For Day #19 of Counting the Omer, we are reminded that the Northern Kingdom of Israel was ruled by 19 kings, before being conquered by the Assyrians. Obviously, their earthly kings could not save them. Furthermore, Isaiah 19 is a Prophecy for Egypt, serving as a reminder for Israel NOT to put their confidence in the power of other countries but to keep it rightly placed in the power of God.

In a similar message for churches today, we have sadly fallen under the spell of false religions, practices and doctrines. We have failed to be like the Bereans who constantly checked the scriptures to "see if it was so." Thus, many Christians, are functionally Biblically illiterate and have been attracted to religions and practices that can only be described as "alternate spirituality."

Perhaps you yourself have been obliviously involved in practices such as "prayer tunnels," "grave sucking," "prayer soaking," and the 7 mountains doctrine of dominionism (man's earthly rule without requiring the Second Coming of Christ). Maybe you thought you could mix in a little yoga, Buddhism, pagan rituals or idols with the One Truth of Jesus Christ.

Some of these practices may, on the surface, sound super-spiritual. They may hold out the promise of more intimacy and with God and more power in His Kingdom. Or perhaps you are deceived with a false "unity" message that purports to join all of mankind in a single fraternity no matter what they believe.

How are we to know? First, and foremost, if daily Bible study is not part of your regular practice, there is no more time to delay. We are entering battle time that is more challenging than any other era in Church history. Daily Bible study is an absolute MUST for Christians everywhere as we prepare to engage in a time of persecution and tribulation unlike anything the world has ever seen.

I think the majority of Christians easily understand how Hinduism (many gods), and Buddhism (god of self) is clearly not something we want to count among a religion with ties to Christianity. Those who love Christ focus on Him alone and not multiple idols or the worst "god" of all: SELF. However, when we start getting into Islam, there are many deceived Christians who believe that "allah" is simply another name for the God of the Old Testament. Even Pope Francis has gotten into the act by "praying" together with imams at mosques and in the Vatican. Let's dispel the notion once and for all that Islam is compatible with Christianity.

The simplest way to do this is to remove the false belief that "Allah" is the same god as our God Almighty of the Old and New Testament. In order to believe in the "allah" of Islam, you must first DENY JESUS CHRIST.

Here is the verse in the Quran that says it most plainly and is clearly blasphemous:

"Say: "Praise be to Allah, WHO BEGETS NO SON, and has no partner in (His) dominion" ~ Sura Al-Isra 17:111

This blasphemy is written on the ceilings and walls of mosques. This Quranic verse actually contains a double lie. As we should know, Jesus is the Son of God, begotten by the Father and through Him we are the children of God:

He has fulfilled for us, their children, by raising up Jesus. As it is written in the second Psalm: 'You are My Son; today I have become Your Father.' 

~ Acts 13:33

But furthermore, the scripture tells us that one day we, the Church, the Bride of Christ, will share in His rule:

And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years. 

~ Revelation 20:4

For now, we "occupy" until He comes, which means to "hold tenaciously" or "hang tough." I think another good meaning is: "hold the fort." It doesn't mean to rule and reign without Him. But after His Second Coming, we will rule and reign beside Him.

if we endure, we will also reign with Him; if we deny Him, He will also deny us

~ 2 Timothy 2:12

So, PLEASE, once and for all, let's put aside the foolish notion that we can incorporate demonically inspired religions into our Christ-centered walk.

Make every effort to present yourself approved to God, an unashamed workman who accurately handles the word of truth. 

~ 2 Timothy 2:15

Our God is One God, not many gods (Mark 12:29). Our God is Supreme, reigning over us and we are not Him (Romans 9:20). Our God is the God of the living, not the dead (Mark 12:27). Our God, in the person of Jesus Christ, came to save us (John 3:16). He is not simply a prophet but God Himself (Col 2:9). Our God left an empty tomb and has conquered death (1 Corinthians 15:57). There will be no lasting man-made peace on this planet until He returns (Titus 2:13). He won't show up in secret (Matt 24:23), He won't show up by being summoned in a ritual (John 4:24), the Lord Himself will appear the same way He left (Acts 1:11), every eye will see Him (Rev 1:7) and nothing will be the same on planet Earth (1 Thess 1:10).

Therefore My people are gone into captivity, because they have no knowledge: and their honorable men are famished, and their multitude dried up with thirst.

~ Isaiah 5:13