Lecrae “Strung Out” from “Rehab: The Overdose”
Gal 5:19-20 (KJV)
16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. 17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.
Gal 5:16-17 (KJV)
19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, 20 Idolatry, witchcraft…
Works of the Flesh Part 3
Galatians 5: 20 is a list of horrible things that dominate the lives of men when they turn their backs on God or decide to lean against any support or vision other than the strength and might of the Almighty One. “Oh, I would never do such horrible things, I love the Lord” you assure yourself. Never do such things you say? In ‘Works of the Flesh, Parts 1 & 2″ (see links below), we took a look at “adultery, fornication, uncleanness, and lasciviousness. Today we will take a look at idolatry and witchcraft:
Idolatry
According to Strong’s Talking Greek & Hebrew Dictionary (Strong’s) the original Greek word translated as idolatry is eidōlon, meaning “an image (i.e. for worship); by implication a heathen god, or (plural) the worship of such :- idol.” This word is used 11 times in the Bible. The practice of idolatry, or worshipping another god other that Jehovah is forbidden in the first of the 10 Commandments. An idol can be made of stone, but it can also be a house, a spouse, a child, mentor, friend, gang, business, money, sex, anger, hatred.. anything or anyone that you love more than you love God.
Witchcraft
The word witch immediately conjures up images of ugly crones wearing pointy black hats flying through the sky on broomsticks. More recently, witches have gotten a facelift. Now there are those who believe in black and white magic, and good vs. bad spells. I have news for you. It is all satanic. There is no such thing as white magic. Magic is an attempt to control people, time and circumstances outside of the power of God. It is the knowledge of darkness and the blasphemous musings of the wicked one. Because witchcraft seeks power outside God’s authority, it is a form of idolatry.
Painting on the outer wall of Rila Monastery church, Bulgaria. The images show condemnation of witchcraft and magic. Image via Wikipedia
The Greek word that is translated as witchcraft gives us even more insight. That word is pharmakeia (Strong’s), meaning: “medication (“pharmacy”), i.e. (by extension) magic (literal or figurative) :- sorcery, witchcraft.” So now the light shines in the darkness, and we see the relevance: Drugs are the 21st Century plague that is sweeping industrialized nations into a collective trance of chemical subservience. Alcohol, marijuana, cocaine, crack, heroin, ecstasy, angel dust, crystal meth, Molly, LSD, Valium, Quaaludes, pharmaceutical opiates, and a host of other prescription medications have taken-up permanent residence in the minds of millions of people, even Christians. The people who sell these substances are as varied as those who take them.
In the world of drugs and witchcraft, everyone is looking for the same thing: Control. Drug pushers seek control over the appetites of others, to enslave them so that they can harvest whatever abilities they have to get money to buy more drugs. The addicted seek control over how they experience the world around them. The organizations that secure the drugs, whether medical or mob, seek control over the rats they unleash on neighborhoods to carry the fleas of chemical plague.
People are dying because of drug addictions. Death of conscience, income, family, and relationships precede physical death. Addicted people are “The Walking Dead.” The collective unconscious knows this. Maybe this is the basis for the current fascination with zombies and horror themes in movies and television. It is perverse that those who perpetrate the culture-of-death sell it to young people around the world by draping it in fine fabrics and calling it “heroin chic” while urging them to starve their own bodies. “Feast on this” they say of beauty, thinness, sex, altered reality and death-craving. “Feast on this and die.” Those who buy into this worship are worse than Esau, selling their souls and lives in exchange for something worth less than a bowl of soup.
Why do idolatry and witchcraft happen? It happens because we live in a fallen world. Galatians 5:17 says: “For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.” The battle is between good and evil, flesh and spirit.
What can we do? The answer is plain, even as the cause is plain: Galatians 5:16 gives the answer: “This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.” That verse is not a suggestion, it is a command: Walk in the spirit. Keep your eyes on Calvary. Guard your heart and your faith. Pray at all times. Communicate with your Savior. Ask the Holy Spirit for guidance, instruction and strength. Read the word of God so that you may know what the will of the Lord is. Only then will you have victory the idolatry and witchcraft (drugs, both physical and spiritual) in your life.
Reflection: Knowing that idolatry and witchcraft are works of the flesh, that drug addiction and selling drugs are manifestations of witchcraft, and knowing that the works of the flesh war against my spirit, what then is my prayer?
My prayer is this: Heavenly Father, forgive me for looking to anyone but you for the solutions to my problems and direction in my life. Lord forgive me for the many ways I have sold my birthright for food, drugs, sex and the approval of family and friends. Forgive me for being willingly deceived. Lord God, grant me freedom bondage to idols, sorcery and drugs this day. By the power of the Holy Spirit grant me the desire and ability to “walk in the spirit and not fulfill the lusts of the flesh.” These things I ask in Jesus’ precious name. Amen & Amen!
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by Dizciple8 on Jan 8, 2011. Verneda Lights and E-graphX Omnimedia have no ownership in this video. It is used for educational purposes only. Learn more about Lecrae here: http://reachrecords.com/artists/show/Lecrae
