Last week, we started the series on Strategies of the Kingdom of Darkness. We discussed Cain, Ishmael and Esau Strategy. This week, I have streamlined the strategies we will discuss under Generational Chasm. Sometimes when one generation overly overcomes the enemy, he focuses more on the next one. Some of his strategies also involve using the next generation against the previous one. The true testament of a generation lies in its ability to pass on its glory and victories to the next so the next one moves from glory to glory (and victory to victory). The enemy seeks to fight and win generational battles. Let’s see how he makes a generation inherit curses instead of blessings;
Absalom Strategy
Any generation that does not honour the foundation laid by the previous generation is destined to fail. Absalom literally means father of peace, but he died the death of an accursed man and did not fulfill destiny in any way. He was never known for his fatherhood or his peace. He was rather known for the opposite. What’s the lesson here? Regardless of the prophecies concerning the next generation, if they fail to honour they will die prematurely.
How do you dishonour the previous generation? Absalom thought he could rule the nation better than his father (2 Samuel 15:4). Who actually anoints himself king? A servant is not better than his master. Any man who rises against his father shall die before his time. Any woman who dishonours her mother can never become greater than her. You resentfully know all your father’s mistakes? Well done. Let’s see how good of a father you turn out to be.
Absalom was the most handsome man in all of Israel (2 Samuel 14:25). He was so full of himself. He kept resentment in him for two good years because his sister was killed (2 Samuel 13:22) and because of that, he didn’t see his father David for 5 solid years (13:38, 14:28). When he became king for a few months, he slept with his concubines in public display as a sign of utmost rebellion (2 Samuel 16:22), thereby inheriting the curse of Reuben. If you ever find resentment in your heart or you begin to rebel against your parents, beware! Don’t succumb to the Absalom Strategy.
Two Birds, One Stone Strategy
The Bible vividly says Saul loved David (1 Samuel 16:21). Whenever two generations are on a pedestal, the enemy throws a dynamite. He uses one stone to hit two birds. What was the stone here? Just a seemingly innocent song of women. Whenever a new generation of, for instance, pastors come on the scene, the people hail them as better than the previous pastors. Just as it’s Saul who believed in David to represent Israel against Goliath, the new generation forgets that they are only standing high because they stand on the shoulders of the previous generation.
This strategy is so effective that one “bird” is almost always easily hit by the stone. When a generation bashes a general like Pastor E. A. Adeboye, I become greatly distressed. Instead of people celebrating you when you are about to cross the finish line, the enemy will throw this stone. The agenda is to either get you to leave with bitterness in your heart and curse the next generation, or get the next generation to think they are better because of the praise of women. One song; Saul lost it from there; David did not let pride consume him. He went back to his father’s sheep. Once you dance to the song, you will live your life to please them in order to stay relevant.
Gehazi Strategy
Gehazi was the servant of the man of God, Elisha. At the end of the day, he didn’t inherit a triple portion. He inherited Naaman’s leprosy. What happened? See, the fathers know the ways of God. You need to realize the weight of their words. Once you have a spiritual father, every error you make stains them too. Gehazi premeditated a lie (2 Kings 5:20), swore by the name of the Lord, and went for Naaman’s gift in the name of Elisha. What makes you think you can get away with that? Are you sinning in the name of Grace? What makes you think you can get away with that?
The entire lesson was for Naaman to taste the goodness of God. “Freely you have received. Freely give”. He had the chance to redeem himself but Gehazi lied to Elisha after hiding the gifts. Naaman goes back to his country thinking he paid to be healed. The next generation ought to realise that there are certain mistakes they CANNOT afford to make, especially a mistake the previous generation never made under no circumstances. The Glory of God does not tolerate evil.
Do you love money? Stay away from the pulpit of God. Paul told Timothy not to choose overseers and deacons who love money (1 Timothy 3:3,8). Cultivate the fear of God before you even think of receiving any mantle. Anyone who catches fire and plays with it will be burnt. The Gehazi strategy seeks to bring dishonour to the name of the Lord and his servant, attracting a transgenerational curse.
Absalom cultivated resentment in his heart and thought he was better than his father David. Saul became demonized and spent the nation’s resources to chase David for about 15 years. Gehazi inherited a curse for generations yet unborn. Kaishh! May you never think you are better. May our generation never think we are better. We choose the way of honour. We shall not dance to the song of empty praises. May the Lord help us 🙏
