The call of God on the life of every believer is not to be stagnant. There will come a time when God will shake us from our current position. Often times, we like to look on and be in the background and let others take the lead. However, we must be active participants because we all have a part to play. The church must arise. For the glory of God has risen upon us.
Jesus did not only minister within the synagogue but also interacted with others on the outside. We must also do the same. There may be times of failure. However, these times help us to learn humility and trust in God. We have to be zealous and take mountains for God.
Leviathan is referred to as a giant five times in the Old Testament. Three of these times, it is mentioned as having malevolent qualities, demonic qualities and as a creature that God will judge. The word “leviathan” means to twist, to bend, a twister, a coil or a wreath of a serpent. It is also referred to as “draco”, the constellation of the dragon which is visible in the northern hemisphere. Leviathan is mentioned in Job 3:8, Psalms 74:12-14 and Ephesians 6:12.
Job had a revelation of who God is. He was broken but he humbled himself and did actions that led to a spirit of humility. He then received double for everything that he went through. Job employed the activities and actions of Leviathan.
“Can you draw out Leviathan with a hook, or snare his tongue with a line which you lower? 2 Can you put a reed through his nose, or pierce his jaw with a hook? 3 Will he make many supplications to you? Will he speak softly to you? 4 Will he make a covenant with you? Will you take him as a servant forever?
5 Will you play with him as with a bird, or will you leash him for your maidens? 6 Will your companions make a banquet of him? Will they apportion him among the merchants? 7 Can you fill his skin with harpoons, or his head with fishing spears? 8 Lay your hand on him; Remember the battle— Never do it again!
9 Indeed, any hope of overcoming him is false; shall one not be overwhelmed at the sight of him? 10 No one is so fierce that he would dare stir him up. Who then is able to stand against Me? 11 Who has preceded Me, that I should pay him? Everything under heaven is Mine. 12 “I will not conceal his limbs, his mighty power, or his graceful proportions.
13 Who can remove his outer coat? Who can approach him with a double bridle? 14 Who can open the doors of his face, with his terrible teeth all around? 15 His rows of scales are his pride, shut up tightly as with a seal; 16 One is so near another that no air can come between them;
17 They are joined one to another, They stick together and cannot be parted. 18 His sneezings flash forth light, and his eyes are like the eyelids of the morning. 19 Out of his mouth go burning lights; sparks of fire shoot out. 20 Smoke goes out of his nostrils, as from a boiling pot and burning rushes.
21 His breath kindles coals, and a flame goes out of his mouth. 22 Strength dwells in his neck, and sorrow dances before him. 23 The folds of his flesh are joined together; They are firm on him and cannot be moved. 24 His heart is as hard as stone, even as hard as the lower millstone.
25 When he raises himself up, the mighty are afraid; Because of his crashings they are beside themselves. 26 Though the sword reaches him, it cannot avail; nor does spear, dart, or javelin. 27 He regards iron as straw, and bronze as rotten wood. 28 The arrow cannot make him flee; slingstones become like stubble to him.
29 Darts are regarded as straw; He laughs at the threat of javelins. 30 His undersides are like sharp potsherds; he spreads pointed marks in the mire. 31 He makes the deep boil like a pot; he makes the sea like a pot of ointment. 32 He leaves a shining wake behind him; one would think the deep had white hair.
33 On earth there is nothing like him, which is made without fear. 34 He beholds every high thing; he is king over all the children of pride.” Job 41 (NKJV)
There a few characteristics which give imagery to the spirit of Leviathan.
- Leviathan despises accountability and any process of vulnerability (Job 41:1-2, 7, 15-17). It in the spirit of pride and creates a heart It hates vulnerability and failure.
- Leviathan specializes in casting false perspectives and corrupting how we see others (Job 41:18). Satan’s desire was to lead Job to a place where he would curse God. The spirit of Leviathan desires to brings us to a place where we doubt and cast off God’s identity of ourselves. The enemy is after our identity.
- The spirit of Leviathan creates false narratives and untruths about others. It is not receptive to authority and not willing to encourage and lift up others (Job 41:19-21).
- The spirit of Leviathan promotes a stiff necked attitude and a thick skinned nature towards leaders. It promotes arrogance (Job 41:22-23).
- It produces hardness of heart where people are not willing to repent (Job 41:24).
- It encourages self-promotion while demoting others through negativity (Job 41:25). It points to the failures of others.
- Fighting against the spirit of Leviathan with carnal weapons will leave us defeated (Job 41:26-30). We must submit it to God.
- The spirit of Leviathan specializes in stirring up deep hatred and feud (Job 41:31-32).
- He targets those who bite onto the lure of pride and makes them his recruits (Job 41:34).
Who Does Leviathan Target?
Leviathan attempted to rob Job of his ability to plough the soil by robbing him of his oxen and donkeys. It looks for people who walk blamelessly and upright before God. We think less of ourselves and more about doing the will of God.
The enemy targets those who have a heart to influence. Leviathan comes to rob what God has given us. In order for the seed to grow, the soil has to be fertile. The spirit of Leviathan tries to rob the seed that was planted. It tries to discourage us from reading the Word and praying. However, we must endure to the end. We can only endure by staying in the presence of God. We have to get into the secret place, the closet.
The goal of Leviathan is to dry up the desire that we have for our God where there is no passion or fire. Job’s sheep is burned up which represents our offering (Job 1:16). Leviathan tries to seduce us into a place of comfort and of the mundane.
Leviathan encourages great winds of delusion that are born out of arid hearts which tries to destroy our coverings, our churches (Job 1:18-19). During arid seasons, the enemy brings false narratives and demonic thoughts.
Leviathan attacks relationships and encourages broken relationships and covenants. Job’s marriage came under fire with his closet partner throwing in the towel (Job 2:9-10). Job’s character and legacy were under scrutiny with false witnesses being brought against him (Job 2:3-39).
The spirit of Leviathan attacks the church through infirmity and sickness. It’s aim is to cause us to feel weary and weak where we curse God for our present situation. However, during these times we must remember that God is the healer and He is faithful. He says you will recover.
