When you cry out, let your collection of idols deliver you. But the wind will carry all of them up, And a breath will take them away. But he who takes refuge in Me will inherit the land And will possess My holy mountain.” Isaiah 57:13

What or Who is your Idol? I work with a couple of guys who openly admit they spend 12 hours every Sunday watching football. They tell their wives and kids not to bother them and don’t leave their couch all day to stare at an electronic box. During the week they spend countless hours analyzing every player for their fantasy teams. This is Idolatry!

When you put something of more importance than God its idolatry. When you spend more time during your week focused on something instead of God its idolatry!

However as God says when people finally need something, maybe there is a sickness in the family or maybe they are suffering hardship, people start crying out to God to save them! Why don’t you call out on the idols that you spend all your time worshiping!

God wants a relationship with us! He didn’t create us to observe us from afar. He wants to know you and he wants you to know him! Spend time with him, pray to him, worship to him! Let the Holy Spirit intercede for you to bring that relationship with your Heavenly Father

How many of us have that friend or relative who only calls us when they need something? You never hear from this person ever until they are in need, then they are your best friend. Don’t be this person with God! Don’t put things or people in place of God, make him your priority! Develop a relationship with him through Jesus Christ Amen!

“He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, ‘From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water.'” John 7:38

Jesus told the crowd that he is “The Living Water” and anyone who is thirsty can come drink from him and never be thirsty again! For the Gentile Christian, what  was he talking about? How can Jesus be the “Living Water”? But for the Jewish people they knew exactly what Jesus was talking about!

So once more the people complained against Moses. “Give us water to drink!” they demanded. “Quiet!” Moses replied. “Why are you complaining against me? And why are you testing the LORD?” Exodus 17:2

To understand the “Living Water” we need to understand the Exodus of the Jewish people. Moses led the Israelites out of slavery from Egypt by the power of God. However to get to the Promise Land they needed to travel through the desert. They had no food or water, and continually complained to Moses that they would be better off as slaves

Behold, I will stand before you there on the rock at Horeb; and you shall strike the rock, and water will come out of it, that the people may drink.” And Moses did so in the sight of the elders of Israel. Exodus 17:6

God provided “Living Water” in the middle of the desert for his people. Just one of the many miracles God performed for the Jewish people during there Exodus. This “Living Water” brought the people back to life and gave them hope for the future

But this He spoke of the Spirit, whom those who believed in Him were to receive; for the Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified. John 7:39

Jesus referencing the “Living Water” from the Exodus was talking about the Holy Spirit, this is our Living Water in which we will never thirst again. Just as the Jews had a rough journey to the Promise Land (Israel) We as Christians also have a rough Exodus to the New Heavens and Earth!

But the Living Water and the Bread of Life are sufficient for all our needs, God is our provider!

His watchmen are blind, All of them know nothing. All of them are mute dogs unable to bark, Dreamers lying down, who love to slumber; Isaiah 56:10

What is a watchmen? In ancient times cities would have large towers where watchmen would be on lookout and alert the city of an enemy or invasion. God called the prophet Ezekiel to be a Watchmen in a spiritual sense to preach truth and call out Israel from their sins

We as Christians need to be watchmen or women also. But how can you be a watchmen if you don’t know anything? Or if you stayed mute when evil strikes? This is what God was telling Israel, there watchmen were being dumb and silent. Many Christians today are being dumb and silent also as we watch Satan continue to infiltrate the Church and lead many astray!

How can we stay ready? First we need to be truly baptized by the Holy Spirit, many Christians are not truly Born Again, therefor living by the flesh and not the Spirit. Repent and Confess Jesus is your Lord, then you will be filled with the Holy Spirit

Second we need to continually study the Word of God. Many Christians fall for false gospel because they don’t know the Bible. You need to stay sharp , don’t fall asleep during your watch! Alert the Church of False Teachers and False Religions that are invading the Church

And the dogs are greedy, they are not satisfied. And they are shepherds who have no understanding; They have all turned to their own way, Each one to his unjust gain, to the last one. Isaiah 56:11

The word Pastor is Latin for the word “Shepherd” . Pastors are the Shepherds for the Churches! If they are not qualified or out for their own personal gain, the Church will be left vulnerable to Satan. We need good Pastors and Watchmen (Christians) who are alert and sober for the devil is looking to devour us like a roaring Lion!

He who speaks from himself seeks his own glory; but He who is seeking the glory of the One who sent Him, He is true, and there is no unrighteousness in Him. John 7:18

Determining whether a preacher is false or not is easy to do. Are they trying to glorify themselves or are they glorifying Jesus Christ? We see a lot of false teachings in Christianity today, the prosperity gospel is a classic example. Mega Church preachers making millions of dollars , promoting themselves and books, did Jesus do any of this? Jesus was preparing us for Gods Kingdom not to live as millionaires in this world. We are called to be separated of this world not become a part of it!

So Jesus answered them and said, “My teaching is not Mine, but His who sent Me. John 7:16

Jesus is the Living Word, the Torah that became Flesh! Jesus teachings are not contradictory to the Old Testament, Jesus is the Old Testament. Jesus brought clarification and revelation to existing teachings of prophets that many never understood. These were not new teachings, they were the same God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob

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

The Living Word is Jesus Christ, the Word became Flesh (John 1:14) Seek the glory of God our Father and you will speak truth of the Holy Spirit. When we seek our own glory or gain, then we fail Gods glory and seek to glorify ourselves

Preach the truth of Jesus Christ, Preach the Living Word of God, not our will but Gods will Amen!