“Curtailed” cried out:”Give me a new name! I don’t like being who I am!” There he was wrapped in heavy black chains unable to set himself free. He knew the name he was to call upon: He called out to that most holy name “Jesus” many times with all his might, but he was blind to the fact that Jesus is the way, the TRUTH and the life. Without being in union with truth, the speaking of the name Jesus and calling upon it was of no avail.

“Curtailed” was not yet willing to face the truth about himself. He had a whole wardrobe of religious garments that he clothed himself with, putting them on over the chains so no one would suspect that he was all bound up. He quoted scriptures daily, went to all the religious gatherings he could find, and worshiped God in their midst with the loudest voice of all. The speeches, teachings and preaching of the few “Surrendered Ones” would soothe him and calm him momentarily. He had great discernment knowing the Lord’s voice in His people who were pure, and they were a great comfort to him. As long as he was with them, he felt safe. 

But when he was home after he did all his religious rituals and put away all his phylacteries, he felt alone and barren. It was then that the voices in his mind shouted all their obscenities. Try as he might through washing his hands over and over again, and through taking many, many baths in his desire to be clean inside, the voices could not be stilled. These voices were demons that could not be evicted until strongholds were taken down… even the strongholds of religion that came through his bloodline. 

Oh how pure and good religious practices seemed to be to this one. He could never be set free until he recognized that they were a substitute for worshiping God in spirit and in truth. Alas! The religious people he most highly respected blinded him with their good works and high minded religiosity. He trusted their opinion of him when they lavished him with their praises of his accomplishments, never suspecting how shallow they were. Their compromise with the world and its standards went by undetected, because none realized how deadly the mixture was. They assumed that because of the anointing that was there on the Word at times, that everything that was taught was true and that their religious ways were acceptable to God. None were aware that the five foolish virgins that were cast into outer darkness were/are a representation of the fivefold ministry at the end of the church age. Most of all, none realized that men admiring and following men, was a spiritually homosexual act that opened doors which invited homosexual thoughts to come in,… even demonic voices of torment to those like “Curtailed” had. While it was true that he and others sincerely wanted to be clean within and to please God, the desire to be greater than others and the love of the praises of men kept them blind to their spiritually blind condition. Their deception was great because of their pride.  

“Curtailed” was miserable, but he put on a happy face and required everyone else in his life to put on a happy face, as well. His little world got shaken though, when the Most High God sent one called “Transparency” into his life. Oh how “Transparency” loved this one. She unveiled herself, letting him see both the good and bad in her. She was like a bright flashing neon sign saying: “This is the WAY to life, joy and peace,” and “Curtailed” knew that “Transparency” was on the right path. However, he was blinded by self-deception and denial, not seeing that he was walking on a different one than hers. 

He used the same kind of deception that Abraham and Issac did when they covered up the truth, saying “She is my sister” about their wives. When one speaks a word that is true to deceive, that word is made into a LIE. Oh how wicked self-deception is! It thinks deceiving others goes unnoticed by them, and worse, unnoticed by God. 

THIS was why “Curtailed” was curtailed and could not get the help that he needed to rout out the demons who tormented him. On the day he would be willing to look into the all-revealing mirror of God, let his candle search the innermost parts of his belly and face himself, THEN he would be FREE and his name would be changed to “Honesty.”

Oh happy day when the religious spirit cries “Uncle!”, and all who are no longer curtailed cry: “Aba! Thank you that the sun has come…. even the SON in us!”