THIS SUMMER (2015), THE SATANIC TEMPLE OF DETROIT, MADE THE NEWS.
THEY HAVE ERECTED A STATUE REPRESENTING BAPHOMET, THE SABBATIC GOAT, THE JUDAS GOAT.
THE IMAGE ORIGINALLY DRAWN BY ELIPHAS LEVI IN 1856 CONTAINS BINARY ELEMENTS REPRESENTING WHAT HE THOUGHT WERE THE SUM TOTAL OF THE UNIVERSE.
MALE AND FEMALE, GOOD AND EVIL.
THE IMAGE OF BAPHOMET GREW TO PROMINENCE IN THE 14TH CENTURY, FROM THE LATIN BAPHOMETTI,
THIS IS THE IDOL THAT THE KNIGHTS TEMPLAR WERE ACCUSED FALSELY, OF WORSHIPPING.
ORIGINALLY CALLED “AN ATHEISTS ACTIVIST GROUP”, THE SATANIC TEMPLE OF DETROIT TOOK ISSUE WITH THAT LABEL.
IN AN INTERVIEW IN THE TRENDING SECTION OF THE DETROIT FREE PRESS THE TEMPLES SPOKESMAN, DOUG MESNER SAID, “DETROIT IS OUR PRIMARY CHAPTER. WE FEEL AT HOME IN DETROIT.”
THE SATANIC TEMPLE IS FIGHTING TO HAVE THEIR STATUE, WEIGHING ONE TON AND STANDING NINE FEET TALL, INCLUDED ALONGSIDE THE MONUMENT TO THE TEN COMMANDMENTS IN OKLAHOMA CITY.
IT’S BEING CALLED “THE MOST CONTROVERSIAL AND POLITICALLY CHARGED CONTEMPORARY WORK OF ART IN THE WORLD.”
A NAME LIKE THE SATANIC TEMPLE CONJURES UP IMAGES OF BLOOD SACRIFICES AND BLACK MASSES, THESE FOLKS ARE QUITE ORDINARY.
IN FACT, THEIR LITERATURE REVEALS THEIR BANALITY.
THEIR MANIFESTO STATES THAT THEY BELIEVE THAT RELIGION SHOULD BE DIVORCED FROM SUPERSTITION.
THEY CLAIM THAT THEIR FORM OF RELIGION IS A NON THEISTIC, THAT IT IS, WITHOUT GOD. BUT HOW DOES ONE HAVE A GODLESS RELIGION?
THE CLAIM THAT THEIR ADOPTION OF THE NAME OF SATAN FOR THEIR ORGANIZATION “IS TO EMBRACE RATIONAL INQUIRY REMOVED FROM SUPERNATURALISM AND ARCHAIC TRADITION-BASED SUPERSTITIONS.”
“HE IS A SYMBOL OF DEFIANCE, OF INDEPENDENCE, OF WISDOM AND SELF EMPOWERMENT.” MESNER SAID.
AS FAR AS SUPERSTITION AND RATIONALITY GO, WHEN SPEAKING TO KING AGRIPPA IN DEFENSE OF THE GOSPEL OF JESUS, THE APOSTLE PAUL WAS ACCUSED OF BEING OUT OF HIS MIND.
HE THEN USED THE MOST RATIONAL APPEAL OF ALL TO PREACH TO A PAGAN KING.
ACTS 26:25 (NIV) - "I AM NOT INSANE, MOST EXCELLENT FESTUS," PAUL REPLIED. "WHAT I AM SAYING IS TRUE AND REASONABLE.”
AND AS FAR AS SATAN BEING A SYMBOL OF THE REBEL, RATIONAL THOUGHT, INQUIRY OR ANYTHING WORTH ERECTING A STATUE TO, JESUS IN HIS DESCRIPTION OF THE PRINCE OF DARKNESS SAID TO THE HEBREWS,
JOHN 8:44 - "YOU ARE OF YOUR FATHER THE DEVIL, AND YOU WANT TO DO THE DESIRES OF YOUR FATHER. HE WAS A MURDERER FROM THE BEGINNING, AND DOES NOT STAND IN THE TRUTH BECAUSE THERE IS NO TRUTH IN HIM. WHENEVER HE SPEAKS A LIE, HE SPEAKS FROM HIS OWN NATURE, FOR HE IS A LIAR AND THE FATHER OF LIES.
