What is an orphan spirit

Most of us recognize that an orphan is someone without a father or a mother and without the connection of an extended family. Orphans often suffer from feelings of anxiety, isolation, and hopelessness. 

Central and East European countries endured more than 70 years of imposed scientific atheism under Soviet communist rule. In the wake of the fall communism multiple generations – hundreds of millions of souls – have been left as Spiritual Orphans. 

For most, there is no older generation of believers — no grandmas and grandpas, no fathers or mothers — to lead, teach, and guide younger generations along the path of faith. The concepts of knowing a Father in heaven who loves you, belonging to the extended family of brothers and sisters in Christ, extending forgiveness to others, and having the sure and certain hope of life in Jesus Christ have been lost. 

“I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.

John 14:18, ESV

Spiritual Orphans also describes believers who are separated from other believers, due to extenuating circumstances. 

You and I have certainly had some experience with that in the last few months, with our COVID isolation. Now imagine that being the the case for over three generations – 74-years – of imposed scientific atheism, under Soviet communist rule. Without the advent of technology. No video feeds or social media. Complete isolation. Worshiping in secret in your own home. This still continues today – believers feeling isolated from the rest of the Body of Christ. 

As a result, we partner with other believers, throughout former communist nations, in order to lift them up and come alongside them to help build their ministries. You can be a part of this, too! 

Almost 3 decades after the fall of the Soviet Union, there is still only a small remnant of believers who are desperately trying to fan the embers of faith in a society that still functions largely in the long shadow of its atheistic communist past. 

What this means is, there is no older generation to come alongside the Spiritual Orphans in former communist nations. YOU are that Generation of Believers that can share your faith! 

We are a relational ministry that engages people in the Gospel through our long-term cooperation with indigenous ministries and church leaders. Together, we serve in a part of the world that already provides for basic human needs and infrastructure. What is lacking is a connection to God. YOU can be that connection!

“…but you have received the Spirit of adoption, as sons, by whom we cry, ‘Abba! Father!'”

Romans 8:15, ESV

The orphan spirit is something that many people struggle with, both in the Body of Christ, as well as in the world.

When Adam and Eve chose to disobey God in the Garden, sin entered the world. Unfortunately, that disobedience caused a separation between God and man.

We’ve all heard of separation anxiety. It is a real thing. When a baby is separated from its parents, it oftentimes experiences great fear. This is actually a normal reaction when those who they have known as protectors are no longer with them.

So, too, when man chose to turn their backs on God, an unexpected fear entered their lives. Their protector and provider appeared to have left their presence.

The thing we must know about God is that He is merciful. So often, when we have done something wrong, we take the way of Adam and Eve and recoil—isolating ourselves from God and others. We feel alienated and alone. But the opposite is true. God never leaves us… we leave Him.

God is a gentleman. He will never violate our decisions, even when they may go against His greatest desire—to draw near to us. When a wrong decision is made it is good to know that He is quick to forgive, if we will only come to Him.

There is something unique about a father’s role in the life of a child. The father and child relationship is the heart of where our identity is formed, and it should be a healthy picture of how our Heavenly Father interacts with us.

When one is abandoned or rejected by their earthly father, a deep void is created. This often makes it difficult for us to interact with our God. Our trust has been broken, and healing must take place.

Knowing the Father’s love is very important and necessary for a Believer to function as a healthy member of the Body of Christ.

What does an orphan spirit look like?

“A type of demonic spirit that invades a person’s mind causing a sense of abandonment, loneliness, alienation, and isolation. It often attaches itself to someone who has experienced extreme rejection in his or her life. A person operating out of an orphan spirit compensates these feelings of insecurities by being performance driven, competitive, and works independently. They struggle with self-worth and find it difficult to maintain healthy relationships.”

We often live with dysfunction for such a long time in our lives, that we don’t realize we are struggling.

Ask yourself these questions…

If you’ve answered yes to several of these, it’s safe to say that maybe there is a heart issue that is deeply in need of healing.

You see the opposite of one abandoned is one adopted. Adoption is a very beautiful thing.

When a child is adopted they are no longer penniless. They are no longer without a name. They are, in the best of scenarios, given an identity through a new family—where they will be loved and appreciated.

Often, in cases of adoption, the family they are given, provides much better care than the original parents ever could.

When we are operating in the spirit of adoption…

How do I get healing from something that has controlled my life for so long?

The first step to healing is admitting that there’s a problem in the first place.

Pray this prayer with me:

“Father, I admit that I am struggling to connect with You in a healthy way because of the rejection I’ve experienced in my past. I ask You to forgive me for assuming that You were like the human beings who have hurt me, and I ask You to help me start the process of healing that I so desperately need. I give You permission to begin cleaning out the things in my life that hold me back from truly getting my identity from a Heavenly Father who loves me unconditionally. In the name of Yeshua, Amen.

Now, I want to tell you this is a lifestyle change. It’s easy to pray a simple prayer, but the next steps are sometimes more difficult. When we make changes in our life it takes courage and often self-discipline.

I encourage you during this time of healing to write in a journal about what the Holy Spirit is showing you.

For example: If anger and rage begin to creep in, I strongly recommend that you take time to slow down and evaluate the open door. Are you feeling rejected in that moment? Are you wanting your way, and pushing to get it? Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal the Lord’s truth about the situation.

Look to the Word of God…

Here are several scriptures that we recommend as you continue to work through ‘battling in the opposite spirit,’ the spirit of adoption:

 “There is one who speaks like the piercings of a sword, but the tongue of the wise promotes health.”—Proverbs 12:18

“Even so the tongue is a little member and boasts great things. See how great a forest a little fire kindles!”—James 3:5

“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.”—James 1:17

“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.”—Philippians 4:6

“Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God.”—Romans 8:26-27

“And He said, ‘My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.’”—Exodus 33:14

“Commit your works to the Lord, and your thoughts will be established.”—Proverbs 16:3

“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.”—Jeremiah 29:11

“For God is not the author of confusion but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints.”—1 Corinthians 14:33

“But as it is written: ‘Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him.’”—1 Corinthians 2:9

“You will also declare a thing, and it will be established for you; so light will shine on your ways.”—Job 22:28

“But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth. This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic. For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there.”—James 3:14-16

“Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself.”—Philippians 2:3

“For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise.”—Hebrews 10:36

I want to encourage you in the Lord. If today you have found that you are struggling with the orphan spirit, please know that there should be no shame in this. We’ve all battled it at one point or another—some of us more than others, depending on the level of rejection or abandonment we’ve experienced in our lives.

At Curt Landry Ministries we desire to see the Body of Christ healed and walking in their true purposes in Yeshua. We bless each one of you in the name of Yeshua as you continue to do Kingdom work, walking in your true identity as a loved son or daughter of the Most-High God.