There is a reason we follow recipes, to make something that is good and palatable, and also mostly because certain ingredients do not mix. One may change the type of cheese, or use almond milk instead of cow milk in a recipe. Because some ingredients may be different, they do not ruin the final product. It just gives it a different flavor. However, you may not replace the flower in pancakes with baking soda, because you would not end up with pancakes.
In the same way we must ensure we do not mix in outside worship of idols with the true worship of God. “Well”, one might add, “I only worship God”. Yes, by everything you understand you would believe that, but here lies my point. The worship of idols can sneak into the worship of God without it being obvious to us. Idols don’t always look like little brass statues that you can place on the mantle, though some of them might stick on the car window.
An idol that stands out is easily defeated, but one that slowly works its way in becomes natural and part of a culture. The mixing of idol worship and the worship of God may not seem distasteful to us, but is grossly unpalatable to God. This is where we come to the story of Balaam and Balak. In the book of numbers we find Balak, who was king over Moab, in fear of the Jews. He sends after Balaam knowing that “he whom you bless is blessed, and he whom you curse is cursed”(Numbers 22:6). However, God warns Balaam to only speak what he is told. This does not go over well with Balak since Balaam ends up blessing Israel three times. Chapter 24 ends with Balaam telling what was to happen in the days to come and then vs. 25 of chapter 24 says “Then Balaam arose and departed and returned to his place, and Balak also went his way”.
The next chapter begins with the Israelites playing the harlot with the daughters of Moab, feasting on food sacrificed to idols and bowing to them as well. So the question is what happened? Here was a mighty nation moving along and following God’s plan and all of sudden they are joined to Baal of Peor. We find the rest of the story of Balak and Balaam in Revelation 2:12-17.
Balaam could not curse the people; however at some point he taught Balak how to trip them up. The verse says to place a “stumbling block” in front of them. Balak placed food sacrificed to idols in front of them to eat and enticed them to commit acts of immorality. This false worship and immorality led to Numbers chapter 25 in which the Lord became angry with Israel.
So why did Israel not reject the food and worship of Baal? Simply put, the food looked good and the women were pretty. “And if all I have to do is bow, then I get hot food and hot ladies… I mean this is their culture and I want to be seen as relevant, besides I still observe the Sabbath”. These things don’t seem so wrong, at least after the 3rd and 4th time. The word for “stumbling block” could also mean “snare”. Those that hunt and fish know you don’t catch prey if the bait doesn’t look enticing and the snare or stumbling block is visible. One trips over the “block” because their eyes are focused somewhere else; they don’t see it for what it is.
So what does this mean for us? We are smart people and we have access to more information than a bunch of folks running around in the desert. But knowledge is not as valuable as wisdom. Knowledge knows what it is we do, and where we go, and where we spend our time and money. Wisdom tells us why we do it. Godly wisdom is the key in understanding which items in our lives are idols and which are true worship and which ones need to be prayed about further.
So now we come to the Church in America, which is more accurately the American Church. So what is it, you might ask, that I am getting at? That the idols have crept into the church, which means there are those of us that worship things other than or along with God. The problem is the idols are different for each of us. (James 1:14) We can worship our sexuality, our “cause” be it pro or anti this and that, or even our politics. A person running for office often becomes our savior if we are not careful. “He/she will fix everything, if we can just get them elected.” We can even begin to praise our government, singing its praises in a worship service. We sacrifice our Saturdays to give honor to our favorite sports teams, and spend our weekday nights at ball parks in service to sports.
Now is it wrong to be pro or anti this and that? Is it wrong to want good leaders? Is it wrong to watch sports and let your kids play them? Depends on what you are searching for. You see the problem is not with the meat. All things are made clean and we know that there are no other gods. However, our desire to have those “meats” drives us to compromise and worship the idols that are associated with them. There is nothing wrong with a child playing baseball; it is when the game becomes the desire of our heart, or when we praise our nation as though it is our savior. It is when we miss where the meat comes from that we are led astray. We believe that the idol provides the meat we desire, whether it be peace, justice, happiness, or protection. These things are to be sought from God. Dead idols can do nothing for us.
This brings us back to us, the church. When we are enticed by the things of the world, we must be careful that they do not become the object of our affection. Because when they do, we will mix them in our true worship. The idols will compete with our worship of God and if not thrown down we will bow our knee to them and give Sunday lip service to the one true God.
Ritaevito
в покере стратегия, https://clinicasanjuandedioslima.pe/celebracion-por-el-dia-del-tecnico-de-enfermeria/ рекомендации и покерные книги бывают ключом к любому успеху. сокровенная суть – собрать сильнейшую комбинацию из 5 карт.
