Your Favorite god

I received in the mail the other day, some catalogs from publishing companies.  I am used to receiving these, as I have ordered products from them in the past as a Senior Pastor.  Tucked inside the calendars was a small booklet, which was actually the introduction and first chapter of a new book, written by Kyle Idleman from Southeast Christian Church in Louisville, KY.  I was intrigued by the title "gods at war"  - so I read it.

Kyle made a statement that hit me, like a seed implanted in my spirit.  He said, "The Bible's paradigm is absolutely different.  When we hear God say, 'You shall have no other gods before,' we think of it as a hierarchy; that is, God is always in first place. But there are no 'places.'  God isn't interested in competing against others or being first among many.  God will not be part of any hierarchy."

Wow!  As I have been praying and thinking, here's what I heard the Holy Spirit say:

"I do not want to be your favorite god!"

When God gave the Ten Commandments (the statement about "no other gods" was the first commandment given), the people has just come from being in Egypt.  That land was full of gods, everywhere.  Now, THE GOD says NO gods but ME!

Are we any different today?  Don't we see thousands of gods everywhere in our society.  Remember that an "idol" by definition is "something worshipped".  People worship their jobs - their cars - their houses - their kids - their position - their status - themselves (look at the fashion industry).  Humanism and hedonism is rampant today in the world. Some, even in the church world, worship styles of music, formats of services - programs -  even worshipping worship. 

We worship musical "stars" - movie "stars" - TV "stars"  -- by the fact we call them "stars" means we are elevating them to a status to be worshipped. We even have a popular musical talent TV show called "American Idol" -- Wow!

Remember - anything that you value or place before (actually means, "in the presence of") GOD, is your idol.  What do you worship today?  What is so important to you today that you could not walk away from it?  What stands "in the presence" of GOD today?  HE said - "no gods in my presence'.

I heard HIM say .... "I do not want to be your favorite god....I AM GOD all by myself"

2013 The Year of Jericho Victory

Ruins of Old City Walls of Jericho


The New Year has come!

I remember when people were frightened about Y2K -- the year 2000.  Many predicted that the world would end or the computers would crash resulting in mass chaos, etc.

Then there was the Mayans of 2012 -- the world would end, because their calendar said so....

As I reflected upon this new year, I was reminded of the city of Jericho.  In the Bible this was the first city of conquest for the children of Israel, who were returning to their land after having been in Egyptian bondage for many years.

This city was a walled city - a place that no one had been able to conquer until this group of Israelites marched across the Red Sea on dry ground, and had journeyed for 40 years around and around in the desert.  All the "unbelieving and doubting" ones had died, a whole generation of them.  Now the younger generation had grown up, tired of walking in circles.  Under the leadership of the apprentice of Moses, Joshua, they now were ready to take possession of what had been promised to them by God.  But Jericho stood in the way!

God gave them HIS instructions.  March around the walled city once a day for six days.  On the seventh day they were to march around the walls seven times.  What was most unique about this battle plan -- they had to be quiet for all those trips around the walled city, until sometime during that last trip around the walls - round 13.

On the seventh day - the seventh trip around that day (the 13th total trip around), when the trumpets blasted the people were commanded to SHOUT!  When they did, the walls of the city collapsed, and the people took the city. [Look at the photo above ... the archaeological 'digs' show us the walls that fell down, never to be rebuilt again]

I heard the Lord speak to me that there are many walls that we, God's people, have been walking around .... walls of opposition ... walls of sickness ... walls of stress ... walls of lack ....walls of unemployment .... walls of financial burdens .... walls of demonic oppression ... walls of disease .... walls of lack of spiritual power.  This year 2013 --- the 13th year of this new millennium - is our year to SHOUT -- OUR YEAR TO DECREE AND DECLARE A YEAR OF VICTORY!

I believe that the walls are going to come down in 2013!

Get ready to SHOUT!  Get ready for VICTORY in 2013!

Do you believe it?