© Morris Ruddick

I’ve recently been witness to the development of interpersonal interactions in a ministry that never should have happened in a Christian setting. It involved offenses --- offenses that set in motion the most devilish examples of the flesh I have seen in my 30 plus year walk with the Lord.

Although repeated apologies were made, the apologies were not accepted and the offended party justified embracing the offense through a gradual exaggeration of its “merits,” then systematically spread the offense to others. Those who would listen soon took up the offense of this individual and in the process, actually created situations in which they too were offended. They found common ground in the “offenses.” The “offended” parties banded together. What had begun as informal “whisperings” evolved into an alliance that found meaning and purpose in this expanding bitter root.

It all began with one person --- and the whispers of “confiding” with whoever would listen to the spin of the offense. What initially was a couple of listeners grew into more and it began to take on a life of its own. What began as a simple offense grew into an obsessive need for vindication.

As their animosity grew, this group fueled their self-righteous purpose-for-being by finding what they perceived to be flaws in someone they previously and unwisely considered to be above having flaws. They became accusers and aligned themselves with THE accuser of the brethren.

Truth was lost and perspective blinded. The contagion ultimately resulted in their aim evolving into nothing less than a scandalous effort to destroy the person they had heretofore had nothing but the highest esteem for.

THE DYNAMICS OF THE JUDAS ALLIANCE
In Luke 22: 2-6 we read, “And the chief priests and the scribes sought how they might kill Him [Jesus], but they feared the people. Then Satan entered Judas, surnamed Iscariot, who was numbered among the twelve. So he went his way and conferred with the chief priests and captains, how he might betray Him to them. And they were glad, and agreed to give him money. So he promised and sought opportunity to betray Him to them in the absence of the multitude.”

“So.... he sought opportunity to betray Him.....in the absence of the multitude.” The climax of Judas’ role in the ministry of Jesus reflects a sad reality of what can unfold when the flesh in a single individual wars against the Spirit.

Judas was an insider. But Judas’ loyalties were not with Jesus. Judas was a part of the fanatical party of the Zealots who sought the overthrow of the Romans. Jesus was simply a means to an end in Judas’ personal priorities. Sometime in the course of Jesus’ ministry, Judas became disillusioned with Jesus. He was a man without honor. He became a rebel. But then a corner was turned when Judas began “confiding” with others of a kindred spirit. But a kindred spirit with a twist --- it wasn’t the Zealots Judas conspired with, but those who were aligned with the Romans --- the oppressors the Zealots sought to overthrow.

The scripture says that the chief priests and captains wanted to kill Jesus, BUT “they feared the people.” Betrayal involves collaboration with others. Judas provided God’s enemies with the means of access to God’s anointed --- which they would never have had otherwise.

The operation of the Judas spirit can only manifest when a betraying alliance is formed. An unholy alliance instigated by an insider. An unholy alliance awash in hypocrisy --- as Judas conspired with those working in support of the very Romans his “kingdom” views sought to overthrow. The Judas alliance has no REAL agenda of its own --- but that of undermining the genuine work of another. It is an alliance driven by disillusionment, confusion and the need for justification that deviously and diabolically seeks to betray the innocent.

These insights have application for the times we have entered. Ephesians 5:16 (Amplified Bible) admonishes us “to make the very most of the time [buying up each opportunity], because the days are evil.

THE CHOICES WHEN CONFRONTED BY EVIL
The issue for the Body is to know and to respond IN GOD’S WILL when confronted by evil. It is the courage, presence of mind and resolution to Biblically stay-the-course in the face of adversity. For some whose priorities are seduced by their passions, the confrontation of evil will result in a digression not unlike that reflected in the life of Judas. For innocent targets of Judas alliances, the response to evil holds the potential of becoming their finest hour. But that course will only be accomplished through a deeper commitment and steadfast resolve to “love not their lives unto the death” and to keeping their eyes on the Lord, as they walk through the fire created by evil-unmasked precipitated by unholy Judas alliances.

Hebrews 12:15 instructs us: “See to it that no one comes short of the grace of God; that no root of bitterness springing up causes trouble, and by it many be defiled.”

