Slothfulness in the Camp of the Lord

By Win Worley
There is an interesting animal called a sloth who hangs upside down in trees and sees the world upside down. He will literally starve to death if food is not close within his reach. He is almost extinct because of his peculiar lifestyle. The slothful man lacks understanding and thinks like this. Sloths move so slowly that algae grows on their skin, giving them a green tint. God chose the correct name for the sluggard when he labeled him slothful. Slothfulness in the camp of the Lord is an exceedingly wicked spirit. Some things God will do for you but others you must do for yourself. One of these is to work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear {reverential awe and trembling}. For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure. (Philippians 2:12, 13) The Greek word which is translated "salvation" is an all inclusive word which guarantees eternal life in heaven. It also includes your deliverance from evil spirits, healing and your daily walk. The ticket to heaven is free but the rest must be worked out here on the earth. If you have been involved in the Word Faith movement, you probably have picked up false teachings of waiting on God to do everything for you. Many are reduced to a state of confusion because, although they are waiting patiently, nothing is happening. There are some things that you must do or the devil will trick you out of things that God has promised you. We are not to be ignorant of the devices Satan uses against us. If you are a procrastinator, you will go through the fire about this. Following their miraculous crossing of the flood swollen Jordan river, the Israelites finally entered the promised land. This and the
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possession of the land is a picture of how God deals with his children in deliverance. If we can learn from their mistakes we need not repeat them. As types, consider the land as your body and the giants and other squatters there as the demonic invaders. God had given his people the land by divine fiat, but their job was to dislodge the interlopers. This was to be accomplished by physical strength and spiritual power. There were giants, fortified walled cities and powerful armies much larger and stronger than the Israelites. God gave orders that all enemies were to be completely obliterated and the land occupied. To accomplish this He armed them with authority and promised victory over the squatters in the land. This is a picture of believers today engaged in spiritual warfare. It took God only a short time to get Israel out of Egypt but it took forty years to get Egypt out of Israel. Unbelief was the chief blockage to their claiming their heritage. Another big problem which kept them from entering the promised land was slothfulness. Even after crossing the river this remained as a real problem with which they had to deal. There were some things which had to be faced and conquered before they could cross over into the land. "Therefore behold the cry of the children of Israel is come unto me and I have also seen the oppression wherewith the Egyptians oppress them." (Exodus 3:9) One reason we do not receive deliverance is because of our failure to cry out to the Lord. This cry refers to a forceful and determined shouting out to the Lord. "Lord I'm hurting. I need help!" So often we say: ''Lord, if you get time, would you help me with this problem?" This is not crying out to the Lord. "The Lord spake unto Moses. Go unto Pharaoh and say unto him, thus saith the Lord. Let my people go that they may serve me." (Exodus 8:1) Pharaoh is a type of the binding demons we might encounter. We will not receive freedom from evil spirits to satisfy us and make us more comfortable. God delivers so that we may serve Him and glorify Jesus Christ. If your reason for seeking deliverance is anything but to make you a better person equipped to serve the Lord, you will not be set free! If it
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is for your own vainglory and so that you can be comfortable in doing your own thing, God will not deliver you! ''Let my people go that they may serve me" is still His solemn command. That must be our real intention, to be free to glorify the Savior and better serve the Lord. Because all of those men which have seen my glory which I did in Egypt and in the wilderness and have tempted now these ten times and have not harkened to my voice, surely they shall not see the land which I sware unto their fathers. (Numbers 14:22) Such behavior is tempting the Lord and wickedly failing to hearken to the Lord. Another reason is murmuring and complaining against the Lord. ''How long shall I have to bear with his evil congregation, which murmur against me? I have heard the murmurings of the children of Israel, which they murmur against me." (Numbers 14:27) "God I don't like the way you did this. Why do I always have to put up with things like this?" This is murmuring and complaining about how or when God chooses to deliver us. This will hinder and probably block that deliverance. "Would to God we had stayed in Egypt." This was one of the first complaints from the children of Israel when God put them on the deliverance trail. Carnality and the love of the world had caused them to forget so quickly the goodness of God. Some do not have the love of the world worked out of them. This means they stay in babyhood and wilderness wanderings, fighting with the flesh. Real spiritual warfare will never be their portion. They cannot enter into the promised land where the giants dwell and heavy warfare is joined. Strong soul ties with the world also hinder their getting free. "And your children shall wander in the wilderness 40 years and bear your whoredom."(Numbers 14:33) Some of the reasons we fail to enter into our deliverance is connected with the sins of the fathers (ancestors). Only Joshua and Caleb from that original generation were permitted to enter into the land. The entire congregation above age 18 were wiped out by God because of their murmurings and whoredoms. God would not permit any of those disobedient ones to see it. Another hindrance is rebellion.
