The Stronghold Defeated
by Suzin McNeill
Good morning in the name of Jesus!
The Lord has put it on my heart to begin an ongoing study and discussion
focused on the enemy's greatest stronghold. Each of you are encouraged
to share your testimony and ask questions. Some of which will be shared
with the entire list so that all might benefit. It is always encouraging
to know that others have overcome the same struggles we have or are now
facing. Jesus taught extensively regarding this stronghold.
It is unique in that it is the only one He pointed to as a deity;
satan's prize possession and his most powerful weapon in the earth. Its
reach and influence is world-wide, it is rampant in the church and in
one way or another.... effects us all. What is this very powerful
demonic stronghold? Jesus describes it best.... and at the same time
tells us its purpose.
"No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon." (Matt 6:24 NKJ)
The stronghold of mammon or spirit of mammon as we call it, is the power and authority that satan exercises over money or wealth in the earth. The purpose of this stronghold is to deceive us into serving him rather than the True God of the Bible. What makes this stronghold so powerful is that satan tricks us with lies and deceptions, appealing to our sinful nature, in an effort to get us to focus on building our kingdom rather than God's. That's right, one of satan's greatest ploys is seducing us into building our kingdom; for in this he is building his kingdom.
Satan gets a foot hold in our life by sending his most powerful seducing spirits to find an open door,
which can be any area of our life that is
not fully submitted to the Lordship of Jesus Christ. If our weakness is
lust you can be sure the spirit of lust is lying in wait, ready to rear
his head at the first opportunity. If our weakness is pride, the spirit
of pride never turns down an invitation to harden a heart. And if our
heart is filled with the burning desire is be rich....the spirit of
greed and manipulation will have a field day;
I speak from experience. The Lord delivered me from each of these spirits and more. Praise God!
Other deceptions I have experienced that were much more subtle were the lies that said I am the provider for me and my family.... not God, and that old faithful deception that says... if its going to happen then I must make it happen. What a bill of goods those were; they wrecked more havoc in my life than I even know or care to know. It took being delivered from the spirit of pride to even see those two; I praise the Lord for His grace and mercy, without which I cannot even imagine where I'd be today!
Most times the initial deception is so subtle we are not even aware that satan or one of his seducing spirits is at work. Once they get in they just build from there until we are fully given over or the Lord delivers us. If we ignore or miss the Lord or if we are not saved, satan sends a much more spirits just for bad measure.
Scripture says seven others more powerful than the first. The enemy's
objective is simple...to get us to that place where we rebel against God
and reject the cross of Jesus Christ. Not a good place to be.... saved
or unsaved.
What I don't understand is that it there seems to be very little teaching done in the church about overcoming the spirit of mammon. There are sermons and teachings about the love of money being the root of many kinds of evil but I am talking about practical Biblical applications to specifically overcome the stronghold of mammon in our daily lives. It appears many just do not want to talk about it or don't understand it. By ignoring it we play right into satan's hands; he would much rather work unnoticed from the shadows. Not bringing it out in the open where it can be overcome allows the spirit to lurk just below the surface of our daily lives... waiting until it can do the most damage before wrecking havoc in our lives. Many have been set up this way for the big fall. Once again that is experience speaking!
Overcoming the spirit of mammon was so important in the ministry of Jesus that as soon as His Father anointed Him, the Spirit of God immediately led Jesus into the wilderness to be tempted. The collective power of satan and all his seducing spirits came against Jesus one step at a time. Thank God they failed. This is very same stronghold we who have ears to hear are called to overcome today. Jesus is our pattern.
How many families, churches and relationships have been destroyed or wounded by the spirit of mammon? How many believers have rejected the church? How many do not give to God for His purposes because they have been deceived by the spirit of mammon? That's just in the church; we would need a week to list all the evil things done in the world for the sake of profits and money. Today, as it was in Jesus' day, the spirit of mammon is thee major stronghold in both the world and the church. There is hope though, and there is one sure answer but only one...His name is Jesus Christ!
"No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon."
Jesus tells us something else with His statement about mammon... when it comes to this stronghold we cannot stand with one foot on the platform and one foot on the train, or as the True Witness of Revelation says it lukewarm. The reason is simple, when God's glory train suddenly begins to roll, if we try to hang on to mammon, it will tear us apart and He will vomit us out. Not a good place to be! On the floor in filth.
Now is the only time to overcome!
"He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches."' "And to the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write, 'These things says the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God: "I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. "So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth. "Because you say, 'I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing'-- and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked-- "I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see. "As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent. "To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne. "He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches."'