THE STATUE OF BAPHOMET IN DETROIT CERTAINLY ISN’T THE FIRST MONUMENT OR STATUE BUILT TO HONOR SATAN OR ANOTHER FALSE GOD.
THAT TRADITION IS ALMOST AS OLD AS TIME.
THE TEMPLE OF DIANA AT EPHESUS ONCE HOUSED A MASSIVE STATUE OF THE GODDESS ATHENA.
THAT STATUE, THE LARGEST OF IT’S TIME CONTAINED A FRAGMENT OF AN ASTEROID, A ROCK FROM THE SKY, THAT THE EPHESIANS PAID HOMAGE TO. ACTS 19:28 – GREAT IS ARTEMIS…
ONLY ONE PILLAR OF THAT TEMPLE REMAINS TODAY.
A STATUE OF THE GREEK TITAN APOLLO STOOD MAJESTICALLY ASTRIDE THE ANCIENT HARBOR OF RHODES.
THE COLOSSUS OF RHODES WAS ONE OF THE SEVEN WONDERS OF THE ANCIENT WORLD BEFORE IT WAS TOPPLED BY AN EARTHQUAKE IN 226BC.
ANOTHER ANCIENT WONDER OF THE WORLD WAS THE STATUE OF ZEUS BY THE GREEK SCULPTOR PHIDIAS.
13 METERS HIGH IT DEPICTED THE KING OF THE GREEK GODS SITTING ON A GOLDEN THRONE ADORNED WITH JEWELS.
A WOODEN FRAME SUPPORTED THE GOD IVORY SKIN AS MICE SCURRIED ABOUT UNDER ZEUS’ FEET.
THE HISTORIAN SUETONIUS HAS IT BEING DESTROYED BY A FIRE.
IT WAS SAID THAT THIS WAS THE IMAGE THAT INSPIRED THE INTERPRETATIONS OF THE FACE OF CHRIST WHICH WE NOW HAVE.
MAN HAS A HISTORY OF CREATING IMAGERY AND ERECTING STATUARY TO THINGS THAT ARE NOT GOD.
EVEN WHEN MAN’S GOAL IS TO COMPLIMENT THE TRUE AND LIVING GOD, HE WARNS AGAINST THE TEMPTATION OF IDOLATRY.
DEUTERONOMY 4:15-19 - YOU SAW NO FORM OF ANY KIND THE DAY THE LORD SPOKE TO YOU AT HOREB OUT OF THE FIRE. THEREFORE WATCH YOURSELVES VERY CAREFULLY, SO THAT YOU DO NOT BECOME CORRUPT AND MAKE FOR YOURSELVES AN IDOL, AN IMAGE OF ANY SHAPE, WHETHER FORMED LIKE A MAN OR A WOMAN, OR LIKE ANY ANIMAL ON EARTH OR ANY BIRD THAT FLIES IN THE AIR, OR LIKE ANY CREATURE THAT MOVES ALONG THE GROUND OR ANY FISH IN THE WATERS BELOW. AND WHEN YOU LOOK UP TO THE SKY AND SEE THE SUN, THE MOON AND THE STARS—ALL THE HEAVENLY ARRAY—DO NOT BE ENTICED INTO BOWING DOWN TO THEM AND WORSHIPING THINGS THE LORD YOUR GOD HAS APPORTIONED TO ALL THE NATIONS UNDER HEAVEN.
SO, WHAT MIGHT GOD DO TO A STATUE OF A PERSON THAT SOME MIGHT CONSIDER TO BE HIS RIVAL.
A LOT OF CHRISTIANS ARE UPSET ABOUT THE STATUE OF BAPHOMET IN DETROIT.
WHAT ABOUT GOD? WOULD HE BE UPSET? WOULD IT OFFEND HIM?
THIS MORNING; GOD AND A STATUE THE HE ENCOUNTERED ONCE.
BUT BEFORE WE START THAT PART OF THE LESSON, LET’S PRAY.
PLEASE OPEN YOUR BIBLES TO THE BOOK OF 1 SAMUEL 5.
THE BOOK OF 1 SAMUEL CHRONICLES THE HISTORY OF ADOLESCENT ISRAEL.
THE PRIEST ELI IS FOUND IN 1 SAMUEL. HE IS THE MENTOR OF SAMUEL AND THE FATHER OF TWO SONS, PHINEAS AND HOPHNI.
