ECCLESIASTICAL WITCHCRAFT AND MANIPULATION

1.0 A SEASON OF PORTIONS AND HARVEST: REPENTANCE/REVIVAL AND JUDGMENT

I will sing of mercy and judgment: unto thee, O LORD, will I sing. I will behave myself wisely in a perfect way. O when wilt thou come unto me? I will walk within my house with a perfect heart. Psalm 101.1-2

We are already in a season of portions and of harvest of the works of our hands, the attitude of our heart and the state of our spirit. It is a simultaneous divine visitation of revival and judgment; at corporate and individual levels, at Global and personal level; in the World and in the Church.

1.1 REVIVAL

Come, let us return to the LORD (Hosea 6:1a).

The call for personal and corporate revival has been on; those who are willing in the days of his power are already responding, casting off the old wineskin, preparing themselves as new wineskins for the new wine experience, in a spirit of repentance, akin to David’s cry of Psalm 51:

51:1 Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto
the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.
51:10 Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.
51:11 Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me.
51:12 Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.

It has been a call for individual and corporate repentance from the present state of the Nigerian Church that is busy with idolatrous human theology, carnal ambitions, physical acquisitions, building projects and church activities; to the neglect of the fundamental individual and corporate requirement of being in the presence of God to seek divine directives from the Holy Spirit, receive divine call mandate and agenda for building according to his pattern, and living out a Holy life in a decadent world. It is a preparation for a worldwide divine visitation that is already budding in the church in different parts of the world.

It is the nature of God to give opportunity for mercy before judgment. Judgment is already in the world- the worldwide economic meltdown is a clear manifestation.

The call for is for a David-type prayer as recorded in Psalm 26:

Judge me, O LORD; for I have walked in mine integrity: I have trusted also in the LORD; therefore I shall not slide.
Examine me, O LORD, and prove me; try my reins and my heart.
For thy lovingkindness is before mine eyes: and I have walked in thy truth.
I have not sat with vain persons, neither will I go in with dissemblers.
I have hated the congregation of evil doers; and will not sit with the wicked.
I will wash mine hands in innocency: so will I compass thine altar, O LORD:
That I may publish with the voice of thanksgiving, and tell of all thy wondrous works.
LORD, I have loved the habitation of thy house, and the place where thine honour dwelleth.
Gather not my soul with sinners, nor my life with bloody men:
In whose hands is mischief, and their right hand is full of bribes.
But as for me, I will walk in mine integrity: redeem me, and be merciful unto me.
My foot standeth in an even place: in the congregations will I bless the LORD.

These constitute the spirit prepared as a new wineskin for a new wine revival.

1.2 JUST THE BEGINNING

(Word@Work from BeaconLight Wednesday, July 22, 2009)

1 Peter 4:17-18. For it is time for judgment to begin with the family of God; and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who do not obey the gospel of God? And, "If it is hard for the righteous to be saved, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?" (NIV)

People say that God is love and will never harm His children. That is true. But in the same way that a truly loving father will discipline his children, our loving God disciplines us. However unpleasant persecution may be, it is used by God to refine His people and strengthen those who want to trust Him more. So, for the devoted believer, persecution enables faith to grow. The sad reality is that without problems, we would be inclined to live in our own strength and not by faith in the Lord.

Hebrews 12:4-13 explains this judgement/discipline process. God is determined to get us right for heaven, and that we should be strong to witness to His grace until we get there. But if the pain of persecution is a sign of God's determination to purify His people, what about those who are determined to resist him? Peter says that Christians who endure persecution and purify themselves for God's holy service, are also living out a message from God: to the rest of the church, their suffering shows the urgency to win the lost; and to the lost the message is, if God treats His own people in this way, what about those who refuse to submit to Jesus.

