We have explored many of the ways Satan organizes the
demonic forces. We have also exposed many of the demonic strategies against
individual believers. When we begin to look at the seven churches described in
the Book of Revelation, we discover specific demonic strongholds that can be
found at church. Let’s take a look at these spirits.
Spirit of Religion (Revelation 2:4–5, 7)
The church at Ephesus had “left their first love” (Rev.
2:4). They were doctrinally sound and had everything in order but they had lost
their passion for God. When you turn to Acts 19 to look at “first works” and
“first love” you discover an astounding truth.
At the birth of the Ephesian church they were baptizing in
water, laying hands on the people for the baptism of the Holy Spirit,
magnifying God in tongues, casting out demons, healing with prayer cloths, and
being evicted from the old order.
The church at Ephesus had every element of church life in
order and they were a hard working congregation. Yet the fire, the passion, the
love had gone out of it. We see now that religion had taken over with its dull
duty and tired traditionalism. The power of God was missing; demons were no
longer leaving, tongues were absent, miracles were simply a memory. A loveless
routine of religious works had replaced the power and passion of the Holy
Spirit.
Who can deny the present reality of this deadening demon of
religion? Many churches like Samson have been shorn of their power by the
Delilah’s of religion! Now blind to spiritual things, we grind out our
religious activities and traditions with no transforming power. This demon must
be exposed and expelled.
Spirit of Intimidation (Revelation 2:10–11)
The church at Smyrna endured persecution, and many members
suffered martyrdom. With this threat, Satan tries to strike fear in the hearts
of believers by sending intimidation to frighten us away from faithfulness to
God and His Word. Remember Simon Peter warming himself by the enemy’s fire on
the night of Jesus’ arrest? This faithful disciple was intimidated by his
surroundings and the questioning voice of a little servant girl. Today the
church is silent and cowed down before the world and its governments. This
demon must be cast down!
Spirit of Compromise (Revelation 2:12, 14–17)
Pergamos was the capital city of the province of Asia
mentioned in Revelation as one of the seven churches of Asia. It was a
celebrated city of Mysia in the Caicus valley, 15 miles from the Aegean Sea
about 60 miles north of Smyrna. The river Selinus flowed through it and the
river Caicus ran just south of it. This city was rich in historical and
literary heritage with a library which boasted well over 200,000 volumes,
topped only by the library in Alexandria.
The city had a “pet” god in Asklepion, an idol symbolized by
a snake who called himself a savior. They believed that their god incarnated
into the area snakes, so serpents were allowed to slither freely around the
temple. Those who desired healing spent the night in the darkness of the
temple, hoping a snake would crawl over them. The city was an outpost to Greek
civilization and was home to the temples of many other deities.
Can you see the parallels of the secular plight in America
and its churches? Most churches operate in a community or environment that is
controlled by Satan rather than God. What can a church do when ministry becomes
difficult? Can we allow the snakes of secular humanism to slither through our
congregations? Compromise is not the answer. We cannot become comfortable with
the sin around us!
The church of Jesus must take active steps to stand strong
in our lost and dying world!
We must recognize the conflict. Jesus pointed out that the
city was the church’s dwelling place or permanent residence. To flee was not an
option. Instead, He advised them to settle into service and draw the battle
lines. Paul recognized the need for battle-readiness when he penned Ephesians
6. The armor of God is needed in the middle of war. Most of all, the church
must go forward under the name and banner of Jesus, never operating in their
own strength, for in the flesh the enemy could find weakness.
We must repent of compromise. The church at Pergamos had
some weaknesses to be dealt with. There were doctrinal problems along with
problems with some of their deacons and leadership. One in particular is
mentioned, Nicholas, who began teaching heresy, and leading others into sin.
How sad when a leader goes bad and quits truly serving the Lord! Often times
they lead others astray and take others with them. Yet another conflict in the
Pergamos church was a discipline problem. They tolerated the mess they were in
by overlooking the sin in their own camp. Jesus called them to repentance.
Another problem that arose was the spirit of Balaam. To give you some history
of this, Balak, the pagan king, literally bought the prophet Balaam’s ministry.
Balak eventually sent women to seduce the men of Israel, thus bringing judgment
upon them. It was Balaam that sold out the people of God. In keeping the spirit
of Balaam, too often today, money has become the goal and prize of many in the
church. Popular preaching has replaced prophetic preaching. Image has replaced
anointing and the church is reduced to no more than a place where pop
psychology tickles the ears of its parishioners on Sundays. The image-makers
and the politically correct have dulled the sword of the churches and its men
of God.
