Beware The
Destructive
Power Of
Jealousy
"Love is
strong as
death,
Jealousy as
cruel as the
grave." Song
of Solomon
8:6.
In 1964 I
was in
Jerusalem
and stayed
in the old
American
Colony Hotel
which
originally
had been the
private
family
estate of
Bertha
Spafford
Vester.
Bertha still
lived on the
grounds in a
personal
section
where I saw
her only
once. It was
her father
who wrote
the famous
Christian
hymn, "It Is
Well With My
Soul" after
his two
oldest
daughters
were lost at
sea. When I
was there,
Bertha was a
white-haired
grand-motherly
figure whose
life in the
Middle East
had left a
permanent
mark of
greatness.
National
Geographic
Magazine did
a
full-length
feature
story of her
service to
Jerusalem’s
under-privileged.
For years
she
maintained
an orphanage
and school
for homeless
children.
During the
First World
War Bertha
converted
her home
into a
hospital and
once removed
a soldier’s
eye on her
dining room
table. She
is the only
woman to
whom the
Kingdom of
Jordan
awarded its
highest
Medal of
Honor. To
them, she
was "Sit
Afifi," the
"Mother of
us all." At
the time of
my visit,
the Old City
where Bertha
lived was
still under
Muslim
control.
What I
remember
most about
"Sit Afifi"
was a story
she told of
her trying
to deliver
superstitious
Muslims from
belief in
the dreaded
"Evil-Eye."
This
superstition
claimed that
if you did
anything to
draw
attention to
yourself,
you incurred
the jealousy
of others.
When
jealousy
reached a
significant
level, the
evil-eye
released
disaster
upon you and
those you
love. Those
who travel
in the
Middle East
today see
the emblem
of the "evil
eye"
attached to
the
dashboard of
every
Islamic
automobile
or bus. It
is in homes,
businesses,
or hanging
from
key-chains.
The insignia
is not only
a warning
about the
deadly
nature of
jealousy but
actually
re-enforces
the power of
its curse.
With that
fear deeply
interwoven
into their
religious
life, the
girls in
Bertha’s
school were
fearful to
do anything
that brought
personal
attention to
themselves.
Probably, no
other force
has done
more to
paralyze
initiative,
originality,
creativity,
among
Muslims the
"eye".
Bertha faced
a problem: A
dignitary
was coming
to their
school and
she wanted a
child–one of
the little
girls–to
present a
gift to the
visitor: A
simple,
hand-embroidered
handkerchief
was to be
given in a
public
ceremony. In
the
beginning,
none of the
parents were
willing.
They feared
the evil
eye.
Finally, a
couple
consented
and allowed
their
daughter to
make the
presentation.
Amid
applause,
with all
eyes upon
her, the
child gave
the
handkerchief
to the
visitor and
sat down.
Later, that
same day,
the little
girl’s dress
caught fire
and she
burned to
death. In
agony, her
parents
blamed
Bertha for
deceiving
them into
ignoring the
evil-eye.
More than
ever before,
they knew it
was real.
Not only
they, but
every other
person
connected to
the school
had the
superstition
powerfully
re-enforced
in them.
I do not
fear the
superstition
of the evil
eye.
Absolutely
not.
"Greater is
He who is in
me than he
who is in
the world."
At the same
time, I also
know, if
left
unresisted,
there is
power in a
Muslim curse
and in the
demon of
jealousy.
And I have
no doubt it
was the
release of
that
devilish
power that
killed the
unsuspecting
child. Like
many other
Christians
today,
Bertha did
not realize
she needed
to do more
than merely
deny the
evil-eye.
The students
needed
protection
from powers
of darkness.
That child
and her
parents
lived in an
area totally
saturated in
its belief.
Five times
daily,
Mosques in
Jerusalem
shook the
spiritual
atmosphere
with the
window-rattling
announcement,
"There is no
god but
Allah ..."
The curse
did exist.
It was real.
More
importantly,
it was
dangerous.
Jealousy is
much, much
more than a
bad
attitude.
Like
witchcraft
or other
forms of
Satanism,
jealousy is
a spirit.
Numbers
5:14.
Americans
may know
nothing of
the "evil
eye" but
they are
just as
vulnerable
as Muslims
to the
spirit of
jealousy.
