CHARITY DESTROYS THE POWER OF DEMONIC ALTARS

(Special teachings on offerings and charity).

Welcome! Let’s study the Bible, the Word of our God, which is the light that guides our path and the lamp that directs our steps (Psalm 119:105).

The Power of Charity in the New Covenant

Charity, or giving, is an essential part of the Christian walk in the New Covenant. Jesus, in His teaching, often linked generosity with spiritual growth and the breaking of spiritual strongholds. In the New Testament, Paul reminds us that giving is a way to overcome the enemy’s attacks: “God loves a cheerful giver” (2 Corinthians 9:7, ESV). There is power in charity because it reveals our trust in God to provide for our needs and acknowledges His sovereignty over our finances and lives.

However, Satan understands this power. He will do everything in his ability to prevent believers from giving to God, because he knows that through charity, we invite blessings and break the chains of demonic altars that affect our lives.

Satan often raises people who will distort the truth about giving. They might use manipulation, deception, or even “biblical-sounding” promises to make people hesitant or unwilling to give. The sad reality is that many people, seeing the flaws and manipulation in certain practices, may choose not to give at all. But by doing so, they fall into the trap of the enemy, who seeks to keep them from receiving God’s blessings and breaking free from the hold of demonic altars.

CHARITY HAS POWER, and every CHRISTIAN—whether a pastor, leader, or layperson—MUST LEARN TO GIVE in order to open doors of blessing and remove spiritual obstacles. Giving is a key to unlocking God’s favor and opening doors to spiritual and material blessings.

There are many benefits to charity, but today let’s focus on one of the most important: DESTROYING THE POWER OF DEMONIC ALTARS. Demonic altars are spiritual platforms that the enemy uses to influence and control families, communities, and even nations. Not all altars are destroyed by prayer alone. Some altars require the power of offerings and charity to be broken.

Let’s look at the story of Gideon and learn how charity and obedience to God’s instructions destroyed the power of demonic altars.

The Story of Gideon and the Destruction of Baal’s Altar

Judges 6:25-26 (ESV):

That night the LORD said to him, ‘Take your father’s bull and the second bull seven years old and pull down the altar of Baal that your father has and cut down the Asherah that is beside it. And build an altar to the LORD your God on the top of the stronghold here, with stones laid in due order. Then take the second bull and offer it as a burnt offering with the wood of the Asherah that you shall cut down.

In this passage, God gives Gideon specific instructions that not only challenge his courage but also reveal a profound spiritual truth. There are four important steps Gideon was instructed to take, and each one speaks to a critical aspect of spiritual warfare and victory.

1. Take Your Father’s Bull

Why did God instruct Gideon to take his father’s bull? The bull, as the sacrifice, represents the breaking of the stronghold of idolatry and the generational bondage of demonic altars. Baal worship was deeply embedded in Gideon’s family and culture, and this altar represented spiritual oppression. God’s command to take the bull was a direct confrontation with the strongholds of his father’s house.

This is a reminder to us that when we want to break free from ancestral altars, we must be willing to make sacrifices—sometimes even confronting our family’s past and their idols. The Bible speaks of God’s desire to break generational curses: “The LORD is slow to anger, abounding in love, forgiving sin and rebellion. Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished; he punishes the children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation” (Exodus 34:7, ESV). But through Christ, we can break those generational chains and set a new spiritual course.

2. Tear Down the Baal Altar

After taking the bull, Gideon was instructed to tear down the altar to Baal and cut down the Asherah pole. This act symbolized the destruction of demonic altars that have a hold on people’s lives. It required both boldness and obedience. Similarly, once we have prepared our offerings and prayers, the next step is to actively engage in breaking down the altars of the enemy, whether through prayer, fasting, or physical action if needed.

In 2 Corinthians 10:4-5 (ESV), Paul reminds us of the spiritual nature of our warfare:

For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ.

We must not only pray but also act decisively, whether that means breaking physical symbols of idol worship or uprooting spiritual strongholds in our lives and communities.

3. Build an Altar to the LORD

After destroying the Baal altar, Gideon was instructed to build an altar to the LORD. This act symbolizes the establishment of God’s rule and authority in the place where the enemy once had control. It’s not enough to tear down the altars of the enemy without erecting an altar to the Lord, for true victory comes when we allow God’s presence to fill the space left vacant.

In Matthew 6:10 (ESV), Jesus taught us to pray, “Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” Building an altar to God is our way of inviting His kingdom and His will to take control of the space the enemy once ruled. This is an essential part of spiritual warfare—replacing the enemy’s influence with God’s dominion.

4. Offer the Bull as a Sacrifice

Finally, Gideon was instructed to offer the second bull as a burnt offering to the LORD using the wood from the Asherah pole he had cut down. The sacrifice was the final step in breaking the power of the Baal altar. The blood of the sacrifice was symbolic of the ultimate sacrifice that was to come—Jesus Christ, who shed His blood to destroy the works of the devil.

In Romans 12:1 (ESV), Paul encourages believers to offer themselves as living sacrifices: “I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.” Our giving, our charity, and our obedience are sacrifices that honor God and break the power of demonic altars.

The Role of Charity in Breaking Strongholds

When we finish prayer and tearing down spiritual strongholds, our offerings—whether money, time, or resources—become part of God’s work in building His kingdom. Offering is not just about money; it’s about dedicating everything we have to God’s service. As we read in 2 Corinthians 9:6-7 (ESV), “The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.”

These offerings break the power of the enemy, just as Gideon’s offering destroyed the influence of the Baal altar. We can continue to destroy altars of idolatry and oppression by offering our lives and resources to God, using them for His glory.

Conclusion

Whether you are dealing with generational strongholds, spiritual oppression, or the need to build a new altar to the Lord in your life or community, remember this key truth: CHARITY HAS POWER. Your offering is not just a financial gift—it is a spiritual weapon that, when combined with prayer and faith, can destroy the power of demonic altars and usher in God’s blessings and favor.