Mon, Jul 28th - 12:19AM
IDOLATRY (part 31) Modern Day Idolatry -Clarifications Back in part 15 of this study , this sentence: “The lone ranger stance is unacceptable in God’s family, all saints are to live connected to other saints as well as the Godhead, as one united family of brothers and sisters in Christ.” brought out at least one comment that some saints are isolated due to no fault of their own, due to confinement because of illness or some other reason, that may be beyond their control. Certainly, there are circumstances, when a saint does not have the opportunity to be connected. I was visiting a little coffee shop in my neighborhood, when I was approached by a man who was sad, distraught, and anxious. He thought I might be a Christian and said he was desperate to get in touch with another Christian. He was a new believer, and sadly, he said that due to his appearance people treated him very badly and disrespectfully, everywhere he went. He had many questions, and I humbly took time to give him the comfort and encouragement that comes from God’s word, and much compassion and sympathy. Most importantly, I assured him that God looks on the heart, not the outer person, and he took a great deal of comfort in this. Again some saints are isolated due to illness. During a visit to a dear saint confined to a nursing home, as we embraced her, began to pray for her recovery, suddenly there came weeping and wailings from some other patients in the room. They cried out “ it’s been so long since we’ve heard somebody pray! Please, Please pray for us too!” This was so heart wrenching to bare. We prayed for them too as they wept loudly in gratitude, but I believe we were also just as grateful that our Lord provided us the opportunity to minister to these dear, forgotten souls. A nursing home ministry sprang from this and by the grace of God we were able to minister to the saints there. Some new converts were made also, to God alone be the glory. Some saints are isolated due to severe disfigurement from wars, accidents, injuries or birth defects. I pray when our Lord gives us the opportunity that every saint, as the walking, talking, living, loving, acting, thinking, believing, feeling, Holy Ghost led and indwelt church of the living God, blessed to have the pleasure, opportunity and privilege through whom our Lord performs His work on the earth, will reach out to those in need. It goes without saying, dear saints, that there are many places in the world where Christians are isolated due to great hostility and deadly persecution. Nevertheless, the Lord is with His people always. I don’t claim to know all the reasons why a saint may not be connected with others, but I do know that where there is the opportunity to do so we should gladly do it. Back in part 24 of this study I wrote one of the five false premises of the institutional church is : “4. Saved sinners can and do commit all of the same sins as unsaved sinners. They base this on the various sins of saints in the old testament-King David committed murder etc.” The difference between us now and old testament saints then is the difference between law and grace. The superiority of the New Testament under Jesus Christ, with countless supporting scriptures, makes it abundantly clear about the keeping power of the indwelling God in His people. I pray that Jesus will bless each and every saint with hope in believing, all that our King has said, and to count on His ever indwelling Spirit to faithfully help everyone of us to both will and to do, according to His word. Love serola I want to clarify by the grace of God, that no saint is under any condemnation, and perhaps I can clarify that I was speaking in the sense of a saint, not valuing or wanting to be connected with other saints as a life style, avoiding or refusing to do so when there is an opportunity for it. This is not the norm for the believer in Christ.
