KEEP AWAY FROM IDOLS OR BEING MADE AN IDOL 

KEEP AWAY FROM IDOLS OR BEING MADE AN IDOL: AN IDOL IS – ANYTHING – REVERED AND BELIEVED OTHER THAN ALMIGHTY GOD! 

Many times, in life I have heard some people say that the VOICE of MEN is the VOICE OF GOD as referenced in the Acts of the Apostles with consequences Acts 12:20-23; and heaven help those who helped themselves and each other, irrespective of how the help is carried out. 
And to them, since God may be so slow in their terms, they must help themselves, and God can then follow suit in their terms if He really loves and cares about them. 
Then I pause most of the time and say — Really? as I ask why such a myth exists among people — if it is ignorance, foolishness and stupidity. 
It reminds me of Biblical King Saul, hearkening to the VOICE of the people rather than that of God as written in 1 Samuel 15:1-35 and 1 Samuel 10:18-20. We all know how it ended for him. 

I want you to know for sure and true, that God is a God of PRINCIPLE and not of SENTIMENTS nor of METHOD. 
He only operates within His WORD and not by human sentiments, emotions, and methodology. 
So, in any emotion and methodology, which are common to mere men for sentimental reasons and values, God is not there, for He will only ACT where His WORD is the STANDARD, in Christ Jesus’ stead. 
For NO WORD means NO FAITH, meaning God is not PLEASED to get involved with such decisions at all. 
Hence making the VOICE of men your tool, makes you live outside God’s principle of BLESSEDNESS and abounding LOVE for His PURPOSE. 
GOD ONLY CONFIRMS HIS WORD AND NOTHING ELSE. 
You need to always THINK about that before you make any decision in LIFE and GRACE. 

And to have a VOICE, some will — religiously and or politically and for any leadership positions, kill or do any form of evil, wickedness and such like to promote and certify the CAUSES and SENTIMENTS of their adored IDOL or ICON to indicate their allegiance; 
Also, go to any length to gratify that position of dignity and honour irrespective of what the person is doing or has done. 
And this you find happening both WITHIN the CHURCH and in the WORLD to meet the course of that leadership and governance — unfortunately some will welcome such ADORATION in the name of godly and good causes. 
These acts of giving addicted REVERENCE and BELIEF to your acclaimed IDOLS or ICONS have a deadly effect especially in LIFE and GRACE — GODLY LIVING, for a Christian and the Church of God. 
And the same applies to the one who is RECEIVING and ALLOWING such OVATION of men to overtake the place of God. 
And I wish people knew about the EFFECT, that it could be deadly. 

And the fact that the sovereign and almighty God is slow to act accordingly on some occasions to authenticate His jealousy against this stupidity and acts of His glory being shared, equated and taken, does not mean He is not aware or jealous as a jealous God visiting the iniquity of such behaviour. 
He is still a jealous God of yesterday, today and tomorrow, and will act appropriately in His own time.  

For so was Herod (King) Agrippa the first, who made himself God and took the glory of God to satisfy the VOICE of the people. 
He paid dearly for it and none could stop God Acts 12:20-23. 

Are you in a position where people tend to REVERENCE and BELIEVE in you to the point of doing deadly things that may WARRANT God’s anger? 
If I were you, I would NOT adhere to it, but learn a lesson from these three wise accounts below in order not to be sentimental, as in these scriptural instructions: 

Between Apostle John and the Angel — Revelation 19:10; Revelation 22:6-9. 

Between Apostle Paul, Barnabas and Lystra and Derbe, cities of Lycaonia — Acts 14:8-15. 

Between Apostle Peter and Cornelius — Acts 10:25-27. 

And if these legends of Biblical spiritual beings and Apostles REFUSED to be WORSHIPED — REVERED and BELIEVED — as IDOLS or ICONS to please men and receive APPLAUSE, but they leaned solely on God’s APPROVAL as in Jesus Christ’ stead — Acts 2:22; 
Why are you so OBSESSED with your position in life to always get offended if you are not accorded or given the ovation, applause or oblation you so much crave? 

Getting offended and enraged because you are not properly addressed by your title and class indicates how insecure you are in what you crave for. Otherwise you would be CONTENT in the enabling grace provision of God in Christ Jesus’ stead Romans 5:1-2. 

I urge you to keep away from IDOLS and let none make you one! 
Idols are spirits, spirits act as gods. 
And gods are demonic. 
The end is deadly now or later. 
REPENT!  

SELAH – PAUSE AND THINK! 

SCRIPTURAL THOUGHTS WORTH PONDERING IN CONTEXT: 

“Now Herod [Agrippa I] was EXTREMELY ANGRY with the people of Tyre and Sidon; and their delegates came to him in a united group, and after persuading Blastus, the king’s chamberlain [to support their cause], they asked for peace, because their country was fed by [imports of grain and other goods from] the king’s country. 21 On an appointed day Herod DRESSED HIMSELF IN HIS ROYAL ROBES, sat on his throne (tribunal, rostrum) and began delivering a speech to the people. 22 The assembled people kept shouting, “IT IS THE VOICE OF A GOD AND NOT OF A MAN!” 23 And at once an ANGEL of the Lord STRUCK him down because he did not GIVE God the glory [and instead PERMITTED himself to be worshiped], and he was eaten by worms and died [five days later]” Acts 12:20-23 (Amplified). 

“Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man APPROVED of God among you by MIRACLES and WONDERS and SIGNS, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know” Acts 2:22. 

“But without FAITH it is impossible to PLEASE him: for he that cometh to God must BELIEVE that he is, and that he is a REWARDER of them that diligently seek him” Hebrews 11:6 

“But what saith it? THE WORD is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, THE WORD OF FAITH, which we preach; 9 that if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation . . So then FAITH cometh by hearing, and hearing by THE WORD of God Romans 10:8-10, 17. 

“Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: BUT THE JUST SHALL LIVE BY HIS FAITH” Habakkuk 2:4. 

“Bless the Lord, ye his angels, that excel in strength, that do his commandments, HEARKENING UNTO THE VOICE OF HIS WORD” Psalms 103:20. 

“And he said unto them, GO YE INTO ALL THE WORLD, and PREACH THE GOSPEL TO EVERY CREATURE. 16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. 17 And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; 18 they shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover. 19 So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God. 20 AND THEY WENT FORTH, AND PREACHED EVERY WHERE, the Lord working with them, and CONFIRMING THE WORD with SIGNS following. Amen” Mark 16:15-20. 
 
SUMMARY: 
This is a strong message warning against IDOLATRY and BEING MADE AN IDOL — and against living by THE VOICE OF MEN instead of THE WORD OF GOD. 

1. THE LIE: “THE VOICE OF MEN IS THE VOICE OF GOD” 

Many say heaven help those who help themselves and that since God is “slow”, they must act first and God will follow. 
That is a myth birthed from ignorance, foolishness and stupidity. 
Biblical Example: King Saul — hearkened to the VOICE of the people instead of God 1 Samuel 15:1-35; 1 Samuel 10:18-20 and it ended in destruction. 
Biblical Example: Herod Agrippa I — took the glory of God to satisfy the VOICE of the people. The crowd shouted “IT IS THE VOICE OF A GOD AND NOT OF A MAN!” and an ANGEL of the Lord STRUCK him down Acts 12:20-23 AMP. 
Truth: GOD IS A GOD OF PRINCIPLE, NOT SENTIMENT OR METHOD. He only ACTS where His WORD is the STANDARD in Christ Jesus’ stead. 
NO WORD means NO FAITH — and without FAITH it is impossible to PLEASE Him Hebrews 11:6. 
GOD ONLY CONFIRMS HIS WORD AND NOTHING ELSE Mark 16:20 — the Lord working with them, and CONFIRMING THE WORD with SIGNS following. 

2. THE DANGER OF IDOLS AND BEING MADE AN IDOL 

An IDOL is ANYTHING REVERED AND BELIEVED other than ALMIGHTY GOD. 
To get a VOICE, some in church and in the world will kill, do evil and wickedness to promote the CAUSES of their adored IDOL or ICON. Others will go to any length to gratify a position of dignity, even welcoming ADORATION in the name of “godly causes”. 
These acts of giving addicted REVERENCE and BELIEF to IDOLS/ICONS have a DEADLY EFFECT in LIFE and GRACE — GODLY LIVING. 
The same applies to the one RECEIVING and ALLOWING such OVATION of men to take God’s place. 
Idols are spirits, spirits act as gods. And gods are demonic. The end is deadly now or later.  

3. THE BIBLICAL PATTERN: REFUSE WORSHIP, POINT TO GOD 

Even great men of God refused to be worshiped: 

Apostle John and the Angel — Worship God Revelation 19:10; 22:6-9 

Apostle Paul & Barnabas at Lystra & Derbe — We are men like you Acts 14:8-15 

Apostle Peter and Cornelius — Stand up, I myself am also a man Acts 10:25-27 

Acts 2:22 — Jesus of Nazareth, a man APPROVED of God… by MIRACLES and WONDERS and SIGNS, which God did by him. 
If these legends leaned solely on God’s APPROVAL, why are you OBSESSED with titles, ovation, applause and oblation? 
Getting enraged when not addressed properly reveals insecurity. You should be CONTENT in the enabling grace provision of God in Christ Jesus’ stead Romans 5:1-2. 

4. THE FINAL CHARGE 

I urge you to KEEP AWAY FROM IDOLS and let none make you one! 
God is a JEALOUS GOD of yesterday, today and tomorrow. Though He may be slow, He will act appropriately in His own time to judge when His glory is shared or taken. 
THINK before you make any decision in LIFE and GRACE. 
FAITH comes by hearing, and hearing by THE WORD of God Romans 10:17. 
BUT THE JUST SHALL LIVE BY HIS FAITH Habakkuk 2:4. 

REV. CHUKIE MORSI