How Does One Worship a Holy God?
How Does One Worship the Devil?Lorraine Day, M.D.
The Bible tells us God is holy:
“I am the Lord your God; ye shall therefore sanctify yourselves (be pure, set yourselves apart from the world), and ye shall be holy; for I am holy. . For I am the Lord that bringeth you up out of the land of Egypt, to be your God: ye shall therefore be holy, for I am holy.” Leviticus 11:44,45
“You shall be perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect.” Matthew 5:48
“. . . Holy and reverend is HIS name.” Psalm 111:9
“Exalt ye the Lord our God, and worship at His footstool: for He is holy.” Psalm 99:5
“There is none holy as the Lord: for there is none beside thee; neither is there any rock like our God.” 1 Samuel 2:2
What does it mean to be holy?
In the Hebrew, the word qadesh (kadesh) (#6944 in Stong’s Concordance) means to be clean; a sacred thing; consecrated.
In the Greek, the word is hagios, or hagnon (#40 and #52 respectively) and means to be clean, pure, chaste, blameless.
What does it mean to show reverence? Repeatedly, the Bible tells us to “fear God” (show reverence to God).
“. . . Holy and reverend is HIS name.” Psalm 111:9
“Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear.” Hebrews 12:28
“Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.” Rev. 14:7
What does it mean to be “brought up out of the land of Egypt”? Lev. 11: 44,45
“I will therefore put you in remembrance, though ye once knew this, how that the Lord, having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed them that believed not.” Jude 1:5
“And their dead bodies shall lie in the street of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified.” Rev. 11:8
The Old Testament account of the Lord leading the Israelites out of Egypt, through the wilderness for forty years and eventually into the Promised Land was a literal, historical event. But it also had major Spiritual symbolism for our time.
a. The Israelites were those who followed (rather poorly most of the time) the one true God. Their forefather, Jacob (meaning supplanter or deceiver) had his name changed to “Israel” (meaning Prince of God – or at peace with God and man), when Jacob truly began serving God. Those who came after Jacob/Israel and worshiped the same God, were known as “Israel-ites.”
Please note that Jacob’s NAME was changed, because his CHARACTER changed. Jacob’s genes did not change. Jacob was the grandson of two people (Abraham and Sarah) who came from pagan Babylon, and who were now living in the pagan land of Canaan. Jacob was NOT a “Jew.” Jacob was an Israelite, a word which defined Jacob as a worshiper of the true God. There was no such thing as a “Jew” in the Old Testament (or even in the New Testament, as we shall later see.)
b. “Egypt” represents “sin” – paganism. The Lord brought the Israelites OUT OF Egypt – out of “sin” – just as He brings each of us out of “sin” and through. . .
c. the “wilderness” that represents our life. . .
d. for forty years – the length of the mature person (from age 30, the Biblical age of an adult male, to 70 (three score and ten) – the average lifespan, taking us into
e. the Promised Land – which represents heaven and the new earth.
(Please see, “Who is Israel? Who is the Church?” and “Fifty Lessons to Learn from the Exodus” (in “Monthly Home Bible Studies) at www.goodnewsaboutgod.com Click on “Spiritual Truth” on the home page.)
When God appeared to individuals in the Old Testament, what happened?
Moses and the Burning Bush
When Moses saw the burning bush at Mt. Horeb (generally considered to be another name for Mt. Sinai), he was amazed because the bush was burning but never burned up.
“And the angel of the Lord appeared unto him (Moses) in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush: an he looked, and behold, the bush burned with fire, and the bush was not consumed.
“And Moses said, I will now turn aside, and see this great sight, why the bush is not burnt.
“And when the Lord saw that Moses turned aside to see, God called unto him out of the midst of the bush, and said, Moses, Moses, And he said, Here am I.
And He said, Do not draw near to this place: put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground.
“Moreover He said, I am the God of thy father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. And Moses hid his face: for he was afraid to look upon God.” Exodus 3:2-6
When Isaiah saw the Lord
“In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and the train of His robe filled the temple.
“Above it stood the seraphims: each one had six wings: with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he did fly.
“And one cried unto another and said , Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord of hosts: the whole earth is full of His glory
“And the posts of the door were shaken at the voice of Him that cried out, and the house was filled with smoke.
“Then said I, Woe is me! For I am destroyed; because I am a man of unclean lips and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King of the Lord of hosts.” Isaiah 6:1-5
Ezekiel’s vision of the Lord and the “wheels within wheels”
“As the appearance of the rainbow that is in the cloud in the day of rain, so was the appearance of the brightness round about (God). This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the Lord. And when I saw it, I fell upon my face, and I hear a voice of one that spake.
“And He said unto me, Son of man, stand upon thy feet, and I will speak unto thee.” Ezekiel 1:28; 2:1
Daniel’s vision (in Daniel, Chapter 8)
God said, “And the vision of the evening and the morning which was told is true: wherefore seal thou up the vision; for it refers to many days in the future.
