Pastor Frank DeFusco
In Ephesians 6:11-12, Paul advises the believer to “Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes for our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.”
When Paul wrote this letter to the church in Ephesus, the Greco-Romans worshipped 12 major gods plus thousands of local deities. In Athens alone, it’s recorded that there were more idols worshipped than there were people. One of Satan’s schemes is to have people worshipping false idols that Paul says are “nothing” (1 Corinthians 10:19). Then in verse 20 he reminds them that bowing to an idol is the “worshipping of devils.”
Now you’ve heard it said that “nature abhors a vacuum,” as does the supernatural. So, when mankind, who by his nature seeks objects to worship, removes God from his worship, the void will be filled by something or someone else. Thus, Jesus says in Luke 11:24-26, “When an impure spirit comes out of a person, it goes through arid places seeking rest and does not find it. Then it says, “I will return to the house I left.” When it arrives, it finds the house swept clean and put in order. Then it goes and takes seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they go in and live there. And the final condition of that person is worse than the first.” Dare I say this is the situation that America finds itself in today. Before Christianity, America was filled with peoples who practiced various forms of pagan worship. These practices and the impure spirits that were worshipped had been virtually “cleaned out” for centuries. But arguably, starting in the 20th century, the worship of our Lord has been in free-fall.
Messianic Jew Jonathan Cahn, in his book, “Return of the Gods,” reveals how Baal, Ishtar, and Molech, gods from the ancient Middle East, have resurfaced to fill America’s spiritual void. There’s Baal, whose name means, “Master, the Lord, and Possessor” who turned Israel, and now America from God to false gods, from truth to lies. Next is Ishtar, a goddess, the seductress of unbridled sexuality, lust, prostitution, and pornography. Lastly, we have Molech, the Destroyer, infamous for child sacrifices. Don’t be deceived, Christian. We can gear up and pray or be the prey.
Pastor Frank teaches Bible Study on Tuesdays at 10 a.m. in the Pima/Toltec rooms in the Sports Club building. Call Ellen at 610-428-7244 for any questions.