The Danger of being a “Middle Ground” Christian
In Numbers 32. Moses spoke to those who chose to remain on the east side of Jordan. He tells them what God’s purposes and expectations were for them. It is in this context that we have the statement that was made in verse :23 .Be sure your sin will find you out!
Moses is speaking of one particular sin, that being a stubborn refusal to wholly follow the Lord! There are many sins that go unexposed here on earth and will be revealed only at the Judgment.
Paul said, in Romans 2:16. “In the day when God shall judge the secrets of man by Jesus Christ according to my gospel.” The Greek word used here for secrets is, “that which is hidden, concealed, covered up.”
The adulterer may hide his sin until judgment day. The thief may cover up his crimes and not get caught in this life. Wicked hearts, evil thoughts may remain unexposed before men. Hypocrisy may be hidden for years under a pretense of piety. But the sin of half-heartedness will always find you out here and now!
For the sake of this message I have called it middle ground!
Revelation 3:16 calls it being Lukewarm.
God commanded Israel: “Ye shall pass over Jordan to go in to possess the land which the Lord you God giveth you, and ye shall posses it, and dwell therein” (Deuteronomy 11:31). Their inheritance was on the other side of Jordan. It was over Jordan where God would choose a place to set up His tabernacle and that was Shiloh. There the Ark of the Covenant would rest, a symbol of the Lord’s presence among them.
Two crossings were necessary! Crossing the Red Sea was a type of leaving the world and all its idols and lust behind a clear type of conversion. The second crossing was the Jordan, which represents dying to self and going on into the fullness of Christ. Jordan in Hebrew means, “going down, subdued, laid low.” Actually, it represents death! Death to all that is unlike Christ all ambition, idolatry, self. The Jordan was a stream of death!
Between the two crossings was the territory of Gilead and Jazer which bordered the Jordan and the Land of Fullness. This is Middle Ground, a place of half surrender and it was totally indefensible. It was a most dangerous place to live, surrounded by heathen enemies, and it speaks of falling short of God’s ultimate place and purpose for His children.
Two and a half tribes Reuben, Gad and half of Manasseh felt most comfortable with this middle ground! They said, in essence, “This is as far as we go! This suits our lifestyle just fine! We’ve come a long way we’re tired give us Gilead Jazer. Let the rest go on we are going to settle here!”
>>Numbers 32:19 “For we will not inherit with them on yonder side of Jordan, or forward; because our inheritance is fallen to us this side of Jordan”.
>>Numbers 32:5 “Let this land be given unto thy servants for a possession, and bring us not over Jordan”.
This is not simply a history lesson about the struggles of Israel. These lessons “serve unto the example and shadow of heavenly things” (Hebrews 8:5). Paul said, “these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they lusted” (1 Corinthians 10:6). “Now all these things happened unto them for examples; and they are for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come” (2 Corinthians 10:11). In other words, this is history with a voice speaking to us!
This example of settling for middle ground speaks clearly to the lukewarm and compromise in the church today.
God is showing us in this tragic story, the terrible consequences of partial obedience. We see them in the first stages of starting out right, then just when death to everything of this world stares them in the face, they recoil. adaptability became their way of life!
The Scriptures show us vividly how their sin of settling on middle ground found them out. You will see these two and a half tribes eventually being overcome by the enemy; you will see them returning to idolatry ending up more wicked than when in Egypt.
Characteristics of Those On Middle Ground
Those who live on middle ground share certain characteristics! The characteristics of these two and a half tribes can also be found today in those who refuse to pulverize their idols and die to the world. Their Hebrew names reveal much.
Reuben means a son who sees! He was Jacob’s firstborn, but he lost his birthright because he was driven by lust. He went into his father’s concubine, and Jacob described his son Rueben as one “unstable as water thou shalt not excel” (Genesis 49:3).
Moses recognized these same weaknesses. His final prayer for Reuben was “Let Reuben live, and not die” (Deuteronomy 33:6). Moses was speaking prophetically, hoping and praying that the worldly spirit in this tribe would not one day bring them to ruin.
