"What Are You Hungry For?"
Isaiah 66:1-24
Philippians 3:4-21
Psalm 74:1-23
Proverbs 24:15-16
Have you ever really been in the mood to eat something in particular? I'm a mood eater. I want to eat what I'm hungry for. It's amazing that what I'm in the mood for isn't really good for me. It's usually fried, grease-laden, and involves some form of cheese.
In Philippians Paul speaks of those who have a similar problem. "For I have told you often before, and I say it again with tears in my eyes, that there are many whose conduct shows they are really enemies of the cross of Christ. They are headed for destruction. Their god is their appetite, they brag about shameful things, and they think only about this life here on earth." (Phil 3:18-19)
In the same way that it's dangerous to eat only what your hungry for, it's treacherous to live that way spiritually. When we live life only to please our appetite there is a selfishness that begins to take over. Our motivation ceases to be "How can I please Christ?" It becomes "how can I please me? how can I be more comfortable?" This appetite becomes more and more insatiable and the desire for the things of this world increases. This road leads to destruction.
Paul shows us how we must suppress that appetite into what it should be. "I once thought these things were valuable, but now I consider them worthless because of what Christ has done. Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ and become one with him." (Phil. 3:7-9)
That kind of a thought process doesn't just "happen" to you. It's a discipline of will and consistent denial of fleshly appetites that brings us into alignment with mature Christian living. Paul acknowledges that it is a process. "No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus is calling us. Let all who are spiritually mature agree on these things. If you disagree on some point, I believe God will make it plain to you. But we must hold on to the progress we have already made." (Phil 3:13-16)
So, how has your appetite been? What have you been feeding?
"I want to know Christ and experience the mighty power that raised him from the dead." Phil 3:10
Through the Power of the Spirit,
Live the DREAM!
Pastor Greg Lathe
Dynamic Lifestyle of Worship
Relationships Devoted to Unity
Empowered Through Biblical Training
Active Ministry Involvement
Mission to Reach our World for Christ
Showing posts with label Idolatry. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Idolatry. Show all posts
Sunday, October 2, 2011
Saturday, September 24, 2011
9.24.11 "Think About It"
"Think About It"
Isaiah 43:14-45:10
Ephesians 3:1-21
Psalm 68:1-18
Proverbs 24:1-2
Idolatry. The context in which we place that word is often in relation to the old testament practice of people who would actually carve idols out of wood, and bow down and pray to them. Listen to what the Lord says through the prophet Isaiah:
"Such stupidity and ignorance! Their eyes are closed, and they cannot see. Their minds are shut, and they cannot think. the person who made th idol never stops to reflect, 'Why, it's just a block of wood! I burned half of it for heat and used it to bake my bread and roast my meat. How can the rest of it be a god? Should I bow down to worship a piece of wood?' The poor, deluded fool feeds on ashes. He trusts something that can't help him at all. Yet he cannot bring himself to ask, 'Is this idol that I'm holding in my hand a lie?'" (Is. 44:18-20)
What great verses! From this perspective it seems so obvious. How stupid it is to trust in something that is just a hunk of wood. It's a good thing we don't worship idols, right?
While it could be easy to begin to list the strongholds of idolatry in our culture, and even within the Body of Christ, I'd like to just look at the next section of scripture.
"Pay attention, O Jacob, for you are my servant, O Israel. I, the Lord, made you, and I will not forget you. I have swept away your sins like a cloud. I have scattered your offenses like the morning mist. Oh, return to me, for I have paid the price to set you free." (Is. 44:21-22)
What a wonderful God we serve. What great love he has shown us. He has made us free! When we focus our minds on thinking of the privilege we have to be called his own, it makes the "idols" around us pale in comparison. We look to people for hope. We look to finances for hope. We look to possessions for hope and comfort... "such stupidity and ignorance!" We have a God who loves us! He set us free!
We need to put aside everything that causes us to lose our focus on the greatness of our God. Think about who He is. Think about what He's done.
"Sing, O heavens, for the Lord has done this wondrous thing. Shout for joy, O depths of the earth! Break into song, O mountains and forests and every tree! For the Lord has redeemed Jacob and is glorified in Israel!" (Is. 44:23)
Through the Power of the Spirit,
Live the DREAM!
Pastor Greg Lathe
Dynamic Lifestyle of Worship
Relationships Devoted to Unity
Empowered Through Biblical Training
Active Ministry Involvement
Mission to Reach our World for Christ
Friday, June 17, 2011
6.17.11 "You Are What You Eat (Worship)"
"You Are What You Eat (Worship)"
I Kings 18:1-46
Acts 11:1-30
Psalm 135:1-21
Proverbs 17:12-13
I've never been to a country that is given to actual, physical, little statue-like idols. I know that the far-east is pretty much given to that. Every home has the little shine, and it's a way of life. Our culture may not have the specific shrines like the orient, but that doesn't clear us of idolatry.
A couple years ago we spent a day in Niagara Falls. It is absolutely amazing to see how much water goes over those falls. People from all over the world are here to check it out. it's very cool. I had been there in 1990, but it has changed quite a bit since then. Now there are huge casino signs, and other "attractions" that are basically shrines to self.
Psalm 135:15-18 says "The heathen worship idols of gold and silver, made by men - idols with speechless mouths and sightless eyes and ears that cannot hear; they cannot even breathe. Those who make them become like them! And so do all who trust in them!"
For some reason, people are emulators. We hang around a crowd of people, a circle of friends, watch certain things, listen to certain music, and we, at varying degrees, become like the influences around us.
I was a teenager in the 80's. I'm not proud. I remember the leg-warmers, the big hair, i had my own version of the mullet, I remember the "valley-girl" phase. That was "like when, you know like the girls were like TOTALLY talking like for sure like the same way..." makes me sick to recall!
We are in a society of idolatry. While our high places and shrines are not laid out like they may be in some eastern cultures, or in the days of Solomon, no matter how you look at it, we have them. It's not just in gambling halls and inappropriate night clubs. It's also in our shrines to our comfort.
Today's Psalm says alot! "Those who make them become like them! And so do all who trust in them!"
So, lets check if this true... "...idols with speechless mouths and sightless eyes and ears that cannot hear; they cannot even breathe." Does that sound like anyone you know? neighbors, unsaved family, friends, politicians?
