OVERCOMING NEW TESTAMENT IDOLATRY AND WITCHCRAFT 2
(week 08/17)
OLUBI JOHNSON
In our article this week, we will see in more detail why and how to overcome this very subtle idolatry and passive witchcraft Satan is using to thwart God’s purpose in the church for us to grow into the perfection and fulness of Christ by keeping us as spiritual children through the distraction of a distorted prosperity message:
Ephesians 4:11-15 KJV: And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; (12) For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: (13) Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: (14) That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; (15) But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:
The following scriptures will throw more light on this:
Number 22:11-12 KJV: Behold, there is a people come out of Egypt, which covereth the face of the earth: come now, curse me them; peradventure I shall be able to overcome them, and drive them out. (12) And God said unto Balaam, Thou shalt not go with them; thou shalt not curse the people: for they are blessed.
Number 22:20-22 KJV: And God came unto Balaam at night, and said unto him, If the men come to call thee, rise up, and go with them; but yet the word which I shall say unto thee, that shalt thou do. (21) And Balaam rose up in the morning, and saddled his ass, and went with the princes of Moab. (22) And God’s anger was kindled because he went: and the angel of the LORD stood in the way for an adversary against him. Now he was riding upon his ass, and his two servants were with him.
Observe here that God at first told Baalam NOT to go but because of Balaam’s covetousness, God told him to go BUT was angry that he went. Why? God was angry because God knew Balaam wanted to go because of financial gain.
This is confirmed in the New Testament:
2Peter 2:15-16 KJV: Which have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness; (16) But was rebuked for his iniquity: the dumb ass speaking with man’s voice forbad the madness of the prophet.
It is crucial to observe that Balaam was a genuine prophet (Number 23.16-24; 24.2-9; 15-19) of God but his covetousness and greed for money corrupted him as it is doing to many pastors and prophets today!
The Holy Spirit throws more light on this in
Deuteronomy 13:1-4 KJV: If there arise among you a prophet, or a dreamer of dreams, and giveth thee a sign or a wonder, (2) And the sign or the wonder come to pass, whereof he spake unto thee, saying, Let us go after other gods, which thou hast not known, and let us serve them; (3) Thou shalt not hearken unto the words of that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams: for the LORD your God proveth you, to know whether ye love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul. (4) Ye shall walk after the LORD your God, and fear him, and keep his commandments, and obey his voice, and ye shall serve him, and cleave unto him.
Here we see that a prophet can give a sign or wonder that indeed actually happens or comes to pass, BUT IF THE EFFECT leads us to IDOLATRY, which we saw in our last article, in the New Testament is covetousness (Colossians 3.5, Ephesians 5.5), then we are NOT to obey or follow the words of that teacher or prophet!
Frighteningly, how common this is in the church today: hence this corrective prophetic message!
So many Pastors and Prophets give messages that are followed with supernatural results BUT LEAD THE PEOPLE INTO COVETOUSNESS FOR FINANCIAL AND MATERIAL GAIN!
The scripture tells us here that God has allowed this to test the honesty and sincerity of our hearts.
So, HOW do we overcome this very SUBTLE idolatry and passive witchcraft that has crept into and become endemic in the church today through a distorted prosperity message?
We overcome and subsequently avoid this by constantly exercising honesty and humility of heart FOLLOWED by majority of our praying in tongues: because Satan cannot work through praying in tongues (since the utterance comes directly from the Holy Spirit by-passing our souls: will, mind and emotions) but he can work through words in the understanding not in line with will of God to bring into physical manifestation miracles spoken from a heart (will, mind and emotions) influenced or dominated by covetousness, pride, rebellion stubbornness and envy.
2Corinthians 4:1-2 KJV: Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not; (2) But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God.
1Corinthians 14:2 NKJV: For anyone who speaks in a tongue does not speak to people but to God. Indeed, no one understands them; they utter mysteries by the Spirit.
1Corinthians 14:14-15 NKJV: For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unfruitful. (15) So what shall I do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will also pray with my understanding; I will sing with my spirit, but I will also sing with my understanding.
So FIRSTLY, we constantly exercise honesty and humility of heart then we pray MAJORLY: longer and more frequently in tongues from hearts filled with the life and power of God after praying generally in the understanding.
As we practice this, we will overcome and avoid this very SUBTLE idolatry and witchcraft that is presently endemic in the church. Selah!
