Taken from "Spirit of the Nicolaitans"
by Bob Jones and Paul Keith Davis at Elijahlist.com
Just like a cobra, the Spirit of the Nicolaitans attacks the church with it's venom.
The
term "Nicolaitans" is derived from two Greek words..."Nikos" and "Laos". Nikos
is defined as: a conquest; victory; triumph; to conquer; and by implication,
dominancy over the defeated. The word "nicao" literally means; to
dominate-intimidate-manipulate. Additionally, the term "laos" means "the people"
or the "laity." Thus exacting the phrase "to conquer
(dominate-intimidate-manipulate) the people (laity).
The Nicolaitan movement marked the beginning of an unrighteous priesthood in the
church. The first item on this spirit's agenda is to divide in order to conquer.
The primary objective of the Nicolaitan spirit is the separation of the body
from the Lord's provision for leadership and the insight given through that
spiritual authority. Normally, this is accomplished through accusation and
persecution against the true anointed government established by the Holy Spirit.
This form of opposition promotes the separation of people into the priest class
and laity advocating the "us and them" philosophy. Further, there is no place in
the Word where priests or ministers mediate between God and the people, nor is
there a place where they are separated in their worship of the Lord. God desires
all to love and serve Him together. Nicolaitanism destroys those precepts and
instead separates the ministers from the people making the leaders overlords
instead of servants. The Lord expressed His hatred for this type of
administration and expected His people to do likewise. In other words, there are
to be no intimidating, controlling, power-hungry officers in the Church Body
exercising counterfeit authority over the "layman". The scriptures plainly
support a Priesthood of Believers, EACH being granted access to the Father
through the Lord Jesus Christ. " You are a CHOSEN RACE, a royal PRIESTHOOD, a
HOLY NATION, a PEOPLE FOR God's OWN POSSESSION, so that you may proclaim the
excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous
light;" (1 Pet 2:9)
The Early Church, beginning with the Ephesian Chuch Age, confronted this form of
opposition following the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost.
Children, it is the last hour; and just as you heard that antichrist is coming,
even now many antichrists (anti-anointed) have appeared; from this we know that
it is the last hour. (I Jn 2:18)
The admonition given to this church age in Rev 2:2-7, to return to her first
love is also the predominant message in overcoming this adversary in our
generation. The spirit of the Nicolaitans will always be accompanied by the
spirit of apathy and lethargy. These will cool our affections toward the Lord
and the passion with which we are to carry out His purposes. We must not allow
ourselves to concentrate our focus on any form of human leadership. As we remain
concentrated on Him we will then clearly discern and distinguish the unholy
attributes of the "cobra" and the righteous attributes of Spirit appointed
leadership.
The venom of the cobra infiltrates the body attacking the central nervous system
causing deterioration in major body functions. The spirit of the Nicolaitans
deteriorates the structure of the church body by attempting to create
subordinates rather than brothers and sisters. A slave brought under this kind
of authority is always distraught and nervous because of the great
responsibility and expectations to please his "master." This creates an
irrational spirit or a neurotic mind-set rather than a spirit of peace. It
promotes insecurity rather than abiding strength. Many Christians leave the
church because of the wounds this creates and their feelings of insufficiency.
The church has a large segment presently oppressed with a variety of nervous
conditions because of the success of this evil spirit working in the body of
Christ.
The Lord is issuing a clear announcement that a counterfeit, self-appointed
leadership will always attempt to supercede the true leadership delegated to the
church by the Holy Spirit. This "cobra" and its deadly venom represents the
characteristics detected in this form of leadership. The Spirit-appointed
leadership will be marked by attributes of servant-hood, humility and
righteousness even as the Lord Himself perfectly exemplified these qualities in
His unblemished example for all generations to follow.
FALSE APOSTLES
But what I am doing I will continue to do, so that I may cut off opportunity
from those who desire an opportunity to be regarded just as we are in the matter
about which they are boasting. For such men are false apostles, deceitful
workers, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. (2 Cor 11:12-13)
The sure word of God will destroy the endeavors of the cobra. There is a false
Apostolic leadership that is coming to the Church preceding the release of the
true. Those who are self-appointed apostles may embellish tremendous gifts of
administration, organization, and expression, however, that in itself does not
make one an apostle. I say this so that no one will delude you with persuasive
argument. (Col 2:4)
The false leadership will always attempt to set itself above the body of Christ
usurping a position in the church rightfully belonging to the Holy Spirit. The
church is not a democracy--(government by the people; rule of the majority) but
a Theocracy--- (government of a state by immediate divine guidance or by
officials who are regarded as divinely guided). The "cobra" is attempting to
separate true leadership from the body of Christ. If successful, the church is
then faced with a form of self-appointed domination lording itself over the
laity. The body is represented as the "hands and feet" working in harmony with
leadership putting into action spiritual objectives. When directed by true Godly
administration, the hands and feet can destroy the cobra and its evil agenda.
