Welcome today. Today we continue our Seventeen Part Series, entitled, "The Poisonous Fruit of the Flesh." Number four, Idolatry. Now Idolatry is also the Second Commandment..
"Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me; And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments." {Exodus 20:5-7}Now Idolatry is of course, any Statue, or likeness, of "any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth." That would include that Statue of Saint Peter, Paul, Luke, or John, by the way. That would include that Statue of this or that Saint, by the way. That would include that Statue of Mary, by the way. That would also include that Statue of Jesus or the Crucifix, by the way.
There is nothing wrong with being a good "Christian." Being a good "Catholic." "Jew." "Muslim." Whatever. There is nothing wrong with having faith in the Church. However, when you read Jesus is the "Way, Truth, and Life," and your Church or Religion does not teach you that Jesus is the "Door," then you are in the wrong Religion. If you read "Thou shalt not commit Idolatry" and walk into a Church and see people worshiping at the foot of Statues and Praying to this and that Saint, you may want to rethink this. There is nothing wrong with obedience to a certain Church or Religion, as long as that Church and Religion is teaching you the Truth according to God. Not solely the Traditions of Men.
See, as the Word declares,,,,
"Take ye therefore good heed unto yourselves; for ye saw no manner of similitude on the day that the Lord spake unto you in Horeb out of the midst of the fire: Lest ye corrupt yourselves, and make you a graven image, the similitude of any figure, the likeness of male or female, The likeness of any beast that is on the earth, the likeness of any winged fowl that flieth in the air, The likeness of any thing that creepeth on the ground, the likeness of any fish that is in the waters beneath the earth:" {Deuteronomy 4:15-19}Again, The Word declares,,,
"Hear ye the word which the Lord speaketh unto you, O house of Israel: Thus saith the Lord, Learn not the way of the heathen, and be not dismayed at the signs of heaven; for the heathen are dismayed at them. For the customs of the people are vain: for one cutteth a tree out of the forest, the work of the hands of the workman, with the axe. They deck it with silver and with gold; they fasten it with nails and with hammers, that it move not. They are upright as the palm tree, but speak not: they must needs be borne, because they cannot go. Be not afraid of them; for they cannot do evil, neither also is it in them to do good." {Jeremiah 10:1-5}That Statue is not alive. That Statue can do nothing for you. It is a work of Man's Hands and has no power or authority. It will not protect you, and it also, cannot harm you. It is nothing. A work of Art? Maybe. But it means nothing. When the Heavens and Earth shall pass away, so shall these Idols. Why? Because "there is no breath in them. They are vanity, and the work of errors: in the time of their visitation they shall perish." {Jeremiah 10:14-15}
"And lest thou lift up thine eyes unto heaven, and when thou seest the sun, and the moon, and the stars, even all the host of heaven, shouldest be driven to worship them, and serve them, which the Lord thy God hath divided unto all nations under the whole heaven." {Deuteronomy 4:19}Can you say Astrology? Horoscopes and such? I have known people that will not leave their homes until they find out what their Horoscopes say about their day. The Sun, Moon, and Stars will not protect you, nor keep you safe. When you look upon them, you are looking at a Creation. They are to God, what the most beautiful building is to man. They are Created things. They have no life in them.
See, the concept is simple. Do you want protection, blessings, and strength from the Creation, or the Creator? Someone comes into your house to do you or your Family harm, what do you want on your side? The one that Created all things? The one who, with a swipe of His hand, wiped out the entire Earth? The one that with a Word created and destroyed entire Cities? One that can, if it is His will, send a Legion of Angles, to wipe out all your enemies? Or a Statue of an Artist's conception of what they would like, Jesus or Mary to look like? A Statue that will be knocked over, or perhaps even stolen itself, and sold for money.
You know, that's another thing. I can almost guarantee that when Jesus DOES return, if He was to walk into a Church, or your House, and see a Picture of Himself, or a Statue of Himself, He most likely would not know who it is. Seriously, unless you are 2000 plus years old, you do not know what Jesus, or Mary, or the Disciples actually look like. So we would have to rely on Logic, if it is at all important to you.
Take a Time Machine,,, just kidding. Get on a Plane. Go to Africa. Look around. What do you see? Africa Folks. Same Africa Folks that have been there 2000 years. Now head to China. Look around. What do you see? Chinese Folks, Same Chinese Folks that have been there 2000 years. Now go to Bethlehem in Judea. Look around. What do you see? JEWISH Folks. Same Jewish Folks that have been there 2000 years. Now this is where Logic comes in.
If Jesus was African, He would have looked like them. If He was born in Beijing, He would look like them. But HE WAS JEWISH. He was born in Bethlehem in Judea. His Earth Mother was Jewish. He was Born to Save the Jewish People. He looked like THEM. He is NOT, White with Blonde Hair and Blue eyes. He is NOT Black. He is Jewish. So? Logic says, if your Statue, or Picture, of Jesus, is anything but, it is a falsehood.