“And I Daniel fainted, and was sick certain days; afterward I rose to do the king’s business: and I was astonished at the vision, but none understood it.” Daniel 8:26,27
John in Vision
“And I turned to see the voice that spake with me. And being turned, I saw seven golden lampstands;
And in the midst of the seven lampstands, one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girded about the chest with a golden band.
His head and His hairs were white like wool, as white as snow: and His eyes were as a flame of fire;
“And His feet like unto fine brass, as if they were refined in a furnace, and His voice as the sound of many waters,
“And He had in His right hand seven stars: and out of His mouth went a sharp two-edged sword: and His countenance was as the sun shineth in His strength.
“And when I saw Him, I fell at His feet as dead.” Revelation 1:12-17
When God appears to human beings, they are so awestruck they fall on their face like dead men!
Everything Pertaining to God is HOLY!
God’s Name
“Holy and Reverend is His name.” Psalm 111:9
“In their setting of their threshold by my thresholds, and their post by my posts, and the wall between me and them, they have even defiled my holy name by their abominations that they have committed: wherefore I have consumed them in mine anger.” Ezekiel 43:8
“Glory ye in His holy name: let the heart of them rejoice that seek the Lord.” 1 Chronicles 16:10
“As for you, O house of Israel, thus saith the Lord God: Go ye, serve ye every one his idols, and hereafter also, If ye will not hearken unto Me: but profane ye My holy name no more with your gifts, and with your idols.” Ezekiel 20:39
God said, “And I scattered them among the heathen (nations – Unbelievers), and thy were dispersed through the countries; according to their way and according to their doings I judged them.
“And when they entered unto the heathen (unbelievers = nations), whither they went, they profaned My holy name, when they said to them, These are the people of the Lord, and are gone forth out of His land.” Ezekiel 36:20
“So will I make My holy name known in the midst of My people Israel: and I will not let them profane My holy name any more: and the heathen (nations – unbelievers) shall know that I am the Lord, the Holy One in Israel.” Ezekiel 39: 7
“Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain; for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh His name in vain.” Exodus 20:7
God’s Character
“The Lord is righteous in all His ways, and holy in all His works.” Psalm 145:17
“For the righteous LORD loveth righteousness; his countenance doth behold the upright.” Psalm 11:7
“The LORD is righteous: he hath cut asunder the cords of the wicked.” Psalm 129:4
“And I heard the angel of the waters say, Thou art righteous, O Lord, which art, and wast, and shalt be, because thou hast judged thus.” Rev 16:5
God’s Word
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. . .
“And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.” John 1:1,14
God’s Law - the Ten Commandments
“Wherefore the Law is holy, and the Commandment holy, and just and good.” Romans 7:12
God’s Sanctuary in the wilderness
“And thou shalt hang up the vail under the taches, that thou mayest bring in thither within the vail the ark of the testimony: and the vail shall divide unto you between the holy [place] and the most holy.” Exodus 26:33
“Ye shall keep my Sabbaths, and reverence My sanctuary: I am the Lord.” Lev 19:30
God’s sanctuary was so holy, that the High Priest could only go into the Most Holy Place once a year. And he had to have confessed all his sins. If he entered the Most Holy Place and he was not pure, he would die from the glory of the Lord’s presence about the Ark. So the High Priest had to wear a bell on his ankle so his steps could be heard. Also, they tied a rope around his ankle, so if he did die, other priests could pull him out without going into the Most Holy Place themselves, and risk death also.
And it shall be upon Aaron to minister: and his sound (the bell on his ankle) shall be heard when he goeth in unto the (Most) holy place before the LORD, and when he cometh out, that he die not. Ex 28:35
God’s Ark
“And there I will meet with thee, and I will commune with thee from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubims which are upon the ark of the testimony, of all [things] which I will give thee in commandment unto the children of Israel.” Exodus 25:22
“And the LORD said unto Moses, Speak unto Aaron thy brother, that he come not at all times into the holy place within the vail before the mercy seat, which is upon the ark; that he die not: for I will appear in the cloud upon the mercy seat.” Lev. 16:2
The Ark of God was holy. No one was to touch it. The ark was to be carried by the priests holding onto staves that went through rings on the sides of the ark. But the Israelites had lost sight of God’s commands and were moving the Ark on an ox cart just like normal merchandise. When the oxen lost their footing and the Ark started slipping off the cart, Uzzah touched it, and he died.
“And when they came to Nachon's threshing floor, Uzzah put forth his hand to the ark of God, and took hold of it; for the oxen shook it.
“And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Uzzah; and God smote him there for his error; and there he died by the ark of God.”2 Sam 6:6,7
God’s Temple in Jerusalem
‘And Jesus said unto them that sold doves, Take these things hence; make not my Father's house an house of merchandise.’ John 2:16
God’s Seventh-day (Saturday) Sabbath
“And he said unto them, This is that which the LORD hath said,
To morrow is the rest of the holy Sabbath unto the LORD: bake that which ye will bake today, and seethe that ye will seethe; and that which remaineth over lay up for you to be kept until the morning.” Ex 16:23
“Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.