God's determination to "redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good" (Titus 2:14), knows no bounds. He has done everything necessary in Christ so that we may receive His grace. Now, He continues to use even the hatred of the wicked for His purpose: sanctification for us and the announcement of judgement for the ungodly. It is the Lord's desire, and should be ours, that sinners will turn and receive salvation, so that they will not be overtaken by God's judgement (cf 2 Peter 3:9). Therefore, be strong to accept the Lord's discipline: as you do so the church will be made bolder; and the demons will quake, knowing that sinners will see the grace of Christ in you, and will turn to receive His salvation.

Prayer: Loving Father. Although your discipline is hard at times, thank you for using the circumstances of my life to encourage me to purify myself before You. As hard times come (because of my love for You), may my example encourage the church to greater faith, and provide an opportunity for other people to see the grace of

Christ - that they might repent and receive Your salvation. In Jesus' Name. Amen

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Subject: Word@Work 1Pet63 - 1 Peter 4:17-18
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I Corinthians 11:31 For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged.

James 2:13 For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment.

James 4:17a. For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God:

It took about one year after David’s sin against Uriah for judgment to commence 2 Samuel 11 and 12. In that period he lived with a dirty heart, wrong spirit, cast way from the Lord’s presence, the Holy Spirit taken away form him, lost the joy of salvation and living in a stubborn self-justifying spirit. Yet he still remain the King
That you are busy with ministry and church activities despite non-repentance of abiding sins does not mean you are free from coming judgment. God is only giving room for repentance and mercy before the harvest of judgment commence

In this season of harvest of harvest of revival and judgment, in addition to the prayer song from Psalm 51.10-11, “Create in me a new heart O Lord and renew right spirit within me..” make these two other songs your prayers:

1. Alleluia thine the Glory, Alleluia amen… Revive us (me) O LORD..
2. Pass me not O gentle saviour, Hear my humble cry…

The newness of the spirit and the oldness of the letter Romans 7.6
But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not [in] the oldness of the letter.

2.0 ENTERING INTO A NEW WINESKIN EXPERIENCE

Luke 5.36 And he spake also a parable unto them; No man putteth a piece of a new garment upon an old; if otherwise, then both the new maketh a rent, and the piece that was [taken] out of the new agreeth not with the old. 37 And no man putteth new wine into old bottles; else the new wine will burst the bottles, and be spilled, and the bottles shall perish.
38 But new wine must be put into new bottles; and both are preserved.
39 No man also having drunk old [wine] straightway desireth new: for he saith, The old is better

To enter a new clothing and fresh wineskin experience Mark 2.21-22, Matt 9.16-17, 5.36-39:

1. Be sober and discard the old cloth of depression and disappointment
2. Cease from self-justification
3. Stop shifting blames and accept personal responsibility for you status and situation
4. Let not our strength make you stubborn or stiff-necked
5. Don’t try to ‘help God’ in bringing back the ark in the new dispensation 2 Samuel 6, 2 Chronicles 20)

By the Lampstand
13th Dec 2008.

2.1 WHEN REPENTANCE BECOMES TOO LATE

15:10 Then came the word of the LORD unto Samuel, saying,
15:11 It repenteth me that I have set up Saul to be king: for he is turned back from following me, and hath not performed my commandments. And it grieved Samuel; and he cried unto the LORD all night.
15:22 And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.
15:23 For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, he hath also rejected thee from being king.
15:24 And Saul said unto Samuel, I have sinned: for I have transgressed the commandment of the LORD, and thy words: because I feared the people, and obeyed their voice.
15:25 Now therefore, I pray thee, pardon my sin, and turn again with me, that I may worship the LORD.
15:26 And Samuel said unto Saul, I will not return with thee: for thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, and the LORD hath rejected thee from being king over Israel.
15:27 And as Samuel turned about to go away, he laid hold upon the skirt of his mantle, and it rent.
15:28 And Samuel said unto him, The LORD hath rent the kingdom of Israel from thee this day, and hath given it to a neighbour of thine, that is better than thou.
15:29 And also the Strength of Israel will not lie nor repent: for he is not a man, that he should repent.

