Foreign gods

This section of the Ministry Guide relates to the Spiritual History Information Form
Part A. Please refer to questions 1, 2, and 3 and your responses.

SECTION OUTLINE
Foreign gods
     Dealing with people involved with false gods and the occult
          Steps for dealing with foreign gods and religions
          A sample prayer of renunciation

A. Foreign gods

The first commandment is that we have no other gods except the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. When we come to meet with God we must put away all the foreign gods we have picked up along the way. We must purify ourselves and "change our garments." Then God will put fear into the hearts of our enemies. The account of Jacob as he left his uncle’s home and was bringing his family back to his homeland, is an example of this principle. At a place he called Bethel, he had met with God; the heavens had been opened to him there, with the angels of God ascending and descending between heaven and earth. Now Jacob and his household were going to return to his homeland, stopping at Bethel on their way. Genesis 35:2-5 says:

"Then Jacob said unto his household, and to all that were with him, Put away the strange gods that are among you, and be clean, and change your garments: And let us arise, and go up to Bethel; and I will make there an altar unto God, who answered me in the day of my distress, and was with me in the way which I went.

And they gave unto Jacob all the strange gods which were in their hand, and all their earrings which were in their ears; and Jacob hid them under the oak which was by Shechem. And they journeyed: and the terror of God was upon the cities that were round about them, and they did not pursue after the sons of Jacob." (KJV, italics added)

As we pray with people, one of their first acts must be to renounce all other gods and non-Christian religions or groups they have been involved with. All attachments with these gods must be destroyed. We must rely on the righteousness of Christ as our only garment through which we can approach our Holy God. "All our righteousness is as filthy rags," the Bible says in Isaiah 64:6.

We must rid our homes of any objects from these non-Christian religions or groups. When the children of Israel went into the promised land, God warned them:

"The graven images of their gods shall ye burn with fire: thou shalt not desire the silver or gold that is on them, nor take it unto thee, lest thou be snared therein: for it is an abomination to the LORD thy God. Neither shalt thou bring an abomination into thine house, lest thou be a cursed thing like it: but thou shalt utterly detest it, and thou shalt utterly abhor it; for it is a cursed thing." (Deuteronomy 7:25-26, KJV)

When the people at Ephesus had an encounter with the reality of evil, they confessed their sins and destroyed their objects and books on magic (Acts 19:17-19). We have had many experiences in which children were tormented at night because an object relating to another religion was in their home; they were freed from the torment after the sin was confessed and the object removed. People who use "good luck" charms, or who involve them-selves with new age practices like reading horoscopes, tea leaves, palms, etc., are opening themselves to receiving impressions from demonic spirits, and are inviting evil to be present with them.

The Bible says that when we open ourselves to these foreign gods, or give them place in our lives, their presence will be visited upon us for up to four generations. (Exodus 20:5) If these foreign gods or non-Christian groups have been welcomed into the blood family, (parents, grandparents, great-grand-parents, etc.) these sins must be renounced and confessed.

Some might take issue with some of the groups listed on the form. Churches have welcomed groups like free-masonry, college fraternities, and 12-step groups into their organizations. We have more detailed information on the non-Christian practices, beliefs and confessions of these groups. Suffice it to say here that Jesus might be acknowledged in some of the meetings of these groups, but other gods are also reverenced, and Jesus is perceived as but one of the gods. In these groups, Jesus is also "limited" in what He can do. According to AA, for example, He is not able to deliver the person from excessive use of alcohol. The person is therefore always subject to the demon of alcohol, which remains with the individual and in the church. In some of these groups people express a brotherhood with others who have as their father the devil. In freemasonry for example, the person may take his oaths using either a Bible or the Koran. The AA Big Book states that the "great spirit" of the Indians is present at all AA meetings. In college fraternities, songs are sung to Greek gods and goddesses.

This is a brief look at some of the problems with these groups. Please feel free to contact us if you need more detailed information on some of the non-Christian practices or origins of any of the groups on the Spiritual History Information Form, Part A, Questions 1 or 2.

Dealing with People Involved with False gods and the Occult

When people have been involved with any of the things on the list in Part A, Questions 1 & 2 of the Spiritual History Information Form, they have opened their spirit to the influence of demons. This does not necessarily mean that a demon lives within them, although that might be the case. It does mean that the door has been opened for a demonic being to oppress or influence their spirit and/or their thoughts and behavior. These spirits have the God-given right to harass and oppress them and their succeeding generations. (Deuteronomy 20:5)

The person must confess his sin, and those of his generations, asking God for cleansing and for removal of the evil spirits. The words or impressions received from these spirits must also be renounced. The person (or the one ministering) should then command the spirits of darkness to leave. This cleanses the spirit of the person.

