Song Numbers

2

Astrology

An Old Sin Finding New Life

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Introduction

• “Most people involved in astrology do not understand that it is a sin and repulsive to God.”

4Is. 47:13 – this verse was directed to the Babylonians over 2,700 years ago• [13] Thou art wearied in the

multitude of thy counsels. Let now the astrologers, the stargazers, the monthly prognosticators, stand up, and save thee from these things that shall come upon thee.

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• Presently more than 40 million in the U.S. claim to believe in astrology• Millions consult their horoscope

daily in the newspaper or on the internet

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• Astrology claims to answer some very basic questions that people might ask:• 1. What will my future be?• 2. How may I get out of the mess

I am in?

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What is Astrology?

• It claims to tell the future by looking at the position of the sun, moon, planets and stars --- astrologers believe that these things influence our lives

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• First appearing among the ancient Babylonians, astrology was closely associated with sorcery, witchcraft and idolatry

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Some who have been influenced by it:

• Tiberius Caesar (reigned during the time Jesus lived on the earth)• Adolph Hitler had a personal

astrologer• It has been reported that Nancy

Regan consulted an astrologer

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• While astrology claims to be a science, “Actually it is a religion of superstition that makes gods out of the sun and the heavenly bodies.”

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•I. Astrology and the Bible

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Astrology is forbidden

• 2 Kings 23:4-5• [4] And the king commanded Hilkiah the high priest,

and the priests of the second order, and the keepers of the door, to bring forth out of the temple of the LORD all the vessels that were made for Baal, and for the grove, and for all the host of heaven: and he burned them without Jerusalem in the fields of Kidron, and carried the ashes of them unto Bethel.

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• [5] And he put down the idolatrous priests, whom the kings of Judah had ordained to burn incense in the high places in the cities of Judah, and in the places round about Jerusalem; them also that burned incense unto Baal, to the sun, and to the moon, and to the planets, and to all the host of heaven.

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Astrology is idolatry

• Idolatry = to worship something or someone other than God• The one who believes in astrology

is more concerned with the movement of stars and planets than God

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1 Jn. 5:21

• [21] Little children, keep yourselves from idols.

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Astrology is a delusion

• Astrology preys upon the ignorant and the superstitious• It preys on the desperate – those

out of money, out of work, with marital problems, etc.

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• It appeals to the carnal side of man – the desire for power, wealth, illicit sex, etc.

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•II. Why we should reject

astrology

19 Astrology denies God the glory he deserves

• “To rely on charts, graphs and horoscopes is to rely on something else than the one true God.”

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Rom. 1:25

• [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.

21It claims “your destiny is in the stars” rather than in our freedom choice

• In the Parable of the Talents we are assured that we will give an account for the way we live our lives

22Mt. 25:19

• [19] After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth (settled accounts - NKJV) with them.

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2 Cor. 5:10

• 10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.

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2 Cor. 5:10

• 10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil. (ESV)

25Astrology limits the role of God in the world

• While claiming to predict future events, astrologers ignore God and the Bible• God’s prophecies, on the other

hand, were always accurate

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2 Pet. 1:20-21

• 20 knowing this first, that no prophecy of scripture is of private interpretation.• 21 For no prophecy ever came by

the will of man: but men spake from God, being moved by the Holy Spirit. (ASV)

27

Deut. 18:22

• [22] When a prophet speaketh in the name of the LORD, if the thing follow not, nor come to pass, that is the thing which the LORD hath not spoken, but the prophet hath spoken it presumptuously: thou shalt not be afraid of him.

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It gradually paralyzes the human will

• Is. 47:12-13• [12] Stand now with thine enchantments,

and with the multitude of thy sorceries, wherein thou hast laboured from thy youth; if so be thou shalt be able to profit, if so be thou mayest prevail.

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• [13] Thou art wearied in the multitude of thy counsels. Let now the astrologers, the stargazers, the monthly prognosticators, stand up, and save thee from these things that shall come upon thee.

30Astrology implies the Scriptures are not all-sufficient

• Jn. 8:32• [32] And ye shall know the truth,

and the truth shall make you free.

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Jn. 17:17

• [17] Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.

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•III. What to do about astrology

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• It is sinful and should not be practiced by Christians or anyone else• Christians should avoid any evil which

includes astrology• If we are involved in it we need to

repent

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1 Thess. 5:22

• [22] Abstain from all appearance of evil.

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Acts 8:22-23 - repentance

• [22] Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee.• [23] For I perceive that thou art in

the gall of bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity.

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Acts 19:19

• 19 Also, many of those who had practiced magic brought their books together and burned them in the sight of all. And they counted up the value of them, and it totaled fifty thousand pieces of silver.