I never actually saw the movie, "Night of the Living Dead", but I've seen clips and commercials have mimicked it. It's where zombies roam the streets with glazed eyes, etc. If you've read Frank Peretti's book "the Oath", he describes people walking aimlessly, completely unaware of the oozing sore of sin in their life.
So it is with those who don't know Christ. I Cor 1:18 "the message of the Cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the very power of God." They have become Speechless, Blind, Deaf, and Lifeless for lack of breath.
In today's reading in I Kings we have the story of the showdown between Elijah & the prophets of Baal. It's a great story. God comes through and the "bad guys" are defeated. You can almost feel sorry for those prophets of Baal. They're dancing around the altar waiting for their god to come through. They don't even have the sense realize he can't. Their gods are powerless, and therefore, so are they.
I have to be honest. I'm kind of irritated at Christians who complain about how much sinners sin, as if they should know better. We would never walk up to a blind man and yell at him for being blind would we? Yet we so quickly bring the verdict down on our neighbor who's trapped in sin. I know this isn't a perfect analogy, but I'm sure you can see the correlation. Those who are around us NEED the Breath of God! They NEED the light of the Word!
I like the phrase, "We catch the fish, He cleans 'em". As we work to bring people to Christ THEN they can begin the process of becoming like HIM! Heaven forbid we try to make them like us! (Read Matthew 23 for a little encouragement in that area!)
The message of Psalm 135 is not just for those outside the body. it's for those in our home, as well as for us. I don't care where you are in your maturing process: Idolatry is ALWAYS knocking at your door. If you feel like you're speechless, blind, deaf to the spirit, and lack breath, check the shrine of your heart to make sure there are no idols, because if there are, you will soon be becoming like them!
Through the Power of the Spirit,
Live the DREAM!
Pastor Greg Lathe
Dynamic Lifestyle of Worship
Relationships Devoted to Unity
Empowered Through Biblical Training
Active Ministry Involvement
Mission to Reach our World for Christ
I Kings 18:1-46
Acts 11:1-30
Psalm 135:1-21
Proverbs 17:12-13
I've never been to a country that is given to actual, physical, little statue-like idols. I know that the far-east is pretty much given to that. Every home has the little shine, and it's a way of life. Our culture may not have the specific shrines like the orient, but that doesn't clear us of idolatry.
A couple years ago we spent a day in Niagara Falls. It is absolutely amazing to see how much water goes over those falls. People from all over the world are here to check it out. it's very cool. I had been there in 1990, but it has changed quite a bit since then. Now there are huge casino signs, and other "attractions" that are basically shrines to self.
Psalm 135:15-18 says "The heathen worship idols of gold and silver, made by men - idols with speechless mouths and sightless eyes and ears that cannot hear; they cannot even breathe. Those who make them become like them! And so do all who trust in them!"
For some reason, people are emulators. We hang around a crowd of people, a circle of friends, watch certain things, listen to certain music, and we, at varying degrees, become like the influences around us.
I was a teenager in the 80's. I'm not proud. I remember the leg-warmers, the big hair, i had my own version of the mullet, I remember the "valley-girl" phase. That was "like when, you know like the girls were like TOTALLY talking like for sure like the same way..." makes me sick to recall!
We are in a society of idolatry. While our high places and shrines are not laid out like they may be in some eastern cultures, or in the days of Solomon, no matter how you look at it, we have them. It's not just in gambling halls and inappropriate night clubs. It's also in our shrines to our comfort.
Today's Psalm says alot! "Those who make them become like them! And so do all who trust in them!"
So, lets check if this true... "...idols with speechless mouths and sightless eyes and ears that cannot hear; they cannot even breathe." Does that sound like anyone you know? neighbors, unsaved family, friends, politicians?
I never actually saw the movie, "Night of the Living Dead", but I've seen clips and commercials have mimicked it. It's where zombies roam the streets with glazed eyes, etc. If you've read Frank Peretti's book "the Oath", he describes people walking aimlessly, completely unaware of the oozing sore of sin in their life.
So it is with those who don't know Christ. I Cor 1:18 "the message of the Cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the very power of God." They have become Speechless, Blind, Deaf, and Lifeless for lack of breath.
In today's reading in I Kings we have the story of the showdown between Elijah & the prophets of Baal. It's a great story. God comes through and the "bad guys" are defeated. You can almost feel sorry for those prophets of Baal. They're dancing around the altar waiting for their god to come through. They don't even have the sense realize he can't. Their gods are powerless, and therefore, so are they.
I have to be honest. I'm kind of irritated at Christians who complain about how much sinners sin, as if they should know better. We would never walk up to a blind man and yell at him for being blind would we? Yet we so quickly bring the verdict down on our neighbor who's trapped in sin. I know this isn't a perfect analogy, but I'm sure you can see the correlation. Those who are around us NEED the Breath of God! They NEED the light of the Word!
I like the phrase, "We catch the fish, He cleans 'em". As we work to bring people to Christ THEN they can begin the process of becoming like HIM! Heaven forbid we try to make them like us! (Read Matthew 23 for a little encouragement in that area!)
The message of Psalm 135 is not just for those outside the body. it's for those in our home, as well as for us. I don't care where you are in your maturing process: Idolatry is ALWAYS knocking at your door. If you feel like you're speechless, blind, deaf to the spirit, and lack breath, check the shrine of your heart to make sure there are no idols, because if there are, you will soon be becoming like them!
Through the Power of the Spirit,
Live the DREAM!
Pastor Greg Lathe
Dynamic Lifestyle of Worship
Relationships Devoted to Unity
Empowered Through Biblical Training
Active Ministry Involvement
Mission to Reach our World for Christ
Friday, September 24, 2010
9.24.10 "Think About It"
"Think About It"
Isaiah 43:14-45:10
Ephesians 3:1-21
Psalm 68:1-18
Proverbs 24:1-2
Idolatry. The context in which we place that word is often in relation to the old testament practice of people who would actually carve idols out of wood, and bow down and pray to them. Listen to what the Lord says through the prophet Isaiah:
"Such stupidity and ignorance! Their eyes are closed, and they cannot see. Their minds are shut, and they cannot think. the person who made th idol never stops to reflect, 'Why, it's just a block of wood! I burned half of it for heat and used it to bake my bread and roast my meat. How can the rest of it be a god? Should I bow down to worship a piece of wood?' The poor, deluded fool feeds on ashes. He trusts something that can't help him at all. Yet he cannot bring himself to ask, 'Is this idol that I'm holding in my hand a lie?'" (Is. 44:18-20)
What great verses! From this perspective it seems so obvious. How stupid it is to trust in something that is just a hunk of wood. It's a good thing we don't worship idols, right?
