Among the children of men, there are those that stop the dance within the church saying it is not in the scriptures. They oppress the people of God, and make themselves lords over His people in contrast to what is in the scriptures. They claim that those that dance in the spirit do so by the devil – the devil does not create. When David danced before the Lord, it was not the devil but the spirit that danced. Oppression is from the devil and the spirit of Jezebel (to rule where you have no authority) is Satan.

“And we urge you, brethren, to recognize those who labor among you, and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, and to esteem them very highly in love for their work’s sake. Be at peace among yourselves” (1 Thessalonians 5:12-13). “So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase. Now he who plants and he who waters are one, and each one will receive his own reward according to his own labor. For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, you are God’s building” (1 Corinthians 3:7-9). Those that are over you in the Lord labor among you. Even Jesus came to labor among us in the fields of the Most High. Those that are over you in the Lord are fellow workers. “But Jesus called them to Himself and said to them, “You know that those who are considered rulers over the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you shall be your servant” (Mark 10:42-43). Those that are over you in the Lord are servants.

Recognize those who labor among you, but also recognize those that try to exercise authority over you that are not from the Lord. One of the temptations of the devil against our Lord was a promise to give Him the kingdoms of this world, if He would only worship him. Jesus answered, “You shall worship the LORD your God, and Him only you shall serve.” The devil is a liar. That does not stop him from making the same promises to the servants of God. Oppression of God’s people is from the devil and those that practice such doctrines have been tempted and deceived. Jezebel cannot rule if not for Ahab (the spirit of fallen man). The fallen man is one given into the temptation of Satan and deceived. Jesus came to edify the fallen man and put him into his proper relationship with God.

Oppression, be you removed in Jesus name. You have no authority over the risen man in Christ Jesus. The sins of our fathers are not the life we live today, but we live the glorified life of our Savior. The spirit of Ahab, be you removed in Jesus name. Therefore He says: “When He ascended on high, He led captivity captive, and gave gifts to men” (Ephesians 4:8). It is no mistake that Jesus led captivity captive before giving the ministering gifts. The gifts of ministry are not so we may oppress (lead back into captivity). There is a spirit of fear in the church, and it is over the ministry; the fear of not having control. Give God control and let His perfect love cast out all fear.

“But to what shall I liken this generation? It is like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling to their companions, and saying: ‘We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we mourned to you, and you did not lament.’ For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon.’ The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Look, a glutton and a winebibber, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ But wisdom is justified by her children” (Matthew 11:16-19). “Let them praise His name with the dance; Let them sing praises to Him with the timbrel and harp” (Psalm 149:3). There is, “A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance” (Ecclesiastes 3:4).

© 2008, Tim D. Coulter Sr.