The Mara Horoscope

A woman whom I will not name posted a horoscope about herself. She might not call it a horoscope, but that is what it was. This horoscope was not based on her birthday, but rather, it was said to be based on her name. But in actual fact, it was not based on her name at all, because the definition given to her name (“daughter of heaven”) was a lie. I have chosen to leave her name off this article. Instead, I have substituted the name, “Mara.”

What shocks me are a couple of things. First, this woman claims to be a deliverance minister. That is really the biggest shocker of all. This woman claims to have training and discernment to be able to spot and cast out demons, yet she is promoting a post that has been influenced by one. This is highly problematic. I did not say this article would be easy to read, if she indeed reads it. But I am speaking the truth, for the sake of all concerned. How else can I say it, except as it is? And who are those who should be concerned about this? Well, everyone.

We know that unbelievers will dabble in things like this. But when Christians start dabbling in things like this, there’s a problem.

You may remember that the enemies of Israel used a man named Balaam to lure Israel into sexual sin. This led to their being judged by God. Many died (see Numbers 31:16). In the same way, even though these horoscopes may seem cute and innocent, they are designed to lure people into sin.

The Bible puts it this way:

“Catch for us the foxes, the little foxes that plunder the vineyards; for our vineyards are in blossom.” (Song of Solomon 2:15)

These cute, cuddly, horoscopes are like cute, cuddly foxes. They will plunder the vineyard. I am speaking of a spiritual vineyard, meaning the house of God. For Jesus is the “true vine,” as he has stated in John 15:5.

I am concerned about the interest among Christians concerning these horoscopes which I have seen proliferating in recent years. Some Christians are finding them appealing.

Here is the horoscope that this deliverance minister posted on social media. At the very top of it she wrote the single word, “Nice!” She approves of it. There are no warnings.

Mara1

Peaked in the 1960s and 70s, popular in the US and UK. The name Mara means Daughter of Heaven (a lie concerning the person’s real name).

You were brought up to be honest (note the flattery), but stubbornly independent (note that stubbornness is a sin mentioned with witchcraft in the Bible, but it is being upheld as a virtue here), with a heart bigger than the sun (more flattery).

People with this name hide their pain behind a beautiful smile (more flattery) and never top fighting for their family’s happiness (more flattery).

You are a kind woman (more flattery) who gives without expecting anything in return (more flattery), even when you have nothing else to give (more flattery).

Now that we’ve had a chance to read the Mara horoscope, it’s time for a reality check.

First, there is a reason this post reads like a horoscope — because it is one. This horoscope is based on the same lies that all horoscopes are made of. It basically tells you what you want to hear.

It is a false prophetic spirit that is behind this horoscope. In the entire horoscope, the only thing that is based on truth is when this person’s name actually peaked. Not even the definition of the person’s name itself (“daughter of heaven”) is true.

Why might the definition “daughter of heaven” have been given? Of course, it appeals to Christians. The false prophetic spirit behind this horoscope is targeting Christians.

There is also a half-truth. People tend to hide their pain. This is not only true of people with a certain name, but all people. Remember Adam and Eve? They hid from the presence of the Lord. Shame and pain are very closely related. We have all sinned and fallen short of God’s glory. God offers us a remedy through the forgiveness found in Jesus Christ.

The truth that this person hides her pain is carefully inserted into the horoscope to make it palatable and attractive. It is used, deceptively and manipulatively, to lure the person into a false sense of acceptance, so she can embrace the lies. This is a tactic of the devil, who wants to bait and lure people. This horoscope is not just fun and games. There is a spirit behind this post, and it is not the Spirit of Truth.

Jesus said,

“Sanctify them in your truth. Your word is truth.” (John 17:17)

This horoscope is not based on truth at all.

Deep down, human beings tend to have a lot of hidden pain. A deliverance minister, especially, knows this.

The Bible has a remedy for this. Being renewed by the transforming of our minds as we read the word of God. Prayer. Fellowship. Small groups.

We should not be entertaining posts like this. They are part of the schemes of the devil.

