“I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.  You shall have no other gods before Me.  You shall not make for your self a carved image, or 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 or serve them, for I the Lord your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and the fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing steadfast love to thousands of those who love Me and keep My commandments.”  Exodus 20:1-6 ESV

“I am Adonai your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the abode of slavery.  You are to have no other gods before me.  You are not to make for yourselves a carved image of any kind of representation of anything in heaven above, on the earth beneath or in the water below the shoreline.  You are not to bow down to them or serve them; for I, Adonai your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sins of the parents to the third and fourth generation of those who hate Me, but displaying grace to the thousandth generation of those who love Me and obey My mitzvot. “  SH’MOT (Exodus) 20:1-6 Complete Jewish Bible, An English Version By David H. Stern

Television.  Internet.  Video Games.  Sex.  Women.  Men.  Money.  Computers.  Food.  Clothing.  Shoes.  Technology.  Drugs.  Alcohol.  Tobacco.  Exercise.  Dieting.  Purses.  Jewelry.  Your Children.  Pornography.  Entertainment (television, movies, etc.).  Sports.  Televised Sports.  Personal Products (perfume, makeup, hair products, etc.).  Sun Bathing.  Work/Your Job.  Books.  Magazines.  Candles.  Pets.  Hobbies.  Automobiles.  Board Games.  Cell Phones.  Texting.  Facebook.  Blogs (goes with internet and computer.)  A person.  An object.  A Television.  An Electronic.  Yourself.  Your Body.  Your face.  An Activity.  A Boat.  A Motorcycle.  Scuba Diving.  Baseball Cards.  Football Cards.  A Relationship.  Fear.  Shopping.  Skateboarding.  Music/Musicians.  An Actor.  An Actress.  A Model.  Gulf Clubs.  Tennis Racquets.  etc.

How many things in this world are there that we can idolize?  Too many!  Let’s take a step back and re-read this scripture for us, who live in the modern day world.

It says that God brought you out of the land of Egypt; but what does this mean for us?  Everything.  Egypt was the place of bondage for God’s people.  They were slaves to the godless Egyptians, working hard and serving them constantly.  But God brought them out of the house of slavery.  So let’s apply that to us today.  Were we not brought out of the house of slavery through the blood of Jesus Christ?  Were we not delivered out of the land of Egypt, the place of death, suffering, and bondage?  Yes, we were.  When Jesus died on the cross, we were delivered from the bondage of slavery to the world; Satan!  We were delivered from eternal death and suffering and adopted into the Kingdom of Heaven!  Praise Adonai!

Now let’s look at the next  part of this passage:  You shall have NO OTHER GODS before Me.  Are there normal activities that are okay to do, but if it’s your passion, even more than God, and you’re spending more time doing that thing, or obsessing over that thing than what you are God, then you are putting that thing, person, activity, item, etc. in line ahead of God.  What about the things God says we are not to do?  Even the things that we as Christians try and make excuses for, as if it’s no big deal?

What would be some of those things (and I am already aware some will argue this, disagree, maybe even think differently of me or become angry.  So be it.  I am only speaking what God’s word clearly tells us; maybe not in the same exact words because many of the things we have now, they didn’t have back then.)  Are we as Christians supposed to partake in worldly television?  It depends.  Does the show contain unnecessary grotesque violence?  Demonic imagery?  Sexual/lustful imagery?  Perverse language and humor?  Blasphemy?  Perverse situations?  Cursing/swearing?  Any of all forms of what God tells us is immorality?  Is it something that you can honestly, beyond a shadow of a doubt, say that you can imagine Jesus, God, and the Holy Spirit sitting around watching with a bowl of popcorn?  Or, if Jesus were in the flesh in your home, would you feel ashamed to any degree, small or large, to watch it in front of Him?  Is there anything in your home you’d be ashamed of if Jesus stopped by unexpectedly for a visit?  How many of you might be thinking or saying, “Well, yeah, but it’s only mildly this way,” or, “It’s only once in a while…overall, the show has a good theme,”  or, “The show teaches moral values, even though there are certain comments that are immoral in nature from time to time…”

