Category Archives: Idolatry

Is Jesus God or A God?

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Is Jesus God or A God?

We are going to take a look at 2 English Bible translation , the King James and the New World Translation used by Jehovah Witnesses.

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. John 1:1 (KJV)

 In the beginning was the Word,a and the Word was with God,b and the Word was a god John 1:1 (NWT)

We have 2 choices based on these texts, either Jesus is God or Jesus is a God. Now if Jesus is another God apart from the Father, what kind of God is he? How many Gods are there? Can we worship more than one God?

For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counseller, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6 (KJV)

 

6  For a child has been born to us,dA son has been given to us;And the rulership* will rest on his shoulder.eHis name will be called Wonderful Counselor,f Mighty God,g Eternal Father, Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6  (NWT)

I think we can agree that the prophecy of Isaiah 9:6 is about Jesus. So here we see in both translations Jesus is given the title of “Mighty God”, again how many Gods are there? Can we worship multiple Gods? Do we worship Jesus?

Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, into a mountain where Jesus had appointed them. And when they saw him, they worshipped him: but some doubted. Matthew 28:16-17 (KJV)

However, the 11 disciples went to Galʹi·leel to the mountain where Jesus had arranged for them to meet.m 17  When they saw him, they did obeisance, but some doubted Matthew 28:16-17 (NWT)

Now here the NWT translators tried to be clever and changed the translation of the original Greek word (proskuneo) to obeisance. If you look up proskuneo throughout the New Testament you’ll find this word always means “worship”. The word obeisance itself means to bow, kneel. So instead of using the English word worship , they try to downplay it with obeisance

And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever. And the four beasts said, Amen. And the four and twenty elders fell down and worshipped him that liveth for ever and ever. Revelation 5:13-14 (KJV)

And I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and underneath the earthv and on the sea, and all the things in them, saying: “To the One sitting on the thronew and to the Lambx be the blessing and the honory and the glory and the might forever and ever.”z 14  The four living creatures were saying: “Amen!” and the elders fell down and worshipped. Revelation 5:13-14 (NWT)

Now the interesting thing here in Revelation 5, the NWT translates “proskuneo” as worship. Why are they not consistent in Matthew?  Secondly even from their translation its pretty clear, The Lamb (Jesus) is worshipped

The bottom line is as Christians we worship Jesus. Even Jehovah Witnesses have to admit they worship Jesus. So if we worship Jesus and hes not God then we are all idolaters. However because John and Isaiah made it clear Jesus is God, we are worshipping the one true God incarnate.

 

 

Den Of Thieves

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He said to them, “The Scriptures declare, ‘My Temple will be called a house of prayer,’ but you have turned it into a den of thieves!” Matthew 21:13

As we begin this Holy Week, Jesus makes his first stop to cleanse the Holy Temple. The Holy Temple which was built , not only to worship God, but the place on Earth where God resided. However the Holy Temple of God has been turned more into a corporation than a house of prayer, where selling of merchandise , had become higher priority than true worship of God

Jesus showed his disgust by overthrowing tables and chasing the merchants out! Often we only hear about a watered down version of Jesus , but here Jesus would not allow his Father’s house to be desecrated.

Do you not know that you are a temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? 1 Corinthians 3:16

Today if you’re a Christian, you are the temple of God. The Holy Spirit dwells in you, just as he did in the Holy Temple in Jerusalem. Is your Temple Holy or desecrated? Are you allowing Jesus to cleanse out your Temple or are you conforming to the ways of the world?

Its important as Christians, we continually reflect on the current state of our faith. Would Jesus be pleased with the current condition of your spiritual life or would be overthrowing tables?

This Holy Week lets make a strong commitment to keep our Holy Temples pure in Jesus Name Amen!

Is God First?

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Thou shalt have no other gods before me. Exodus 20:3

Do you put God first above all other things? Its easy for us to get distracted or sidetracked in todays world and forget about God. Especially when things are going good, but it’s important to keep God first above all things

Worship– Excessive admiration for someone or something

Do you excessively obsess or admire something or someone? This is by definition worship, and its putting something above God. Many times people become obsessed with making money, or following sports, ect. The problem is these distractions take you away from focusing on God.

As Jesus said nobody Can Serve Two Masters, (Matthew 6:24) he was specifically referencing Money as it has become a God for many people. But we must remember Jehovah Jireh God is our Provider (Genesis 22:14) not Man (Philippians 4:19)  God knows your needs and will meet them (Matthew 6:8)

Idolatry– extreme love, reverence, or admiration for someone or something

Notice Idolatry and Worship are basically the same thing; we have a huge issue with this today in our culture. We idolize and worship musicians, movie stars, athletes, ect. This is an abomination to God and it must end. (Exodus 20:3-6) God tells us throughout the Bible to avoid Idolatry at all costs

The Bible also tells that all Earthy things, such as sexual immorality, impurity, evil desires, and covetousness are also Idolatry (Colossians 3:5) Sin can be an obsession, we need to set our minds on things above and Christ (Colossians 3:2)

So are you putting God first? Are you guilty of Idolatry and ungodly Worship? Remember to keep God first above everything else in Jesus Name Amen

Flee From Idolatry

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Therefore, my dear friends, flee from idolatry. I speak to sensible people; judge for yourselves what I say. Is not the cup of thanksgiving for which we give thanks a participation in the blood of Christ? And is not the bread that we break a participation in the body of Christ? 1 Corinthians 10:14-16

What is idolatry? In the dictionary it mean the worship of idols, extreme admiration, love , or reverence for something or someone.  We have a lot of idolatry in our society today ranging from people’s obsession with celebrities to people worshiping man-made objects.  As Jesus said where your treasure is your heart is also. What is your heart set on?

Because there is one loaf, we, who are many, are one body, for we all share the one loaf.  1 Corinthians 10:17

Satan wants to divide, but through Jesus were are all one.  Though separate, together we make up the body of Christ. Idolatry separates us, it makes your heart go astray from your life source. The blind lead the blind into the ditch.

Consider the people of Israel: Do not those who eat the sacrifices participate in the altar? Do I mean then that food sacrificed to an idol is anything, or that an idol is anything? No, but the sacrifices of pagans are offered to demons, not to God, and I do not want you to be participants with demons. 1 Corinthians 10:18-20

There is only one true God, the same God of Israel is the same God that rose Jesus Christ from the dead. Any other worship or idolatry is Satanic. Do all you do to the Glory of God and no one or nothing else.

You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons too; you cannot have a part in both the Lord’s table and the table of demons. 1 Corinthians 10:18-21

Pastor John Hagee says being a Christian is like being pregnant, you either are or you not. That pretty much sums it up, there is no such thing as a part time Christian. You are either serving The Lord or your serving something else.

Are we trying to arouse the Lord’s jealousy? Are we stronger than he? 1 Corinthians 10:22

Our God is a jealous God, he is your creator and Heavenly Father and wants you to be part of his Kingdom. Imagine your own child rejecting you and knowing there life will be headed to ruin and chaos.

Set your eyes on God not of this world, don’t obsess over senseless pleasures because they will only lead you off the narrow path to eternal life in Jesus Name Amen