IT MATTERS WHAT YOU BELIEVE!

IDOLATRY

FELLOWSHIP WITH DEMONS

IN THIS EDITION

Detestable ways of the nations 2

What leads to idolatry 4

The gods of the nations are idols 6

Fellowship with demons 7

Sacrifices offered to demons 8

Answers to Basic Questions 11

Repent or Perish 15

Bohyeba Asempatsease

KINGDOM LIFE INVESTORS

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DETESTABLE WAYS OF THE NATIONS.

Deuteronomy 18:9-13(NIV)

9. “When you enter the land the LORD your God is giving you, do not learn to imitate the detestable ways of the nations there.”

10. “Let no one be found among you who sacrifices his son or daughter in the fire, who practices divination or sorcery, interprets omen, engages in witchcraft,”

11. “or casts spells or who is a medium or spiritist or who consults the dead.”

12. “Anyone who does these things is detestable to the LORD, and because of these detestable practices the LORD your God will drive out those nations before you,”

13. “You must be blameless before the LORD your God.”

BEWARE, LEST YOU BECOME CORRUPT!

Deuteronomy 4:15-20, 23

15. “You saw no form of any kind the day the LORD spoke to you at Horeb out of the fire. Therefore watch yourselves very carefully,” 16. “so that you do not become corrupt and make for yourselves an idol, and image of any shape, whether formed like a man or a woman,” 17. “ or like any animal on earth or any bird that flies in the air,” 18. “or like any creature that moves along the ground or any fish in the waters below.” 19. “And when you look up to the sky and see the sun, the moon and the stars all the heavenly array do not be enticed into bowing down to them and worshiping things the LORD your God has apportioned to all the nations under heaven.” 20. “But as for you, the LORD took you and brought you out of the iron smelting furnace, out of Egypt, to be the people of his inheritance, as you now are.” 23. “Be careful not to forget the covenant of the LORD your God that He made with you; do not make for yourselves an idol in the form of anything the LORD your God has forbidden.”

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NOTE CAREFULLY

What Are The Detestable Ways Of The Nations?

a. Human sacrifice

b. Divination

c. Sorcery

d. Interpretation of omens

e. Witchcraft

f. Spells, charms (enchanters)

g. Medium (Channeling)

h. Spiritism

i. Consulting the dead (necromancy)

What is the fate of those who practice these things?

“Anyone who does these things is detestable to the LORD.”

(Deut. 18:12)

What Do The Corrupt Commit As Sin?

a. They make idols and images as objects of worship.

b. They bow to the heavenly array and worship them

c. They forget the covenant of the LORD.

d. They are deceived to consult astrologers and depend on horo-

scope and prognostication.

THE SOLUTION TO THE POLLUTION IS

REPENTANCE REVOLUTION!

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WHAT LEADS TO IDOLATRY? A) Ignorance Of The True God Leads To Idolatry.

(Jh17:1-3)

Isaiah 44:19 (9-19) Ephesians 4:18 (17-18)

Example of Pharaoh Exodus 5:22

B) Departure From The True Worship Of God.

i. The worship of false gods (with or without the use of image)

(Exod. 20:1-2; Acts 17:29-31)

ii. Worship of the Lord by means of image. 2Cor. 6:14-18;

1Cor. 8:1-13; 10:14-22

C) Common Acts Of Idolatry

The following are some of the common ways idol worshipers

go about their rituals to their gods as recorded in the Bible,

a. Offering burnt sacrifices. 2Kings 5:17 (15-18)

b. Burning incense in honour of the idol (gods).

1Kings 11:6-10; Jer. 1:16 (14-18)

c. Drink offerings. Isa. 57:6 (4-6); (Hosea 2:1-2, 8, 13)

d. Presenting tithes and the first fruits of the land.

Hosea 2:8 (1-8)

e. Kissing the idol. 1Kings 19:18 (15-18)

f. Stretching out the hands to the idol, in adoration.

i. Prostrating oneself before it.

ii. Cutting oneself with knife (blood sacrifice).

1Kings 18:28 (26-29)

D) The Immorality And Corruption Of Idolatry.

1) Child sacrifice. 2Chron. 33:1-13 (1-20)

2) Prostitution. Deut. 31:16-20; Lev. 20:1-8

3) Snake worship. 2Kings 18:1-4; (Num. 21:4-9; John 13:13-15)

4) Worship of human or animal forms or heavenly bodies. Deut. 4:15-20; Rom 1:18-32

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E) Idolatry Is Spiritual Prostitution And Adultery

Exod. 34:12-16; Lev. 17:1-7; 20:1-8; Deut. 31:16-20, 22; Judges 2:11-23; 8:24-35;1Chron. 5:23-26; 2Chron. 21:5-15; Ps. 106:34-43; (1-48); Isa. 57:1-8; Ezekiel 23:36-38; Deut. 20:1-6

F) God’s Command Against Idolatry (Occultism)

Destroy the idols in our lives.

