It would seem that we are talking from both sides of our mouths. But that is not so. And that is because there are times when blessings become a stronghold. Naturally, you know a stronghold as being associated with undesirable situations. 2 Corinthians 10:4 suggests it is so evil that we must pull it down. Meanwhile, we know that a blessing is desirable; it is the power to succeed.
So, you may wonder why it is appearing in the same title as a stronghold. How can you have something as evil like that in the middle of something very desirable, such as a blessing? These and more are very valid questions. And precisely because we associate God with blessing s is why this topic so critical.
You see, many of us first came to Jesus for specific blessings. When we accepted Jesus as our personal Savior and Lord, the preacher presented a rosy picture. We fell in love with that particular Jesus of the bed of roses. Since then, we have been expecting blessings. And there is nothing wrong with being expectant. Indeed, we must come to God with expectations. After all, it is the expectation of the righteous that shall not be cut off.
However, when we start to think that God must bless us, we enter into an entirely different realm. The expectation then becomes demandingness and that is when blessings become a stronghold. Wanting a blessing becomes a stronghold in our lives, controlling our every waking thought.
Prosperity Preachers Result When Blessings Become A Stronghold
A decade ago, I heard a chorus that left me in great sorrow and fear. Its words suggested that God owed us something. The singers sang it forcefully, pumping their arms like a locomotive engine. In the physical, such a song is extremely useful for rousing the crowd. But think of it from God’s perspective and you start to share my fear – for the singers.
The bible makes it clear that we have all sinned and gone astray. And that the wages of sin is death. Put together these two thoughts show you the only thing God owes us is death. Imagine if God were to respond to that song. But it helps the preacher to get the congregation all excited. And such an emotional high is necessary for people to give and continue to give.
Consider the average Pastor you know. Especially the ones that people refer to as prosperity preachers. They are the preachers you get when blessings become a stronghold. That is why every sentence that comes out of their mouth has to do with sowing. The stronghold of blessings is controlling and painting their message.
Such preachers have diluted the message of God because of blessings. They feel that God must bless them or else, He is not God. And if He is God, He is not a good God unless He is blessing them. Worse, they teach their congregations to believe so. Consequently, those Christians do not mind stealing or committing adultery, as long as they are ‘blessed.’
When they bring the stolen funds to the church, they accompany it with testimonies. Everybody shouts Hallelujah, the pastor is beaming smiles the testifier is the envy of all. What can go wrong? Ha! There are two very huge effects of that scenario.
The Dangers Of Demanding Blessings
First, it leads to a desperate yearning in the hearts of those who have no such testimonies. Particularly as the pastor prays that “You will be the next to testify.” Soon, they discover the ‘secret’ of the testifier and before too long, they put their hands in sin. All because they too want to testify. For them, that is when blessings become a stronghold of the devil.
Secondly, the pastor and testifier forget that their joy and satisfaction is rooted in unrighteousness. God continues to warn them to return from their wayward ways. But because of their ‘blessing’, they turn a deaf ear to God and His warning. The bible says they harden their heart. Definitely, that is when blessings become a stronghold.
Naturally, satan jumps on that stronghold and begins to manipulate such a life. Before too long, you hear the pastor is no longer in the faith. The congregation is practicing doctrines that you cannot locate in the bible. When you read about the pastor in social media, you wonder how he could fall from grace to grass. You ask how his life was cut short in the middle of his days.
Wonder no more. Anyone, pastor, or church member, who makes blessings into an idol to worship at all costs have left God. Consequently, God leaves them to satan, who in turn manipulates their lives downward. That is the devil’s mission statement: to steal, to kill, and to destroy.
Forcing God is always going to end in trouble. You see, God is a God of principles. If you pray according to His prescription, He will accede to your requests. But such demandingness will always lead to problems. Remember the prodigal son and avoid his mistake of demanding what belongs to him.
What Should Our Responsibility Be?
So, what should our attitude be if we want to avoid turning blessings into a stronghold? First of all, find a good pastor, not a prosperity preacher. If you stay with a prosperity preacher, he will corrupt your good manners.
Secondly, stop looking at others in their prosperity or even poverty. It is none of your business. The bible says that you should run the race that is set before you. Don’t run somebody else’s race.
Finally, commit all your present and future blessings to the service of God. In other words, make God number 1, regardless of how much He has or will bless you. Bring all blessings into subjection to Him and only then begin to pray for blessings.
The advantage of this strategy is that it will prevent you from seeking blessings at all costs. What would the point be, since you are going to use it to serve God anyway? James says we pray amiss and plan to spend God’s blessings on ourselves. That is when blessings become a stronghold. You must avoid going there. Plan to spend all for God’s glory.
And no, I am not saying to go and sell all you have and give to the poor, like the rich young ruler. What we are talking about is commitment. When you make God number 1, you will spend your blessings as God directs, not as you will. God will be the director of your bank account. And I can tell you from personal experience that He is a wonderful director. He will not ask too much of you but your heart will stay on Him. That is the source of true peace.
Maranatha!
