THE SIN OF IDOLATRY!

 EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

MONDAY JUNE 19, 2023.

SUBJECT : THE SIN OF IDOLATRY!

Memory verse: "Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry.” (First Corinthians 10 vs 14.)

READ: Job 31 vs 24 - 28:

31:24: If I have made gold my hope. Or said to fine gold, 'You are my confidence'; 

31:25: If I have rejoiced because my wealth was great, And because my hand had gained much; 

31:26: If I have observed the sun when it shines, Or the moon moving in brightness, 

31:27: So that my heart has been secretly enticed, And my mouth has kissed my hand; 31:28: This also would be an iniquity deserving of judgement, For I would have denied God who is above.

INTIMATION:

An idol is an image or representation of anything, that on which affections are strongly (often excessively) set; an object of passionate devotion; a person or thing greatly loved and adored; regarded with deep and rapturous love (especially as if for a god). It is always a false notion or conception. It can be an image of a divinity, a representation or symbol of deity, or any other being or thing made or used as an object of worship; a similitude of a false god. Sometimes we think of idols as  only statues of wood and stone, but in reality an idol is anything natural that is given sacred value and power.

An idol is anything we put before God. It is also anything that substitutes for the faith, anything that denies Christ’s full deity and humanity, any human idea that claims to be more authoritative than the Bible, any loyalty that replaces God at the center of our lives. Idols don’t have to be physical objects; they can be thoughts or desires. Today we can allow many things to become gods to us. Such things can take God’s place in our lives.

The worship of idol is idolatry. It can be heathen sacrifices to demons (see First Corinthians 10 vs 14 - 21), or the sin of the mind against God (Romans 1 vs 22 - 25).

It is the worshipping of undeserving objects created by God, instead of God—the Creator of those things. Idolatry is making anything more important than God, and our lives are full of that temptation. Money, looks, success, reputation, security—these are today’s idols. Idolatry, outward or inward, is spiritual adultery, breaking our commitment to God in order to love something else. 

 Idol worship is evil because (1) it insults God when we worship something He created rather worshiping Him, (2) it keeps us from knowing and serving God when we put our confidence in anything other than Him, (3) it causes us to rely on our own efforts rather than on God.

Idolatry is the greatest sin against God because it’s rejection of God Himself. When you have any other gods, rather than the only true God, you cannot be His own. God cannot work in us when we elevate anyone or anything above Him. God often saved His hardest criticism and punishment for those who worshipped idols. Discipline awaits all those who continually put earthly desires above spiritual priorities. 

Why were idols so bad in God’s sight? To worship an idol violated the first two of the Ten Commandments of God. And Jesus reemphasized this Commandment in Matthew 4 vs 10, “Worship the LORD your God, and only Him shall you serve.”

Idolatry is still a serious problem today. Our modern idols are those symbols of power, pleasure, or prestige that we so highly regard. Money, fame, work, or pleasure can become gods when we concentrate too much on them for personal identity, meaning, and security. 

In the passage we read today, Job affirmed that depending on wealth for happiness is idolatry and denies our Father in heaven. Jesus’ authority is established over all of creation so we dare not treat any created object or earthly resource as more important than He is. When we spend more time on ourselves than on serving Christ, we treat ourselves (His creation) as being more important than our Creator. When we regard our finances, rather than our faith in Christ, as the basis for security, we give higher status to an earthly resource than we do to God. 

The common denominator is this: Idolaters worship the things God made rather than God Himself. Is there anything you feel you cannot live without? Is there any priority greater than God? Do you have a dream you would sacrifice everything to realize? Does God take first place in your life? Do you worship God or idols of your own making?

The answers to the above listed questions, and also the following questions will be of immense help to discern the ideal life expected of a believer: Who created Me? Whom do I ultimately trust? Whom do I look to for ultimate truth? Whom do I look to for security and happiness? Who is in charge of my future?

No normal person sets out with the intention of worshiping these things. But by the amount of time we devote to them, they can grow into gods that ultimately control our thoughts, emotions, and energies. Letting God hold the central place in our lives keeps these things from turning into gods.