THE BITTER ROOT
Falling short of the grace of God. “The root of bitterness .... springing up .... causes trouble .... defiling many.” In this war between the flesh and the Spirit, uncontrolled feelings and passions are the gateway into trouble. And when it happens, it “springs up” and can happen quickly and perhaps unexpectedly.

The root of bitterness pivots on the antithesis of a truth from Proverbs 16, where it says that “he who rules his own spirit is mightier than he who takes a city.” Yet in this war between the flesh and the Spirit, far too many are candidates for seduction by their own feelings and passions. They either don’t know the Scriptures, they choose to ignore them, or they override them with their self-justified fleshly passions. In a word, their feelings and passions are allowed to dominate and become obsessions.

John 12:6 reveals that Judas had already been compromising, and describes him as a thief, one with no concern with the poor despite his responsibilities with the group’s funds. But Luke 22: 2-6 marks a critical moment of decision for Judas. Luke’s account highlights a correlation between the time of decision to betray and Satan entering into Judas.

Judas was the one in charge of the money. He was known to be taking advantage of his responsibility for personal gain. Judas was big on giving lip-service in his support of Jesus’ initiatives. But he was in-fact disingenuous with his concern for the poor when he rebuked Mary for wasting an expensive perfume by anointing Jesus' feet. Judas’ priorities were awry. He misused and clearly fell short in his role in being responsible for the money.

Judas used his position for his personal agendas without ever really understanding what the Lord was doing. That’s why the preparation time for Joseph the Patriarch was so long and severe. It’s why so many of today’s modern-day Josephs have been through such a long, excruciating preparation period. There’s a cost for those called to be entrusted with Kingdom roles within seats of power.

Judas’ misuse of his position alludes to the truth in Proverbs 30: 21-23 "Under three things the earth trembles, under four it cannot bear up: a servant who becomes king, a fool who is full of food, an unloved woman who finds a husband, and a maidservant who succeeds her mistress.” Granting position and responsibility to misguided fools operating for their own purposes can have grave consequences.

Proverbs 30:14 underscores the potential motivations of the uncalled and unprepared: “There is a generation whose teeth are like swords, and whose fangs are like knives, to devour the poor from off the earth, and the needy from among men.”

THE FRUIT OF A BITTER ROOT
The scripture indicates that a bitter root will “spring up.” It will “cause trouble.” And it says that a bitter root will cause “many to be defiled.”

There was a bitter root in Judas. Judas was not able to see beyond the superficial nor was he able to grasp the spiritual dimension. He had other agendas. The bitter root blinded him to God’s intentions and to what the Lord was doing. The Judas plot was the result of a bitter root out of control.

Anti-Semitism is similarly one of the most diabolical results of a bitter root run amok. Anti-Semitism stems from a vicious cycle--- a cycle which incorporates the fruit of the bitter root: blindness and the operation of multiple levels of Judas alliances.

It was a perverse spin of doctrine that created anti-Semitism. Rather than understanding the realities of THE Judas alliance; this distortion of truth was fueled by ignorance and fear, justified by a need for a scapegoat and erroneously placed the blame for Jesus’ crucifixion at the feet of the Jews.

But the other side of this bitter root run rampant, is the fact that many within Judaism have placed the fault of the crusades and centuries of anti-Semitism at the feet of the Church. Over-generalizations to be sure --- but tangible mind-sets based on “bitter roots” that reflect the two sides to the veil spoken of in Scripture creating blindness to the most incredible Truth that the world has ever seen.

Holocaust survivors as a group have experienced a level of trauma that exceeds the comprehension and imaginations of most. Their horrific experiences were the result of this anti-Semitic bitter root. But, it has been observed that Holocaust survivors have had a tendency to spiritually choose one of two directions --- either they fervently turn to God or they totally turn away from Him. The choice and the influence of the bitter root is no small matter --- and for some, the choice of bitterness sadly creates distorted views of reality that simply begets more bitterness and pain, a bitterness defiling many.

A bitter root cannot trust. It is constantly finding fault and pointing the finger. It tends to operate self-protectively and surreptitiously and potentially can be at odds with those who don’t share the bitterness. It ultimately is self-defeating and destructive.

A bitter root will grow and find its own purpose for being. Bitter roots will always find reasons for offenses, which will cut off the blessings of God when allowed to “spring up” and fester. Bitter roots are infectious --- from them MANY are defiled.

