The Spirit of Harlotry
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Christians wrestle against rulers, powers, world forces of darkness, and spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. One of the major powers and forces that they struggle with can be identified as harlotry.

The enemy's purpose, through the strategy of harlotry, is to draw God's people away from faithful relationship with God. The enemy uses the enticements of the world to activate the lust of the flesh, of the eyes, and pride of life. The heart then turns to respond to the seduction. Thus one departs from God and plays the harlot.

"For a spirit of harlotry has led them astray, and they have played the harlot, departing from their God" (Hosea 4:12b NASV).

The spirit of harlotry is not passive but aggressive.

"An adulteress hunts for the precious life (Proverbs 6:26b NASV)." "Therefore I have come out to meet you, to seek your presence earnestly, and I have found you" (Proverbs 7:15 NASV).

The spirit of harlotry starts early, from childhood on, to build the "secret life" where the "unfruitful deeds of darkness" (Ephesians 5:11) are concealed. The enemy promises pleasure, comfort, escape, and excitement. But what he actually gives is a life of bondage to lust, pornography, immorality, and adultery; a bondage that ruins relationship with God and people. For all that the spirit of harlotry can really deliver is death.

"Her feet go down to death, her steps lay hold of Sheol. She does not ponder the path of life..." (Proverbs 5:5-6; also see 7:26-27 NASV).

In counseling, we work with people, through the Word and personal ministry, to strip away the illusion, to break the bondage, and to set people free so they can turn away from death and walk in purity.