While it could be easy to begin to list the strongholds of idolatry in our culture, and even within the Body of Christ, I'd like to just look at the next section of scripture.
"Pay attention, O Jacob, for you are my servant, O Israel. I, the Lord, made you, and I will not forget you. I have swept away your sins like a cloud. I have scattered your offenses like the morning mist. Oh, return to me, for I have paid the price to set you free." (Is. 44:21-22)
What a wonderful God we serve. What great love he has shown us. He has made us free! When we focus our minds on thinking of the privilege we have to be called his own, it makes the "idols" around us pale in comparison. We look to people for hope. We look to finances for hope. We look to possessions for hope and comfort... "such stupidity and ignorance!" We have a God who loves us! He set us free!
We need to put aside everything that causes us to lose our focus on the greatness of our God. Think about who He is. Think about what He's done.
"Sing, O heavens, for the Lord has done this wondrous thing. Shout for joy, O depths of the earth! Break into song, O mountains and forests and every tree! For the Lord has redeemed Jacob and is glorified in Israel!" (Is. 44:23)
Through the Power of the Spirit,
Live the DREAM!
P Greg
Dynamic Lifestyle of Worship
Relationships Devoted to Unity
Empowered Through Biblical Training
Active Ministry Involvement
Mission to Reach our World for Christ
Isaiah 43:14-45:10
Ephesians 3:1-21
Psalm 68:1-18
Proverbs 24:1-2
Idolatry. The context in which we place that word is often in relation to the old testament practice of people who would actually carve idols out of wood, and bow down and pray to them. Listen to what the Lord says through the prophet Isaiah:
"Such stupidity and ignorance! Their eyes are closed, and they cannot see. Their minds are shut, and they cannot think. the person who made th idol never stops to reflect, 'Why, it's just a block of wood! I burned half of it for heat and used it to bake my bread and roast my meat. How can the rest of it be a god? Should I bow down to worship a piece of wood?' The poor, deluded fool feeds on ashes. He trusts something that can't help him at all. Yet he cannot bring himself to ask, 'Is this idol that I'm holding in my hand a lie?'" (Is. 44:18-20)
What great verses! From this perspective it seems so obvious. How stupid it is to trust in something that is just a hunk of wood. It's a good thing we don't worship idols, right?
While it could be easy to begin to list the strongholds of idolatry in our culture, and even within the Body of Christ, I'd like to just look at the next section of scripture.
"Pay attention, O Jacob, for you are my servant, O Israel. I, the Lord, made you, and I will not forget you. I have swept away your sins like a cloud. I have scattered your offenses like the morning mist. Oh, return to me, for I have paid the price to set you free." (Is. 44:21-22)
What a wonderful God we serve. What great love he has shown us. He has made us free! When we focus our minds on thinking of the privilege we have to be called his own, it makes the "idols" around us pale in comparison. We look to people for hope. We look to finances for hope. We look to possessions for hope and comfort... "such stupidity and ignorance!" We have a God who loves us! He set us free!
We need to put aside everything that causes us to lose our focus on the greatness of our God. Think about who He is. Think about what He's done.
"Sing, O heavens, for the Lord has done this wondrous thing. Shout for joy, O depths of the earth! Break into song, O mountains and forests and every tree! For the Lord has redeemed Jacob and is glorified in Israel!" (Is. 44:23)
Through the Power of the Spirit,
Live the DREAM!
P Greg
Dynamic Lifestyle of Worship
Relationships Devoted to Unity
Empowered Through Biblical Training
Active Ministry Involvement
Mission to Reach our World for Christ
Thursday, June 17, 2010
6.17.10 "You Are What You Eat (Worship)"
"You Are What You Eat (Worship)"
I Kings 18:1-46
Acts 11:1-30
Psalm 135:1-21
Proverbs 17:12-13
I've never been to a country that is given to actual, physical, little statue-like idols. I know that the far-east is pretty much given to that. Every home has the little shine, and it's a way of life. Our culture may not have the specific shrines like the orient, but that doesn't clear us of idolatry.
A couple years ago we spent a day in Niagara Falls. It is absolutely amazing to see how much water goes over those falls. People from all over the world are here to check it out. it's very cool. I had been there in 1990, but it has changed quite a bit since then. Now there are huge casino signs, and other "attractions" that are basically shrines to self.
Psalm 135:15-18 says "The heathen worship idols of gold and silver, made by men - idols with speechless mouths and sightless eyes and ears that cannot hear; they cannot even breathe. Those who make them become like them! And so do all who trust in them!"
For some reason, people are emulators. We hang around a crowd of people, a circle of friends, watch certain things, listen to certain music, and we, at varying degrees, become like the influences around us.
I was a teenager in the 80's. I'm not proud. I remember the leg-warmers, the big hair, i had my own version of the mullet, I remember the "valley-girl" phase. That was "like when, you know like the girls were like TOTALLY talking like for sure like the same way..." makes me sick to recall!
We are in a society of idolatry. While our high places and shrines are not laid out like they may be in some eastern cultures, or in the days of Solomon, no matter how you look at it, we have them. It's not just in gambling halls and inappropriate night clubs. It's also in our shrines to our comfort.
Today's Psalm says alot! "Those who make them become like them! And so do all who trust in them!"
So, lets check if this true... "...idols with speechless mouths and sightless eyes and ears that cannot hear; they cannot even breathe." Does that sound like anyone you know? neighbors, unsaved family, friends, politicians?
I never actually saw the movie, "Night of the Living Dead", but I've seen clips and commercials have mimicked it. It's where zombies roam the streets with glazed eyes, etc. If you've read Frank Peretti's book "the Oath", he describes people walking aimlessly, completely unaware of the oozing sore of sin in their life.
