To expose the works of darkness as a work of darkness, you need the light of scriptures.
John 10: 7Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep. 8All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them. 9I am the door:
By placing "Mary" inbetween Jesus and them, they have made her a thief. Prayers are to be given to God; not to the departed. In no way would God place Mary in a position where by His words, would make Mary or any other departed saint, a thief.
To be clearer still in how one is to approach God in prayer:
John 10:1Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber.
This also include praying to the Holy Spirit. Yes, He is God, but no, the Holy Spirit is not the Mediator. The scriptures designated specifically Who to go to.
1 Timothy 2:5For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;
"The man Christ Jesus" cannot be blurred to mean the Spirit of Christ. The risen Saviour is at the right hand of God the Father as He, the Son, is the ONLY Mediator between God and man before that throne of grace.
Hebrews 4:14Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. 15For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. 16Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
To not go boldly before that throne of grace in prayer where Jesus is, that is not heeding His words nor keeping them, thus doing a work of iniquity. This is what happens when wayward believers offer another door in approaching God.
Matthew 7: 13Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: 14Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. 15Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. 16Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?
So not only is the RCC offering many doors: one towards the church as the instrumental means for salvation: one towards the priest for the confession and forgiveness of sins: and many doors afterwards to go to in prayer from Mary to the departed saints and even to the Holy Spirit.
Is not the fruit of the false prophet being ecumenical in nature as they "unite" in agreement with all the other "christian denomenations", they are uniting in "agreement" with other religions in the world. Definitely a fruit of the false prophte in its gathering of grapes of thorns and figs of thistle.
And before anyone protests this comparison using the defense of Christ's love being shown in unity:
2 Corinthians 6:14Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? 15And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? 16And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 17Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you. 18And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.
We are called to be seperate from the world so that our faith may stand out.
So to have a relationship with God the Father, it can only be had through the Son. Jesus meant what He has said in His invitation to Himself.
John 14:6Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
The irony of it all is that most believers are ignoring how Jesus deferred believers from honouring Mary several times.
Luke 11:27And it came to pass, as he spake these things, a certain woman of the company lifted up her voice, and said unto him, Blessed is the womb that bare thee, and the paps which thou hast sucked. 28But he said, Yea rather, blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it.
Matthew 12: 46While he yet talked to the people, behold, his mother and his brethren stood without, desiring to speak with him. 47Then one said unto him, Behold, thy mother and thy brethren stand without, desiring to speak with thee. 48But he answered and said unto him that told him, Who is my mother? and who are my brethren? 49And he stretched forth his hand toward his disciples, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren! 50For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.
So to do the will of the Father which is in heaven is to heed this standard of judgment which has been given to us as witnesses of Jesus Christ.
John 5: 22For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son: 23That all men should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father. He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father which hath sent him.
How important is this in the worship place?
By not coming to God the Father through the Son only, and climbing up another way, wayward believers are being workers of iniquity. They cannot get to know Him through prayers to somebody else. That is why to avoid false prophets and false spirits, they need to narrow the way back to Jesus Christ to have that relationship with God the Father.
Luke 13: 24Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able. 25When once the master of the house is risen up, and hath shut to the door, and ye begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, Lord, open unto us; and he shall answer and say unto you, I know you not whence ye are: 26Then shall ye begin to say, We have eaten and drunk in thy presence, and thou hast taught in our streets. 27But he shall say, I tell you, I know you not whence ye are; depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity.
After all, Jesus is the Bridegroom. Should we not be chaste in all matters spiritual?
2 Corinthians 11: 1Would to God ye could bear with me a little in my folly: and indeed bear with me. 2For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ. 3But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. 4For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him.
Preaching the honouring of Mary is not the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
1 Corinthians 2:2For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.
Philippians 2:9Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: 10That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; 11And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Seems nowadays, other names besides "Mary" are being exalted up there right alongside Jesus Christ.
1 Corinthians 3: 5Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man? 6I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase. 7So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase.
So if Paul isn't anything..then neither is Mary. God gave only one promise regarding the answering of prayers:
John 14: 11Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works' sake. 12Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father. 13And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.
So the asking and answering of prayers has to be directly to Jesus for Him to receive the glory of answered prayers.
So, as much as wayward believers are ensnared by routines and hardly discerning these practises by the Word of God to even test the spirits when apparitions appear, we that know better by His grace, should pray for this to occur.
2 Timothy 2: 24And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, 25In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; 26And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.
Ephesians 6:10Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. 11Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. 13Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. :jesus:
