DCLM DAILY MANNA 21 FEBRUARY 2021 – FOLLY OF IDOLATRY
Topic: Folly Of Idolatry (DCLM Daily Manna 21 February 2021)
Text: Deuteronomy 17:1-6 (KJV)
1 Thou shalt not sacrifice unto the LORD thy God any bullock, or sheep, wherein is blemish, or any evilfavouredness: for that is an abomination unto the LORD thy God.
2 If there be found among you, within any of thy gates which the LORD thy God giveth thee, man or woman, that hath wrought wickedness in the sight of the LORD thy God, in transgressing his covenant,
3 And hath gone and served other gods, and worshipped them, either the sun, or moon, or any of the host of heaven, which I have not commanded;
4 And it be told thee, and thou hast heard of it, and enquired diligently, and, behold, it be true, and the thing certain, that such abomination is wrought in Israel:
5 Then shalt thou bring forth that man or that woman, which have committed that wicked thing, unto thy gates, even that man or that woman, and shalt stone them with stones, till they die.
6 At the mouth of two witnesses, or three witnesses, shall he that is worthy of death be put to death; but at the mouth of one witness he shall not be put to death.
Key Verse: “Then shalt thou bring forth that man or that woman, which have committed that wicked thing, unto thy gates, even that man or that woman, and shalt stone them with stones, till they die” (Deuteronomy 17:5).
MESSAGE:
Brother Dominic came from an idol worshipping community. His father was the priest to a tree by the village stream, which the whole community worshipped. They ascribed all sorts of mysterious powers to the tree. But on getting to Lagos, Dominic heard the good news about Jesus Christ, repented and became a Christian. He went home on annual leave with his family, but he was surprised that the whole community began to weep because their son “had abandoned the god of his fathers and followed a strange God”.
God’s people are warned in our text against offering any ill-favoured animal for sacrifice, for that is abominable to Him. He further warned against any man or woman who would go to worship other gods – the sun, the moon or any of the hosts of heaven. Such individuals, after diligent inquiry, must be stoned to death.
Idol worship is an affront to God. It is giving the glory due unto Him to graven images. God is a jealous God and rightly so. He is the One who “created all things, and for [His] pleasure, they are and were created” (Revelation 4:11). The folly of men and women who “worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator” has been a source of concern to God all through the ages.
Today’s idol worship is manifold. Some worship self, money, a mentor, fashion, sports, etc. Even in the church, some find it difficult to pay close attention to and take careful note of the Word, to worship and to pray. The preacher must round off, because there is a football match or television programme coming up. But God still demands true worship today. Heaven-bound saints must avoid every shade of idolatry and worship the Father “in spirit and in truth”.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: Idolatry is rebellion against heaven.
THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: LUKE 11-12
DCLM Daily Manna was written by Pastor William Folorunso Kumuyi; is the founder and General Superintendent of the Deeper Life Bible Church situated at KM 42 on the busy Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Nigeria. https://dclm.org/
1. Admit that you are a sinner. "For all [humans] have sinned, and comes short of the glory of God....[and] the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord" (Romans 3:23)
2. Repent now. "Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out ...[for] if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness " (Acts 3:19, 1 John 1:9)
3. Believe that God loves you and Jesus died for you. "God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet Sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8)
4. Invite Jesus into your life through prayer of faith. Jesus says, "Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me" (Revelation 3:20)
