The Three Strongholds of Evil That Fight Against Man
The Three Strongholds of Evil That Fight
Against Man
are satan’s main projects against man:
religion, racism, and terrorism.
Each of them battles against the Church
and against the government.
Each of them is a spiritual stronghold that
confronts man
on the natural ground.
Each of them is a 'world-ruler'—a demonic
force of satan
who is the adversary of man.
Freedom from the religious spirit
The religious spirit is the spirit of idolatry.
The aim of this spirit is to seek worship from
men—to keep GOD far off His “temple.”
The Bible declares that we are the temple of GOD.
Apostle Paul said:
And what agreement hath the temple of God with
idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell
in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be My
people.
2 Cor 6:16 KJV
There is a link between religion and racism.
In 1965 Prospects for Freedom by Malcolm X, in his
speech, he made this comment:
"I
am a Muslim and ... my religion makes me against all forms of racism."
He was an African American activist whose ideas
about racial problems in the United States had an influence on black
nationalists and black separatist movements of the 1950s and 1960s. He believed
that Western nations were inherently racist and that black people must join
together to build their own society and value system. His beliefs gained a
broader audience through “The Autobiography of Malcolm X” (1965), published
after his assassination.
But, rather than uniting people and healing the
social wounds caused by racism, his autobiography which contains his speeches
and articles, created further divisions among races.
Racism cannot be healed by religion—religion creates
disunity, discord and disharmony.
The greatest confrontation against the Gospel in
these last days is ‘religion,’ and the enemy pushes this confrontation through
the religious spirit.
The religious spirit cannot operate where The Spirit
of the LORD is. Where the true worshippers worship GOD, there The Spirit of the
LORD is and where The Spirit of the LORD is there is Liberty.
Now the Lord is that
Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is Liberty (2 Cor. 3:17 KJV).
Adonai is The SPIRIT and where The Spirit of Adonai
is present, there is Liberty. Where The Holy Spirit is present there is
Freedom. Where He is absent, there is bondage. Where He is present there is
Light, but where He is not present, there is darkness! He brings freedom for
‘the captives’ and releases ‘the prisoners’ from darkness.
He longs to fellowship with us. When we welcome Him
as an honored Guest in our fellowship, then we can behold His face, and be transformed
from glory to glory.
But we all, with open
face beholding as in a glass the Glory of the Lord, are changed into the same
image from Glory to Glory, even as by The Spirit of The Lord (Verse 18 KJV).
The more we see Him, the more our faces are
unveiled, and the more we are changed into His Holy and glorious Image. With
unveiled faces we reflect The Lord's Glory.
The religious spirit cannot have a hold on us if we
continually behold The LORD of Glory and abide in Him. By The Spirit we are
being transformed into the likeness of Jesus with ever-increasing Glory, which comes
from The LORD, Who is The SPIRIT.
Verse 16 says,
Nevertheless when it
shall turn to The Lord, the vail shall be taken away (KJV).
Whenever anyone turns to The Lord in repentance, the
veil is taken away. From Him we have emancipation from bondage.
Worship GOD in spirit and Truth. Worship Him in your
innermost being—fully dependent on His Spirit, in Truth [in Reality-as He is
revealed in Scripture].
God is a Spirit: and
they that worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in Truth.
John 4:24 KJV
Where The Spirit of the LORD is, Christ is
celebrated.
There, there is Liberty by The SPIRIT.
The Holy Spirit longs to inhabit the soul of man, as
He does under this “Gospel-Dispensation.”
He longs to set you free from the yoke of the ceremonial law, and from
the servitude of corruption; and to grant you liberty of access to GOD. By Him
we have the Liberty to worship GOD—we gain freedom of speech in prayer and the
heart is set at Liberty, and enlarged, to run the ways of GOD's Commands.
The Spirit longs to give us Light so that with open
face our spiritual eyes may be opened that we may behold the Glory of The Lord.
The Israelites saw the Glory of GOD in a cloud, which was dark and dreadful;
but Christians around the world today, are given the privilege to behold the
Glory of The LORD as in a glass.
It was a peculiar privilege of Moses, for GOD to
converse with Him face to face, in a friendly manner; even so we are given the
Freedom to see Him more clearly with open face.