So it is with those who don't know Christ. I Cor 1:18 "the message of the Cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the very power of God." They have become Speechless, Blind, Deaf, and Lifeless for lack of breath.
In today's reading in I Kings we have the story of the showdown between Elijah & the prophets of Baal. It's a great story. God comes through and the "bad guys" are defeated. You can almost feel sorry for those prophets of Baal. They're dancing around the altar waiting for their god to come through. They don't even have the sense realize he can't. Their gods are powerless, and therefore, so are they.
I have to be honest. I'm kind of irritated at Christians who complain about how much sinners sin, as if they should know better. We would never walk up to a blind man and yell at him for being blind would we? Yet we so quickly bring the verdict down on our neighbor who's trapped in sin. I know this isn't a perfect analogy, but I'm sure you can see the correlation. Those who are around us NEED the Breath of God! They NEED the light of the Word!
I like the phrase, "We catch the fish, He cleans 'em". As we work to bring people to Christ THEN they can begin the process of becoming like HIM! Heaven forbid we try to make them like us! (Read Matthew 23 for a little encouragement in that area!)
The message of Psalm 135 is not just for those outside the body. it's for those in our home, as well as for us. I don't care where you are in your maturing process: Idolatry is ALWAYS knocking at your door. If you feel like you're speechless, blind, deaf to the spirit, and lack breath, check the shrine of your heart to make sure there are no idols, because if there are, you will soon be becoming like them!
Through the Power of the Spirit,
Live the DREAM!
P Greg
Dynamic Lifestyle of Worship
Relationships Devoted to Unity
Empowered Through Biblical Training
Active Ministry Involvement
Mission to Reach our World for Christ
I Kings 18:1-46
Acts 11:1-30
Psalm 135:1-21
Proverbs 17:12-13
I've never been to a country that is given to actual, physical, little statue-like idols. I know that the far-east is pretty much given to that. Every home has the little shine, and it's a way of life. Our culture may not have the specific shrines like the orient, but that doesn't clear us of idolatry.
A couple years ago we spent a day in Niagara Falls. It is absolutely amazing to see how much water goes over those falls. People from all over the world are here to check it out. it's very cool. I had been there in 1990, but it has changed quite a bit since then. Now there are huge casino signs, and other "attractions" that are basically shrines to self.
Psalm 135:15-18 says "The heathen worship idols of gold and silver, made by men - idols with speechless mouths and sightless eyes and ears that cannot hear; they cannot even breathe. Those who make them become like them! And so do all who trust in them!"
For some reason, people are emulators. We hang around a crowd of people, a circle of friends, watch certain things, listen to certain music, and we, at varying degrees, become like the influences around us.
I was a teenager in the 80's. I'm not proud. I remember the leg-warmers, the big hair, i had my own version of the mullet, I remember the "valley-girl" phase. That was "like when, you know like the girls were like TOTALLY talking like for sure like the same way..." makes me sick to recall!
We are in a society of idolatry. While our high places and shrines are not laid out like they may be in some eastern cultures, or in the days of Solomon, no matter how you look at it, we have them. It's not just in gambling halls and inappropriate night clubs. It's also in our shrines to our comfort.
Today's Psalm says alot! "Those who make them become like them! And so do all who trust in them!"
So, lets check if this true... "...idols with speechless mouths and sightless eyes and ears that cannot hear; they cannot even breathe." Does that sound like anyone you know? neighbors, unsaved family, friends, politicians?
I never actually saw the movie, "Night of the Living Dead", but I've seen clips and commercials have mimicked it. It's where zombies roam the streets with glazed eyes, etc. If you've read Frank Peretti's book "the Oath", he describes people walking aimlessly, completely unaware of the oozing sore of sin in their life.
So it is with those who don't know Christ. I Cor 1:18 "the message of the Cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the very power of God." They have become Speechless, Blind, Deaf, and Lifeless for lack of breath.
In today's reading in I Kings we have the story of the showdown between Elijah & the prophets of Baal. It's a great story. God comes through and the "bad guys" are defeated. You can almost feel sorry for those prophets of Baal. They're dancing around the altar waiting for their god to come through. They don't even have the sense realize he can't. Their gods are powerless, and therefore, so are they.
I have to be honest. I'm kind of irritated at Christians who complain about how much sinners sin, as if they should know better. We would never walk up to a blind man and yell at him for being blind would we? Yet we so quickly bring the verdict down on our neighbor who's trapped in sin. I know this isn't a perfect analogy, but I'm sure you can see the correlation. Those who are around us NEED the Breath of God! They NEED the light of the Word!
I like the phrase, "We catch the fish, He cleans 'em". As we work to bring people to Christ THEN they can begin the process of becoming like HIM! Heaven forbid we try to make them like us! (Read Matthew 23 for a little encouragement in that area!)
The message of Psalm 135 is not just for those outside the body. it's for those in our home, as well as for us. I don't care where you are in your maturing process: Idolatry is ALWAYS knocking at your door. If you feel like you're speechless, blind, deaf to the spirit, and lack breath, check the shrine of your heart to make sure there are no idols, because if there are, you will soon be becoming like them!
Through the Power of the Spirit,
Live the DREAM!
P Greg
Dynamic Lifestyle of Worship
Relationships Devoted to Unity
Empowered Through Biblical Training
Active Ministry Involvement
Mission to Reach our World for Christ
Thursday, April 29, 2010
4.29.10 "Those Other gods"
"Those Other gods"
Judges 9:22-10:18
Luke 24:13-53
Psalm 100:1-5
Proverbs 14:11-12
In the book of Judges the real roller coaster begins for the Israelites. In the past under the leadership of Moses and Joshua there were seasons of rebellion and disobedience, but these grow to years of distance from God. The situation described in chapter 10 is not uncommon.
"Then the people of Israel turned away from the Lord again and worshipped the heathen gods... Not only this, but they no longer worshiped Jehovah at all." (Jud. 10:6)
As would often happen their sin separated them from God's blessing, and they would find themselves in oppression and captivity. Often they would live for long periods of time in misery before having the sense to cry out to God.