Whatever the reason or excuse, how will it hold up in front of God?  Is there anything in any of the movies, television programs, video games, websites, etc. that you are viewing that you wouldn’t mind your children seeing, being a part of, or acting out?  We should ask ourselves these questions about ‘everything’ we do and participate in.  I am not in a position to say what will and will not send anyone to hell here; but if we truly love the Lord as we’re supposed to, then why on earth would we even want to do, partake in, watch, etc. anything that when we really think about it and compare it against God’s word we have slight doubts?  If a man or woman is married, would they even consider doing something that might even be borderline cheating?  If that’s wrong, why would you commit adultery and fornication spiritually against your Creator, who is much more magnificent and higher up than your spouse?  If it might hurt or offend your husband or your wife, you would go out of your way not to do it.  You might slip up from time to time, but you’d try hard not to.  So in turn, we should treat our Father the same way.  After all, in a sense, are we not the bride of Christ?

If you have to have these things for whatever reason, even though God says no, then you are having other gods before Adonai.  The Bible is clear, and it’s really not as confusing as we all make it out to be.  I’ve stated before, the only reason it is confusing is for one, Satan is the author of confusion and every evil work, and he wants you to excuse the things God detests so that you will not be completely in Him, and so that you will not fully please God.  Secondly, we as people find those loopholes to continue in sin, discounting the things that seem unimportant; but they are important, or God wouldn’t have commanded us not to do it.  Unfortunately, many of the Christians of today make excuses for these things, and are misled by false doctrine.  “Oh, this is today; that stuff was true for people back then.”  Really?  God’s word says:

Malachi 3:6 “For I am the LORD, I do not change; Therefore you are not consumed, O sons of Jacob.
Hebrews 13:8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.
James 1:17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.

“You shall not bow down to them or serve them, for I the Lord your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and the fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing steadfast love to thousands of those who love Me and keep My commandments…”

This sounds pretty serious to me.  What about you?

Are we serving any other gods other than Adonai?  Is there anything we’re doing that we really shouldn’t be doing, even if it seems like no big deal?  To continue in sin, no matter how big or small, and to continue excusing it without regard to God’s word is hating Him.

Let’s look more closely at what God’s word says..not what Lyn Leahz says, because I’m no better than anyone else.

Psalm 79:6 Pour out your wrath on the nations that do not acknowledge you, on the kingdoms that do not call on your name;

Isaiah 1:28 But rebels and sinners will both be broken, and those who forsake the LORD will perish.

Jeremiah 10:25 Pour out your wrath on the nations that do not acknowledge you, on the peoples who do not call on your name. For they have devoured Jacob; they have devoured him completely and destroyed his homeland.

Romans 2:8 But for those who are self-seeking and who reject the truth and follow evil, there will be wrath and anger.

Galatians 4:8 Formerly, when you did not know God, you were slaves to those who by nature are not gods.

1 Peter 4:17 For it is time for judgment to begin with the family of God; and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who do not obey the gospel of God?

Jude 1:7In a similar way, Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding towns gave themselves up to sexual immorality and perversion. They serve as an example of those who suffer the punishment of eternal fire.

So, what do we do in a world full of so many other gods, and in a world where even many ministers and teachers say these things are okay, doing some of them themselves?

American Standard Version
Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good

King James 2000 Bible (©2003)
Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that we should no longer serve sin.

World English Bible
Remain in me, and I in you. As the branch can’t bear fruit by itself, unless it remains in the vine, so neither can you, unless you remain in me.

Stay in His Word.  Pray, pray, and pray!  Absorb yourself in godly things and with godly fellowship.  Study God’s Word.  Praise Him with your lips.  Lift your hands toward heaven to show spiritually that you are not restrained by any bondages.  Minister to others in need.  Lead the lost to Christ.  And most important, fall in love with your heavenly Father, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit, who are three, yet one.  Respect God and His authority.  Honor God and His authority.  Show God humility at all times.  Put on the whole armor of God every single day (Ephesians 6:10-20).  Obey God’s Word and let it dwell richly in you.

New American Standard Bible(©1995)
Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God.

Know who you are in Christ Jesus.  You are no longer like the world!  You have been re-made, renewed, and cleansed from your old filthy self!  In Jesus Christ, you have been given much authority.  Quit dabbling in the world and start soaking yourself in God and watch your mountains crumble!

Categories: Christian History, Christian Living, Evangelizing the Lost, Forgiveness, God's Lovingkindness, God's Wrath, Interesting Bible Topics, Love, Old Testament Truths, Praise and Worship, Spiritual Warfare