Reuben had eyes only for this world its lusts, its things, its pleasures. He was unstable because his heart was always divided, and this spirit was passed on to his posterity. Here was an entire tribe attached to the world and bent on having their own way.
Gad means fortune – troop! Or, soldiers of fortune mercenaries! Moses said of Gad “He provided the first part for himself” (Deuteronomy 33:21). This tribe was outwardly obedient “executing the justice of the Lord,” but the overriding characteristic was self-interest. Gad was consumed with its own problems the need to make it!
Gad’s philosophy is “I’ll fight with the Lord’s army; I’ll be obedient and do everything God expects of me. But first — I’ve got to get a stake in life. I need to get myself and family set up — Then I’ll be free to give and do more for the Lord!”
Here is the Christian who thinks — God expects me to take care of my family first — I’ve got to pay the bills. As soon as I see some daylight get ahead a little I’ll give the Lord more time.” Rebellion is the root of this kind of attitude. There is no burning desire to please only the Lord, to do His will absolutely and only. The Gad tribe is preoccupied with self-will, self-improvement, self-interests.
Manasseh means to forget, to neglect! This was Joseph’s firstborn son and he should have received the birthright. But even in his childhood there was a sad trait developing — and Jacob saw it in the spirit. Manasseh would one day forget the ways of his father Joseph and neglect the commandment of the Lord.
“And Israel stretched out his right hand, and laid it upon Ephraim’s head, who was the younger, and his left hand upon Manasseh’s head, guiding his hand deliberately; for Manasseh was the firstborn. And when Joseph saw that his father laid his right hand upon the head of Ephraim, it displeased him: and he held up his father’s hand, to remove this father refused, and said, I know it, my son, I know it and he set Ephraim before Manasseh” (Genesis 48:14,17,18-21).
How close to God Israel (Jacob) must have been how clearly directed by the Holy Spirit he was. He foresaw the coming of a spirit of division to this posterity! It was to become a tribe only half consecrated to the fullness of God!
Ironically, this tribe carried with them a constant reminder to go all the way with God. They carried Joseph’s casket, with his bones to be buried beyond Jordan. “And Joseph took an oath of the children of Israel, saying, God will surely visit you, and ye shall carry my bones from hence” (Genesis 50:25). “And Moses took the bones of Joseph with him” (Exodus 13:19).
For years that casket reminded Manasseh — “Go all the way with God – cross the Jordan — into fullness” The bones go in — half of Manasseh does not!
Consider these combined traits of middle ground Christians: unstable as water in spiritual convictions; never excelling in the things of God; lukewarm, weak with lust; ruled by selfish needs; neglecting the Word; not taking the Lord’s commandments seriously; making their own choices instead of trusting God; forgetting His past blessings and dealings; unwilling to let go of certain idols; justifying their own decisions; not willing to die to all that would seduce them back to middle ground!
Middle Ground Christian Become Stubborn and Self-willed
Middle ground people develop a very stubborn self-will, one that even a Moses can’t change! They said “This is a place for cattle and thy servants have cattle” (Numbers 32:1,4). God’s will God’s word, was not even considered! They looked at those green pastures, at their herds of cattle, and said “This ours! We go no further!”
Moses was indignant “Ye are risen up in your Father’s stead, descendants of evil men, to augment the anger of the Lord toward Israel” (Numbers 32:7,14).
Their answer “You just don’t understand!” What they were actually saying was this, “We love the fellowship we are not going back to our old sins. We plan to walk in obedience to the Lord we will stand with you and fight the Devil but we don’t want to live like that. We have our own ideas about serving God.” Moses could reprove them as hard as he chose as long as he did not try to change their minds! “We will pass over armed before the Lord into the Land of Canaan, that the possession of our inheritance on this side of Jordan may be ours!” (Numbers 32:32).
They were saying “We still want to walk with you but we have decided to do things our way.” You see that same spirit today among those who refuse the way of the Cross. “I don’t criticize Christians who want to live like saints, giving up things, living so strict, denying themselves but that is just not for me. I’m just as good I may not show it, or act it, but I’m no sinner. I’ve got my own ideas about holiness and walking with God!”