"This went on for eighteen years. Finally the Israelis turned to Jehovah again and begged him to save them. 'We have sinned against you and have forsaken you as our God and have worshipped idols,' they confessed." (vs.9-10)
I love the answer God gives them. "But the Lord replied, 'Didn't I save you from the Egyptians, the Amorites, the Ammonites, the Philistines, the Sidonians, the Amalekites, and the Maonites? Has there ever been a time when you cried out to me that I haven't rescued you? Yet you continue to abandon me and to worship other gods. So go away; I wont save you any more. Go and cry to the new gods you have chosen! Let them save you in your hour of distress!" (vs11-12)
As much as we love seeing God answer others that way, we have to remember that we are so much like them. We may not have little statues on altars in our homes, but we are surrounded by other gods we serve. We can be brought into captivity by pleasure, food, debt, laziness, entertainment, and many other things.
Too often we find the people of God living in a state of captivity. The thing that makes it ridiculous is the fact that we've placed ourselves there. It's almost as if we eat unhealthy food and then say, "pray that I lose weight". That's no different than the Israelites saying, "Lord set us free" when they have the shrines to foreign gods in their homes.
So what does it take to get free?
"But they pleaded with him again and said, 'We have sinned. Punish us in any way you think best, only save us once more from our enemies.' then they destroyed their foreign gods and worshiped only the Lord;" (15-16)
I was listening to a testimony of someone who became debt free. He was asked, "How did you do it?" His answer was "I decided to do it." To be free from the captivity of "those other gods" we need to GET RID OF THEM! We need to decide to make a change in lifestyle. For each one of us it's a different issue, a different god. But we must be sincere about making a change. We must worship the Lord only.
It takes discipline to make the change. Remember discipline is the principle of Empowered Through Biblical Training. We need to be in the Word. We need to be in discipling relationships with people who will keep us accountable to Godly principles and help us through our weak times. We should not be people who are under the bondage of addictions. We need to be free in Christ. Our turning to other gods only leads to bondage. We need a revelation of the greatness of God!
"Try to realize what this means - the Lord is God! He made us - we are the sheep of His pasture." (Ps 100:3)
What happens when we truly realize what that means. I am his. He made me, and He is God! That should change the way I live. There are no other gods that have the power to save or to change lives.
Thank you Lord for what you've done in my life!
Through the Power of the Spirit,
Live the DREAM!
P Greg
Dynamic Lifestyle of Worship
Relationships Devoted to Unity
Empowered Through Biblical Training
Active Ministry Involvement
Mission to Reach our World for Christ
Judges 9:22-10:18
Luke 24:13-53
Psalm 100:1-5
Proverbs 14:11-12
In the book of Judges the real roller coaster begins for the Israelites. In the past under the leadership of Moses and Joshua there were seasons of rebellion and disobedience, but these grow to years of distance from God. The situation described in chapter 10 is not uncommon.
"Then the people of Israel turned away from the Lord again and worshipped the heathen gods... Not only this, but they no longer worshiped Jehovah at all." (Jud. 10:6)
As would often happen their sin separated them from God's blessing, and they would find themselves in oppression and captivity. Often they would live for long periods of time in misery before having the sense to cry out to God.
"This went on for eighteen years. Finally the Israelis turned to Jehovah again and begged him to save them. 'We have sinned against you and have forsaken you as our God and have worshipped idols,' they confessed." (vs.9-10)
I love the answer God gives them. "But the Lord replied, 'Didn't I save you from the Egyptians, the Amorites, the Ammonites, the Philistines, the Sidonians, the Amalekites, and the Maonites? Has there ever been a time when you cried out to me that I haven't rescued you? Yet you continue to abandon me and to worship other gods. So go away; I wont save you any more. Go and cry to the new gods you have chosen! Let them save you in your hour of distress!" (vs11-12)
As much as we love seeing God answer others that way, we have to remember that we are so much like them. We may not have little statues on altars in our homes, but we are surrounded by other gods we serve. We can be brought into captivity by pleasure, food, debt, laziness, entertainment, and many other things.
Too often we find the people of God living in a state of captivity. The thing that makes it ridiculous is the fact that we've placed ourselves there. It's almost as if we eat unhealthy food and then say, "pray that I lose weight". That's no different than the Israelites saying, "Lord set us free" when they have the shrines to foreign gods in their homes.
So what does it take to get free?
"But they pleaded with him again and said, 'We have sinned. Punish us in any way you think best, only save us once more from our enemies.' then they destroyed their foreign gods and worshiped only the Lord;" (15-16)
I was listening to a testimony of someone who became debt free. He was asked, "How did you do it?" His answer was "I decided to do it." To be free from the captivity of "those other gods" we need to GET RID OF THEM! We need to decide to make a change in lifestyle. For each one of us it's a different issue, a different god. But we must be sincere about making a change. We must worship the Lord only.
It takes discipline to make the change. Remember discipline is the principle of Empowered Through Biblical Training. We need to be in the Word. We need to be in discipling relationships with people who will keep us accountable to Godly principles and help us through our weak times. We should not be people who are under the bondage of addictions. We need to be free in Christ. Our turning to other gods only leads to bondage. We need a revelation of the greatness of God!
"Try to realize what this means - the Lord is God! He made us - we are the sheep of His pasture." (Ps 100:3)
What happens when we truly realize what that means. I am his. He made me, and He is God! That should change the way I live. There are no other gods that have the power to save or to change lives.
Thank you Lord for what you've done in my life!
Through the Power of the Spirit,
Live the DREAM!
P Greg
Dynamic Lifestyle of Worship
Relationships Devoted to Unity
Empowered Through Biblical Training
Active Ministry Involvement
Mission to Reach our World for Christ
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
6.17.9 "You Are What You Eat (Worship)"
"You Are What You Eat (Worship)"
I Kings 18:1-46
Acts 11:1-30
Psalm 135:1-21
Proverbs 17:12-13
I've never been to a country that is given to actual, physical, little statue-like idols. I know that the far-east is pretty much given to that. Every home has the little shine, and it's a way of life. Our culture may not have the specific shrines like the orient, but that doesn't clear us of idolatry.
A couple years ago we spent a day in Niagara Falls. It is absolutely amazing to see how much water goes over those falls. People from all over the world are here to check it out. it's very cool. I had been there in 1990, but it has changed quite a bit since then. Now there are huge casino signs, and other "attractions" that are basically shrines to self.
