Spiritual Warfare: The StrongHold Of Idolatry
[00:02] Father we bow in your presence [00:03] and we thank you that you are here with us tonight [00:03] lord we thank you that we can study your word [00:03] we ask that you would bless all that attends this study
[00:03] thank you for our new friend CELTICROSS [00:04] bless him/her lord and meet all their needs [00:04] lord anoint CRONUS as he does this study [00:04] help us to open our hearts and minds to receive [00:04] lord may your will be done [00:04] in Jesus name we ask it [00:05] amen
[00:05] amen
[00:06] Spiritual Warfare: The Stronghold of Idolatry [00:07] This is tonight study [00:10] In any list of Satans henchmen that ensnare mankind the demonic overlord known
[00:11] to many as Idolatry is by far the most dangerous and insidious
[00:12] His actions against the lost of the world and the children of God are magnified
[00:13] because of the simplicity of his attack and because he seduces the worst enemy to us all. [00:13] The flesh- Mr carnality [00:13] Idolatry is defined as: Worship of idols, excessive devotion to or reverence for some person or thing.----Although idolatry in both the Old Testament and New Testament was looked upon as the worship of solid images, the bulk of the New Testament writing on this relates to the subject of idolatry [00:14] in a symbolic context concerning anything that one would put ahead of God in their life. Idols can be more then wooden or stone images for we are told that anything including one's self can be turned into a idol by the beholder and as such it is against God for God makes it very plain how he feels about idols. [00:15] let us look now at some scriptures that are the foundation of tonights study
[00:15] kjv colossians 3:1-2 Colossians 3:1 If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. 4 Colossians 3:2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.
[00:15] kjv colossians 3:3-5 Colossians 3:3 For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.
Colossians 3:4 When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.
Colossians 3:5 Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication,
uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:
[00:16] kjv colossians 3:6-8 Colossians 3:6 For which things' sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience:
Colossians 3:7 In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them.
Colossians 3:8 But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy
communication out of your mouth.
[00:17] Now we are told in these scriptures about the affections of this world and in truth they all can lead into idolatry if we are not careful
[00:18] God does not stand for idolatry from His people [00:18] and satan knows this well [00:19] God tells us this in His word [00:19] kjv exodus 20:3 Thou shalt have no other gods before me.
[00:20] kjv exodus 20:23 Ye shall not make with me gods of silver, neither shall ye make unto you gods of gold. [00:21] kjv exodus 20:23-26 Exodus 20:23 Ye shall not make with me gods of silver, neither shall ye make unto you gods of gold.
Exodus 20:24 An altar of earth thou shalt make unto me, and shalt sacrifice thereon thy burnt offerings, and thy peace offerings, thy sheep, and thine oxen: in all places where I record my name I will come unto thee, and I will bless thee.
Exodus 20:25 And if thou wilt make me an altar of stone, thou shalt not build it of hewn stone: for if thou lift up thy tool upon it, thou hast polluted it.
Exodus 20:26 Neither shalt thou go up by steps unto mine altar, that thy nakedness be not
discovered thereon.
[00:22] Here we see that God is very asserative about the stronghold of idolatry
[00:22] we are also told in Ephesians [00:22] kjv ephessians 5:3-5 Ephesians 5:3 But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints; Ephesians 5:4 Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks. Ephesians 5:5 For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.
[00:23] The strongold of idolatry goes ahnd in hand with what we are told in the scripture above
[00:24] Idolatry is basically carnality in the world today and we have been warned to be watchful of it. [00:24] And not to be partakers of it [00:25] For to do so will cause us to be slaves of satan's kingdom instead of being servants for God [00:26] and this is why those who come that are in the stronghold of idolatry are so hard to free . [00:26] and this is why it is satan's major possessor and oppressor on mankind today
[00:26] Now as I said earlier a idol is anything that we would put ahead of God and this is spiritual adultery for we are as the Bible says, The Bride of Christ. So as such if we follow other things putting higher value on material things instead of God we are guilty of going after other gods which in turn lead
[00:27] us away from our relationship with God which means we are in spiritual fornication. And this is the legal grounds for demons to possess or oppress man and hold him in bondage cutting off the Holy Spirit from God's children both those in the Body and those in the world.
[00:27] Sexual Perversion 1)Video Games
2)Sports
3)Money
4)Careers
5)Power
6)Television
7)Fame
8)Outward Appearance
9)A Cause or Idea
10)Religion
11)Self
13)Or Another Person
[00:28] Now the above list is a few of the demonic whoredoms that may come against us or may be holding the possessed or oppressesd in bondage
[00:30] Now the whoredoms or altars of today's idols can be many things or just one thing in one's life. But when we become partakers of such a thing to the extent that we value it above all else we become their captives.
[00:30] Now these things are not bad in themselves, for in truth God wants us to enjoy our lives and these things do bring enjoyment to the partaker. But when these things begin to dominate our lives they become our idols and masters, which become stongholds in our lives that the demons captilize on.
[00:31] kjv hosea 4:12 My people ask counsel at their stocks, and their staff declareth unto them: for the spirit of whoredoms hath caused them to err, and they have gone a whoring from under their God.
[00:31] kjv hosea 5:4 They will not frame their doings to turn unto their God: for the spirit of whoredoms is in the midst of them, and they have not known the LORD.
[00:32] Yes in the world today mankind is beset by these demons as they hunt for the souls for their master [00:33] When they have closed these traps they are hard to detect and eject from the captives life but through Jesus it can always be done
[00:34] The main point is anything that shifts God down the list of our priorities and takes the throne of our heart will demand our worship
[00:35] which will gladly be given once the trap has been strung.