MAMMON [MAM mun] (riches)-- a word that speaks of wealth especially wealth that is used in opposition to God. Mammon is a transliteration of the Aramaic word mamon, which means "wealth, riches," or "earthly goods." Modern versions have "money," "gold," and "material possessions." Jesus said that no one can serve two masters-- God and money-- at the same time. Nor can mammon (money) purchase security. "For what is a man profited if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?"
"No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon." (Matt 6:24 NKJ)
The stronghold of mammon or spirit of mammon as we call it, is the power and authority that satan exercises over money or wealth in the earth. The purpose of this stronghold is to deceive us into serving him rather than the True God of the Bible. What makes this stronghold so powerful is that satan tricks us with lies and deceptions, appealing to our sinful nature, in an effort to get us to focus on building our kingdom rather than God's. That's right, one of satan's greatest ploys is seducing us into building our kingdom; for in this he is building his kingdom.
I will Vs I AM!
Satan gets a foot hold in our life by sending his most powerful seducing spirits to find an open door,
which can be any area of our life that is
not fully submitted to the Lordship of Jesus Christ. If our weakness is
lust you can be sure the spirit of lust is lying in wait, ready to rear
his head at the first opportunity. If our weakness is pride, the spirit
of pride never turns down an invitation to harden a heart. And if our
heart is filled with the burning desire is be rich....the spirit of
greed and manipulation will have a field day; I speak from experience. The Lord delivered me from each of these spirits and more. Praise God!
Other deceptions I have experienced that were much more subtle were the lies that said I am the provider for me and my family.... not God, and that old faithful deception that says... if its going to happen then I must make it happen. What a bill of goods those were; they wrecked more havoc in my life than I even know or care to know. It took being delivered from the spirit of pride to even see those two; I praise the Lord for His grace and mercy, without which I cannot even imagine where I'd be today!
Most times the initial deception is so subtle we are not even aware that satan or one of his seducing spirits is at work. Once they get in they just build from there until we are fully given over or the Lord delivers us. If we ignore or miss the Lord or if we are not saved, satan sends a much more spirits just for bad measure.
Scripture says seven others more powerful than the first. The enemy's
objective is simple...to get us to that place where we rebel against God
and reject the cross of Jesus Christ. Not a good place to be.... saved
or unsaved. What I don't understand is that it there seems to be very little teaching done in the church about overcoming the spirit of mammon. There are sermons and teachings about the love of money being the root of many kinds of evil but I am talking about practical Biblical applications to specifically overcome the stronghold of mammon in our daily lives. It appears many just do not want to talk about it or don't understand it. By ignoring it we play right into satan's hands; he would much rather work unnoticed from the shadows. Not bringing it out in the open where it can be overcome allows the spirit to lurk just below the surface of our daily lives... waiting until it can do the most damage before wrecking havoc in our lives. Many have been set up this way for the big fall. Once again that is experience speaking!
Overcoming the spirit of mammon was so important in the ministry of Jesus that as soon as His Father anointed Him, the Spirit of God immediately led Jesus into the wilderness to be tempted. The collective power of satan and all his seducing spirits came against Jesus one step at a time. Thank God they failed. This is very same stronghold we who have ears to hear are called to overcome today. Jesus is our pattern.
How many families, churches and relationships have been destroyed or wounded by the spirit of mammon? How many believers have rejected the church? How many do not give to God for His purposes because they have been deceived by the spirit of mammon? That's just in the church; we would need a week to list all the evil things done in the world for the sake of profits and money. Today, as it was in Jesus' day, the spirit of mammon is thee major stronghold in both the world and the church. There is hope though, and there is one sure answer but only one...His name is Jesus Christ!
"No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon."
Jesus tells us something else with His statement about mammon... when it comes to this stronghold we cannot stand with one foot on the platform and one foot on the train, or as the True Witness of Revelation says it lukewarm. The reason is simple, when God's glory train suddenly begins to roll, if we try to hang on to mammon, it will tear us apart and He will vomit us out. Not a good place to be! On the floor in filth.
Now is the only time to overcome!
"He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches."' "And to the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write, 'These things says the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God: "I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. "So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth. "Because you say, 'I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing'-- and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked-- "I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see. "As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent. "To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne. "He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches."'
MAMMON [MAM mun] (riches)-- a word that speaks of wealth especially wealth that is used in opposition to God. Mammon is a transliteration of the Aramaic word mamon, which means "wealth, riches," or "earthly goods." Modern versions have "money," "gold," and "material possessions." Jesus said that no one can serve two masters-- God and money-- at the same time. Nor can mammon (money) purchase security. "For what is a man profited if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?"
Divine Lordship is not a threat; rather it’s the
place of greatest safety.