It is very important to note that ministry is not a secular but spiritual work. For too many years now, lots of ministerial teachings have centered on the business, secular modes of ministry and lots of lives, promising ministries have been destroyed thereby.
In some deep levels, ministry is not only a spiritual work, but also a life and death battle between the forces of God and forces of darkness. And the minister is always in the middle. Take the case of Job as an example. His travails were battle between God and Satan yet he was at the center of it.
To get at God, Satan has directed his nefarious activities towards the men and women that God chose and poured out His love upon. Therefore, we need to know that there are delegated spirits out there to destroy us and the ministry committed into our hands.
A. Biblical Foundation – Col. 1:13; Acts 6:5; Rev. 2:6,15; Matt. 12:43-45
Man is essentially a spirit-being, housed in a body. The Spirit of God (Gen. 1:3); the spirit of man (Prov. 20:27) and spirit of devils (1 Tim. 4:1) are the basic spirits ruling the world. Being called into ministry is a spiritual work; work of snatching people from under the control of demonic spirit to translate them into the Kingdom of God.
- Every human being has a spiritua allegiance before conversion.
- Certain demonic spirits inhabi generations and lineage of people.
- It takes violent renunciation to break out o evil covenants.
- Every spiritual work will face equal spiritual opposition.
- There are spirits unleased to ruin generations of ministries and ministers.
- Every loophole and weakness will be exploited by spiritual forces to destroy.
- Ignorance is the highest weapon of the spiritual world-2 Cor. 2:11
There are spiritual battles raging over the life and ministry of every minister of the gospel today. It’s time to identify them and knock them out cold, never to rise again. Every Christian and minister MUST have 3 encounters to be truly FREE:
- Truth encounter – John 8:32
- Power encounter-Col. 1:13
- Allegiance Encounter-John 14:30
B. Satan’s Destroying Spirits – Matt. 12:43-45
Allow me to pinpoint the spirits that I have seen destroying ministers and ministries over the decades:
1. Spirit of Your Foundation-2 Sam. 21:1-2; 1 Sam. 18:21, 25, 27; Acts 6:5
Micah the wife of David was barren because of wrong foundation of deceit and blood of 200 men. Your background will most likely put your back on the ground. Your source, your lineage, family, generational spirit will always want to stage a comeback.
Background of Minister Failure Rates
1. Herbalists, witchdoctors and hunters – 90%
2. Possessed, demonized parents – 85%
3. Occultic names and lineage – 90%
4. River or riverine covenants – 75%
5. Polygamous homes – 75%
6. Occultic, cultic members – 65%
7. Minister’s kids – 30%
8. Breakaway crisis – 90%
9. Demonic, immoral mentors – 90%
10. Ordinational limitation – 99%
11. Demonized spouse – 85%
12. Nominal religious spirit – 60%
There is the story of a man of God that was given 3 powers by the Lord and forces of evil inside his church took two and he died with the ministry
2. Spirit of Error-1 Tim. 4:1
This leads to false teachings, Christopaganism and occultic practices. Cultism and all kinds of abuses and deviation from the truth are all as a result of the influence of the spirit of error. And it is a fact that deception destroys.
3. Spirit of Idolatry-1 John 5:21
This is the spirit that makes people worship things, creatures and images more than the Creator. This spirit makes people lift things, success, properties and blessings above God and His word. It also makes people lust for things that angers God.
4. Spirit of Mistake:
This is the spirit that makes people to make mistakes, misbehave and do things that will ruin them, e.g. King Saul. It is the spirit of ‘it-doesn’t-matter. Patching up even when you are struggling spiritually; and joking with sin, evil and ungodly practices.
5. Pressure to Perform-1 Sam. 13:11-12
This is the spirit that makes ministers to cut corners, and be concerned with image, self importance and deciding to help God. It also makes ministers get involved in improvised works of darkness just to spice up things.
6. Spirit of Disunity-Psalm 133:1-3
This is the spirit that causes divided interest, vision, views and perceptions; working at cross purposes and disloyalty.
Recommended Reading
FUNDAMENTALS BIBLE DOCTRINES: HELL
Fasting That Pleases God: Beyond Religious Tradition
TOWARD A SOLID SPIRITUAL TESTIMONY
7. Spirit of Embargo:
Limitation of all kinds and every kind. No matter how hard anyone operating under this spirit tries, he/she will always grapple with stagnation, retrogression and going down. Limitations, barrenness within and without will always be in place.
8. Seducing Spirit-1 Timothy 4:1-3
This is the spirit that makes ministers to depart from the faith, and start teaching and preaching the doctrines of the devil.
In various forms, shapes and ways, these spirits have ruined ministries past and present. Ministries that started with so much funfare and potentials but which tragically fell short. (Psalm 11:3; Zech. 3:17)
C. How To Be Victorious Spiritually and Physically – 2 Cor. 2:11,14; 2 Tim. 2:20-21
It takes deliberate, intentional and purposeful seeking of God in prayers and fasting to break these strongholds of the spirit over your life and ministry. (2 Cor. 10:3-5; James 4:7-8; 1 Peter 5:8-9; Heb. 4:16).
- Repent of any known and unknown covenants.
- Repent of any lineage or generational covenants. 2.
- Renounce every covenant made on your behalf.
- Commit your totality to Christ and hide inside Him-Prov. 18:10
- Prayer-purge yourself of any negative and occutic background.
- Take prophetic action as directed by God’s Spirit.
- Pray through to victory by the Lord.
- Watch in prayer and carefulness in the Truth.
I believe it is not every minister and ministry that demonic spirit can destroy. God is able to keep us from falling (Jude 24) provided we cling to the Lord and do His will all the days of our lives. Moreover, eternal vigilance is the price of liberty.