Psalm 135:15-18 says "The heathen worship idols of gold and silver, made by men - idols with speechless mouths and sightless eyes and ears that cannot hear; they cannot even breathe. Those who make them become like them! And so do all who trust in them!"
For some reason, people are emulators. We hang around a crowd of people, a circle of friends, watch certain things, listen to certain music, and we, at varying degrees, become like the influences around us.
I was a teenager in the 80's. I'm not proud. I remember the leg-warmers, the big hair, i had my own version of the mullet, I remember the "valley-girl" phase. That was "like when, you know like the girls were like TOTALLY talking like for sure like the same way..." makes me sick to recall!
We are in a society of idolatry. While our high places and shrines are not laid out like they may be in some eastern cultures, or in the days of Solomon, no matter how you look at it, we have them. It's not just in gambling halls and inappropriate night clubs. It's also in our shrines to our comfort.
Today's Psalm says alot! "Those who make them become like them! And so do all who trust in them!"
So, lets check if this true... "...idols with speechless mouths and sightless eyes and ears that cannot hear; they cannot even breathe." Does that sound like anyone you know? neighbors, unsaved family, friends, politicians?
I never actually saw the movie, "Night of the Living Dead", but I've seen clips and commercials have mimicked it. It's where zombies roam the streets with glazed eyes, etc. If you've read Frank Peretti's book "the Oath", he describes people walking aimlessly, completely unaware of the oozing sore of sin in their life.
So it is with those who don't know Christ. I Cor 1:18 "the message of the Cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the very power of God." They have become Speechless, Blind, Deaf, and Lifeless for lack of breath.
In today's reading in I Kings we have the story of the showdown between Elijah & the prophets of Baal. It's a great story. God comes through and the "bad guys" are defeated. You can almost feel sorry for those prophets of Baal. They're dancing around the altar waiting for their god to come through. They don't even have the sense realize he can't. Their gods are powerless, and therefore, so are they.
I have to be honest. I'm kind of irritated at Christians who complain about how much sinners sin, as if they should know better. We would never walk up to a blind man and yell at him for being blind would we? Yet we so quickly bring the verdict down on our neighbor who's trapped in sin. I know this isn't a perfect analogy, but I'm sure you can see the correlation. Those who are around us NEED the Breath of God! They NEED the light of the Word!
I like the phrase, "We catch the fish, He cleans 'em". As we work to bring people to Christ THEN they can begin the process of becoming like HIM! Heaven forbid we try to make them like us! (Read Matthew 23 for a little encouragement in that area!)
The message of Psalm 135 is not just for those outside the body. it's for those in our home, as well as for us. I don't care where you are in your maturing process: Idolatry is ALWAYS knocking at your door. If you feel like you're speechless, blind, deaf to the spirit, and lack breath, check the shrine of your heart to make sure there are no idols, because if there are, you will soon be becoming like them!
Through the Power of the Spirit,
Live the DREAM!
P Greg
Dynamic Lifestyle of Worship
Relationships Devoted to Unity
Empowered Through Biblical Training
Active Ministry Involvement
Mission to Reach our World for Christ
I Kings 18:1-46
Acts 11:1-30
Psalm 135:1-21
Proverbs 17:12-13
I've never been to a country that is given to actual, physical, little statue-like idols. I know that the far-east is pretty much given to that. Every home has the little shine, and it's a way of life. Our culture may not have the specific shrines like the orient, but that doesn't clear us of idolatry.
A couple years ago we spent a day in Niagara Falls. It is absolutely amazing to see how much water goes over those falls. People from all over the world are here to check it out. it's very cool. I had been there in 1990, but it has changed quite a bit since then. Now there are huge casino signs, and other "attractions" that are basically shrines to self.
Psalm 135:15-18 says "The heathen worship idols of gold and silver, made by men - idols with speechless mouths and sightless eyes and ears that cannot hear; they cannot even breathe. Those who make them become like them! And so do all who trust in them!"
For some reason, people are emulators. We hang around a crowd of people, a circle of friends, watch certain things, listen to certain music, and we, at varying degrees, become like the influences around us.
I was a teenager in the 80's. I'm not proud. I remember the leg-warmers, the big hair, i had my own version of the mullet, I remember the "valley-girl" phase. That was "like when, you know like the girls were like TOTALLY talking like for sure like the same way..." makes me sick to recall!
We are in a society of idolatry. While our high places and shrines are not laid out like they may be in some eastern cultures, or in the days of Solomon, no matter how you look at it, we have them. It's not just in gambling halls and inappropriate night clubs. It's also in our shrines to our comfort.
Today's Psalm says alot! "Those who make them become like them! And so do all who trust in them!"
So, lets check if this true... "...idols with speechless mouths and sightless eyes and ears that cannot hear; they cannot even breathe." Does that sound like anyone you know? neighbors, unsaved family, friends, politicians?
I never actually saw the movie, "Night of the Living Dead", but I've seen clips and commercials have mimicked it. It's where zombies roam the streets with glazed eyes, etc. If you've read Frank Peretti's book "the Oath", he describes people walking aimlessly, completely unaware of the oozing sore of sin in their life.
So it is with those who don't know Christ. I Cor 1:18 "the message of the Cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the very power of God." They have become Speechless, Blind, Deaf, and Lifeless for lack of breath.
In today's reading in I Kings we have the story of the showdown between Elijah & the prophets of Baal. It's a great story. God comes through and the "bad guys" are defeated. You can almost feel sorry for those prophets of Baal. They're dancing around the altar waiting for their god to come through. They don't even have the sense realize he can't. Their gods are powerless, and therefore, so are they.
I have to be honest. I'm kind of irritated at Christians who complain about how much sinners sin, as if they should know better. We would never walk up to a blind man and yell at him for being blind would we? Yet we so quickly bring the verdict down on our neighbor who's trapped in sin. I know this isn't a perfect analogy, but I'm sure you can see the correlation. Those who are around us NEED the Breath of God! They NEED the light of the Word!
I like the phrase, "We catch the fish, He cleans 'em". As we work to bring people to Christ THEN they can begin the process of becoming like HIM! Heaven forbid we try to make them like us! (Read Matthew 23 for a little encouragement in that area!)