Exodus 23:20-25; Exodus 34:11-17

Numbers 33:52; Deuteronomy 7:1-5

G) New Testament Command Against Idolatry (Occultism)

1. Abstain from food polluted by idols. Acts 15:20

2. Christians are commanded not to associate with idolaters. 1Cor. 5:9-13

3. Idol worshippers will not inherit the Kingdom of God. 1Cor. 6:9-10; Eph. 5:5; Rev. 22:15

4. Idolaters must repent or perish. Acts 17:29-30.

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The gods of the nations are idols. “Sing to the LORD all the earth; proclaim His salvation day after day. Declare His glory among the nations, His marvel-ous deeds among all peoples. For great is the LORD and most worthy of praise; He is to be feared above all gods. For all the gods of the nations are idols but the LORD made the heav-ens.” (1 Chronicles 16:23-26

What do the traditionalists say about the gods and idols?

According to the traditionalists, there are also lesser deities, commonly called gods that were created by God to help mankind. They believe these supernatural entities reflect certain aspects of the power of the Creator for specific purposes and therefore, could be called upon or consulted for help. The tradi-tionalists believe that the gods or lesser deities may be also associated with certain features of the environment such as trees, rivers, mountains, rocks and so on.

Some also say that the physical objects or features are not the deities per se, but, rather, the spirit beings that inform the sacred-ness of the features or objects, are distinct from them.

The majority of traditional worshipers make no clear distinction between the spirit deity and the object or idol that represents him. The trees, water bodies, mountains, rocks, statues, huts and other representative objects of worship are addressed directly as if referring to the deities in person.

An idol or a graven image per se, cannot express the primary qualities of personality, such as the ability to know, to will and to express emotion or feeling, yet there are conscious demonic spir-its that inhabit them.

What does the Bible say idols are? According to Habakkuk 2:18, 20 an idol is: A thing carved by man, A creation of man, Lifeless, Breathless. (Read more under Questions and Answers)

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FELLOWSHIP WITH DEMONS. 1. Is An Idol Self Conscious?

The Bible says an idol is nothing at all in the world. Does this im-ply that nothing at all happens when food is placed before the idols? Let’s find this out from the Bible, so that we could make an informed conclusion.

1Corinthians 8:4-6

“As concerning therefore the eating of those things that are

offered in sacrifice unto idols, we know that an idol is nothing

in the world, and that there is none other God but one.”

“For though there be that are called gods, whether in heaven or

in earth, as there be gods many, and Lords many.”

“But to us there is but one God, the Father of whom are all

things, and we in Him, and one Lord Jesus Christ by whom are

all things, and we by Him.”

Truly, the Bible says, an idol does not have the ability to see,

move, take or eat the food offered it. An idol is lifeless.

In other words, an idol is not self –conscious for it has no person-

ality of its own. An idol or a graven image cannot exhibit the

primary qualities of personality such as, the ability to know, to

will and to feel, express emotion.

Which Persons Sacrifice To Idols?

In Romans 1:21-23, the Word of God says, “For although they

knew God, they neither glorified Him nor gave thanks to Him,

but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were

darkened. Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools

and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images

made to look like mortal man and birds and animals and

reptiles.”

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IN SUMMARY a) Idol worshipers do not glorify God, despite all their outer

gimmicks: The Bible says they do not glorify God. Period!

(Romans 1:21)

b) Idol worshipers are deceived to think they are wise. The Bible

says that they are foolish. (Romans 1:22)

c) The Bible regards their situation as futile: in fact, as utterly

useless, for a human being made in the image of God, to make

idols, bow to them and worship them. (Acts 17:19)

Note:

The Bible sees idolaters as people greatly deceived, and who do

not know the God they claim to worship. That is why they think

in their hearts that they could reach the Creator by means of idols

and graven images. (Read also John 4:21-24)

Note that even Israel at a time in the past did not know the true

God, and so, followed the abomination of the heathen.

(2Chronicles 15:1-8)

2. Sacrifice Offered To Demons

Which Beings Receive The Sacrifices Offered To Idols?

In fact, 1Corinthians 10:14-22 (NIV) is an eye-opener and a blessing of the Lord. Let us read it carefully!

