GOD and gods GOD and gods

GOD and gods

Theme 15/10/2021 Admin

1 Kings 18:24 “Then you call on the name of your god, and I will call on the name of the Lord. The god... GOD and gods

1 Kings 18:24

“Then you call on the name of your god, and I will call on the name of the Lord. The god who answers by fire—he is God.” Then all the people said, “What you say is good.”

INSIGHT

The month of October represented by number ten is associated with God, only who deserves to be worshipped. From the main text we see prophet Elijah challenge the four hundred and fifty prophets of Baal, and four hundred prophets of Asherah in a conquest on mount Carmel. It was a time when these prophets ate at Jezebel’s table, and she executed the prophets of God, probably to appease her gods to bring rain. Elijah was quick to clear the record that the drought was not his fault but it had resulted from Ahab’s failure to acknowledge God and his allowing himself and all Israel to be seduced into Baal worship by Jezebel. Baal was the chief male deity of the Canaanites and Phoenicians who symbolized the productive force of nature. Asherah was the wife of Baal according to the Canaanite mythology. Elijah thus called for a showdown between these gods and His God, and challenged all Israel to take a stand on their worship. While the prophets of Baal placed a sacrifice and called all morning for fire to consume it, Elijah kept mocking them. Elijah also reassembled the torn down altar using twelve stones according to the tribes of Israel, and then watered the sacrifice. At the hour of the evening sacrifice, probably at 3:00pm, Elijah prayed and fire came down from heaven. It consumed the sacrifice, stones, dust, wood and water, and on seeing this; the people worshiped the Lord. Sometimes the temptation of confirming the power of God in our lives and situations becomes apparent, when confronted by difficult circumstances that seem like drought. Some people give up and decide to follow Baal and Asherah. Others hold on to God despite the desert situations that skew their way of life. We are reminded to hold on to God who preserves us, provides for us, protects us and saves us from all our trials, and worship Him alone.

PRAYER

We give thanks to You Lord for You are good and Your mercies endures forever. Only You deserve to be exulted and praised. All the other gods are made by humans hands, wood and stone, which neither see nor hear nor eat nor smell. Only You are our King of kings and Lord of lords. Only You are our Helper and Comforter Holy Spirit. We worship You and exult Your holy name. Who is God apart from You Lord, who is a Rock apart from You our God. We trust in You alone. We exult You and give You praise. We worship You and adore You Lord our God. You have persevered us, provided for us, sustained us, watched over us, healed our wounds and saved us, we worship Your holy name. May You guide us all through this week and break every barrier that is fashioned to hinder our progress. Show us Your way and make us fruitful in every good work. We worship You and praise Your holy name, now and forever. May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with us now, and forever more. Amen

Further reading: Deuteronomy 4:28-29, Psalm 18:31

 

 

Exodus‬ ‭20:3-5‬ ‭‬‬

“You shall have no other gods before me. “You shall not make for yourself an image in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me,”
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INSIGHT

-The Lord gave the people of Israel the ten commandments on mount Sinai, at a time when the Israelites were surrounded by nations that worshipped foreign gods. God’s character inspires loyalty to Him since we are created in His own image and likeness, and should remain in His nature of love. As believers, God calls us to demonstrate loyalty by worshipping Him alone. God forbade creating any image of Him either literally or conceptually. Even though the Israelites were unique among their neighbors, they periodically missed the mark and were lured into idol worship. Aaron led the Israelites into the worship of a golden calf when Moses took longer to come back from mount Sinai (Exodus 32:4). The Lord instructed Moses to go down and see the corruption that the Israelites had brought to themselves. This was a great disaster, and three thousand men died that day. We then see Moses pleading with God that His wrath may not burn hot against His people. Moses prayed that the people may return to the Lord and repent of their sins. Ezra also proclaimed a fast that the people may humble themselves and return to the Lord (‭Ezra‬ ‭8:21-23‬). Likewise Joel called the people to mourning and repentance for their idolatrous ways (‭‭Joel‬ ‭2:12-13). Fasting and prayer ‬is not just an outward practice, but a process that leads to inner transformation. Fasting and repentance strengthens us spiritually when we choose to do evil and leads us to stand on God’s Word through faith.

