Why? Because he tells them things they do not want to hear.
For example, how many would turn to the astrology section of the newspaper, if it told them something like this, “You are a very dumb person, and because of that, some very bad things are going to happen to you today!”
They turn to the astrology section of the newspaper, because it tells them something like this, “You are a very optimistic and talented person, and something nice is going to happen to you today.”
There was a time, when many Christians had the highest regards for a preacher who would preach the Word of God, as it is, to man, the way he is.
But it is an obvious fact, that the average person who is looking for a church today, is not looking for a church where the man of God preaches the Word of God. They are looking for:
• Attractive buildings to worship in.
• Churches that entertain with drama, humor, and music.
• Churches that have a youth program.
• Churches where the preacherette, preaches a sermonette, to the Christianette.
This is sad, but many believe in America today, the days of good old Bible preaching are a thing of the past. I SINCERELY HOPE NOT, BECAUSE IF IT IS TRUE, WE AS A NATION ARE DOOMED!
However, this is the age when God’s Word has been compromised!
We do know this, this is the age where, if you are going to make it big in the religious realm, you have got to be willing to compromise God’s Word. But, if we love the Lord and His Word, we are cautioned not to be CONFORMED TO THIS WORLD. Why?
The fact is, this Bible that I hold in my hands, tells us there are some things that GOD LIKES, and there are some things that GOD DISLIKES.
For example, in this passage that I read to you a few minutes ago, this is not Moses talking, this is God telling us some things HE LIKES and DISLIKES!
God tells us ten things about Himself, in what we call the Ten Commandments. We want to cover these ten things in the next three sermons.
But I want to remind you, before we get into these ten commandments, these are not TEN SUGGESTIONS, they are TEN COMMANDMENTS that He will hold you and I responsible for on the judgment day.
Let’s listen very closely, as we consider these ten things.
We can learn a lot by listening to people. Let us look at this passage and discover what God likes, and dislikes.
Look at this list of things, we see:
I. HIS PRIORITY LIST.
Look at Exodus 20:3, we read, “Thou shalt have no other gods before me.”
In this verse of scripture, God is telling us that He will not settle for anything but FIRST PLACE in our lives.
Illus: Jennifer Flowers alleges that she had a twelve year affair with president Bill Clinton. She was asked on the Larry King show if Hillary knew anything about the affair. She said she did know about the affair.
She then explained that she was at a big social event, standing beside Governor Bill Clinton, and Hillary walked up to him and said, “Bill. Come over here, I want you to meet someone.” He told her he would do it later, and he continued to stand beside Jennifer Flowers. He later told Jennifer, in a motel room, that Hillary got angry when he did that, and told him, “I do not care who you mess around with, but do not ever again embarrass me like that in public.”
Evidently, Bill did not care who she messed around with either. In August of 1999, a new book came out, called “Bill and Hillary”, that documents that Hillary and Vince Foster had a long term affair going on.
Now, this is a messed up marriage to put it mildly. But yet, while many can see this is not the way things should be, they still think they can have a similar relationship with God.
Listen, God makes it clear, “Thou shalt have no other gods before me.”
Matthew 6:33, We read, “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness…”
God tells us the only way we can have a relationship with Him, is to put Him first in our lives.
Now, I know that we have many preachers today that are watering it down, and you get the impression that if God is somewhere on our top ten list, we are alright.
But the Word of God says, God requires that we PLEASE HIM FIRST.
• WHY DON’T PEOPLE WANT TO PLEASE HIM?
Because, when you PLEASE GOD, you are not going to PLEASE THE OTHER GODS IN YOUR LIFE.
God wants to be first in our life.
• The tithe is to be the first tenth.
• The Lord’s day is the first day of the week.
• In everything we do, we should put the Lord first in our life.
Illus: In the Psalms, we hear of the Psalmist talking about seeking God early. Why? Because when people love God, HE IS FIRST IN THEIR LIVES, not last!
God has a PRIORITY LIST, and on the top of that list, God must be first. Also, God has -
II. HIS PUNISHMENT LIST.
Look at verses 4-5. We read, “Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me.”
• WHY DOESN’T GOD WANT PEOPLE TO MAKE IMAGES OF HIM?
For several reasons:
(1) MAN IS INCAPABLE.
