THE NATURE OF IDOLATRY. The Lord has been quickening His people to get our houses in order. Take care of all those areas that you have let slip or become complacent in. There’s a separation taking place among God’s people. The church is in a very bad condition and God is shaking everything that can be shaken. We are in a time of great deception and the fog will get thicker.
These are things the Lord continues to show me and speak to me about. There are worse things coming and He needs His people to be ready and watching. Those who are not ready will not be able to stand, and will fall away. Sharpen your discernment and hone your senses. God is refining our character. Pay attention. Repent and forgive. Stop creating problems and division in the Body. Clean your house of all idols.
“You shall have no other gods before Me. “You shall not make for yourself a carved image—any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; you shall not bow down to them nor serve them. For I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me, but showing mercy to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments.” Exodus 20:3-6
Now, most people would say, “I worship the Lord not an idol!” Do you? Here is what the Lord showed me concerning idolatry: you believe you can worship God and your idols at the same time. And so you place your idol even with the Lord. Because you attend church, you pray, speak in tongues and lift your hands to the Lord; you think you are good. But that idol is still in your heart and so you will pursue it and worship the Lord at the same time.
An idol is anything you put your trust in or bow down to. There’s a competing allegiance in the heart. Read that again. If God took that thing away, how would it affect you? If it would crush you, your allegiances might be displaced. Our trust is to be in Christ alone. So what does today’s idolatry look like? It’s the same false gods of the ancient world just with new names.
What do people idolize today? Fame, government, success, a job, your family, sexuality (side note: when women and young ladies would rather be sexy than holy, they are bowing to the god of sexuality), money, power, education, sports, celebrities, and the list goes on. What are you pursuing? Check your heart. You might just be pursuing an idol. If anything competes with the Lord’s attention, your heart is divided. No man can serve two masters. You cannot serve God and serve the world. You cannot love God and love the world. God will ask you to give up your dreams if they will lead you away from Him. Better have your ears tuned to His voice alone. Don’t think you’re good because you proclaim a love for God. So did Israel; but they served God and Baal at the same time.
“And Elijah came to all the people, and said, “How long will you falter between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow Him; but if Baal, follow him.” But the people answered him not a word.”
I Kings 18:21
Does this mean you can’t have a plan/goal? No. It just means all these things must be on the altar. God gets to decide what He wants for you. God will give you the desires of your heart when they line up with His will. This is only accomplished through surrender. Do a heart examination. Get your house in order and clean up those areas you have been complacent in. Rid yourself of any and all idols. This is serious. Time is short and God is not messing around. Your idol will destroy you.
“Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen.” I John 5:21
To Learn More About Pastor Crystal please visit the Leadership Page