Not that any of that matters. He is also God. He created all things. When He returns, He will come as Himself. A Mighty Warrior to destroy all things evil on this Earth, and to Bring the Faithful Home. That Statue will not do anything but be destroyed with everything else.
Remember the key? Jesus. "I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." Not this Saint or that one. Not Mary. Not the Statues or Pictures of Jesus, but Jesus Himself. That Statue of whatever, has no life in it. It will do you no good. Neither will any other than Jesus Himself. Mary, the Prophets, John, Paul, Peter, whatever, were for a time, and are now in Heaven with God. Just like you will be when you leave. So they can not do anything for you themselves. Let alone their likenesses.
Also remember this. You can also commit Idolatry, by placing ANYTHING before God Himself. Is your JOB your god? Is your Money, your god? Are those addictions, hobbies, or even a Loved One, more important to you than God? That may be your Idol. Be careful Child of God. "The Lord God is a Jealous God.." Make sure you put Him first in your Life.
Do you know Jesus as your Savior? Have you been adopted into the Family of God? If not, say this Prayer. Right now. Wherever you may be. Say it in your own words, and do not doubt in your heart. God will hear you. He will send the Spirit of Life to you. Let us Pray..
You know, that's another thing. I can almost guarantee that when Jesus DOES return, if He was to walk into a Church, or your House, and see a Picture of Himself, or a Statue of Himself, He most likely would not know who it is. Seriously, unless you are 2000 plus years old, you do not know what Jesus, or Mary, or the Disciples actually look like. So we would have to rely on Logic, if it is at all important to you.
Take a Time Machine,,, just kidding. Get on a Plane. Go to Africa. Look around. What do you see? Africa Folks. Same Africa Folks that have been there 2000 years. Now head to China. Look around. What do you see? Chinese Folks, Same Chinese Folks that have been there 2000 years. Now go to Bethlehem in Judea. Look around. What do you see? JEWISH Folks. Same Jewish Folks that have been there 2000 years. Now this is where Logic comes in.
If Jesus was African, He would have looked like them. If He was born in Beijing, He would look like them. But HE WAS JEWISH. He was born in Bethlehem in Judea. His Earth Mother was Jewish. He was Born to Save the Jewish People. He looked like THEM. He is NOT, White with Blonde Hair and Blue eyes. He is NOT Black. He is Jewish. So? Logic says, if your Statue, or Picture, of Jesus, is anything but, it is a falsehood.
Not that any of that matters. He is also God. He created all things. When He returns, He will come as Himself. A Mighty Warrior to destroy all things evil on this Earth, and to Bring the Faithful Home. That Statue will not do anything but be destroyed with everything else.
Remember the key? Jesus. "I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." Not this Saint or that one. Not Mary. Not the Statues or Pictures of Jesus, but Jesus Himself. That Statue of whatever, has no life in it. It will do you no good. Neither will any other than Jesus Himself. Mary, the Prophets, John, Paul, Peter, whatever, were for a time, and are now in Heaven with God. Just like you will be when you leave. So they can not do anything for you themselves. Let alone their likenesses.
Also remember this. You can also commit Idolatry, by placing ANYTHING before God Himself. Is your JOB your god? Is your Money, your god? Are those addictions, hobbies, or even a Loved One, more important to you than God? That may be your Idol. Be careful Child of God. "The Lord God is a Jealous God.." Make sure you put Him first in your Life.
Do you know Jesus as your Savior? Have you been adopted into the Family of God? If not, say this Prayer. Right now. Wherever you may be. Say it in your own words, and do not doubt in your heart. God will hear you. He will send the Spirit of Life to you. Let us Pray..
"Oh heavenly Father, Lord God. I am a sinner. I know this. I know there is nothing I can do to change that. But I know you can. I accept Jesus's sacrifice for me. I repent my sins. Please send the Spirit of Adoption into my life. Help me to get to know the real you. Save me. Please. In the name of Jesus, Amen!"
That's it. It really is that simple. Now go tell someone what you have just done. "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved." {Romans 10:9} You need to find a Church that God leads you to, and be Baptized the way Jesus said to be. You are now a Child of God. A new Creature. You "have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him." {Colossians 3:10}
If you want to tell me, or comment, question, give testimonials, or just say "Hi," the Email is opntalk@gmail.com
The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen. {2 Corinthians 13}
Until next time, be Blessed, be a Blessing, and Jesus IS Lord..
That's it. It really is that simple. Now go tell someone what you have just done. "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved." {Romans 10:9} You need to find a Church that God leads you to, and be Baptized the way Jesus said to be. You are now a Child of God. A new Creature. You "have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him." {Colossians 3:10}
If you want to tell me, or comment, question, give testimonials, or just say "Hi," the Email is opntalk@gmail.com
The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen. {2 Corinthians 13}
Until next time, be Blessed, be a Blessing, and Jesus IS Lord..
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