2.2 BIBLICAL WISDOM, PRUDENCE AND INVENTIONS

Proverbs 8.12,14

8:12 I wisdom dwell with prudence, and find out knowledge of witty inventions.
8:14 Counsel is mine, and sound wisdom: I am understanding; I have strength.

Prudence is here defined as practical wisdom or wisdom in action, choosing the best means to an end. Hence (lead to) witty (shrewd,practical) inventions/insight
Sound wisdom (Hebrew tushiyah): From it come all inventions and knowledge of all sciences known to man (see Dake’s Annotated Bible References page 646, column 1.h,i)

COVENANTS WITH DEATH

In recent times time, there has been reports of well-known Christians lost to road accidents, strange sicknesses, various forms of cancer and other afflictions, etc even when on active duty for the Lord. Some Christians have even become mental/psychiatric patients while others have become chronic patients of debilitating diseases. Families have been negatively affected, and promising youths have been cut off of life, while leaders of ministries, volunteers for service, ministers and missionaries on duty have become in memorial

Questions have arisen as to why the church does not receive any warning and why some of the afflictions should come upon faithful and active Christians. Psalm 74:9 ‘We see not our signs: there is no more any prophet: neither is there among us any that knoweth how long’ and ‘Where are the children of Issachar… men that had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do I Chronicles 12:32’ have become the heart of many Christians directly or indirectly affected by such losses.

Five causes of such incidence can be garnered from scriptures

2.2.1 THE ISSUE OF FOUNDATIONS and HOUSEHOLD ENEMIES/WICKEDNESS

Psalm 11:3 If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do?
Isaiah 51:1-2 Hearken to me, ye that follow after righteousness, ye that seek the LORD: look unto the rock whence ye are hewn, and to the hole of the pit whence ye are digged.
51:2 Look unto Abraham your father, and unto Sarah that bare you:

There are many Christians today who are 1st generation Christians, saved from idolatrous families with a history of covenants, oaths and curses that are yet to be reversed The following article is from Lampstandletters no 34, 2004:

“Hear this message from the Lord, and tremble at his words: ‘Your close relatives hate you and throw you out for being loyal to my name…but they will be put to shame’.”(Isaiah 66:5)
“Don’t trust anyone- your best friend or even your wife! For the son despises his father .The daughter her mother. The daughter-in-law defies her mother-in-law. Your enemies will be right in your household” (Micah 7:5-6).
“…You will serve your brother for a time, but then you will shake loose from him and be free”(Genesis 27:40b)

The biblical household consists of one’s parents, brothers/sisters, wife/husband, In-laws and other relatives/family members/dependants in an extended family, living with him or of his hometown (see Joshua 2:18, 6:25). Every household has a traditional religious past, which are usually idolatrous until the Lord calls a member of the family out unto himself. Abram was from an idolatrous past before he was called out (Genesis 12:1-5).

But even when some of the ancestors have been called and are with the Lord, their descendants are still influenced by their fore parent’s idolatrous background. The case of Jacob, whose household still carried idols, despite the long history of his forbearer’s covenant with the Lord, refers (Genesis 35:1-4).
The LORD usually draws individual members of a household into covenant relationship with himself, as was the case of Abram. And like Gideon experienced (Judges Chapter 6), this draws a backlash of spiritual antagonism and hostility from family members and even his townsmen. The prophet Isaiah reverberates this situation across nations and people groups when he referred to people who chose their own ways of worship and hate/persecute close relatives who are loyal to God and obey him (Isaiah 66:1-5).

In fact the Lord states clearly and strongly that becoming a loyal follower of his will lead to a family division and breach of peaceful relationship with close family members. From his own personal experience, he stated that “A prophet is honored everywhere except in his own HOMETOWN and among his RELATIVES and his OWN FAMILY (Mark 6:4. Emphases mine).