We must rely on Christ. The Pergamos church needed to rely
on their Savior, who provided the weapon of the sword of the Spirit, His own
word. This is the weapon we claim as Christians. The popular “Star Wars”
phenomenon has had two generations of children captured in imaginative play
with light sabers, defending the galaxy as Jedi Knights! The movies show the
young Jedi apprentice was carefully taught to use his weapon, to guard it, to
perfect its use. In the same way, we must cling to the Word of God as our
weapon—it has a power that is supernatural and effective against the onslaughts
of Satan. Our weapons are not carnal (2 Cor. 10:4) but mighty in God, and Satan
can be defeated by the power of the Word.
Overcomers are promised gifts. Jesus promised this church
that those who didn’t succumb to the sins around them—not eating things offered
to idols and partaking in sin—these faithful would eat hidden manna, the
blessing of Jesus Himself. They are promised the presence of Jesus in the
barren wasteland of the world’s wilderness. He also promised this church that
He would set a white stone, promising acquittal, acceptance, and acclaim. The
new name upon this stone was Jesus!
Spirit of Jezebel (Control) (Revelation 2:18-20, 26)
A war goes on in today’s church, and the battle lines are
drawn. One of the most powerful spirits at work in this ongoing battle is the
spirit of Jezebel or control. First Kings tells the story of the woman for whom
this spirit is named.
Known as the wife of King Ahab and a follower of the false
god Baal, the scriptures regarded Ahab’s marriage to this woman as a horrible
sin: “He not only considered it trivial to commit the sins of Jeroboam son of
Nebat, but he also married Jezebel daughter of Ethbaal king of the Sidonians,
and began to serve Baal and worship him” (1 Kings 16:31, niv).
Jezebel ordered a “hit” on the innocent man Naboth so that
she could obtain his prize vineyard. Not only was this murder, but it broke
God’s land covenant with His people. In addition to her disrespect for ordinary
people and their property, she hated the prophets of God. Scripture says,
“While Jezebel was killing off the Lord’s prophets, Obadiah had taken a hundred
prophets and hidden them in two caves, fifty in each, and had supplied them
with food and water.” (1 Kings 18:4, NIV)
Later, Jezebel pursued the prophet Elijah following the
great contest where God sent fire from heaven and defeated the prophets of
Baal. Her relentless pursuit drove the prophet into depression and suicidal
thoughts.
Jezebel’s character was wicked, controlling, sexually
immoral, murderous, and demonic! It is astounding that the same strong spirit
was still operating in Revelation 2:20 and still operates in today’s church. In
every congregation we find those who want to control, manipulate, and subvert
the men and women of God.
Recognizing the spirit
This spirit is basically the spirit of domination or an
unwillingness to cohabit peacefully. This is not about women or liberation, for
this spirit can attach itself to a man or a woman. Many may think that this
spirit is identified with sexuality, believing that a woman who looks a certain
way is a “Jezebel” in her character. But this is not so. A wolf can easily hide
in sheep’s clothing.
When you find a spirit of Jezebel operating, you will also
find an “Ahab” nearby, or someone in leadership who is allowing the spirit
access and control.
The strategy of Jezebel
The tool this spirit uses is manipulation. In 1 Kings 21, we
learn that King Ahab would pout when he did not get his own way. He had seen a
vineyard that he greatly desired, but the owner would not give up his precious
property, even to the king. As King Ahab lay on his bed sulking, Jezebel
assured him she would get him what he wanted. This powerful woman had
introduced pagan worship into her kingdom, and now she was not below killing to
obtain the things she needed to gain more power.
The seat of Jezebel
Nevertheless I have a few things against you, because you
allow that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, to teach and seduce
My servants to commit sexual immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols.
—Revelation 2:20
When the spirit of Jezebel begins to manifest in the church,
it seeks a high seat in the church or a place of dominance. Usually it will
manifest in someone who wants to teach or lead, usually leading them astray! To
find that place of leadership, Jezebel must look and act in a spiritual manner.
One of these spirits operated in Moses and Aaron’s day.
Numbers 16 tells us, “Now Korah the son of Izhar, the son of Kohath, the son of
Levi, with Dathan and Abiram the sons of Eliab, and On the son of Peleth, sons
of Reuben, took men; and they rose up before Moses with some of the children of
Israel, two hundred and fifty leaders of the congregation, representatives of
the congregation, men of renown. They gathered together against Moses and
Aaron, and said to them, ‘You take too much upon yourselves, for all the
congregation is holy, every one of them, and the Lord is among them. Why then
do you exalt yourselves above the congregation of the Lord?’” (Num. 16:1–3).