Through many
years of
pastoral
work I have
seen
jealousy
first-hand
in its
attack
against the
home. Let me
explain: If
a wife
becomes
jealous of
her husband,
of his
business
partners,
friends, or
relatives,
and allows
that spirit
to express
itself
through her,
she can
saturate her
home and the
area around
it with its’
dark power.
Her family,
work place,
even her
children,
become its
target.
While she
never meant
for them to
be
victimized,
once
released,
the spirit
has
indiscriminate
power. That
destruction
can be
physical,
emotional,
spiritual,
financial,
domestic, or
manifest in
a number of
ways. Nor is
jealousy’s
assault
limited to
the family
yard. It may
attack a
child at
school
through
teachers or
other
students who
are
vulnerable
to its’
influence–but
who remain
totally
ignorant of
its purpose
in
manipulating
them. It may
affect the
husband’s
business
trip many
miles away
and ruin an
otherwise
successful
day. Observe
when one
comes under
attack from
the spirit
of jealousy
there will
be a series
of
simultaneous
strikes from
other
sources. You
have had
days when
"everything
went wrong."
This is the
type of
assault of
which I
speak. These
secondary
attacks
appear to be
unrelated.
Actually,
they are the
"follow-up"
of the
enemy’s
well-disciplined
invasion.
What I am
saying is
this:
Jealousy
does not
confine
itself to
its’
original
situation.
Like a rock
thrown in a
pond, the
ripple-effect
of jealousy
will touch
situations
totally
unrelated to
the initial
cause.
Another
example:
Jealousy may
begin when a
father
becomes
envious that
the
neighbor’s
children
have more
expensive
toys, better
vacations,
more
friends,
than his
own. Where
love was his
motivation
for
providing
for his
children in
the past,
that
changes, and
the
motivation
of love is
replaced by
one of
resentment
and
bitterness.
Outwardly,
everything
appears the
same. He
continues to
provide for
the children
but the
internal
difference
is
catastrophic.
In changing
his basic
motivation
he has
changed the
controlling
influence in
the home
from love to
bitterness.
If left
uncorrected,
he will
become
possessive,
controlling,
selfish, in
his
children’s
behalf. Love
no longer
reigns.
Jealousy
rules. Soon,
no one in
the family
can please
him.
Ultimately,
jealousy
even
destroys
those who
cooperate
with it. For
someone to
realize they
have a
spirit of
jealousy and
do nothing
about it is
to wilfully
harm those
they love.
Tragically,
we
Christians
ignore the
New
Testament’s
warning that
we are
fighting
"Principalities,
Powers,
Rulers of
the darkness
of this age,
Spiritual
Hosts of
wickedness
in heavenly
places."
Ephesians
6:12. South
Florida had
a tragedy in
which a
young man
murdered the
girl he
devotedly
loved. I
later
realized, he
did not love
her. Love
never kills.
Jealousy
kills. God
is
love--Satan
is jealousy.
Jesus gives
"life more
abundantly."
Satan came
to "kill,
steal, and
destroy."
John 10:10.
It was not
long after
that, while
praying
early one
morning, the
Lord
interrupted
my thoughts
with this
explanation:
"Jealousy is
Satan’s
imitation of
love." The
thought was
arresting
and for a
long while I
sat with the
concept
going
through my
mind. It
came again
clearly:
"Jealousy is
Satan’s
imitation of
love." As I
meditated on
the message,
I realized
that
outwardly,
love and
jealousy
share many
similarities.
So many, in
fact, that
people
sometimes
confuse the
two. They do
not realize
that the
devil is
silently
substituting
his deadly
imitation
for true
love; this
subtle
change is
extremely
dangerous.
Years ago, I
was called
to the
hospital
room of a
woman dying
from a
series of
severe–but
seemingly–unrelated
attacks
against her
health. She
was a
committed
Christian
who for a
long period
of years
battled
cancer,
diverse
illnesses, a
variety of
weird
accidents,
medical
mix-ups, mis-diagnosis,
etc. The
caller had
urged me to
hurry as the
woman was in
an
unconscious,
dying-state.
Driving
alone to the
hospital I
suddenly had
a powerful
"word of
knowledge"
in which I
knew the
source of
those
strange
crises: The
woman was
under a
curse of
jealousy.