Therefore, my dear friends flee from idolatry. I speak to sensi-ble people; judge for yourselves what I say. Is not the cup of thanksgiving for which we give thanks a participation in the blood of Christ? And is not the bread that we break a participa-tion in the body of Christ? Because there is one loaf, we who are many are one body, for we all share the one loaf. Consider the people of Israel. Do not those who eat the sacrifice partici-pate in the altar? Do I mean then that food sacrificed to an idol is anything, or that an idol is anything? No, but the sacrifices of Pagan are offered to demons and not to God, and I do not want you to be participants with demons.

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You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons too; you cannot have a part in both the Lord’s Table and the table of demons. Are we trying to arouse the Lord’s jealousy? Are we stronger than He?

Note, once again, the text is very clear. It is very true that idols per se, as we have already learnt, have no ability of their own to receive or eat what is offered them. However, it is now evident that there are some spirit beings who are the real recipients of the sacrifices, offering and worship given to the idols. The Bible calls these deceiving spirits, demons, who are called gods by their wor-shipers.

Here, the Bible makes it clear that pagans and all idol worshipers are serving demons and not the true God and Father of Jesus Christ. For this reason, God commands His worshipers, never to sacrifice to any other god than the LORD.

This helps us to be sure that God never endorsed the making or worship of any gods, for we now know that the beings we igno-rantly call ‘gods’ are only demons or devils.

Interestingly, it is good to know that most of the traditional Kings, Chiefs, Tufuhene and Supies are confirmed communicants and leaders in the denomination. They claim that they first show their drink offerings to God before they make libation to their gods. Thus, according to them, they offer unto God what belongs to God, and unto the devil what belongs to the devil.

One would wonder whether the churches do not have the Holy Bible! Probably, they have their own secret books, which they use to enslave the innocent.

Why should the Churches mislead our beloved, able-bodied

Chiefs? Do the Churches not know what 1Cor. ten says? Do our

beloved chiefs and elders know that they are arousing the jeal-

ousy of the God and Father of Jesus they claim to worship?

(1Corinthians 10:22)

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What Is God’s Definite Command On Sacrifice?

The Bible has a straight forward command, which leaves no room

for speculation. The Word of God in Exodus 22:20 says,

‘whoever sacrifices to any god other than the Lord must be

put to death.’ Did God give this command for a joke? God gave

this command to show how detestable idol worship and sacrifices

to idols are before Him. Would any genuine Christian insist on

doing what God detests?

The true worship is a living sacrifice to God.

Moreover, dear worshiper, you who may be a Christian, what sort

of sacrifice does God ask of all who believe in His Son Jesus

Christ? What does the Bible tell us in Romans 12:1? ‘Therefore,

I urge you brothers in the view of God’s mercy, to offer your

bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God – this is

your spiritual act of worship.’ God bless you.

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ANSWERS TO BASIC QUESTIONS

1. Did God create any gods? God never created any other gods. He never formed any gods before Him and there will be none after Him. Isaiah 43:10

2. Should Christians have other gods apart from God Almighty? a. There shall be no gods before Him. Exodus 20:3 b. No gods should be made alongside Him. Exodus 20:23

3. Does God accept the making of images? Casting idols and making of images of men, animals and the hosts of heaven are absolutely forbidden by God. Deut. 4:15-20

4. Should we have other statues and images by the Altar of God Almighty? There should be no statues and images besides the Altar of God. Deut. 16:12-22

5. Should Christians invoke the names of the gods? No, Christians are not to even invoke the names of the gods. It is an abomination. a. Exodus 23:13 b. Deut. 6:13, 14

6. What does God call the gods? Jehovah calls them demons and worthless idols. Deut. 32:16-18, 21; Jer. 2:5

7. Have idols and images any value? Idols and images are a fraud. Jer. 10:14

8. Is God Almighty an image made by man’s design? Jehovah is not an object of man. He created man by forming him from the dust of the ground and in His Own image and likeness. Acts 17:29-31

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1. Do pagans sacrifice to the Lord God? Pagans sacrifice to demons. 1Cor. 10:18-20; Deut. 32:15-17

10. Should Christians have idols? Christians should keep away from idols. 1John 5:21; 1Cor. 10:14

11. Has an idol any real existence of its own?

Demons are the evil spirits that inhabit the images and idols

and statues. 1Cor. 8:4-6

12. Are the demons that indwell the idols our mediators?

a. 1Timothy 2:1-5 b. Acts 4:12

there is One Mediator between God and man - the Man Jesus.

13. Should Christians be unequally yoked or bound with idol

worshipers?