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Because you {Moses} trespassed against me .... at the waters of Merabeth and Kadish" .... because ye sanctified me not in the midst of the children of Israel; Yet thou shalt see the land before thee but thou shalt not go thither into the land which I gave to the children of Israel (Deuteronomy 32:51, 52) Because of his anger and frustration with the people Moses struck the rock. The command was to "speak" to the rock for God was establishing a type. When the people needed water in the desert, He ordered Moses to strike the rock with his staff. The rock split and out gushed a fresh, sparkling river of water meeting all the needs of the people, their flocks and more! This was a picture of the Lord Jesus Christ Who was smitten by judgment on Calvary. This paid for sin and releases the river of God's grace to sinners everywhere. Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people's: for this he did once, when he offered up himself." (Hebrews 7:27) After we have been to the smitten Rock (Calvary) for salvation then when we need to return to the Rock we only need to speak or ask and receive. Ask and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:" (Matthew 7:7; Luke 11:9) Moses spoiled the type God was establishing. He was punished by being refused entrance to the promised land which had been a goal for many years. A crushing disappointment to the prophet, but grace allowed him to view the land from the top of the mountain before being taken home by the Lord. Anger and frustration with the obstreperous people pushed him into this costly disobedience. All these are things that we must work out in our lives before we can flow in real freedom. Slothfulness will creep up and seize us even after we become veteran warriors moving in deliverance. This can happen even after we have crossed the river and have entered into the promised land.

This is the spirit which has been instrumental in detaching many deliverance workers. ''And they say arise that we may go up against them for we have seen the land and behold it is very good and are ye still? Be not slothful to go and enter to possess the land." (Judges 18:9) The instructions above were written to the tribe of Dan who had already crossed over. They were engaged in battling the giants but were slothful in going about to occupy their own possessions. The whole congregation of the children of Israel assembled together at Shiloh and set up the tabernacle of the congregation there and the land was subdued before them. And there remained among the children of Israel seven tribes (of 12 tribes) which had not yet received their inheritance. And Joshua said unto the children of Israel how long are ye slack to go to possess the land which the Lord God of your fathers hath given you? (Joshua 18:1-3) Slack means slothful and over one half of the tribes were slack or slothful in subduing their enemies. They had received no deliverance yet. Perhaps they planned to work out some sort of peace treaty with their giants (demons), and they shunned the fight. In the same way, many have dropped out of the battle and quit deliverance, seeking for an easier way. The complaints are quick to arise: ''I don't want to do that. It is too messy. It takes too long. I have got another greater ministry for the Lord. Somebody greater must do so. I'll appoint myself. I am so busy. I don't have time for prayer. I have got to pay my bills and go to work. etc., etc." ''I have pursued mine enemies and have overtaken them and I turned not until they were consumed." (2 Samuel 22:38) If you know you have demons but fail to take the attitude David expressed above, you are already deceived. We are to aggressively and determinedly pursue after our enemies. If the Lord reveals a

certain spirit in you, chase after and fight him night and day. Do not cease until you have destroyed him. One of the greatest warriors who ever lived fell into the snares of slothfulness. He had killed giants and slain bears and lions. We admire his fighting prowess. However he fell, proving that none are immune to this spirit. We must learn how he works and inoculate ourselves against his work. It came to pass .... at the time when Kings go forth to battle that David sent Joab and his servants with him and all Israel and they destroyed the children of Ammon and besieged Rabath. But David tarried at Jerusalem. And it came to pass at an evening tide that David arose from his bed and walked on the roof of the kings house. (2 Samuel 11:1, 2) The story ended in scandal and tragedy. He was supposed to be at the battle front but decided to stay home and catch a nap in the middle of the day. We know this because it was evening when he arose. "I think I'll just stay home from the battle