Prayer: Abba Father, You are God, the only God I know and serve. In You I live, and move and have my being. Whatever will come between You and I let me not have it. Whatever will take my attention and trust away from You let me not live to see it, in Jesus’ Name I have prayed, Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!

The Offense of Fearing Man

 Saul said to Samuel, “I have sinned, for I have transgressed the commandment of the Lord and your words, because I feared the people and obeyed their voice.” (1 Samuel 15:24)

Why did Saul obey the people instead of God? Because he feared the people instead of God. He feared the human consequences of obedience more than he feared the divine consequences of disobedience. He feared the displeasure of the people more than the displeasure of God. And that is a great insult to God. 

In fact, Isaiah says it is a kind of pride to be afraid of what man can do while we disregard the promises of God. He quotes God with this piercing question: “I, I am he who comforts you; who are you that you are afraid of man who dies, of the son of man who is made like grass, and have forgotten the Lord, your Maker?” (Isaiah 51:12–13). 

Fear of man may not feel like pride, but that’s what God says it is, “Who do you think you are to fear man and forget me your Maker!”

The point is this: If you fear man, you have begun to deny the holiness, the worth of God and his Son, Jesus. God is infinitely stronger than man. He is infinitely wiser and infinitely more full of reward and joy. 

To turn from him out of fear of what man can do is to discount all that God promises to be for those who fear him. It is a great insult. And in such an insult God can take no pleasure. 

On the other hand, when we hear God’s promises and trust him with courage, fearing the reproach brought upon God by our unbelief, then he is greatly honored. And in that he has much pleasure.

How to Plead for Unbelievers

 

Brothers, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for them is that they may be saved. (Romans 10:1)

Paul prays that God would convert Israel. He prays for her salvation! He does not pray for ineffectual influences, but for effectual influences. And that is how we should pray too.

We should take the new covenant promises of God and plead with God to bring them to pass in our children and our neighbors and on all the mission fields of the world.

God, take out of their flesh the heart of stone and give them a new heart of flesh. (Ezekiel 11:19)
Circumcise their heart so that they love you! (Deuteronomy 30:6)
Father, put your Spirit within them and cause them to walk in your statutes. (Ezekiel 36:27)
Grant them repentance and a knowledge of the truth that they may escape from the snare of the devil. (2 Timothy 2:25–26)
Open their hearts so that they believe the gospel! (Acts 16:14)

When we believe in the sovereignty of God — in the right and power of God to elect and then bring hardened sinners to faith and salvation — then we will be able to pray with no inconsistency, and with the confidence of great biblical promises for the conversion of the lost.

Thus, God has pleasure in this kind of praying because it ascribes to him the right and honor to be the free and sovereign God that he is in election and salvation.

OUR LORD’S PRAYER!

 EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

SUNDAY JUNE 18, 2023.

SUBJECT : OUR LORD’S PRAYER!

Memory verse: "In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name." (Matthew 6 vs 9.)

READ: Matthew 6 vs 9 vs 13:

6:9: In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name.

6:10: Your kingdom come. your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven.

6:11: Give us this day our daily bread. 

6:12: And forgive us our debts, As we forgive our debtors.

6:13: And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one.

For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever, Amen..

INTIMATION:

Our Lord’s Prayer, enumerated in the passage we read today, is the prototype of an effectual and winning prayer. It is a failure-proof prayer guide. It is called “Our Lord's Prayer” because Jesus gave it to the disciples as a model for them (and us) to adopt as we pray. This classic model Jesus provided, is a pattern to be imitated as well as duplicated. When you get the pattern right, winning is assured.

We should praise God; expressing our reference to Him, and adoring Him for who He is, what He has done, what He is doing, what He is yet to do, and even what He has not done because He is the “All-knowing God” that knows the end from the beginning (Isaiah 46 vs 10), and His timing is the best in everything because it is according to His predetermined purposes. God is our Sustainer, therefore, we should pray to Him for our daily needs—physical and spiritual, that we may be able to face our daily struggles.

The phrase "Our Father in heaven" indicates that God is not only majestic and holy, but also personal and loving. The first line of our Lord's prayer is a statement of praise and a commitment to hallow and honor Him. The phrase “Hallowed be a Your Name” is an expression and recognition of sacredness, holiness, sanctity and reverence to His Name. Therefore, we should never use His Name in vain in accordance with His commandments—third in the “Ten Commandments”; “You shall not take the name of the LORD in vain, for the LORD will not hold him guiltless who takes His Name in vain.” (Exodus 20 vs 7.)

The phrase "Your kingdom come" is a reference to God's spiritual reign, and our desire for His spiritual reign in the world. Every kingdom is ruled by a king, and the words of the King is laws to be obeyed. God's kingdom was announced in the covenant with Abraham, and is present in Christ's reign in believers' hearts. (Luke 17 vs 21), and will be complete when all evil is destroyed and God establishes the new heaven and earth (Revelation 21 vs 1). God’s kingdom embodies righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost (Romans 14 vs 17), and we pray for it to come. Imagine such a kingdom!

The phrase "Your will be done," is our praying that God's perfect purpose will be accomplished in this world as well as in the next. God’s will is to save us; “not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance” (Second Peter 3 vs 9).

When we pray "Give us this day our daily bread," we are acknowledging that God is our Sustainer and Provider. It is a misconception to think that we provide for our needs ourselves. We must trust God daily to provide what He knows we need. Though our needs are already known to Him (Matthew 6 vs 32), but He demands that we ask that we may be reminded of our source.

Without forgiveness of our sins, we have no portion in Him—no fellowship with Him. Therefore, we should always ask for forgiveness of our sins, knowing that “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (First John 1 vs 9), that we may have fellowship with a Him. It’s in fellowship with Him that we live a purposeful life pleasing to Him, and receiving at the end a crown of glory, which is eternal life with Him.

When we forgive others, we are establishing the common ground for God’s forgiveness of our own sins as sinners in need of God’s forgiveness. If we don't forgive those who have offended us, our sins also remain unforgiven. Until our sins are forgiven, we don't have any fellowship or prayer access to God. The key to forgiving others is remembering how much God has forgiven you. Realizing God’s infinite love and forgiveness should help you love and forgive others.

God is our leader, He doesn't lead us into temptations, but sometimes allows us to be tested by them. As His children, we should pray to be delivered from these trying times and for deliverance from the deceitfulness Satan and his cohorts. All Christians struggle with temptation. Sometimes it is so subtle that we don't even realize what is happening to us. God has promised that He won't allow us to be tempted beyond what we can bear (First Corinthians 10 vs 13). Ask God to help you to recognize temptation and to give you the strength to overcome it and choose God's way instead.

Prayer: Abba Father, thank You for Your loving kindness, and Your guidance in our lives. Give me the grace to adopt the classic model of prayer—‘Our Lord’s Prayer’—in my fellowship with You, that I may rest assured of answers to my prayers, in Jesus’ Name I have prayed, Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!

GOD ALLOWS US TO BE TEMPTED FOR OUR REFINING!

 EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

SATURDAY JUNE 17, 2023.

SUBJECT : GOD ALLOWS US TO BE TEMPTED FOR OUR REFINING! 

Memory verse: "Let no one say when he is tempted, "I am tempted by God"; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone." (James 1 vs 13.)

READ: James 1 vs 12 - 15:

1:12: Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord promised to those who love Him.

1:13: Let no one say when he is tempted, "I am tempted by God"; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone.

1:14: But each one is tempted when He is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. 

1:15: Then when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death.

INTIMATION:

People who live for God often wonder why they still have temptations. It is the work of the devil to steer them from the faith into sin, and alienate them from God. However, God sometimes allows the devil to tempt people, so that He may use the temptation to refine their faith and to help them grow in their dependence on Him. We can resist the temptation to sin by turning to God for strength and choosing to obey His Word.