They were putting career ahead of Christ! Family ahead of God! “We will build sheepfolds here for our cattle, and cities for our little ones, sour little ones shall dwell in the fenced cities because of the inhabitants of the land” (Numbers 32:16,17). “Our little ones, our wives, our flocks, and all our cattle, shall be there in the cities of Gilead” (Numbers 32:26).
Should they be commended for providing so well for their children and wives? No! They were keeping their families on middle ground robbing them of their true inheritance. They should have taken them all over Jordan. That was where the spiritual authority was under Joshua who was led by the captain of the Lord’s hosts. It was over Jordan where the Ark was, representing the presence of the Lord.
They should have been there to see the walls of Jericho fall. They should have tasted the grapes of Eschol, the honey of the land. They should have been taken on into the fullness of the Lord.
These misguided middle ground fathers thought that love, protection, and no privations would hold their children and family together! So they built high fences to keep them secure gave them all they needed and assured them they were loved. But they underestimated their danger!
Here is the great tragedy of those who won’t go all the way with God. They destroy their loved ones grandparents, mates, children! Jesus warned, “ye entered not in yourselves, and them that were entering, ye hindered” (Luke 11:52).
Here is where their sin found them out! Love was not enough. Overprotecting them from the enemy was not enough. Having all they needed was not enough. They doomed their families by settling on middle ground. Middle ground people are the first to be judged! These defenseless people were overrun by the enemy. “In those days the Lord began to cut Israel short; and Hazael smote them in all the coasts of Israel; from Jordan eastward all the land of Gilead, the Gadites, the Reubenites, and the Manassites” (2 Kings 10:32,33). Their children became idol worshippers. Their wives were prostituted and became heathen in all their ways. All spiritual desire was lost and they became morally and physically devastated.
Let me warn parents to cross the Jordan and be crucified to this world and all its things. If you refuse to go on in God and instead permit compromise in your life or home, settling down on some middle ground of luke-warmness you will live to see the day your sin will be visited upon your family!
You will lose God’s anointing in your own life and the devil will plunder your household. Your children and family will fall into the temptations of the world. You will have sorrow upon sorrow trouble upon trouble because you settled on unholy ground!
Giving up the Presence of God
Those who settle on middle ground give up the presence of God for a mere confession of faith. The battles were now over, and “the Lord gave unto Israel all the land which he swore to give to their fathers; and they possessed it, and dwelt there” (Joshua 21:43). It was time for the two and a half tribes to go back to where their heart was.
We come now to one of the saddest episodes of this story. “And the children of Reuben and the children of Gad and the half tribe Manasseh returned, and departed from the children of Israel, out of Shiloh, which is in Canaan, to go into the country of Gilead, to the land of their possession” (Joshua 22:9).
Here is the cause of all division going back to middle ground! Who caused this division? Not those who went on with God not those who followed the Ark of His presence not those who obeyed God wholly. It was caused by those who were “sensual, separating themselves, having not the Spirit!” (Jude 19).
Division is caused by those “who went out from us because they were not with us” Paul said, “Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world” Worldliness causes the division. Those going back cause it! All present day division is caused by those who refuse to hold to Christ the head, by those who turn away from the demands of the cross, who reject the self-denial and obedience of the narrow way.
Those who settle for middle ground must build an altar to contrived unity – called Ed! “And when they came to the borders of Jordan they built there a great altar to see to at the passage of the children of Israel and called the altar Ed: for it shall be a witness between us that the Lord is God” (Joshua 22:10,11,34).
This altar represented their cry for unity. It was a positive confession from a whole class of middle ground Christians seeking to keep their identity with those who were already walking in unity on God’s side of the Jordan.
What doctrinal and spiritual confusion it caused! What division it created almost ending in a full scale war among God’s people. All created by middle ground Christians.
All Israel gathered at Shiloh “to go up to war against them” (Joshua 22:12). Eleazar, the priest, with ten princes approached the altar of contrived unity. They said to the middle ground people, “”..if your possession be unclean, then pass over unto the land of the possession of the Lord wherein the Lord’s tabernacle dwelleth and take possession among us but don’t rebel against the Lord or us” (Joshua 22:19).