In Matthew 10:22, the Lord links the hatred and persecution of his loyal followers to household enemies (Matt. 10:21,34-36; Luke 12:49-53). While this enmity may be as mild as just shunning such a believer by the household, it could be as severe as occultist limitations in life, stunting of destiny, witchcraft and disease attack and even death threat. Unfortunately many Christians seem to discountenance this abiding situation, making us prone to endemic household enmity and crippling spiritual attacks.

DEALING WITH HOUSEHOLD ENEMIES/WICKEDNESS

In introducing the ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ, John the Baptist declared that He would baptize us with the Holy Spirit and with fire (Matt. 3:11-12, Luke 3:17). In affirming his Ministry, the Lord himself stated: “I have come to bring fire to the earth, and I wish that my task were already completed” (Luke 12:49) He was linking the acceptance of his message by believers to a repercussion of discord, division and strife from the believer’s household enemies (Luke 12:49-53).

Baptism with fire is therefore a major paraphernalia for all believers in anticipation and dealing with the household enmity that arise from their following of Christ. Such household enmity is the chaff that will be burnt with the never-ending fire we are baptized with (Matt. 3:12, Luke 3:17). In 2 Samuel 23:5-7, David contrasted his covenanted, secure family with the “Sons of Beliah” (NKJV) who are liken to thorn to be ‘consumed with fire’. Deuteronomy 13:13 has earlier described the ‘children of Beliah’ as “certain men…from among you...saying, Let us go and serve other god, which you have not known”. These are idolatrous family members.

David was one person that had vast experience with household enmity. Among David’s last words was the stern warning that one must not treat household enemies with kid’s gloves, as they are like thorns that “tear the hand that touches them. One must be armed to chop them down; they will be utterly consumed with fire” (2 Samuel 23:6-7).

We have been armed with the Holy Ghost and fire, and as we speak the words of God in prayers and spiritual warfare against our household enemies, they will be consumed with the fire of the spirit. Believers, arm yourselves with the sword of the spirit, and unleash the Holy Ghost fire on every form of household wickedness and enmity, while we give room for mercy and repentance, snatching the repentant from the flames of judgment (Jude 23).

In Psalm 1:4, wickedness is liken to the ‘worthless chaff’, meant for fire. Thus while obedient believers are liken to fruit-bearing trees, and Holy Spirit-separated grains, the “sons of Beliah” household enemies are prickly thorns and useless chaff that are meant for burning (Matthew 3:11-12; Psalm 1:1-5).
“

Therefore they will all disappear like burning straw… (Isaiah 5:24). Amen.

2.2.2 INNOCENT VICTIMS:-The example of Job’s children Job 1:1-19.

The story and experience of Job is well known.

A perfect and upright man, and one that feared God, and eschewed evil… who had seven sons and three daughters… feasted in their houses, every one his day; and who …when the days of their feasting were gone about… Job sent and sanctified them, and rose up early in the morning, and offered burnt offerings according to the number of them all: for Job said, It may be that my sons have sinned, and cursed God in their hearts. Thus did Job continually. Job 9.1-5
Despite these regular sanctifications, Satan was permitted by to kill them all, as a test of Job’s integrity and loyalty to God Job 1.6-22.

And I only am escaped alone to tell thee. Job 1,19b
May that be your testimony when you find yourself in the company of those scheduled to die. Amen

2.2.3 IN WRONG COMPANY

The example of Jehoshaphat I Kings 22

22:4 And he said unto Jehoshaphat, Wilt thou go with me to battle to Ramothgilead? And Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel, I am as thou art, my people as thy people, my horses as thy horses.
22:17 And he said, I saw all Israel scattered upon the hills, as sheep that have not a shepherd: and the LORD said, These have no master: let them return every man to his house in peace.
22:30 And the king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat, I will disguise myself, and enter into the battle; but put thou on thy robes. And the king of Israel disguised himself, and went into the battle.
22:31 But the king of Syria commanded his thirty and two captains that had rule over his chariots, saying, Fight neither with small nor great, save only with the king of Israel.
22:32 And it came to pass, when the captains of the chariots saw Jehoshaphat, that they said, Surely it is the king of Israel. And they turned aside to fight against him: and Jehoshaphat cried out.

