Exodus 23:32-33 (HCSB) 32 You must not make a covenant with them or their gods. 33 They must not remain in your land, or else they will make you sin against Me. If you worship their gods, it will be a snare for you.”
Deuteronomy 12:29-31 (HCSB) 29 “When the Lord your God annihilates the nations before you, which you are entering to take possession of, and you drive them out and live in their land, 30 be careful not to be ensnared by their ways after they have been destroyed before you. Do not inquire about their gods, asking, ‘How did these nations worship their gods? I’ll also do the same.’ 31 You must not do the same to the Lord your God, because they practice every detestable thing, which the Lord hates, for their gods. They even burn their sons and daughters in the fire to their gods.
Deuteronomy 12:29-30 (TS2009) 29 “When יהוה your Elohim does cut off from before you the nations which you go to dispossess, and you dispossess them and dwell in their land, 30 guard yourself that you are not ensnared to follow them, after they are destroyed from before you, and that you do not inquire about their mighty ones, saying, ‘How did these nations serve their mighty ones? And let me do so too.’c Footnote: cSee also Deu_18:9, Lev_18:3, Jer_10:2, Eze_11:12 and Eze_20:32, Eph_4:17, and 1Pe_4:3.
1 Corinthians 12:1-2 (HCSB) Now concerning what comes from the Spirit:[a] brothers, I do not want you to be unaware. 2 You know that when you were pagans, you used to be led off to the idols that could not speak.
1 Corinthians 12:1-2 (TS2009) 1 And concerning spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not wish you to be ignorant. 2 You know that you were nations, a led away to the dumb idols, even as you might be led. Footnote: aSee also Eph_2:11, Eph_4:17, 1Pe_4:3, 1Th_4:5.
As we live in the 21st century, we are in a time when sin is not a popular topic nor discussion in the church (assembly/body of Messiah/Christ). When sin begins to be the main topic of a sermon, sermon series or teaching, many will refuse to hear it, many will refuse to receive it, many will refuse to assemble for it, many will refuse to tune in to it, many will refuse to watch on Facebook, YouTube, Instagram or TikTok, many will refuse to be corrected from it and many will refuse to see where they are not when it comes to obeying what it is that The Father has said. We live in a time where the majority of preachers, pastors, speakers and want-to-be pastors/preachers are more concerned about their attendance numbers, views, likes and subscribers than they are about folk truly changing to become righteous people before the eyes of The Father. We are in a time when the most egregious sin in the eyes of The Father is not even a topic – idolatry. I contend that idolatry – the worship of other gods – is a sin that many are engaged in and don’t even realize nor recognize that they are deeply rooted in. You cannot please The Father if you have another god with Him, before Him, beside Him, above Him or mixed with Him.
Idolatry – the worship of other gods – is seen throughout the Scriptures. Israel was continuously warned by the prophets to not reject The Father, continuously rejected the warning and went into captivity because they worshiped other gods, satan tried to get the Messiah to worship him instead of The Father and Paul was on divine assignment in the lands of other gods. What have we in the 21st century made gods? Wood, stone, organizations, knowledge, nationalities, religion, skin color, education, work, husbands, wives, children, biological family, positions, titles, vacations, sports, clothes, cars, houses, extra-curricular activities, and any other thought, word, act or work that occupies more of your heart, mind and soul than The Father does. Many have learned the ways of the heathens/pagans and have followed the path of the pagans as they worship their particular or multiple gods. Many have inquired of the heathens/pagans, learned what it is to worship other gods and have then merged the worship of The Father with the worship of other gods. Many live syncretized [To reconcile and unite differing religious beliefs] lives, have leaders approve of their false worship, have leaders engaged in this same false worship, have leaders teach them how to falsely worship The Father, ignore the warnings within The Scriptures, think that they are on good ground with their idolatry, and then reject The Word when The Word comes to correct them.
Family, you must learn how it is that The Father has told us to worship Him. You must learn how it is that The Messiah worshipped The Father while He was clothed in the flesh. You must reject the idols of the heathens/pagans. You must reject the idols that your family has given to you. You must reject the idols that your friends & colleagues have given to you. You must reject the idols that elevate you because you do the same things that they do. You mut reject the idols that you have created in your mind, heart, mouth and soul. You must reject the idols that keep you from becoming all that you were born to become. You must reject the idols that will keep you separated from The Kingdom – if you do not change your wisdom, words, ways and works!
Shalom (Peace)!
Scriptural References:
Note: TS2009 is the 2009 version of The Scriptures developed by Institute For Scripture Research (https://www.isr-messianic.org/). The Scriptures is a literal bible translation that utilizes the Masoretic letters and symbols for the true name of The Father and The Son (Messiah) without utilizing replacement titles or a position created by men. In order to minimize the debate over proper name enunciation, they have elected to utilize the theologically and historically accepted symbols for Their Names and have left the enunciation to the reader and/or student. They have also approached this translation from a Hebraic perspective in lieu of a Latinized, Greek, Roman, Greco-Roman, or Hellenized perspective. Why would I be led to introduce you (or some of you) to this method of translation?
Well, let’s go to The Scriptures for the answer – 1John 19:19-20 (HCSB) 19 Pilate also had a sign lettered and put on the cross. The inscription was: JESUS THE NAZARENE THE KING OF THE JEWS. 20 Many of the Jews read this sign, because the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city, and it was written in Hebrew,[f] Latin, and Greek; and 2Romans 3:1-2 (HCSB) 1 So what advantage does the Jew have? Or what is the benefit of circumcision? 2 Considerable in every way. First, they were entrusted with the spoken words of God.
If the Jews (Israelites) were entrusted with The Word of God and during the time that The Messiah walked in the flesh they spoke Hebrew (some will say they spoke Aramaic), then why would we not read, understand and apply The Scriptures the Hebraic spiritual, familial, cultural, linguistic, etymological, historical and generational context? After all, they were reminded in
Jeremiah 10:1-2 (HCSB) 1 Hear the word that the Lord has spoken to[a] you, house of Israel. 2 This is what the Lord says: Do not learn the way of the nations or be terrified by signs in the heavens,
although the nations are terrified by them,
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