“Six days shalt thou labor, and do all thy work:
“But the seventh day is the Sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant (employee), nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger (visitor) that is within thy gates:
“For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day, and hallowed it (made it holy).” Exodus 20:8-11
“Six days shall work be done, but on the seventh day there shall be to you an holy day, a sabbath of rest to the LORD: whosoever doeth work therein shall be put to death.” Ex 35:2
“And madest known unto them thy holy Sabbath, and commandest them precepts, statutes, and laws, by the hand of Moses thy servant.” Neh 9:14
“If thou turn away thy foot from the Sabbath, from doing thy pleasure on my holy day; and call the Sabbath a delight, the holy of the LORD, honourable; and shalt honour him, not doing thine own ways, nor finding thine own pleasure, nor speaking thine own words.” Isa 58:13
“Ye shall keep the Sabbath therefore; for it is holy unto you: every one that defileth it shall surely be put to death: for whosoever doeth any work therein, that soul shall be cut off from among his people. Ex 31:14
God’s true people are to be holy
God says: “Ye shall be holy; for I am holy.” Lev. 11:44
“For thou art an holy people unto the Lord thy God: the Lord thy God hath chosen thee to be a special people unto Himself, above all people that are upon the face of he earth.”
“The Lord did not set His love upon you, nor choose you because ye were more in number than any people: for ye were the fewest of all people:
“But because the Lord loved you, and because He would keep the oath which He had sworn unto your fathers, hath the Lord brought you out with a mighty hand, and redeemed you out of the house of bondage (sin), from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt (symbolic for sin). Deut 7:6-8
The Israel of today – the true followers of Christ – are, indeed, few in number.
Who are the “chosen” of God?
“Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ.” Galatians 3:16
“And if ye [be] Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.” Gal. 3:29
The “chosen” of God are the true followers of Jesus Christ!
Therefore we must be holy:
“Be ye holy; for I am holy.” 1 Peter 1:16
“You shall be perfect; even as your Father in heaven is perfect.”
Matt. 5:48
We must be:
Holy in our dress
“In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array.” 1 Timothy 2:9
Women and girls are to be dressed modestly at all times, without ostentation. Boys and young men should not be dressed in sloppy clothes, or like thugs. And both men and women should be dressed cleanly and neatly.
The name of Jesus/God is holy and should not be plastered on T-shirts or other clothing. If the name of Jesus is on your T-shirt, then He is not in your heart. Because God’s name is HOLY and should not be profaned!
Holy in our conduct
“Only let your conduct be as it becometh the gospel of Christ.” Phil 1:27
“That ye put off concerning the former conduct of the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts.” Eph 4:22
“Let your conduct be without covetousness: and be content with such things as you have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.” Hebrews 13:5
“But as He which has called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conduct.” 1 Peter 1:15
“But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.
“Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conduct and godliness.”
2 Peter 3:10,11
Holy in our conversation
“Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity.
“Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.” Psalms 19:14
“The tongue of the just is as choice silver: the heart of the wicked is little worth.” Prov. 10:20
“The mouth of the just bringeth forth wisdom: but the froward tongue shall be cut out.” Prov 10:31
“The tongue of the wise useth knowledge aright: but the mouth of fools poureth out foolishness.
“Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.” Prov 18:21
“Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue keepeth his soul from troubles.” Prov 21:23“. . .that which cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a man.” Matt 15:11
“And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body.” James 3:6
Holy in our praise of God
“But when ye pray (or praise), use not vain repetitions, as the heathen [do]: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.” Matt 6:7
Holy in our worship of God
“Worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness.” 1 Chron 16:29
“Fear (Reverence) God, and give glory to Him. . .” Rev 14:7
“God is greatly to be feared (reverenced) in the assembly of the saints, and to be had in reverence of all them that are about Him.” Psalm 89:7
“Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear.” Hebrews 12:28
“The fear (reverence) of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding. Prov. 9:10
Holy in what we feed our body – because we are God’s “temple”
“And behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of the tree yielding seed, to you it shall be for food.” Genesis 1:29
“Then said the Lord unto Moses, Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you, and the people shall go out and gather a portion for every day, that I may test them, whether they will walk in My law, or not.” Exodus 16:4
“And the wolf and the lamb shall feed together, and the lion shall eat straw like the bullock. . .” Isaiah 65:25
God’s IDEAL diet is a vegan vegetarian diet - the one He gave in the Garden of Eden, the one He gave to the Israelites during the forty years in the wilderness, and the one we will eat in heaven and the earth made new.
