Sermon # 31 - Worship God Alone & Honor Your Parents Series

Another example is from the Old Testament if from the journey of Israelites through the wilderness, after they were delivered from Egypt. When the people murmured and complained against God and Moses, the Lord sent venomous snakes amongst them, which bit them resulting in the death of many. However, in the midst of the judgement, as the people begged Moses to intercede to the Lord on their behalf, God commanded Moses to make a fiery serpent and lift it up so that everyone who looked on it were saved. Here again the grace of God was revealed in the midst of God’s judgement.

If we do not understand that we believe in the same God, who is not only a God of grace but also one of judgement, it will invariably lead to a life of indiscipline and carelessness. The result of this is that we will lose out on the blessings that God has in store for us. We must therefore firmly grasp the truth that God is unchanging, and is revealed throughout the Bible as a God of grace and a God of justice who judges sin. Therefore, if we confess and forsake our sins we will receive pardon from the Lord because of His grace. But, if we continue in sin we are in danger of being objects of His judgement and punishment, for He is also a God who is just.

The blessings of worshipping God alone

We read in Exodus 20:3 "You must not worship any other gods except me.” (ERV)

The people of Israel were in bondage in Egypt for four hundred years, living mundane lives, with no purpose whatsoever. However, when God delivered them, and brought them out of Egypt, He gave them commandments to help them live godly, and disciplined lives. The very first commandment God gave them was that they were not to worship any other gods except Him alone.

In the New Testament we read in Matthew 22:37, “Jesus answered, " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.'” (GNB)

Exodus 20:3 and Matthew 22:37 are one and the same commandment, however, in the New Testament Jesus explained this further that this love for God should be with all our heart, soul and mind. By doing so Jesus impressed the truth that our love for God be such that no one but God, should fill and dominate all of our being. Jesus was categorical that nothing or no one should take the place of God in our lives.

We have all failed in that we often let worldly things or relationships take priority over God and have thereby set the wrong things on the throne of our lives. While God’s plan is for us to live in obedience, and be recipients of His divine blessings, the plan of the enemy is to divide our hearts and dissuade us, so that we are unable to worship God as we should, thereby robbing us of all God’s blessings designed for us.

That is why it is important for us to read and understand the Bible as a whole and not in part. The whole Bible (Old and New Testaments) are inspired by the Holy Spirit of God, and given to us in its entirety. This is so we can understand God’s handiwork right from the beginning of creation, His redemptive plan being unfolded, and also what lies ahead until the time of His second coming.