Overcoming The
12 Evil Strong Men
Overcoming evil spirits & demolishing strongholds of satan
which fights against the soul of man
The
spirit of jealousy
The spirit of jealousy is a “worldly spirit,” it
controls people who are carnal-minded.
Jealousy, in this context is envy—it results in
strife, and divisions.
You are still worldly. For since there is jealousy and
quarreling among you, are you not worldly?
Are you not acting like mere men?
For when one says, "I follow Paul," and another,
"I follow Apollos," are you not mere men?
1 Cor. 3:3-4 NIV
If the spirit of jealousy is allowed in the Church;
it makes “children of the Kingdom” walk as ordinary men.
For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you
envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?
1 Cor 3:3 KJV
The main aim of this evil supernatural power is to
make Christians unspiritual; having the nature of the flesh [under the control
of ordinary impulses].
The spirit of jealousy controls men to walk after a
human standard, like mere (unchanged) men.
Men do not despise a
thief if he steals to satisfy his hunger when he is starving. Yet if he is
caught, he must pay sevenfold, though it costs him all the wealth of his house.
But a man who commits adultery lacks judgment; whoever does so destroys
himself. Blows and disgrace are his lot, and his shame will never be wiped
away; for jealousy arouses a husband's fury, and he will show no mercy when he
takes revenge. He will not accept any compensation; he will refuse the bribe,
however great it is.
Prov. 6:30-35 NIV
Jealousy makes the wronged man furious; therefore he
will not spare in the day of vengeance upon the detected one.
Jealousy is more dangerous and cruel than anger.
Anger is cruel and fury overwhelming,
but who can stand before jealousy?
Prov. 27:4 NIV
Anger, rage, revenge and negative competition are
all associated with the spirit of jealousy.
"'Because you have said, "These two nations and
countries will be ours and we will take possession of them," even though I
the Lord was there, therefore as surely as I live, declares The Sovereign Lord,
I will treat you in accordance with the anger and jealousy you showed in your
hatred of
them and I will make Myself known among them when I judge
you. Then you will know that I The Lord have heard all the contemptible things
you have said against the mountains of Israel. You said, "They have been
laid waste and have been given over to us to devour." You boasted against
Me and spoke against Me without restraint, and I heard it. This is what The
Sovereign Lord says: While the whole earth rejoices, I will make you desolate.
Because you rejoiced when the inheritance of the house of Israel became
desolate, that is how I will treat you. You will be desolate, O Mount Seir, you
and all of Edom. Then they will know that I am The Lord.'"
Ezek 35:10-15 NIV
In this passage, because Edom said, Israel and Judah
shall be mine and we will take possession of them.
Therefore, The Lord declared, “I will deal with you
according to the anger and envy you showed because of your enmity for them, and
I will make Myself known among them as He Who will judge and punish when I
judge and punish you. And you shall
know, understand, and realize that I am The Lord—The Sovereign Ruler, Who calls
forth loyalty and obedient service, and that I have heard all your revilings
and scornful speeches that you have uttered against the mountains of Israel,
saying, They are laid waste and desolate; they are given to us to devour.
The Lord declared to make desolate, the enemies of
His people who come against them in ‘the spirit of envy and rage’.
You will be desolate, O Mount Seir, you and all of Edom.
Then they will know that I am The Lord.'" (v.15).
Under the domain of this evil strongman are: demons
of murder, rage, revenge, competition and suspicion.
In Numbers 5:11-31 we read of 'the adultery test'
which was for protection from marital unfaithfulness. This was a law concerning
the solemn trial of a wife whose husband was jealous of her, because jealousy
is the rage of a man and it is cruel as the grave.
“…because jealousy
arouses a husband's fury.
The husband will show
no mercy when he takes revenge.
No amount of money
will change his mind.
The largest bribe will
not satisfy him.”
Prov. 6:34-35
The spirit of jealousy—cruel as the grave, takes
hold of a mere man—unchanged man. But the only thing that counts is a new
creation (see Gal.6:15).
The Pharisees and Jews were filled with the spirit
of jealousy and with this, they stood against the preaching of the Gospel by
the early apostles (see Acts 5:17; 13:45).
How to overcome the spirit of jealousy
To overcome the spirit of jealousy, we must be
identified with Christ Jesus and be united with Him.
Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in orgies
and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and
jealousy. Rather, clothe yourselves with The Lord Jesus Christ, and do not
think about how to gratify the desires of the sinful nature.
Rom 13:13-14 NIV
King James Version puts it this way:
Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and
drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying. But
put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil
the lusts thereof.
2 Corinthians 5:17 declares:
Therefore if any man
be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all
things are become new.
KJV
When someone becomes a
Christian, he becomes a brand new person inside. He is not the same anymore.
A new life has begun!
TLB
In Galatians 5:20 jealousy is listed among “the acts
of the sinful nature”.
The acts of the sinful nature are the practices of
the flesh: they are immorality, impurity, indecency, selfishness, dissensions,
factions, sects with peculiar opinions, heresies et cetera. GOD’s Word warns
that those who do such things shall not inherit the Kingdom of God.
Now, the fruit of The Holy Spirit, which is the work
which His presence within us accomplishes is Love, Joy (gladness), Peace, Patience
(an even temper, forbearance), Kindness, Goodness (benevolence), Faithfulness,
Gentleness (meekness, humility), Self-Control (self-restraint, continence).
Against such things there is no law [that can bring a charge]. Read Galatians
5:23
And those who belong
to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and appetites and
desires (v.24).
Since we live by The
Spirit, let us keep in step with The Spirit. Let us not become conceited,
provoking and envying each other. (vv.25-26).
All who belong to Christ Jesus (the Messiah) have
crucified the godless human nature with its passions and appetites and desires.
They are ingrafted in Him and their previous moral and spiritual conditions
have been transformed.