When I
arrived at
the family
room where
relatives
had gathered
together, I
blurted-out
what the
Holy Spirit
had told me.
Looking at
the husband
I said,
"Your wife
is the
victim of a
curse of
jealousy!"
My words
were met
with
incredulous
stares. The
family was
Christian
but one
which
carefully
distanced
itself from
what they
considered
my strange,
"charismatic
claims about
the Holy
Spirit." But
I didn’t
wait on
their
response–not
did I sit
down. The
dying
woman’s
sister was a
true-believer
and I knew
she would
support me.
"In the Name
of Jesus
Christ!," I
said,
speaking
with
authority,
"we take
total,
absolute,
unconditional
command over
the curse of
jealousy and
cancel it in
Julianna’s
life. We do
this in the
Name of
Jesus!" When
I finished,
the woman’s
sister
darted from
the room and
rushed to
the bedside.
Within a
minute’s
time,
Julianna
opened her
eyes and
immediately
rallied. In
an
incredibly
short time
she was out
of danger
and is alive
today.
Later, a
family
member took
me aside and
told me what
everyone
else in the
room already
knew: Years
of intense,
angered
jealousy
against the
victim and
the relative
from whom it
came.
Not long ago
I was in a
meeting that
ended with
the
congregation
experiencing
a wonderful,
spontaneous
baptism of
love. People
across the
building
hugged each
other,
rejoicing in
the joy of
the Lord,
and weeping
tears of
happiness.
It was a
scene where
"Heaven came
down our
souls to
greet and
glory
crowned the
Mercy Seat."
I was
probably
embraced a
hundred
times by
both men and
women--few
of whom I
knew. Later,
when I went
to my car
alone in the
dark a man
suddenly
stepped out
of the
shadow and
in a very
threatening
voice said,
"I don’t
like the way
you hugged
my wife!!" I
was
frightened
and quickly
apologized,
saying, "–I
don’t know
which one is
your wife."
"She’s the
one over
there in
that
truck!," he
snapped
back,
indicating
he had put
her there as
punishment.
I attempted
to explain
that the hug
had been
fatherly.
But he
didn’t
understand
what I meant
and
continued
his tirade.
To him, all
hugs were
erotic. He
knew of no
other kind.
After a
while he
stalked
away.
What I saw
was not a
man’s love
for his wife
but his
jealousy.
While I felt
remorse for
him, and
pity for his
wife, I felt
an
especially
deep concern
for his
children. A
man whose
only
expression
of love is
an erotic
one cannot
show
affection to
his sons and
daughters.
His children
will grow up
without ever
feeling
their
father’s
embrace.
That is the
way jealousy
replaces
true love
with its own
confusing
counterfeit.
In the past
60 years of
ministry I
have had
numbers of
victims weep
out their
stories to
me. Middle
aged men sat
in my
office,
weeping, and
explaining,
"In my
entire life
my father
never hugged
me." How
sad! God
designed us
to be
hugged. Hugs
release
endorphin
and
serotonin in
the brain
which
promote a
sense of
happiness
and
well-being.
That in
turn,
produces
better
mental and
physical
health.
Children,
particularly,
need to be
hugged.
What should
you do if
you
recognize
jealousy is
working
through you?
First of
all, realize
that in its
intense
form,
jealousy is
a spirit.
Specifically,
it is a
demon-spirit.
The only
successful
resistance
is to have
someone
minister
deliverance
to you and
cast it out.
That must be
done in the
Name of
Jesus. Until
jealousy has
been
destroyed by
the power of
the Holy
Spirit it
will
continue to
inflict its
devilish
program
against you
and those
you love. In
the end you
will
discover, it
is "cruel as
the grave."
Perhaps you
are not the
source of
jealousy but
the one whom
it has
attacked.
What can you
do to
protect
yourself?
First of
all, Jesus
said, "Bless
those who
curse you.
Pray for
those who
despitefully
use you and
persecute
you." Don’t
fight on
their level.
If you do,
you too will
become as
jealous as
they are.
You must
rise above
their
earthly
plateau and
battle in
the
spiritual-realm.
Recognize
that the
person is
not your
problem. The
demon is the
problem.