Holy in the way we treat our body – because we are God’s “temple”
“What? Know ye not that your body is the temple of God’s Breath of Holiness (mistranslated “Holy Spirit”) which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? 1 Cor 6:19
“If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which [temple] ye are.” 1 Cor 3:17
Keep His Holy Law – the Ten Commandments
“If you love Me, keep My Commandments.” John 14:15
“Therefore shall ye keep My commandments, and do them: I am the Lord.” Lev 22:31
“And if thou wilt walk in My ways, to keep My statutes and My commandments. . . then I will lengthen thy days.” 1 Kings 3:14
“O that there were such an heart in them, that they would fear Me, and keep all My commandments always, that it might be well with them, and with their children forever! Deut 5:29
“If ye keep My commandments, ye shall abide in My love; even as I have kept My Father’s commandments, and abide in His love.” John 15:10
“That ye may remember, and do all my commandments, and be holy unto your God.” Numbers 15:40
God requires that we be holy in every aspect of our lives. We must have spiritual discernment to understand the difference between good and evil, between following God rather than compromising with the world, between the clean and the unclean.
“And they shall teach my people the difference between the holy and profane, and cause them to discern between the unclean and the clean.” Ez 44:23
“And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” Romans 12:2
When we become a child of God, we are transformed. We become a New Creature in Christ.
“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” 2 Cor 5:17
“And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.” Revelation 21:5
Conclusion: We worship a Holy God by being Holy in our dress, in our conduct, in our conversation, in our praise of God, in our worship of our Holy and Reverend God, in how we feed our body and treat God’s “temple”, and by keeping His Holy Law – the Ten Commandments,
How Does One Worship an unholy god –
How Does One Worship the Devil?
the DevilThe first time we find Satan, the Adversary, mentioned in the Bible is in Genesis 3:1-5 where Satan puts forth his two false doctrines that virtually the entire Christian world has embraced.
“Now the serpent was more cunning than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?
“And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden:
“But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die.
“And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die:
“For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as god, knowing good and evil.”
Genesis 3:1-5Satan’s False Doctrine #1: “Ye shall not surely die.”
God had told Adam the following”
“And the Lord God commanded the man saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat”
“But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof, dying thou shalt die.” Genesis 2:16,17
God had said that if Adam and Eve ate of the tree, they would die. But Satan said that Adam and Eve would not die. The “Christian Church” believes that when a person “dies”, he does not really die. He just changes form and glides off to heaven – fully conscious – in spirit form.
But God says that when a person is dead, he has no consciousness. He knows nothing and goes nowhere except to the grave. (See “What Happens When We Die?” at www.goodnewsaboutgod.com)
Satan’s False Doctrine #2: “Ye shall be as god!”
Satan told Adam and Eve that if they sinned – by eating of the forbidden tree – they would become as god. Thus sinning and rejection of God, according to Satan, allows one to become his own god.
This is the false doctrine of “free will” that the “Christian Church” has embraced.
The Bible tells us that
God “worketh all things after the counsel of His own will.” Ephesians 1:11
There is only ONE “Free will” in the universe, and that is God’s. God is in charge of everything and everyone. If we have “free will” and God has “free will”, what happens when the two “wills” clash? Who wins? If man wins, then God is dethroned and we become our own god. But if God always wins, then we don’t have free will. The Potter owns the clay vessel. The Potter has the right to do what He wishes with the clay vessel.
By embracing these two False Doctrines, the Doctrines promoted by Satan, himself, in the Garden of Eden, the “Christian” church has given its allegiance to Satan.
Worshiping the Golden Calf
“And when the people saw that Moses delayed to come down out of the mount, the people gathered themselves together unto Aaron, and said unto him, Up, make us a god that shall go before us; for as for this Moses, the man that brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him.
“And Aaron said unto them, Break off the golden earrings that are in the ears of your wives, of your sons, and your daughters, and bring them unto me.
“And all the people broke off the golden earrings that were in their ears, and brought them unto Aaron.
“And he received them at their hand, and fashioned it with a graving tool, after he had made it a molten calf; and they said, These be thy gods, O Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt.
“And when Aaron saw it, he built an altar before it; and Aaron made a proclamation, and said, Tomorrow is a feast to the Lord.
“And they rose up early on the morrow, and offered burnt offerings, and brought peace offerings: and the people sat down to eat and to drink, and rose up to play.
“And the Lord said unto Moses, Go get thee down: for thy people, which thou brought out of the land of Egypt, have corrupted themselves:
“They have turned aside quickly out of the way which I commanded them: they have made them a molten calf and have worshipped it, and have sacrificed thereunto, and said, These be thy gods, O Israel, which have brought thee up out of the land of Egypt.
“And the Lord said unto Moses, I have seen this people, and behold it is a stiffnecked (stubborn) people,
“Now therefore, let Me alone, that My wrath may wax hot against them, and that I May destroy them; and I will make of thee a great nation.” Exodus 32:1-11
“And Moses turned, and went down from the mount, and the two tables of the testimony were in his hand: the tables were written on both their sides; on the one side and on the other were they written.
“And the tables were the work of God, and the writing was the writing of God, graven upon the tables.
“And when Joshua heard the noise of the people as they shouted, he said unto Moses; There is a noise of war in the camp.
“And he said, It is not the voice of them that shout for mastery, neither is it the voice of them that cry for being overcome: but the noise of them that sing do I hear.
“And it came to pass, as soon as he came nigh unto the camp that he saw the calf, and the dancing: and Moses’ anger waxed hot, and he cast the tables out of his hands, and broke them beneath the mount.
