MAN KNOW THYSELF

The phrase "Man, know thyself" is commonly attributed to Socrates, the famous Greek philosopher, but it actually predates him. This saying is believed to have been inscribed at the Temple of Apollo in Delphi. It is important to note that the Greeks practiced polytheism, which contradicts the first commandment:

"Thou shalt have no other gods before me."

— Exodus 20:3 (KJV).

Any religious system that promotes the worship of multiple gods such as Hinduism is demonic, as the deities worshipped are "fallen angels." While figures like Plato, Aristotle, and Pythagoras were undoubtedly wise, their wisdom, was probably gained through illicit means associated with these fallen beings represented as the pantheon of 12 major gods and goddesses collectively known as Olympians. Socrates wrote of a voice, a "daemon" that guided him from making mistakes, a hidden allusion to spirits. Demon worship created literary giants such as William Shakespeare, C.S Lewis and the father of modern fantasy, JRR Tolkien of the "LORD OF THE RINGS" books.

Mesopotamians, Egyptians, Romans, Persians, Babylonians, and African cultures, such as the Yoruba, also venerate multiple deities. Isn't it telling that all of these great civilizations FELL? The deities these civilizations worshipped are fallen angels and demons with specific powers that were not taken away when they were expelled from Heaven alongside Satan (Revelation 12:9). A third of the angelic force that fell are responsible for the preponderance of human knowledge, technology and miracles. Jews understood this, that's why some falsely accused Jesus of using the power of Beelzebub to perform miracles (Mathew 12:27).

I am often amused by "educated Africans" who reject Christianity as foreign while embracing demon inspired systems practiced by our African forefathers. I term it "Learned Deception."

Surprisingly, most of the customs we practice in various aspects of life, education, business, and relationships, carry grave satanic connotations. We are largely unaware of this due to ignorance. 

The Bible states, 

"My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee..."

— Hosea 4:6 (KJV).

For example, consider the celebration of birthdays. Birthday parties are esentially paganistic rituals, and while the Bible may not address everything explicitly, such observances are not sanctioned nor encouraged in the slightest sense. Anton Lavey, the founder of the Church of Satan was unambiguous in his styling of birthday celebrations as a ritual central to Satanism:

"THE highest of all holidays in the Satanic religion is the date of one's own birth."

Birthdays enhance the self as opposed to what Christianity advocates, humility gained through the elevation of God above it, "If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me" (Luke 9:23).

Two birthdays are mentioned in the Bible: Pharaoh's in Genesis 40:20 and Herod's in Mathew 14:16 and Mark 6:21. Wasn't it at Herod's birthday that the ruler "lost his head" and, without intending to, had John the Baptist executed most violently?

We cannot steer away from God without losing it.

The most famous birthday is, of course, Christmas Day, celebrated on 25th December, which many people all the world over participate in not necessarily to honour Christ as officially alleged but to indulge in self. If birthdays are paganistic in nature, Christians should reconsider their participation in them. Such activities eternally covenant them to the dark forces, unwittingly, "There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death" Proverbs 14:12 (KJV)

Christmas Day is a "veiled" occultic ritual. On the 25th December, Roman pagans celebrated the "Winter Solstice" also known as SATURNALIA. As I have mentioned severally, all polytheistic religions have fallen angels as their gods and goddesses, with Satan being their chief or patron god.

The underlying message here is that the devil seeks to lead us away from God and His Word, knowing too well that this path certainly results in destruction. Genesis 2:17 warns us, "But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die." Eve wasn't just tempted, she had strayed towards the tree of knowledge of good and evil. The path to damnation is at first gradual.

The devil, as a deceiver, uses culture and "seemingly harmless" practices like birthday celebrations to pull us away from God’s, "And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: ..." (Revelation 12:9 KJV). Ignorance does not exempt one from the consequences of disobeying God's commands. In legal terms, the principle "ignorantia juris non excusat" (ignorance of the law is no excuse) is applicable here. 

Every word of God has an effect, and failing to abide by it equally has consequences (Isaiah 55:1). The enemy understands this principle well. No wrong idea is harmless, yet many people think otherwise and flippantly regard disobedience. In secret societies, gullible men are led into swearing oaths that bind them and their generations. 

What does the Bible say about oaths? 

"But I say unto you, Swear not at all; neither by heaven; for it is God's throne: ...

But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil."

- Mathew 5: 34 & 37.

It is crucial to examine every RITUAL you engage in daily to ensure that it aligns with God's will if you desire the "true success" mentioned in Joshua 1:8. The world has its questionable standards of success that we are sternly warned against emulating, "Be not thou envious against evil men, neither desire to be with them." Proverbs 24:1(KJV). Developing an intimate relationship with Jesus Christ, who is the embodiment of God through His Word, is the best way to navigate life in this "inverted world:"

"And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God."

— Revelation 19:13 (KJV).

Greek Thought often leads one away from God as it emphasizes SELF: "Man, know thyself." This notion is at the heart of much motivational literature labelled as "SELF-HELP." As a civilisation, the Greeks worshipped wisdom and knowledge, a fact that the Bible acknowledges in Paul's first letter to the Corinthians (1:22). While this aspiration seems noble, it had a darker side since it promoted self reliance as also taught by the American transcendalist Ralph Waldo Emerson who wrote that "Man is his own Star."

You've probably heard the saying, "God helps those who help themselves." While it sounds reasonable, it is a subtle and mischievous lie. Consider what happened when Abraham used Hagar to secure an heir through "self help." It resulted in domestic conflict, forcing him to send Hagar and Ishmael away into the desert. And what became of Ishmael, the child of self-help, a satanic principle?

"And he will be a wild man; his hand will be against every man, and every man's hand against him..."

— Genesis 16:12 (KJV).

Leaning on one’s own understanding offers no true gain. Our help and sustenance come solely from God: "My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth." — Psalm 121:2 (KJV). 

Any system that fosters dependence on man is destined for destruction for man is nothing without God. True security is unrelenting dependence on God. As Jesus aptly put it, man does not live on bread but by every word of God in Mathew 4:4.

This is why we are cautioned against emulating Nebuchadnezzar, who became a beast through rebellion (Daniel 4:33). Revelation 14:9 warns us against receiving the Mark of the Beast, which symbolises reliance on humanity as opposed to God. The number of the beast is that of man (Revelation 13:18) implying that those who receive it will have elevated their humanity above God.

Jeremiah the prophet reminds us of this danger:

"Thus saith the Lord; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the Lord."

— Jeremiah 17:5 (KJV).

There is no true wisdom in fallen humanity, and relying on anyone other than God carries significant consequences, ultimately leading to eternal loss. Shouldn't we be wiser through God?

"The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding."

- Proverbs 9:10 (KJV)