THE SONS OF ELI HAD CORRUPTED THE PRIESTHOOD, EXTORTING AND EXPLOITING THE PEOPLE THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO SERVE.
THE BIBLE SAYS THEY TOO SERVED AS PRIESTS BUT HAD NO REGARD FOR THE LORD.
THE ENEMIES OF ISRAEL, THE PHILISTINES, ARE ALSO IN THIS BOOK.
AT WAR WITH ISRAEL, IN CHAPTER FIVE THEY SCORE THEIR GREATEST VICTORY.
1 SAMUEL 5:1-2 - AFTER THE PHILISTINES HAD CAPTURED THE ARK OF GOD, THEY TOOK IT FROM EBENEZER TO ASHDOD. THEN THEY CARRIED THE ARK INTO DAGON’S TEMPLE AND SET IT BESIDE DAGON.
THE ACCOUNT ILLUSTRATES THE SPIRITUAL DARKNESS THAT HAD BEFALLEN ISRAEL.
MOST OF THE PEOPLE WERE IGNORING GOD.
THAT YOUNG MAN ICHABOD WAS SUPPOSED TO FOLLOW HIS FATHER PHINEAS BUT HIS FATHER WAS AN EVIL MAN WHO HAD DEFAMED GOD AND DESECRATED HIS TABERNACLE.
FOR THE WIFE OF PHINEAS, THE TERROR OF GOD ABANDONING HIS PEOPLE IS OVERSHADOWED BY THE JOY OF CHILDBIRTH.
IT IS THE SAME WITH US. WHEN SIN DOMINATES OUR LIVES EVEN GOD GIVEN JOYS AND PLEASURE SEEM EMPTY.
ISRAEL HAD FAILED TO FOLLOW GOD AGAIN AND AGAIN.
AT THE END OF THE BOOK OF JUDGES WE ARE TOLD “EVERYONE DID WHAT WAS RIGHT IN HIS OWN EYES.”
THIS HAD SPREAD EVEN TO THE PRIESTHOOD AND THE PEOPLE KNEW IT.
SO GOD WAS REMOVING ELI AND HIS SONS TO REPLACE THEM WITH SAMUEL, THEN KINGS SAUL AND DAVID.
DAGON, THE FISH GOD WAS THE PRINCIPLE GOD OF THE PHILISTINES. TO THEM HE WAS THE BRINGER OF RAIN AND THE BOUNTIFUL HARVEST.
BUT THE PHILISTINES WORSHIPPED MANY GODS. THE MORE GODS THEY HAD ON THEIR SIDE, THE MORE SECURE THEY FELT.
THE HAD SEEN AND HEARD OF THE GREAT VICTORIES THAT ISRAEL HAD.
AT AI AND JERICHO ISRAEL HAD BEEN VICTORIOUS, BEARING THE ARK OF GOD.
IF IT COULD HELP ISRAEL WIN BATTLES, IT COULD HELP THEM TOO, SO THEY THOUGHT.
1 SAMUEL 5:3-7 - WHEN THE PEOPLE OF ASHDOD ROSE EARLY THE NEXT DAY, THERE WAS DAGON, FALLEN ON HIS FACE ON THE GROUND BEFORE THE ARK OF THE LORD! THEY TOOK DAGON AND PUT HIM BACK IN HIS PLACE. BUT THE FOLLOWING MORNING WHEN THEY ROSE, THERE WAS DAGON, FALLEN ON HIS FACE ON THE GROUND BEFORE THE ARK OF THE LORD! HIS HEAD AND HANDS HAD BEEN BROKEN OFF AND WERE LYING ON THE THRESHOLD; ONLY HIS BODY REMAINED. THAT IS WHY TO THIS DAY NEITHER THE PRIESTS OF DAGON NOR ANY OTHERS WHO ENTER DAGON’S TEMPLE AT ASHDOD STEP ON THE THRESHOLD. THE LORD’S HAND WAS HEAVY ON THE PEOPLE OF ASHDOD AND ITS VICINITY; HE BROUGHT DEVASTATION ON THEM AND AFFLICTED THEM WITH TUMORS. WHEN THE PEOPLE OF ASHDOD SAW WHAT WAS HAPPENING, THEY SAID, “THE ARK OF THE GOD OF ISRAEL MUST NOT STAY HERE WITH US, BECAUSE HIS HAND IS HEAVY ON US AND ON DAGON OUR GOD.”
CAN GOD DEAL WITH A STATUE THAT OFFENDS HIM? YES.
DOES HE NEED HIS PEOPLE TO STORM ASHDOD AND BUST THE ARK OF GOD OUT? NO.
IN THE CASE OF THE DETROIT STATUE, DID GOD SEE THAT ONE COMING? CERTAINLY.
DOES HE NEED CHRISTIANS STORMING THE SATANIC TEMPLE? NO.
DOES HE NEED CHRISTIANS TO COMMUNICATE TO THOSE WHO ARE SEEKING SALVATION HIS ETERNAL TRUTH WITH SO MANY IN DARKNESS? YES.
THE BAPHOMET STATUE IN DETROIT IS OUR OPPORTUNITY.
NOT TO EXPRESS OUR OUTRAGE BUT TO ARTICULATE TRUTH.
THE TRUTH THAT WISDOM IS NOT FOUND IN GODLESS RELIGION.
ACTS 4:12 – SALVATION IS FOUND IN NO ONE ELSE FOR THERE IS NO OTHER NAME UNDER HEAVEN GIVEN BY WHICH MEN CAN BE SAVED.
THE TRUTH THAT GOD WILL PUNISH A PEOPLE WHO REJECT HIM INDIVIDUALLY AND COLLECTIVELY.
1 THESSALONIANS 1:8 - HE WILL PUNISH THOSE WHO DO NOT KNOW GOD AND DO NOT OBEY THE GOSPEL OF OUR LORD JESUS. 9THEY WILL BE PUNISHED WITH EVERLASTING DESTRUCTION AND SHUT OUT FROM THE PRESENCE OF THE LORD AND FROM THE GLORY OF HIS MIGHT 10ON THE DAY HE COMES TO BE GLORIFIED IN HIS HOLY PEOPLE AND TO BE MARVELED AT AMONG ALL THOSE WHO HAVE BELIEVED. THIS INCLUDES YOU, BECAUSE YOU BELIEVED OUR TESTIMONY TO YOU.
THE TRUTH THAT GOD IS NOT THREATENED BY MONUMENTS OR MEN.
ISAIAH 43:11 – I EVEN I AM THE LORD AND THERE IS NO SAVIOR BESIDES ME
THE PHILISTINES, LIKE MOST PEOPLE, WERE SLOW TO GET IT.
THEY HAD WITNESSED A GREAT VICTORY BY THE GOD OF ISRAEL OVER THEIR GOD DAGON BUT THEY DIDN’T ACT ON THAT KNOWLEDGE UNTIL GOD AFFLICTED THEM.
THE SAME THING HAPPENS TODAY. MANY PEOPLE DON’T RESPOND TO BIBLICAL TRUTH UNTIL THEY ARE IN A PAINFUL SITUATION.
WE SHOULD BE WILLING TO LISTEN TO GOD FOR THE SAKE OF TRUTH NOT JUST WHEN WE ARE HURTING.
1 SAMUEL 5:8 – 12 -SO THEY CALLED TOGETHER ALL THE RULERS OF THE PHILISTINES AND ASKED THEM, “WHAT SHALL WE DO WITH THE ARK OF THE GOD OF ISRAEL?” THEY ANSWERED, “HAVE THE ARK OF THE GOD OF ISRAEL MOVED TO GATH.” SO THEY MOVED THE ARK OF THE GOD OF ISRAEL. BUT AFTER THEY HAD MOVED IT, THE LORD’S HAND WAS AGAINST THAT CITY, THROWING IT INTO A GREAT PANIC. HE AFFLICTED THE PEOPLE OF THE CITY, BOTH YOUNG AND OLD, WITH AN OUTBREAK OF TUMORS. SO THEY SENT THE ARK OF GOD TO EKRON. AS THE ARK OF GOD WAS ENTERING EKRON, THE PEOPLE OF EKRON CRIED OUT, “THEY HAVE BROUGHT THE ARK OF THE GOD OF ISRAEL AROUND TO US TO KILL US AND OUR PEOPLE.” SO THEY CALLED TOGETHER ALL THE RULERS OF THE PHILISTINES AND SAID, “SEND THE ARK OF THE GOD OF ISRAEL AWAY; LET IT GO BACK TO ITS OWN PLACE, OR IT WILL KILL US AND OUR PEOPLE.” FOR DEATH HAD FILLED THE CITY WITH PANIC; GOD’S HAND WAS VERY HEAVY ON IT. THOSE WHO DID NOT DIE WERE AFFLICTED WITH TUMORS, AND THE OUTCRY OF THE CITY WENT UP TO HEAVEN.
THE PHILISTINES WERE RULED BY FIVE RULERS OR LORDS.
THEY EACH LIVED IN A DIFFERENT CITY; GATH, EKRON, ASHDOD, ASKELON AND GAZA.
THEY TOOK THE ARK TO THREE OF THOSE CAPITAL CITIES AND EACH TIME IT BROUGHT DISASTER TO THE PEOPLE.
THIS IS A PICTURE OF KNOWING THE TRUTH BUT CONTINUING TO LIVE THE LIE.
WASN’T THE EXAMPLE OF DAGON AT ASHDOD ENOUGH?
INSTEAD THE PHILISTINES DRAGGED THE VERY THING THAT BROUGHT DEATH FROM CITY TO CITY.
HEBREWS 12:1 - THEREFORE, SINCE WE HAVE SO GREAT A CLOUD OF WITNESSES SURROUNDING US, LET US ALSO LAY ASIDE EVERY ENCUMBRANCE AND THE SIN WHICH SO EASILY ENTANGLES US, AND LET US RUN WITH ENDURANCE THE RACE THAT IS SET BEFORE US, FIXING OUR EYES ON JESUS, THE AUTHOR AND PERFECTER OF FAITH, WHO FOR THE JOY SET BEFORE HIM ENDURED THE CROSS, DESPISING THE SHAME, AND HAS SAT DOWN AT THE RIGHT HAND OF THE THRONE OF GOD.
WE SHOULD TEACH AND WE SHOULD LEARN TO JETTISON THE THINGS THAT WILL BRING DEATH INTO OUR LIVES.
THE BAD HABITS. SOME SINFUL, SOME NOT THAT SHORTEN OUR PHYSICAL LIVES AND MAY EVEN THREATEN OUR SPIRITUAL WELL BEING.
WE SHOULD TEACH AND LEARN TO KEEP FOCUSED ON JESUS.
THE ONE WHO HAD BROUGHT THE LIGHT OF LIFE INTO OUR LIVES. CONTINUING IN 1 SAMUEL 6.
1 SAMUEL 6:1-6 – WHEN THE ARK OF THE LORD HAD BEEN IN PHILISTINE TERRITORY SEVEN MONTHS, THE PHILISTINES CALLED FOR THE PRIESTS AND THE DIVINERS AND SAID, “WHAT SHALL WE DO WITH THE ARK OF THE LORD? TELL US HOW WE SHOULD SEND IT BACK TO ITS PLACE.” THEY ANSWERED, “IF YOU RETURN THE ARK OF THE GOD OF ISRAEL, DO NOT SEND IT BACK TO HIM WITHOUT A GIFT; BY ALL MEANS SEND A GUILT OFFERING TO HIM. THEN YOU WILL BE HEALED, AND YOU WILL KNOW WHY HIS HAND HAS NOT BEEN LIFTED FROM YOU.” THE PHILISTINES ASKED, “WHAT GUILT OFFERING SHOULD WE SEND TO HIM?” THEY REPLIED, “FIVE GOLD TUMORS AND FIVE GOLD RATS, ACCORDING TO THE NUMBER OF THE PHILISTINE RULERS, BECAUSE THE SAME PLAGUE HAS STRUCK BOTH YOU AND YOUR RULERS. MAKE MODELS OF THE TUMORS AND OF THE RATS THAT ARE DESTROYING THE COUNTRY, AND GIVE GLORY TO ISRAEL’S GOD. PERHAPS HE WILL LIFT HIS HAND FROM YOU AND YOUR GODS AND YOUR LAND. WHY DO YOU HARDEN YOUR HEARTS AS THE EGYPTIANS AND PHARAOH DID? WHEN ISRAEL’S GOD DEALT HARSHLY WITH THEM, DID THEY NOT SEND THE ISRAELITES OUT SO THEY COULD GO ON THEIR WAY?
HERE WE SEE THE GRACE OF GOD ON A PEOPLE THAT WERE NOT HIS OWN.
HE GAVE THEM TIME!