“And he took the calf which they had made, and burnt it in the fire, and ground it to powders, and scattered it upon the water, and made the children of Israel drink of it.
“And Moses said unto Aaron, What did this people unto thee, that thou hast brought so great a sin upon them?
“And Aaron said, Let not the anger of my lord wax hot: thou knowest the people, that they are set on evil.
“For they said unto me, Make us gods, which shall go before us for as for this Moses, the man that brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we don’t know what has become of him.
“And I said unto them, Whosoever has any gold, let them break it off. So they gave it to me: then I cast it into the fire, and there came out this calf.
“And when Moses saw that the people were naked; (for Aaron had made them naked unto their shame among their enemies:
“Then Moses stood in the gate of the camp, and said, Who is on the Lord’s side? Let him come unto me. And all the sons of Levi gathered themselves together unto him.
“And he said unto them, Thus saith the Lord God of Israel, Put every man his sword by his side, and go in and out from gate to gate throughout the camp, and slay every man his brother, and every man his companion, and every man his neighbour.
“And the children of Levi did according to the word of Moses: and there fell of the people that day about three thousand men.
“And it came to pass on the morrow, that Moses said unto the people, Ye have sinned a great sin: and now I will go up unto the Lord: perhaps I can make an atonement for your sin. . .
“And the Lord plagued the people, because they made the calf, which Aaron made.” Exodus 32:15-30, 35.
Let’s analyze what went on here:
1. The Israelites called on Aaron to “make them a god” that would be made with human hands – a god of their own choosing. They were worshiping a creature instead of worshiping their Creator. Aaron was the High Priest. The Israelites were asking the Leader (priest or minister) of the supposed followers of God, to make them an idol – a religion that was man-made and not from God.
And Aaron was more than willing to do it.
2. The idol was not only man-made but it was made with gold – their own wealth.
3. The Israelites believed that Moses – a man – brought them out of the land of Egypt, rather than giving God the glory.
4. The adult women, and the young men and women, Israelites that had just come out of 400 years of paganism in Egypt, were all wearing earrings.
5. They replaced God with the idol made with human hands.
6. Aaron made an altar in front of the idol and they worshiped it.
7. Aaron, a human being, called for a “feast to the Lord” instead of letting God determine the times of His own “feasts.”
8. The Israelites’ worship was not reverent, calm and sober. It was loud “noise” – it sounded like they were in a war - and it involved eating, drinking and “playing.” It was raucous rather than sedate and serious.
9. God was angry with this stiffnecked, stubborn people and was willing to have them reap what they had sown.
10. Their singing was loud and raucous.
Their singing was not melodious and reverent. It may well have been synonymous with what is now going on in the churches.
11. They were dancing.
Their dancing was apparently also considered irreverent by Moses.
12. They were naked.
13. Those who participated in this type of “worship” were slain
“Christian” young women are dressing increasingly immodestly, skimpy clothes showing their abdomen, piercing their naval, and many other parts of their body. This does not glorify a holy God.
In voodoo, the men wear almost nothing except a G-string. The women are bare-breasted. The more naked a civilization gets, the farther it has wandered from God, and the closer it is to the Devil.
Elijah and the Pagan priests on Mt. Carmel
“And it came to pass, when Ahab (King of Israel) saw Elijah, that Ahab said unto him, Are you he that troubleth Israel?
“And Elijah answered, I have not troubled Israel: but you, and your father’s house, in that you have forsaken the commandments of the Lord and you have followed Baalim.
“Now therefore send, and gather to me all Israel unto mount Carmel, and the prophets of Baal four hundred and fifty, and the prophets of the groves (for Asheroth, a Canaanite goddess) four hundred, which are provided for by Jezebel.
“So Ahab sent unto all the children of Israel, and gathered the prophets together unto mount Carmel.
“And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, How long will you falter between two opinions? If the Lord be God, follow Him, but if Baal, then follow him. And the people answered him not a word.
Then Elijah proposed a “face-off” between himself and the 450 prophets of Baal. Each side was to build an altar to sacrifice a bullock.
“And call ye on the name of your gods, and I will call on the name of the Lord: and the God that answereth by fire, let Him be God. And all the people answered and said, It is well spoken. . .
“And they (the prophets of Baal) took the bullock which was given them, and they dressed it, and called on the name of Baal from morning even until noon, saying, O Baal, answer us. But there was no voice, nor any that answered. And they leaped in dancing around the altar which was made.
“And it came to pass at noon, that Elijah mocked them, and said, Cry with a loud voice: for he is a god; either he is meditating, or he is busy, or he is on a journey, or perhaps he is asleep, and must be awakened.
“And they cried out loud, and cut themselves after their manner with knives and swords, till the blood gushed out upon them.
The gods of Baal never answered. The demonic conduct of the priests of Baal was in major contrast to that of Elijah who solemnly and reverently called on God, saying,
“Lord God of Abraham, Isaac, and of Israel, let it be known this day that thou art God in Israel, and that I am Thy servant, and that I have done all these things at Thy word.