Unfortunately, if the body is under the direction of the "spirit of
Nicolaitans," the same "hands and feet" can be used to undermine divine purposes
and our prophetic destiny. The first defense against this spirit is returning to
our first love and the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ.
The spirit of the nicolaitans will target Christians who have lost their "first
love". In this place of vulnerability, the cobra will strike, injecting its
poison subjecting the believer to its self-righteous agenda. Of course, it will
always appear on the surface as harmless as did the black snake. Nonetheless,
its true identity is that of a venomous, destructive, evil spirit. Very often,
this form of leadership will utilize false accusation and innuendo to undermine
the true leadership appointed within that body of believers. This will make the
true government appear volatile and weak drawing the people to the false
leadership anointed with the "spirit of the Nicolaitans".
TRUE APOSTLESHIP
Paul confronted this as he was forced to give the signs of his apostleship...
The signs of a true apostle were performed among you with all perseverance, by
signs and wonders and miracles. (2 Cor 12:12);
"giving no cause for offense in anything, so that the ministry will not be
discredited, but in everything commending ourselves as servants of God, in much
endurance, in afflictions, in hardships, in distresses, in beatings, in
imprisonments, in tumults, in labors, in sleeplessness, in hunger, in purity, in
knowledge, in patience, in kindness, in the Holy Spirit, in genuine love, in the
word of truth, in the power of God; by the weapons of righteousness for the
right hand and the left, by glory and dishonor, by evil report and good report;
{regarded} as deceivers and yet true; as unknown yet well-known, as dying yet
behold, we live; as punished yet not put to death, as sorrowful yet always
rejoicing, as poor yet making many rich, as having nothing yet possessing all
things. (2 Cor 6:3-10)
It is the impartation of supernatural spiritual authority from heaven that makes
one an apostle according to Biblical standards. The new Testament contains
numerous warnings against false leaders drawing the flock astray with
counterfeit authority. The spirit of the Nicolaitans will not approach in the
manner of an enemy, rather, veiled as righteous leadership promoting seemingly
appropriate agendas. Moreover, the scriptures make it plain, God has never
placed His church in the hands of an elected leadership which moves with
political mindedness. He has placed His church in the care of God-ordained,
Spirit-filled, Word-living men and women who lead the people with meekness and
faithfulness...shepherds who willingly lay down their lives for the sheep and
will only feed them the Spirit-breathed revelation of the Word.
The government of God appropriately placed in the body will be (1) Chosen by
Him, (2) Ordained by Him, (3) Equipped by Him, (4) Sent by Him. While they were
ministering to the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, "Set apart for Me
Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them. Then, when they had
fasted and prayed and laid their hands on them, they sent them away. So, being
sent out by the Holy Spirit...(Acts 13:2-4)
True leadership will always do all in their power to point the church to the
Lord and encourage them to cultivate deep and passionate roots with the Lord
Himself. It will be their greatest desire to see others equal and even surpass
the spiritual standards they enjoy themselves.
THE LORD IS BREAKING OUR BOW
"He makes wars to cease to the end of the earth; He breaks the bow and cuts the
spear in two; He burns the chariots with fire. Cease {striving} and know that I
am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth."
The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our stronghold. Selah. (Ps
46:9-11)
The bow is a symbol of might and strength... elements upon which we put our
trust and confidence. A broken bow is an image of impotence or dependence. The
Lord is "breaking our bow" and rendering useless the patterns and formulas we
have relied upon in times past to advocate our own agendas and causes with which
we have been striving in our own strength. Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Behold,
I will break the bow of Elam, the chief of their might. (Jeremiah 49:35) The bow
was the national weapon of Elam, and therefore the "chief of their might"...
that upon which their resilience in war depended.
