WHAT IS THE SIN OF IDOLATRY? IT IS THE WORSHIP OF IDOLS, IMAGES, OR ICONS; OR REVERENCE FOR SOME PERSON, OR PERSONIFYING OF THINGS AS MONEY, OR SEX, OR SPORTS, OR OTHER SECULAR PLEASURES, AND MAKING THEM YOUR god.

Mt:6:24: No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon. (KJV)

LISTEN CAREFULLY, SAINTS OF GOD, YOU MAY THINK THAT I AM SPEAKING OF A SIN THAT IS RARELY COMMITTED. BUT, I BELIEVE THAT MILLIONS OF PEOPLES ARE IDOLATERS THIS VERY DAY, BOWING DOWN TO GRAVEN IMAGES ALL OVER THE WORLD. WE, THE CHILDREN OF GOD, CHRISTIANS, ARE COMMANDED BY THE HOLY SCRIPTURES, NOT TO BOW DOWN TO IMAGES . IF YOU ARE A YOUNG PERSON, YOU MAY NOT KNOW WHAT A GRAVEN IMAGE IS. IF A PERSON TAKES A PIECE OF WOOD, OR STONE, OR SOME OTHER MATERIAL, AND A HAMMER AND CHISEL, AND BEGINS TO TAP THAT WOOD, UNTIL THE WOOD LOOKS LIKE A BIRD, OR ANIMAL, OR SOMETHING THAT IS IN HEAVEN, THEY HAVE ENGRAVED THAT PIECE OF WOOD, AND MADE A GRAVEN IMAGE. LISTEN AS I READ TO YOU THESE WORDS OF GOD CONCERNING GRAVEN IMAGES. THE PRICE A PERSON PAYS FOR THE SIN OF IDOLATRY IS VERY HIGH. HE SHALL NOT INHERIT THE KINGDOM OF GOD. THE IDOLATER FORFEITS SUCH MARVELOUS GIFTS AS ETERNAL LIFE, THE IMMORTAL BODY, AND TO BE HEIR, AND JOINT HEIR WITH THE LORD JESUS CHRIST IN THE KINGDOM OF GOD. LISTEN AS I READ FROM

Gal:5:19: Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,

Gal:5:20: Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,

Gal:5:21: Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

BELOVED OF GOD, IS IDOLATRY SOME NEW COMMANDMENT? NO WHEN ISRAEL WAS DELIVERED OUT OF EGYPT, OUT THE HOUSE OF BONDAGE, THEY HAD BEEN IN SLAVERY FOR FOUR HUNDRED YEARS. THEY HAD NO LAWS, NO RULES OF CONDUCT, TO TELL THEM HOW THEY WERE TO ACT TOWARD GOD, OR MAN. THEREFORE, GOD GAVE THEM TEN RULES OF CONDUCT TO LIVE BY, TEN LAWS, TEN COMMANDMENTS. AND ON OF THOSE COMMANDMENTS WAS THIS. NOTICE IN THESE VERSES OF SCRIPTURE, THAT GOD COMMANDS HIS CHILDREN, NOT TO MAKE ANY GRAVEN IMAGE OF ANY LIKENESS OF ANY IN HEAVEN OR IN EARTH.

Ex:20:4: Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth.

Ex:20:5: Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me;

Ex:20:6: And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.

BELOVED I KNOW THAT THOSE WORDS ARE FOUND IN THE OLD TESTAMENT, AND THAT WE ARE NOT UNDER THE OLD TESTAMENT. BUT, GOD HAS BROUGHT THIS COMMANDMENT OVER INTO THE NEW TESTAMENT WITH THESE WORDS.

1Jn:5:21: Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen. (KJV)

AND WITH THESE WORDS,

2Cor:6:14: Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?

2Cor:6:15: And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?

2Cor:6:16: 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.

2Cor:6:17: Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,

2Cor:6:18: And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty. (KJV)

HOLY CHILDREN, WHEN I WAS IN ROME, I VISITED THE VATICAN, AND THE CHURCH OF ST. PETER. AND, THERE WAS IN ONE OF THE ROOMS, A GRAVEN IMAGE, OF WHAT SOMEONE THOUGHT THAT ST. PETER LOOKED LIKE. AND THE IMAGE, AS BEST AS I CAN REMEMBER, WAS MADE OF BRASS; STOOD UPON A MANTEL. AND, THE TOES OF THAT IMAGE PROTRUDED OVER THE EDGE OF THE MANTEL. SO MANY PEOPLE HAD WALKED BY AND RUBBED THE TOES WITH THEIR HAND THAT THE TOES WERE ALMOST RUBBED OFF. THE PEOPLE THAT VISITED THE VATICAN, AND THE CHURCH OF ST. PETER, REVERENCED THAT IMAGE. THEY HAD AN ATTITUDE OF DEEP RESPECT, AND LOVE, FOR THAT GRAVEN IMAGE. BUT WHAT IS GOD'S ATTITUDE TOWARD THAT GRAVEN IMAGE? GOD, IN HIS HOLY SCRIPTURES, MAKES HIS FEELINGS KNOWN ABOUT GRAVEN IMAGES, AND THE PEOPLE THAT BOW DOWN TO THEM. THE LORD GOD INSPIRED THE PSALMIST DAVID, KING OF ISRAEL, TO RECORD THESE WORDS.