The message was clear. “If you fear there is division among us come back over Jordan. We are united. God’s presence unites us. Come into the fullness and dwell with us in peace but why another altar? Why Ed? There is only one altar of unity the tabernacle of His holiness.”
Beloved those who move on into the blessed fullness and holiness of Christ know nothing of division. There are no Baptists or Assemblies of God or schism in His holy presence. No middle wall, no barriers! All is Christ and His holiness.
They needed visible proof of unity with God’s chosen. It was an altar built by fear fear of not being a part of God’s movement! There was a sense in them that they were going to be left out of the Lord’s eternal purpose for His people. “We have done it for fear of this thing in time to come your children might speak unto our children, saying, what have ye to do with the Lord God of Israel ye have no part in the Lord” (Joshua 22:24,27).
What a sad commentary! They must have foreseen a time coming when the only evidence left that God was with them, or that they were united with Him was a pile of stones a mere confession. Their children could see the altar Ed and confess “By this I know I am one of them!”
Wherever there is deptarture from God’s plan wherever men settle for the earthly and sensual wherever Christians are no longer in one place, in one accord, in the upper room of separation with Christ there is contrived unity there is empty, stone-cold confession.
If you are among believers who are going on “wholly set on the Lord” you will feel left out if you are on middle ground. You will accuse others of being “holier-than-thou!” You will accuse them of being cliquish. You can try as you will to be one of them but it won’t work! You are the cause! You removed yourself from God’s ordained place of victory, unity and spiritual power.
The sin of being half hearted will surely find you out even in this lifetime.
Enemies will arise and harass on all sides there will not be strength or discernment to deal with overpowering onslaughts of Satan.
There will be a loss of joy and peace with God. Spiritual life will degenerate day by day.
The presence of the Lord will be lost, and what sets in is hopelessness.
How much better, how much safer to go on with those who want the Lord’s fullness.
God’s desire for all of us is to enter a place of rest, joy and peace in the Holy Ghost.
That requires following Him “with all the heart, all the strength.”
Abiding
“The Trial of Your Faith” has a Divine Eternal Purpose [podcast]
“Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.” Acts 14:22
“It is through much trial and tribulations that we are made pure, holy, and clean in His sight by the working of his Spirit in our hearts to conform us to Christ Image.” Jon Crane
The trials God allows into our lives, purify – but only as we praise, worship, thank, and obey Him through those seasons of tribulations.
“That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: 8 Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: 9 Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.” 1 Peter 1:7-9
God is Purifying His Kingdom Saints
“Behold, I have refined thee, but not with silver; I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction.” Isaiah 48:10
“Gold tried in the fire” refers to a spiritual metaphor, primarily from the Bible, that describes how difficult trials and hardships purify and strengthen one’s faith, revealing and removing hidden impurities like bitterness or pride, similar to how fire removes impurities from gold to make it purer and more valuable. It encourages believers to view challenges as opportunities for spiritual growth, resulting in a more genuine, tested, and valuable faith.”
“I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see. 19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.” Revelation 3:18-19
“Purify the sons” – Christ’s kingdom disciples
“And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the LORD an offering in righteousness.” Malachi 3:3
We should not be surprised by the trials and sufferings of all true disciple of Jesus.
“But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold. 11 My foot hath held his steps, his way have I kept, and not declined. 12 Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food.” Job 23:10-12
“the fiery trial which is to try you”
“Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: 13 But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy. 14 If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified.” 1 Peter 4:12-14
As we abide in Christ, bearing fruit, He will continue to purge us so that we bring forth even more fruit.
“Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.” John 15:2
In the fiery trials, Job declared:
“Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him.” Job 13:15
Being purified, remaining true to God no matter what adversity he face guaranteed that Job would see God…
“For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth:” Job 19:25
Only “the pure in heart” are going to see, to be with God in eternity.
“Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.” Matthew 5:8
“This verse is not for the hypocrites. Who play being a Christian on Sunday mornings. This is for the honest remnant who sit at His feet and pour out their hearts. As David did in Psalm 51. Asking God to create in them a clean heart! The ones Jesus is coming back for without any spot of sin. Let us draw near to God having our hearts and conscience washed with the pure water!” Karen Cochran
“Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried” Daniel 12:10
“And such as do wickedly against the covenant shall he corrupt by flatteries: but the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits. 33 And they that understand among the people shall instruct many: yet they shall fall by the sword, and by flame, by captivity, and by spoil, many days. 34 Now when they shall fall, they shall be holpen with a little help: but many shall cleave to them with flatteries. 35 And some of them of understanding shall fall, to try them, and to purge, and to make them white, even to the time of the end: because it is yet for a time appointed.” Daniel 11:32-35
“Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried; but the wicked shall do wickedly: and none of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand.” Daniel 12:10
The trial of our faith is for the salvation of our eternal souls. Let me explain: No, we are not earning our own salvation and yet the LORD is working in our lives to purify us to be presented to Him as His bride.
The people, the church Jesus is returning for:
“… Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; 26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, 27 That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.” Ephesians 5:25-27
The trial of our faith is for the salvation of our eternal souls. No, we are not earning them and yet the LORD is working in our lives to purify them to be presented to Him as His bride.
“And some of them of understanding shall fall, to try them, and to purge, and to make them white, even to the time of the end: because it is yet for a time appointed.” Daniel 11:35
They “shall fall” and God is going “to try them, and to purge, and to make them white.”
Of this verse, one source notes the following:
“The verse begins by stating that “some of them of understanding shall fall.” This is a reference to the wise and learned individuals in Israel who will suffer and be persecuted. This suffering is meant to “try them, and to purge, and to make them white.” The use of the word “try” suggests that the suffering is a test, a way to prove the true character and faith of the people. The word “purge” has connotations of purification, removing impurities or unwanted elements. This suffering is a means of refining the people, making them stronger and more steadfast in their faith. The phrase “to make them white” suggests that through this process of suffering and purification, the people will be made pure, clean, and righteous in the eyes of God.”
HOW do we know, how can we discern who Christ’s true remnant, His bride is?
“Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. 8 And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints. 9 And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God.” Revelation 19:7-9
We know the true bride by their adherence to Christ. They are about the “Father’s business” as they are accomplishing the Great Commission Jesus gave His people:
“And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.” Revelation 22:17
YOUR PRAYER: Dear LORD I know You are going to chasten, try, scourge, and purge my life in order to purify it for Your acceptance and glory as I know You are Holy, holy, holy. Please multiply Your enabling, heart softening grace to this life You gave Father. Bless me to endure hardness as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. Your grace is sufficient for You to be glorified in this life no matter what. I love You LORD and am living to see You soon, for Your soon return. In Jesus’ name.
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Guest contributor. Contrary to the artwork in this video, there are no female angels.
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Apostasy
The Truth about Yoga [podcast]
Yoga brings demon possession which keeps the person captive to the lie – that they have to do their little séance breathing technique. They have to keep doing their little witchcraft drill. That’s just it – it doesn’t work.
Your silly little yoga pose won’t forgive your sins, give you peace, or save you from going to hell.
“Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord’s table, and of the table of devils. 22 Do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? are we stronger than he?” 1 Corinthians 10:21-22
WHAT kind of absolute pansy of a “man” feels like a man after doing yoga? Get a clue. NO ONE needs yoga to stretch and work out. That’s what gyms are for. Delusional. God is calling you to repent and get a spine.
DABBLE WITH YOGA AND YOU’VE GOT DEMONS!
The devil is slick…and sick…. yet can only fool those who are outside God’s will (James 4:7). Example: WHO ever said one needs yoga for relaxation or exercise? Delusional. Repent and break all bonds with this demonically-yoking practice.
There’s no such thing as a Christian who does yoga.
ANY person doing yoga has demons! Any company or organization promoting or allowing it, is demonic. 100%. Repent now sinner.
Yoga is a diabolical placebo, a cheap substitute for what you truly need. You need Jesus to forgive your sins, sinner. Turn to Him in humility and in full repentance.
It doesn’t matter how widespread the advertising push is for yoga, it’s still witchcraft. Why add the witchcraft? What’s Revelation 12:12 say?
“Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time.” Revelation 12:12
by Debbie Lord
DID YOU KNOW?