today, I'm kind of weary. "Slothfulness ... " Let somebody else get in the prayer line and do the battling. I think Ill just rest for awhile." Obviously he was not chasing after the enemy. Soldiers must fight the enemy with all their might until the enemy is destroyed. Here is a man after God's own heart, a proven giant killer. He was a real man of God, but Slothfulness crept up, stalking him. Perhaps he grew careless and overconfident in his position, overlooking the fact that sin was lying in wait at the door. He was supposed to be at the battlefront. Just because you have a God-given position does not exempt you from warfare. Even kings are required to go to battle. If you do as David did and exclude yourself from the fight, you are in grave danger of falling into sin and deception. Slothfulness will creep in if you do not remain constantly on guard. Had he been at the battle front the whole disastrous affair could have been averted. What a different story would have been recorded had he been where he belonged. Not only did he disgrace himself and the
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woman, he betrayed a close and dear friend, had him killed and brought horrible judgment on his own family! It scarcely could have been more atrocious. An unnamed prophet received instructions to go and not stop on the way. And he said, I may not return with thee, nor go in with thee: neither will I eat bread nor drink water with thee in this place: For it was said to me by the word of the LORD, Thou shalt eat no bread nor drink water there, nor turn again to go by the way that thou camest. He said unto him, I am a prophet also as thou art; and an angel spake unto me by the word of the LORD, saying, Bring him back with thee into thine house, that he may eat bread and drink water. But he lied unto him. So he went back with him, and did eat bread in his house, and drank water. And it came to pass, as they sat at the table, that the word of/he LORD came unto the prophet that brought him back: And he cried unto the man of God that came from Judah saying, Thus saith the LORD, Forasmuch as thou hast disobeyed the mouth of the LORD, and hast not kept the commandment which the LORD thy God commanded thee, But camest back, and hast eaten bread and drunk water in the place, of the which the LORD did say to thee, Eat no bread, and drink no water; thy carcass shall not come unto the sepulchre of thy fathers. And it came to pass, after he had eaten bread, and after he had drunk, that he saddled for him the ass, to wit, for the prophet whom he had brought back. And when he was gone, a lion met him by the way, and slew him: and his carcass was cast in the way, and the ass stood by it, the lion also stood by the carcass. (1 Kings 13:17-24)
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Not only did the prophet listen to false counsel; he rationalized that there was no harm in pausing to satisfy his hunger and rest his weary body for a short time. This cost the prophet his life. To obey is better than to follow human reasoning. Eli left a blotch on his own priesthood and also lost his sons because of his slothfulness. For I have told him that I will judge his house forever for the iniquity which he knoweth; because his sons made themselves vile, and he restrained them not, (I Samuel 3:13) And the messenger. said, Israel is fled before the Philistines .... and thy two sons also, Hophni and Phinehas, are dead, and the ark of God is taken. And it came to pass, when he made mention of the ark of God, that he fell from off the seat backward by the side of the gate, and his neck brake, and he died: (1 Samuel 4:17, 18) The priest was slothful and slack in disciplining his sons. Whatever his reasons, he failed to restrain them. He lost his position and also it led to the death of the two wicked sons and a grandchild as well. Slothfulness is very dangerous. Beware of sitting down to rest on the front line and removing your helmet. This gives the enemy an opportunity to land heavy licks on your head. Resting at the front can be unhealthy and extremely dangerous. God will give rest as it is needed so do not take a break on the battle lines. In review, slothfulness is hidden to the sluggard who is always looking for the easiest way. The sluggard is lethargic in performing all his tasks and is constantly tired and seeking rest. He is a fearful person and irritating to those around him. ''I'm not a sluggard but am just a bit passive and cautious. I am smart because I always look for the easiest way to do something so I am not required to exert myself. Too much warfare will interfere with my life style so I must always seek to be balanced." This is how the sluggard thinks. God has given us many verses to identify this wicked evil spirit.