The Spirit of GOD reveals the Glory of GOD to His
children. His Light and Liberty
transforms our soul so that we are changed into “the same image” [GOD’s Image]
from Glory to Glory, from one degree of His glorious Grace unto another, till
Grace here becomes consummated in Glory forever.
Defeating the spirit of racism
A racist makes the race of other people a factor in
attitudes or actions concerning them. Racism
implies a belief in the superiority of one's own race.
There is a link between racism and terrorism. The worst
form of discrimination is racial discrimination.
The consequences of the acts of racism include:
prejudice, discrimination, segregation, slavery, illegal imprisonment, torture,
violence, assassinations, terrorism and even genocide.
In the 60’s in America, were racist institutions
which financed and promulgated racism on a wide scale. Apartheid in South
Africa from 1948 to the early 1990s separated the different peoples living
there and gave privileges to those of European origin.
Racism is dangerous and cruel like jealousy. And
here is what the Bible says about jealousy:
Anger is cruel and
fury overwhelming,
but who can stand
before jealousy?
Prov. 27:4 NIV
Just as no man can stand jealousy, even so no man
can stand racism. Anger, rage, revenge, negative competition, and racism are
all associated with the spirit of jealousy.
Racism like jealousy is cruel as the grave.
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.
Then the high priest
rose up, and all they that were with him, (which is the sect of the Sadducees,)
and were filled with indignation,
Acts 5:17 KJV
This verse in the NIV reads:
Then the high priest
and all his associates, who were members of the party of the Sadducees, were
filled with jealousy (NIV)
Apostle Paul preached to a crowd of Gentiles, but
when the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy.
When the Jews saw the
crowds, they were filled with jealousy and talked abusively against what Paul
was saying.
Acts 13:45NIV
Racism often results in rage, retaliation,
competition and suspicion—if it is not dealt with, it converts to murder.
The Lord declared to make desolate, the enemies of
His people who come against them in ‘the spirit of envy and rage’.
"'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, 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.
To overcome the demon of racism, we must be
identified with Christ Jesus and be united with Him.
Therefore if any man
be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all
things are become new.
2 Cor 5:17 KJV
Winning terrorism
Terrorism is a combination of evil spiritual power
and physical warfare, and religion. Terrorism is a warfare made up of composite
factors and devices: spiritual, militant, scientific, technical, methodical,
systematic, logical, precise, controlled, manipulated, political and of course
religious.
Terrorism is not just about religion as many have
already wrongly speculated; terrorism is not just about the belief system of a
group of people, but it is an act of hate. Terrorists are motivated by a
combination of several things: religious belief or dogma, politics, philosophy,
theory, misery, anguish, hate, amidst other influences and vices.
Ultimately, there is more to terrorism than just a
battle or fight by a ‘rebel force’ against a constitutional government. It is
more than just a confrontation by dissidents against an established leadership
in order to seize administrative or military control. Terrorism is more than
just a protest.
There is more to terrorism than jihad.
It sometimes wears the face of radicalism or
extremism; and at other times it appears to be religious; yet most of the time
it is faceless.
Terrorism is more horrific than the mind of men can
imagine.
Terrorists are under influences of principalities
and powers, and demons; they are ruled by wicked spiritual forces.
The stronghold of terrorism is spiritual wickedness.
For we wrestle not
against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against
the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high
places.
Eph 6:12 KJV
The English dictionary definition of terrorism:
violence or the threat of violence carried out for political purposes.
An act of terrorism creates intense or overwhelming
fear.
Terror involves fear, horror, dread, panic.
Terrorism includes violence (brutality), bloodshed,
intimidation, radicalism, extremism, bombing, kidnapping (abduction), killing
(assassination), and sabotage.
Terrorism is political violence.
Terrorism is lawlessness.
Terrorism is linked with corruption.
Terrorism is an act of wickedness; it is a vile
crime.
Terrorism is a global warfare.
Terrorism is a network.
Terrorists often engage in guerrilla warfare,
radicalism, extremism, fanaticism, threat, abduction, killing and bombing; to
the extent of intimidating others— this is often for political
purposes—relating to the balance of power.
There is “intellectual radicalism” and there is
“ideological radicalism.”
