Your Idols May Be Broken And Cease....

Idols? I don't have idols. There are no statues in my home to which I worship. I don't worship gods. I don't worship any god but the true God. I don't have idols, I don't place anything thing above God.... Or do I? Webster's 1828 Dictionary Definition States: "1. An image, form or representation, usually of a man or other animal, consecrated as an object of worship; a pagan deity. Idols are usually statues or images, carved out of wood or stone, or formed of metals, particularly silver or gold. 2. An image. 3. A person loved and honored to adoration. The prince was the idol of the people. 4. Any thing on which we set our affections; that to which we indulge an excessive and sinful attachment." Anything on which we set our affections... Do I set all my affections on the LORD God? Or are there things in my life that God doesn't have any control over? Do I place my friends, my family, and my own selfish desires over the LORD's will? Does my LORD have my affections or does someone else have them? I could be doing so much in the name of the LORD and it not be for the LORD. "I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars: And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name's sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted. Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love." ~ Revelation 2:2-4. This church was diligent for the LORD. In all appearances, they looked to be on fire for the LORD. But God knew their heart. He knew they had left their first love. They were busy doing but it seems they started doing the work with the wrong motives. Motives such as: Duty, The Praise of Men, Image, Self-righteousness, etc. Have you left your first love? Can you say that you are setting your affections on things above? Or are there things in your life that you have placed above Almighty God? I hope we will all purpose that our idols be broken and cease.

"If Thou Shalt Confess..."

In my devotions this morning, I was reading in Romans Chapter 10. In my reading, I came across verses that are used individually in the Romans Road. In many Christian circles, the Romans Road is often the main used witnessing tool. Some may even go so far as to think that the Romans Road is the ONLY witnessing tool. However, there is something that doesn't seem to set right with me when someone uses just the Romans Road. And today, I think I have come to understand why. I used the phrase that these verses are "used individually" because the Romans Road plucks out a verse from one chapter and another from another chapter. It takes these verses out of their chapter and in reality out of their context and these individual verses make up the Romans Road. Romans 10:9 says, "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." This verse is one of the verses used in the Romans Road. This verse is also used as a rebuttal to the question "The Sinner's Prayer is not found in Scripture." Now bear with me, I am going somewhere with this. I believe that the Sinner's Prayer is very dangerous to use. I believe that often the Sinner's Prayer becomes in the minds of the lost and even in the minds of the saved... a Magic Prayer. Have you ever heard someone say, "I'm saved because I prayed the Sinner's Prayer." or "The Sinner's Prayer just confirms what is already in the persons heart."... ? These are things often said to justify why the Sinner's Prayer is a very good and needed thing. "Well, it says in the Bible, "If thou shalt confess with thy mouth the LORD Jesus"... I always like to tell people, God gives the words to say. I don't have to give them the words to repeat. "Well, where is that in the Bible?" Today, I found exactly where "That" is in the Bible. I didn't have to look far, it is right above the verse that is often used to confirm the Sinner's Prayer. "But the righteousness which is of faith speaketh on this wise, Say not in thine heart, Who shall ascend into heaven? (that is, to bring Christ down from above:) Or, Who shall descend into the deep? (that is, to bring up Christ again from the dead.) But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is the word of faith, which we preach; That if though 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. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation." ~ Romans 10:6-10. God gives the words. God puts the words in the heart and gives the words to say. How easy it would be, if we all could have thousands of people pray the prayer and get saved. Just repeat after me and 1-2-3 your a Christian. But I'm afraid that too often this method is used and "Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity." ~ Matthew 7:22-23. Salvation is not complicated. God does the saving. He is the one that gives faith and repentance. But too many people are concerned with "fruit" that they lead many who do not even understand into a prayer and they never truly received Christ. "Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it." ~ Matthew 7:13-14. Remember our responsibility is to go and tell... we are not given the command to save. God does the saving!