Gichardcaw
http://iasi.org
Brandonton
выигравший получает все фишки. Покер – это общее название для нескольких https://www.yjpaper.co.kr/bbs/board.php?bo_table=free&wr_id=2322399 покера.
bitcoin
Filmizlesene ile hızlı film izleme fırsatını yakala, en yeni ve iyi filmleri Full HD 1080p kalitesiyle online ve bedava izle. Orville Hoenstine
DustinKaw
соответственно участники betboom poker не только примут присутствие в турнире, https://acornpackaging.co.uk/contact/ но также побывают за границей. наградной фонд турнира составит 50 000 долларов.
EsterCer
Турниры разнообразны и включают фризауты, ребай-турниры, прогрессивные нокауты, http://www.ydelection.com/bbs/board.php?bo_table=free&wr_id=2717848 фрироллы и сателлиты. на выполнение заданий отводятся сутки.
ReneeNilky
и мне……..
It serves as an online platform, {which will help|helping|allowing|which will allow|which allows} {to the public|individuals|individual customers} and {companies|legal entities} to hold presentations, seminars or interactive sessions, allowing participants from {different|many} places {to join|join the ranks|become} a #file_linksC:\Users\Admin\Desktop\file\gsa+en+Phoenix40k80k150k300k224URLBB.txt”,1,N] and {work|collaborate|communicate} in {mode real-time|real-time.
nagad88
My spouse and I absolutely love your blog and find many of your post’s to be precisely what I’m looking for. Would you offer guest writers to write content to suit your needs? I wouldn’t mind creating a post or elaborating on most of the subjects you write in relation to here. Again, awesome web site!
replica bags
Hi! Do you use Twitter? I’d like to follow you if that would be ok.
I’m absolutely enjoying your blog and look forward to new updates.
cytotecNousy
buy cytotec online overnight delivery cytotec overnight Usa cheapest cytotec in Usa discount misoprostol Canada order cytotec without rx overnight cheap cytotec in the UK canadian pharmacy no prescription needed order cytotec cheap no prescription online meds checker. buy cheap misoprostol online now ordering cytotec no rx needed buy generic online cytotec guaranteed cheap cytotecus buy cytotec 100mcg safe, easy, and discreet delivery
lucah remaja
matadorbet porn
టీనేజ్ పోర్న్ティーンポルノ
matadorbet porn
ティーンポルノ
matadorbet porn
Sinarjp Slot
Excellent post. I was checking continuously this weblog and I am inspired!
Extremely useful info specially the remaining
phase 🙂 I care for such information much. I used to be looking for this particular info
for a very long time. Thank you and good luck.
لینک همستر کامبت
Magnificent items from you, man. I’ve be aware your stuff
previous to and you’re just extremely magnificent. I really
like what you’ve acquired right here, really like
what you are stating and the way in which by which you are saying it.
You are making it enjoyable and you continue to care for to stay it sensible.
I cant wait to learn far more from you. This is actually a tremendous site.
Mhpuzi
where can i buy rabeprazole – buy reglan 10mg domperidone oral
roofers near me
WOW just what I was looking for. Came here by searching for
Roofing Company near me
Crgpzm
rabeprazole us – purchase domperidone generic motilium 10mg generic
هانده ارچل
What a information of un-ambiguity and preserveness of precious knowledge concerning unexpected feelings.
dom_eiMn
Зачем выбирать дом из бруса 9х12 | Преимущества строительства дома из бруса 9х12 | Как создать уютный интерьер в доме из бруса 9х12 | Секреты уютного интерьера в доме из бруса 9х12 | Выбор материалов для теплоизоляции и вентиляции в доме из бруса 9х12 | Как выбрать правильные окна и двери для дома из бруса 9х12 | Сад и огород вокруг дома из бруса 9х12 | Топ-5 мебельных трендов для дома из бруса 9х12 | Дом из бруса 9х12: важные моменты | Как рассчитать бюджет на строительство дома из бруса 9х12
проект дома из бруса 9х12 https://domizbrusa-9x12spb.ru/ .
Ulccxz
buy dulcolax 5 mg for sale – buy ditropan tablets liv52 price
آموزش زدن کد مورس در همستر
I do not even know how I ended up here, but I thought this post was great.
I don’t know who you are but certainly you’re going to a famous
blogger if you are not already 😉 Cheers!
در همستر سکه جمع کنیم یا پروفیت
Hello there I am so excited I found your blog page, I really found you by error, while I was searching on Aol for something else, Anyways I am here now
and would just like to say cheers for a marvelous post and a
all round thrilling blog (I also love the theme/design), I
don’t have time to go through it all at the moment
but I have bookmarked it and also added your RSS feeds, so when I have time I will be back to
read a lot more, Please do keep up the superb jo.