Illus: In the Bahamas, on the Island of Nassau, at Paradise Island, they built the Atlantis Hotel. This is the place where famous Movie actors and athletes go, and spend the night at $25,000 dollars a night. If you go there, you can spend a day looking at the structure of this building in all of its grandeur. They did not cut any corners. They have a large aquarium and restaurant where you can eat, and you are surrounded by water and fish. They have acres of marble floors, and some of the most magnificent columns you have ever seen.
Now, most of us know something about building. That is, some of us can go to a wooded lot, clear it, and build a magnificent church or home on that lot.
But, suppose someone came up to you and I, and told us they wanted us to build something like the Atlantis, in the Bahamas. We would have to say, “Listen, that is out of my league. I would not know how to start with something that gorgeous.”
Well, the fact is, we would not know how, but there are some talented architects, engineers, and contractors, that can do it without a problem.
But listen, when it comes to God, no man can comprehend the GREATNESS OF GOD.
Illus: If you hired:
• The most talented artist, he could not come close to putting a portrait of God on a canvas.
• If you hired a sculptor, he could not come close to carving what God looks like, on a piece of stone.
And, if we cannot comprehend Him, we certainly cannot draw a picture of Him, or make an image of Him.
God does not want to be misrepresented by some artist or sculptor.
Hollywood does this all the time.
Illus: In 1999, they made a movie about Noah’s Ark. It was advertised, and many people were excited about watching it. But, it was so unscriptural, it gave the wrong impression of Noah and the flood.
God does not want anyone tampering with His image, and mankind is incapable of ever drawing Him, or making an image, and God says - DON’T DO IT!
And, if a man did do it, can you imagine what people would do with it, in their ignorance.
God says DON’T DO IT, because MAN IS INCAPABLE. Also-
(2) MAN IS IGNORANT.
Illus: If someone could say they actually had a sculpture of what God looks like, can you imagine what evil men would do with such a thing.
• One thing for sure, they would charge people large sums of money, to come and look at it.
• Some would start to say, that as they looked at it, God winked at them, or a tear came from the eye of the statue.
God states clearly, that no one is to do that. I don’t know how He could say it any clearer. “Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth.”
This verse of scripture tells us God does not want His picture taken by anyone.
Illus: The reason most of us do not like our picture taken, is because it looks like us.
But no one can take a picture of God, and produce a photo of His likeness.
And, if someone insisted on doing on such a thing, He has promised such a person would be punished.
Look at verse 5, we read, “Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me.”
We looked at HIS PRIORITY LIST, and HIS PUNISHMENT LIST, but now look at-
III. HIS POLITENESS LIST.
Look at verse 7. We read, “Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.”
God wants us to know, He does not want His name to be used incorrectly.
This is an age that misuses His name all the time.
Some do it:
(1) IGNORANTLY.
Listen, the Lord Jesus is someone who exists. He is not a imaginary person, He is a real person.
HOW MANY HAVE EVER HEARD OF BETTY CROCKER?
Illus: Over 55 million people have her cookbook in their home. But did you know Betty never existed?
The people at Gold Medal flour invented Betty during a contest promotion, and she's been "alive and well" ever since--for 70 years. Her name is used all the time, and she never existed.
And, if someone misused Her name, the Gold Medal flour company would sue them.
The Lord DID EXIST and DOES EXIST, and He does not want us MISUSING His name.
But, many ignorantly misuse His name every day, and in the ten commandments, He commands us not to do this.
Illus: Listen, a man may have more degrees behind his name than a thermometer does, but if he misuses the name of God, he is a ignorant man.
He said, “Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain….”
(2) DELIBERATELY.
Some do it ignorantly, but some do it DELIBERATELY.
That is, it is not a slip of the tongue, it is something they DELIBERATELY do everyday.
Someone said, of all the sins we can commit, the sin of taking God’s name in vain, is the most useless sin we can commit.
That is, if a person steals, or commits adultery, they get something from the sin.
But, when a person takes the name of the Lord in vain, they get nothing but the judgment of God.
God is very displeased, when someone will take His holy name and misuse it.
He said we are not to do it, and if we do, we are going to be held accountable.
God’s Word says, “Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain, for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.”
Conclusion:
I. HIS PRIORITY LIST.
II. HIS PUNISHMENT LIST.
III. HIS POLITENESS LIST.
Note: You can hear Dr. Odell Belger preach many of these sermons on Youtube. Just type Youtube Lykesland