Then we should pray for the Holy Spirit to fill the person, and speak the Word of God to the person to counteract the words of the other spirits. The degree and depth that this procedure should be followed is based on the degree of involvement the person has had with the false religions or the occult. They should renounce and repent of any specific ungodly beliefs and practices that come to mind.

All books, pendants, charms, and materials produced by these religions must also be destroyed, as in Acts 19:19-20.

We should provide explanations of the truths of Christianity, relative to their false religion, to the person who has been involved with a false religion. Many tools are available at Christian bookstores for this purpose. There are books that go into great detail concerning false religions, and there are charts comparing the basic doctrines of the world’s major religions. These materials should help the practitioner of the false religion to renounce with understanding the ways of the false religion he was involved in.

The practices of the occult may be more difficult to discover. By its very nature, occult things are hidden. People who practice such things are often deceived and are seeking power or help relative to their needs for spiritual direction, for provision, or for protection from their enemies. Deuteronomy 18 lists some of the occult practices of the people who lived in the land of Canaan before the Israelites went into the land:

"There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch, Or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer. For all that do these things are an abomination unto the LORD: and because of these abominations the LORD thy God doth drive them out from before thee." (Deuteronomy18:10-12 KJV)

People who use occult practices and rely on revelation from those who contact the spirits of Satan’s kingdom are subjecting them-selves to satanic influences in this life and to God’s wrath. Rather than seeking revelation, provision, and protection from the occultic means, we are instructed to listen to God’s Person through whom He will speak and reveal all things--His Son Jesus Christ. Jesus is God’s final, complete revelation to mankind. He has spoken and is still speaking today. We are commanded to listen to Him. The Bible says:

"For these nations, which thou shalt possess, hearkened unto observers of times, and unto diviners: but as for thee, the LORD thy God hath not suffered thee so to do. The LORD thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto him ye shall hearken;" (Deuteronomy 18:14-15 KJV)

"See that ye refuse not him that speaketh. For if they escaped not who refused him that spake on earth, much more shall not we escape, if we turn away from him that speaketh from heaven:" (Hebrews 12:25 KJV)

All of our communication with the spirit world must be through Jesus and through the Holy Spirit of God. Jesus said:

"Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come." (John 16:13 KJV)

God has spoken through prophets who wrote the Bible. This is and will be God’s only written Word. God is speaking today from heaven through Jesus and through His indwelling Holy Spirit. We are commanded to hear all that God is speaking.

Steps for dealing with foreign gods and religions:

1. Confess the sin of involvement with other gods, religions, or the occult. Name the gods and/or groups specifically

2. Renounce all other gods and non-Christian groups or religions you have been involved with

3. Ask the Lord to reveal to you the wrong beliefs you received in that group or religion

4. Renounce all wrong beliefs you’re aware of

5. Ask the Lord to cleanse and free you from all influences of those things

6. Ask God to replace the wrong beliefs with His truth

7. In Jesus’ Name, command all spirits associated with the false religions to leave

8. Thank God for forgiving, cleansing, and freeing you

9. Ask the Father in Jesus’ Name to fill you with His Holy Spirit

10. Destroy any objects related to these false gods or religions (i.e. statues, jewelry, pictures, amulets, books, masonic rings or aprons, etc.) Render them incapable of being picked up and used by someone else.

A Sample Prayer of Renunciation:

Father, I come to You through Jesus Christ Your Son. I believe that He has died for me, to pay for my sins and to provide forgiveness and cleansing for me through His shed blood. I acknowledge Him as my Savior and choose to live for Him as my only Lord. Please forgive me for my sins and cleanse me with His blood. Send Your Holy Spirit to live within me to empower me.

I confess my sins of involvement with the occult and/or with false religions. In particular I confess my sins of involvement with ______ (mention by name each group, sect, or activity). I renounce the spirits that are behind such activity. In particular I renounce the spirits of ______ (mention by name the name of the group or sect or false doctrine).

Holy Spirit, reveal to me the false beliefs I received through this group. [Allow time for the Lord to bring things to mind.] In Jesus’ Name, I renounce the following beliefs: _____.

I ask you to cleanse me from all these things and to free me from their influence and that of the demonic spirits associated with them. Thank You that Your Word says that if we confess our sins, You are faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Please fill me with Your truth to replace the falsehoods I have believed.

I take authority over all demonic spirits that I have renounced, and in Jesus’ name I command them to leave. I say to the spirits of ________ (mention each by name): ‘I command you in the Name of Jesus to be gone.’ (This last phrase of taking authority over the evil spirits may be done by the person involved or by another Christian.)

Father, fill me with Your Spirit and write Your ways on my heart so that I can live for You. In Jesus’ name I pray.

NOTES

Cyrus Ministries International (CMI)

Serving God as He Unites Heaven and Earth in Christ