BLINDNESS AND BETRAYAL
Blindness and deception operate at the core of the bitter roots that spur a Judas alliance. This blindness is a deception and confusion that defiles and creates its own purpose for being. This blindness is marked by fear: a fear of what man can do to you, a fear of shame, a fear of rejection, a fear based on out-of-control insecurities.

It is a fear of being exposed for what or who you are and a compulsion to avoid exposure. A compulsion that will go to any means in its distorted, limited view of reality --- in order to achieve its ends. It is a blindness that undermines the operation of faith. It is a fear driven by the unconscious predisposition of “I’m going to get my way, irregardless” or that of “I’m going to get my revenge, whatever the cost.”

There is no doubt that there was a point when the bitter root operating in Judas began springing forth. When it did, it became an accusing spirit. Revelations 12:10 describes Satan as the “accuser of the brethren.” The accusing spirit is devoid of mercy and seeks only to finds flaws. It projects its own style of evil to the one it accuses ---and is simply on a fault-finding mission. The accusing spirit is the foundation of the uncontrolled, blind passion that leads to betrayal.

An accusing spirit can be prompted by a number of misguided reasons. But in the case of Judas, there is strong evidence that it was a combination of Judas’ mishandling of funds coming to light, combined with Judas’ disillusionment with Jesus’ concept of the Kingdom. Each was tied to Judas’ misguided purposes for operating in Jesus’ inner circle.

Confrontation and fear of exposure actuate the Judas ALLIANCE.

A person with a Judas spirit is neither correctable nor trustworthy. When exposure is near or has just occurred, the actual underlying purposes of one under a Judas spirit will come to the forefront as it begins justifying itself by initiating an “alliance.” The bitter root and an accusing spirit if allowed to go unchecked will manifest in unholy alliances and betrayal --- betrayal of the innocent.

Psalm 41: 9 (Amplified Bible) prophetically describes this dynamic: “Even my own familiar friend, in whom I trusted (relied on and was confident), who ate of my bread, has lifted up his heel against me.”

What is it that springs up, creating the blindness that leads to betraying the innocent?

Marked by an inability to rule their own spirits, the blindness created by the Judas spirit manifests with a cross between a driving fervency on one level, but with confusion and a situational-theology when it comes to issues of true character and holiness. Forgiveness and repentance are not considerations.

The blindness of a Judas spirit is marked with uncontrolled passions, which are given voice through unbridled tongues. Proverbs tells us that a “fool has no delight in understanding, but in expressing their own heart.” It also provides the insight that a “fool vents all his feelings, but a wise man holds them back.”

The blindness leading to betrayal involves a rejection of or lack of respect for authority. People unable to operate within established authority structures are often characterized by a trail of failures in their quest for recognition --- and hold the potential for instability and misguided loyalties when entrusted with authority of their own. They are people who can become street-wise and adept at the lip-service required to gain the acceptance to become insiders; but as insiders who are discontent and have the potential of becoming talebearers. Proverbs speaks of talebearers --- and the correlation of talebearers as the instigators of strife and division. And it also admonishes that removal of the talebearer will cause strife to cease. Which is both a sensitive and strategic issue requiring wisdom when the Judas spirit is identified.

HOLINESS AND HUMILITY: KEY WEAPONS WHEN CONFRONTED BY EVIL
Ephesians 6 tells us that “the weapons of our warfare are mighty, through God, to the pulling down of strongholds.”

We have entered a time in which the warfare in the spiritual realm has taken on a ferocity and deadliness unseen in recent days. It is an emergence of evil globally that parallels the Nazi rise to power in the years prior to World War II.

We need to understand the times and to recognize that our response to evil and our response to the assaults from the evil one are requiring something MORE. But the “something more” has got to be of the right venue or we will find ourselves ensnared and waylaid by the devil’s schemes.

The “something more” is best summed up in John 3:30: “He must increase and I must decrease.” The “something more” needed in our response to the rising tide of evil has got to reflect less of us and more of the Lord. It is a time in which the Body needs to be walking in oneness --- and in the supernatural and the miraculous. Walking consistently in His power requires the commitment and death-to-self of a walk of holiness and humility.