AFTER BEING IN THEIR POSSESSION FOR MORE THAN HALF A YEAR, THE PHILISTINES WERE FINALLY BEGINNING TO REALIZE THAT THEY HAD TO GET THE ARK BACK HOME TO ISRAEL.
SO THEY PUT IT ON A CART PULLED BY BEASTS OF BURDEN.
THEY TRANSPORT THE ARK UP THE SOREK RIVER VALLEY TO BETH SHEMESH.
(CLEAR THROAT) EXACTLY WHAT WAS THIS GUILT OFFERING SUPPOSED TO DO? TUMORS AND RATS.
THEY WANTED TO BE SURE THAT GOD KNEW WHAT THEIR TROUBLES WERE.
THIS WAS THE NATURAL REACTION FOR THE CANAANITE PEOPLE.
THE PHILISTINES THOUGHT THAT THEIR TROUBLES WERE THE RESULT OF THE GODS BEING ANGERED.
THEY WERE CONVICTED WITH GUILD ABOUT TAKING THE ARK AND THEY WANTED TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT.
THEIR MAGI PROBABLY DETERMINED WHAT TO OFFER TO YAHWEH BUT THIS WAS NOT THE OFFERING THAT GOD HAD COMMANDED IN THE LAW.
LIKEWISE, MEN TODAY STILL ATTEMPT TO PLACATE AND WORSHIP GOD USING THINGS FROM THEIR IMAGINATIONS THAT GOD DOES NOT CONDONE.
1 SAMUEL 6:7-12 – “NOW THEN, GET A NEW CART READY, WITH TWO COWS THAT HAVE CALVED AND HAVE NEVER BEEN YOKED. HITCH THE COWS TO THE CART, BUT TAKE THEIR CALVES AWAY AND PEN THEM UP. TAKE THE ARK OF THE LORD AND PUT IT ON THE CART, AND IN A CHEST BESIDE IT PUT THE GOLD OBJECTS YOU ARE SENDING BACK TO HIM AS A GUILT OFFERING. SEND IT ON ITS WAY, BUT KEEP WATCHING IT. IF IT GOES UP TO ITS OWN TERRITORY, TOWARD BETH SHEMESH, THEN THE LORD HAS BROUGHT THIS GREAT DISASTER ON US. BUT IF IT DOES NOT, THEN WE WILL KNOW THAT IT WAS NOT HIS HAND THAT STRUCK US BUT THAT IT HAPPENED TO US BY CHANCE.” SO THEY DID THIS. THEY TOOK TWO SUCH COWS AND HITCHED THEM TO THE CART AND PENNED UP THEIR CALVES. THEY PLACED THE ARK OF THE LORD ON THE CART AND ALONG WITH IT THE CHEST CONTAINING THE GOLD RATS AND THE MODELS OF THE TUMORS. THEN THE COWS WENT STRAIGHT UP TOWARD BETH SHEMESH, KEEPING ON THE ROAD AND LOWING ALL THE WAY; THEY DID NOT TURN TO THE RIGHT OR TO THE LEFT. THE RULERS OF THE PHILISTINES FOLLOWED THEM AS FAR AS THE BORDER OF BETH SHEMESH.
THE PHILISTINE PRIESTS AND MAGICIANS HAD A TEST TO SEE IF GOD WAS REALLY THE ONE WHO WAS AFFLICTING THEM.
THEY HITCHED TWO COWS WHO HAD RECENTLY GIVEN BIRTH TO A CART CARRYING THE ARK OF THE COVENANT.
FOR A COW TO LEAVE HER YOUNG NURSING CALF, SHE WOULD BE FIGHTING AGAINST HER MATERNAL INSTINCTS.
NORMALLY THESE CATTLE WOULD HAVE WENT BERSERK BUT THE POWER OF GOD OVERRULED INSTINCT AND THEY WENT UP THE ROAD, CONTENTEDLY.
ONLY GOD, WHO IS IN CONTROL OF ALL THINGS COULD CAUSE THIS TO HAPPEN.
GOD SENT THE COWS TO ISRAEL NOT TO PASS THE PHILISTINE TEST BUT TO SHOW ALL THE PEOPLE HIS MIGHTY POWER.
FINALLY, THE PHILISTINES RECOGNIZED THE PRESENCE OF THE GOD IF ISRAEL.