The serpent (Satan) described in Genesis 3 as the most subtle of all beasts of the field, has deceptively presented yoga to the world as “innocent” exercise and “a positive” experience just as he did when he approached Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, challenging God’s words, in essence calling Him a liar: “Hath God said?”… and thus begins the elevating of the creation over the Creator.
All around us, the name of our most holy God is taken in vain, while the popularity of yoga (the worship of beasts, nature, Hindu gods etc.) increases. A shift like this doesn’t just happen casually or by coincidence. The Enemy of our souls is at work 24/7 scheming his way into our societies by dethroning The One True God (the Creator of the universe and everything in it) by deceiving us into physically paying homage and bowing down to other gods by elevating the creation above the Creator through the practice of yoga.
The practice of yoga has become so common in the U.S. and the western world that we see the motions and concepts all around us on TV, in commercials, movies, all forms of entertainment media and in our every-day lives. It is common to see someone strike a yoga pose or put the palms of their hands together and make a bowing gesture. It appears so kind, gentle and gracious … innocent, right? Here is the real meaning and the root from which this position is derived:
“Namaste”—the word spoken in conjunction with the bow—”translated roughly, means ‘I bow to the God within you,’ or ‘The Spirit within me salutes the Spirit in you’—a knowing that we are all made from the same One Divine Consciousness.“ Urban Dictionary
Yoga means “to yoke with.” Just exactly who or what are you “yoking with”?
Portions of article by Julie Roys:
The word yoga is problematic. Yoga means “to yoke.”… using the word begs the question, “Yoked to whom?” …the postures and techniques of yoga were designed to be offerings to the millions of Hindu gods. But ultimately, yoga was intended to yoke a person to the so-called “Lord of Yoga” – Shiva, the destroyer. …these realities make yoga, regardless of how it’s packaged, incompatible with Christianity.
Quotes from The Chopra Center:
“When you bow your head and say namasté at the end of a yoga practice, you have the chance to do more than simply mark the ending of the session. In fact, a spiritual revelation is on the other side of a truly felt namaste.”
“One of the most common translations of namasté is ‘The divine light in me bows to the divine light within you,’ and ‘I honor the place in you where the entire universe dwells.'”
All of the above fly in the face of the Truth of God as Creator of the universe and everything in it, and that we humans are God’s creation (not the Creator) as told to us in His holy Word—the Bible. God is holy “set apart” and “other than.”
“Hinduism is pantheistic and teaches that god is in everything — its 330 million gods, plants, animals, and every human being. So, to salute the divine in another person makes total sense to a Hindu.
“Christianity, however, teaches that God is transcendent and distinct from His creation. Though it’s true that the Holy Spirit resides in each believer, the Holy Spirit does not bow to himself in other believers saying, … ‘That light in me honors that light in you.’ According to Scripture, the Holy Spirit honors the Father and the Son. And a Christian’s worship, though emerging from within him, should always be directed upward and outward. So, the Psalmist says, ‘I will praise thee, O Lord, among the people: I will sing unto thee among the nations.’ In Christianity, we, the creature, direct our worship to the Creator.” Author Unknown
The yoga fad that is exploding in popularity world-wide is more than a passing fad, it is one more step toward the slippery slope of the Christ-denying apostasy of the church.
You may say: “Yoga exercises help my body. It works for me.” But by what power is it working? Satan is setting the stage for the great deception of the world and the church for false miracles in the end times.
“Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil;” Isaiah 5:20
Quote from John Edmiston: “The end-times religion will be both idolatrous and magical. Idolatry is the substitution of the creature for the Creator. Magic is any system that claims to give people access to God’s power without having to accept God’s will.” John Edmiston, False Miracles in The End Times
Yes, there are many professing Christians who fail to understand the origins and power at the root of the practice of yoga. And yes, there are several different kinds of yoga, however, they all have the same origin and root.
At the very root of every kind of yoga, each physical posture is pointing toward, bringing attention to (worshiping) and is even named after an animal, an element of nature and false gods.
Yoga has its roots in Hinduism, which espouses that “God” is in every living thing and so the creation itself should be worshiped.
If you say: “Well, to me it’s just stretching, concentration, balance and strengthening exercises” . . . then why is the class named “Yoga”?
