Divinetouch: Idolatry Philippine Style

Divinetouch: Idolatry Philippine Style

Idolatry Philippine Style

Jan. 09, 2010 Devotees of the Black Nazarene close to 2 Million joined the procession today. They come from different parts of the Country.
GMA news “A man was killed and at least 16 others were hurt amid the hustle and bustle of the throng of devotees that had poured into the streets of Manila today for the annual procession of the Black Nazarene.”
Excerpt:
'There's no stopping devotees from kissing Black Nazarene' By Dennis Carcamo (philstar.com) Updated January 06, 2010 02:23 PM
MANILA, Philippines – Church officials today admitted that they could not stop devotees of the Black Nazarene from touching and kissing the religious image with the belief that they would be cured of their illnesses.
Speaking over Church-run Radio Veritas, Maasin bishop Precioso Cantillas, chairman of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines (CBCP)-Episcopal Commission on Migrants and Itinerant People, said that despite their warnings, people would still want to touch or kiss the so-called miraculous image."The reason they do that (kissing/touching the Black Nazarene) is more of superstitious beliefs," Cantillas said.

Every year I feel very sad to see how Filipinos celebrate the black Nazarene Feast.
They see the statue as a miracle working God. In the past many were healed and believed that this black Nazarene has healed the sickness of thousands of people. Many believed that this mere stone has a healing power. What does the bible tell us about this?
My dear Filipinos I love you so much and it is the desire of our Lord Jesus that no one will perish. But if we are blinded by our traditions and religious belief it is high time for us to see what pleases the Lord. Let me give you some verses to start with…Isaiah. 44:9-17
Isaiah 44:9 “ 9 All who make idols are nothing, and the things they treasure are worthless. Those who would speak up for them are blind; they are ignorant, to their own shame.
This are not my words it is the word of truth God made mention that they are ignorant of their own shame.
Isaiah 44:10-13 “ Who shapes a god and casts an idol, which can profit him nothing? 11 He and his kind will be put to shame; craftsmen are nothing but men. Let them all come together and take their stand; they will be brought down to terror and infamy. 12 The blacksmith takes a tool and works with it in the coals; he shapes an idol with hammers, he forges it with the might of his arm. He gets hungry and loses his strength; he drinks no water and grows faint. 13 The carpenter measures with a line and makes an outline with a marker; he roughs it out with chisels and marks it with compasses. He shapes it in the form of man, of man in all his glory, that it may dwell in a shrine.
14 He cut down cedars, or perhaps took a cypress or oak. He let it grow among the trees of the forest, or planted a pine, and the rain made it grow.15 It is man's fuel for burning; some of it he takes and warms himself, he kindles a fire and bakes bread. But he also fashions a god and worships it; he makes an idol and bows down to it.
Don’t you see that the Lord is a Jealous God. He only wants you to worship Him in spirit and in truth. What happen if we don’t understand the bible? What will happen if we are innocent of the word of God. I am speaking to the Filipino people you should know that the Images or what you call the Black Nazarene is just mere Statue and there is no power in it. Isaiah 44:9 “ 9 All who make idols are nothing, and the things they treasure are worthless. Those who would speak up for them are blind; they are ignorant, to their own shame. You are blind, ignorant, you claim that you are healed by mere touching of the Statue. It is the Statue you are worshiping and not Jesus Christ.
Isaiah 44:16 “16 Half of the wood he burns in the fire; over it he prepares his meal, he roasts his meat and eats his fill. He also warms himself and says, "Ah! I am warm; I see the fire." 17 From the rest he makes a god, his idol; he bows down to it and worships. He prays to it and says, "Save me; you are my god."
You bow down to it and cry…asking the statue to deliver you from sin? Jer. 3:33 'Call to Me and I will answer you, and I will tell you great and mighty things, which you do not know.' The Lord wants us to worship Him in spirit and in truth.
The devil tried to temp Jesus Christ during His time on earth but Jesus said “Man does not live by bread alone but for every word that comes from The mouth of God.” Jesus know His scripture and the devil was not successful in tricking Jesus. The devil said I will give you everything that you see just Worship me alone.” Jesus replied, “ For it is written, Worship the Lord your God and serve Him only.
The apostles Paul and John speak in II Corinthians 4:3-4, Paul writes, "But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them."
When a person experiences Babylon's ways and words and fails to check the attitudes he picks up and lives. Perhaps above all, men must deal with the inaudible but nonetheless attractive and powerful spiritual communication of Babylon's ( Great Harlot of Idolatry) invisible god and leader, the prince of the power of the air, and his hordes of equally invisible demons. It’s exactly what the devotees of the Black Nazarene is doing duplicating the Babylon’s time the Harlot of Idolatry
Revelation 18:4 “ And I heard another voice from heaven saying, "Come out of her, my people, lest you share in her sins, and lest you receive of her plagues.
I am urging you right now God is not pleased of what you are doing come out of her less you will not be deceived of the devil’s scheme. the deceitful influence of Satan, they disbelieved God. . They spread it to their children, who spread it to their children, and so forth, come out from her my children and worship our God alone.
This is my prayer:
I come into your throne of your grace Lord that your people will come out of the bondage of “IDOLATRY”. Open the eyes of understanding that they can see the in the spirit your will for your people. Open their spiritual eyes and give them wisdom that what they are worshipping are mere Idols and not you Jesus the Mighty one. Let them see that you are a Jealous God that you want your people to worship you in spirit and in truth.
I pray Lord FREE your people from the bondages of IDOLATRY. Let their lives be change Lord.