Reflection from my message today at NRN - Breaking the Spirit of Asherah

Today was an emotional day for me at church today.  I preached a message that I am confident was God's will for me to share - however I know I reminded people of hurts and disappointments in life.
I hope the final points brought encouragement and joy to their spirits. Here are my reflections:

The ancient god of pleasure, Asherah, has invaded our ranks! The spirit behind the historic god has persuaded us that sexual purity is an outdated and foolish idea that should be replaced with the mentality of “If it feels good, do it!”  

Embracing God’s truth about sexuality and its beautiful place in the lives of his people, within the context of His parameters, will break the lying spirit of Asherah. 

Culture is changing – God does not change….

For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written: “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.”  Where is the wise man? Where is the scholar? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?                                                                                      1 Corinthians 1:18-20 

For the foolishness of God is wiser than man’s wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man’s strength.                                       1 Corinthians 1:25 

      If It Feels Good…

Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For everything in the world--the cravings of sinful man, the lust of    his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does--comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever.                                                                                            1 John 2:15-17

The Big Three

 MAMMON – god of POSSESSIONS. 

 BAAL – god of POWER.  

  ASHERAH  – god of  PLEASURE .  

They knew God, but they wouldn't worship him as God or even give him thanks. And they began to think up foolish ideas of what God was like. As a result, their minds became dark and confused. Claiming to be wise, they instead became utter fools…As a result, they did vile and degrading things with each other’s bodies. They traded the truth about God for a lie.                                                                                      Romans 1:21-25 NLT

3 examples of the lie:

 An   ANIMALISTIC  action.    

 A    RECREATIONAL  activity.    

 An  ISOLATED  event.  

Drink water from your own well— share your love only with your wife. Why spill the water of your springs in the streets, having sex with just anyone? You should reserve it for yourselves. Never share it with strangers. Let your wife be a fountain of blessing for you. Rejoice in the wife of your youth. She is a loving deer, a graceful doe. Let her breasts satisfy you always. May you always be captivated by her love. Why be captivated, my son, by an immoral woman, or fondle the breasts of a promiscuous woman? For the LORD sees clearly what a man does, examining every path he takes. An evil man is held captive by his own sins; they are ropes that catch and hold him. He will die for lack of self-control; he will be lost because of his great foolishness.                                         Proverbs 5:15-23 NLT

             Breaking the Spirit of Asherah                      

This is what the LORD says: “Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls.”                                                                                               Jeremiah 6:16

Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ himself? Shall I then take the members of Christ and unite them with a prostitute? Never! Do you not know that he who unites himself with a prostitute is one with her in body?  For it is said, “The two will become one flesh.” But he who unites himself with the Lord is one with him in spirit.”                                                                                    1 Corinthians 6:15-17

Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a man commits are outside his body, but he who sins sexually sins against his own body. Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor  God with your body.                                                                                               1 Corinthians 6:18-20

Honor GOD WITH YOUR BODY .

Here are my 3 take a ways to help us:

 

1.  REPENT .

Therefore come out from them and be separate, says the Lord. Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you. I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.                                2 Corinthians 6:17-18

2.  RECEIVE  forgiveness.

Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.                                      Isaiah 1:18

3.  REORDER  your life.

Since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God.                                                                                     2 Corinthians 7:1

Giving up something now for something better later

 isn't a SACRIFICE .          It’s an INVESTMENT.