Korah was operating in the spirit of Jezebel, with Dathan
and Abiram operating as his power core, and 250 other princes as a structure
under them. Moses took immediate action—he fell on his face before God and
prayed. Following his prayer, he confronted the spirit, saying, “Is it a small
thing to you that the God of Israel has separated you from the congregation of
Israel, to bring you near to Himself, to do the work of the tabernacle of the
Lord, and to stand before the congregation to serve them; and that He has
brought you near to Himself, you and all your brethren, the sons of Levi, with
you? And are you seeking the priesthood also?” (Num. 16:9–10).
Judgment came to this Jezebel spirit—an earthquake came and
took the three evil leaders and fire consumed all the rest.
Jezebel’s targets
The controlling spirit wiggles into the church, bent on
destroying and undermining the very things that we hold dear as believers.
Through manipulation, domination, and control, the spirit begins its battle
against the body of Christ.
First, this spirit hates the prophets, the true leaders of
God. She cannot control them, and when she tries to win their approval and
fails, she will stop at nothing to try and kill them.
In addition, the spirit of Jezebel hates the preaching of
the Word. She can’t cope with its message. She will try to either reduce the
messenger or the message.
The controlling spirit also hates the praise of the church.
During times of true, powerful worship, her carnality is exposed. In 1 Kings
when the prophet Elijah prayed fire down from heaven against the prophets of
Baal and Jezebel’s schemes, praise broke out (1 Kings 18:39). Jezebel had lost,
and the praises of God filled the air.
A Jezebel spirit also hates the preeminence of Christ. There
is no way to compete against it. The first time “preeminence” is mentioned is
in Colossians 1:18: “And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the
beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the
preeminence” (kjv). However, the second time we find the word, a Jezebel spirit
is attempting to control a body of believers. “I wrote unto the church: but
Diotrephes, who loveth to have the preeminence among them, receiveth us not” (3
John 1:9, kjv).
Banish the spirit
If you sense this spirit is at work in your church, it is
important to see the enemy as spiritual, not fleshly. Don’t hate the person
being controlled by the spirit of Jezebel, recognize that it is a spiritual
power—one that God must fight. Let your prayer be, “O our God, will You not
judge them? For we have no power against this great multitude that is coming
against us; nor do we know what to do, but our eyes are upon You” (2 Chron.
20:12).
Spirit of Traditionalism (Revelation 3:1–6)
For centuries the church has been the victim of rumors,
hostility, and, what we call in this day and age, negative press. Churches
often have to survive this hostile environment; however, outward hostility is
not the greatest threat to a local church! Very often the greatest danger comes
from within!
The Sardis church lived in a favorable environment with a
great reputation. However, in Christ’s letter to this church, He ignored their
human reputation and told this church they were listed in the obituary!
Environment of death
The city of Sardis was a city of wealth. History tells us
that in 550 b.c., King Croesus found gold in the city’s river and issued the
first gold coins in history! Even in New Testament times, gold could be found
all along its rivers.
In addition to its wealth, the city was known for its
paganism. The favored idol was Cybele, and worshippers of this pagan god
participated in wild, frenzied worship that included sexual immorality.
Remarkably, the community was at peace, for the inhabitants
were comfortable in their self-sufficiency. This peaceful self-sufficiency had
also invaded the church in Sardis; it became the peace of death. A peaceful
coexistence with the city and its wickedness had settled into the church and
all they had left was their reputation.
Evidence of a church’s death
Viewers of our television broadcast often write and ask,
“How can I find a good church in my area? How can I tell if a church is alive
and healthy?” A dead church has some basic characteristics that are spotted
easily.
Ignores the Holy Spirit. When the complete work of God’s
Spirit isn’t embraced in a church, that body is already headed for the grave.
Jesus told the church at Sardis that they had a spirit of religion and didn’t
have the Spirit of God. The Holy Spirit will not be managed or controlled by
religious tradition or preferences! John 3:8 says, “The wind blows where it
wills…so is every one who is born of the Spirit” (John 3:8).
Lack of godly leadership. The “seven stars” mentioned in
Revelation 3 stands for the messengers or pastors of the seven churches
addressed in the letters. What the church in Sardis needed was a leader who was
called by God and served Him whole-heartedly. Too many churches today fail to
get God’s man. Several times a month our church offices receive requests from
pastor-less churches that have been searching for a replacement. If these
churches choose a pastor by his reputation, resume, physical appearance, or
even recommendation, they may find later that they’ve made a big mistake. As
important as background information is, the fruit issued in a pastor’s life and
his walk with the Spirit of God is what should be investigated. The superficial
doesn’t matter as much as the supernatural. Hiring solely on superficial facts
may result in a short-tenured, flash in the pan, or morally bankrupt leader.
