Bible Studies

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 During much of the Old Testament dispensation, God spoke through human prophets, confirming their divine legitimacy by signs, and supernatural activity (e.g., Exodus 7: 10).

In some instances, God also made use of the urim and the thummim (a form of divination via casting lots), as means of providing divine guidance. As we will see, it is when the power source behind supernatural (miraculous) activity is not of God, that such activity becomes a deceptive tool in the hands of the devil.

Fortune-telling by making use of ungodly means becomes one of these tools. During the Old Testament dispensation, Satan attacked the spoken (that would later become the written) Word of God.

As did God, the devil provided his own spokespersons, mediums, and means of divination. As did God, the devil provided and promoted the “credibility” of his spokespersons through accompanying signs and activity. In some cases, producing the same overt activity as did the spokespersons of God (1).

When something new is created, it means that it didn’t previously exist.

But this does not mean that all of materials used in the creation process did not previously exist.

God used the “dust of the Earth” to create the first male human body. Later, God used the rib of the first human male body to create the first female body. From that point on, all human bodies, (with the Luke 1: 31, 35) exception) have come into this world through the combined reproductive elements (sperm/eggs) from an existing male and female body.

LThere is biological life in the developing fetus that is maintained by the biological life support system of the mother. It is not until the biologically alive fetus comes forth (or is taken by cesarean surgery) at birth, that the body receives it first breath of natural life, independent of the biological life support of the mother.

At the same moment, God places the soul, that He creates, in the body (Gen. 2: 7), resulting in a human being coming into the world.

The soul that God created is the part of us that lives on after the physical death of the body. We bury the bodily remains, but not the soul.
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Just as in the case of both Adam and Eve, the creation and implantation of the intangible soul continues to be the exclusive work of God (3) throughout the course of human history.

As of the Fall of Man, the tangible body dies (or will be raptured-1Thess. 4: 17) at its individually appointed time, but the soul, that God creates in His everlasting likeness (4), NEVER dies, but moves on into one of two eternal, irreversible environments.

To the extent that God allows, Satan has a long history of destroying many things that God created for the benefit of Man. But thank God, this is not the case with the saved soul of a born-again believer (5).

The battle to permanently secure salvation is over with the moment one is born again, but the daily battle of influence over our daily thoughts and actions, that determines the quality of one's post salvation spiritual life has only just begun. The quality of a born-again believer’s post salvation spiritual life does not alter WHERE (6) he or she will spend eternity, but does determine HOW (7) it will be experienced.

The extent of negative influence, that the devil has over us, is equal to the extent that we give an open ear and respond what he has to say. Had the woman (Eve) not listened to the serpent, the devil’s plan of destruction would not have been successful.

During our Lord’s intense temptations by the devil, Jesus did not dispute the devil’s claim to be able to reward prosperity to those who listen, follow his lead, and or worship him during their time here on Earth (8). To the extent that God allows, the devil was, and is, willing to provide earthly prosperity to those who are willing to worship him OR at the very least, live a life that leaves God out of the picture. It’s like being given the most comfortable and luxurious car on the market, but only to take us over a cliff at the end of the road.

Obviously, no true Christian is going to knowingly “worship” the devil, but many do in fact engage in many of the “religious” activities that accompany the false teachings that the devil has managed to plant and take root within the Christian Community. Many who claim to be “Christians” (followers of Christ) are not above living or doing things by the ways of the (devil’s) world in order to “get ahead” or to please themselves.

During the First Century, Church Age believers had the guidance of the spoken words of the Apostles, as well as many letters from the Apostles circulating among the developing local assemblies. Many of these letters became a part of the Canon of Scripture that we now call the New Testament portion of the Bible.

Especially after the Protestant Reformation, Church Age believers have the completed Canon of Scripture (the Bible) as the tangible means to secure daily spiritual guidance, as well as the means to obtain accurate information concerning major events still to take place here on Earth during future dispensations in the unfolding plan of God.

Just as he did during the Old Testament dispensation, Satan continues to attack the Word of God, here in the Church Age. He does so through persons he has deceived. Like the ancient Pharisees, they become the blind leading the blind (9).

The devil, the Eph. 6:12 forces of evil, and the people they have deceived, will do so with increased intensity and frequency in the end times just before the Rapture takes place (10). As in the past, sometimes he does so by raising questions about what God actually said, or is saying (11). Sometimes he raises questions about the significance and benefits of following what God has said, or is saying (12). Other times he flat out denies what God has said, or is saying (13), calling good evil, and evil good (14).

What all three tactics have in common is that all of them are the result of adding to, deleting from, perverting, or counterfeiting what God had or has to say. All of these diabolical strategies are designed to drive a deceptive wedge between God and His children.

God warns us to take care when choosing our source of guidance (15). Not knowing what God has said or is saying is what opens the door to seeking guidance from other sources. Among these other sources are the various forms of ungodly divination.

In nations where freedom of religion and speech is honored, false profits have a free hand to knowingly or unwittingly (16) promote the devil’s agenda. This is an opportunity that the devil will not overlook.

As much as God has used the universal Church within the godly nations of the world to promote the Great Commission, the devil has used ungodly elements to promote his counterattack.

Despite its constitutional neutrality concerning religious issues, until more recent history, the USA was considered by most to be a Christian nation. Sad to say, but the things of God no longer have the place they once had in the public and private lives of many residing in the USA. The symptoms of a society in moral decline and under divine discipline are evident in the daily headlines and newscasts. Especially when this involves those who claim to be Christians, God is grieved (17) and the devil is well pleased.

The responsibility for the continuation of Biblical Christianity in AMERICA was, and is, in the hands of the Christian Community.