[00:35] And why is this?
[00:36] Because the demons of idolatry have chained the captured and through carnal pleasure the physical man gains strenght over the spiritual man
[00:36] Now the things that draw our attention away by them selves are not bad.
[00:37] but it is when they begin to dominate our lives that idolaty grows if unchecked.
[00:38] We must keep them in their proper place on our list and not let them go to the top.
[00:38] kjv 1 corithians 6:12 All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any. [00:40] it is a sorry state for the possessed of this stronghold for if these things are not expelled and put under submission they will cause the childrn of God as well as the children of the world to fall from God and be doomed to eternal hell. [00:40] Material things are not eternal things. [00:40] kjv 1 john 2:15-17
1 John 2:15 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 1 John 2:16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.
1 John 2:17 And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever. [00:42] We must daily check our list of priorities in our lives by letting the Holy spirit search us and show us any area where the throne of idolatry may be trying to arise. [00:42] our list should be: [00:42] 1.Love and obedience to God [00:43] 2. Love and obedience to our spouses [00:43] 3. Love and care for our families [00:43] and then let the rest of the things fall into the list where ever you want them.
[00:44] God does not want us running after the pleasures of the world or the things in it which would be detrimental to our relationship with Him.
[00:45] kjv colossians 3:2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.
[00:46] Although we are to do our best to save the lost and bring them out of darkness we still must battle the internal enemy in each of us which is the old carnal man if we are to be effective for God
[00:46] spiritual man vs physical man [00:46] Jesus vs satan
[00:47] spiritual things vs material things [00:47] this is the constant battle with the strongman of idolatry we face.
[00:47] kjv 1 timothy 6:7-9 1 Timothy 6:7 For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.
1 Timothy 6:8 And having food and raiment let us be therewith content. 1 Timothy 6:9 But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.
[00:48] kjv 1 timothy 6:10-12 1 Timothy 6:10 For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
1 Timothy 6:11 But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness,
godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness. 1 Timothy 6:12 Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.
[00:48] kjv Romans 8:5-8
Romans 8:5 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. Romans 8:6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.
Romans 8:7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. Romans 8:8 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. [00:49] kjv romans 8:9-10
Romans 8:9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.
Romans 8:10 And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life
because of righteousness.
[00:49] It is a known fact that what ever we feed the most will become the strongest
[00:50] The spiritual man will not allow us to be pulled away from God if he is the one we have been caring for [00:51] He will keep the carnal man in check through the power of the Holy spirit in us
[00:52] But if we care for the carnal then in time he will kill off the
spiritual man and then lead him on to hell through the stronghold of idolatry
[00:52] kjv galatians 5:16-17 Galatians 5:16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.
Galatians 5:17 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.
[00:52] now let us look at this: [00:53] and through it we may get insight into how the demons operate in this area
[00:53] Outward apparance: In both the saved and the unsaved this demonic stronghold can quickly take hold of the person and become powerful idol to worship. Millions of dollars are spent yearly to make the physical body look good by worldly standards. This is in clothing, jewelery, and work outs in gyms. [00:54] What ever we take care of the most will dominate us in the end
[00:54] Now we are suppose to care for our bodies for they are the temple of God, but when we take it to extremes then we have let the devil turn it into a idol. But when we cater to the physical and forget the spiritual we have been trapped in the stronghold of idolatry.
[00:55] Material Wealth :To the world this is a sign of success and many a poor soul has been ensnared by the demons of idolatry in this area. The carnal side of mankind yearns for this and if not kept in check will lead a person whether they be a child of God or a child of the world into this deadly but quiet sin of idolatry. [00:55] Material Wealth :To the world this is a sign of success and many a poor soul has been ensnared by the demons of idolatry in this area. The carnal side of mankind yearns for this and if not kept in check will lead a person whether they be a child of God or a child of the world into this deadly but quiet sin of idolatry. [00:55] kjv 1 john 2:15-17
1 John 2:15 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 1 John 2:16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.
1 John 2:17 And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever. [00:56] kjv james 5:3 Your gold and silver is cankered; and the rust of them shall be a witness against you, and shall eat your flesh as it were fire. Ye have heaped treasure together for the last days.
[00:56] Material things will not last [00:57] Yes the stronghold of idolatry with it demon overseers is tough and unyielding in a fight with us [00:57] and at times it may seem we can not overcome them and will fall
[00:58] but the power of Jesus has already defeated this enemy
[00:58] through Him we can overcome [00:58] though Jesus we can tear down this stronghold [00:59] To entrap the children of God and the unsaved who are in darkness. and we can expel these demons and their strongholds if we will continually do the following:
[00:59] 1. We must ask for the Holy Spirit to destroy the strongholds as they arise before they can take root and choke out the love of God in our lives for the things of the world.
2. Realize that we are just as susceptible to the trap of idolatry as any one in the world and that it is only through Jesus we can stay free form these chains.
[01:00] 3. destroy ignorance and pride in our lives and be truthful about ourselves knowing that it is by Jesus not our self that we can stay free from the stronghold of idolatry and its overlord demons. Without Jesus we are defeated and doomed for it is His power that makes us more then conquerors over the world. [01:01] Yes we can defeat this stronghold of idolatry and its evil
henchman through Jesus who is with us
[01:01] And through Him we will and can free those who now are in the bondage of the Stronghold of Idolatry [01:02] We will win for our Lord and Saviour [01:02] and all the demons we face will go fleeing back to hell .
[01:02] Glory to God forever and forever! [01:02] amen
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