The world today unfortunately has terror sponsors,
strategists, masterminds, promoters, extremists, militants, bomb experts, suicide
bombers, fanatics and sympathizers. Men, women, and even children are being
recruited and radicalized into terror organizations and groups around the
world. Terrorists now operate terror cells in foreign cities which are outside country
where they are based.
There are religious extremists and there are
militant extremists. There are even IT experts and engineers contracted for
coordinated cyber attacks against websites and web portals of governments,
organizations, and institutions.
There are terrorists who are enemies of the state,
and there are terrorists who work for an evil regime. What is generally
referred to as “terror” is usually unconventional.
Several terror attacks around the world which are
being reported by the media are actually orchestrated by global elitists
circle, and fraternity of the rising New World Order. Several individuals
amongst world leaders, organizations, government administrations, agencies,
business groups, institutions, religious groups, sects, and even church leaders
play a role in it.
They want a one world order, one world government,
one world economy, one world constitution, one world army, and a one world
religion. Their objective is to remove from the mind of the people: their
individualism, loyalty to their families, national patriotism, and religion, in
order to achieve world government.
There are three ways by which they are working to
actualize a new world order:
1.) Destruction of the monetary system, leading to
"a one world currency."
2.) Destruction of nationalism and patriotism,
leading to "a one world constitution."
3.) Destruction of religions around the world,
leading to "a one world religion."
Terrorism is one of the machineries they operate by
which they plan to achieve this. They believe in the establishment of a new
world order by revolution—and they believe in achieving this not only
militarily, but by controlling the minds of people.
Their aim is one-world government; a one-world
religion; under a one world leader.
They are fighting for an ‘ecumenical world order!’
By trickery and craftiness they orchestrate
terrorism.
They are rebellious.
They call
"rebellion"—"revolution."
Their aim is to capture, subjugate, spoil, and
extort. By false peace and security they destroy many.
Today, some of the conflicts and wars that you see
on television, going-on around the world, were orchestrated by
‘occult-diplomacy’ of international relations and agencies.
There is a network beyond the terrorists!
They run a regime of terror.
They are 'masters of intrigue.'
The spirit of suicide works with the demon of
terrorism; this is why suicide and terrorism are intermittently connected.
According to authorities on the subject of suicide,
suicidal rates are on the increase, with more cases being documented over the
years. According to World Health Organization (WHO), on the average, almost
3,000 people commit suicide across the world daily, and for every person who
completed a suicide, 20 more people might have attempted to end their lives.
Suicide was estimated to be the eight leading cause of death in all age groups.
As of 2011, an estimated one million people per year
die by suicide, cutting across genders, different age groups, social class and
all with different underlying motives.
The spirit of suicide is one of the devil’s most
strategic “condemnation machinery” against the human race. The devil is an
assassin—going to and fro the earth, seeking who he may devour. This wicked
spirit is in charge of suicide bombers who carry out deadly operations to kill
others without expecting to survive themselves. People, who undertake a suicide
pact; who agree to kill themselves at the same time are under the domain of the
spirit of suicide. It is a demon of recklessness, rashness, irresponsibility,
and madness.
The spirit of suicide haunts the man who sheds the
blood of another man:
A man that doeth
violence to the blood of any person shall flee to the pit; let no man stay him
(Prov. 28:17 KJV).
This agrees with the ancient law, “…whoso sheddeth man's blood, by man shall his
blood be shed” (Gen 9:6)—there is a connection between murder and
suicide. He that has committed murder, though he flees for his life, shall be
continually haunted with terrors, shall himself flee to the pit, betray himself,
and torment himself, like Cain, who, when he had killed his brother, became a
fugitive and a vagabond, and trembled continually.
God is well pleased with the importunity of those
that come to Him with their petitions. A prayer of faith and prayer with
fervency will break the snare of suicide.
In most cases, people who fight against GOD end up
in suicide or become suicidal. The same is the case with several servants of
GOD who disobey or rebel against Him.
When Prophet Jonah disobeyed the Word of The LORD to
go to Nineveh and preach, and fled from the Presence of The LORD, at a point he
became suicidal, and as it were, in his drowning in the sea, yielding to death,
GOD intervened.
Then the sailors said to each other,
"Come, let us cast lots to find out who is responsible for this
calamity." They cast lots and the lot fell on Jonah.
