| Are You Standing In Hot Coals? |
| Lesson Four: by turtle Idolatry and adultery go hand in hand. Though it is touch on when one talks of spiritual adultery, Often we fail to understand what God has commanded of us to keep our feet from slipping into idolatry. His commands are simple. His ways are simple. Yet often we overlook that we can not be yoked with sinners and unbelievers. There ways lead to idolatry and adultery. 2 Corinthians 6:14-18 KJV (14) Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? (15) And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? (16) And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. (17) Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, (18) And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty. Here in these verses it says not to be yoked with unbelievers and idolatries what does the word yoke truly mean? Here it is speaking of being tied to the world in the since of worldly sin. Many think it is okay to do as the world does. James 4:4 KJV (4) Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God. One can not be a friend to the world for he would be an enemy to God, that is strong language. Many believers fight with this knowledge. They think it is okay to keep up with the Jones and to do everything everyone else does and still be able to have a relationship with God. God Jehovah(Father) did not tolerate it back then, God the Messiah did not tolerate sin during His time on earth and God the Holy Spirit does not tolerate sin in a believer today. Does Holiness mean you have to give up everything and live in a primitive life style? The answer is no. It can be a form of piety and some do have a calling for it and others do not. How does one know then if they have a problem living in the world. Let’s take some known sins and apply it to our life. Some even I do not want to mention. Proverbs 23:20-21 KJV (20) Be not among winebibbers; among riotous eaters of flesh: (21) For the drunkard and the glutton shall come to poverty: and drowsiness shall clothe a man with rags. Many a wino’s in the streets did not start out with in the streets. Some had very good jobs, got to drinking for every occasion, even when the chips were down and even when it was time to celebrate. Soon alcohol consumes a person to the point if they continue they find themselves alone without anyone and even sometime restituted in the streets. It is often hard to believe someone of good academic standing could become a person in the streets. Sin of drinking to much from the wine bottle can do this, drugs have the same effect. Gluttony is the same as alcohol. It is a desire for things to the point one credit is so out of control it consumes you and it forces you to live in the streets. It seems that everyone struggles with debt. Unfortunately it is a part of life. The problem comes in are you in debt because of your own lust of possessions and things, because of disasters or both. Are we truly trying to keep up with the Jones or are we living simply. I have saying if my life gets any simpler I be in a cardboard box. The truth is we all lived simpler then we live now. I can remember not having any television, or computer, or even a phone. Yet are these things necessary, only if they take away from being able to afford to keep your house, buy food and provide for basic needs like water. One can go without electricity easier then they can go without water, but cooking is a necessity for most things and refrigeration in the way most live today. Our choices to live in society and be like everyone else can cause problems. It means having the new suit because someone else has one. It means buying a new car instead of a used because the neighbor has one. Whenever I get on this type of subject one verse sticks out in my mind. Psalms 23:1 KJV (1) <A Psalm of David.> The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. David saying that the Lord is my shepherd, He would not want. Want meaning he would not have need. Need being those things that one has to have. Trusting God for provision is probably the hardest thing a person will ever have to deal with in the trust issue with God. I can never remember a time since being married that I went without groceries though we came close a few times of seeing our cupboard completely bare. Does our desires keep us from living holy. Do the things of this world attract us more then God? If so then you might find that you have committed idolatry and you never got on your knees to get what you wanted. The way of the world has consumed you to following the cravings of your heart, through lust of possessions. Like I have said before in this world sometimes we have to get in debt, there is no way around it, but paying and getting out of debt always takes time. Are you trusting in Jesus or the world? |
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