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Mon, Jul 21st - 6:11PM
IDOLATRY (part 30) Modern Day Idolatry -End notes Dear saints, I pray that the Holy Spirit our teacher will inspire and provoke us to faithfully live our lives unto God. May Jesus be the one we always seek to please, and imitate in our private and public lives. These end notes and all of the following, I pray the Holy Spirit will use to help us better understand and apply God’s word in our hearts, minds and lives. Who created me? Whom do I ultimately trust? Whom do I look to for ultimate truth? Whom do I look to for security and happiness? Who is in charge of my future? —Life Application Bible Notes Isaiah tells us, "Who shapes a god and casts an idol, which can profit him nothing?" We think of idols as statues of wood or stone, but in reality an idol is anything natural that is given sacred value and power. If your answer to any of the following questions is anything or anyone other than God, you may need to check out who or what you are worshiping—Life Application Bible Notes Because God is truth, he is the standard for all teachings. We can always trust his Word as absolute truth. His Word is completely accurate, and against it we can measure all other teachings. If you are unsure about a teaching, test it against God's Word. God condemned the false prophets because they gave advice opposite to his. —Life Application Bible Notes Any saint can be used of God for His service. Real heroes know that only through God, can their works efforts, and ministry have any fruit, and not by human effort alone. Life Application Bible Notes Why rely on those who are powerless? The helpless cannot help us. Alternatives to God are destined to fail. If you want help, find it in God, who has proven his power in creation and in history. —Life Application Bible Notes "Demons" are the spiritual agents acting in all idolatry. The idol itself is nothing, but every idol has a "demon" associated with it who induces idolatry, with its worship and sacrifices, 1Co 8:7 Howbeit there is not in every man that knowledge: for some with conscience of the idol unto this hour eat it as a thing offered unto an idol; and their conscience being weak is defiled. 1Co 8:12 But when ye sin so against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, ye sin against Christ. 1Co 8:13 Wherefore, if meat make my brother to offend, I will eat no flesh while the world standeth, lest I make my brother to offend. Holy brothers and sisters let us use our liberty with wisdom, care and charity to saints who have a weak conscience. Jas 5:19-:20 Jude 1:21 2Ti 2:24-26 2Ti 3:1-9 37 Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few; 38 Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest. Matt 9:37-38 (KJV) Jn 15:9 As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love. Jn 15:10 If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love. Jn 15:11 These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full. Jn 15:12 This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you. The bottom line: Jude 1:24 Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, Jude 1:25 To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen. God bless you lively stones, and may Jesus be lifted up in your minds and hearts always. love serola "Demons" are the spiritual agents acting in all idolatry. The idol itself is nothing, but every idol has a "demon" associated with it who induces idolatry, with its worship and sacrifices, Psychics or mediums:See below An "idolater" (from eidolon, and latris, "a hireling"), is found in 1 Cor. 10:20, 21; Rev. 9:20; cp. Deut. 32:17; Isa. 13:21; Isa. 34:14; Isa. 65:3, 11. They disseminate errors among men, and seek to seduce believers, 1 Tim. 4:1. As seducing spirits they deceive men into the supposition that through mediums (those who have "familiar spirits," Lev. 20:6, 27, e.g.) they can converse with deceased human beings. Hence the destructive deception of spiritism, forbidden in Scripture, Lev. 19:31; Deut. 18:11; Isa. 8:19. "Demons" tremble before God, Jas. 2:19; they recognized Christ as Lord and as their future Judge, Matt. 8:29; Luke 4:41.—Vine's Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words 1 Cor. 5:10, 11; 1 Cor. 6:9; 1 Cor. 10:7; the warning is to believers against turning away from God to idolatry, whether "openly or secretly, consciously or unconsciously" (Cremer); Eph. 5:5; Rev. 21:8; Rev. 22:15.—Vine's Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words
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Mon, Jul 14th - 11:58PM
IDOLATRY (part 29) Modern Day Idolatry The name of our Triune God, be ever lifted up, over all creation, always. The kingdom of our God will reign forever and ever. O God, your word is sure, and eternal. There exists no power nor authority in heaven nor earth, that can stop your words from being fulfilled. All that you have written and ordained shall surely come to pass. You are always faithful, always truth, always just, always love, always hope, and to you alone belongs vengeance, and justice. Eternal God your people shall sing your praises, for you alone are worthy to be clothed with all majesty, power and, might. Lord in the midst of the congregation of the righteous, made so by the blood of the Lamb, we shall extol your name in all generations, and cry out in everlasting admiration, love and worship that it is you that has forever saved and redeemed us forever. Now, friends of Jesus, we are coming to the conclusion of the study, so let us begin. Idolatry in general in modern times and found in secular society: Occult practices continues unabated in full force and widely accepted in the world and popularized in the secular media: astrology, numerology a form of divination that claims that there are hidden messages in numbers even in the bible; psychics, fortune telling, White and black magic; white and black witchcraft; sorcery, use of incantations, casting of spells, mediums- those purporting to be able to communicate with the dead and the spirit world outright or through holding séances, ouija boards-automatic writing from spirits, channeling- familiar spirits-allowing a spirit or spirit to use one‘s body to communicate through to others or self, Human sacrifice, and the use of human or animal body parts as talisman, one example of this would be the use of a rabbit foot “for good luck.” Brethren, I will spare you the gruesome description of what use human body parts are put to.
