TRADITION OF MEN: Pastor Isaac Olutimehin

TEXT: Acts 17:22-30 KJV.

Then Paul stood in the midst of Mars’ hill, and said, Ye men of Athens, I perceive that in all things ye are too superstitious.

[23] For as I passed by, and beheld your devotions, I found an altar with this inscription, TO THE UNKNOWN GOD . Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, him declare I unto you.

[24] God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands;

[25] Neither is worshipped with men’s hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things;

[26] And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation;

[27] That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us:

[28] For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring.

[29] Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man’s device.

[30] And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:

MESSAGE.

☆☆☆ Christians have no superstitious beliefs like the gentiles as seen in our text.
☆☆☆ Our faith is built on the Word of God.
☆☆☆ In this study, our discussion shall center on “superstition” as a taboo.

SUPERSTITION: A TABOO FOR BELIEVERS.

☆☆☆ What is superstition?

☆☆☆ The English Dictionary defined superstition as an irrational belief arising from ignorance or fear.

☆☆☆ It is fear that makes unbelievers to belief in the existence of certain gods who they think have powers to afflict them if they disobey its rules.

☆☆☆ Anyone who believes in superstition is not a child of God.

☆☆☆ Ignorance in the existence of the true God makes people to believe in superstitions.

☆☆☆ Back to our text:

☆☆☆ How could people believe and be worshipping an image with an inscription

“TO AN UNKNOWN GOD”

☆☆☆ Many today are still worshipping unknown gods.

☆☆☆ The bibles declares that God is a Spirit and they that worship him must worship him in truth and in spirit.

“God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth” – John 4:24.

☆☆☆ God as a Spirit being, dwells not in “temples” built by the hands of men.

For the bible says:

“Howbeit the most High dwelleth not in temples made with hands; as saith the prophet”,
[49] “Heaven is my throne, and earth is my footstool: what house will ye build me? saith the Lord: or what is the place of my rest? – Acts 7:48-49.

☆☆☆ Even if God chooses to dwell in houses built by men, who can build a house that will contain our God?

Again the bible declares:

“But who is able to build him an house, seeing the heaven and heaven of heavens cannot contain him? who am I then, that I should build him an house, save only to burn sacrifice before him? – 2 Chronicles 2:6.

☆☆☆ It amounts to ignorance therefore for anyone to think God looks like a particular object and therefore begins to worship such.

For the bible says:

“Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man’s device” – Acts 17:29.

☆☆☆ Many had come to the knowledge of God at a time in their life but chose to desert the living God for gods made by the hands of men.

☆☆☆ Let us consider Romans 1:21-25 KJV

Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.

[22] Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,

[23] And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.

[24] Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves:

[25] Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.

☆☆☆ It is foolishness and total ignorance that will make somebody serve or bow down before an image that cannot save.

Listen to the word of God:

“Assemble yourselves and come; draw near together, ye that are escaped of the nations: they have no knowledge that set up the wood of their graven image, and pray unto a god that cannot save” – Isaiah 45:20.

☆☆☆ The reason God has refused to answer the prayers of some people today is because they have forsaken God and decided to worship idols. God said he too will also forsake them.

God said:

“My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children” – Hosea 4:6.

☆☆☆ These idols cannot talk, neither can they walk, they have to be carried by those who serve them.

Again God saud:

“They are upright as the palm tree, but speak not: they must needs be borne, because they cannot go. Be not afraid of them; for they cannot do evil, neither also is it in them to do good” – Jeremiah 10:5.

☆☆☆ Don’t be deceived, those idols cannot save. Only God can deliver from all our troubles.

For the word of God says:

“Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness” – Isaiah 41:10.

☆☆☆ Those idols and their worshippers are deceivers.

☆☆☆ I heard the story of a man who went to patronize these idols. He was asked to provide some items for the sacrifice which he did. Eventually, he didn’t get what he was promised and he challenged the idol priest. He was told that the materials he provided were incomplete. Can you see lie of the devil!!

☆☆☆ God has promised never to forsake us. Even in our old age, God has promised to carry us.

The bible assures:

“And even to your old age I am he; and even to hoar hairs will I carry you : I have made, and I will bear; even I will carry, and will deliver you” – Isaiah 46:4.

☆☆☆ Some people have been so blindfolded through superstitious beliefs that whatever they are told to do, they will do out of fear without thinking if such is reasonable or even foolish.

☆☆☆ Some people are forbidden, by those idols, to touch or eat certain animals or food. What an ignorance!!!

Colossians 2:20-22 KJV Says:

Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances,

[21] (Touch not; taste not; handle not;

[22] Which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men?

☆☆☆ Again, you are told if you don’t send money for sacrifices to a particular idol in your village that you will die. Out of fear, you sent the money. You will remain under the oppression of those idols.

☆☆☆ You are told to hang an object underneath the steering wheel of your car to forestall any accident and you believe. You are being controlled by those idols.

☆☆☆ Daddy G.O told a story of what happened to him before he met Jesus. He bought a new car and somebody said he must protect the car from accident. He was taken to the herbalist who was to do the “juju” for him. He got there and saw the man with an injured leg. When he enquired to know what happened to the leg, he was told by the man that he had an accident but boasted if not for the powerful juju that he had on, he would have died. Daddy G.O told us that was the last time he went there.

☆☆☆ Run away from those idols and their priests for they cannot deliver you. Only God can deliver. God is asking you to repent today and run back to him.

☆☆☆ The ungodly will die with their idols. Repent so you won’t perish likewise.

The bible says:

“I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish” – Luke 13:3.

CONCLUSION.

☆☆☆ Superstition is an act of denying the existence of the living God.

☆☆☆ Superstition is therefore a sin.

☆☆☆ Put away those idols from you and return to God.

Take counsel from the word of God:

“Cast away from you all your transgressions, whereby ye have transgressed; and make you a new heart and a new spirit: for why will ye die, O house of Israel? – Ezekiel 18:31.

PRAYERS.

1. Cry to God and say father, deliver me from the power of ignorance.
2. I refuse to forsake the living God for the gods made by the hands of men.
3. The works of my hands shall not become my god.
4. I free myself from the gods of my father’s house in Jesus name.
5. I refuse to be under the bondage of superstitions in Jesus name.
6. Oh God my father, don’t allow me to become a wilful captive to the idols of men in Jesus name.
7. Father deliver me and the works of my hands from the supervision and control of idols in Jesus name.
8. I will not serve mammon and God.
9. I free my life from the control of the idols from my place of birth in Jesus name.
10. Oh God my father, silence every voice speaking against my breakthrough in Jesus name.

PROPHETIC DECLARATIONS

☆☆☆ For you I decree, you will not be under an undue influence of the gods of your father’s house in Jesus name.

☆☆☆ Any evil veil blocking every reader of this prayer message from accepting Jesus is hereby broken today in Jesus name.

☆☆☆ May you not make yourself an enemy of God.

☆☆☆ You will not be on the other side of mercy in Jesus mighty name.

☆☆☆ Receive grace to serve God in truth and in faith in Jesus name.

You are blessed.

Pastor Olutimehin Isaac is a pastor in the Redeemed Christian Church of God.
For prayers and counselling, please call or watts app me on 08033916074.
You can also connect me on facebook @ Isaac Olutimehin.
My email : pastorisaacolutimehin@gmail.com