Tear Down The Idols!
by PJ
Idolatry is the valuation of something or someone in such a way that it steals the honor due to G-d. You see, idolatry conflicts obedience to G-d by placing something else as a higher value. It detracts from G-d's first place.
I have known many people in my life and I've yet to meet one without an idol. For some the idol is respect, others acceptance, others importance, and for some it's a person or possession. In all its forms, idolatry is deceitful and false because it lures people to worship what is false.
I learned a few years ago while watching some local religious leaders who had great ministries suddenly start to spend a lot of time pursuing doctoral degrees. It was the "thing" to do. They didn't even notice the changes nor that they were practicing idolatry. They had looked to the title of Dr. or PhD. as a positive additive to the title G-d had given them as Pastor and Evangelist. Is G-d's hand shortened that He requires the titles and knowledge of men to do His work? Instead of laying down titles and giving all they were to Yeshua, they decided that they needed the knowledge of men. They had fallen into the trap of seeking education instead of G-d Himself. I doubt they ever realized it.
They left their flocks unguarded while they pursued their passion to be well studied for the Master so-to-speak. I am not the judge of whether they were lying to themselves or not but I did notice changes in them. And I also noticed changes in what G-d worked through them.
Their values had changed whether it was noticeable to most or not. Their focus had changed from the great privileged title G-d had given them to seeking a different title to give them the approval of men. I believe people do this simply because they believe G-d has abandoned them in an area and they are trying to fill it themselves. And for the approval they so desperately wanted, they got less approval from men in the end than they had before they began the trek for their degrees.
In some instances, moves of the Spirit were literally quenched so a service could end on time so the Pastor could study. They suddenly had to miss a service here or a program there in order to work on their studies. They didn't have time to counsel and help their flocks anymore. They had others take over their duties in seemingly harmless ways. They didn't have time to do all that their privilege in G-d required. And today I am here to tell you that some of these people have died untimely deaths. Others have wound up in a lot of personal tragedies and problems of various sorts.
Israel's history is full of idolatry and a good example of it is recorded in the Book of Yechezk'el / Ezekiel. Even the Priests who should have known better began to act as though they had been abandoned by G-d. As a result the Priests became idolatrous and started worshiping idols. It is during this time that ADONAI declared to Israel that He was going to judge them according to their ways because they would not repent and turn to Him.
Let me ask you a question. How mortified should we be to say we belong to G-d and really be a fake? Do you realize the more you hear the Word of G-d, the greater your responsibility grows? Do you really want to be judged according to your ways?
A few days ago I received a text message from someone talking about a hospital patient. This person had spoken so much death over the hospital patient in that text it made me uncomfortable. Why? Because this person is a full-time Church person. She plays piano and leads music ministry in her Church and is there every time the door opens. She's heard the Word preached twice on Sunday and once on Wednesday for nearly 60 years. And out of her mouth came nothing but fear, doubt and death. She never once stopped to look up for G-d. She just kept speaking the opposite of G-d's Word which actually was her questioning G-d's character! In effect, she was worshiping her own self.....questioning G-d's character by rejecting 60 years of the Word preached to her as she spoke nothing but words for the adversary to use.
Allegiance to G-d today among those who profess to follow Messiah Yeshua is pretty cheap for the mostpart. And it only takes one cold follower of Messiah Yeshua to do more damage than twenty blaspheming athiests. And this is what I believe is happening to the Church today. There are many lukewarm and cold people in the Church.
But "I". I got a good deal. I wanted to do this for myself. I heard this. I think that. I want. I am. I want to be accepted. I want to have status. I just couldn't pass up the offer. I have a need. I...I.....I......I......
What is the truth?
The truth is, everything is about Messiah Yeshua! That's the point! We are to be dead to self and our ambitions. We aren't supposed to be seeking the praises and glory of men.
Is it wrong to go get an education if G-d tells you to do so? Absolutely not! Is it wrong to study to show yourself approved? Absolutely not. But make certain that G-d has called you to do it and that your motivations are g-dly and pure.
People who have their trust in money aren't any better off. And if you are trusting in your money, you will be judged by your money. Judgment is almost always in the very thing in which you trust instead of G-d. Money won't save you from G-d's wrath.
I am watching in dismay as many elitists and monied people are building underground cities and places to where they can run for safety. But the Word says those same people will be crying for the rocks and mountains to fall upon them! The very thing they have put their trust in outside of G-d will become their judgment.
Do you realize G-d allowed a pagan nation to destroy His own people, Israel? Why? Because His people were worshipping pagan gods.
