“Idolaters are condemned by the Word of God. Their folly consists in trusting in self for salvation, in bowing down to the works of their own hands. God classes as idolaters those who trust in their own wisdom, their own devising, depending for success on their riches and power, striving to strengthen themselves by alliance with men whom the world calls great, but who fail to discern the binding claims of His law.” (RH March 15, 1906).
This is the 273rd letter:
Text for the day: Exodus 20:4-6 (King James Version)
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.
Our Theme for the day: “THE BLUEPRINT” Part 5 (The True Mode of Worship)
While the first and second commandments of the Decalogue are closely connected in that they both prohibit idolatry and the worship of false Gods. There is, nevertheless, a clear distinction in difference between them. The first commandment deals with, or reveals the true object of worship. While the second commandment opens to us the true mode of which we should worship God.
The first commandment prohibits the worship of false gods; the second forbids false forms of worship. The first commandment opens our eyes to the conception of the true and living God. The second with our external acts and forms as manifested in our daily and weekly worship. The Bible is strong on the point of disapproval of those who worship idols and materialism. One thing that is very clear is that the Bible does not condemn sculptures, painting, and artistries, Exodus 25:17-22 / 1 Kings 6:23-26 / Numbers 21:8-9 / 2 King 18:4.
So what is the over all meaning of the second commandment? In the ancient world, the people loved to build images, or have graven images of which they worship in honor of their gods. It was believed by these cultures and peoples that the gods took up their abode in these images. As time went on, these images where worshiped and adored. Now this was not a new thing, but became more explosive over time. In the Bible, God calls these gods strange gods, and the worship of them is forbidden, Genesis 35:2-4, Exodus 32:2-3, Exodus 33:5-10, Exodus 35:20-22, Numbers 31:50, Joshua 24:14-24, Isaiah 3:20, Ezekiel 16:12, 2 Corinthians 10:3-6, 1 Timothy 2:9-10, 1 Peter 3:3-4. The bottom line is anything you put before God is an idol.
When the Israelites entered the promise land, they where forbidden by God to get involved with the nations who occupied the land before them. God, as a good parent understood something about these people which the Israelites did not know. Verse four of Deuteronomy 7 says, “For they will turn away thy son and daughters from following me that they may serve other gods: so will my anger be kindled against you, and destroy you suddenly.
Jesus in speaking to the Samaritan woman in John 4:5-43 said to her, “The hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.” This is spiritual worship. The second commandment encourages mankind to worship God from a true heart, and not the religious forms and ceremonies of the day. Today, God is calling His people to put down all perverted and degraded forms of worship. The mind of the child of God must transcend materialism, images, or any likeness of anything that God created in the heavens, earth, and in the sea.
In both Egypt and Canaan history recalls, polytheism (worship of more than one god) and pantheism (populations of people serving gods) which was the order of the day. Mankind worshiped the creature. All heathen gods were men and women in their originals. When these countries where defeated, it was believed that these gods where also defeated.
But some would still carry on the worship of these gods under a new name, hoping that these gods will be revived and deliver them, 2 Corinthians 4:18. But this is not serving God by faith, but works, Hebrews 11:1. These heathen claims of the worship of false gods have found its way into our day, and we must not give a blind eye to it, but stamp it out. One day Jesus will come, and God will hold us responsible for what we could have done for the saving or lost of His people, and hold people equally responsible for what they have done for their salvation, Ezekiel 18:20-32 / 2 Chronicles 25:4 / Romans 1:18-32 / Jeremiah 30:31-34 / Jeremiah 32:40. May we worship the LORD in the true mode of worship always; “that our lives may reflect the holiness of God, and that all who behold us, see Jesus and him only to be saved.”
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This letter was written by Elder Kevin Santucci
Join us next time for another ray of sunshine from Garden Ministry when we shall look at, (“THE BLUE-PRINT” Part 6)
Song of the day
Click:
Ø Today is helping the helpless day. Find someone who is helpless in your community today, and give them a hand.
If possible, share with us your response.
Our Prayer for today:
Lord help us worship you in the true spirit of worship, Amen.
Prayer Request
Community / International Prayer
Local Prayer Request:
Ø Praise God and thank you for you prayers for Javon Hearies. He is out of ICU and on a regular ward in the hospital. Let us keep him in our prayers for total healing.
Ø Prayer is ask for Mr. Webster B. Tucker.
World Events:
Ø Let us pray for the African Union summit meeting to pledge help for the victims of Somalia's drought.
Ø We are asking for your prayer for God’s children who are caught in the unrest in Kashgar, in China’s western Xinjiang region.
Ø In China today there is an ongoing crackdown against house churches. House church pastor Shi Enhao was sentenced to two years in a labor camp last month (June) 2011. Pastor Shi, who serves as deputy chairman of the Chinese House Church Alliance, was charged with “illegal meetings and illegal organizing of venues for religious meetings.” The charges stem from the fact that Pastor Shi’s house church of several thousand meets in different sites around Suqian city. Let us pray that God will give wisdom to the leaders of the country to set him free.
"And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, who are the called according to His purpose." Romans 8:28
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May GOD Bless and keep you.
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Question:
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