Child killing- sacrifice-Abortion allowed in some or all trimesters of a woman’s pregnancy, in many places. Creating children in laboratories in the early stages of development (for now) and killing them for “experimental” and “scientific research”, and treatment of medical conditions. Family worship -idolization of the family. This is not related to the care, love and support, God expects the saints to give to their families, but the deification of the family. The concentration on the family alone and placing it over and above Jesus. Much is made on psychologizing family relationships and problems, centered on how members can please one another, improve relations with one another rather than dealing with any sins, and pleasing Christ, by living out their lives as Christ would have them to do amongst one another, thereby pleasing Jesus and putting Him first. Doctrinally, they see their purpose as obtaining an idealized family structure as a way of achieving, meaning, and value as people, rather than relying on the word of God. They do not relate to the universal church, and minimize or avoid the truth that salvation does not come from being a family member, but from believing and trusting in Jesus Christ, and all else flows from this salvation alone. They do not emphasize Christ’s return, but claim to be looking for revival. See Mt. 10:37-39. This ends the study, and we will wrap up with end notes, addendums, and clarifications next. May our Lord continually bless you and I hope to see you next time, dear saints. Love serola
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Fri, Jul 11th - 5:48PM
IDOLATRY (part 28) Modern Day Idolatry Praise the Lord for He is good, all the time and His mercy endures forever. Because He is love, always faithful, always good, always just, and having all power and authority in heaven and on earth, we His saints are filled with hope, and can surely rest, trust, lean on and rely on Him, in complete confidence. We concluded with the Institutional church back in part 27 of this study, these greedy, evil messengers of ill will, surely have blood on their hands, because their brutal on-going spiritual abuse, has brought death and destruction, depression and suicide to the gullible and unwary. Vengeance belongs to the Lord, and He will repay. I think it would be good to mention two more types of false churches, although there are many, these are among some of the most prevalent and virulent. Worship of the Trinity, along with the worship of angels, deceased saints, statues, certain regions, locations, and various building, and images; tokens: articles of clothing or body parts claimed to belong to deceased saints, or asserted to have belonged to Christ, and declared to be “holy relics”; deification of the human church leader or leaders and attributing to them the authority over the church that belongs only to Jesus Christ, the Head over the true Church universal-this is idolatry. Church leaders promote that they have the power to forgive sin, and that members are to obey their word over the scriptures. They draw a sharp line between members and leaders. Members are referred to as lay persons or sinners, and the leaders as clergy, priests, clerics, reverends and see themselves as special, or possessing a special anointing and are exalted over members. Mixed Worship false churches
“spiritual” or “deliverance” types of false churches: Characterized by an inordinate and intense interest in the demonic spirit realm, claiming it is allowed, by God which is false. They claim to hear from deceased members, claim to see, hear, feel the presence of various spirits, usually demonic, or be controlled by demonic spirits to commit various acts and sins. They believe the false, blasphemous doctrine of “deliverance”, that is that Christians can be possessed by the devil, and that they have the power to cast the devil out of Christians, and that this is the true purpose of their church. They may loosely use the name of Christ, but it is not the true Christ of the Bible. They believe that any member contending with sin, whatever it may be, that it is caused by a demon in the member. For example a member contending with the sin of fornication, they believe would need to be “delivered” from a sex demon inhabiting the member, rather than having the member deal with sin the biblical way of repenting, and using his or her God given ability to overcome sin. Fear and powerlessness rules and dominates these churches, as they fear what the devil is going to do to them next. Insanity is not uncommon in such churches, especially paranoia, with an intense preoccupation on a multitude of satanic conspiracy ideations in everyday life and on a global scale. They see a satanic conspiracy in whatever is going on in the world, whether it be famine, various conflicts between nations, or various economic problems in the world. They invoke a “ fourth” person of the trinity called “the anointing” and prefer it to the trinity. They believe it comes and goes, and only when it comes does the member have any power to accomplish God’s will. They practice shamanism and believe there is power in something they call “anointing oil”. They may put it on themselves, their doors, furniture at home and their so-called church to ward off and get protection from evil. This type of false church greatly destabilizes its members in many areas, and mental illness among its members is a hall mark of this kind of false church. The craziest thing about their doctrine or false gospel is that although they seem to spend every waking moment focusing on fighting the devil, and revealing various and sundry satanic plots, they believe that all of their blessings have been stolen by the devil, and that they have to force him to give back all the blessings he has stolen from them!!! They ignore that the scriptures says our blessings come from God, and also that He has given His children power over all the power of the enemy. Lk. 