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CBN.com - Once I saw a popular singer on an awards program on TV wearing a t-shirt that said, “Kill Your Idols”. I was intrigued enough to watch him and wonder what he was saying with that shirt. That is, until he turned around. The back of his shirt had a traditional portrait of a crucified Jesus Christ. He was in effect calling Jesus an idol.

Unfortunately, many Christians also have a skewed, idealized definition of idols. We only see idols like those mentioned in the Old Testament or those in the movie The Ten Commandments, where Moses, played by Charlton Heston, descends from Mount Sinai to find the Israelites worshipping a golden calf. In righteous anger he hurls the tablets at the golden calf and destroys it.

When God gave Moses the Commandments, He said:

"Do not worship any other gods besides me.” Do not make idols of any kind, whether in the shape of birds or animals or fish. You must never worship or bow down to them, for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God who will not share your affection with any other god! (Exodus 20:3-5 NLT)

An idol is any person, object or activity you give a higher priority in your life than a relationship with God. An idol can be your home, your job, a vehicle, a relationship, or even your family. An idol can be a pet, a computer, or what you look at on that computer. An idol can be alcohol, drugs, sex, or any sin. An idol can be the work you do for the Lord that consumes all your energy and time. God says He’s a jealous God. He wants our time and attention.

Look at this:

"This is what the LORD Almighty, the God of Israel, says: You saw what I did to Jerusalem and to all the towns of Judah. They now lie in ruins, and no one lives in them. Because of all their wickedness, my anger rose high against them. They burned incense and worshiped other gods – gods that neither they nor you nor any of your ancestors have ever known. "Again and again I sent my servants, the prophets, to plead with them, 'Don't do these horrible things that I hate so much.' But my people would not listen or turn back from their wicked ways. They kept right on burning incense to these gods. And so my fury boiled over and fell like fire on the towns of Judah and into the streets of Jerusalem, and now they are a desolate ruin.” (Jeremiah 44:2-6 NLT)

This is God’s anger against HIS PEOPLE. The prophets warned them but they refused to listen. Today, just as in those days, righteous men and women are saying, turn back to God! Destroy the idols. Put away the things that are hindering a righteous walk with God. Repent of putting others before the Creator of the universe!

In the days of Noah, God gave the people over a hundred years to repent. But then a day came when the rains started. On that day, no amount of crying out could change the outcome.

A prudent person foresees the danger ahead and takes precautions. The simpleton goes blindly on and suffers the consequences. (Proverbs 27:12 NLT)

We must heed the signs of the times. Do we believe the word of the prophets? Are we going to take seriously the admonition of the Lord to repent and to destroy our idols! If we do not repent, there is a day coming where no amount of crying out will change the plan God puts into motion.

“So put to death the sinful, earthly things lurking within you. Have nothing to do with sexual sin, impurity, lust, and shameful desires. Don't be greedy for the good things of this life, for that is idolatry. God's terrible anger will come upon those who do such things. ” (Colossians 3:5-7 NLT)

“Don't be greedy for the good things of this life, for that is idolatry…” People everywhere are caught up in the “good things of this life”. There is a bell tolling in our world today. We must pay attention. We’ve got to address what hinders our walk with God and let it go!

To take authority, we’ve got to release the sins and repent. The Word points out that man looks at the outward appearance but God looks at our hearts. Our hearts are guilty before the Lord. God is done with the mess we call righteous living. We have to destroy idol worship. We have gone long enough with a wink and a nod toward sin in the Body. I am not pointing fingers. I am as guilty as anyone is.

There is a call going out among the Body today. I hear the Lord saying,

WAKE UP

SHAKE YOURSELVES

KILL YOUR IDOLS

REPENT

GET BACK ON THE WALL

RE-ESTABLISH THE BORDERS

TAKE AUTHORITY

The Word of the Lord for this hour is NEW BEGINNINGS. In the Spirit realm, we are coming into a spring season. Spring is a time of new growth. It’s a time of renewed hope. This is a time of new beginnings in the Spiritual, but only if you’ve left the baggage of the past behind.

The Word says it’s better to obey than sacrifice. Obey what? The Word of the Lord. When God says to repent, we must repent. God hates idolatry. It’s a commandment and God has been judging -- yes, judging righteous people on earth for it since time began. It’s true, He loves us and yes HE HAS A PLAN for each of us but only in His parameters.

Then if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and heal their land. (2 Chronicles 7:14 NLT)