2 Chronicles 17:3 And the Lord was with Jehoshaphat, because he walked in the first
ways of his father David, and sought not unto Baalim;
2 Chronicles 17:4 But sought to the Lord God of his father, and walked in his commandments, and not after the doings of Israel.
Jehoshaphat's ways are the standard we should all strive for. He "sought not unto Baalim" but followed the Lord. Just so there's no confusion Baalim is not be confused with Balaam from the book of Numbers. Balaam was the false prophet who was in it for the money; the one whom Peter condemned in 2 Peter 2:15. Baalim is another word for Baal aka Satan. Jehoshaphat walked in God's commandment and "not after the doings of Israel." How many people today follow after the doings of the church whether or not they're in accordance with the word of God. For example, look at what it says in Jeremiah 10:1-4, then look at what millions of Christians do every year.
Jeremiah 10:1 Hear ye the word which the Lord speaketh unto you, O house of Israel:
Jeremiah 10:2 Thus saith the Lord, Learn not the way of the heathen, and be not dismayed at the signs of heaven; for the heathen are dismayed at them.
Jeremiah 10:3 For the customs of the people are vain: for one cutteth a tree out of the forest, the work of the hands of the workman, with the axe.
Jeremiah 10:4 They deck it with silver and with gold; they fasten it with nails and with hammers, that it move not.
Wow, sounds exactly like Christmas tree's. God condemns it as a form of idolatry. See Jeremiah 2:20 and Isaiah 57:5 for more examples of the Lord voicing His disapproval of this sort of thing. How many Christians will read Jeremiah 10:1-4 but turn right around and put up Christmas tree's anyway because the church says it's okay? Or because they just decided for themselves that they don't care what the bible says?
In the xmas special Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, Burl Ives sings a cutesy song "Silver & Gold" about decorating trees with those two things, silver and gold, which God specifically condemns in Jeremiah 10:4. It's one of countless examples of Hollywood mocking God and making entertainment out of it. It's a catchy little tune but that's how Satan works; he catches Christians off-guard by mocking God in ways that seem fun and harmless.
Look, I know people get upset when they think you are criticizing them and many people get upset when you criticize Christmas. Hey I'm just sharing the truth. That's my duty but it's in the Holy Spirit's hands now to convict you. Now even though it's not for me to force your hand I just have to say one day Jesus is going to ask you to explain why you went along with the church rather than accepting the plain "thus sayeth the Lord" word of scripture.
I love you and hope you understand I'm not trying to bash anybody, but as Christians we need to remember the words of Paul, Peter and especially the words of Jesus.
From Paul:
Galatians 1:10 ... do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.
From Peter:
Acts 5:29 Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.
And from Jesus:
Matthew 15:9 But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.
Anyway love you all. One day this fallen world as it is will be a thing of the past. Praying we will be found worthy.
Amen.
2 Chronicles 17:4 But sought to the Lord God of his father, and walked in his commandments, and not after the doings of Israel.
Jehoshaphat's ways are the standard we should all strive for. He "sought not unto Baalim" but followed the Lord. Just so there's no confusion Baalim is not be confused with Balaam from the book of Numbers. Balaam was the false prophet who was in it for the money; the one whom Peter condemned in 2 Peter 2:15. Baalim is another word for Baal aka Satan. Jehoshaphat walked in God's commandment and "not after the doings of Israel." How many people today follow after the doings of the church whether or not they're in accordance with the word of God. For example, look at what it says in Jeremiah 10:1-4, then look at what millions of Christians do every year.
Jeremiah 10:1 Hear ye the word which the Lord speaketh unto you, O house of Israel:
Jeremiah 10:2 Thus saith the Lord, Learn not the way of the heathen, and be not dismayed at the signs of heaven; for the heathen are dismayed at them.
Jeremiah 10:3 For the customs of the people are vain: for one cutteth a tree out of the forest, the work of the hands of the workman, with the axe.
Jeremiah 10:4 They deck it with silver and with gold; they fasten it with nails and with hammers, that it move not.
Wow, sounds exactly like Christmas tree's. God condemns it as a form of idolatry. See Jeremiah 2:20 and Isaiah 57:5 for more examples of the Lord voicing His disapproval of this sort of thing. How many Christians will read Jeremiah 10:1-4 but turn right around and put up Christmas tree's anyway because the church says it's okay? Or because they just decided for themselves that they don't care what the bible says?
In the xmas special Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, Burl Ives sings a cutesy song "Silver & Gold" about decorating trees with those two things, silver and gold, which God specifically condemns in Jeremiah 10:4. It's one of countless examples of Hollywood mocking God and making entertainment out of it. It's a catchy little tune but that's how Satan works; he catches Christians off-guard by mocking God in ways that seem fun and harmless.
Look, I know people get upset when they think you are criticizing them and many people get upset when you criticize Christmas. Hey I'm just sharing the truth. That's my duty but it's in the Holy Spirit's hands now to convict you. Now even though it's not for me to force your hand I just have to say one day Jesus is going to ask you to explain why you went along with the church rather than accepting the plain "thus sayeth the Lord" word of scripture.
I love you and hope you understand I'm not trying to bash anybody, but as Christians we need to remember the words of Paul, Peter and especially the words of Jesus.
From Paul:
Galatians 1:10 ... do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.
From Peter:
Acts 5:29 Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.
And from Jesus:
Matthew 15:9 But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.
Anyway love you all. One day this fallen world as it is will be a thing of the past. Praying we will be found worthy.
Amen.
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