The message of Psalm 135 is not just for those outside the body. it's for those in our home, as well as for us. I don't care where you are in your maturing process: Idolatry is ALWAYS knocking at your door. If you feel like you're speechless, blind, deaf to the spirit, and lack breath, check the shrine of your heart to make sure there are no idols, because if there are, you will soon be becoming like them!
Through the Power of the Spirit,
Live the DREAM!
P Greg
Dynamic Lifestyle of Worship
Relationships Devoted to Unity
Empowered Through Biblical Training
Active Ministry Involvement
Mission to Reach our World for Christ
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
9.24.8 "Think About It"
"Think About It"
Isaiah 43:14-45:10
Ephesians 3:1-21
Psalm 68:1-18
Proverbs 24:1-2
Idolatry. The context in which we place that word is often in relation to the old testament practice of people who would actually carve idols out of wood, and bow down and pray to them. Listen to what the Lord says through the prophet Isaiah:
"Such stupidity and ignorance! Their eyes are closed, and they cannot see. Their minds are shut, and they cannot think. the person who made th idol never stops to reflect, 'Why, it's just a block of wood! I burned half of it for heat and used it to bake my bread and roast my meat. How can the rest of it be a god? Should I bow down to worship a piece of wood?' The poor, deluded fool feeds on ashes. He trusts something that can't help him at all. Yet he cannot bring himself to ask, 'Is this idol that I'm holding in my hand a lie?'" (Is. 44:18-20)
What great verses! From this perspective it seems so obvious. How stupid it is to trust in something that is just a hunk of wood. It's a good thing we don't worship idols, right?
While it could be easy to begin to list the strongholds of idolatry in our culture, and even within the Body of Christ, I'd like to just look at the next section of scripture.
"Pay attention, O Jacob, for you are my servant, O Israel. I, the Lord, made you, and I will not forget you. I have swept away your sins like a cloud. I have scattered your offenses like the morning mist. Oh, return to me, for I have paid the price to set you free." (Is. 44:21-22)
What a wonderful God we serve. What great love he has shown us. He has made us free! When we focus our minds on thinnking of the privilege we have to be called his own, it makes the "idols" around us pale in comparison. We look to people for hope. We look to finances for hope. We look to possessions for hope and comfort... "such stupidity and ignorance!" We have a God who loves us! He set us free!
We need to put aside everything that causes us to lose our focus on the greatness of our God. Think about who He is. Think about what He's done.
"Sing, O heavens, for the Lord has done this wondrous thing. Shout for joy, O depths of the earth! Break into song, O mountains and forests and every tree! For the Lord has redeemed Jaboc and is glorified in Israel!" (Is. 44:23)
Through the Power of the Spirit,
Live the DREAM!
P Greg
Dynamic Lifestyle of Worship
Relationships Devoted to Unity
Empowered Through Biblical Training
Active Ministry Involvement
Mission to Reach our World for Christ
Isaiah 43:14-45:10
Ephesians 3:1-21
Psalm 68:1-18
Proverbs 24:1-2
Idolatry. The context in which we place that word is often in relation to the old testament practice of people who would actually carve idols out of wood, and bow down and pray to them. Listen to what the Lord says through the prophet Isaiah:
"Such stupidity and ignorance! Their eyes are closed, and they cannot see. Their minds are shut, and they cannot think. the person who made th idol never stops to reflect, 'Why, it's just a block of wood! I burned half of it for heat and used it to bake my bread and roast my meat. How can the rest of it be a god? Should I bow down to worship a piece of wood?' The poor, deluded fool feeds on ashes. He trusts something that can't help him at all. Yet he cannot bring himself to ask, 'Is this idol that I'm holding in my hand a lie?'" (Is. 44:18-20)
What great verses! From this perspective it seems so obvious. How stupid it is to trust in something that is just a hunk of wood. It's a good thing we don't worship idols, right?
While it could be easy to begin to list the strongholds of idolatry in our culture, and even within the Body of Christ, I'd like to just look at the next section of scripture.
"Pay attention, O Jacob, for you are my servant, O Israel. I, the Lord, made you, and I will not forget you. I have swept away your sins like a cloud. I have scattered your offenses like the morning mist. Oh, return to me, for I have paid the price to set you free." (Is. 44:21-22)
What a wonderful God we serve. What great love he has shown us. He has made us free! When we focus our minds on thinnking of the privilege we have to be called his own, it makes the "idols" around us pale in comparison. We look to people for hope. We look to finances for hope. We look to possessions for hope and comfort... "such stupidity and ignorance!" We have a God who loves us! He set us free!
We need to put aside everything that causes us to lose our focus on the greatness of our God. Think about who He is. Think about what He's done.
"Sing, O heavens, for the Lord has done this wondrous thing. Shout for joy, O depths of the earth! Break into song, O mountains and forests and every tree! For the Lord has redeemed Jaboc and is glorified in Israel!" (Is. 44:23)
Through the Power of the Spirit,
Live the DREAM!
P Greg
Dynamic Lifestyle of Worship
Relationships Devoted to Unity
Empowered Through Biblical Training
Active Ministry Involvement
Mission to Reach our World for Christ
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
6.17.8 "You Are What You Eat (Worship)"
"You Are What You Eat (Worship)"
I Kings 18:1-46
Acts 11:1-30
Psalm 135:1-21
Proverbs 17:12-13
I've never been to a country that is given to actual, physical, little statue-like idols. I know that the far-east is pretty much given to that. Every home has the little shine, and it's a way of life. Our culture may not have the specific shrines like the orient, but that doesn't clear us of idolatry.
As I'm preparing this today our family is on a vacation & we spent the past day in Niagara Falls. It is absolutely amazing to see how much water goes over those falls. People from all over the world are here to check it out. it's very cool. I was here 17 years ago, but it has changed quite a bit since then. Now there are huge casino signs, and other "attractions" that are basically shrines to self.
Psalm 135:15-18 says "The heathen worship idols of gold and silver, made by men - idols with speechless mouths and sightless eyes and ears that cannot hear; they cannot even breathe. Those who make them become like them! And so do all who trust in them!"
For some reason, people are emulators. We hang around a crowd of people, a circle of friends, watch certain things, listen to certain music, and we, at varying degrees, become like the influences around us.
I was a teenager in the 80's. I'm not proud. I remember the leg-warmers, the big hair, i had my own version of the mullet, I remember the "valley-girl" phase. That was "like when, you know like the girls were like TOTALLY talking like for sure like the same way..." makes me sick to recall!