Do you realize G-d made the god of the Egyptians the slain sacrifice that protected the children of Israel?
Have you ever wondered why there is so much lawlessness in our generation? Could it be judgment because we refuse to abide by G-d's laws?
Today we have people worshipping G-d's creation rather than Him. And it's just as prevalent in the Church as it is in the world. Sexual perversion has reached an all-time high and just keeps going in the Church.
I don't know where the Church got the idea that just because G-d is merciful and kind that He will not judge sin. While G-d is indeed long-suffering and doesn't want anyone to perish, and while He doesn't just give up on people, He is true to His Word.
Our G-d is merciful when men turn to Him. But what if they don't? This might be difficult for you to hear but there are people who really do not want to believe G-d. However, all people want to believe that the future is wonderful and that everyone goes to heaven.
Most people would tell me that they have no idols. But that's not the truth. Most people are phonies, living in sin and running around trying to figure out how to feed their greed, self-importance and self-worth.
Every now and then I hear Pastors lamenting about their flocks going to the internet. It is clear to me that people in the Church haven't been listening to G-d's Word and G-d has clearly moved on without them into the areas where the people are that need Him and will listen to Him.
Religion has just got to go folks! Doctrines of men and demons, money-making schemes, talent shows, building castles and kingdoms...it's all got to go! Are you sure you are doing what you are doing because G-d told you to do it? Are you really sure?
If you are in sin today it's because you have chosen sin. And there's only one way out.....repent. Tear down the idols! Give G-d His rightful place.
I know we live in a world where we can honestly wonder if anyone cares about anyone else at all. People are so full of themselves and their plans. People are so caught up in what they are doing they refuse to see anyone else at all. In fact, I would venture to say if you are an average person, you probably believe that most people are only good to you just to see what they can get out of you.
I know we live in a world where people communicate with us only by text messages and voice mail. People care too much about their entertainment to be interrupted by an in-person visit. People are more interested in propping up their self-esteem by seeking the wrong things.
G-d called us to go into the world and to help people. He called us to not just "say" we love people but to really love them. But we have Pastors today who don't have time for their flocks. The flocks need appointments to see their Pastors. In some cases, the Pastor has a security team surrounding him/her. The local Pastor often has an unlisted phone number or refuses to take calls. The local Pastor is often busy taking care of family or seeking more education to appear to be more g-dly while not having time for the single lamb. Many times the local Pastor isn't interested in you unless you are giving to their satisfaction.
Someone in my household attended the same Church for over 30 years and no one in that Church even knew his name in all that time. He was unemployed for a year and no one from the Church even gave him a dollar to help him. No one prayed for him. No one ministered to him.
But the Church computer remembered him. He got notices when he missed too many services and notices when he had not given. The Church computer was the only one in that entire congregation who cared about him. And when he stopped attending this Church, no one noticed except the computer. And people wonder why G-d is moving in the internet. The Church is being judged by it's own actions.
I see people who are lonely, desperately lonely, doing without, barely making it, scared, and they're just like lost sheep. And you might ask, "Does anyone care?"
Yeshua cares! He's the Good Shepherd. He's the One Who will leave everyone to come looking for just you. He is seeking His sheep today who have been scattered by wolves in sheep's clothing.
There are tares among the wheat and it's about time we speak the truth about it. It is written in Matiyahu / Matthew 13:24-25 "Another parable He set forth before them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field. But while he was sleeping, his enemy came and sowed also darnel (weeds resembling wheat) among the wheat and went on his way."
Do you know that satan's greatest work is the tare? I believe many tares are the best church workers around and sometimes the best tare of all is the Pastor. You never see an advertisement for whiskey showing an old woman dying of liver disease. You don't see one of the devil's tares as an ugly person either. A tare will appear to be the best. Often they are the ones leading. And you can't tell from just looking at them if they are of G-d or not.
How does a tare come among us? The tare is sown while we are sleeping! I can tell you today that many churches are full of tares and are run by tares. WAKE UP!
Matityahu / Matthew 7:21-23 records Yeshua saying, "Not everyone who says to Me, Lord, Lord, will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father Who is in heaven. Many will say to Me on that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name and driven out demons in Your name and done many mighty works in Your name? And then I will say to them openly (publicly), I never knew you; depart from Me, you who act wickedly [disregarding My commands]."
Today G-d is admonishing us to choose.....Him or something/someone else. Time is running out. Judgment is at hand. Romans 9:28 "For the Lord will execute His sentence upon the earth [He will conclude and close His account with men completely and without delay], rigorously cutting it short in His justice."
“Scripture quotations taken from the Amplified Bible."
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