PRAYER

Lord You are gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and great in kindness, have mercy on us and on the whole world. Even when our sins were as red as scarlet; Your made us as white as wool, thank You Jesus for loving us and for dying on the cross for our sins. Your hand is upon all those who seek You, but Your wrath is against all those who forsake You, forgive us all our sins and lead us all to the way of salvation. We humble ourselves before You Lord, heal our hearts and our land. We humbly implore You to remove any accusation against us, our families, and nation in the courts of heaven by Your precious blood.  Thank You for reconciling us to the Father and giving us new life. We worship You dear Jesus for Your redemption, mercy and grace. You are awesome Lord in power and might, our hope and trust is in You Lord our God. Thank You for granting us victory so that we may live forever with You, all our hope and trust is in You Lord. Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive all those who trespass against us. Lead us not into temptations but deliver us from all evil, for thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory, forever and ever. Amen

Further reading: Matthew 5:21-37, 2 Chronicles 7:14

 

 

1 Samuel 5:3-4

“And when the people of Ashdod arose early in the morning, there was Dagon, fallen on its face to the earth before the ark of the Lord. So they took Dagon and set it in its place again. And when they arose early the next morning, there was Dagon, fallen on its face to the ground before the ark of the Lord. The head of Dagon and both the palms of its hands were broken off on the threshold; only Dagon’s torso was left of it.”

INSIGHT

The Philistines stole the ark of God and brought it to their god. They recognized Dagon as their primary god who was assumed to be the father of Baal. They crafted his head, arms and torso like that of a man, and the lower body as a fish. Dagon could not stand before the Lord. He fell prostrate before the Lord, and later fell and broke his head and palms. What the Philippines though to have been god, was humiliated to their catastrophe in his own sanctuary and they could not step into that threshold. Who can stand against the Lord our God? God struck them with tumors and they gave glory to God (1 Samuel 6:5). Likewise, when king Nebuchadnezzar made a golden statue of himself and forced the people to worship it, Daniel’s friends disobeyed and were thrown into the burning furnace. The Lord delivered them and the people glorify God of Daniel as the true God. Also, when the Lord revealed Pharaoh’s dream to Joseph when the magicians could not comprehend it. The people of Egypt acknowledges God as the true God, and Joseph was promoted (Genesis 41:1-46). Often times we have heard, seen and read God revealing Himself to us, other believers and those who do not know Him. Testimonies about Jesus revealing Himself to our Muslim brothers and sisters are countless. God is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is long-suffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9). God is gracious and kind and requires that we should all know Him and worship Him alone.

PRAYER

Who can stand against You Lord our God. No one can, no one will. Only You are victorious, only You are able. All creation bow down before You Lord. All other gods fall before Your presence. All other gods are idols, and cannot save. Only You are righteous and deserve all worship. May Your revival be established in this nation and all the nations of the world. Grant that many may know You and believe in You. Your hand is not too short to save nor ear too dull to hear, hear our prayers and hearts desires. Save our Asian, Chinese and Muslim brothers and sister from eternal death. Save dear Jesus our family members, friends and relatives from eternal condemnation. Save us dear Jesus we humbly ask You. Teach us to rely on You in all things dear Jesus. Teach us to consult You and pray to You in all circumstances. Draw us nearer to You that we may always fellowship at Your presence. Fill us Holy Spirit with Your fruit of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, humility and self control. Fill us with Your most precious gifts Holy Spirit. We praise You and exult Your holy name now and forever. Amen

Further reading: Exodus 18:11, Isaiah 45:20

 

 

James 1:26-27

“Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless. Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.”

