Monday, May 21, 2012

gods of this world


About 16 years ago I taught a study on the gods of this world and how dangerous it looked that our society was following Israel’s mistakes in worshipping them, under the deception of political philosophies.  I remembered that teaching last week and looked up the handout. I was horrified to see how very much we had increased that worship in our nation.

We need to remember that we are not wrestling with flesh and blood. Politicians, government officials and the media are not our problem. We are wrestling with principalities and powers and rulers of the darkness of this world, who use both the ignorant and the sold-out to bring about their will in the earth.

Christians need to ask for grace, mercy, forgiveness, deliverance, and wisdom for human beings and fight against the demonic strongholds that use them as puppets.

GODS OF THIS WORLD


1. Molech – King – Chief Diety of the Ammonites (Ammon – Tribal Culture)   

And you shall not give any of your children to sacrifice them to Molech, nor profane the name of your God. Lev. 18:21

And they built the altars of Baal, which are in the valley of the son of Hinnom, to sacrifice their sons and their daughters to Molech; which I commanded them not, neither came it into My mind that they should do this abomination, to cause Judah to sin.  Jer. 32:35

Thou hast searched me, and known me…For Thou hast made my inward parts; Thou hast knit me together in my mother’s womb; I will give thanks unto Thee, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; wonderful are Thy works, and that my soul knoweth right well. My frame was not hidden from thee when I was made in secret and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. Thine eyes did see mine unformed substance, and in Thy book they were all written – even the days that were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them.                Ps. 139: 1,13-16

“I tell you the truth, whatever you did to one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did it to me.”        Matthew 25:40                                                                                                                                                               Today – Abortion, Infanticide, Pedophilia, Child trafficking

  

2. Ashtoreth – Increase – a Sidonian diety ( Sidon – lie in wait and take provision)                                                     

And they forsook the Lord and served Baal and Ashtoreth. Judges 2:13

If you return to the Lord with all your hearts, put away the strange gods and Ashtoreth from among you, and prepare your hearts to the Lord and serve him only, He will deliver you…I Samuel 7:3

For the love of money is the root of all evil. I Timothy 6:10

“Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things will be added unto you.” Matthew 6:33

Today: Socialism, Corporate and Personal Greed, Financial Dishonesty




3. The Baals – Possessor, Master, Husband, Owner – Canaanite god of fertility –  Master of the Flies, Possessor of a Village, Possessor of the Accursed

And he did evil in the sight of the Lord, and walked in the way of his father, and in the way of his mother…for he served Baal, and worshipped him, and provoked to anger the Lord God of Israel    I Kings 22:52,53

And they left all the commandments of the Lord their God…and worshipped all the host of heaven, and served Baal.  II Kings 17:16

Know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which you have of God, and you are not your own? For you are bought with a price; therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit which are God’s.  I Cor.6:19,20                                                                                               Today: Sexual Sin of every kind, Physical Addictions



4. Chemosh – Subdue, be Powerful

Will you not possess that which Chemosh your god gives you to possess?  Judges 11:24

The people of Chemosh perish, for your sons and daughters are taken captive. Jeremiah 48:46

Humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon him, for He cares for you.  I Peter 5:6,7  You judge if it’s right in the sight of God to listen to you more than to God. Acts :19,20                                                                                                                                                                                    Today: Government Control, Tyranny or Controlling Spirit of any kind, public or private


For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, powers, rulers of the darkness of this world, spiritual wickedness in high places. Eph. 6:12

Thursday, May 10, 2012

Squash the ANTs

"The weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds...casting down imaginations and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ."                                     II Cor. 10:4,5 
I was studying a book and cd by Dr. Daniel Amen the other day and he told the story about a boy he counseled who had negative thoughts constantly. That same day he went home and there was an ant invasion in his house and as he frantically tried to get rid of the ants he thought “This is how that boy’s mind is.” And he came up with an acronym ANTs - Automatic Negative Thoughts. I shared the following material at church and with a group of women at a Christian rehab center so thought I would also share it here. It’s taken from Dr. Amen’s material but I reworded some things and added the scripture verses to kill the ANTs with, and the FEAR acrostics (can’t remember the sources.)      
                                   
                                         Automatic Negative Thoughts
       Some breeds of ANTs you may recognize:                                                                          
1. All or Nothing “Since I messed up this time, I won’t ever be able to do it. Might as well not try.”

2. Always/Never “I’ve always been this way.” “Nothing will ever change for me”

3. Guilt “I should have...ought to...shouldn’t have...” _______ “Therefore I deserve:

4. Labeling “I’m...a jerk... lazy... fat... loser... slob... wimp...stupid... have no control over:___________ ” I’m _______________________________.

5. Fortune Telling “It will never work for me...Nothing ever changes...It’s in the cards...my destiny. It never fails..._________________________________

6.Mind Reading “My boss/spouse/friend/coworker/pastor etc. is mad at me/ hates me/doesn’t love me anymore. I know because they didn’t (or did)___________________

7. Blame “It’s in my genes...My parents taught me to act this way... If I don’t ____________ others will_____________”

FEAR: False Evidence Appearing Real        
             Feeling Estranged And Rejected

Truth

“I will never leave you or forsake you.”Hebrews 13:5 “Confess your sins and He is faithful and just to forgive your sins and cleanse you of all unrighteousness.” I John 1:9 “If God be for us who can be against us? Romans 8:31 Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love. Jeremiah 31:3