“Hear me, O Lord, hear me, that this people may know that Thou art the Lord God, and that thou hast turned their heart back again.
“Then the fire of the Lord fell, and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood, and the stones, and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench.” 1 Kings 18:17-38
“And when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces; and they said, The Lord, He is God: the Lord, He is God.
“And Elijah said unto them, Seize the prophets of Baal; let not one of them escape. And they took them: and Elijah brought them down to the brook Kishon and slew them there.
Analysis of Baal (Devil) worship:
1. They leapt and dance
2. They cried out loud
3. They cut (pierced) themselves
4. All who worshiped in that manner were slainThe wicked abominations in the house of Israel shown to Ezekiel
“Then He (God) said unto me, Son of man, lift up thine eyes now the way toward the north. So I lifted up mine eyes the way toward the north, and behold northward at the gate of the altar this image of jealousy in the entrance.
“He said furthermore unto me, Son of man, seest thou what they do? Even the great abominations that the house of Israel committeth here that I should go far off from my sanctuary. But turn thee, yet again, and thou shalt see greater abominations.
“And He brought me to the door of the court; and when I looked, behold a hole in the wall.
“Then said He unto me, Son of man, dig now in the wall: and when I had digged in the wall, behold a door.
“And He said unto me, Go in and behold the wicked abominations that they do here.
“So I went in and saw; and behold every form of creeping things and abominable beasts, and all the idols of the house of Israel carved upon the wall round about
“And there stood before them seventy men of the elders of the house of Israel, and in the midst of them stood Jaazaniah the son of Shaphan, with every man his censer in his hand; and a thick cloud of incense went up.
“Then said He unto me, Son of man, have you seen what the elders of the house of Israel do in the dark, every man in the room of his idols? For they say, “The Lord seeth us not; the Lord has forsaken the earth.”
“He said also unto me, Turn thee yet again, and thou shalt see greater abominations that they do.
“Then He brought me to the door of the gate of the Lord’s and behold, there sat women weeping for Tammuz (a Sumerian fertility god similar to the Greek god, Adonis)
“Then said He unto me, Hast thou seen this, O son of man? Turn thee yet again, and thou shalt see greater abominations than these.
“And He brought me into the inner court of the Lord’s house, and behold, at the door of the temple of the Lord, between the porch and the altar, were about five and twenty men, with their backs toward the temple of the Lord, and their faces toward the east; and they worshipped the sun toward the east. (worshiping the sun god – worshiping on Sun-day)
“Then He said unto me, Hast thou seen this O son of man? Is it a trivial thing to the house of Judah that they commit the abominations which they commit here? For they have filled the land with violence, and have returned to provoke Me to anger: and lo, they put the branch to their nose.
“Therefore will I also deal in fury: mine eye shall not spare neither will I have pity: and though they cry in My ears with a loud voice, yet will I not hear them.
“He cried also in my hearing with a loud voice, saying, Let them that have charge over the city to draw near, even every man with his deadly weapon in his hand.
“And behold, six men came from the way of the upper gate, which faces toward the north, and every man with his battle ax in his hand: and one man among them was clothed with linen, with a writer’s inkhorn by his side: and they went in, and stood beside the brazen altar:
“And the glory of the God of Israel was gone up from the cherub whereupon he was, to the threshold of the temple. And he called to the man clothed with linen, which had the writer’s inkhorn by his side”
“And the Lord said unto him, Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and put a mark upon the foreheads of the men that sigh and that cry over all the abominations that be done in the midst thereof (those that do not participate in the abominations).
“And to the others he said, in my hearing, Go ye after him through the city and kill: let not your eye spare, neither have ye pity;
“Slay to destruction old and young, both maids, and little children, and women: but come not near any man upon whom is the mark: and begin at my temple. Then they began at the elders which were before the temple.
“And he said unto them, Defile the temple, and fill the courts with the slain: go ye forth. And they went forth, and slew in the city.
“And it came to pass, while they were slaying them, and I was left alone, that I fell upon my face, and cried, and said, Ah Lord God! Wilt Thou destroy all the remnant of Israel in thy pouring out of Thy fury upon Jerusalem?
“Then said He unto me, The iniquity of the house of Israel and Judah is exceeding great, and the land is full of bloodshed, and the city full of perverseness for they say, The Lord has forsaken the earth, and the Lord seeth not.
“And as for Me also, Mine eye shall not spare, neither will I have pity, but I will repay their way upon their head.” Ezekiel 8:5-18; 9:1-10
Analysis:
1. Abominations were being committed in the temple of the Lord
2. The elders (leaders) of the temple were worshiping beasts and creeping things, and idols
3. Women were weeping for Tammuz, the pagan god signified by a T – or a “Cross” – an icon found in virtually ALL “Christian” churches
4. Those who claimed to worship God were worshiping the Sun god – as the “Christian” church worships on Sun-day, rather than worshiping on the “day of the Lord” – the Seventh day (Saturday) Sabbath.