Why would you choose to knowingly, intentionally engage in a practice that has at its core, denial of the supremacy of the very God you say you believe in, and by participation are giving your body over to worship other gods—even Satan himself?
Quote from wikipedia regarding one kind of yoga—Kundalini Yoga
“It was adopted as a technical term in Hatha yoga during the 15th century, and became widely used in the Yoga Upanishads by the 16th century. Eknath Easwaran has paraphrased the term as ‘the coiled power’, a force which ordinarily rests at the base of the spine, described as being ‘coiled there like a serpent.’”
“Coiled like a serpent.”
Again, just who or what are you “yoking with”?
“Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?” 2 Corinthians 6:14
How many times have you heard “I just take the class for the exercise—I’m real careful to stay away from the spiritual part of it.”
How can that even be possible when the very positions (poses) themselves are based on positions that focus on/elevate an animal, nature or a Hindu god?
How can you separate one from the other?
“Choose you this day whom ye will serve” (Joshua 24:15).
“What? Know ye not that your BODY is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: Therefore glorify God in your BODY, and in your spirit which are God’s.” 1 Corinthians 6:19-20
If you are a Christian who participates in “harmless” yoga exercises, are you asking the Holy Ghost within you to worship a Hindu god or a creature rather than the Creator, the One True God? Do you think the Holy Ghost is going to stick around for that?
“And the very God of peace sanctify you WHOLLY, and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and BODY be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it.” 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24
Are you willfully, not only limiting but actually rebelling against the Lord’s sanctification in your spirit, soul and body?
“I beseech ye therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye PRESENT YOUR BODIES A LIVING SACRIFICE, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And BE NOT CONFORMED TO THIS WORLD: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” Romans 12:1-2
How can you as a Christian do one thing in your spirit and do exactly the opposite with your body? Impossible.
“But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. 7 For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. 8 A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.” James 1:6-8
You may have heard the saying by Hudson Taylor: “Christ is either Lord of all or He is not Lord at all.”
“No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other.” Matthew 6:24
“Choose you this day whom you will serve.” See Joshua 24:14-16
Still some will say: “Well, still, in my spirit, I’m not serving the gods of Hinduism, I’m praying to the one true God all the time I’m doing yoga”
Read Romans 12:1 again (above).
So, is it important what you willfully choose for your body do?
The Apostle Paul said: “But I keep under my BODY and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway” (1 Corinthians 9:27).
What chances are you willing to take, how far are you willing to go even if the consequence of your choice may result in being cast away from God?
Are you willing to risk being cast away from God and His presence for eternity?
Even if you can’t bring yourself to think there’s a possibility that what is put forth in this article is true and should be applied to your life and exercise routine, are you really ready to gamble with your eternal destination by continuing to willfully, purposely engage in yoga exercise?
There are alternatives. There are classes out there that engage in stretching, cardio, balance and strengthening exercises that do not have their roots in the practice of yoga. Prayerfully seek them out.
Hint: The word “Yoga” will not be anywhere in the title of the class.
Yoga is Satanic | Kundalini Witchcraft in the Church
UPDATE FROM SISTER DEBBIE LORD:
Had good time of fellowship with the 2 ladies that came over this afternoon.
Conversation moved to the practice of yoga!
So, we had our first Bible study together and prayed
a prayer of repentance, deliverance and cleansing of its
effects. We included all of us in the prayer and it was
especially for one lady who expressed verbally her horror
at what she had done in participating in yoga in any way.
The Holy Spirit had already been preparing her heart.
This revelation re yoga triggered another question about “rock stacking” (Cairns) so we looked into it together and found that they have many meanings — one is simply for hiking trail directions so you don’t get lost, but have also been used for centuries for burial and other ritual ceremonies. Schools have used the practice of building Cairns inside the classroom so that their students can “reflect on themselves and realize what their priorities in life are, a form of meditation tool.” Idol worship and witchcraft.
This info caused us to pray for increased Holy Spirit discernment and awareness of what’s going on around us in this world — including the church world.
YOGA IS SATANIC: IF you’re doing yoga, you’ve got demons. Repent and denounce it now.
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