Psalms 135: 15-17 (KJV)
15 The idols of the heathen are silver and gold, the work of men’s hands.
16 They have mouths, but they speak not; eyes have they, but they see not;
17 They have ears, but they hear not; neither is there any breath in their mouths.
The Vanity of Idols
People who are spiritually dead make idols, which by definition are not alive. Idol worshipers reflect part of this reality: They are biologically alive but spiritually dead. Idols are even more dead than those who make them; having neither spiritual or physical life. If idols were one more step removed, they would not exist at all. Yet, it is not necessary that they be obliterated from all existence at this time. It is sufficient that they are separated from GOD. Yet The LORD in His mercy does not obliterate men from existence in order that men may have the opportunity to come to Him and be reconciled by the blood of Jesus. The time will come; however, when all those who choose to live separate from GOD shall be removed forever from His presence.
Psalms 135: 18-21 (KJV) says:
18 They that make them are like unto them: so is every one that trusteth in them.
19 Bless the Lord, O house of Israel: bless the Lord, O house of Aaron: 20 Bless the Lord, O house of Levi: ye that fear the Lord, bless the Lord. 21 Blessed be the Lord out of Zion, which dwelleth at Jerusalem. Praise ye the Lord.
How Idols Affect You.
Idols are not alive, but that doesn’t mean that worshipping them does not affect your life. Idols damage your life because of the things you do in relation to them. For instance, many believers indulge in occult practices. They dabble in witchcraft, read horoscopes, identify parts of their character according to the profiles of astrological signs, and act accordingly. The Bible instructs us plainly to not do such things. Deuteronomy 18:10 says:
Let no one be found among you who sacrifices their son or daughter in the fire, who practices divination or sorcery, interprets omens, engages in witchcraft,
Seeking wisdom from horoscopes, mediums, and other occult practices instead of praying to the Lord is disobedience. Seeking the illusion of power and release from drugs is witchcraft. If you doubt this, then consider this fact: the original Greek word for witchcraft in the New Testament is pharmakeia. This is the source of our word pharmacy. Pharmkeia is drugs.
So, when you trust any wisdom more than the wisdom and power of God, you deny His omniscience and omnipotence, which are major qualities of God that only He has. To deny the all-knowingness and total power of God is to call Him a liar, because He says that He knows all, has all power, and is in control of all things. Jesus said “all power is given unto Me in Heaven and on earth.” (Matthew 28:18) Jesus also said: “And I hold the keys of death and Hades.” (Revelation 1:18)
Without God, You Have No Protection From Evil (Satan)
To habitually deny the power and authority of God, and to engage in forbidden practices will undermine your faith to the point where you will be overtaken by those practices. When you stop walking with God, your spiritual clarity or discernment goes away. Your ability to tell good from evil is damaged. When this happens, you leave room for Satan to touch areas of your life. Walking with the most high God is the highest form of protection. Psalm 91 (NIV) tells us:
1 Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High
will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.[a]
2 I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress,
my God, in whom I trust.”
3 Surely he will save you
from the fowler’s snare
and from the deadly pestilence.
4 He will cover you with his feathers,
and under his wings you will find refuge;
his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.
5 You will not fear the terror of night,
nor the arrow that flies by day,
6 nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness,
nor the plague that destroys at midday.
7 A thousand may fall at your side,
ten thousand at your right hand,
but it will not come near you.
8 You will only observe with your eyes
and see the punishment of the wicked.
9 If you say, “The Lord is my refuge,”
and you make the Most High your dwelling,
10 no harm will overtake you,
no disaster will come near your tent.
11 For he will command his angels concerning you
to guard you in all your ways;
12 they will lift you up in their hands,
so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.
13 You will tread on the lion and the cobra;
you will trample the great lion and the serpent.
14 “Because he[b] loves me,” says the Lord, “I will rescue him;
I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.
15 He will call on me, and I will answer him;
I will be with him in trouble,
I will deliver him and honor him.
16 With long life I will satisfy him
and show him my salvation.”
Footnotes:
- Psalm 91:1 Hebrew Shaddai
- Psalm 91:14 That is, probably the king
During the times of the Dead Sea Scrolls, Psalm 91 was used to exorcise demons. This tells us just how real the spiritual and physical protection of the Lord is. Dwelling in the secret place of the most high under the shadow of the Almighty one is the safest place to be in any universe. Without the presence, protection, righteousness and power of the Lord, the is no spiritual or physical safety. Idols and occult practices are sophisticated lures that take your attention away from the One Who loves you and sent His Son to die for your salvation.
What to Do
Believer, if you are indulging in occult practices, if there is any idol in your life, there are several things you must do:
- Repent of what you have done.
- Get rid of all possessions related to the idol/ practice.
- Renounce all allegiance to the idol/ practice.
- Return to worshipping the Lord in the spirit of holiness.
- Study your Bible, so that you will not be ignorant of the things of God.
- Pray without ceasing.
- Fellowship with true believers.
Draw close to God, and He will draw close to you!
Until we meet again: “Be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might!” (Ephesians 6:10).
– Verneda
(Twitter handle: @vlights)
Additional reading: Works of the Flesh, Part 3 (Witchcraft), The Occult: Quick Reference Counseling Keys by June Hunt
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