28 Nov 2011 1 Comment
Free from the Stronghold of Idolatry
There is a difference between need and desire. Unnatural desire becomes lust. Lust creates an idol of its objective. If not controlled, it can build a stronghold. The stronghold of idolatry is nurtured in through our thoughts. Access point manipulation can begin with social media in groups, persons, advertising, politics, or religions.
Tree of good and evil.
Some charismatic leaders use these access points to control our desires. They aim to convince us that we need something we may not need. The leader slowly begins to infiltrate his or her agenda through news, other media, or advertising. He, she, and often they, give reasons for our need. Some of this reasoning is real and some of it is fabricated.
There is a bit of truth in every lie. Look at the subtle way the serpent deceived Eve.
God said: Genesis 2:16 And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, You may freely eat of every tree of the garden; 17But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil and blessing and calamity you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.
Satan twisted: Genesis 3:1 NOW THE serpent was more subtle and crafty than any living creature of the field which the Lord God had made. And he [Satan] said to the woman, Can it really be that God has said, You shall not eat from every tree of the garden?
Satan created a lust or unnatural desire in Adam and Eve to have the only fruit God denied them. By doing this, he established an idol for Adam and Eve. In other words, the fruit of the one denied tree became more appealing to them than their relationship with God.
Often a true need arises as a result of an action instigated by a person or group. Our minds and actions can and are being manipulated daily by those who know social, political, psychological, and other sciences. The catalyst is the leader or leaders who control what input we receive and how. Some of the input is good and glorify to God. But most of it separates us from God and eventually is destructive.
When we separate ourselves from God, His Will, and His Word, our lives slowly erode. When we replace God with a new assumed need (or for clarification, an idol) we no longer put Him first or have God in mind in our decisions. Example: Prayer taken out of schools–killing, teen pregnancies, drugs, confusion, and lies replace God.
Image via Wikipedia
5 Biblical tips to overcoming idolatry:
1. Search your own thoughts. Particularly if you are in leadership. If a desire or new way of thinking [in society or your life] takes you away from God it is an idol.
Matthew 5:33 [ Empty Promises ] “And don’t say anything you don’t mean. This counsel is embedded deep in our traditions. You only make things worse when you lay down a smoke screen of pious talk, saying, ‘I’ll pray for you,’ and never doing it, or saying, ‘God be with you,’ and not meaning it. You don’t make your words true by embellishing them with religious lace. In making your speech sound more religious, it becomes less true. Just say ‘yes’ and ‘no.’ When you manipulate words to get your own way, you go wrong.
2. Ask God for wisdom and strength in handling your own actions in this corrupt world.
Romans 12:6 If you preach, just preach God’s Message, nothing else; if you help, just help, don’t take over; if you teach, stick to your teaching; if you give encouraging guidance, be careful that you don’t get bossy; if you’re put in charge, don’t manipulate; if you’re called to give aid to people in distress, keep your eyes open and be quick to respond; if you work with the disadvantaged, don’t let yourself get irritated with them or depressed by them. Keep a smile on your face.
3. Ask yourself, “Do I need or want this or am I being manipulated? If manipulated, will this take me away from God? If it is a desire that I have, is it a Godly desire?”
2 Corinthians 4:1 Since God has so generously let us in on what he is doing, we’re not about to throw up our hands and walk off the job just because we run into occasional hard times. We refuse to wear masks and play games. We don’t maneuver and manipulate behind the scenes. And we don’t twist God’s Word to suit ourselves. Rather, we keep everything we do and say out in the open, the whole truth on display, so that those who want to can see and judge for themselves in the presence of God.
4. Discuss a new desire or way of thinking with someone who knows God’s Word.
Psalm 9:10 And they who know Your name [who have experience and acquaintance with Your mercy] will lean on and confidently put their trust in You, for You, Lord, have not forsaken those who seek (inquire of and for) You [on the authority of God's Word and the right of their necessity].
5. Do not participate in abomination against God. If you do your prayers won’t be heard. Watch out who you vote for. Whenever something or someone deviates from God’s Word or the teachings of Jesus Christ, stop. Think. If you continue, you will eventually be led away from God and into idolatry.
Proverbs 16:12 It is an abomination [to God and men] for kings to commit wickedness, for a throne is established and made secure by righteousness (moral and spiritual rectitude in every area and relation).
Proverbs 28:9 Surely the prayer of someone who refuses to listen to God’s teachings is disgusting.
Galatians 5:19-21 Now, the effects of the corrupt nature are obvious: illicit sex, perversion, promiscuity, 20idolatry, drug use, hatred, rivalry, jealousy, angry outbursts, selfish ambition, conflict, factions, 21envy, drunkenness, wild partying, and things like that. I’ve told you in the past and I’m telling you again that people who do things like that will not inherit the kingdom of God.
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Watch Bring It On: Idolatry – CBN.com in Celebrity & Showbiz | View More Free Videos Online at Veoh.com
If you can think of instances where God was replaced by an idol in our lives, please leave a comment.
Related articles
- What is Idolatry? (idkh.org)
- Stronghold of Lust
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