Free from the Stronghold of Sarcasm

Sarcasm and laziness walk hand in hand before a stronghold of sarcasm is established. One of the easiest ways to hurt an offender is to stab out with our words. However, we take comfort in thinking that there are little or limited physical consequences of using sarcasm, and as a result, we use this weapon over and over again until it becomes a habit leading to a stronghold.

When we use our mouths to tear down or destroy someone, we are blocking ourselves from the steps it might take to tackle a problem with the right actions and words.

Proverbs 26:16 A lazy person thinks he is wiser than seven people who give a sensible answer.

So how does this stronghold take root in our hearts and minds? To understand this, we first need to know what sarcasm is and how it can be destructive.

Unusual sarcasm notice (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

In the dictionary, we see that sarcasm is the use of remarks that clearly mean the opposite of what they say, made in order to hurt someone’s feelings or to criticize something in a humorous way. 

Sarcasm can be brought on by anger, frustration, abuse, hate, bitterness, and many other strongholds. In effect sarcasm is “a sharp, bitter, or cutting expression or remark; a bitter gibe or taunt.” The word, sarcasm, comes from the Greek σαρκασμός (sarkasmos) which is taken from σαρκάζειν meaning “to tear flesh, bite the lip in rage, sneer”.

When sarcasm digs in and becomes a stronghold, as with any other verbal abuse, it will destroy in some way–either the host or the victim-target or both. How can we recognize when our words are sarcastic and set us up against the word of God?

5 Biblical tips to overcome the stronghold of sarcasm:

1. Check your motives. Will, what you are about to say build up or tear down?

Proverbs 12:20 Deceit is in the heart of those who plan evil, but joy belongs to those who advise peace.

Matthew 12:37 By your words you will be declared innocent, or by your words you will be declared guilty.”

2. Trust God and his word for your battles.

Isaiah 55:11 My word, which comes from my mouth, is like the rain and snow.  It will not  come back to me without results. It will accomplish whatever I want and achieve whatever I send it to do.”

2 Corinthians 10:4 The weapons we use in our fight are not made by humans. Rather, they are powerful weapons from God. With them we destroy people’s defenses, that is, their arguments…

3. Use your words carefully. Any careless word will be wasted.

Matthew 5:37 Simply say yes or no. Anything more than that comes from the evil one.

Ephesians 5:4 It’s not right that dirty stories, foolish talk, or obscene jokes should be mentioned among you either. Instead, give thanks to God.

Matthew 12:36 I can guarantee that on judgment day people will have to give an account of every careless word they say.

4. Search your heart. Are you speaking life or death into existence?

Ephesians 4:29 Don’t say anything that would hurt another person. Instead, speak only what is good so that you can give help wherever it is needed. That way, what you say will help those who hear you.

Ephesians 4:15 Instead, as we lovingly speak the truth, we will grow up completely in our relationship to Christ, who is the head.

Proverbs 12:20 Deceit is in the heart of those who plan evil, but joy belongs to those who advise peace.

5. Remember the law of sowing and reaping. What you sow (even with your words) is what you will reap in this life.

Proverbs 18:21 The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love to talk will have to eat their own words.

Written by Christian author, Pola Muzyka.

Free from the Stronghold of Facetiousness

Facetiousness, like many other strongholds, begins as a thought which may become a habit. A facetious stronghold is one of the most hidden strongholds because it is sanctioned by the world and worldly thinking. We may enjoy a laugh or two at the expense of another without even being aware that this spirit has taken up residence.
When discovered, this stronghold could rise up and invite other strongholds to protect itself. Before it gives up its domain, facetiousness may invite strongholds of denial, defense, arrogance, spite, criticism, and many others.

In the guise of resembling humor, facetiousness in a host may gain credibility and continue on for years without the host or anyone else seeing the true destroyer behind the host’s words. These words treat serious issues with deliberately inappropriate humor.


Ephesians 5:4 Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving.

Although at first the words of a host of facetiousness may seem amusing or frivolous, the gift of words is given to us by God.  Proverbs 18:21 The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love to talk will have to eat their own words.

So, what can be done to keep this seemingly innocuous habit from becoming a stronghold?

5 Biblical tips to overcome the stronghold of facetiousness:

1. Weigh your words carefully. Since we know our words are powerful, we need to make sure the power of our words builds up, rather than knocks down.

Matthew 12:36-37 “I can guarantee that on judgment day people will have to give an account of every careless word they say. ³⁷ By your words, you will be declared innocent, or by your words, you will be declared guilty.”

2. Take control over your own habits, particularly when it comes to the words you use.

Ephesians 5:4 Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving

3. Stay in Christ. A friend of the world will come to ruin.

James 4:4 Don’t you know that love for this evil world is hatred toward God? Whoever wants to be a friend of this world is an enemy of God. 

4. Recognize the difference between foolish and wise words. Filter out the input you get through the media, your friends, and others around you.

Ecclesiastes 10:13 A fool starts out by talking foolishness and ends up saying crazy things that are dangerous.

5. Follow Godly advice and wisdom from the word of God. No one who takes God seriously will allow facetiousness to rein in his/her life.

James 1:22 Do what God’s word says. Don’t merely listen to it, or you will fool yourselves.
Proverbs 10:8 The one who is truly wise accepts commands, but the one who talks foolishly will be thrown down headfirst.

Written by Christian author, Pola Muzyka

Free from the Stronghold of Acrimony

As with almost every stronghold, acrimony begins in our thoughts. When we allow thoughts of hatred, anger, vengeance, or offense to well up inside us we may invite a bitterness which we cannot control, and that bitterness will spew out at every opportunity.

Terrific movie of how easy it is to push anger over the edge.