5. They are all slain for their abominationsThe Demon-Possessed Man
“And they came over unto the other side of the sea, into the country of the Gadarenes.
“And when he was come out of the ship, immediately there met Him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit.
“Who had his dwelling among the tombs: and no man could bind him, no, not with chains:
“Because that he had been often bound with shackles and chains, and the chains had been pulled apart by him, and the shackles broken in pieces: neither could any man tame him.
“And always, night and day, he was in the mountains, and in the tombs, crying, and cutting himself with stones. (“And he wore no clothes” – Luke 8:27)
“But when he saw Jesus afar off, he ran and worshipped him.
“And cried with a loud voice, and said, “What have I to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of the most high God? I implore thee by God, that thou torment me not.
“For He said unto him, Come out of the man, thou unclean spirit.
“And He asked him, What is thy name? And he answered, saying, My name is Legion: for we are many.
“And he begged him earnestly that He would not send them away out of the country.
“Now there was there near unto the mountains a great herd of swine feeding.
“And all the demons begged Him, saying, Send us into the swine, that we may enter into them.
“And forth with Jesus gave them permission. And the unclean spirits went out, and entered into the swine: and the herd ran violently down a steep place into the sea, (they were about two thousand) and were drowned in the sea.
“And they that fed the swine fled, and told it in the city; and in the country; And they went out to see what it was that had happened.
“And they came to Jesus, and see Him that was possessed with the demons, and had the legion, sitting, and clothed, and in his right mind: and they were afraid.” Mark 5:1-15
Analysis:
1. The man who was demon-possessed was out of control and acting violently. This is often seen with many who claim to be “Christians” who believe they have “the spirit” who are rolling around on the floor out of control.
2. The demon-possessed man was naked. Again, we see that those who worship God are modestly clothed. The more naked a person gets, the closer he or she gets to demonic voodoo.
3. The demon-possessed man lived among the tombs – obsessed with death and things associated with death – as are many rock stars and their rock lyrics.
4. The demon-possessed man was crying out and cutting himself – a demonic practice found more and more in young people, including “Christian” young people (cutting and piercing and tattooing).
5. He acknowledged Jesus as “the Son of the most high God” even when he was still possessed, showing that just using the Lord’s name does not mean that one is a true follower of Jesus. One can be possessed with demons and still claim (erroneously) to be a follower of Christ. (See “Speaking in Tongues” at www.goodnewsaboutgod.com)
6. After Jesus cast out the demons, the man was sitting calmly, clothed, and in his right mind. When one is a follower of the Lord, he or she is modestly clothed, and in his or her right mind. One is NOT out of control, not knowing what he or she is saying – as are those who are “speaking in tongues.”
The man with the demon-possessed son
“And one of the multitude answered and said, Master, I have brought unto Thee my son, which hath a dumb spirit;
“And wheresoever he seizes him, he throws him down, and he foameth and gnasheth with his teeth, and becomes rigid (as some do when they are “speaking in tongues”). . . And they brought him to Jesus, and when he saw Him, straightaway the spirit convulsed him; and he fell on the ground (as many do when they are “slain in the spirit”), and wallowed foaming at the mouth.
And Jesus asked his father, How long is it ago since this came unto him? And he said, From childhood.
“And oft times it hath cast him into the fire (it is the Devil – NOT Christ – who casts people into the fire), and into the waters, to destroy him (Satan is the destroyer – NOT God); but if thou canst do anything, have compassion on us and help us.
“Jesus said unto him, “If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believes. (In order to be healed, one MUST believe that God WILL do what He has already promised to do – “Heal ALL our diseases” IF we follow HIS ways, and not the ways of “man” (doctors).
“And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief.
“When Jesus saw that the people came running together, He rebuked the evil spirit, saying unto him, Thou dumb and deaf spirit, I command thee, come out of him, and enter no more into him.
“And the spirit cried, and convulsed him severely, and came out of him: and he was as one dead: insomuch that many said, He is dead.
“But Jesus took him by the hand, and lifted him up; and he arose.” Mark 9:17-27
Analysis:
1. Demon-possessed boy was thrown down by the demons (as Benny Hinn and other “healers” “throw people down”)
2. Demon-possessed boy became rigid – as many do who are contorting when they are “slain in the spirit”
3. Demon-possessed boy was “wallowing” as many do who are “slain in the spirit”
4. The Demons cast the boy into the fire. It is the Devil who casts people into the fire – NOT God.
5. The Demons wanted to destroy the boy. It is the Devil who is the Destroyer – NOT God.
Worshiping God as a “man” – worshiping a creature instead of the Creator – leads to homosexuality, lesbianism and many other types of sin.
In Romans, Chapter One, Paul writes of God’s wrath:
“For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness. . .
“Because when they knew God, they glorified Him not as God, neither were they thankful; but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish heart was darkened.
“Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools.
“And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man. . . .
“Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves:
“Who exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshipped and served the creation (earth-worship, environmentalism) more than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.