So they asked him,
"Tell us, who is responsible for making all this trouble for us? What do
you do? Where do you come from? What is your country? From what people are you?"
He answered, "I
am a Hebrew and I worship The Lord, The God of Heaven, Who made the sea and the
land."
This terrified them
and they asked, "What have you done?" (They knew he was running away
from The Lord, because he had already told them so.)
The sea was getting
rougher and rougher. So they asked him, "What should we do to you to make
the sea calm down for us?"
"Pick me up and throw me into the
sea," he replied, "and it will become calm. I know that it is my
fault that this great storm has come upon you."
Jonah 1:7-12 NIV
By fervent prayer with trust in GOD, The LORD of
Hosts can pursue His enemies to their ultimate destruction (like Judas who
became a traitor and betrayed The Son of Man)—or by the same, give the Grace
for Salvation (like the thief that received the gift of Salvation on the
cross).
Psalm 140 is about preservation from violence
(terrorism).
Deliver me, O Lord,
from the evil man: preserve me from the violent man;
Which imagine
mischiefs in their heart; continually are they gathered together for war.
They have sharpened
their tongues like a serpent; adders' poison is under their lips. Selah.
Keep me, O Lord, from
the hands of the wicked; preserve me from the violent man; who have purposed to
overthrow my goings.
The proud have hid a
snare for me, and cords; they have spread a net by the wayside; they have set
gins for me. Selah.
I said unto the Lord,
Thou art my God: hear the voice of my supplications, O Lord.
O God the Lord, the
Strength of my Salvation, thou hast covered my head in the day of battle.
Grant not, O Lord, the
desires of the wicked: further not his wicked device; lest they exalt
themselves. Selah.
As for the head of
those that compass me about, let the mischief of their own lips cover them.
Let burning coals fall
upon them: let them be cast into the fire; into deep pits, that they rise not
up again.
Let not an evil
speaker be established in the earth: evil shall hunt the violent man to
overthrow him.
I know that the Lord
will maintain the cause of the afflicted, and the right of the poor.
Surely the righteous
shall give thanks unto thy name: the upright shall dwell in Thy Presence.
Ps 140 KJV
Prov. 3:31-32 says:
Do not envy a violent
man
or choose any of his
ways,
for the Lord detests a
perverse man
but takes the upright
into His confidence (NIV).
The terrorist is ‘a violent man.’
He is ‘froward’—difficult to deal with: stubbornly
disobedient (see KJV). The terrorist is stubbornly unreasonable; he will refuse
point blank to accept the offered help; his mind is perverted. He is obstinate
and headstrong.
Avoid him!
To stay alive, keep far away from the ruthless,
merciless, cold-blooded man.
A violent man entices
his neighbor
and leads him down a
path that is not good.
Prov 16:29 NIV
The path of the terrorist and the extremist ‘is not
good.’
Along that path there is no bargain.
Ignorance, unbelief, false teachings; misleadings in
doctrine and living, and negative influences produces negative characters in
any society.
Several Bible prophecies reveal to us that there are
still greater conflicts to come in this world. In Matthew 24, Jesus spoke about
perilous times which will play out as signs of His Coming.
The darker it gets in the world, the more we should
rejoice as believers, especially as we proclaim Jesus Christ, Who said,
“I am the Light of the world: he that followeth Me shall not walk in
darkness, but shall have the Light of Life” (John 8:12).
This is not the time for fear or for relying on
yourself or your abilities. This is the time to trust the Lord and get closer
than ever to Him. This is the time to find your Hiding Place in Him and stay
there:
“He that dwelleth in
the Secret Place of the Most High shall abide under the Shadow of the Almighty.
I will say of the Lord, He is my Refuge and my Fortress: my God; in Him will I
trust” (Psalm 91:1-2).
The Hiding Place is our address! God’s Presence is
our address. If we stay and abide with Him, He has promised to dwell with us
and protect us.
Let’s stay close to Him. Let’s hide in Him.
The Gospel of Jesus Christ must be our priority!
We must continue to preach the uncompromising Gospel
of Jesus Christ to the nations!
JESUS CHRIST alone has the lasting solution to the
world’s enormous and complex problems—He will put an everlasting end to the
rising global violence and wars, for He is Alpha and Omega, the First and the
Last—the Prince of Peace.