted will be uprooted. “Let them alone. They are blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind leads the blind, both will fall into a ditch.”

The devil also used the trend of modernization to blindfold the world. This evil modernization is not limited to dressing alone. For instance, in the mid-19^th century, it was easy to distinguish a gospel musician from a worldly musician.

Presently, it is quite unfortunate that the spiritual blindness of many choristers changed the Christian inspirational style of music into the popular worldly style of music. Sometimes, you wonder if you are in a church or a disco party.

The world loves the Christendom, because majority of their styles are imitated in many churches.

But, Jesus Christ said: “If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.” John 15:18-19

So, anyone supporting the use of worldly styles in our way of worship to the Lord is spiritually blind.

Still on how devil spreads spiritual blindness into the church, the third point is:

3.Creation of denominations

The devil deceived many believers during the era of great persecution of the early Christians. He encouraged them to split from the Apostolic group, and to join the Catholic Church supported by the government.

The defection marked the beginning of a great spiritual blindness that is rocking the Christendom today. The first Christian group suffered division to Catholic Church. The division in Catholic led to Protestant churches. Orthodox churches sprang up. The Division at Orthodox and Protestant gave birth to Pentecostal churches.

And the chains of division continued on and on. Division and unnecessary establishment of various churches were brilliant ideas of the devil to increase the number of blind “Christians”. The non-biblical doctrines flooding the Christendom are terrible needles piercing the spiritual eyes of many ‘Christians’.

The present challenge in the Christendom is the inability to sustain the Agape love. Baptist members cannot wholeheartedly fellowship with the Deeper Life church members. The Apostolic Faith members cannot freely conduct a joint worship with the Redeem members…

It is time we open our eyes to see the damages caused by the devil. And, all Christians must reconcile on a common platform of Agape Love.

First John chapter 2 verse 10 and 11 say: “He who loves his brother abides in the light, and there is no cause for stumbling in him. But he who hates his brother is in darkness and walks in darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes.”

I am not against attending a Bible believing church. But, my findings showed that most churches create unique doctrines that can’t be traced to the true mind of God.

For instance; Some Pentecostal church leaders will insist you speak in tongues as the only sign to show that you are born-again. Some Charismatic/Pentecostal church leaders will compel you to worship idols such as; Virgin Mary, candle, water, anointing oil etc.

I can’t complete the list of various non-scriptural unique practices in most churches. And to make matters worse, the church politics in some gatherings are terrible than some government politics.

This act of segregation in the Christendom makes most people vulnerable to spiritual blindness.

Note: God did not instruct us to divide ourselves into various denominations. So, there is no space for church in heaven. Your holy lifestyle and relationship with the Lord prove your space in heaven. Huh! …bitter truth!!

John chapter 15 verse 5 and 6 say: “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned.”

4. Technology

Technology is good if you use it strictly for God’s glory. The discovery of science and technology had seriously reduced the faith of man in God. And the devil is using technology advancement to infect the spiritual eyes of many Christians.

Technology gave birth to the internet, and one of the grandchildren of technology is the social platform. And there are lots of entertainments on the internet. The entertainment world had wrecked a great havoc to many ‘Christians’ that believed in it. The only way to avoid spiritual blindness through this medium is through thorough discipline. Basically, it is wise to use the medium for evangelism.

How to Know a Spiritually Blind Person

1. Such people do not love to read the bible; they pretend to be satisfied with the pastors preaching only.

2. They love to do the things of the world. They are good at Bible misconception to prove their lukewarm lifestyles.

I marveled when I see ‘Christians’ enjoying worldly music, movies, fashion, provocative dresses, casino etc. There is no difference in the appearance of a spiritually blind ‘Christian’ and an unbeliever.

Revelation chapter 3 verse 15 to 19 say: “I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth. Because you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’ –and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked–… As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent.”

Listen to Paul’s testimony of his deliverance from spiritual blindness in Second Corinthians chapter 4 verses 2 says: “But we have renounced the hidden things of shame, not walking in craftiness nor handling the word of God deceitfully, but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God.”

3. Blind ‘Christians’ always argue with the word of God.

This is a common experience I encounter in the mission field. People suffering from spiritual blindness do not want to be corrected.

First Corinthians chapter 1 verse 18 says: “For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.”

4. They claimed to know everything, and their hearts filled with pride.

Proverbs chapter 16 verse 18 say: “Pride goes before destruction and a haughty spirit before a fall.”

How to be Free from Spiritual Blindness

1. Identify the Trap

Don’t do things because 99% of people around you are doing such. Screen every decision you intend to do with the word of God. We are now in the end time with the highest record of abominations in our midst.

God is always furious with those who refuse to surrender their lives to Him. Thus, any form of disobedience to the word of God leads to spiritual blindness.

Romans chapter 1 verse 28 to 32 says: “And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting; being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers, backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents… who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them.”

2. Don’t Stiff Your Neck

A lot of people became blind in their spirit, because they refuse to believe the word of God. You have to humble yourself and give your power of choice to the Lord.

Proverbs chapter 29 verse 1 says: “He who is often rebuked, and hardens his neck, Will suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy.”

3. Lift Up the Banner

To be free from spiritual blindness requires total readiness to follow Jesus all the days of your life. Always lift up the banner of holiness and your eyes shall experience clear visions of God’s plan for your life.