Paul said,
"We wrestle
not against
flesh and
blood."
Instead, we
wrestle
against
"Powers,
Principalities,
Rulers of
darkness,
Spiritual
hosts in
high place."
To win, you
must put on
the "whole
armor of
God." That
includes
girding
yourself
with
"truth,"
wearing the
"breast
plate of
righteousness,"
protecting
your feet
with the
"gospel of
peace,"
off-setting
the attack
by the
"shield of
faith,"
protecting
your mind by
the "helmet
of
salvation,"
and finally
use the
"sword of
the Spirit,
which is the
word of
God."
Finally, you
must pray
with "all
prayer and
supplication
in the
Spirit."
Ephesians
6:13-18.
Jesus said,
"I give you
power to
tread on
serpents and
scorpions
and over all
the power of
the enemy."
Luke 10:19.
The Apostle
John
declared,
"He who is
in you is
greater than
he who is in
the world.”
I John 4:4.
Finally,
wage all-out
spiritual
war. Take
authority in
Jesus’ Name.
Bind,
rebuke,
banish, the
enemy by the
power of the
Cross. Win!
Don’t fall
into the
trap of
thinking
jealousy can
be ignored.
It cannot.
Bertha
Vester and
the parents
of a little
girl in
Jerusalem
learned the
hard way.
You do not
need to be
afraid of
such a
spirit. But
you
absolutely
must realize
that it is
real--and it
is
dangerous.
You must
drive it
from your
life!
Charles
WHY DO I
CONDUCT
"SONS IN
MINISTRY"
MEETINGS?
THIS YEAR,
by God’s
grace, I
complete 60
years of
Ordained
Ministry.
From the
starting day
at my first
church in
Atlanta in
1949, I
established
a pattern of
preaching 5
times a week
and
continued
that
practice
without
change for
the next 30
years. The
only
exception
was when I
conducted
revivals and
preached 12
or 13 times
a week. Now,
six decades
later, I
have much to
remember:
Numerous
ministers
came and
went,
succeeded
and failed,
achieved
greatness or
embarrassing
calamity. I
was
fortunate to
travel with
some
wonderful
old men who
had preached
in the
1800's.
My greatest
concern at
this point
in life is
to help
younger
pastors
experience
the full
empowering
of the Holy
Spirit and
avoid the
pitfalls I
saw weaken
or destroy
others.
Looking
back, I can
truthfully
say that my
ministry has
not been
dull; I've
been in the
presence of
two Kings, a
President,
the
Archbishop
of
Canterbury,
Israel’s
Ambassador,
the Pope,
Ted
Kennedy’s
home and
other
high-profile
people. I
crossed the
Atlantic at
least 50
times,
preached in
Red Square
at Lenin's
Tomb,
Westminster
Chapel in
London, 800
year-old
Churches in
England, St.
Vincent de
Paul
Catholic
Seminary in
Florida,
various
Jewish
Synagogues,
and to
thousands of
Pastors at
International
Conferences
in Toronto’s
Airport
Fellowship
in Canada.
At war zones
in Sierra
Leone, West
Africa, I
wept to see
truck loads
of bodies
hauled away
from
battlefields
but have
rejoiced to
see hundreds
of other
bodies be
miraculously
healed by
the power of
the Holy
Spirit.
Ten times I
visited
Israel and
Muslim
counties in
the Middle
East. Once I
was caught
in street
fighting in
Jerusalem
and had to
hide with
strangers in
a
side-street
shop until
the gunfire
ceased.
Another time
I was
attacked by
a gang of
screaming,
rock-throwing
Muslim
children at
the Dome of
the Rock–I
never knew
what I did
that so
enraged
them. I
wandered
through
Bible-land
deserts
where God
hammered
faith into
some of His
greatest
saints,
retraced the
missionary
journeys of
Paul, and
visited all
the sites of
the Seven
Churches of
Asia. In
Ephesus, I
preached in
the same
amphitheater
where Paul's
presence
caused a
riot two
millenniums
ago. Acts
19:23-34.
One night in
Jerusalem I
awoke after
midnight,
dressed,
entered the
old city
through the
Damascus
Gate,
climbed the
steps to the
ramparts and
walked
halfway
around the
city wall in
the
moonlight. I
wanted to
recapture
Nehemiah’s
experience
when he had
done that.