Reputation over reality. Sardis was a busy, working church
with a good name—but it had death upon it. They were an organization, but not a
living organism. Sadly, they were so caught up in their reputation they didn’t
even realize that they had died. One winter night I noticed our house becoming
colder and colder, even though I had turned our heat on full power. I called
upon our faithful church grounds supervisor to take a look at the gas-heating
unit, and he discovered the pilot light had gone out. The blower was blowing,
but the fire was out. Going to church is good, if you meet God. Worship is good
if it brings on God’s presence. Giving is good if we have first given
ourselves. Prayer is good, but “if we regard iniquity in our hearts, the Lord
will not hear us.” Form without force is death to a church. It is like a store
window containing lots of fluff and finery, but hiding an empty stockroom.
Growth in numbers without growth in people. The letter to Sardis
indicated that even Christians who had life in the Sardis church were dying in
the cold environment. Churches must offer ministry that encourages its members
to grow in the Lord.
Ministry and work incomplete. Beginning a new program or
outreach is easy; seeing it to completion is much more difficult! A dead church
is a graveyard of partially fulfilled goals and half-baked programs. These
skeletons are evidence that they went “partway” with the Lord and then backed
up and sat down. A church that goes backward is doomed to death.
Escape from death! To eliminate the spirit of religion from
your church, the leadership should gather and repent of religious death.
Together they should acknowledge that Jesus’ kingdom is coming, and there will
be an accounting for what they accomplish in His name. In almost any dead
church, there are a handful of believers who do live in triumph and desire to
be alive in God. This team of people should be lifted up and encouraged. Stay
with the winning crowd! Finally, rebuke the religious pride that strangles your
church. Reject the love of religion and its rules and reputation, and fall in
love with Jesus. Determine to listen to the voice of the Holy Spirit in all
decision-making regarding the church, and let His Word edify, rule, and reign
from the pulpit.
Spirit of Inferiority (Revelation 3:7–8, 12)
Many times a pastor will contact me about a speaking
engagement at a church, and he will begin by saying almost apologetically, “We
are just a small church…” His tone implied a sense of weakness or inability.
But there is nothing “little” or “insignificant” in the kingdom of God!
At the other end of the spectrum is the church that thinks
they have all the answers, who loves to proclaim their statistics and numbers
but are satisfied with mediocre efforts as long as they bring the church
notoriety and recognition.
God deals strongly with the church in Revelation 3: “Because
you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of
trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the
earth. Behold, I am coming quickly! Hold fast what you have, that no one may
take your crown. He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My
God, and he shall go out no more. I will write on him the name of My God and
the name of the city of My God, the New Jerusalem, which comes down out of
heaven from My God. And I will write on him My new name” (Rev. 3:10–12).
Too many churches and individuals use their supposed
weakness as an excuse for failing to advance the cause of Christ. Such notions
and statements are foreign to the New Testament portrait of the church. I am
convinced that such an attitude is not only false and hurtful but also demonic
in its origin. There is a stronghold of inferiority, self-pity, and weakness.
The enemy deceives those manifesting this spirit by making them think their
attitudes are actually meekness and humility. This counterfeit humility is
debilitating to the kingdom of God, crippling the advance of the gospel, and it
insults the Holy Spirit.
The church at Philadelphia was at risk to be overtaken by
such a spirit. If they were ever to become a “pillar” in the kingdom, they
would have to overcome the spirit.
The scripture sets forth the church as a victorious company.
Matthew 16:18 declares, “The gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” In
his great prayer for the church in Ephesians 3:14–21, Paul ends with this
benediction, “Now to Him that is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all we
ask or think according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the
church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages” (Eph. 3:20–21).
It is “in the church” that Jesus looses His divine ability,
energy, and glory. The answer to our inferiority is His superiority! It is not
in trying harder, but in trusting wholly that His work is accomplished.
The church at Philadelphia had “a little strength” (Rev.
3:8). Greek culture, international commerce, and religious diversity dominated
them. The pagan goddess Dionysus was worshiped. This ancient Greek god of wine
was credited with inspiring ritual madness and ecstasy. Worship of Dionysus was
thought to bring an end to care and worry. The city was also a center of
orthodox Jewish worship.
This small church could have surrendered to the pressures
around them. Yet they did not! They received the wonderful encouragement in
Revelation, and history tells us that for nearly 1400 years, this city stood as
a Christian city in the face of Muslim pressure. It was only after centuries of
courageous resistance that the city was overthrown by an unholy military
alliance of Byzantine and Muslim forces.