God sometimes allows the devil’s temptation for our testing of our faith. God's tests are not to trip us and watch us fall, but to deepen our capacity to obey Him, and help us develop His character. Just as fire refines ore to extract precious metals, God refines us through difficult circumstances. When we are tested we can complain, or we can try to see how God is stretching us to develop our character. It takes intense heat to purify gold and silver. Similarly, it often takes the heat of trials for the Christian to be purified. Through trials, God shows us what is in us and clears out anything that gets in the way of complete trust in Him.

The apostle Peter, in First Peter 1 vs 7, says, "That the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ." As gold is heated, impurities float to the top and can be skimmed off. Steel is tempered or strengthened by heating it in fire. Likewise, our trials, struggles, and persecutions refine and strengthen out faith, making us useful to God. Therefore, when tough times come your way, realize that God wants to use them to refine your faith and purify your heart.

All Christians struggle with temptation. Sometimes it is so subtle that we don't even realize what is happening to us. God helps us to recognize temptation and gives us the strength to overcome it when we ask, and helps us choose God's way instead. God has promised that He won't allow us to be tempted beyond what we can bear: "No temptation has overtaken you except such that is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it." (First Corinthians 10 vs 13.)

In our world filled with moral decadence, depravity, and sin-inducing pressures; wrong desires and temptation happen to everyone. Nobody should think he or she is alone in this situation, knowing that many others are in it, and many also have resisted temptation through God's leading. God knows our weaknesses and strength, and any temptation can be resisted because God will help you resist it. 

God helps resist temptation by helping you recognize those people and situations that give you trouble, and those things that tempt you. The immediate solution is to run from anything you know is wrong, and choose to do only what is right. This you can achieve when you pray to God for help. Also acquaint yourself with friends who love God and can offer help when you are tempted.

Running from a tempting situation is your first step on the way to victory. Second Timothy 2 vs 22 advises thus, "Flee also youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart." Running away is sometimes considered cowardly, but wise people realize that removing themselves physically from temptation often can be the most courageous action to take. It is advisable to remove yourself physically from any situation that stimulates your desire to sin. In so doing, you can handle any recurring temptation that is difficult for you to resist.

Some people think that Christianity is a passive religion that advocates waiting for God to act. But the use of active and forceful verbs: flee, pursue, run, shows we must have an active faith, obeying God with courage and doing what we know is right.

Jesus prayed to the Father in John 17 vs 15, saying, "I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one." This request made by Jesus our Messiah, to God, our Father in heaven, shows that only Him can keep us from Satan, the evil one. He does that through His leading us by His Word, and the revelations He gives in fellowship with Him. God doesn't come down to physically hold us by the hand to lead us. Therefore, acquaint yourself with Him through His Word, and ceaselessly fellowship with Him in prayers.

Prayer: Abba Father, give me the grace, O most merciful Father, to commit my all in fellowshipping with You ceaselessly in prayer, that I will be empowered to overcome temptations, in Jesus’ Name I have prayed, Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!The 

More than life by Justus

 

What Kind of Prayer Pleases God?

 

“This is the one to whom I will look: he who is humble and contrite in spirit and trembles at my word.” (Isaiah 66:2)

The first mark of the upright heart is that it trembles at the word of the Lord.

Isaiah 66 deals with the problem of some who worship in a way that pleases God and some who worship in a way that doesn’t. Verse 3 describes the wicked who bring their sacrifices, “He who slaughters an ox is like one who kills a man.” Their sacrifices are an abomination to God — on a par with murder. Why?

In verse 4 God explains, “When I called, no one answered, when I spoke, they did not listen.” Their sacrifices were abominations to God because the people were deaf to his voice. But what about those whose prayers God heard? God says in verse 2, “This is the one to whom I will look: he who is humble and contrite in spirit and trembles at my word.”

I conclude from this that the first mark of the upright, whose prayers are a delight to God, is that they tremble at God’s word. These are the people to whom the Lord will look.

So, the prayer of the upright that delights God comes from a heart that at first feels precarious in the presence of God. It trembles at the hearing of God’s word, because it feels so far from God’s ideal and so vulnerable to his judgment and so helpless and so sorry for its failings.

This is just what David said in Psalm 51:17, “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.” The first thing that makes a prayer acceptable to God is the brokenness and humility of the one who prays. They tremble at his word.