By Bill Burns
The seven thunders shall roar, and the lightning bolts of the fire in the mouth of God's witnesses will produce the spirit of burning and will strike the demon powers which rule over the high places.
A high place is a center of worship, a place established apart from the true place of worship as established by God. 2 Chronicles 11:15 tells us that Jeroboam "appointed for himself priests for the high places, for the demons, and the calf idols which he had made."
Demon spirits will always rule over the high places (pride and self-exaltation), which are established in rebellion to God's word and His direction. Jeroboam established high places for the purpose of keeping Israel from going to Jerusalem and worshipping at the temple which was God's appointed place of worship.
The nature of Satan is seated in
rebellion.
Isaiah 14:12-15 "How you are fallen from heaven,
O Lucifer, son of the morning! How you are cut down to the
ground, You who weakened the nations! For you have said in your
heart: 'I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above
the stars of God; I will also sit on the mount of the
congregation On the farthest sides of the north; I will ascend
above the heights of the clouds, I will be like the Most High.'
Yet you shall be brought down to Sheol, To the lowest depths of
the Pit."
Ezekiel 28 refers to Satan as the king of Tyre, and verse 17 states that Satan's fall was because his heart was lift up because of his beauty (self-worship); he corrupted wisdom for the sake of his splendor (self-glorification, self-importance, self-recognition).
Ezekiel 28:2 speaks of those who
make themselves princes of the king of Tyre.
Ezekiel 28:2-5 "Son of man, say to the prince of
Tyre, 'Thus says the Lord GOD: "Because your heart is lifted
up, And you say, 'I am a god, I sit in the seat of gods, In the
midst of the seas,' Yet you are a man, and not a god, Though you
set your heart as the heart of a god (Behold, you are wiser than
Daniel! There is no secret that can be hidden from you! With your
wisdom and your understanding You have gained riches for
yourself, And gathered gold and silver into your treasuries; By
your great wisdom in trade you have increased your riches, And
your heart is lifted up because of your riches),"
Those who make themselves out to
be gods (princes) will come under God's judgment.
Ezekiel 28:6-10 'Therefore thus says the Lord GOD:
"Because you have set your heart as the heart of a god.
Behold, therefore, I will bring strangers against you, The most
terrible of the nations; And they shall draw their swords against
the beauty of your wisdom, And defile your splendor. They shall
throw you down into the Pit, And you shall die the death of the
slain In the midst of the seas. "Will you still say before
him who slays you, 'I am a god'? But you shall be a man, and not
a god, In the hand of him who slays you. You shall die the death
of the uncircumcised By the hand of aliens; For I have spoken,"
says the Lord GOD.'"
Gods of the New Age:
The New Age high places are places of self-worship. The goal of the New Ager is to become a god. Unfortunately, many of the New Age practices are being embraced by Christian churches. Forms of transcendental meditation are being taught. Worship of the mother goddess, exercise programs such as Yoga and Tae-Bo and others like them are being allowed in church buildings. These practices give demon powers the authority to establish high places (of rule) in church buildings and defile the sanctuary.
These high places must be torn down and cast out. The temple must be cleansed before the Spirit of God will inhabit the sanctuary.
The God of Denominationalism:
Many denominations have established high places in their organizations by worshipping their doctrines and esteeming themselves more highly than others. Those who have established doctrines that deny the manifestation of the gifts of the Holy Spirit are those that the Apostle Paul prophesied of in 2 Timothy 3:1-5. They have become lovers of their doctrines, worshippers of religious exercise, but they deny the power of the Holy Spirit.
High places are established by pastors who refuse to preach about the penalty of sin. They don't preach about judgment because they want to keep the money changers in the temple. They preach about the love and mercy of God, but not the severity of God. (Romans 11:22)
It is no wonder that the power of
God is not manifest in most churches today. Listen to what the
Apostle Paul directed Timothy to do:
1 Tim 5:20 "Those who are sinning rebuke in the
presence of all, that the rest also may fear." Is
this being done today? Again, listen to his charge:
2 Tim 4:1-4, "I charge you therefore before God and the Lord
Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His
appearing and His kingdom: Preach the word! Be ready in season
and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all
longsuffering and teaching. For the time will come when they will
not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires,
because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves
teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and
be turned aside to fables."
When God's word is fully preached
and fully honored, then HE will bear witness to His word with
signs and wonders following.
Mark 16:20, "And they went out and preached
everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word
through the accompanying signs. Amen."
Today the goal is to make people
comfortable instead of allowing the Holy Spirit to bring
conviction. Doctrines assure people that they cannot lose
salvation. These people choose to ignore scriptures like Hebrews
6:4-8, 10:26-29, 2 Peter 2:20-22 and many more.
Ephesians 4:30, "And do not grieve the Holy
Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption."
The Abomination of Desolation:
The abomination of desolation as
it applies to the church today is the worship of religious
exercise apart from the leading and the power of the Holy Spirit.
The Spirit is quenched, put out of God's house. The temple is
then defiled by the high place of self-desire, self-worship,
doctrines and programs of men and demons.
1 Timothy 4:1-2, "Now the Spirit
expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the
faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons,
speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared
with a hot iron."
The Apostle Paul says in 1 Corinthians 3:16-17, "Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? If anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him. For the temple of God is holy, which temple you are." In verse 18 he warns us with these words, "Let no one deceive you." In other words, don't be deceived as to the importance of keeping the temple undefiled. Satan's plan is to seduce God's people to establish (set up) graven images (idols) in our own hearts and minds that will bring the abomination (perverse thinking) that causes desolation (defilement which quenches the Holy Spirit and puts Him out of the temple of God). Consider Luke 16:15...and Jesus said to them, 'You are those who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts. For what is highly esteemed among men is an abomination in the sight of God."
It is time for My people to stop burning the incense of self-worship upon the high places that have been established within their hearts. Is it not written: Quench not the Spirit? The kings of old refused to tear down the high places. Will you do the same? You are the kings and priests of this present age. Will you follow in the pattern of old or will you awaken to righteousness and destroy the high places?
I am going to stir the hearts of those who are Mine, and they are going to go forth and contend for the faith. They are going to expose the high places; they will be as a voice crying in the wilderness: Prepare the way, make straight the path. Restore the way of righteousness for the glory of the Lord is about to be revealed. Cleanse the sanctuary, consecrate the people, pull down the high places, and prepare yourselves as a habitation for your King.
July 16, 1999.
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