Beware Of The Spirit Of Familiarity

Familiarity is the greatest block to the anointing. Familiarity is the greatest block to receiving God’s power from God’s men. 

No matter how great the gift of God, it is neutralized by the spirit of familiarity.

Familiarity means to know someone or something very well and in such a way as to cause you to lose your admiration, respect and sense of awe. It also connotes a sense of becoming presumptuous, where a person is too confident in a way that shows a lack of respect.

I repeat again, No matter how great the gift of God, it is neutralized by the spirit of familiarity. Jesus was the Greatest healer and teacher, yet His anointing was neutralized by the presence of familiar people. Let’s read Mark 6:1-3, 5 
“And he went out from thence, and came into his own country; and his disciple follow him. And when the sabbath day was come, he began to teach in the synagogue: and many hearing him were astonished, saying, From whence hath this man these things? and what wisdom is this which is given unto him, that even such mighty works are wrought by his hands? IS NOT THIS THE CARPENTER, THE SON OF MARY... And they were offended at him. AND HE COULD THERE DO NO MIGHTY WORK, save that he laid his hands upon a few sick folk, and healed them"

This Scripture shows us that Jesus could not perform miracles in His hometown. they knew Him too well to receive Him as the Son of God. They had questions about His parents, his family and his background.

When Jesus preached in His hometown, the Scripture says in Luke 4:28 “when they heard these things, they were filled with wrath”. The word “wrath” in Greek is the word “thumos”. This means incipient displeasure fermenting in the mind, it speaks of fierceness, indignation and wrath. The familiar people were angry with Jesus’ sermon. But when he preached in Galilee according to Luke 4:32 “they were astonished at His doctrine” The word “astonished” is the Greek word “ekplesso” which means to be amazed, astonished and struck with terror.

Notices that there are only four verses between “thumos” and “ekplesso”. Notice also that “thumos” took place in Nazareth, Jesus’s hometown. Ekplesso took place in a city of Galilee about two hundred kilometers from Jesus’s hometown of Nazareth.


In the Old Testament, we find that Michal suffered from familiarity toward her husband, David. She paid for it by becoming barren. Familiarity is still the cause of spiritual barrenness in the Church today. 
“Then David returned to bless his household. and Michal the daughter of Saul came out to meet David, and said, How glorious was the king of Israel today, who uncovered himself today in the eyes of the handmaids of his servants, as one of the vain fellows shamelessly uncovered himself! And David said unto Michal, it was before the Lord, which chose me before thy father, and before all his house, to appoint me ruler over the people of the Lord, over Israel: therefore will I play before the Lord. And I will yet be more vile than thus, and will be base in mine own sight: and of the maidservants which thou hast spoken of, of them shall I be had in honor. Therefore, Michal the daughter of Saul had no child unto the day of her death.” (2 Samuel 6:20-23)

Moses who commanded a pillar of fire by night and a pillar of cloud by day could not impress his own sister Miriam. She criticized him about his marriage and suffered for it (Numbers 12:1). As a ministers of God, sometimes our hearts are often closed to those who are familiar toward us. We simply do not flow toward them because we can sense the questions in the hearts of people suffering from familiarity.

It Exists Three Groups That Often Suffer From The Spirit Of Familiarity:


1. Minister’s Wives and Husbands: Minister’s wives often suffer from severe familiarity. Just like Michal, when everyone is impressed, they are not impressed with their husbands. They say things like “I know you", “No one knows you better than I do” or “I am not one of those people who give you praise and affirmation in the church", etc. In a sense, they are right about all these things, but the fact is that they are also victims of familiarity.

2. Relatives: Relatives also suffer from familiarity. They would say, “Is this not Pugliese’s son?” or “I know your father very well", or “We know you before you preach the Word” With this kind of questions, how can such people receive me as a man of God?