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Slothfulness is hidden and loves to pretend that he is full of helplessness. "The slothful hideth his hand in his bosom; it grieveth him to bring it again to his mouth. The sluggard is wiser in his own conceit than seven men that can render a reason." (Proverbs 26:15, 16) There is no reasoning with the sluggard. His rationalization comes up with dozens of excuses to justify the errors of his ways. "Seeth thou a man wise in his own conceit? There is more hope of a fool than of him." (Proverbs 26:12) Show a sluggard the error of his way and he will invariably look for the easiest way out and make soft choices in life. Always he seeks to avoid the way of battle. "Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep. So shall thy poverty come as one that travaileth and thy want as an armed man." (Proverbs 6:10) "The sluggard will not plow by reason of the cold. Therefore he shall beg in harvest and have nothing." (Proverbs 20:4) These are always excuses and reasons not to work. The conditions are not just right. He cannot work for that person. It is too cold. There is always some extenuating circumstance why he is unable to get up and get motivated. He has the disease of "excuse-itis." "Slothfulness causeth into a deep sleep and an idle soul shall suffer hunger." (Proverbs 19:15) Deep sleep is a tough spirit who is hard to budge. When combined with idleness the result is hunger for many times the basic necessities of life go lacking because of slothfulness. The lethargic victim viewed all his tasks as monumental and impossible mountains in his path. "The slothful man roasteth not that which he took in hunting but the substance of a diligent man is precious." (Proverbs 12:27) These are able to start but never finish projects. One man's entire life consisted of one unfinished project after another, a trail of failures. For example, he was a successful hunter, but never bothered to prepare game for cooking. Because of this he never got to enjoy the fruit of his labors. The opposite of this is the diligent man whose substance is precious because he is able to enjoy the fruit of his labor. The spirit of the Lord
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called Diligence is one which you can loose on yourself and others to help combat and uproot slothfulness. "I went by the field of the slothful by the vineyard of the man void of understanding." (Proverbs 24:30) Not quite perceptive and void of understanding indicates that he not only lacks wisdom but has little or no common sense as well. ''And lo it was all grown with thorns, needles hath covered the face thereof and a stone wall thereof was broken down." (Proverbs 24:31) This is a good picture of the pattern of a slothful man's life. Never completing the necessary tasks, he lets everything deteriorate. Then I saw and considered it well I looked upon it and I received instruction. Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep, So shall thy poverty come as one that travaileth and thy want as an armed man." (Proverbs 24:32-34) Slothfulness is a chief cause for poverty. A slothful man does not live in poverty but has substance. If he lacks he goes out and attempts to work and earn it. Other spirits can cause poverty. A search in the concordance will locate things which lead to poverty such as slothfulness, gluttony, alcoholism. ''By much slothfulness the building decays. Idleness of the hands, the house droppeth through." (Ecclesiastes 10:18) See this man's house. Because he takes care of nothing he owns, the roof of his house needing repair falls through. Slothfulness works with the spirit of Idleness and Procrastination. "The desire of the slothful killeth him; for his hands refuse to labour. He coveteth greedily all the day long: but the righteous giveth and spareth not." (Proverbs 21:25, 26) The sluggard is constantly driven by lust (strong desire) and greed and he hates work, having hands which refuse to labor. He spends a great deal of time striving to get what he wants by using other people instead of working for it himself. How many people love to go to work? The sluggard spends his life in constant lusting, never able to satiate

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his greedy desires. "The soul of the sluggard desires and has nothing but the soul of the diligent shall be made fat." (Proverbs 13:4) Which of the above would you prefer to be? You must loose the spirit of Diligence on yourself in order to secure some of the good things in life. God has no objection to your owning possessions so long as they do not possess you. He is concerned deeply about the attitudes of your heart, the soul (mind, will and emotions, appetites, desires). ''Now therefore thus saith the LORD of hosts; Consider your ways. Ye have sown much, and bring in little; ye eat, but ye have not enough; ye drink, but ye are not filled with drink; ye clothe you, but there is none warm; and he that earneth wages eameth wages to put it into a bag with holes." (Haggai 1:5, 6) The soul of the sluggard desires but has deep voids. Even that which he has is stripped away because he is unable to keep anything. This demonstrates how basically sensual the slothful man's desires are. Because he does not have to expend much energy on them, get-richquick schemes have a very heavy appeal to him. ''He that hastens to be rich has an evil eye and considers not that poverty shall come upon him." (Proverbs 28:22) The slothful man thinks, ''Boy if I could just hit the lottery, If I could make a killing in the stock market, etc., I'd be set for life!" Unfortunately this is not true, for even if God permitted it, he would lose it quickly. As a verse above says, "The house would fall through." He dreams of becoming wealthy, not by hard work and diligence, but by manipulating others! The sluggard has wrong attitudes towards sleep. It may come as a surprise to you that God is far more concerned about our getting too much sleep than about a lack of it. Our bodies have a built-in sleep mechanism inside. When you become extremely tired, you will fall asleep. Do not waste time worrying over loss of sleep for your body will take it when it is necessary. Some people worry themselves into health problems because they think they are not sleeping enough. As people grow older and less active, many contend that they need less sleep