زمان لیست شدن همستر
The other day, while I was at work, my cousin stole my apple ipad and tested to see if it can survive a forty foot drop, just so she
can be a youtube sensation. My iPad is now broken and
she has 83 views. I know this is completely off topic but I had to share it
with someone!
کارت های امروز همستر
I used to be suggested this web site through my cousin. I’m now not certain whether this submit is written by him as no
one else know such targeted about my difficulty. You are wonderful!
Thank you!
همستر کلاهبردار است یا واقعی؟
A person necessarily help to make significantly posts I would state.
That is the first time I frequented your website page and to this point?
I surprised with the research you made to make this particular
publish extraordinary. Fantastic task!
هر سکه همستر چقدر است؟
Hey are using WordPress for your blog platform?
I’m new to the blog world but I’m trying to get started and set up my own. Do
you require any html coding knowledge to make your own blog?
Any help would be really appreciated!
خطای unable to login please reload mini app در همستر کامبت
Hello there! Do you know if they make any plugins to protect against hackers?
I’m kinda paranoid about losing everything I’ve worked hard on. Any recommendations?
Agwera
buy bisacodyl generic – liv52 drug order liv52 online cheap
Ucmlpc
order dulcolax 5mg online – where can i buy oxytrol order liv52 10mg without prescription
Ncrmla
brand rabeprazole 10mg – buy maxolon pill domperidone cost
phen q
This site was… how do I say it? Relevant!! Finally I’ve found something that helped me.
Kudos!
iptv spain
Its like you read my mind You appear to know so much about this like you wrote the book in it or something I think that you can do with a few pics to drive the message home a little bit but other than that this is fantastic blog A great read Ill certainly be back
Uqdvrk
buy rabeprazole 10mg pills – buy maxolon pills oral motilium 10mg
pursvive
Excellent pieces. Keep writing such kind of info on your page.
Im really impressed by your site.
Hello there, You have done a great job. I will definitely
digg it and individually suggest to my friends.
I am sure they will be benefited from this site.
Urlczv
bisacodyl 5 mg drug – bisacodyl 5mg uk liv52 without prescription
شرایط جدید امریه دانش بنیان
Hmm is anyone else having problems with the pictures
on this blog loading? I’m trying to determine if its a
problem on my end or if it’s the blog. Any feedback would be greatly
appreciated.
دریافت کارت سبز بسیج
I think the admin of this web page is really working hard for his site, since here every stuff
is quality based material.
Buy IPTV norge
I have been browsing online more than three hours today yet I never found any interesting article like yours It is pretty worth enough for me In my view if all website owners and bloggers made good content as you did the internet will be a lot more useful than ever before
Best IPTV Service Providers
Your writing has a way of resonating with me on a deep level. It’s clear that you put a lot of thought and effort into each piece, and it certainly doesn’t go unnoticed.
IPTV Belgique
Wonderful beat I wish to apprentice while you amend your web site how could i subscribe for a blog web site The account aided me a acceptable deal I had been a little bit acquainted of this your broadcast provided bright clear idea
مشاور سربازی آنلاین
We absolutely love your blog and find nearly all of your post’s to be exactly what I’m looking for.
Do you offer guest writers to write content for
yourself? I wouldn’t mind writing a post or elaborating on a few of the subjects you write with
regards to here. Again, awesome web site!
شرایط معافیت فرزندان ایثارگران
It’s going to be end of mine day, except before finish I am reading this wonderful piece of writing to improve my experience.
خدمات پرستاری در منزل تهران
Hi there i am kavin, its my first occasion to commenting anywhere, when i read this
paragraph i thought i could also create comment due to this good article.
جریمه فرار از خدمت سربازی
Hi! Do you use Twitter? I’d like to follow you
if that would be okay. I’m definitely enjoying your
blog and look forward to new posts.
iptv belgië
Hey there You have done a fantastic job I will certainly digg it and personally recommend to my friends Im confident theyll be benefited from this site
pronerve 6
What is ProNerve 6? ProNerve 6 is your complete arrangement made to address the multifaceted necessities of nerve wellbeing
آمبولانس خصوصی
I really love your blog.. Excellent colors & theme. Did you create this site yourself?
Please reply back as I’m wanting to create my very own blog
and would like to learn where you got this from or what the theme is called.
Many thanks!
ربات همستر کامبت
fantastic publish, very informative. I’m
wondering why the other experts of this sector do not notice this.
You should proceed your writing. I’m confident, you’ve a
huge readers’ base already!
طرز استفاده از ماشین لباسشویی اسنوا ۸ کیلویی
This post will help the internet users for building up new blog or
even a weblog from start to end.