SIGNS OF IDOLATRY
2 Kings 17:33
Morning Meditation 4/11/2015
"They feared the LORD, and served their own gods, after the manner of the nations whom they carried away from thence."
The religion of some is like the skin of the chameleon that changes its color according to the hues of circumstances. Those Assyrian settlers in Israel wanted to know the "God of the land" where they now dwelt, but clung to their own god. We are serving our own gods when we--
GIVE GOD ONLY ONE DAY OUT OF SEVEN
Attending to the outward forms of religion once a week. Reading the Bible on Sunday and denying its every claim all the other six days. Selfishness on Saturday means selfishness on Sunday.
There is no doubt that many Sunday Church goers think they have done their due toward God, if they go to Church on Sunday, and pay their tithe. This is really absurd when you meditate on what Jesus did to redeem you and pay for your sins by going to the cross.
1 Corinthians 6:19-20, "What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's."
1. First, this text brings out the FACT that one's body is the temple of the Holy Spirit from the day of salvation onward. This means God lives in every believer. There's a lot of people that would have a heart attack if they pushed back the pews in the auditorium of the Church where they attend and have a dance. Yet they would think nothing of it at all if they did the dancing somewhere else.
2. Second, this text says plainly that we are not our own. This means that we are no longer the one who says what is right and what is wrong for us. It is God who sets the standards that we must keep if we as His children intend to please Him.
3. Third, this text places, "glorifying God in our body and in our spirits which are God's, as the number one motive in the life of the Christian. And we are to do this because we are "bought with a price."
The conclusion is that many professing Christians either didn't repent of sin when they claim they were saved, or, they have taken back their repentance.
WHEN WE ONLY GIVE TO GOD WHAT COSTS US NOTHING
King David numbered the people. It was not God's will for him to do this. God sent a plague and the people were dying. David confessed his sin. 2 Samuel 24:18 says, "And Gad came that day to David, and said unto him, Go up, rear an altar unto the LORD in the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite."
When David approached Araunah about buying his threshing floor and oxen to offer a burnt offering, Araunah offered to give the King the threshing floor and the oxen to make his offering. When he did this David said, in 2 Samuel 24:24-25, "And the king said unto Araunah, Nay; but I will surely buy it of thee at a price: neither will I offer burnt offerings unto the LORD my God of that which doth cost me nothing. So David bought the threshing floor and the oxen for fifty shekels of silver. And David built there an altar unto the LORD, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings. So the LORD was entreated for the land, and the plague was stayed from Israel."
There are many who are unwilling to offer to God what costs them. 2 Samuel 24:23 says in verse 23, "All these things did Araunah, as a king, give unto the king. And Araunah said unto the king, The LORD thy God accept thee." We in like manner should give as redeemed people to the Redeemer. What is it costing us to serve the Lord? We are serving our own gods when we--
ARE MORE CONCERNED ABOUT OUR BUSINESS THAN THE LORD'S
Matthew 6:33, "But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you." Many of us have turned this verse around. We are seeking first the things of this life rather than seeking first the kingdom of God.. We are serving our own god's when we--
ARE MORE ANXIOUS FOR THE PRAISE OF MEN THAN THE PRAISE OF GOD
There are those who are spiritual crib babies who have to have special recognition to keep them going. It is "I did this," or, "I did that." Many think the church could not make it without them. This is a sin and should be repented of.
May the Lord bless these words to our hearts.
In Christ
Bro.. White