10:19 Some aspects of the aforementioned examples can be found among some, but NEVER all of the true church today. The true church, (remember saints we are not talking about a building here- but the saints that means us.) remain true to the gospel, by the power of God, and godly servant- overseers who refuse to compromise the word of God. It goes without saying that the church on the earth (but never in heaven) has tares or children of the devil mixed into the physical facility of the church on earth. It is through these tares that such false doctrines enter in among the true church. God will eventually separate His people from these. In the meantime these tares secretly bring in these false doctrines among the true church, and then some of the aforementioned elements of the false church do appear among, but NEVER in them, 2Pe. 2:1. God has equipped His true church to deal with these. Every saint can know, can learn, and be taught the gospel of Christ to enable the saints to resist all such. Titus1:9-11. May our Lord bless His people everywhere; Eph. 6:10 To finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and the power of His might. I hope to see you again next time, dear saints, and pray that Jesus is lifted up and exalted in your hearts and minds always. Love Serola Ro 10:6 But the righteousness which is of faith speaketh on this wise, Say not in thine heart, Who shall ascend into heaven? (that is, to bring Christ down from above:) Ro 10:7 Or, Who shall descend into the deep? (that is, to bring up Christ again from the dead.) Ro 10:8 But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; Ro 10:9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. Ro 10:10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. Ro 10:11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.
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Thu, Jul 3rd - 3:14PM
IDOLATRY (part 27) Modern Day Idolatry Say it with me saints: Lord Jesus, I give you all the thanks, honor, glory, and praise. You are always faithful, always right, and I exalt you over all your creations, and humble myself under your mighty hand, may your name be forever blessed. You have given me the privilege and the right to be called a saint, child of the living God, and indwelt me, so that my life is hid in Christ in God. Gal 2:20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. Oh what a mighty God we serve, dear children of light! So let us finish up with the institutional type of false church. As I mentioned before, they know but do not care what the scriptures say regarding salvation and the saints, they choose their own false gospel, which serves to enslave, to deceive their members for power and control over them and make merchandise of them. They promote on-going chronic practice of “brokeness” and on going sorrowfulness as a means of bringing about “revival” so God’s hand will move. They claim God’s power has no effect or doesn’t work because of the sinfulness of the members and even besmirch the true church and blame them in the same way. The first the question we must ask Lord Jesus is: Lord do you require us to be chronically, and persistently sad and sorrowful above all else? The Lord responds through His word. Lk 4:18 The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, Lk 4:19 To preach the acceptable year of the Lord. Isa 61:2 To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn; Isa 61:3 To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified.
1Co 11:23 For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread: 1Co 11:24 And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me. 1Co 11:25 After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me. Gal 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Gal 5:23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. Gal 5:24 And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. The second question we must ask Jesus is: Lord Jesus, since I have been saved, my sins are worse than other saints, so powerful, peculiar and unsusual that despite all my struggles against them they mostly over power me, am I an addict now? 1Co 10:13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it. The third question we must ask our Lord Jesus, Lord my sins are so numerous, and I have been so unfaithful to your word, have I stopped your power from working in the world? The King says in His word: 2Ti 2:13 If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself. 1Co 10:14 Wherefore, my dearly beloved, flee from idolatry. Isa 55:8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. Isa 55:9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. Isa 55:10 For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater: Isa 55:11 So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it. Ro 3:3 For what if some did not believe? shall their unbelief make the faith of God without effect? Ro 3:4 God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged. Heb 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. 1Pe 1:23 Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever. Rev 12:10 And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night. Rev 12:11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death. God’s word debunks and demolishes every false gospel, holy brothers and sisters. Let us believe and do the word of God, rather than be followers of men. Let no man steal your crown. I pray the name of Jesus has been lifted up here, that we may love Him more and more. Until next time I pray our Lord will bring us together here next time. Love serola Ro 10:9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. Ro 10:10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. Ro 10:11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. Ro 10:12 For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. Ro 10:13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
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Name: Dolores serola Rutherford
