They have cast fire into thy sanctuary, they have defiled [by casting down] the dwelling place of thy name to the ground. They said in their hearts, Let us destroy them together: they have burned up all the synagogues of God in the land. We see not our signs: [there is] no more any prophet: neither [is there] among us any that knoweth how long. O God, how long shall the adversary reproach? shall the enemy blaspheme thy name for ever? (Psalm 74:7-10)

In this Psalm Asaph delivers his complaint to God about His sanctuary being defiled. In the Old Testament the sanctuary was the physical place were God said He would dwell. The physical sanctuary in the land of Israel represented the actual presence of God. This had its advantages and disadvantages. The advantages were that God’s people could come to one place, and offer sacrifice and enjoy the presence of God Himself. The disadvantages were that the sanctuary was open to external foes and heinous people. This in the historical sense is what Asaph bemoans. However, in a spiritual sense his cry means much to us as we can surly see the comparison to the IC DC (institutional churches or denominational churches) today.

Ye shall keep my sabbaths, and reverence my sanctuary: I [am] the LORD. (Leviticus 19:30)

And I will set my face against that man, and will cut him off from among his people; because he hath given of his seed unto Molech, to defile my sanctuary, and to profane my holy name. (Leviticus 20:3)

"Neither shall he go out of the sanctuary, nor profane the sanctuary of his God; for the crown of the anointing oil of his God [is] upon him: I [am] the LORD." (Leviticus 21:12)

"Ye shall keep my sabbaths, and reverence my sanctuary: I [am] the LORD." (Leviticus 26:2)

It's not so much the reverence of a building or place of worship, but for the dwelling place of God—our mind and what we take into it as far as doctrine is concerned. Better get the leven out!

Numbers 19:20 teaches us that.

"But the man that shall be unclean, and shall not purify himself, that soul shall be cut off from among the congregation, because he hath defiled the sanctuary of the LORD: the water of separation hath not been sprinkled upon him; he [is] unclean."

Read the following quote.

"I can hardly think that the Bible, which was transmitted through human beings, is totally perfect. I believe it to be the word of God and a fully inspired book, but not perfection."

The quote is from the famous and influential Pat Robertson. What does that sound like to you? To me it's total blasphemy! Would more blasphemy convince you? Read the following quotes from men you may or may not listen to (if you do listen to them please stop immediately).

"Until we comprehend that we are little gods and we begin to act like little gods, we cannot manifest the kingdom of God."

"When God looks in the mirror, He sees me! When I look in the mirror, I see God! Oh hallelujah!…"

"So I am God as much as your sons are Crouches. But certainly I'm not God, God, the creator God…."

"I AM A LITTLE GOD. I am a little god." "Critics, be gone!"

If you just read that statement and aren't shocked, shame on you! That statement was made in 1986, and unbelievably Mr. Crouch has not retracted, did not repent, nor apologized to God for one word it to this day! He is still on the air expanding his heresy to millions. Are you watching TBN? Do you tune in to see certain speakers? Words of advice, TURN IT OFF! These heretical false teaches and prophets of perverseness are not true, God's Word is. They have fallen to the lie of the serpent. Let's compare what they said to what God's Word says?

"And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil." (Genesis 3:4,5)

"And when the people saw what Paul had done, they lifted up their voices, saying in the speech of Lycaonia, The gods are come down to us in the likeness of men. And they called Barnabas, Jupiter; and Paul, Mercurius, because he was the chief speaker. Then the priest of Jupiter, which was before their city, brought oxen and garlands unto the gates, and would have done sacrifice with the people. [Which] when the apostles, Barnabas and Paul, heard [of], they rent their clothes, and ran in among the people, crying out, And saying, Sirs, why do ye these things? We also are men of like passions with you, and preach unto you that ye should turn from these vanities unto the living God, which made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all things that are therein." (Acts 14:11-15)

Now, if we were to be little gods or even a kind of God then this narrative would have been the perfect place to make such information known to us, but we see the very opposite. Once again we cry out with the Psalmist.

"Lift up thy feet unto the perpetual desolations; [even] all [that] the enemy hath done wickedly in the sanctuary." (Psalm 74:3)

and with Isaiah.

"The people of thy holiness have possessed [it] but a little while: our adversaries have trodden down thy sanctuary. We are [thine]: thou never barest rule over them; they were not called by thy name." (Isaiah 63:18,19)

The verse quoted above describes the next series of direct quotes perfectly.

"Satan conquered Jesus on the Cross."