“that no advantage may be gained over us by Satan, for we are not ignorant of his schemes.” (2 Cor 2:11)

The Goal of Flattery

Horoscopes commonly use flattery in order to deceive you. Their goal is to lure you into a false sense of reality as to who you actually are, and what your standing is before a holy God. On the other hand, if you really want to know the truth about who you are, and what your standing is before a holy God, you will need to read the Bible.

When we read the Bible, it is like looking into a mirror. The Bible gives us an accurate representation of who we really are before God. Some of it is very good (Christ valued us so much that he died for us). It is not all bad news. However, the Bible does tell us very plainly,

“The heart is deceitful above all things and it is exceedingly corrupt. Who can know it?” (Jeremiah 17:9)

The Heart of the Matter

The Mara horoscope says:

Mara has “a heart bigger than the sun”.

According to the Bible, the heart of man is “exceedingly corrupt” (see Jeremiah 17:9).

We would all like to think well of ourselves. And we should all have a healthy assessment of who we really are.

We are loved. We are valued. And we are forgiven, if we have trusted in Christ.

Yet it is not because our heart is bigger than the sun, but because God’s grace is bigger than our sin. The Bible puts it this way:

“for by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, that no one would boast.” (Ephesians 2:8-9)

We can sleep well knowing that God’s grace really does cover our sin, if we are “in Christ” (meaning we are truly born again). However, we cannot take pride in this ourselves. We cannot say, “I did it.” It was the Lord who did it. He did it all. We have nothing to boast about.

I like the way Paul says it in Galatians 6:14,

“But far be it from me to boast, except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.” (Gal 6:14)

Notice how Paul does not allow himself to boast in anything else. He does not claim that his heart is bigger than the sun — not even in jest. Instead, he says:

“For I know that in me, that is, in my flesh, dwells no good thing. For desire is present with me, but I don’t find it doing that which is good.” (Romans 7:18)

When we start thinking that our own hearts are “bigger than the sun,” we are giving ourselves a pat on the back that is not deserved. Jesus said, “No one is good except one—God.” (See Mark 10:18) Therefore, we are not to take glory for ourselves.

Was not Herod rebuked by God for receiving glory and not giving God the glory? (See Acts 12:23) We are nothing without Christ. Jesus said, “apart from me you can do nothing” (see John 15:5)

Derek Prince’s Testimony

Playing around with horoscopes is not a good idea. In fact, a deliverance minister named Derek Prince has testified that he met a woman once who received a demon by setting her affection on horoscopes.

Should Christians be entertaining horoscopes?

Job said,

“I made a covenant with my eyes, how then should I look lustfully at a young woman?” (Job 31:1)

The issue is, I can look at a woman, to make sure I don’t bump into her while I am walking on the street. I have not committed a sin. But if I gaze upon her in my heart, I have.

If I read the Mara horoscope, to study it, I have not committed a sin. But if I entertain it in my heart — if I find delight in it — then I have unfortunately crossed the line in what the Lord considers to be acceptable.

The Power of the Bible

If I really want to know the truth about who I am before God, I need to read his word (the Bible). The word of God is a discerner of the thoughts and the intentions of the heart:

“For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” (Hebrews 4:12)

A horoscope cannot do this. The Mara horoscope spits out a series of flatteries which are simply designed to get you to derive your very meaning from the horoscope. It is an attempt to get you to lean on that horoscope.

I realize this may seem like fun and games, but this is far from fun and games. Things like this should not be posted because others can and will be lured by it.

We often think that we are strong, but the Bible warns us saying,

“Therefore let him who thinks he stands be careful that he doesn’t fall.” (1 Cor 10:12)

There is no place for this in the kingdom of God. This is not fun and games. There was no warning with the posting of that horoscope, only the single word, “Nice!” that appeared at the top of it. It was the deliverance minister who said that.

Derek Prince would not be playing this game, but would be warning the people in the strictest of manners.