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than formerly. More damage is done by worrying over not sleeping than by the actual loss of sleep. Our holistic health conscious age energetically promotes the idea that you must get your sleep. These zealots focus on the care of the body, gobbling pounds of various pills of every description. Yet these health nuts die with the same regularity as others not so addicted to the worship of the illusive dream of perfect health. Be on the alert for this and do not be ensnared. While common sense is helpful, ultimately it is the Lord who is able to take care of our bodies. Of course to be assured of the Lord's oversight we must walk in spiritual harmony with Him. Those harboring hidden rebellion find it easier to turn to human remedies than to God for their help. The sluggard has wrong attitudes towards sleep. He believes he should be able to take a cat nap any time he desires; for he is convinced that he owes it to himself and certainly is entitled to it. "Slothfulness casteth into a deep sleep. An idle soul shall suffer hunger." (Proverbs 19:15) Often someone will go into such a deep sleep it is almost impossible to awaken him even when there has been no actual exhaustion of the body. He seems to have severe attacks of the dreaded tsetse fly! This same fellow may experience great difficulty in remaining awake during sermons or Bible study. Strangely enough, there is no such problem when observing sports or reading carnal, worldly material. ''He that gathereth in summer is a wise son but he that sleeps in harvest is a son that causeth shame." (Proverbs 10:5) It could be said that he who sleeps during battle is a son who causes shame. Because we are at war there is no time for such lapses and shirking of duty. We are to man the battle stations and be on the alert. Shame will come over us if we fail to do what we know in our heart we should be doing. "Yet a little slumber, a little folding of the hands so shall thy poverty come as one that travaileth as an armed man." (Proverbs 24:33) Poverty pounces on the sleepy headed man as suddenly as a robber waylays his victim, or as without warning a woman is suddenly seized
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with labor pains. As the door turneth upon its hinges, so does the slothful upon his bed. (Proverbs 26:14) I think a slothful man must have invented the snooze control on that alarm clock. Set that clock to the time when you want to arise. Put it across the room so that you have to get up to shut it off. If you want to sleep longer, set the alarm later. The snooze control is for the sluggard. Sleepy heads should leap out of bed and jump into an icy, cold shower. The shock will awaken the most sluggish! There are other examples of inappropriate sleep. In Acts 20:9 a young man fell into a deep sleep, fell from the window and died! Jonah rebelled and ran from God, went down into the ship and promptly fell asleep (a by-product of rebellion). The slumbering virgins in Matthew 25 failed to anticipate future needs. How tragic it is that so many today are caught by slothfulness and literally sleep their lives away. When they reach retirement age they have nothing. Those years they had to store, build and prepare for their future were wasted having a good time and playing games. The Slothful spirit sows evil seed during those years of strength and ability to earn income and make preparation for declining future years. Sometimes we are guilty of spiritualizing too many things. Our greatest need is to get up and go to work. While not in the Bible, it is true that "The idle mind is the devils workshop." I like the slogan, "I fight poverty, I work for a living!" The best way to battle poverty is to go to work! From whence came this you want to earn extra money for something worthwhile that is lacking, take on an extra job. Paul's instructions were quite explicit: ''For .... this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat. For we hear that there are some which walk among you disorderly, working not at all, but are busybodies. Now them that are such we command and exhort by our Lord Jesus Christ, that with quietness they work, and eat their own bread." (2 Thessalonians 3:10-12) Ask the Lord for work that you can do, knowing that this may mean an all-out battle with the many spirits who cause poverty. So often we are just plain lazy and do not want to shut off that TV and do something