LEARN TO CRY OUT:

And they turned aside to fight against him: and Jehoshaphat cried out.
You have to learn to cry out like Jehoshaphat I Kings 22.32 when you find yourself in the wrong company of one marked for death

2.2.4 DISOBEDIENCE AND SELF-WILL:-Jonah’s experience

The following article is from Lampstandletters No. 27 April – June 2001

JONAH, NINEVEH AND TARSHISH

The story of Jonah is a very popular biblical story. He was told to: Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry out against it: for their wickedness has come up before me. But Jonah arose to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the LORD (Jonah 1:1-3).

According to Cruden's Complete Concordance, Nineveh is probably the oldest city in the world, and was founded by Nimrod (Gen. 10:11) Nimrod (meaning rebellious), was the first rebel on earth in audacity and idolatrous wickedness against God. In other words, Nineveh was an ancient spiritual stronghold that was thick in wickedness and idolatry.

To these people, Jonah was sent as a missionary, to preach the gospel, because the LORD wanted them saved (Jonah Chapter 3).

Instead, Jonah chose to enter a ship going to Tarshish. He chose to be a missionary to Tarshish. Tarshish means subjection of enemies. Obviously, it was a city where much spiritual warfare has been done, where idolatrous altars have been pulled down where the heavens have been cleared of principalities, powers and rulers of darkness and it was easy to harvest souls. In addition, Tarshish was a Phoenician city, prosperous because of its merchandise and sea going ships (Isa 2:16, 23:1, Ezek. 27:25). It was a city where one could preach a ‘Prosperity message” and have his offering bags filled with tens and hundreds of thousands. It was a convenient place to preach the gospel. While Nineveh was in the Northeast, Tarshish was in the west.

Today there are many ministers of God like Jonah called to be missionaries to the unreached strongholds and get nations saved. Instead they have entered ships to Tarshish, preaching prosperity messages.

It may be that the turbulence in your life is because you are sent to Nineveh but you are on your way to Tarshish. Maybe you are the one causing turbulence in your fellowship, ministry or church, because you are a Jonah on the way to Tarshish instead of Nineveh.

You may sacrifice every thing in the boat, and others may even help you sacrifice, in prayer and fasting. But there will be no peace until you are thrown out of the ship to Tarshish, and you retrace your steps back to Nineveh. Hundreds of thousands are awaiting you and your message of salvation and many livestock too! (Jonah 4:11).

One of the most important lessons to be learnt from the book of Jonah chapter one is that whenever there is a Jonah in the boat (in a household, in the ministry, in a place, no amount of sacrifices and prayers will bring a respite until Jonah is cast out of the boat into the sea. Jonah was a hitherto a distinguished prophet and a contemporary of Isaiah. No matter how distinguished Jonah is, do not sacrifice other people, things for Jonah. Do not even waste time crying to your God, fasting or seeking his face. If you have to pray, “cast lots” that God reveal the Jonah in your midst. Once the Jonah has been identified, do not pander to emotions or unnecessary fear ‘Pick up the Jonah, throw him unto the sea, and the sea boat (your household, your ministry, your workplace, your marriage etc) will cease form its raging” (Jonah 1: 15). Or as Pro. 22: 10 puts it “cast out the scoffer (the scorner, the concerted, the rebellious, the willful, the disobedient) and contention will leave, yes, strife and reproach will cease’. Amen.

ANY JONAH IN YOUR MINISTRY?

May you not be found in the same boat with a ‘Jonah-Miss-Road’. Look him up (discern/identify such) and cast him forth out of the ministry: that the ministry ceases from her raging.