Christians should be separated from idol worshipers.

a) We are not to eat food sacrificed to the gods. Exod. 34:15

b) We are not to intermarry with them. Exod. 34:16

c) There should be no partnership with them whatsoever.

2Cor. 6:14-18

14. Does God want us to give His praise and honour and glory

to images and statues?

The Lord God refuses to share His glory and honour with an-

yone. He never gives His glory to graven images. Isaiah 42:8

15. Can trees and stones be our fathers?

Never! Only the Sovereign God our Creator is our Father.

a) Isaiah 42:16, 17 b) Jeremiah 2:26, 27

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16. Should Christians consult idols– the gods for rain and food? The Lord God alone is our Provision and Provider. He is our shield and our exceedingly great reward.

a. Jeremiah 14:22 d. Job 38:39-41

b. Job 5:8-10 e. Matt. 6:25, 31-34

c. Psalm 136:1, 25

17. How unique is God of the Bible?

a) Our God is Omnipotent, Omnipresent and Omniscient. There is none

that can be compared unto Him. He alone is God and there is none oth-

er.

a) Isa. 40:18, 25, 26 b) Isa. 43:11 c) Isa. 45:5, 6

b) He has His only begotten Son Jesus (Matt.3:16,17, Luke 9:28-35)

18. What must be done to the worthless idols?

They must be destroyed. Gentiles coming to the Lord must get rid of all idols. a. Exodus. 34:13, 14 b. Jer. 16:19-20

NOTE: The Prophet Samuel calls them ‘Useless idols’

1Samuel 12:20, 21

19. What is the fate of idol makers and worshipers?

Idol makers and worshipers;

a. Are cursed. Deut. 27:15

b. Are put to shame. Isa. 45:16

c. Incur the wrath of God. Jer. 16:18

d. Increase in sorrow. Psalm 16:4

e. Are worthless. Isa. 44:9

f. Have many evils and troubles. Deut. 31:16-18, 21

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20. What has God sworn to do to the gods?

a. They shall perish from the earth and under the heaven.

Jer.10:11,12

Banish them from the earth. Ezekiel 36:25; Zech. 13:1, 2

21. Should those who are saved by the Blood of Jesus offer

other sacrifice to God Almighty for forgiveness?

The Lord God has now declared His own sacrifice which

man must reverently accept. And that is the Eternal Sacrifice

of the Blood of Jesus.

a. 1Samuel 15:22, 23 - Obedience

b. Isaiah 66:1-4 - Contrite spirit

c. Hebrews 13:5-16 - Sacrifice of praise

d. Romans 12:1 - Living sacrifice.

22. Jesus made a Once And All Sacrifice For Us

Hebrews 10:1-18

23. Should Christians consult the spirits of the dead?

Isaiah 8:19, 20

Christians are called to serve the God and Father of Jesus Christ

(Rev 1:4-6)

“Should not a people inquire of their God? Should they inquire of

the dead on behalf of the living (Isaiah 8;19)

Who is your God as a believer.?

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SEVEN STEPS TO SALVATION.

You may prayerfully follow these seven steps to ask Jesus into your heart as your Lord and Saviour.

Step 1 Realize that you have sinned. Rom. 3:10-26; 1John 1:8

Step 2 Truly repent of your sins. Luke 18:10-13; 2Cor. 7:10

Step 3 Confess your sins to God. Prov. 28:13; 1John 1:9

Step 4 Forsake your sins. Isa. 55:7; Prov. 28:13

Step 5 Ask forgiveness for your sins. Psa. 103:1-3; Isa. 1:18

Step 6 Consecrate your entire life to Jesus. Matt. 10:32-33; Rom. 12:1-2; 1Peter 2:9-10

Step 7 Believe that God saves you by His grace. Eph. 2:8, 9

REPENT OR PERISH!

“Lord Jesus I believe that You are the Son of God, and that You gave Your Life as a ransom to pay for all my sins. I REPENT OF

MY SINS and declare You, from the depths of my heart, as my Lord and my Saviour. All the days of my life, I shall worship and serve you alone. Thank You Lord Jesus for saving me.

I do believe that nothing shall by any means hurt me or separate me from You, as long as I remain in You and hold on to Your teaching.

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’QUICK REFERENCE SERIES.’

A QUICK-REFERENCE MATERIAL FOR THE FIELD WORKER.

HIS SOVEREIGNTY,

HIS COMMANDS,

MY OBEDIENCE

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MAJOR BOHYEBA ASEMPATSEASE

THE REPENTANCE REVOLUTION

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Luke 13:1-6

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