You shall not worship the LORD your God in that way, for every abominable thing that the LORD hates they have done for their gods, for they even burn their sons and their daughters in the fire to their gods. Deuteronomy 12:31 (ESV)
This still happens today through the wicked sin ob abortion where children are sacrificed on the alter of convenience to the gods of comfort and choice.
you shall not listen to the words of that prophet or that dreamer of dreams. For the LORD your God is testing you, to know whether you love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul. Deuteronomy 13:3 (ESV)
We need to be on our guard against any dream, vision, declaration, teaching or movement which goes against God’s word. Even if there are apparent supernatural results, these may simply be the Lord testing the covenant heart of his people to see if we love him or signs and wonders. This is picked up in the New Testament in Matthew 12:39, Galatians 1:8-9 and 1 John 4:1-6
For you are a people holy to the LORD your God, and the LORD has chosen you to be a people for his treasured possession, out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth. Deuteronomy 14:2 (ESV)
There is no doubt that Israel are Gods special chosen people, elected by God unlike any other nation. This is also true of the church, where those elected and chosen by God are saved. Those chosen by God should find confidence, increased faith and security knowing that they have become God’s treasured possessions. See 1 Peter 2:9
But we have renounced disgraceful, underhanded ways. We refuse to practice cunning or to tamper with God’s word, but by the open statement of the truth we would commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience in the sight of God. 2 Corinthians 4:2 (ESV)
As Paul says we do not need any gimmicks, tricks or cunning to declare the truth of the gospel. Instead we must declare the truth boldly and then leave it to the God given conscience of the hearers and the work of the Holy Spirit to lead sinners to repentance
In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. 2 Corinthians 4:4 (ESV)
Our fight is one for the minds of men, because Christianity is not a religion that asks for the mind to be empty or discarded but to be transformed, renewed, enlightened and fed. We fight the devils schemes which he uses to keep the unbelieving from seeing the light of the Gospel and the glory of Jesus. The devil will fill the minds of unbelievers with lying Philosophies, theories and beliefs, which stand as strongholds against the truth. The devil is not a real god but the ultimate example of a false god who was ultimately defeated at the cross and God will soon crush him under our feet. Romans 16:20
For with you is the fountain of life; in your light do we see light. Psalm 36:9 (ESV)
Jesus is both the fountain of life, giving life and the true light that gives light as mentioned in John 1:9, 4:10-14 and 5:26. In the light given by Gods word we see the truth.
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