SADLY, IT WAS ONLY AS ONE OF THE OTHER GODS WHOSE FAVOR THEY SOUGHT.
BECAUSE THEY THOUGHT OF HIM AS ONE OF MANY GODS IT WAS EASY TO IGNORE THE COMMAND TO WORSHIP HIM ALONE.
MANY PEOPLE STILL TRY TO WORSHIP GOD THIS WAY.
TO THEM, GOD IS ONLY ONE INGREDIENT IN A SUCCESSFUL LIFE.
BUT GOD IS MORE THAN AN INGREDIENT, HE IS THE SOURCE OF LIFE.
THE PRIMARY LESSON FROM THE ACCOUNT OF THE ARK OF THE COVENANT AND DAGON.
BE FAITHFUL TO GOD. IF ISRAEL HAD FOLLOWED GOD’S COMMANDS, IF HER PRIESTHOOD, HER LEADERSHIP HAD NOT BEEN CORRUPTED, THE ARK WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN TAKEN.
THE CHURCH HAS NO DEVICE LIKE THE ARK, A TANGIBLE PLACE FOR THE PRESENCE OF GOD TO REST,
BUT HE DOES LIVE IN THE HEART OF THE CHRISTIAN.
WE NEED TO GUARD THAT SPIRIT FROM BEING HIJACKED, SPIRITED AWAY BY WORLDLINESS.
THERE IS ANOTHER ACCOUNT IN SCRIPTURE OF GOD ALLOWING HIS HOLY THINGS TO BE TAKEN AWAY, BUT THE RESULT IS A LITTLE DIFFERENT.
PLEASE TURN YOUR BIBLES TO DANIEL 1:1-2
THIS TIME GOD ALLOWS HIS HOLY IMPLEMENTS AND INSTRUMENT TO BE TAKEN TO THE TEMPLE OF A PAGAN GOD.
A GOD THAT IS NOT GOD AT ALL.
THIS TIME GOD IS PUNISHING HIS PEOPLE IN A WAY THAT MAY SEEM STRANGE TO US BY APPOINTING A FOREIGN RULER OVER THEM.
NEBUCHADNEZZAR WASN’T USED BY GOD TO PROCLAIM THE MESSAGE OF GOD BUT TO PRONOUNCE GODS JUDGMENT ON SIN.
SINCE GOD IS IN CONTROL OF ALL HUMAN EVENTS, HE CAN USE WHOMEVER AND WHATEVER HE WANTS TO ACCOMPLISH HIS PURPOSE.
HOW IS GOD GOING TO USE HIS PEOPLE TODAY IN CORRECTING PERCEPTIONS?
IN KNOCKING DOWN IDOLS. IN EXECUTING HIS JUDGMENTS.
IF YOU ARE A CHRISTIAN TODAY, THAT IS WHAT YOU ARE PART OF.
NOT FINDING THE OFFENDING STATUES AND MELTING THEM DOWN.
NOT RIDICULING THE LOST TOO IGNORANT TO SEEK THE PRESENCE OF GOD.
NOT PROTESTING AGAINST A WORTHLESS STATUE ERECTED BY A GROUP OF DISCONTENTED MISCHIEF MAKERS.
NOT SURRENDERING THE TEMPLE OF HIS SPIRIT THAT YOU HAVE BECOME TO THE THINGS OF THE WORLD.
IF YOU ARE A CHRISTIAN TODAY, YOU ARE GOD’S MONUMENT.
YOU ARE THE THING THAT HE HAS ERECTED, THE NEW CREATION IN CHRIST FOR ALL THE WORLD TO SEE.
NOT A CONGLOMERATION OF ANIMAL AND HUMAN PARTS, BUT ONE WHO HAS BEEN MADE IN THE IMAGE OF GOD,
FILLED WITH HIS SPIRIT, ANIMATED AND MOTIVATED BY THAT SPIRIT WITH GOD’S POWER.
DESIGNED NOT TO SIT IN A TEMPLE OR PUBLIC SQUARE NEXT TO AN ICON OF OPPOSITION BUT TO “GO INTO THE WORLD, PREACHING THE GOSPEL, BAPTIZING FELLOW MEN AND WOMEN INTO JESUS, TEACHING THEM EVERYTHING THAT HE HAS TAUGHT US AND LO HE WILL BE WITH US UNTIL THE END OF THE AGE.”