"You're not looking at Morris Cerullo—you're looking at God. You're looking at Jesus."

"God has to be given permission to work in this earth…So, if man has control, who no longer has it? God."

Marilyn Hickey thinks that talking to your body will make it whole as New Age thinkers do.

"Say to your body, "you're whole, body…speak to your leg, or at your foot, or you're neck…"

"Some think that God made the earth out of nothing, but he didn't. He made it out of something…His words…."

"So, God cannot do anything on this earth unless we let Him."

God gives a solemn warning to these folks.

"Wherefore, [as] I live, saith the Lord GOD; Surely, because thou hast defiled my sanctuary with all thy detestable things, and with all thine abominations, therefore will I also diminish [thee]; neither shall mine eye spare, neither will I have any pity." (Ezekiel 5:11)

"Moreover this they have done unto me: they have defiled my sanctuary in the same day, and have profaned my sabbaths. For when they had slain their children to their idols, then they came the same day into my sanctuary to profane it; and, lo, thus have they done in the midst of mine house." (Ezekiel 23:38,39)

Read how God describes the blasphemers.

"Her prophets [are] light [and] treacherous persons: her priests have polluted the sanctuary, they have done violence to the law. The just LORD [is] in the midst thereof; he will not do iniquity: every morning doth he bring his judgment to light, he faileth not; but the unjust knoweth no shame." (Zephaniah 3:4,5)

It's bad enough that we have these perverse men and women speaking such things, but read who they really get it from.

M. Scott Peck a psychologist popular in "Christian and New Age circles says.

"God wants us to become Himself (or Herself or Itself)."

Here are a couple more heathens.

"We are as gods and might as well get good at it."

"When you call Jesus, really you have called me."

I will present a few more of these blasphemers in the hope that you will be aware of these deceivers and never fall into their deceptive and pernicious ways.

"That's who we are; we're Christ!"

"…brother, you're not looking at Morris Cerullo; you're looking at God. You're looking at Jesus."

"You don't have a god in you, you are one."

"I am a 'little messiah' walking on earth."

"I was shocked when I found out who the biggest failure in the Bible is…. The biggest failure in the whole Bible is God…."

"I face devils as the Son of God."

"Jesus Christ knew that the only way He would stop satan is by becoming one in nature with him."

As I was writing this message a book was placed on my desk to review, and once again, we cannot trust anything unless we are very careful to check it with God's Word. The book is very deceiving it gives no denomination, no background, no clear cut identification as to who the individuals are that back this book. The author is H.P. Mansfield whoever that is? And it was published in Australia the title is "Key to the Understanding of the Scriptures." In it we find, subtly mind you, glaring heresies. Many books, pamphlets, tracts, and tapes, web pages, etc. are like this so be careful.

On page 110 we find they believe:

"The early ecclesias were founded upon the doctrine of the unity of God and Jesus as the Son of God, not God the Son."

"There was a divinity in Jesus that we must not overlook." (p. 111)

"The Bible reveals Jesus to us not as God the Son, the second person of the trinity, but as "the MAN Christ Jesus." (p. 111)

"The Holy Spirit is the energy or power of God…the Holy Spirit is not a person, but the 'one spirit' of God used for special purposes." (pp. 113, 145)

"Though Jesus was in the mind and purpose of God from the very beginning, he had no corporal existence prior to his birth of the virgin Mary." (p. 114)

"Man is conscious in death and spends eternity either in heaven or tormented in hell is false." (p. 128)

"Jesus Christ is not God the Son, but is the Son of God." (p.145)

"In the death state man is entirely unconscious and must inevitably perish." (146)

Please remember the deceivers and heretics are out there just as strong as ever. Don't be fooled into their lies! In the last of days it will get worse and worse. 2 Timothy 3:13 teaches us.

"But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived."

Also remember Acts 20:29,30.

"For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them."

We can be sure and look to the promises in the future of the following verses.

"Then I heard one saint speaking, and another saint said unto that certain [saint] which spake, How long [shall be] the vision [concerning] the daily [sacrifice], and the transgression of desolation, to give both the sanctuary and the host to be trodden under foot? And he said unto me, Unto two thousand and three hundred days; then shall the sanctuary be cleansed."

"Now therefore, O our God, hear the prayer of thy servant, and his supplications, and cause thy face to shine upon thy sanctuary that is desolate, for the Lord's sake."

Stay strong in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, and be wise not being given over to the wolves in sheep's clothing of our day.

Amen?

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4-1-2000