The Lord breaks our bow because we have become dependent upon our own abilities
to survive and even prosper. This form of self reliance can be extremely
destructive leading into a form of ungodly self-righteousness. The sure word of
God is coming forth, thereby negating the need for this form of the bow. Our
"bows" are being broken so we can be reinforced with "The Lord's Bow" and His
strength for war. The Lord is determined to break our independent spirit making
us totally dependent upon Him and the working of His Spirit in us. The Lord is
"breaking our bows" and the things we have relegated confidence in so our trust
would be wholly in Him. It is in our weakness that His strength is made
manifest. It shall come to pass in that day that I will break the bow of
Israel in the Valley of Jezreel...Yet I will have mercy on the house of Judah,
will save them by the LORD their God, and will not save them by bow, nor by
sword or battle, by horses or horsemen." (Hosea 1:5,7)
Furthermore, the enemy will often attempt to promote a spirit of
self-preservation within the church causing division and confrontation between
one segment of the body and another. The Lord is "breaking our bow" removing the
warlike mentality we have had towards one another promoted by this "Cobra
spirit". In this place of divine dependence we can "be still" and know that He
is God.
The Lord is aching to initiate unity and fraternal affection between the various
members of the body of Christ. In this sense the Lord is breaking our bow that
has caused division and dissension within the church. If we allow ourselves to
overly focus on the exploits of the enemy, it will serve as an object of
distraction and division within the body. Likewise, if we unduly focus on the
leadership sent to the church by the Holy Spirit, perversion will also be the
end result. These bows are being destroyed as we are given the mandate to return
to our first love and rivet our gaze solely upon the Lord. In so doing,
righteous leadership will be recognized in its proper balance and harmony.
CONCLUSION
At the end of the shepherd's staff is a "snake hook" specifically designed for
the handling of venomous serpents of this nature. The "snake hook" is divine
love. An infectious, passionate love for the Lord Jesus Christ surpassing all
other wants and desires. In this position of intimacy and affection, our vision
becomes clear and our heart sensitive to the unfruitful deeds of the cobra. We
will them become leaders according to the directive of scripture...Shepherd
the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion but
willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly; nor as being lords over those
entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock; and when the Chief Shepherd
appears, you will receive the crown of glory that does not fade away. (1 Pet
5:2-4)
The Ephesian Church was commended by the Lord for opposing the Nicolaitans.
However, over the following generations this spirit grew in its power and
influence. By the time of the Pergamum Church age, the Lord departed from
commending the Body for separating from this evil influence to condemning the
Body for their appeasement. The latter membership wasn't fully convinced of the
poisonous problem posed by this spirit and tolerated its existence within the
church.
The church must understand the vast distinction between the impartation of
spiritual gifts and the delegation of spiritual authority. Many in the body of
Christ have the mistaken notion that their powerful gifts of the spirit
qualifies them to be recognized as Apostolic leadership. Simply possessing
powerful spiritual gifts does not meet the Biblical qualification of
Apostleship. It is in the Lord's commissioning and the delegation of spiritual
authority along with the impartation of mighty gifts of the spirit. Miracles,
signs and wonders will always accompany true Apostolic leadership assisting in
the pulling down of principalities and powers within churches or geographic
regions establishing a spiritual foothold for the kingdom of heaven. The proper
Scriptural view is that the church is like a body with diverse people each
having different gifts from God, yet all are of significant importance to the
well-being of the entire spiritual body. There is no hierarchy in the Body of
Christ---all are called to work together in the ministry as one Body headed by
Christ
This adversary we have described is anti-anointed and diametrically opposed to
the "winds of change" the Lord is desiring to bring to the Body of Christ. The
miracle working "winds of change" are prepared to be released upon the Body of
Christ to "fill her sails" to carry her on this spiritual journey and the
restoration of her great heritage. The Lord hates the deeds and the doctrines of
the Nicolaitans. The church of the Apostolic period recognized this fact and
likewise hated them. If we are to be in conformity with Him, and return to our
Apostolic heritage, we must comprehend this spiritual reality. We must always
remember, our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but principalities,
powers, rulers of darkness and spiritual wickedness in high places. Moreover,
our continual prayer should be for the grace to remain free ourselves from the
subtle and cunning influence of this spirit and its deceptions. Each of us
stands solely by the favor of God and we desperately need the abundant release
of His greater grace...He gives His grace to the humble.
If we encounter some who have fallen prey to the spirit of the Nicolaitans, we
should discern the spirit behind the individual and fervently pray for the human
being from a heart of compassion and meekness. Perhaps the Lord will extend
grace and grant repentance. If so, we will have won part of the battle and
rescue some from the grasp of Satan. The Lord's bond-servant must not be
quarrelsome, but be kind to all, able to teach, patient when wronged, with
gentleness correcting those who are in opposition, if perhaps God may grant them
repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth, and they may come to their
senses and escape from the snare of the devil, having been held captive by him
to do his will. (2 Tim 2:24-26)
