 |
|
     
|
by Pastor Alan Brooks
Deuteronomy 29:29
"The secret things belong unto the LORD our God: but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children for ever, that we may do all the words of this law." God is telling us here that there are certain things that he doesn't entirely let us in on. The things written in this blessed Book, they're for our understanding, for our reasoning and coming to conclusions from the Word of God. But there are certain things in the world that we will not totally understand. 1 Corinthians 4:6 And these things, brethren, I have in a figure transferred to myself and to Apollos for your sakes; that ye might learn in us not to think of men above that which is written, that no one of you be puffed up for one against another. Key part ... "that ye might learn in us not to think of men" [notice the of men is italicized, it gives us the context] The thought is, if it's not written in the Book, we are not to concern ourselves with it. Some folks spend all their time trying to figure out if there is life on Mars. The Bible doesn't tell us whether there's life on Mars or not. Almost every major newspaper in the world has your horoscope in it. Some people spend thousands of dollars to get their horoscope discerned and to figure out whether they are a Pisces or Gemini or Cancer to make sure they date the right person. There is a drastic difference between Astrology and Astronomy. Astronomy is a scientific study of the stars - people looking for literal facts; orbits, distances, using the big telescopes. God does not condemn Astronomy. But Astrology is a pseudo-science. Astrology takes a lot of faith to believe where Astronomy is based on the facts you can actually see and prove. Astrology originated in Mesopotamia and was refined by the Egyptians. It is an attempt to foretell the future by studying the movements in conjunction of the moon, stars and planets. They try to say that because of certain alignments, different events are trying to take place. There are the 12 signs and depending on when you were born, you therefore have certain attributes (personality traits) not because God placed them in you, but because of where the moon shone? And supposedly you can then discern what the right romance is to the right business. Most of us are discerning enough to realize it's foolish...but it is a multi-billion dollar a year business. Some folks won't even leave their house unless they check their astrological forecast for the day. Horoscopes say that the stars influence one's life daily. Let's look at what God says... 1.) The Rise of Astrology It's an ancient thing that was condemned by the Word of God. It was originated approx. 5000 years ago. Many believe much of the tower of Babel was a desire to be able to discern the signs of the heavens. The Babylonians then invented the zodiac. [When God has something true, Satan many times has a counterfeit to imitate it.] God says "The heavens declare the glory of God", and I believe if we'd go back in the ancient times of when God created the world, the heavens literally spelled out the gospel in a message of the stars. But Satan, in his attempt to pervert that, has turned the zodiac into it so instead of proclaiming the gospel, it now is supposed to be influencing the lives of people "helping" them to move along. I was reading that Mr. Hitler would never make a move politically or militarily without checking the horoscope and having it all foretold by the zodiac. That illustrates his paganism. Even the movements of the 3rd Reich were all legislated by what the stars said he was supposed to do. He consulted with a personal astrologer about personal matters and even troup movements. Former President Reagan's wife, Nancy, sadly, was very deeply into the occult through astrology and would pay big dollars to astrologists in California to discern and help influence her husband. It's big business in North America. There are over ten million people that are making their living foretelling the future [or what they say is foretelling the future]. During the early 60's, a rock opera on Broadway called "Hair" originated in Greenwich Village - part of the hippie era. This musical made it to Broadway with co-ed nude scenes for the first time. One of the most famous songs that came out of this opera "This is the Dawning Age of Aquarius" which launched the zodiac into the North American mentality. By the way, the Age of Aquarius is the 11th of the 12th; supposedly a time when man's mind will be liberated...peace and truth will dominate the earth. It was the hippie version of the "golden age". This was immediately on the tail of the theological time when they promoted the "God is dead" theology. In that vacuum, suddenly the dawning of the age of Aquarius sky-rocketed to major popularity. California has produced many cultist things like channeling, wedji boards, levitating tables and so on. The horoscope is so popular now that folks will not make a major move without checking it. The devil has a sense of humor because so many newspapers put it on the cartoon page! 2.) World of the Occult Occult has to do with Satanism. The word Cult has to with false religion. But the world of the occult came about because of secrets...the secret things belong unto the Lord our God Man as a innate desire, curiosity to know the unknown. Healthy in some respect because it's lead to many inventions. But if our desire to know moves us into an area that God clearly says to stay away from, we have crossed the line. There is a spirit world. Ephesians 6:10
Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. There is a dimension where angelic beings and demonic beings do spiritual battle. We are not in that dimension. But they do influence society. We know that Daniel sought to fast and pray and God sent an answer through an angel to him, but it was stopped by the Prince of Persia. They did battle until another 21 days when the answer came to Daniel. There is a spiritual warfare every time we meet. When we come into this place [the church building] and meet together, the demons of the hell would love nothing more that to stop the ears [even Jesus talked about it in Matthew 13] the minute we leave, the birds of the air would love to come pluck the seed out. The demonic forces would love to come and take the Word of God out of our very hearts and lives. So there is a spirit world out there...and we are to pray and to seek to walk in the spirit and not fulfill the lusts of the flesh. Then God tells us there is a test for prophecy...Duet 18:18-20, "I will raise them up a prophet..." God says that the prophet is only to speak the Words of God...if every prophecy does not come truth, they are not a prophet of God - it's has to be right 100% of the time. By the way, Jean Dixon has made many predictions that have not come true like when she said Mr. Kennedy was to rise again from the dead? If anyone professes they can tell the future - it's not really foretelling the future but rather arranging the future. They have not the ability to foretell the future - but they are simply influencing and arranging the future. "Greater is He that is in us that he that is in the world." There is a prohibition of scriptures concerning astrology... Leviticus 20:6 And the soul that turneth after such as have familiar spirits, and after wizards, to go a whoring after them, I will even set my face against that soul, and will cut him off from among his people. Familiar spirits are those that have been invited in by people to their very hearts and lives...they have given place to the devil. You don't have to be scared that all of a sudden you are walking around and some demon is going to jump on you and invade your body! A true born-again believer can be oppressed, but not possessed. God very clearly says to cut them off, if man or woman have a familiar spirit or are a wizard. Deuteronomy 18:9
When thou art come into the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not learn to do after the abominations of those nations. Wizard: defined as a person who pretends to know something about the unseen world. Enchanters: interprets omens Witch: is one who seeks to cast spells or use cultic magic Charmer: one who cast spells, consulter with familiar spirits (or channeling (eg./ Edgar Cacey, Joseph Smith) Necromancer: someone who enquires from the dead (séances) Jeremiah 10:2 Thus saith the LORD, Learn not the way of the heathen, and be not dismayed at the signs of heaven; for the heathen are dismayed at them. God very clearly tells Jeremiah here "Don't worry about Aquarius, Pisces, about the dawning of the age - the heathen will be worried with those things, but Child of God, it will not bother you in the least...don't be afraid of it." (paraphrase) Friend, it does not affect your life. What happens in your life is by your choices and by God's sovereign will, not because some moon is lined up with the planets. Isaiah 41:22 Let them bring them forth, and shew us what shall happen: let them shew the former things, what they be, that we may consider them, and know the latter end of them; or declare us things for to come. The person that follows the future-telling direction? God says it's an abomination. It's going to come to not - think of the millions of dollars spent on things that don't amount to a hill of beans! Isaiah 47:13 Thou art wearied in the multitude of thy counsels. Let now the astrologers, the stargazers, the monthly prognosticators, stand up, and save thee from these things that shall come upon thee. God says "Ask these to stand up and save you - but they won't because they can't even save themselves." [paraphrase] Read I Sam 28:, I Chronicles 10:13 Saul sought to bring back Samuel through a witch - read the detail, even the witch was shocked - but God killed Saul because the judgment of death was upon him. 3.) Purpose of the Stars Psalms 19:1
The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his
handywork. The stars proclaim that God is the creator. Psalms 8:3
When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained; The creation of the magnificent heavens were just a little finger-painting to God. Romans 1:20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: So that man will be without excuse. Genesis 1:14
And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years: For the seasons, discerning days and years. Psalms 148:3 Praise ye him, sun and moon: praise him, all ye stars of light. 4.) To Praise God Genesis 1:14
And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years: For signs...a star proclaimed the birth of the Christ child. Acts 2:19 And I will shew wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and vapour of smoke: For signs...of the coming judgment of God. 5.) Stars' Place in the Word of God Romans 10:17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. The Bible is an accurate description of history and prophecy 2 Peter 1:19
We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts: We know what the future's going to be, because we have the Word of God. We know the next events that are going to transpire. 2 Timothy 4:1
I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; My friends, don't have anything to do with Astrology. It's not cute to read your horoscope. Don't give any place to Satan - God clearly condemns it. We have a more perfect way - we know the truth!
|