How did this church overcome inferiority and have a ministry
that would last for 1400 years? They came to know the Lord of Opportunity (Rev.
3:7–8). Obedience always leads to opportunity! God promised this church the
“key of David.” With God’s favor and their dependence upon His superiority,
nothing could stop this body of believers!
Spirit of Pride (Revelation 3:14–17, 21)
Revelation 3 also issues a charge to the church at Laodicea.
This city was a wealthy and prosperous one. So vast was their wealth that when
an earthquake destroyed the city, they required no outside help to recover!
Tacitus, the Roman historian, recorded, “Laodicea arose from the ruins by the
strength of its own resources.”
The city was famous for the dark, black wool they produced
and was known as the center for fine wool in the ancient world. Laodicea also
boasted a famous medical school, having produced two of the most popular
medicines for treatment of eye and ear maladies. In short, this city was
pompous and full of pride.
But here in Revelation 3, years have passed and now the
church in Laodicea has fallen into a rut of mediocrity. The Lord Jesus Himself
renders the verdict on this church. What was His appraisal? This lukewarm
church was nauseating Him! What had happened to this church to make it slide
into a state of mediocrity?
Lost fervency
Sadly, this church reflects the state of many American
churches today. Not too cold…not too hot. Not too bad…not too good. Not too
faithful…not too unfaithful. The Laodicea church was an ordinary church that
had warmth but no fire. If asked about their work, they would say, “We are
holding our own.”
Jesus is sickened by the mediocre. He would rather a church
be as cold as the Arctic or as hot as the Sahara. In God’s work, there should
be no place for “just getting by.”
Elijah recognized this need for commitment when he
challenged Israel at the contest of the prophets of Baal in 1 Kings 18. He
shouted to the congregation, “If Baal be God, serve him, but if the Lord be
God, serve Him!” Standing in the middle was not an option.
A complacent church is a disappointment to Jesus! Laodicea
had lost the fire of love for Jesus and for lost souls. The altar fires of
prayer were in need of rekindling. It was business as usual week after week.
They needed to pray!
The great hymn by Gene Bartlett should be the earnest prayer
of the church needing a fresh fervency:
O for a passion for souls, dear Lord!
O for a pity that yearns!
O for a love that loves unto death!
O for a fire that burns!
Lost faith
The Laodicean church had tried to become self-sufficient.
They boasted of wealth, increase of goods, and that they needed nothing, not
even the Lord. They were cursed by their wealth.
When the great Thomas Aquinas visited the Vatican, the Pope
escorted him through the vast corridors and vaults adorned with jewels and
gold. The Pope commented, “No longer do we say, ‘Silver and gold have I none.”
Aquinas replied, “Neither do you say, ‘In the name of Jesus, Rise and walk!’”
A church’s reach must exceed its grasp. An ever-enlarging
vision must be forged. The challenges we take should be beyond our resources,
so that our reliance and faith remains upon God. Our dreams and our plans
should be God-sized.
When God blesses financially, the church should give more to
missions, build a needed building, add another staff member, and have the faith
to stretch those resources to their limit.
Unfortunately, the Laodicean church did not really see their
true condition. God said they were “wretched, poor, blind, naked”—they were
pitiful in the sight of God. They were without riches and spiritually blind in
God’s eyes. He looked at them and saw them as they really were: spiritually
bankrupt.
Lost fear
This church no longer trembled in the presence of a
righteous God. There was no remorse recorded for their failures. Jesus warns
them by giving three motives to repent: His love, His rebuke, and His
chastening rod. These three things could provide the motivation to set this
church on the right track.
Lost fellowship
Jesus was standing and knocking outside the door of this
church. At one point, He had been shut out; He was no longer the center of
things. The church had no basis for fellowship with other churches because
Jesus Christ was the only common ground among the fellowship of churches.
Without Him, a church can have a “get together” without really being together
in unity! “That which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also
may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and
with His Son Jesus Christ” (1 John 1:3). “But if we walk in the light as He is
in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus
Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin” (1 John 1:7).
The presence of Jesus Christ is the ground of all true
fellowship, but too many churches have shut Him out.
God’s Promise and Plea
Jesus keeps on knocking, hoping that someone in the church
will open the door. When that happens, it sets the stage for revival and
fellowship can be restored. A seat at the Lord’s table is promised when we
welcome Him at ours. We can share in His glorious reign! So, let us blaze and
burn for Him until He comes in the blaze of His glory.
Written by Ron Phillips
Ron Phillips is pastor of Abba’s House in Hixson, Tenn., and
author of Everyone’s Guide to Demons and Spiritual Warfare.