Unlike bitterness, which can hide for decades in a host before it does damage to anyone but the host, acrimony blurts out its intentions. Harsh, bitter words spill forth without any guard or regard to the outcome. Many a bully uses acrimony to hurt, harm, and otherwise try to destroy.

Acrimony can be the culmination of days, months, or even years of internal bitterness. When acrimony increases it can become a stronghold that’s hard to defeat.

The dictionary describes acrimony as harsh or biting sharpness especially of words, manner, or disposition. At times our words are not tempered and we speak out acrimoniously. However, when a spirit or stronghold of acrimony is present the same words can seriously harm the hearer and may be spoken over and over again. Harsh words spoken over and over again will have a destructive effect on the hearer.



Job 10:1 I hate my life.  I will freely express my complaint.  I will speak as bitterly as I feel.

What can be done to prevent acrimony?

5 Biblical tips to prevent and overcome a stronghold of acrimony. 
1. Temper all your input with God’s words for you and his will for your future before you allow bitter thoughts to accumulate or fester.

Job 7:11 “Therefore I will not keep silent; I will speak out in the anguish of my spirit, I will complain in the bitterness of my soul.

2. Guard your heart. Everything you embrace and accept should be glorifying to God.

Matthew 15:8 This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.

Matthew 15:18  But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man.

3. Ask God to guard your thoughts. Our thoughts can lead us to bitterness and eventually blurting out that bitterness or acrimony.

Philippians 4:6-8 Never worry about anything. But in every situation let God know what you need in prayers and requests while giving thanks. 7 Then God’s peace, which goes beyond anything we can imagine, will guard your thoughts and emotions through Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers and sisters, keep your thoughts on whatever is right or deserves praise: things that are true, honorable, fair, pure, acceptable, or commendable.

4. Turn everything over to God in prayer and thanksgiving before bitterness turns to acrimony.

Psalm 39:12 Listen to my prayer, O Lord.  Open your ear to my cry for help.  Do not be deaf to my tears,  for I am a foreign resident with you, a stranger like all my ancestors.

5. Take control of your own emotions. Determine to keep yourself free from acrimony and outside influences that may cause it forever.

Ephesians 4:31 31 Get rid of your bitterness, hot tempers, anger, loud quarreling, cursing, and hatred.

Written by Christian author, Pola Muzyka.

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Free from the Stronghold of Guilt

Judgementalism stalks with other religious spirits to confuse us when we attempt to rest in the promises of God given to us through the salvation of Jesus Christ. The stronghold of guilt can steal our peace, joy, trust, and even our faith.

It is a weapon Satan uses to try to separate us from God and cause us to live a life of torment even after we’ve been set free–thinking that we still have a death sentence. It’s a weapon that would turn us from Christ if we gave into it.

What don’t we understand about freedom in Christ? God sacrificed his own son [filled with all the fullness of the Godhead] for us. In order for us to be free to love him, he first loved us. 

Our time on earth is a fraction of eternity. Our earthly bodies are dust.  The glorified body, given to those who receive Christ, will be our eternal, non-corruptible, heavenly body, able to be present with God.

Why did God make us so imperfect that we would have to suffer a life of guilt? He didn’t. Sin entered in. God gave us free will. We were free from the beginning to choose right or wrong.
In our free will, we gave/give ourselves over to sin. But the stronghold of guilt no longer has a place in our lives when [if] we accept Christ because sin has been defeated.

5 Biblical tips to overcome guilt:
1. Know who you are in Christ. The enemy [Satan] cannot take that away from you.

1 Corinthians 6:11  ¹¹And such [sinners] some of you were [once]. But you were washed clean (purified by a complete atonement for sin and made free from the guilt of sin), and you were consecrated (set apart, hallowed), and you were justified [pronounced righteous, by trusting] in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the [Holy] Spirit of our God.

2. Keep away from self-righteous hypocrites.

Colossians 2:8-9 See to it that no one carries you off as spoil or makes you yourselves captive by his so-called philosophy and intellectualism and vain deceit (idle fancies and plain nonsense), following human tradition (men’s ideas of the material rather than the spiritual world), just crude notions following the rudimentary and elemental teachings of the universe and disregarding [the teachings of] Christ (the Messiah).

Matthew 22:18 But Jesus, aware of their malicious plot, asked, “Why do you put Me to the test and try to entrap Me, you pretenders (hypocrites)?”

Luke 6:42 How can you say to another believer, ‘Friend, let me take the piece of sawdust out of your eye,’ when you don’t see the beam in your own eye? You hypocrite! First, remove the beam from your own eye. Then you will see clearly to remove the piece of sawdust from another believer’s eye.

3. Read the word daily. Trust what God says to those who have received salvation.

Romans 10:17 So faith comes from hearing the message, and the message that is heard is what Christ spoke.

Revelation 3:10″Because you kept my Word in passionate patience, I’ll keep you safe in the time of testing that will be here soon, and all over the earth, every man, woman, and child put to the test.

4. Forgive others–forgive yourself. If guilt still plagues you after you are sure of your salvation, it’s possible that you didn’t forgive you. Remember salvation is for all those who receive it by faith. No condemnation to those who are in Christ. Romans 8:1

Luke 6:37 “Stop judging, and you will never be judged. Stop condemning, and you will never be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.

Luke 1:37 But nothing is impossible for God.”

Philippians 4:13 I can do everything through Christ who strengthens me.

Proverbs 16:3 Entrust your efforts to the Lord, and your plans will succeed.

5. Turn to God. Ask him for his grace and help to live with yesterday’s events so that guilt will no longer have a stronghold in your life.

Colossians 2:9 For in Him the whole fullness of Deity (the Godhead) continues to dwell in bodily form [giving complete expression of the divine nature].

Have you received your free copy of Biblical Solutions for Cultural and Social Issues in the World Today study guide? [written by Pola Muzyka]

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