Legalism and witchcraft have been widely accepted for the masks they wear: a false hood. We tend to think that legalism is about rules we don’t believe in, but legalism is about following good rules in order to win favor with man.
We think of witchcraft as what we see in fantasy movies and books, but witchcraft at its base seems harmless and even good. It’s neither harmless or good.
God hates legalism: rule keeping to gain favor with man; controlling people with rules and regulations; what leadership uses with laity; what governments use on the people; what parents use on children, etc.
God condemns witchcraft of any form; the intimidation, manipulation, domination and condemnation used on people to control people.
Paul addresses the Galatians as “foolish Galatians,” empty headed people. “Who has bewitched you?!!!!! They claimed to be spirit-filled and gifted; highly spiritual people. What were they lacking?
Wives use witchcraft with their husbands when they hold back sex from their husbands to get what they want.
Husbands use legalism/witchcraft with their wives and children, when they lay heavy rules down on them to control their wives and children – for their own advantage and pride. (Rules are to protect people, not control people.) Condemnation used to control people is legalism/witchcraft. Laws made to put fear into people in order to make them submit, is a form of legalism/witchcraft.
Parents use witchcraft on their children by making them feel guilty about what they did after the child has repented, in order to control the child. Guilt, intimidation, manipulation and condemnation used to control someone is all witchcraft.
If you keep bringing up the past that makes someone else feel guilty, or they keep doing it with you, this is witchcraft. People who say, “This wouldn’t be happening to you if you had not sinned, or were spiritual.” Religious leaders use witchcraft on their congregations by using legalism: setting rules for worship and serving in the church; controlling their gifts for their own agendas; even the self-righteous attitude behind leadership over laity is a form of witchcraft.
The spirit of Jezebel is the spirit of witchcraft, is present anywhere there is the use of any means to control another person, group or nation – for man’s own agenda and pride. Over America’s government is the hovering jezebel-spirit of witchcraft and legalism.
Satan, the god of the world, is the master over legalism and witchcraft. In the garden the devil used legalism with Eve, and witchcraft with Adam. The devil questioned Eve on God’s only command to them; that Adam passed on to her. The devil used Eve’s female charm and cunning to get Adam to disobey his Father’s one and only rule in life. Every man is Adam’s son, and every woman is Eve’s daughter with the same tendencies.
When Adam and Eve broke God’s one and only rule – many other unnecessary rules came upon mankind, both from God and evil men under the control of the devil.
You can’t follow Christ’s rules, if you’re following someone else’s rules. Jesus died to set you free from legalism and witchcraft; whether you have been the prey or predator, victim or villain. Satan is the father of both legalism and witchcraft.
“The heir is subject to guardians and trustees until the time set by his father. So also, when we were underage, we were in slavery under the elemental spiritual forces of the world. But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law,to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sons-ship.Because you are his sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, ‘Abba, Father.’So you are no longer a slave, but God’s child; and since you are his child, God has made you also an heir. Formerly, when you did not know God, you were slaves to those who by nature are not gods. But now that you know God – or rather are known by God – how is it that you are turning back to those weak and miserable forces? Do you wish to be enslaved by them all over again?” Galatians 4:2-9