AND ARE YOU A JONAH?

May you come to your senses and retrace your steps. Get out of the present (‘prosperity’) ministry and return to the (missionary) ministry you are called into, (for the sake of the lost undiscerning, and even animals Jonah 4: 1-11)

2.2.5 VICTIMS OF THE WICKED

The issue of covenants with Death Isaiah 28.14-19.

28:14 Wherefore hear the word of the LORD, ye scornful men, that rule this people which is in Jerusalem.
28:15 Because ye have said, We have made a covenant with death, and with hell are we at agreement; when the overflowing scourge shall pass through, it shall not come unto us: for we have made lies our refuge, and under falsehood have we hid ourselves:
28:16 Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste.
28:17 Judgment also will I lay to the line, and righteousness to the plummet: and the hail shall sweep away the refuge of lies, and the waters shall overflow the hiding place.
28:18 And your covenant with death shall be disannulled, and your agreement with hell shall not stand; when the overflowing scourge shall pass through, then ye shall be trodden down by it.
28:19 From the time that it goeth forth it shall take you: for morning by morning shall it pass over, by day and by night: and it shall be a vexation only to understand the report.

There are people who haven made a covenant with death, seek others who will be victims of their death covenant by replacing them when death comes calling. These include Christians whose parents or guardian have made such covenants on their behalf. They boast scornfully of judgment and death saying:

We have made a covenant with death, and with hell are we at agreement; when the overflowing scourge shall pass through, it shall not come unto us: for we have made lies our refuge, and under falsehood have we hid ourselves Isaiah 28.15.

But thus saith the LORD:

And your covenant with death shall be disannulled, and your agreement with hell shall not stand; when the overflowing scourge shall pass through, then ye shall be trodden down by it.
Isaiah 28.18.

Therefore ‘Return-to-sender” any covenant of death meant to make you a victim of those who have made covenants with death, in Jesus name.

In righteousness shalt thou be established: thou shalt be far from oppression; for thou shalt not fear: and from terror; for it shall not come near thee.
Behold, they shall surely gather together, but not by me: whosoever shall gather together against thee shall fall for thy sake.
Behold, I have created the smith that bloweth the coals in the fire, and that bringeth forth an instrument for his work; and I have created the waster to destroy.
No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is of me, saith the LORD. Isaiah 54:14-17

WRITING AND WORDS

John 5.47 46 For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me: for he wrote of me. But if ye believe not his writings, how shall ye believe my words?

When wickedness is not yet full

Genesis 15.16 But in the fourth generation they shall come hither again: for the iniquity of the Amorites [is] not yet full.

The Goodness and the severity of God Romans 11:21-22
21. For if God spared not the natural branches, [take heed] lest he also spare not thee.
22 Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in [his] goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off.

4.0 THE COHORTS OF EVIL

1. Rebellion 1 Sam15.25
2. Witchcraft 2 Kings 9.22-37
3. Jezebelic 2 King 9, Rev 2.20
4. Babylonic Spirits Isaiah 52;1-3

5.0 DELIVERANCE FROM THE DAUGHTERS OF BABYLON

1. ABOUT THE DAUGHTERS OF BABYLON

O daughter of Babylon, who art to be destroyed; happy [shall he be], that rewardeth thee as
thou hast served us. Psalm 137.8

