Processing the Past - Part Three: Ungodly Soul Ties

Exodus 8:25-28
Then Pharaoh called for Moses and Aaron, and said, "Go, sacrifice to your God in the land." And Moses said, "It is not right to do so, for we would be sacrificing the abomination of the Egyptians to the LORD our God. If we sacrifice the abomination of the Egyptians before their eyes, then will they not stone us? We will go three days' journey into the wilderness and sacrifice to the LORD our God as He will command us."

So Pharaoh said, "I will let you go, that you may sacrifice to the LORD your God in the wilderness; only you shall not go very far away. Intercede for me."


Exodus 10:24-29
Then Pharaoh called to Moses and said, "Go, serve the LORD; only let your flocks and your herds be kept back. Let your little ones also go with you."


A soul-tie is a connection from one person’s soul to another person’s soul.
Man is made up of three parts:
1. Body - A relation that is purely physical ( i.e. an ungodly sexual soul tie)
2. Spirit - Two friends who pray and seek the Lord together. They are now relating on a spiritual level, because they are inviting the Lord to be a part of their relationship.

Soul - Typically described as being made up of the mind, will and emotions.

Individuals develop soul-ties when they relate at the soul level.

The above relationships can take place with friends, church members, between siblings, parents and children and husband and wife.

Case Studies

A soul-tie between parents and their children: Sins of Eli

1 Samuel 2:22
Now Eli was very old; and he heard everything his sons did to all Israel, and how they lay with the women who assembled at the door of the tabernacle of meeting.

This is an instance of parental permissiveness and compromise. In so doing Eli aborted the destiny of his children. Unhealthy soul ties between parents and their children may also result in insemination, where parents plant ideas in their children or parents using their children as surrogates, when parents that use their children’s identity and credit.

Signs of unhealthy ties between Husband and wife:

· Feeling alone in a relationship (It is not good for man to be alone - Gen 2:18)
· One person is always right
· Co-dependency (woman at the well)
· Feeling like you are being pushed or pressured (have no opinion)
· Feeling a lack of respect for just being yourself
· Feeling that you always have to be the strong one in the family
· Lack of conflict resolution - It is just easier to sweep it under the rug
· Destructive relationship patterns (always fighting)
· Feel like you are being taken advantage of (the only one that is giving)

Unhealthy Church Relationships: Spirit of Korah

Numbers 16:8-14
Then Moses said to Korah, "Hear now, you sons of Levi: Is it a small thing to you that the God of Israel has separated you from the congregation of Israel, to bring you near to Himself, to do the work of the tabernacle of the LORD, and to stand before the congregation to serve them; and that He has brought you near to Himself, you and all your brethren, the sons of Levi, with you? And are you seeking the priesthood also? Therefore you and all your company are gathered together against the LORD. And what is Aaron that you complain against him?"
And Moses sent to call Dathan and Abiram the sons of Eliab, but they said, "We will not come up! Is it a small thing that you have brought us up out of a land flowing with milk and honey, to kill us in the wilderness that you should keep acting like a prince over us? Moreover you have not brought us into a land flowing with milk and honey, nor given us inheritance of fields and vineyards. Will you put out the eyes of these men? We will not come up!"

Numbers 16:24-27
"Speak to the congregation, saying, 'Get away from the tents of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram.'" Then Moses rose and went to Dathan and Abiram, and the elders of Israel followed him. And he spoke to the congregation, saying, “Depart now from the tents of these wicked men! Touch nothing of theirs, lest you be consumed in all their sins." So they got away from around the tents of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram; and Dathan and Abiram came out and stood at the door of their tents, with their wives, their sons, and their little children.

Signs of unhealthy ties within church relationships:
· See themselves as bigger than the ministry (it is a small thing)
· Does not understand kingdom priorities (it is a small things)
· Does not respect leadership; involves murmuring - a mumbled or private expression of discontent
· Stubborn and self-willed, cannot receive instructions (We will not go up)
· Minimizing the vision and direction of the ministry (It is a small thing that you led us out of Egypt.)
· Ridiculing leadership
· Buying into the ideologies, belief systems and philosophies of the enemy or the past. (you brought us out to kill us in the wilderness)
· Lack of understanding of apostolic covering (Who made you prince over us?)
· Rebellion
· Does not understand God’s timing (give us inheritance of field and vineyards)
· Small-minded Christians (would not leave their tents)


Numbers 26:10-11
And the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them up together with Korah when that company died, when the fire devoured two hundred and fifty men; and they became a sign. Nevertheless the children of Korah did not die.


Psalms 46:1-3 (Sons of Korah)
God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, Even though the earth be removed, And though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; though its waters roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with its swelling.

Signs of unhealthy ties between relatives: Laban and Jacob

Gen 30:27-30
And Laban said to him, "Please stay; if I have found favor in your eyes, for I have learned by experience that the LORD has blessed me for your sake." Then he said, “Name me your wages, and I will give it."

So Jacob said to him, "You know how I have served you and how your livestock has been with me. For what you had before I came was little, and it has increased to a great amount; the LORD has blessed you since my coming. And now, when shall I also provide for my own house?"

Gen 31:36-42
Then Jacob was angry and rebuked Laban, and Jacob answered and said to Laban: "What is my trespass? What is my sin, that you have so hotly pursued me? Although you have searched all my things, what part of your household things have you found? Set it here before my brethren and your brethren that they may judge between us both! These twenty years I have been with you; your ewes and your female goats have not miscarried their young, and I have not eaten the rams of your flock. That which was torn by beasts I did not bring to you; I bore the loss of it. You required it from my hand, whether stolen by day or stolen by night. There I was! In the day the drought consumed me, and the frost by night, and my sleep departed from my eyes. Thus I have been in your house twenty years; I served you fourteen years for your two daughters, and six years for your flock, and you have changed my wages ten times. Unless the God of my father, the God of Abraham and the Fear of Isaac, had been with me, surely now you would have sent me away empty-handed. God has seen my affliction and the labor of my hands, and rebuked you last night."

System of abuse: Authority of custom (Leah instead of Rachel)
· Sent for a few days, spent 21 years (Prodigal tie)
· The tie was only about what Laban could get from Jacob (selfish)
· Laban had no plan for Jacob’s future

Conclusion:

Gen 32:25-28
Now when He saw that He did not prevail against him, He touched the socket of his hip; and the socket of Jacob's hip was out of joint as He wrestled with him. And He said, "Let Me go, for the day breaks."

But he said, "I will not let you go unless you bless me!" So He said to him, "What is your name?" He said, "Jacob." And He said, "Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel; for you have struggled with God and with men, and have prevailed."