Holiness and humility are the weapons required to effectively deal with today’s rising tide of evil. They are the weapons needed to counteract the destructive intentions of unholy alliances such as the Judas alliances. Holiness and humility are weapons of spiritual warfare that when combined with sound prophetic wisdom and a unified front, will shatter the schemes of the enemy.

We need to be wise as serpents and harmless as doves. Holiness and humility do not operate independently of the gifts and the fruits of the Spirit. Rather they build on them and become the means by which we can truly say with the Psalmist, that “God is my strength and shield, my very hope in times of trouble.” Likewise, they become the foundation of the truth from Isaiah that “no weapon formed against us will be able to prosper.”

There is a significant balance between not acquiescing to the devil’s evil schemes --- and avoiding the temptation to respond in ways which, at times, may seem understandable, natural and acceptable. We need to major in forgiveness, mercy and repentance and avoid the temptation to succumb to offenses and seducing bitter roots at all costs. We need to seek the Lord for that wisdom that is from above --- which is pure, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering and without hypocrisy. We need to empty ourselves before the Lord, so that He might fill us and enable us for the strategic alternatives we will be entrusted with. Clever schemes and brilliant ideas will fall short if they lack the anointing of God that comes from spending regular time in His presence. The Lord will always provide the wisdom needed --- but that wisdom may not always conform to our natural inclinations.

We need to gain a better understanding of the sphere of our individual callings and the authority that goes with it. And NOT deviate from it.

We need tender hearts predisposed to respond with mercy over judgment --- unless God clearly shows otherwise. Prophetic people tend to see things more clearly and intensely than those gifted in other areas --- and are inclined to take action when things are perceived to be askew. But it is a time to choose the approach of Daniel whose words of wisdom with those in authority over him were always filled with grace, as he exercised the authority of one who spent time in the presence of the Lord. It is a time to choose mercy as the mode and avoid unnecessary spiritual backlash because of the fine line of playing the judge of others, which is very different from speaking a word of judgment that clearly comes from the Lord.

Humility is the fruit of holiness. Humility is operating according to a level of holiness that is not enticed by “self,” the flesh or by compromise. Holiness is immersing ourselves to such a degree in the Spirit of the Lord that we take on His righteousness. Humility is yielding ourselves to the Lord with a level of trust in Him --- impacting our relationships and decisions --- that is devoid of any personal agendas and only embraces His perspective and purposes.

Joseph was betrayed by an alliance of his brothers. Years later when his brothers came to Egypt because of the famine, Joseph tested them. While some contend that the testing of his brothers was his struggle with the flesh in forgiving them, that would be inconsistent with the enormous trust and responsibility the Lord had placed in Joseph for the redemption of His people. It would be inconsistent with Joseph’s wisdom and sensitivity to the Lord that was clearly evident at each level in his rise to power in Egypt.

What Joseph was seeking in the series of tests he put his brothers through, was for the clear expression of their repentance. Without that, he was placing his God-given responsibility in jeopardy. Joseph understood who he was in the Lord, the sphere of his calling and the authority that went with it. He was sold out to the Lord and never wavered in being God’s man for the occasion.

Embracing holiness and humility can come only by time spent fervently seeking His presence. Luke 6:12 indicates that there was a time when Jesus went out into the mountain to pray --- when He spent the entire night praying. We have entered a season in which matters of the spirit MUST be handled in the Spirit.

Humility and holiness are spiritual weapons for this hour. So when confronted with overwhelming assaults from the evil one, we can take up the weapons of holiness and humility and “laugh at destruction and famine and not be afraid.”

Humility and holiness will result in a wisdom that is recognized by even those of world as being from God. This was illustrated in Joseph in Genesis 39: “The Lord was with Joseph and he was a successful man and everyone saw that the Lord was with Joseph and made all that he did to prosper.”

As the Psalmist cried out to the Lord, "let the words of my mouth and meditations of my heart, be acceptable in your sight." The most deadly weapon we can strike against the enemy is to resist evil by coming into the presence of the Lord and laying down our feelings and passions before Him. And the power of that weapon is multiplied when in humility and holiness, we lay down our feelings, in obedience to the Lord, in our efforts to serve others.