Isaiah 47

1. Come down, and sit in the dust, O virgin daughter of Babylon, sit on the ground: [there is] no throne, O daughter of the Chaldeans: for thou shalt no more be called tender and delicate.
2. Take the millstones, and grind meal: uncover thy locks, make bare the leg, uncover the thigh, pass over the rivers.
3. Thy nakedness shall be uncovered, yea, thy shame shall be seen: I will take vengeance, and I will not meet [thee as] a man.
4. [As for] our redeemer, the LORD of hosts [is] his name, the Holy One of Israel.
5. Sit thou silent, and get thee into darkness, O daughter of the Chaldeans: for thou shalt no more be called, The lady of kingdoms.
6. I was wroth with my people, I have polluted mine inheritance, and given them into thine hand: thou didst shew them no mercy; upon the ancient hast thou very heavily laid thy yoke.
7. And thou saidst, I shall be a lady for ever: [so] that thou didst not lay these [things] to thy heart, neither didst remember the latter end of it.
8. Therefore hear now this, [thou that art] given to pleasures, that dwellest carelessly, that sayest in thine heart, I [am], and none else beside me; I shall not sit [as] a widow, neither shall I know the loss of children:
9. But these two [things] shall come to thee in a moment in one day, the loss of children, and widowhood: they shall come upon thee in their perfection for the multitude of thy sorceries, [and] for the great abundance of thine enchantments.
10. For thou hast trusted in thy wickedness: thou hast said, None seeth me. Thy wisdom and thy knowledge, it hath perverted thee; and thou hast said in thine heart, I [am], and none else beside me.
11. Therefore shall evil come upon thee; thou shalt not know from whence it riseth: and mischief shall fall upon thee; thou shalt not be able to put it off: and desolation shall come upon thee suddenly, [which] thou shalt not know.
12. Stand now with thine enchantments, and with the multitude of thy sorceries, wherein thou hast laboured from thy youth; if so be thou shalt be able to profit, if so be thou mayest prevail.
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.
14. Behold, they shall be as stubble; the fire shall burn them; they shall not deliver themselves from the power of the flame: [there shall] not [be] a coal to warm at, [nor] fire to sit before it.
15. Thus shall they be unto thee with whom thou hast laboured, [even] thy merchants, from thy youth: they shall wander every one to his quarter; none shall save thee.

Jeremiah 50.42.

41 Behold, a people shall come from the north, and a great nation, and many kings shall be raised up from the coasts of the earth.
42 They shall hold the bow and the lance: they [are] cruel, and will not shew mercy: their voice shall roar like the sea, and they shall ride upon horses, [every one] put in array, like a man to the battle, against thee, O daughter of Babylon.

Jeremiah 51.33

For thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; The daughter of Babylon [is] like a threshingfloor, [it is] time to thresh her: yet a little while, and the time of her harvest shall
come.

WHAT TO DO ABOUT/TO THE DAUGHTERS OF BABYLON

Zech 2:7:Deliver thyself, O Zion, that dwellest [with] the daughter of Babylon Zechariah 2.7 King James Version

Isaiah 10.27 And it shall come to pass in that day, [that] his burden shall be taken away from off thy shoulder, and his yoke from off thy neck, and the yoke shall be destroyed because of the anointing.

Isaiah 48.20 Go ye forth of Babylon, flee ye from the Chaldeans, with a voice of singing, declare ye, tell this, utter it [even] to the end of the earth; say ye, The LORD hath redeemed his servant Jacob.

Isaiah 52.2 Shake thyself from the dust; arise, [and] sit down, O Jerusalem: loose thyself from the bands of thy neck, O captive daughter of Zion.
3 For thus saith the LORD, Ye have sold yourselves for nought; and ye shall be redeemed without money.

Amen.

By the Lampstand,
28th February 2009.

THE SPIRIT OF TYRE AND SIDON IN THE CHURCH TODAY

Tyre (meaning Rock) and Sidon (meaning plenty of fish/fishing), were the cities of Phoenicia and were prosperous seaports. Commerce was the chief source of their power and prosperity. Like the Canaanite (traders, merchants), they were famed traders. Her traders traveled far and wide to other seaports. The richest people of that age where Phoenicians, who even tried to influence Israelites with their gifts (Psalm 45:12).

