The Independent Spirit

As leaders, we are all subject to this spirit. Please read this well and evaluate your heart. This was written while I was hurting and trying to make sense of a very gifted leader falling away from God. Authority in this blog can relate to natural, or spiritual authority. This deals with heart motive more than outward action.

The Independent Spirit
And the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden? And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden, but of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die. And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die. For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened and ye shall be as gods knowing good and evil. Genesis 3:1

HOW AN INDEPENDENT SPIRIT GETS A FOOTHOLD IN A HEART.
1. Brings into question the motives of their authority. The foothold of the spirit of independence is mistrust. Satan made Eve question whether God really wanted the best for her. If God didn't want the best for her, she couldn't trust Him. She would need to be independent and take care of herself.

2. Desires to know more than their authority.  Knowledge alone, never made a leader great. Knowledge is not wrong, but knowledge without love puffs up. A desire for knowledge should be rooted in love for others and love for God. We should never want to know more as a staple of authority or a badge of superiority.

3. A desire to be like or be better than their authority. This desire was in the heart of satan before he was kicked out of heaven. Satan said in Ezekial "I will be like the Most High". The independent spirit gets a foothold with mistrust but it's goal is to form someone into the image of satan.

A Dependent Spirit
Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God. But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men. And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him and given him a name which is above every name. Philippians 2:5

Jesus, (Being God) showed the exact opposite character of independence.
1. He trusted the Fathers motive and intentions. Even when being crucified, he never doubted the motive of the Father.

2. He didn't strive to know more or do more than the Father. "Only the Father knows the times" "I don't do anything unless the Father does it, I say anything unless I hear the Father say it."

3. He didn't want to be equal to or better than his Father. Satan wanted equality, Jesus didn't care to be equal. The character of Christ is one that doesn't want to be better or even equal but instead is a servant. Jesus didn't become a servant IN SPITE of being God, He was a servant BECAUSE He was God. God's nature is that of a servant.

To summarize;
The spirit of dependence starts with Trust in God and it's end goal is to mold us into the image of Christ. The spirit of independence starts with mistrust and it's end goal is to mold us into the image of satan.

Obey them that have the rule over you and submit yourselves for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you. Hebrews 13:!6

Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud and giveth grace to the humble. Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time. Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you. 1Peter 5:5