Flattery in the Bible

The Bible says of the Antichrist, who will deceive the whole world, that he will use flattery to do it:

“He will corrupt those who do wickedly against the covenant by flatteries; but the people who know their God will be strong, and take action.” (Daniel 11:32)

Notice how it says, “but the people who know their God will be strong, and take action”. In other words, God is telling us that his people must resist the spirit of flattery — not embrace it.

In fact, flattery is this man’s number one trick. About 11 verses prior, we see it again.

“In his place a contemptible person will stand up, to whom they had not given the honor of the kingdom; but he will come in time of security, and will obtain the kingdom by flatteries.” (Daniel 11:21)

And two verses later, we see it again:

“Now when they fall, they will be helped with a little help; but many will join themselves to them with flatteries.” (Daniel 11:34)

Flattery is also found in the immoral woman of Proverbs 6:

“For the commandment is a lamp, and the law is light. Reproofs of instruction are the way of life, to keep you from the immoral woman, from the flattery of the wayward wife’s tongue. Don’t lust after her beauty in your heart, neither let her captivate you with her eyelids.” (Proverbs 6:23-25)

And again, Paul condemns the use of flattery in 1 Thessalonians 2:

“But even as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the Good News, so we speak: not as pleasing men, but God, who tests our hearts. For neither were we at any time found using words of flattery, as you know, nor a cloak of covetousness (God is witness), nor seeking glory from men (neither from you nor from others), when we might have claimed authority as apostles of Christ.” (1 Thessalonians 2:4-6)

Flattery is no joke. Instead, it is a tool of the enemy to bring people into the gates of hell.

In Psalm 12, flattering lips are associated with a double heart.

“Help, Yahweh; for the godly man ceases. For the faithful fail from among the children of men. Everyone lies to his neighbor. They speak with flattering lips, and with a double heart.” (Psalm 12:1-2)

In the next two verses, the Bible calls for judgment against flattering lips, and associates flattering lips with a tongue that boasts, and a heart that rejects God as their head and authority.

“May Yahweh cut off all flattering lips, and the tongue that boasts, who have said, “With our tongue we will prevail. Our lips are our own. Who is lord over us?” (Psalm 12:3-4)

Dear Christian friend, if you have been lured by the bait that looks like the Mara horoscope, you have fallen into the hands of the enemy. I urge you to flee from this at once. Flee as far as you can. Run from it!

Flattery/Stubbornness Sandwich

I would now like to comment on that “little part” in the Mara horoscope that is sandwiched in-between all of the flattery, and it is the sin of stubbornness. In 1 Samuel 15:23 we read,

“For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the Lord, he hath also rejected thee from being king.” (1 Samuel 15:23)

The Mara horoscope paints stubbornness in a “fun,” and “teasing” and “virtuous” light, in that it says,

You were brought up to be honest (note the flattery), but stubbornly independent (note that stubbornness is a sin mentioned with witchcraft in the Bible, but it is being upheld as a virtue here), with a heart bigger than the sun (more flattery).

Notice how stubbornness is “couched” between flattery. This is basically a flattery/stubbornness sandwich.

1 Samuel 15:23 (quoted above) was originally spoken to king Saul in the Old Testament. For he had sinned by disobeying the Lord. Saul took plunder in a war in which God told him not to do. The sins mentioned in this one rebuke directed at Saul are:

- rebellion

- witchcraft

- stubbornness

- idolatry

As it turns out, those are the sins that are right at the very top of the list in terms of all the sins that can be found in the Bible.

For example, when Satan fell, he fell due to pride.

What is pride? It is idolatry of self.

What is flattery? Flattery is an appeal to self. Flattery literally wants to make you idolize yourself, and consider yourself a good person.

No, unfortunately, we are not good people. The heart is deceitful above all things and no one is good except God alone (see Jer 17:9, Mark 10:18).

On the other hand, it is good (and important) to encourage one another. But we are to encourage one another in love. Flattery does not do this.

The demons who had their part in influencing the Mara horoscope knew exactly what they were doing. That is also why the Bible comes down so strongly on the sin of flattery and warns against it.

Flattery is a lure, a bait, to get you off track.

Please dear Christian, renounce these godless horoscopes. If you are a deliverance minister, you should also be warning people about them.