However, because of its prosperity and commerce, greed and corruption soon set him. They soon corrupted even the children of Israel, bringing fish and goods to sell even on the Sabbath day (Neh. 13:16). Isaiah 23 is thus a judgment of Tyre and Sidon for her merchandise, her pride, her harlotry and her fornication.
There is a spirit of Tyre and Sidon in the church today. There are Canaanite (traders, merchants) in the house of God (see Zech. 14:21). In the guise of building the Church upon a rock (Tyre) and soul winning (fishing) the plenty of fish (Sidon), servants of God have turned the house of God into a house of merchandise (John 2:16). As in the time of Nehemiah, trading is done even on the Sabbath (Neh. 13:16); all in the name of prosperity message.

But thus saith the word of the Lord:

"Now it shall come to pass that Tyre will be forgotten seventy years, according to the days of one king and it shall be that at the end of those seventy years, the LORD will let Tyre get back into business. Her gain and her pay will be set apart for the LORD; it will not be treasured or laid up, for her gain will be for those who dwell before the LORD, to eat sufficiently and for fine clothing’ Isa. 23:15-18.

‘‘…and in that day there shall no longer be any Canaanite in the house of the LORD of hosts." (Zech. 14:20-21). Amen.

By the Lampstand
May 2001

6.0 IDOLATROUS BETHEL

FROM HOUSE OF GOD TO HOUSE OF SIN

Bethel (meaning house of God, Gen.28:16-19) is a pathetic story of a place which in its latter days became referred to by the prophets as Beth-Aven (house of sin or house of nothing, Hosea4:15).

• It was a place of divine visitation, consecrated by one man Jacob, and desecrated by another man, Jeroboam.
• It began a place of worshiping God, and ended up as a place of worshiping idols, devised after the heart of men (1 Kings 12:28-29, Hosea 10:5).
• At one time it was a place of obedience, later a byword for disobedience.
• Once priests like Samuel sat to minister there (1 Sam. 7:16), later priest who were not even Levites ministered (1 Kings 12:31).
• Once, there was a traffic of angels, later it became a place for devouring she- bears and lions (2 Kings 2:23-24).
• To return to Bethel, Jacob asked his entire household to put away the foreign gods. To call people to Bethel, Jeroboam set up golden calves as idols.
• In Genesis 35:1, God Himself asked that an altar to him be built. In Amos 3:14, God Himself said he will destroy the altars of Bethel, even to the horns.
• In Gen. 35:13-15, God talked to Jacob at Bethel. In Amos 5:5, He forbade Israel to go to Bethel to seek Him, because Bethel shall come to nothing.

What was responsible for this bad latter end? One word: - IDOLATRY. Hosea chapter 4 summarized their situation. The Good News Bible renders the first two verses of Hosea chapter ten thus:

The people of Israel were like a grapevine that was full of grapes. The more prosperous they were, the more altars they built. The more productive their land was, the more beautiful they made the sacred pillar they worshiped. The people whose hearts are deceitful must now suffer for their sins. God will break down their altars and destroy their sacred pillars.

‘O thou anointed man of God, how many Jeroboamic altars are you raising to ensnare the people of God. As the ministry prospers in your hand, what altars are you raising that have become idols, turning people away from Christ? Is the faith of the congregation still in Christ or the altars for prosperity, altars for visa/passport, altars for breakthrough? As you become more productive, producing results and miracles, what beautiful sacred pillars are you making for worship?”

Now is the time to repent and retrace your steps, making Christ alone your cornerstone. Thus saith the Lord to the altars of Baal in Bethel, "O altar, altar, hear the word of the Lord. I will visit destruction on the altars of Bethel. And the horns of the altar shall be cut off and fall to the ground." (See 1 Kings 13:2, Amos 3:14).
And thus says the Lord of the house of Israel: Seek me and live. But do not seek Bethel for Bethel shall come to nothing. Seek the Lord and live, lest He break out like fire in the House of Joseph and devour it, with no one to quench it in Bethel" Amen. (See Amos 5:4-6).

By the Lampstand,
30/5/2001.

Hebrews 10:26-31

For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries. He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses:

Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace? For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people. It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.