Nehemiah
2:12. But
there were
frightening
moments
also–a
week-long
violent
storm at sea
near
Istanbul
that sent
the ship’s
cargo and
passengers
crashing
against the
walls. And
more than
once, there
were
emergency
inoculations
during
cholera
epidemics.
In the
mid-1980's,
God woke me
from a
deep–three
a.m.
sleep–calling
me by the
name "Jephunneh"–a
name I
honestly did
not know was
in the
Bible.
Getting out
of bed, I
discovered
Jephunneh
was the
father of
Caleb, one
of the two
faithful
spies Moses
sent into
the Promised
Land.
Numbers
13:6. As I
puzzled over
God’s
message, He
spoke again,
saying, "You
are to
'father' My
Calebs."
Since then,
He has made
me a
spiritual
"Dad" to
numerous
pastors in
the U.S. and
overseas;
many of
these men
have been
victims of
horrendous
persecution
in Islamic
countries or
ugly church
politics
here in the
U.S. They
need loving
arms around
them. I too
have
experienced
their pain.
My only
motive is to
be available
when wanted;
never to
force my way
or demand
subservience.
While
teaching at
various
Ministers
Schools in
Russia, God
sent "Calebs"
from
Siberia, the
Ukraine,
Kazakhstan,
and remote
parts of the
old USSR. We
experienced
the Holy
Spirit’s
incredible
power. A few
pastors took
great risks
by smuggling
themselves
out of China
to attend
these
sessions.
Other times,
I ministered
to church
leaders from
Manchuria,
Mongolia,
Uzbekistan,
Turkmenistan,
and Islamic
countries.
Four times I
was part of
the Ministry
Team for
Derek
Prince's
Pastors
Conferences
in Russia,
Turkey,
Kazakhstan.
Jack Taylor,
R.T.
Kendall, and
I, have
conducted
some 45
Word,
Spirit,
Power,
Conferences
from London
to Alaska,
New England
to the
American
West.
While I have
wept as much
as others, I
have also
laughed and
played; I
never
believed God
intended the
Christian
life to be
dull and
boring. I
climbed the
Pyramids of
Egypt and in
the Mayan
Yucatan; in
South
America,
hiked the
Andes above
13,000 feet,
the Alps in
Switzerland,
the Tian
Shan range
between
Kazakhstan
and China,
the Tetons
in Wyoming,
the Rockies
in Alaska,
Canada, and
the U.S.,
flew over
the Atlas
Mountains in
North
Africa, the
Pyrenees
between
France and
Spain, Mount
Olympus in
Greece, Mont
Blanc in
France, and
Mount Sinai
where Moses
met with
God. I saw
the volcano
Stromboli
spewing
fumes into
the
Mediterranean
air. Various
times, I
crossed the
Lebanon
Mountains
into Syria,
the Tarsus
range in
Turkey,
hiked Mt.
Rainier,
Diamond
Head, the
Appalachian
Trail, and a
dozen
mountainous
islands in
the
Caribbean.
In Mexico, I
saw
Popcatepell
erupting
clouds of
smoke into a
bright blue
sky. I've
watched the
sunrise over
the jungles
of Africa
and seen it
go down from
the peaks of
the Pacific.
In Moscow I
attended the
Operetta,
the Kremlin
Ballet, and
held my
breath
watching the
trapeze act
at the
Russian
Circus. Here
in the U.S,
I have been
part of a
prayer-team
in the White
House.
Looking
back, I am
amazed! My
life has
been
exciting and
blessed! To
young
pastors I
say: "Preach
the
Word–Make
full proof
of your
ministry!–Seek
the Holy
Spirit’s
full
empowering–Let
Heaven come
down your
soul to
greet and
Glory crown
the Mercy
Seat!" Amen!
Amen! Amen!
Your life
need not be
dull and
boring. If
you wish to
participate
in this
years “Sons
in Ministry”
contact us
immediately
at
CarrinMin1@aol.com.
We need your
name and
your
roommates
name to add
to the hotel
rooming
list. You
will then
receive
additional
information
regarding
the May 2008
meeting.
Chas
A CHURCH OF
CHRIST ELDER
WRITES ...