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constructive. This attitude makes us miss so many things, including the satisfaction of a job well done. Another characteristic of the sluggard is fearfulness. The slothful man says there is a lion in the street. I shall be slain in the street." (Proverbs 22:13) Slothfulness ushers in more fears which are further reinforced with more slothfulness. Lack of courage is the culmination of always making soft, easy choices throughout life and always coveting what others have. To escape his fears the sluggard plunges back into more sleep and can be an extremely irritating person to be around. As vinegar to the teeth and smoke to the eye so is the sluggard to them that send him."(Proverbs 10:26) ''He also that is slothful in his work is a brother to him that is a great waster." (Proverbs 18:9) The Waster is a strong brother to Sloth. When you tell your children to listen and they pay no attention you are annoyed. When workers fail to execute an order given by the foreman, it is very upsetting. These are the irresponsible who go through life always seeking to get others to carry their load. Their philosophy is to let somebody else do it. Employers certainly have Biblical grounds to refuse to hire the wastrels. In 2 Thessalonians 3:10, Paul fires a broadside against the sluggard and the slothful. Able bodied persons who will not work do not eat. Either you will work in order to eat or you will soon be eliminated by death. Although drastic, this would soon eliminate the problem of malingering and laziness. Probably at least 20% of the American work force fits into this pattern. They slide through all of their jobs depending on someone else to cover for them. In a company these drones are the weak link, always looking for a paycheck, never for a job. They discourage and disgust the good workers, thus destroying morale. The solution is to hire the diligent. Although God's reproof to the sluggard is very strong there is hope for him. "The way of the slothful man is a hedge of thorns but the way of the righteous is made plain." (Proverbs 15:19) God's way is hard,
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through a hedge of thorns, trying to get the attention of the erring one. "The hand of the diligent shall bear rule but the slothful shall be under tribute." (Proverbs 12:24) The slothful either are not or do not remain in a position of authority, for the diligent shall bear rule. If you want more authority over your own dealings loose a Spirit of Diligence on yourself. The Slothful will always be working for somebody else and will be the tail and not the head. This can be a particular danger to women as well. "She looketh well to the ways of her house and eateth not the bread of idleness."(Proverbs 31:27) There is no way to eat the bread of idleness and simultaneously be a virtuous woman. Slothfulness, Slackness and Idleness are all in the same family of evil spirits. Paul writes warning younger widows of dangers peculiar to the females with too much leisure time. "But the younger widows refuse: for when they have begun to wax wanton against Christ, they will marry; Having damnation being judged, because they have cast off their first faith. And withal they learn to be idle, wandering about from house to house; and not only idle, but tattlers also and busybodies, speaking things which they ought not." (I Timothy 5:11-13) Wandering idly from house to house spawns tattling busybodies. Invariably they will end up speaking of things which are none of their concern. Here Slothfulness works to produce his rotten fruit. Cunning and sly, he creeps up on you slowly but surely sowing seeds of contention and strife. When attacked by him, women will turn to the telephone, gossip, romance novels and soap operas to escape reality. Men will turn to the bars and T.V. sets to be entertained so they need not face reality. These are some of his methods and only the alert and watchful will escape his silken nets. God's attitude toward the sluggard is one of hope because he can be turned around. He recorded much about slothfulness which makes him easy to identify. God ordained labor in the garden of Eden. Six days they were to make a living by the sweat of their face, working from
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morning until night. ''Man goeth forth unto his work and to his labour until the evening." (Psalm 104:3) The seventh day was to be one of rest. Today's retirement at the age of 45 is not based on any Biblical principle. Until our life ends we are to be occupied in doing the work of the Lord. Unfortunately, many have never even begun to do this. Their shallow superficiality will simply continue to play religious games. Like a rocking chair, there is a lot of motion but they are going nowhere. Paul admonishes believers to work with their hands. ''And that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you;" (l Thessalonians 4:11) God chastens the slothful with hard reproof and cuts off supply lines. Having no food and no money gets his attention. Often there is anger with God: ''How come you are doing this to me?" "Take it easy?" "Don't work too hard." "I'll get around to it." Don't strain yourself." "That is not my job man. That is so and sos job. I don't do that." These are samples of demonic chatter the enemy uses to confuse. Working builds self-satisfaction for that which is accomplished is easily seen. Work as unto the Lord, knowing that He observes even though those in authority often fail to notice your efforts. When you do a task as unto the Lord, you know that God who sees secretly rewards openly. Children need to have these principles taught to them by word and example. Rebellion, Slothfulness and Laziness constitute a terrible trio. Of the diligent and industrious we say "Wow, he is really a hard worker!" The slothful man has little interest in hard work and expends more energy seeking to avoid work than it would take to do the task. Hunger can help to conquer this attitude. Self imposed fasts bring heavy pressures on this wicked spirit and he will bitterly resist and fight against fasting and prayer. Development of a proper respect for time is crucial here. Search the scriptures and observe nature to retrain yourself.

