One True God

Thought: Is He Yours?

Prayer, Greetings

Thought: Is He Yours?

Pericope: Bel boweth down, Nebo stoopeth, their idols were upon the beasts, and upon the cattle: your carriages were heavy loaden; they are a burden to the weary beast. 2 They stoop, they bow down together; they could not deliver the burden, but themselves are gone into captivity. 3 Hearken unto me, O house of Jacob, and all the remnant of the house of Israel, which are borne by me from the belly, which are carried from the womb:

4 And even to your old age I am he; and even to hoar (gray) hairs will I carry you: I have made, and I will bear; even I will carry, and will deliver you. 5 To whom will ye liken me, and make me equal, and compare me, that we may be like? 6 They lavish gold out of the bag, and weigh silver in the balance, and hire a goldsmith; and he maketh it a god: they fall down, yea, they worship.

7 They bear him upon the shoulder, they carry him, and set him in his place, and he standeth; from his place shall he not remove: yea, one shall cry unto him, yet can he not answer, nor save him out of his trouble. 8 Remember this, and shew yourselves men: bring it again to mind, O ye transgressors. 9 Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me, KJV

Introduction. The prophet Isaiah speaks to us today as well as he did to Israel long ago. same issues just different people in a different time in bibilical history. The people of today are doing the very same thing worshiping and carrying their little gods around with them

They were to note the prophecies God had given and to acknowledge His inimitability “Thou shall worship no other God” and “The Lord Thou God is one God” as the only God and to turn to Him and acknowledge His sovereignty, recognizing that only in Him is salvation.

Proposition. The Lord appealed to Israelites and He appeals to us to turn from idols and be delivered from false hope.

Sermon.

Babylon would be conquered, (King Cyrus) her false gods (bel & nebo) would themselves be carried into captivity alone with Israel. Instead of the heathen gods carrying their people, or giving them a ride the people had to carry their gods burdened down on animals into captivity.

Their pieces of manufactured helplessness called idols is placed before their consideration and the question is, can these gods deliver? They worship it out of ignorance, they cry into it, but it cannot answer, nor save them out of trouble.

The fact that some Christians, who call themselves God’s people do not take such scriptures to heart. Perhaps because they are not conditioned to, perhaps not ready to accept or have a mind to see the Lord has He has revealed Himself (Almighty). We, cannot allow ourselves to become insensitive and unresponsive to God Jehovah whom we serve as the only savior. We cannot allow these little gods take center stage in our lives.

A man once said, “Worship is that time when we bring the gods we have made before the God who has made us.” So many of us insist on worshipping the gods we have made for ourselves. These gods we have made makes it difficult to fully surrender to the God who has made us. Some seem unable to break through and let go and bow down and acknowledge God.

Instead of bringing the gods we have made before the God who has made us, we do the opposite…we want to bring the God who has made us before the gods we have made for ourselves and expect God great Jehovah to bow down to our manufactured artificial idols and bring these little gods to life.

Some want to bring their personal ideas, test and measurements, analytical thought to measure who Jehovah is and what He has said and fit it into what we want Him to be and it simply will not work, never has and never will. This generation has become to razzled and dazzled and taken by might, authority, worldly power, and the sensation of greatness, looking to take the wide road rather than the straight and narrow road.

These little gods like people’s self-image, cars, job, icons, prosperity, worldly lifestyle and the such. And in the end, we find ourselves propping-up these gods by working overtime, second jobs and borrowing money we do not have to finance these little gods and keep them propped up. The blessing of the Lord, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it. KJV

People are carrying a whole host of gods from Easter bunny rabbits and some even chop off their feet and carry it in their pockets to somebody called St. Nickolas around with them and it is weighing them down and the burden is literally killing them with unexplained health and mental problems.

Sadly, some see these things are the very essences of their life and the source that give them life, sense of meaning and identity. They have personalized these gods and created a world around them.

Christians not the world is looking to God to somehow fit into the sketches, measurements, and patterns they have developed in their minds of how God ought to be and how God ought to act. In other words, we want God to sponsor, underwrite, and give life to these gods. People need God Jehovah…. to make these gods come alive give them life because we cannot. Yet people carry them from place to place promoting them, showing them off, bragging on them.

Idolatry

The great sin of man, ever since his fall, has been that of idolatry. People are ever seeking to get away from God, and to make for oneself a god, which can only be an idol, that pleases him because he can gaze upon it.

The false trusts of idols to lighten our burdens, make a heavy burden to carry

False gods will certainly fail their worshippers when they most need them. It is foolish to make, purchase, or trust in carnal objects or in self or others…... doing so we are staggered under the weight when they fail. It is a sin to put anything in the place which should only be occupied by God alone. It is vain to look to a thing, and expect a blessing from it, instead of looking to God, and from Him alone.

This looking to anything which takes the place of God is a breach of faith and offensive to Jehovah, and it will surely be disappointing, for it is impossible for the false gods to produce any true comfort or joy. Fools carry their useless gods but our God carries us, seeking the favor of a self-created god that has no power is unfortunate.

God is not looking to destroy the idol makers, nor the worshipper, just the idols in their life. God is not looking for destruction but redemption. If He is the only (God) then He is the only Savior.

For I am God

The Prophet Isaiah says; V9 for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me This is the reason why we should look to Jehovah to be saved. It is clear that only the true God can save the soul. No one else but God can pronounce sin forgiven; no one but God can rescue from a deserved hell. No idol, no man can save. We must come to the true God, and depend on him to trust in him is to have all difficulties solved, all promises fulfilled, all confidence restored.

In my closing

The Prophet Isaiah says Bel boweth down, Nebo stoopeth, their idols were upon the beasts, and upon the cattle: your carriages were heavy loaden; they are a burden to the weary beast. Stop carrying these burdens, the burden is already heavy and when these false gods fail the burden becomes twice as heavy (like when the check doesn’t come in the mail) why don’t we let the one who is carrying us do it and the only way to rid ourselves of these burdens that we think are necessary is to listen to what Jesus said; , Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 30 For My yoke is easy and My burden is light."

Are we willing to rid ourselves and trust God? And depend upon Christ for strength and righteousness, in him shall we find rest. Observe, the great privilege we enjoy by Jesus Christ is that of being in Him, and for our sake, we are justified before God.

By being in Christ we have meaning in life, purpose, identity, and fulfillment in life none of which an idol can produce. Most often people do not surrender to Christ is because they are afraid and we let our fears control us. Yet note the Lord s great patience.

What is at stake?

All that are justified will declare it is in Christ that they are justified, nor could they be justified by any other; and those who are justified shall be glorified.

4 And even to your old age I am he; and even to hoar (gray) hairs will I carry you: I have made, and I will bear; even I will carry, and will deliver you. God’s way is characterized by steadfast love, justice and righteousness is the only one who can provide security in this uncertain world.

5 To whom will ye liken me, and make me equal, and compare me, that we may be like? The supreme duty believers owe to Christ is to glory in him, and to make their confirmation of him. Therefore, he is made all in all to us, that who glory may glory in the Lord.

often I her Deaconess Coleman say pastor you need to find your key. People need to find their key to life. we all need to find our own key to life. Our gift, our calling, our pace and our purpose for the reason God has created us. And when we bring these keys and notes together Sandy Plain can make a joyful noise unto the Lord.

Alter call: perhaps you are trying to find your key, Jehovah knows your melody and He has your key.

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