Then God spoke all these words, saying, “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 besides Me.” Exodus 20:1-3.
Therefore consider the members of your earthly body as dead to immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which amounts to idolatry. Colossians 3:5.
For many walk, of whom I often told you, and now tell you even weeping, that they are enemies of the cross of Christ, whose end is destruction, whose god is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who set their minds on earthly things. Philippians 3:18-19.
Today your LORD (יהוה) God says
“I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.” I told My people this when I first introduced the Ten Commandments. I am a living God, not a stone idol, and I am at work even till now in your lives. I so loved the world that I gave you My only begotten Son that all who believe in Him shall never perish but have eternal life. John 3:16. You have passed from death to life. In Jesus, I have redeemed you from the law of sin and death, redeemed you from the slavery to fear of death.
The law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and death. And the testimony is this, that I have given you eternal life and the life is in My Son. Whoever has My Son has eternal life, the one who does not have My Son does not have the life that is life indeed. You who are in Christ, know that you have eternal life. Know that you are of Me and that the whole world lies in the evil one. But when you are Mine, born again unto the truth, then I keep you.
You are redeemed. In Jesus you have redemption, the forgiveness of your sins. I have freed you from the slavery of sin and death. I have given you the victory over them. To the Israelites I sent Moses, a servant in My household, but to you I sent My Son who is in the house forever. And whom the Son sets free is free indeed. You are no longer a slave but a son, and as a son you are My heir of all I have and you are joint heirs with Christ Jesus your Lord. The Israelites were My servants who I bought out of Egypt, but you are My sons that I redeemed out of the realm of darkness and translated to the Kingdom of My Beloved Son. And as a son you have a place in My house forever. Jesus has prepared it for you. Eternal life was not in Moses, it is in Jesus. Moses did amazing things to deliver My people, but Jesus is far superior to Moses in what He has done for you.
Jesus is the source of eternal salvation. Ask Him for a drink, for when you draw water from Him, it is from the spring, the source, the fountainhead, of living water that leaps up to provide eternal life in you. My Spirit. With joy you shall draw water from the springs of Salvation. Isaiah 12. There is no other name given to men by which you must be saved.
I am your source and your creator. I have bought you out of slavery with the ransom of My Son. And eternal life is found only in Him.
You shall have no other god besides Me. Exodus 20:3. You cannot serve two masters, you cannot serve with divided loyalty. “Little children,” wrote My beloved John as he finished his first letter to you, “guard yourself from idols.” 1 John 5:21.
You may be thinking that you have no images or statues of idols in your home or life, but that is not all I am talking about. Think again. When My Son brought up two masters, He said you cannot serve God and mammon. Mammon is a spirit of greed, selfish greed for things of the world. If you read My Word you will see that I liken greed to idolatry. Colossians 3:5.
Think about Jesus. He was about My business always, even as a child when they found Him teaching in the temple. He did not seek His own glory but Mine. He said to Me, “I glorified You on earth having accomplished the work You gave Me to do.” John 17:4.
It also goes back to the tithe, that is, who do you give the first and the best to? Your belly or Me? For many walk as enemies of the cross of Christ, whose end is destruction, whose god is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who set their minds on earthly things. Philippians 3:18-19. This grieves My Spirit.
Where your treasure is there your heart is also. I love a cheerful giver who treasures giving because it pleases Me. What do you give your time, talent, and treasure to? Do you spend time with Me as the first thing you do each day? First fruits of the day. Do you tithe at least 10% of your time each day to Me, praying in the Spirit and reading My Word? This is to benefit you so you can receive revelation, instruction, solutions, healing, and impartation. Also so you can intercede for others with your great High Priest, who has released you from your sins by His blood and made you a kingdom of priests to partner with Him in the work of the ministry of salvation. Whatever you give most of your time, talent and treasure to, that is your god. If it is Me, you are complete. If it is not Me than whatever has the most of your attention is your idol. If how you “feel” and your own thoughts are more important to you than Me that reveals an idol in your life and it is yourself.
Faith without works is dead. Obedience is better than sacrifice. Your idol, your god, is the one you listen to and obey. Is it your emotions and your flesh that you obey? Or is it My Words?
Committing adultery, partaking in course jesting and obscene, silly talk, gossiping, lying, stealing, cursing, keeping your anger in your heart, fear, worry—all these things result from you listening to and obeying the voice of your flesh, that is, your emotions. You are making a “god” of yourself. You have to make a decision, is it your greed or your God that you serve?
And this will show in many areas, but especially in your tithe. It is an issue of greed—that is, the one who is busy amassing treasures for himself but does not grow rich towards Me.
How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news and set people free from the body of death (the wages of sin is death but My free gift to you is eternal life in Christ Jesus your Lord). And by rooting and grounding yourself in Christ as the vine and you as the branch you growing in love as you draw all you need out of Him, overflowing with gratitude.
If you are obeying your flesh you are obeying a body of death, a dead god. But if you are walking in the spirit and not obeying the desires of the flesh you are serving the living God of life and peace.
Herod was drawn by the teachings of John but he listened to and obeyed his flesh. He put John to a shameful death because he wanted to preserve his reputation and authority before his guests. Seeking the glory of men and serving your belly as your god will never take you to a good end.
Remember, Jesus came in the Name of the LORD, not in His own Name. You should do the same wherever you go and everyone, including you, will be blessed.
Do not cast your pearls before swine. There are many out there in the world whose god is their belly and are living lustful, aimless, coarse and fruitless lives. They do not value My Word or holy things. They heed their own thoughts and words more than Mine. Do not eat their slop. Do not talk their talk. Keep yourself pure– away from close companionship with them. Do not share you secrets with them. Do not speak to them unless spoken to and only in brief answers. Refer all to Me, I am setting you free. Watch your conduct and guard your heart from entering into squabbles with them. Always take the high road and let their tantrums and insults pass right by you like you never saw them. Do all unto Me and you will be free.
You shall have no god besides Me. Why? I am the only one you need to give you everything, sustain you in everything and bless you in everything.
“Those who seek the LORD want for no good thing,” sang David. And of course he was right.
I love you. In return, love Me with all your heart, soul, mind and strength, so that I can keep you and never let you wander again. There is no snatching out of My hand and when you are in My hand the evil one cannot touch you. You choose, your greed or your God.