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And withal they learn to be idle, wandering about from house to house; and not only idle, but tattlers also and busybodies, speaking things which they ought not." (1 Timothy 5:13) If you can learn to be idle, you can also learn to become diligent. God instructs us in how to train ourselves. "Go to the ant thou sluggard. Consider her ways and be wise. Which having no guide, no overseer, no ruler provides her meat in summer and gathers her food in harvest." (Proverbs 6:6) Consider the tiny ant who carries loads 100 times his own weight. We have all heard allusions made to the industrious ant and the busy bee. Find the verses about these things and put them on a 3 X 5 card. Commuting to work is a good time to memorize them and any time hands are busy but mind is free is an opportunity to read and repeat the verses. Memorizing scriptures comes to the rescue in times of attack by the enemy. ''Love not sleep, lest thou come to poverty." (Proverbs 20:13) Although we certainly do not desire poverty, often a spirit of Laziness will hinder studying and memorizing scripture. We prefer for God to miraculously reveal knowledge so we need not put forth any effort. Bind this vile spirit and seek deliverance from him and his associates. Spirits of Slothfulness, Hatred of Work, Slackness, Idleness, Deep Sleep and Love of Sleep all belong to this family of demons. By repentance and earnest seeking of deliverance they can be cast out and you can be free. By way of review: Do you want to be slothful or diligent; do you desire Poverty; Shame; Irritation of Other People; Loss of Freedom; Slavery; Loss of Possessions; To Waste; Lack; Hedge of Thorns or Barrier to Your Way; Laziness; Debt; Coveting; Fear; Clothed with Rags; Lack of Understanding; Decay of Personal Belongings; Pride; Excess Sleep; Greed; Loss of Enjoyment of the Fruit of the Labor? Certainly this is not a crop of fruit we would desire to grow and reap. However if we give in to slothfulness, this will be the outcome. Check diligence in the concordance. The diligent shall be made fat (rich) and given authority. Everything slothfulness loses is picked up by the
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diligent and he continues to increase and prosper, even reaping from that lost by the slothful. It is time for us to get to work. Even though the warfare is tough and hard, when we get to heaven we will rest for eternity. Do not slacken now as many have, missing the blessings and rewards which lie ahead. Get your priorities straight, remembering admonitions from Jesus and Paul. And he called his ten servants .... and said unto them, Occupy till I come. (Luke 19:13) Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. (Ephesians 5:16) Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time. (Colossians 4:5) Ye know the house of Stephanas .... that they have addicted themselves to the ministry of the saints. (1 Corinthians 16:15) Addict yourself to the ministry of the saints for there are no slothful addicts! An addict is driven and compelled and allows nothing to stop his obtaining that to which he is addicted. Set drugs or alcohol before addicts and they cannot pass it by. What happens when a demonized one is set in front of you? Do you seek to be excused or does your heart melt and reach out with compassion for that person? Are you addicted to the ministry of the saints? When a demonized person comes for prayer, do you react with love and yearn to pray for them? Are you addicted to the ministry of the saints? Jesus stated that He had to be about His Father's business. To be like Jesus we should also have this same burning desire. Our business is to overcome the enemies in our lives and then reach out to help others to do the same. "Thou art my battle ax and weapons of war: for with thee Hill I break in pieces the nations, and with thee will I destroy Kingdoms, And with thee will I break in pieces the horse and his rider; and with thee will I break in pieces the chariot and his rider;" (Jeremiah 51:20, 21)

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Pick up your swords, you who hear the trumpets. It is time that believers be about the work He has given us to do. Let us charge the enemies for they can be defeated! We have superior weapons and have authority over the evil spirits. We dare not be like one of the seven Hebrew tribes which were slack to go in and pick up their possessions -- the promises given by God. Joshua records that they were busy helping the others secure theirs. The problem was that they neglected to secure the things which rightly belonged to them. David is a frighteningly grim example. Had he stayed on the battlefield his tragic fall might have been avoided. God has called all to warfare and proven warriors are to stay on a war footing. Do not let anyone or anything talk you out of being faithful to the Lord. And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection. (Luke 8:14) And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares. (Luke 21:34) And these are they which are sown among thorns; such as hear the word, And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful. (Mark 4:18, 19) The cares of this world may crowd in upon you so that you think you no longer have time to take care of the Lord's business. It may seem that you have no choice but to drop out and rest. Rationalization will try to prove that there is nothing wrong with your letting someone else take care of everything. Check your priorities for we must be about our Father's business. This is a first priority! For after all these things do the Gentiles seek: For your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.

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But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. (Matthew 6:32-34) For all these things do the nations of the world seek after: and your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things. But rather seek ye the kingdom of God, and all these things shall be added unto you. (Luke 12:30, 31) Based on materials researched by Monty Mulkey Edited and Written by Win Worley

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