19 Sep 2011 10 Comments

Free from the Stronghold of Malice

Malice is a stronghold that sets itself up in our thoughts. It can eventually destroy us. Clearly it is evil intent. But it has an Achilles heel. It needs a human host. Don’t think that you have control if you allow this enemy in.

Writer Jayson Rothwell and director Simon Fellows, twisted an already twisted fable--Malice in Wonderland.

If we allow malice to take root, we might not only become capable of harming others, we will ultimately eat the fruit of it. The stronghold of malice has only one objective and that is to murder anyone it comes in contact with — including its symbiotic host. The goal of this demonic stronghold is damage and its true evil intent is to separate us from God.

This stronghold can be invited in by, or clumped together with, other strongholds, including gossip, These strongholds are intent on taking our life.

Romans 1:29 29 They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips,

So how do we defeat it? What can we do to keep malice from ever taking root in our lives and separating us from God? If malice has already taken root, how can we free ourselves from its hold?

Biblical tips to overcome malice:

1. Acknowledge God. Don’t ignore him when he calls or corrects you or he will leave you to your own devices and separation from God.

Romans 1:28-31 And so, since they did not see fit to acknowledge God or approve of Him or consider Him worth the knowing, God gave them over to a base and condemned mind to do things not proper or decent but loathsome,

29Until they were filled (permeated and saturated) with every kind of unrighteousness, iniquity, grasping and covetous greed, and malice. [They were] full of envy and jealousy, murder, strife, deceit and treachery, ill will and cruel ways. [They were] secret backbiters and gossipers, 30Slanderers, hateful to and hating God, full of insolence, arrogance, [and] boasting; inventors of new forms of evil, disobedient and undutiful to parents. 31[They were] without understanding, conscienceless and faithless, heartless and loveless [and] merciless.

2.Receive Christ — His Holy Spirit will prepare you to do whatever is good, 2 to slander no one, to be peaceable and considerate, and always to be gentle toward everyone.

Titus 3-7 At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another.

4 But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, 5 he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, 6 whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life.

3. Always seek to be true and faithful. We can’t hide  our thoughts from God. If we cover up lies and ill intentions our hearts will be revealed by the fruits of our mouth and our actions.

Psalm 139:4 Even before there is a single word on my tongue, you know all about it, Lord.

Proverbs 26:26 Their malice may be concealed by deception,  but their wickedness will be exposed in the assembly.

Matthew 7:20 Therefore, you will fully know them by their fruits.

4. Choose your friends wisely. You will become like them.

Proverbs 12:26 The righteous choose their friends carefully, but the way of the wicked leads them astray.

Psalm 28:3 Drag me not away with the wicked, with the workers of iniquity, who speak peace with their neighbors, but malice and mischief are in their hearts.

Proverbs 24:1 Do not envy the wicked,  do not desire their company;

5. Resist the temptation of  malicious thoughts or actions while there is still time — come back to Christ.

1 John 1:9 God is faithful and reliable. If we confess our sins, he forgives them and cleanses us from everything we’ve done wrong.

James 4:7 So place yourselves under God’s authority. Resist the devil, and he will run away from you.

6. Teach others by your good example.

Psalm 51:11- 13 Do not force me away from your presence, and do not take your Holy Spirit from me. 12Restore the joy of your salvation to me, and provide me with a spirit of willing obedience. Then I will teach your ways to those who are rebellious, and sinners will return to you.

Read the first 100 pages of Escape the Hezbollah and get your free cultural and social issues Bible study guide.

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by Pola in Christian Authors, Malice, Overcoming Evil Strongholds Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,