Ps:115:1: Not unto us, O Lord, not unto us, but unto thy name give glory, for thy mercy, and for thy truth's sake.

Ps:115:2: Wherefore should the heathen say, Where is now their God?

Ps:115:3: But our God is in the heavens: he hath done whatsoever he hath pleased.

Ps:115:4: Their idols are silver and gold, the work of men's hands.

Ps:115:5: They have mouths, but they speak not: eyes have they, but they see not:

Ps:115:6: They have ears, but they hear not: noses have they, but they smell not:

Ps:115:7: They have hands, but they handle not: feet have they, but they walk not: neither speak they through their throat.

Ps:115:8: They that make them are like unto them; so is every one that trusteth in them.

CHILDREN OF LIGHT, THERE ARE CERTAIN PEOPLE THAT WE, AS CHILDREN OF GOD ARE NOT TO BE YOKED TOGETHER WITH. WE ARE NOT TO MARRY THE UNBELIEVER, NOR PEOPLE THAT ARE UNRIGHTEOUS, WE ARE NOT TO BE YOKED TO GATHER WITH IDOL WORSHIPPERS. CHRISTIANS ARE ONLY TO MARRY CHRISTIANS. GOD FEARING, SPIRIT FILLED CHRISTIANS.

1Cor:7:39: The wife is bound by the law as long as her husband liveth; but if her husband be dead, she is at liberty to be married to whom she will; only in the Lord. (KJV)

SAINTS OF GOD, BEFORE A PERSON BECOMES A BORN AGAIN CHRISTIAN THEY CANNOT LOVE. THEY MAY HAVE A FORM OF LOVE, AN IMITATION LOVE. BUT THEY CANNOT TRULY LOVE. YOU MAY WONDER HOW THAT I KNOW THAT A PERSON CANNOT LOVE BEFORE THE BECOME A BORN AGAIN, SPIRIT FILLED CHRISTIAN. GOD IS LOVE, AND WHEN HE COMES TO DWELL WITHIN A PERSON, THAT PERSON CAN TRULY LOVE. THERE ARE MEN, AND WOMEN THAT SING ABOUT LOVE, AND TALK ABOUT LOVE, THAT ARE NOT ACQUAINTED WITH LOVE AT ALL. YOU CANNOT LOVE SOMEONE TODAY, AND NOT LOVE THEM TOMORROW. LOVE NEVER QUITS, LOVE IS NOT ILL-MANNERED, LOVE IS NOT SELFISH, LOVE THINKS NO EVIL. LOVE IS KIND, AND GENTLE. ANYTHING LESS IS NOT LOVE. IF YOU WANT A SPOUSE THAT LOVES YOU, GO TO CHURCH, AND PICK YOU A SPOUSE. WHEN YOU LEAVE TO GO TO WORK THEY WILL GO TO CHURCH. BUT IF YOU MARRY A PERSON FROM THE BEER PARLOR, OR NIGHT CLUB, WHEN YOU GO TO WORK THEY WILL RETURN TO THE BEER PARLOR, OR NIGHT CLUB. GOD INSPIRED THE APOSTLE PAUL TO RECORD THESE WORDS ABOUT CHARITY, WHICH IS CHRISTIAN LOVE.

1Cor:13:4: Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,

1Cor:13:5: Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;

1Cor:13:6: Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;

1Cor:13:7: Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.

1Cor:13:8: Charity never faileth:

BROTHERS, AND SISTERS IN THE LORD JESUS CHRIST, SINCE YOU ARE NOT AN IDOL WORSHIPPER, YOU MAY WONDER IF THERE ARE MEN, AND WOMEN IN THIS PRESENT WORLD THAT ACTUALLY THINK THAT AN IDOL WILL HELP THEM IN TIME OF TRIBULATION. YES, THEY REALLY BELIEVE THAT THEIR IDOLS WILL HELP THEM IN TIME OF TROUBLE. THEY WILL CUT DOWN A TREE, AND WITH PART OF THE TREE, THEY WILL MAKE A FIRE, AND WARM THEMSELVES. WITH THE REMAINDER OF THE TREE, THEY WILL MAKE AN IMAGE, AND FALL DOWN TO THAT IMAGE, AND WORSHIP IT.