INSIGHT

-Religion is a complex subject and touches on our being and the world around us. Scholars from a variety of religious and social disciplines have strived to classify religions as:- polytheism which is the worship of multiple gods, monotheism – the worship of one God or god, atheism – believe in no deities, animism – worship of nature like plants, animals and the natural environment, totemism where human beings and nature are believed to connect. These religions have been founded on the premise where people attempt to search for explanations to seek for the creation of the universe, purpose of man and relationships with the deity or higher power, how to live and behave, how to treat one another and interact with society to the values, laws, and beliefs that govern us etc. These values then find ones faith with relation to spirituality and moral laws. Some of these religious beliefs are not founded on the truth which is the word of God and Christ Himself. Some of these religious groups practice the work of helps where they entreat the less fortunate as describes in the main scripture, and forget to seek Christ’s guidance. According to these exhortations by James, we are called to respond to the needs of the widows and orphans, bridle our tongues and remain unpolluted from the world. To effectively achieve this, we need Christ and the Holy Spirit in our lives, to guide us into all truth, as we worship Him in spirit and in truth.

PRAYER

Lord You are good and Your mercies endures forever. You are faithful and loving dear Jesus, we exult Your holy name. Thank You for this far that You have brought us and the far that You are taking us. Thank You for the good plans You have for us, plans to prosper us and not to harm us, plans to give us hope and a future. Thank You for loving us even when we were lost, that You sacrificed You life for us. Thank You dear Jesus for You are so faithful to us even when we become faithless, increase our faith in You we humbly ask You. Open the eyes of our hearts that we may see You for who You are. Open the eyes of our understanding and all the religions of the world that only You may be worshipped and praised. Grant the gift of salvation merciful Savior to all the peoples and nations. Teach us to bridle our tongues and to remain undefiled from the world. Grant us compassion that we may reach the orphans and widows, and all those who are in need for the glory and honor of Your name Jesus. Not for our own glory, but for Your glory Jesus. Grant that all creation will praise You and worship You. May You merciful Savior touch all those who are bereaved, sick and suffering. Remember all those are living in the streets that You may settle them in schools, homes, jobs, families and answer their hearts desires. We worship You Jesus and praise Your holy name. All glory, honor, power and praise belongs to You Jesus, now and forever. Amen

Further reading: Matthew 25:31-46, John 10:7

 

 

Colossians 3:5

“Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.”

INSIGHT

-Worship of idols can either be literal or conceptual. Literal is an instance where people curve actual images into gods and conceptual is where one perform and encourage fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness. Jesus bought us at a price, we should therefore glorify Him with our bodies and in our sprit, and flee from sexual immorality (1 Corinthians 6:20).  

SUMMARY

The worship of either God or gods is often times driven by religious beliefs, family setup, environment, social orientation etc. God forbade the worship of gods made with human hands and imagination, for He is jealous God and only He is worthy to be worshipped and exulted. These law was timely, and came at a time when the children of Israel worshipped a golden calf. They borrowed this culture from their neighbors who were intoxicated by idolatry. The Canaanites worshipped Baal and Asherah his wife. Elijah challenged them to a conquest, but they could not cause fire to come from heaven and consume the sacrifice. Elijah was victorious in this and he made God known among the nations. The people of Philistines worshipped Dagon who could not stand against the Lord. He collapsed and broke his body parts which resulted to terror all through the city. God has made a caution against any form of idolatry that cause deterioration in ones life. God also reminds us to exercise true religion, by visiting the widows and orphans in their need and remaining unspotted from the world as we rely on His direction and truth.

PRAYER

Lord Jesus we appreciate You for loving us. Thank You for loving us and for laying Your life for our salvation. May You deliver us from any of idolatry and give us life more abundantly. May You forgive us all our sins and wash us with Your precious blood merciful Savior. May You train our hearts to hold on to forgiveness, and deliver us from unbelief. May You enlighten our steps and guide us in our coming in and going out. Make all our plans succeed according to Your will and Your promises upon our lives and generations. We are more than conquerors in You Jesus Christ. We shall prosper and be of good health. May You heal all those who are sick in our families and among us loving Savior. No plan of the devil fashioned against our lives shall prosper and no tongue raised against us shall prevail in Jesus name. We are victorious in You Jesus because You love us and care for us. May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with us now and forever more. Amen

Further reading: Romans 1:29-32, Galatians 5:19-21, 1 Corinthians 10:6-8

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