Charles, It
is wonderful
remembering
our first
meeting back
in March of
1994 at the
Holiday Inn
Medical
Center in
Midtown
Memphis,
Tennessee.
You came to
lead a
three-day
Conference
on the Holy
Spirit. I
had never
been to a
meeting like
that in my
life but. I
listened to
your message
Wednesday
night,
running it
through my
"Church of
Christ/Seminary
Degree/book,
chapter, and
verse"
mental
filters. I
found
nothing
"suspect" in
your
message; on
the
contrary, it
was quite
faith-building.
When you
were
through, you
pointed to
my wife and
me and said,
"That couple
right there
..." I
surmised you
wanted to
pray for us,
which was
fine with
me, so we
went
forward.
In front of
some two
hundred
people, you
first gently
prayed for
my wife,
then moved
to me. I
don’t
remember
your
touching me,
but the next
thing I do
remember was
laying flat
on my back
on the floor
of the
Holiday Inn
ballroom
looking up
at the
fluorescent
lights in
the ceiling,
thinking,
"What in the
world just
happened?!."
"What am I
doing on the
floor? I
don’t
believe in
this stuff."
Meaning: I
didn’t
believe in
tangible
demonstrations
of the power
of
God–since–according
to my
cessationist-theology,
they ceased
with the
death of the
original
apostles.
Well, I got
up in a few
minutes and
determined
that I would
return the
next night
to pepper
you with
questions
about the
incident.
That evening
I was unable
to get with
you so I
went back
the third
night, with
a robust
list of
questions,
intent on
cornering
you and to
get some
answers.
Well, around
10 pm as I
thought
things were
winding
down, I saw
you across
the ballroom
and headed
your way.
From about
20 feet away
you saw me
coming
towards you
and with a
great big
smile lifted
your hands
in my
direction.
The next
thing I knew
I was face
down again
on the
carpet of
the ballroom
at the
Holiday Inn.
No sooner
had I hit
the floor
than a flood
of
belly-laughter
began
pouring out
of the
depths of my
being. I lay
there for
about 45
minutes in
non-stop
laughter,
carpet fuzz
between my
teeth,
undergoing
"inexpressible
and glorious
joy" (1
Peter 1:8).
I
experienced
first-hand
Psalm 126:2
"Our mouths
were filled
with
laughter…"
That evening
in 1994
opened a
glorious new
dimension
for me in my
walk with
our Lord.
The blinders
were taken
off and I
learned
about the
Kingdom of
"power" that
Jesus
brought. I
experienced
new life and
power in my
personal
life and in
my ministry
to others. I
cherish the
personal
friendship
you and I
have
developed
through the
years, your
influence in
my life, and
the example
you set for
me in your
unquenchable
desire for
MORE of Him.
—Love you!
Shane
O’Conner,
Memphis,
Tennessee
In 1853
Japan was a
closed
nation, no
foreigner
was allowed
in, no
Japanese was
allowed out.
There was no
public
school
system, no
development
of natural
resources,
no
opportunity
for
leadership
development,
and Japan
looked only
to its past.
That year
the U.S.
invaded
Japan with a
fleet of Gun
Boats under
the
leadership
of Commodore
Perry that
sailed
almost-dockside
into Tokyo
Harbor. The
Japanese
huddled in
fear,
awaiting the
attack.
Promptly at
two o’clock
Sunday
afternoon
the
bombardment
began. The
Marine Brass
Band began
to play "My
Country ‘Tis
Of Thee,"
and the
soldiers on
deck sang.
Then
followed
"Nearer My
God to
Thee," Lead
Kindly
Light,"
"When I
Survey The
Wondrous
Cross,"
"Onward
Christian
Soldiers,"
others, and
finally
climaxed
with the
"Star
Spangled
Banner." By
the end of
the concert,
Tokyo harbor
was lined
with mobs of
astonished
Japanese
whose hearts
had been won
by music.
Following
that
"attack",
the U.S.
entered
Japan and
helped bring
it to the
world’s
"family of
nations." In
that
wonderful
period of
American
history our
Government
unashamedly
presented
the world
with the
healing
power of
Jesus Christ
on the decks
of its
warships and
on the wings
of its
military
bands.