44:13: The carpenter stretcheth out his rule; he marketh it out with a line; he fitteth it with planes, and he marketh it out with the compass, and maketh it after the figure of a man, according to the beauty of a man; that it may remain in the house.

Is:44:14: He heweth him down cedars, and taketh the cypress and the oak, which he strengtheneth for himself among the trees of the forest: he planteth an ash, and the rain doth nourish it.

Is:44:15: Then shall it be for a man to burn: for he will take thereof, and warm himself; yea, he kindleth it, and baketh bread; yea, he maketh a god, and worshippeth it; he maketh it a graven image, and falleth down thereto.

Is:44:16: He burneth part thereof in the fire; with part thereof he eateth flesh; he roasteth roast, and is satisfied: yea, he warmeth himself, and saith, Aha, I am warm, I have seen the fire:

Is:44:17: And the residue thereof he maketh a god, even his graven image: he falleth down unto it, and worshippeth it, and prayeth unto it, and saith, Deliver me; for thou art my god.

THERE WAS IN THE DAYS OF THE PROPHET DANIEL, A KING BY THE NAME OF NEBUCHADNEZZAR THAT RULED ALL OF THE KNOWN WORLD. HE RULED WITH ABSOLUTE POWER OVER WHO LIVES, AND WHO DIES. AND, HE WAS AN IDOL WORSHIPPER. HE SAT UP A GRAVEN IMAGE IN THE PLAIN OF DURA. AND CALLED ALL THE MEN IN AUTHORITY TO COME TO THE DEDICATION OF THE IMAGE. THE IMAGE MUST HAVE BEEN A SIGHT TO SEE, FOR IT WAS A GOLDEN IMAGE. IF YOU COUNT THE CUBIT, AS EIGHTEEN INCHES, THAT IMAGE WAS NINETY FEET TALL, AND NINE FEET WIDE. THE GLOW OF THAT IMAGE MUST HAVE BEEN SEEN FOR MILES. WHEN THE SUN HIT THAT IMAGE IT MUST HAVE BEEN A SIGHT TO BEHOLD. WHEN NEBUCHADNEZZAR GOT ALL THE PROMINENT MEN TOGETHER HE SENT FORTH A MESSENGER WITH THE INTENT TO MAKE ALL THAT ATTENDED IDOLATERS.

Dn:3:3: Then the princes, the governors, and captains, the judges, the treasurers, the counsellors, the sheriffs, and all the rulers of the provinces, were gathered together unto the dedication of the image that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up; and they stood before the image that Nebuchadnezzar had set up.

Dn:3:4: Then an herald cried aloud, To you it is commanded, O people, nations, and languages,

Dn:3:5: That at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, dulcimer, and all kinds of musick, ye fall down and worship the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king hath set up:

Dn:3:6: And whoso falleth not down and worshippeth shall the same hour be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace.

Dn:3:7: Therefore at that time, when all the people heard the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and all kinds of musick, all the people, the nations, and the languages, fell down and worshipped the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up.

SAINTS OF GOD, THERE WERE THREE MEN SHADRACK, MESHACH, AND ABEDNEGO, JEWS, THAT REFUSED TO BOW DOWN TO THE IMAGE. THESE MEN HAD RATHER BE CAST INTO A FIERY FURNACE, THAN TO TRANSGRESS THE COMMANDMENT OF GOD. AND THEY WERE THROWN INTO THE FIERY FURNACE, BUT GOD DELIVERED THEM.

BELOVED OF GOD, THE WORD MAMMON IS DEFINED, AS RICHES REGARDED AS AN OBJECT OF WORSHIP, AND GREEDILY PURSUED. BE VERY CAREFUL WHO, AND WHAT YOU WORSHIP, BE VERY CAREFUL ABOUT BOWING DOWN; FOR WE AS CHRISTIANS ARE TO WORSHIP GOD, AND HIM ONLY ARE WE TO BOW TO. IN THESE VERSES OF SCRIPTURE I AM ABOUT TO READ, JESUS IS BEING TEMPTED OF THE DEVIL.

Mt:4:8: Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them;

Mt:4:9: And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me.

Mt:4:10: Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.

COME INTO THIS KNOWLEDGE, SAINTS OF GOD, WE AS CHILDREN OF GOD, ARE NOT TO KEEP COMPANY WITH IDOLATERS. WE ARE NOT TO KEEP COMPANY WITH A FORNICATOR, OR A DRUNKARD, NO WE ARE NOT TO EAT WITH SUCH.

1Cor:5:9: I wrote unto you in an epistle not to company with fornicators: 1Cor:5:10: Yet not altogether with the fornicators of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or with idolaters; for then must ye needs go out of the world.

1Cor:5:11: But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat. (KJV)