“For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did exchange the natural use for that which is against nature (Lesbianism)
“Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another, men with men working that which is shameful and receiving in themselves that recompense of their error which was due (Homosexuality and all its diseases: one reaps what he has sown).
“And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting;
“Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness, full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness, whisperers,
“Backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,
“Without understanding, covenant breakers, without natural affection, unforgiving, unmerciful
“Who knowing the righteous judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but approve of them that do them.” Romans 1:18, 21-32
Analysis:
1. When “Christians” worship God without reverence and humility, when they worship God as though He were a mere man (“Jesus – our surfing buddy”), they become debased and degenerate.
2. The result is approval of homosexuality and lesbianism, something that is rapidly happening in many “Christian” churches.
3. The churches are becoming involved in “earth worship” by celebrating “Earth day”
4. “Christian” young people are becoming disobedient to parents
Many “Christians” are filled with pride, boasters, without natural affection, unforgiving, unmerciful.Woman fortune-teller following disciples
“And it came to pass, as we went to prayer, a certain damsel possessed with a spirit of divination met us, which brought her masters much gain by her fortune-telling:
“The same followed Paul and us, and cried, saying, These men are the servants of the most high God, which show unto us the way of salvation.
“And this she did for many days. But Paul, being greatly annoyed , turned and said to the spirit, I command thee in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her. And he came out in the same hour.
“And when her masters saw that the hope of their gains was gone, they seized Paul and Silas, and dragged them into the marketplace unto the authorities.” Acts 16:16-19
Analysis:
1. This woman was obviously demon-possessed. She had a spirit of divination, which the Bible defines as an abomination. God said that none should be allowed in Israel.
2. She was following Paul and the others, crying out the “truth” – that “these men are servants of the most high God, which show unto us the way of salvation.” This documents that it is possible to say the right things about God and use the name of Jesus, and still be of the Devil. Just because one uses the name of Jesus, or just because song lyrics use the name of Jesus, does not mean that the person OR the lyrics are actually of the Lord. They can still be of the Devil – just like this woman.
3. Paul cast our her demon spirit which caused great anger among her handlers, who were making money off her fortune-telling.Music can be Hypnotic
When King Nebuchadnezzar built his image of gold in Babylon, all the high officials in the government were called together to bow down to it, to show their allegiance to the king. Shadrach, Meschach and Abednego were worshipers of God and would not bow down to the king’s golden image.
“The herald cried loudly, To you it is commanded, O people, nations, and languages,
“That at the time you hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, lyre, psaltery, pipes, and all kinds of music, you will fall down and worship the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king has set up.” Daniel 3:4,5
Analysis:
1. Music was used by King Nebuchadnezzar as a means of promoting worship of an idol – representing the worship of a man – the king.
2. Music can be hypnotic.
3. Music can control the mind for evil purposes.
Other things God defines as abominations:
Eating wrong things: Leviticus, Chapter 11
Homosexuality: Leviticus 18:22; 20:13
Worshiping idols: Deut 7:25
Eating blood with the flesh: Deut 13:23
Associating with spiritualists, psychics, witchcraft, diviners, fortune tellers, etc. Deut 18:10-12
Imperfect weights and measure to cheat people: (false balances) Deut 25:13,14, Prov 11:1
Being froward (haughty): Prov 3:32
“A proud look, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, a false witness that speaks lies. Prov 6:16-19
“He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer shall be an abomination.” Proverbs 28:9
Conclusion:
How does one worship the Devil?
1. By embracing the false doctrine, straight from the mouth of Satan, that when a person dies, he really doesn’t die. He just changes form and drifts off to heaven, fully conscious, in spirit form.
2. By embracing the false doctrine, straight from the mouth of Satan, that human beings have free will, a doctrine that dethrones the God of the Bible, and man becomes his own god.
3. By worshiping gold (our wealth and possessions) above God, including withholding from God our tithe that He requires.
4. By worshiping the work of our own hands – whatever we accomplish in this life that often becomes more important to us than our heavenly Father.
5. By cutting or piercing our body
6. By leaping, dancing and yelling to our “god.”
7. By worshiping the pagan sun god. By worshiping on the pagan day of the sun – Sunday – rather than on God’s holy Sabbath day – Saturday.
8. By having crosses as icons because they are signs of the pagan god Tammuz. Jesus was crucified, not on a cross, but on a pole.
9. By rolling around on the floor, out of control, like the demon-possessed man. One of the “fruits of the spirit of God” is Self Control.
10. By behaving in the way that the demon-possessed son behaved: convulsing and rolling around on the floor thinking that is “religious.”
11. By worshiping God as a “man” – not giving God the respect that is due a Holy God.
12. By endorsing homosexuality and lesbianism.
13. By the approval of the use of psychics and those who foretell the future.
14. By the use in “Christian” services of music that is repetitive, hypnotic, and is derived from voodoo.
15. By eating blood with flesh.
16. By cheating one’s fellowman in business, or in any other way.
17. By turning away from the Law – the Ten Commandments – and not keeping ALL of them, including the Fourth Commandment – the Seventh-day (Saturday) Sabbath.