EVIL CONTENTION
Believers need to conquer evil contention
Some believers have overcome all manner of evil, including evil contention. They avoid every manner of verbal strife, dispute, argument, or controversy that may lead them to sin. Anything that brings contention does not appeal to them. Their sincere prayer in any group is: O Lord, let me not overstay in any place or over any matter, to avoid contention. The children of Israel indulged in evil complaints and the fire of God burned in their midst.
‘A continual dropping in a very rainy day and a contentious woman are alike.’ Proverbs 27:15
‘And when the people complained, it displeased the Lord: and the Lord heard it; and his anger was kindled; and the fire of the Lord burnt among them, and consumed them that were in the uttermost parts of the camp. And the people cried unto Moses; and when Moses prayed unto the Lord, the fire was quenched. And he called the name of the place Taberah: because the fire of the Lord burnt among them.‘ Numbers 11:1-3
Why you should not contend with God and his authority
Many people contended with God or with His constituted authority. Such people are crying for deliverance as a result of God’s anger, yet they are still complaining and contending with God and His people. A lot of people are facing serious problems because they are contending with God, His servants, or the church. They are not ready to stop their contentions, but they are going for deliverance services every week. They have refused to repent and stop evil contentions, yet they want God to deliver them. Some brought incurable diseases upon themselves as a result of speaking against God’s minister (Numbers 12:1-12). Some murmur against God and return to (sin) Egypt, yet they are engaging in deliverance prayers. (Numbers 14:1-4, 6-10, 22-37, 40-45).
You do not need to pray against witchcraft or household wickedness before you can receive deliverance, but you need to overcome evil contention first. It is folly to quarrel with your pastor, fight against the church or your leader, and expect deliverance from God. Refusal to talk to some of your leaders, fighting your neighbors, and being in disagreement with everybody in the church while praying for deliverance is real deception. Not submitting oneself to be corrected or angrily leaving your church to a deliverance ministry for your deliverance is a big deceit. Bringing an evil report against your pastor while engaging in deliverance prayers every day in a church is totally against God’s will.
The dangerous effect of the spirit of evil contention
Evil contention can rob you of your deliverance. Not being on talking terms with your spouse and yet you are praying for deliverance will give room for more demons to possess you. Any deliverance minister who is praying for someone with the spirit of evil contention will not succeed. You must first overcome evil contentions before they can be fully delivered. There are many Korah, Dathan, and Abiram that cause trouble in churches and due to one reason or the other, they leave to deliverance ministries to be delivered. Such people may never be delivered until they go back and deal with the evil contentions. Some are now deliverance ministers laden with the spirit of evil contention (Numbers 16:1-25). You cannot contend with your Moses, falsely accuse him, strive or contend with the Lord, and receive deliverance (Numbers 16:41-50).
The sin of evil contention if not confessed and overcome can bring death. It is dangerous to pray for deliverance without overcoming the sin of evil contention.
EVIL COUNSEL
The dangerous effect of evil counsel
It is dangerous to give evil or receive evil counsel. Evil counsel is a wrong consultation or advice.
‘And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, Avenge the children of Israel of the Midianites: afterward shalt thou be gathered unto thy people‘. Numbers 31:1-2
‘But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication‘. Revelation 2:14
Evil counsel is bringing a wicked opinion or instruction to direct the judgment or conduct of another.
The danger of giving evil counsel and the wickedness of evil counselors
There are many wicked people in the church who specialize in giving evil counsel and when the demons of evil counsel release oppression into their lives they begin to pray for deliverance. Instead of confessing their sins of evil counsel and overcoming them, they insist on deliverance. Their counsel has either caused people to be demoted, forced out of their jobs, or brought suffering to a whole family. On seeing the reward of their deeds from the devil, they are going from one deliverance prayer program to another rather than repent and make restitution.
‘Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting‘. Galatians 6:7-8
Their evil counsel has forced tears out of people’s eyes, wasted many lives, broke up many marriages, and separated good friends. But instead of seeking to overcome evil counsel, they are fasting, praying, and visiting anointed men of God to deliver them.
‘Behold, ye trust in lying words, that cannot profit. Will ye steal, murder, and commit adultery, and swear falsely, and burn incense unto Baal, and walk after other gods whom ye know not; And come and stand before me in this house, which is called by my name, and say, we are delivered to do all these abominations? Is this house, which is called by my name, become a den of robbers in your eyes? Behold, even I have seen it, saith the Lord.’ Jeremiah 7:8-11
People who give or receive evil counsel are wicked. Their evil counsel has robbed many couples of peace in their homes, made people abort pregnancies to avoid shame, robbed people of their business, scattered many churches, and caused many ministers and ministries to backslide. Prayers of evil counselors are an abomination before God. Evil counsel is one of the powers that must be overcome before deliverance can take place. This is one spirit that can hinder your deliverance and probably allow you to die in that problem if you refuse to deal with it. Your deliverance prayers may not be to bind the demons of poverty, mental problems, or spirit of disobedience in your children. You may only need to humble yourself, repent, and say the truth. You may need to make restitutions or resign from your job to be delivered. All those violent, aggressive night and day prayers may not be needful. You may just need to stop giving wicked evil counsel.
‘And it came to pass after this, that Absalom the son of David had a fair sister, whose name was Tamar; and Amnon the son of David loved her. And Amnon was so vexed, that he fell sick for his sister Tamar; for she was a virgin; and Amnon thought it hard for him to do anything to her. But Amnon had a friend, whose name was Jonadab, the son of Shimeah David’s brother: and Jonadab was a very subtill man. And he said unto him, why art thou, being the king’s son, lean from day to day? wilt thou not tell me? And Amnon said unto him, I love Tamar, my brother Absalom’s sister. And Jonadab said unto him, Lay thee down on thy bed, and make thyself sick: and when thy father cometh to see thee, say unto him, I pray thee, let my sister Tamar come, and give me meat, and dress the meat in my sight, that I may see it, and eat it at her hand’. 2 Samuel 13:1-5
An evil counselor is worse than the evil doer. The demons behind all the evil counsel you have ever given will surely return to reward you. You may not need to fight the effect of your evil counsel. All you need to do is to overcome the cause, which is evil counsel and your deliverance will become visible.
Ministers need to be careful of evil counselors
As a general overseer or senior pastor, you have to be careful in giving counsel. The way you react, and talk to your friends or tribes’ men may incite tribal contentions among brethren.
‘And in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplied, there arose a murmuring of the Grecians against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration.’ Acts 6:1