Jesus Christ is the only Healer that can heal your spiritual blindness. The proof is recorded in the book of Luke chapter 4 verse 18 where He said: “The Spirit of the LORD is upon Me, because He has anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed.”

The status of spiritual blindness implies a sinful life. And a sinful life cannot inherit the kingdom of God. So, everyone must be on alert!

If you want Jesus to open your spiritual eyes, then give your total life to Him. Rebuke worldliness, and take the word of God wholeheartedly. Put an end to misconception of the Bible, and practice total obedience to the word of God.

Spiritual blindness is a major deformation affecting our generation at an unbelievable higher rate. I referred to spiritual blindness as a blind status of the human spiritual eyes.

God created us in trinity; body, soul and spirit. And one of the functions of our spirit is to link us to God for communication.

John chapter 4 verses 23 says: “But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him.”

Your spiritual eyes are more powerful than the physical eyes. The spiritual eyes see God’s view in every issue of life. If the spiritual eyes go blind, then it is impossible to see, understand and follow God’s will.

Don’t hesitate to read this article and its second part. It exposes the secret of devil and his contribution to the high level of spiritual blindness in the Christendom. He won’t want you to read this article…

Spiritual blindness is a disability of one’s spiritual sense of vision to see and understand God’s holiness. It makes it impossible to believe God’s instruction, because the sufferer can neither see nor understand God’s motive. Such spiritual condition makes the sufferer an unfaithful person to the Lord.

The terrible incidence of this spiritual blindness in our generation is not strange to our Lord Jesus. Listen to His lamentation for this generation in the book of Luke chapter 18 verse 8: “…Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?”

3 Causative Agents of Spiritual Blindness

1. Spiritual laziness

Those who prefer watching movies to reading the Bible or social gatherings to personal fellowship with the Lord will go blind in the shortest period.

2. Disobedience

Your spiritual eyes are predisposed to blindness if you don’t feel like obeying the word of God in the Bible.

3. Deceit

Acceptance of false teachings without testing them with the word of God causes spiritual blindness. The book of 1 John chapter 4 verse 1 says: “Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world.”

Who is the Vector (Carrier) of Spiritual Blindness?

Satan and his dark angels are the carriers of spiritual blindness. They find it easy to transmit and infect the distracted Christians. Devil cannot afflict you if your spiritual status is always intact in God’s presence.

How Devil Spreads Spiritual Blindness into the Church

Devil’s intention is to make sure that no one enters the kingdom of God. The book of Revelation chapter 12 verses 17 says: “And the dragon was enraged with the woman, and he went to make war with the rest of her offspring, who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.”

So, Satan formed a high leveled committee of dark powers. And their mission is to blindfold Christians with the things of this world. His strategies are so many and not limited to the following:

• Massive Recruitment of False Teachers

The Spirit of the Lord warned us through Apostle Peter. The book of second Peter chapter 2 verses 1 say: “But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction.”

Great number of these false teachers sprang up in the 19^th century. They called themselves big names and titles such as; Overseer, Founder, Father, Daddy, Prophet (Dr.) etc… They claimed these awesome names which are reserved for God alone. Jesus says in the book of Matthew chapter 23 verses 9: “Do not call anyone on earth your father; for One is your Father, He who is in heaven.”

Scripture says by their fruits you shall know them. I was not bothered by the names they gave themselves, not until I saw the fruits they bear:

1. The teachings of the false teachers on the pulpit are imbalanced. They preach more on how we can become rich, and possess this world. But, little or no teachings on salvation and holy lifestyle.

2. They mount the pulpit to sing and dance when they ought to preach. So, no powerful word of God to charge the congregation.

3. Some of them mount the pulpit to pray and share testimonies throughout their preaching moment. No word of God is preached to help the congregation to stand firm in Jesus.

4.  The false teachers invent materialism (idol of handkerchief, candle, soap, water etc.) into the church.

5.  They claimed that the blood of Jesus will always cleanse your sins, no matter the number of times you choose to sin. They encourage Christians to engage in deliberate sins.

Hebrew chapter 6 verse 4 to 6 says: “For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly gift, and have become partakers of the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, if they fall away, to renew them again to repentance, since they crucify again for themselves the Son of God, and put Him to an open shame.”

6. Once you attend their church, and pay your tithes and offerings, then you will have an automatic ticket to heaven.

It is quite unfortunate that great numbers of people in the Christendom believe these false teachings. And the acceptance of these teachings increases spiritual blindness in our midst every day.

Please always confirm the teachings of any teacher from the Bible. God is no respecter of man…

• Modernization

In the early years of the 19^th century, Pastors instilled discipline of physical and spiritual cleansing of church members according to the Bible. But, the story changed when Devil introduced the “modern dressing styles” to the world.

Many Pastors could no longer preach physical cleansing in the church, because they don’t want the number of tithe givers to reduce. So, they don’t condemn the worldly dressing style in the church.

Romans chapter 12 verse 2 warns: “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.”

If the church of the 19^th Century could not stop indecent dressing and cosmetics in the Christendom, I wonder if the church of the 20^th century would be able to stop people from coming to church naked very soon. It’s not a joke.

The high rate of spiritual blindness in our midst had mixed the church to the world.

This is a clarion call for all Christians to wake up to the task of true discipleship in Christ Jesus.

I want you to look forward to the second part of the article which will expose other aspect of life that the devil has used to induce spiritual blindness in the life of people and how to get healed and delivered.