Away With Idols!

Away With Idols!

“He who sacrifices to any god, except to the Lord only, he shall be utterly destroyed.” Ex. 22:20.

These are clear and powerful words. The Lord watches over us with zeal and lets the blessings and curses overtake us according to our heart’s attitude. David says, “Their sorrows shall be multiplied who hasten after another god.” Ps. 16:4. Why are you beset by so many sorrows and anxieties? What is this heaviness and pressure that comes over you? Why are you not glad and thankful in your innermost heart? Test yourself thoroughly, and you will discover that all the things you worship outside of Christ are the cause of it all. The darkness of the curse has entered your life. All these hopes you have outside of Christ cause you so much pain as they crumble one by one. If you were to sacrifice only to the Lord and hope only in Him and expect your reward from Him, there would be nothing that could disturb the joy and peace in your heart, and disappointments would forever be a thing of the past.

“You know that you were Gentiles, carried away to these dumb idols, however you were led. Therefore I make known to you that no one speaking by the Spirit of God calls Jesus accursed, and no one can say that Jesus is Lord except by the Holy Spirit.” 1 Cor. 12:2-3. Multitudes of things outside of Christ can exercise a compelling power over us and rule over us if we are not in the Holy Spirit. These dumb things have such a compelling power because evil spirits are behind them.

Paul says in 1 Corinthians 10:19-20: “What am I saying then? That an idol is anything, or what is offered to idols is anything? But I say that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice they sacrifice to demons and not to God, and I do not want you to have fellowship with demons.” It is not difficult to see that people have fellowship with evil spirits. You can see it when they are bitter and disappointed and their tempers flare for the sake of the things of this earth.

My father and Brother Aslaksen once visited a woman who had been lame and bedridden for about eight years. They told her that she could be at peace with God and have it good in her heart, in all quietness. But she complained that she had so many temptations and difficulties. She was lying there vexed because the tablecloth was not straight, the pictures on the wall were not quite straight, the chairs were not in the exact place where they were supposed to be, and there were some withered leaves on the flowers, etc. They realized right away that this was a special case. They pulled at the tablecloth, put the chairs upside down, swung the pictures around, and then had a powerful prayer meeting. The woman awoke from her spiritual apathy and came to herself just like the prodigal son. She was healed in spirit and in body so that she was able to travel long distances to conferences and meetings. Many people had visited her throughout the years and comforted her as best as they could, but now she was radically awakened from her sin. The demons that had bound and plagued her for so many years were driven away, and she was set free—truly liberated and as happy as a bird that has been released from its snare. There are many such bound people around who need to be liberated and awakened to an acknowledgment. Jesus has come into the world to release those who are bound and to set the captives free.

Jesus was always ready to fight these evil spirits. To Peter He said, “Get behind Me, Satan!” Be on guard at home and away from home. Satan managed to use Peter, and he is certainly able to use all kinds of people around you to get you to fall. We must put on the full armor of God and fight in the power of the Lord against the spiritual hosts of wickedness in heavenly places. Be on guard! Perhaps the spirits of vanity and pride have already entered your home because you have not been watchful. Maybe, in your blindness, you encourage your children to hope for some greatness in this world, and you are not even aware that you are thereby surrendering them to evil spirits. If a person is stingy, it is because he is possessed by evil spirits, for it is godly to give. Paul says that God did not give us the spirit of discouragement. Who is it then who gives this terrible spirit? It is the devil himself, who is more than ready to give it to anyone who is willing to receive it. God gives us the Spirit of power, love, and a sound mind, but how many people have this blessed Spirit constantly dwelling in them? If we have received this Spirit, then let us wage a holy war to keep it.

Our body is to be a temple of the Holy Spirit and not a place for all kinds of evil spirits to congregate.

The elders of Israel came to inquire of the Lord, but He would not answer them because they harbored idols in their hearts. Many people go around and ask for advice, wanting to know all kinds of things. They can attend meetings and Bible studies, as well as read the Bible from morning till evening, but they will never receive light or come to any understanding until the idols have been removed from their hearts. God reveals His counsel and lets His light shine only in the purity of the heart. Therefore, cast out the idols from your heart, and let the King of Glory enter in. You will in no way miss the old occupants.