3. Close Friends and Associates: These people also experiences familiarity. They have been around you for so long and they have seen your vicisitudes and weakness. It is easy to slip and slide into familiarity. Sometimes it would be better not to know someone closely in order not to develop an air of familiarity.

Familiarity breeds disloyalty. When people are familiar, they lose their respect and they cross boundaries they should never cross. Familiarity makes people say things they should never say.

When Michal spoke against David, she stood in the shoes of a rebel fighting and opposing God’s anointed. She became a critic of “the man after God’s own heart”. God called him “a man after mine own heart” but she despise him. Imagine that God is impressed but you are not impressed!

Familiarity often stems from jealously and carnality. Michal was jealous of the girls who seemed to appreciate David’s ministry. She disliked the fact that David seemed to be impressed with these young whippersnappers (2 Samuel 6:20)

Sometimes it is better to know someone from afar so that you can continue to receive from his ministry. When you are too familiar with your pastor, you can mistakenly see him as a man without the anointing. Whenever you think of the great man of God you respect, you do not often think of their faults. When there is a visiting preacher, no one considers whether he is impatient or easily angered. No one thinks of whether this man is in debt or whether he has an extravagant lifestyle. All we do is to receive the ministry of this man of God. However, these are thoughts that occur to us about men of God that we are familiar with.

When you become familiar, you no longer relate with a man of God spiritually. That fact that he is even anointed does not occur to you. All you see are natural things. If your eyes are on the natural you will see weakness, dishonor and corruption.

The anointing for ministry is transferred from one man of God to another, and praise the Lord because not every one suffers from the spirit of familiarity. Some people are able to stay close and still have a high regard for the anointing. We can have people around us who have seen our human weakness for many years and yet they maintain a sense of awe, fascination and respect for the presence of God upon our lives.

Believers of God, be careful of the Spirit of familiarity!; Servants of God, be careful of the Spirit of familiarity too!

Inspired From A Teaching By Prophetess Tatianah Chiza

Prophetess Tatianah Chiza is an authoritative, influential and transformative internationally recognised and celebrated speaker who is being used of God mightily in the prophetic, healing and deliverance. 

A renowned author of powerful books. A faithful spiritual daughter of Archbishop Dr Asa Gurupira and Apostle Mavis Gurupira, has a passion and responsibility for souls, to spread Gods love through philanthropic work and touch nations with living gospel of Christ.

She is an ordained Pastor and Prophet and together with her husband Dr Prophet BS Chiza they have planted numerous assemblies in Zimbabwe, Botswana and Namibia and are currently leading a thriving one in Bulawayo.
Speakers Profile -  Prophetess Tatianah Chiza (Tiyambuke 2018)
Speakers Profile -  Prophetess Tatianah Chiza (Tiyambuke 2018)
Prophet Tatianah Chiza models virtuousness and is an inspiration to women across the globe. Holiness, genuine kingdom living and sonship pattern the trademark of her ministry. She preaches the theme of Sacrificial love through the word, and actions as she supports, orphans through educational funds, the less privileged and the elderly through building homes and donating basic commodities.
Married to Dr Prophet Blessing Samuel Chiza a Prophetess and author. They have four children, Joshaviah Joriah, Shiphrah Joan, Eliadah Jedidiah and Tim Joseph.

- Prophet Tatianah Chiza Holds a diploma in secretarial studies,
- Diploma in pastoral studies.
- A marriage officer and counsellor,
- A renowned author of books, best-selling sin of familiarity, keys and principles to a prosperous Christian life,
- Qualified baker,
- International speaker,
- A philanthropist who has touched lives all over through numerous donations.
Speakers Profile -  Prophetess Tatianah Chiza (Tiyambuke 2018)
Speakers Profile -  Prophetess Tatianah Chiza (Tiyambuke 2018)
Speakers Profile -  Prophetess Tatianah Chiza (Tiyambuke 2018)
Speakers Profile -  Prophetess Tatianah Chiza (Tiyambuke 2018)


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