The same constitutional right that grants Christians the right to exercise and to promote Christianity, grants others the same right to exercise and promote atheism and or any of religions of the world (18).

Tolerance of the rights of others is what assures the security of our own. The fact that the voices promoting the devil’s agenda is louder and more popular should not come as a surprise to an advancing disciple, especially here in the end times (19).

The devil will use ANYTHING he can to take the place of the things that God has created for His glory and for the benefit of His children. In this presentation we will focus on divination, an activity that the Bible labels as SIN (20).

The foundation on which all doctrines are based begins with a correct identification of what it is that we are looking at. Sin, by any other alternative label, is still sin. We are living in a time when what was good is being called “old fashioned”, and what was called sin is being an alternative choice.

“Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; Who substitute darkness for light and light for darkness; Who substitute bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter (Isaiah 5:20 NASB2020).”

When alternative means of seeking guidance or knowledge of future events replaces God or the things of God, participants are, at the very least, promoting or committing spiritual adultery (21), and at the most, have promoted or committed idolatry (22).

Diabolical divination and sorcery are cousins (closely related) that often collaborate. Such forms of divination and or sorcery include, but are not limited to the use of Tarot cards, palm readings, crystal balls, omens, good luck charms, religious medals, certain types of jewelry, statues, idols, graven images, examining organs of sacrificed animals, and horoscopes.

Such things are consulted or embraced for the purpose of seeking foreknowledge, so that one can control future events for one’s benefit. Such things are also used in an attempt to secure positive intervention from sources other than God, and to ward off adversity. The diabolical motive and objective for promoting such things is to steer people away from seeking divine guidance from the Word of God. When other means are sought, God is denied the glory that belongs to Him (23).

For an advancing disciple of the Church Age, EVERY area of his or her thoughts and actions come under the scrutiny of Biblical compliance.Salvation requires a one-time act of faith (24), but discipleship calls for its ONGOING, daily, intake and the 24/7 application (25).

Wherever a born-again believer goes, and while doing whatever he or she does, he or she does so in the presence of and with the knowledge of God. Developing a conscious awareness of the 7/24 divine omnipresence will go a long way in maintaining fellowship with God and the avoidance of sin and evil.

Eph.4: 30 commands Church Age believers not to grieve God the Holy Spirit who sealed (marked for identification) us as a child of God, the moment they were born again.

Grieve is an English translation of the Greek word l-u-p-e-I- t-e/l-u-p-e-o, meaning to make sad, distressed, or heavy in heart. Do you really think one can involve himself in what the Bible calls sin, and not grieve God?

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We can, and should, pray for divine guidance and intervention in the lives of people who are here on Earth. Such prayers are to be addressed to God the Father (27), presented under the authority given by God the Son (28), accompanied by the praying aid of God the Holy Spirit (29). However, once departed (at the moment of physical death), no amount of prayer (or anything else) will change either the location or the environment that a departed soul has already begun to experience. Such things were pre-determined by the decisions (30) that the now departed soul had made while here on Earth.

Praying to ANY departed human soul or being, outside of the Trinity for ANY reason amounts to spiritual adultery and or idolatry. Stop and think. Even if such intervention were possible, exactly what can or would a personality outside of the Trinity do for you, that God Himself would not do, IF it was His will to do so in the first place?

“And my GOD will supply ALL your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:19 NASB2020/capitalization and underlining mine).”

Then why run the risk of offending or grieving God, by seeking guidance or intervention from any being or source outside of the Trinity? Did not the woman (Eve) go to an outside source (the forbidden fruit) in an attempt to make herself wise (31)

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Like a single brick in a large wall, every born-again believer is a part of the Church that God designed. The Church is the bride of Christ. As the bride of Christ, putting any one or any thing in the place of God amounts to spiritual adultery, idolatry, or both.

The more spiritually mature that a born-again believer becomes, the clearer the spiritual issue(s) behind his or her daily choices will become. ANYTHING that took the crucifixion of the Lord Jesus Christ to atone for, IS a “BIG DEAL” in the eyes of the One to whom we are going to give an account (32).

God makes use of people that follow Him (33) to evangelize unbelievers and to edify fellow believers in their personal, social, and occupational peripheries. Likewise, the devil makes use of people he has deceived to promote his alternatives. End of Part One.
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(1) Exodus 7: 11 (2) Gen. 2:7 (3) John 3: 6. (4) Gen. 1: 26 (5) John 10: 28/Ephesians. 4:30/Romans 8: 1 (6) Romans 8: 1 (7) 1Cor. 3: 12-15/Rev. 2/Rev. 3 (8) Luke 4: 6 (9) Matt. 15: 14 (10) 1Tim. 4: 1/2Tim. 4: 3,4/1Thess. 4: 16, 17 (11) Gen. 3: 1 (12) Matt.19: 27/1Cor. 15: 19 (13) Gen. 3: 4 (14) Isa. 5: 20 (15) Luke 8:18 (16) John 8:44 (17) Eph. 4: 30 (18) Psalms 96: 5 (19) 1Tim. 4:1/2Tim.4: 3, 4 (20) 1Sam. 15: 23 (21) Rev. 2: 4 (22) Exodus 20: 3, 4 (23) Isa. 42: 8 (24) John 3: 16, 18 (25) James 1: 22 (26) 1Cor. 3: 16 (27) Matt. 6: 9 (28) Heb. 4: 16/John 14: 13 (29) Romans 8: 26 (30) John 3: 16, 18) (31) Gen. 3: 6 (32) Romans 14: 12 (33) Matt. 4: 19

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