"In Thy Presence"

During Singles Class this past Wednesday night, I was struck with the idea that on God's Path there is so much to look forward to. At one point in the class, we expounded upon Psalms 16:11. Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in Thy presence is fulness of Joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore." Q: What do we find in this path? A: We find Life, Joy, Pleasures... But stop and think for a moment. What else do we find? ... How about God's Presence. God walks with us, when we follow His path. He doesn't just leave it on our own to find out where His will is.... He goes with us every step of the way. In Proverbs 4, God says that "I have taught thee in the way of wisdom; I have led thee in right paths. When thou goest, they steps shall not be straitened; and when thou runnest, thou shalt not stumble." God goes with us. He guides us. Such a simple truth. But in this day, when the world with all its glitter calls our hearts to stray, we need to be reminded of this simple truth daily. Sometimes in this Christian life, we think we need something more than a Sunday School answer to help us live. But it is those Sunday School answers that hold the most truth. Read My Bible and I will grow? That's so clique! Maybe So, But IT IS THE TRUTH!!!!! The Bible Clearly says we are not to be of the World. We are not to envy the world. "Envy thou not the oppressor, and choose none of his ways." ~ Proverbs 3:31. You might say that you would never do ____ fill in the blank. But do you envy the world? Do you watch certain things and find yourself wanting ......? It all starts in our mind. What we dwell on will effect what we do. This is a simple truth that we who have grown up in Christian homes have heard time and time again. Yet it is a truth that we often ignore. We entertain worldly thoughts and then we proclaim... "I WILL NEVER DO THAT!" Are you so sure? How is your thought life? If we don't start with the simple truth of being in God's Word, we will not be able to walk on God's Path. And if we aren't on God's Path... We are on a path that leads to the way of the wicked. "But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day. The way of the wicked is as darkness: they know not at what they stumble." ~ Proverbs 4:18-19. "Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not in the way of evil men. Avoid it, pass not by it, turn from it, and pass away." ~ Proverbs 4:14-15. A good beginning to walking on God's Path is by reading a chapter in Proverbs every day. Those who want to walk on God's Path usually are walking on God's Path because they have purposed to do so simply by seeking God in His Word and Praying.

"But Thou Art The Same...." ~ Psalm 102:27a

Over years people change. You and I change. We can change for the good or for the bad. We can grow more sweet or become more bitter with time. Time plays a important part in our change. Time causes us to grow older physically and mentally. Circumstances tend to change us. People tend to change us. Sin changes us. We are a constantly changing people. Here are some Things about our Unchanging God. God is not bound by Time. Time can not change Him. Circumstances do not change God. There has never been a circumstance that has taken God by surprise. People cannot and do not ever change God. God is without sin. Sin can never change God. God is always the same. He was the same since before the beginning of time and He will be the same beyond the end of time. So Why Does It Matter That God Never Changes? 1. Friends and even Family come and Go but God Never Leaves us. "Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the LORD thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee." ~ Deuteronomy 31:6. 2. There is not one person that is good all the time and yet God is always Good. "For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end." ~ Jeremiah 29:11. 3. People make promises and break them. There has never been a promise that God has relinquished on. PROMISES SUCH AS: * "Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us," ~ Ephesians 3:20. * "And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it." ~ 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24. I can't help but think of that Hymn Every Promise In The Book Is Mine. Just stop and reflect on the goodness of God today. Lift praise up to Him for being a wonderful God that is always the Same!

A Simple Truth Found in a Simple Psalm

How often have we heard this Psalm especially around Thanksgiving. I remember growing up and memorizing this Psalm every November in my Elementary years. Psalms 100 ~ "Make a Joyful Noise unto the LORD, all ye lands. Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing. Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name. For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations." In reading this Psalm, I began to reflect on how often I neglect to give thanks and praise to God. Someone once said "Thinkfulness is Thankfulness." There is two roads that we can take when it comes to Thanksgiving. The first road is the one of Unthankfulness. When we are not Thankful, we are in return unthankful people. The end of unthankfulness can be found in Romans 1. Romans 1 speaks of a people whose minds are darkened and God gave them up to a reprobate mind. The start of their demise is found in Romans 1:21 ~ "Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened." There is a second path of Thankfulness and that is the road so often not taken. "O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him." ~ Psalms 34:8. The Bible says, that the LORD IS GOOD! When was the last time I praise the LORD for His Goodness. Here are some practical tips to walk down this road of Thankfulness: * Remember Your Salvation * Reflect on the Thankfulness Scriptures * Remember the Past Victories * Receive others by Edifying and Serving them * Renew Family Blessings * Rest in Spiritual Decisions