We are in a society of idolatry. While our high places and shrines are not laid out like they may be in some eastern cultures, or in the days of Solomon, no matter how you look at it, we have them. It's not just in gambling halls and inappropriate night clubs. It's also in our shrines to our comfort.
Today's Psalm says alot! "Those who make them become like them! And so do all who trust in them!"
So, lets check if this true... "...idols with speechless mouths and sightless eyes and ears that cannot hear; they cannot even breathe." Does that sound like anyone you know? neighbors, unsaved family, friends, politicians?
I never actually saw the movie, "Night of the Living Dead", but I've seen clips and commercials have mimicked it. It's where zombies roam the streets with glazed eyes, etc. If you've read Frank Peretti's book "the Oath", he describes people walking aimlessly, completely unaware of the oozing sore of sin in their life.
So it is with those who don't know Christ. I Cor 1:18 "the message of the Cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the very power of God." They have become Speechless, Blind, Deaf, and Lifeless for lack of breath.
In today's reading in I Kings we have the story of the showdown between Elijah & the prophets of Baal. It's a great story. God comes through and the "bad guys" are defeated. You can almost feel sorry for those prophets of Baal. They're dancing around the altar waiting for their god to come through. They don't even have the sense realize he can't. Their gods are powerless, and therefore, so are they.
I have to be honest. I'm kind of irritated at Christians who complain about how much sinners sin, as if they should know better. We would never walk up to a blind man and yell at him for being blind would we? Yet we so quickly bring the verdict down on our neighbor who's trapped in sin. I know this isn't a perfect analogy, but I'm sure you can see the correlation. Those who are around us NEED the Breath of God! They NEED the light of the Word!
I like the phrase, "We catch the fish, He cleans 'em". As we work to bring people to Christ THEN they can begin the process of becoming like HIM! Heaven forbid we try to make them like us! (Read Matthew 23 for a little encouragement in that area!)
The message of Psalm 135 is not just for those outside the body. it's for those in our home, as well as for us. I don't care where you are in your maturing process: Idolatry is ALWAYS knocking at your door. If you feel like you're speechless, blind, deaf to the spirit, and lack breath, check the shrine of your heart to make sure there are no idols, because if there are, you will soon be becoming like them!
Through the Power of the Spirit,
Live the DREAM!
P Greg
Dynamic Lifestyle of Worship
Relationships Devoted to Unity
Empowered Through Biblical Training
Active Ministry Involvement
Mission to Reach our World for Christ
I Kings 18:1-46
Acts 11:1-30
Psalm 135:1-21
Proverbs 17:12-13
I've never been to a country that is given to actual, physical, little statue-like idols. I know that the far-east is pretty much given to that. Every home has the little shine, and it's a way of life. Our culture may not have the specific shrines like the orient, but that doesn't clear us of idolatry.
As I'm preparing this today our family is on a vacation & we spent the past day in Niagara Falls. It is absolutely amazing to see how much water goes over those falls. People from all over the world are here to check it out. it's very cool. I was here 17 years ago, but it has changed quite a bit since then. Now there are huge casino signs, and other "attractions" that are basically shrines to self.
Psalm 135:15-18 says "The heathen worship idols of gold and silver, made by men - idols with speechless mouths and sightless eyes and ears that cannot hear; they cannot even breathe. Those who make them become like them! And so do all who trust in them!"
For some reason, people are emulators. We hang around a crowd of people, a circle of friends, watch certain things, listen to certain music, and we, at varying degrees, become like the influences around us.
I was a teenager in the 80's. I'm not proud. I remember the leg-warmers, the big hair, i had my own version of the mullet, I remember the "valley-girl" phase. That was "like when, you know like the girls were like TOTALLY talking like for sure like the same way..." makes me sick to recall!
We are in a society of idolatry. While our high places and shrines are not laid out like they may be in some eastern cultures, or in the days of Solomon, no matter how you look at it, we have them. It's not just in gambling halls and inappropriate night clubs. It's also in our shrines to our comfort.
Today's Psalm says alot! "Those who make them become like them! And so do all who trust in them!"
So, lets check if this true... "...idols with speechless mouths and sightless eyes and ears that cannot hear; they cannot even breathe." Does that sound like anyone you know? neighbors, unsaved family, friends, politicians?
I never actually saw the movie, "Night of the Living Dead", but I've seen clips and commercials have mimicked it. It's where zombies roam the streets with glazed eyes, etc. If you've read Frank Peretti's book "the Oath", he describes people walking aimlessly, completely unaware of the oozing sore of sin in their life.
So it is with those who don't know Christ. I Cor 1:18 "the message of the Cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the very power of God." They have become Speechless, Blind, Deaf, and Lifeless for lack of breath.
In today's reading in I Kings we have the story of the showdown between Elijah & the prophets of Baal. It's a great story. God comes through and the "bad guys" are defeated. You can almost feel sorry for those prophets of Baal. They're dancing around the altar waiting for their god to come through. They don't even have the sense realize he can't. Their gods are powerless, and therefore, so are they.
I have to be honest. I'm kind of irritated at Christians who complain about how much sinners sin, as if they should know better. We would never walk up to a blind man and yell at him for being blind would we? Yet we so quickly bring the verdict down on our neighbor who's trapped in sin. I know this isn't a perfect analogy, but I'm sure you can see the correlation. Those who are around us NEED the Breath of God! They NEED the light of the Word!
I like the phrase, "We catch the fish, He cleans 'em". As we work to bring people to Christ THEN they can begin the process of becoming like HIM! Heaven forbid we try to make them like us! (Read Matthew 23 for a little encouragement in that area!)
The message of Psalm 135 is not just for those outside the body. it's for those in our home, as well as for us. I don't care where you are in your maturing process: Idolatry is ALWAYS knocking at your door. If you feel like you're speechless, blind, deaf to the spirit, and lack breath, check the shrine of your heart to make sure there are no idols, because if there are, you will soon be becoming like them!
Through the Power of the Spirit,
Live the DREAM!
P Greg
Dynamic Lifestyle of Worship
Relationships Devoted to Unity
Empowered Through Biblical Training
Active Ministry Involvement
Mission to Reach our World for Christ
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