THE FACES OF WORSHIP

Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?

(1 Corinthians 3.16)

Has a nation ever changed its gods?

(Yet they are not gods at all.)

But my people have changed their* glory

for worthless idols.

(Jeremiah 2.11, NIV)

*Masoretic text: an ancient Hebrew scribal tradition my .

"...God gave them (mankind) over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies one with another. They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and WORSHIPPED and SERVED CREATED THINGS RATHER THAN THE CREATOR -- who is forever praised. Amen." (Romans 1.24-25, NIV, my parenthesis and emphasis).

Beyond the elementary fact that man has often exalted and paid homage to the created things about him, -- whether animals, pillars of stone, pools of water, moon, stars, streams, whatever! -- we find that most reverence and eulogization is paid to man himself -- God's highest order of the creation realm. HUMANISM is the most widespread creature worship in the western world today. It is taught as a RELIGION in 95% of our schools and universities. In a subtle form even Christendom has given great homage to "the will of man" -- surely a kind of worship of the creature rather than exaltation of our Creator.

A brief digression may be profitable here. When I use the term "humanism" I'm not talking about HUMANITARIANISM -- that is, being kind and sensitive to others, whether human or animal. All Christians should be humanitarian, and it is said of our Savior, Jesus, that He went about doing good.

In its narrowest sense, a humanist is a person interested in what is called "humanities" -- the study of literature, history, fine arts, classical antiquities and the like. But today the self-definition (according to the American Humanist Association) means a way of life and a set of beliefs which begin with man, not God. It's a religion which holds that MAN is the measure and center of all things. Humanism is atheistic, "evolutionary", and demonic. For humanists, belief in God is a mental aberration, something illusory and destructive. They leave no room for a God who plays a vital role in human affairs.

Since the time man believed the lie of Satan that "you will be like gods, knowing good and evil", there has been discord and conflict in creation as man strives to prove his own godship. God allowed man to be beguiled into thinking that he is capable of deciding his own destiny, and -- grandest delusion of all, -- that he has the power to fulfill that destiny.

This is especially so in the religious teachings of "the free will of man". But for all of man's efforts he can't redeem himself, he can't correct the damaged condition of creation -- because he has no true grasp of the situation as his so-called "civilization" stands. His facts -- (or "data", if you prefer) are limited, his finite mind is clouded by his lack of knowledge, and he is prejudiced by his own lusts.

No, man is NOT a free moral agent, in spite of the many devilish doctrines that insist the opposite. The more the Holy Spirit works in us in His cleansing, the more we will become aware that we are not free at all -- because "...to vanity was the creation subjected, not voluntarily, but because of Him Who subjects it, in expectation that the creation itself, also, shall be freed from the slavery of corruption into the glorious freedom of the children of God" (Romans 8.20-22, Concordant Literal New Testament).

Weymouth translates verse 20, "For the Creation fell into subjection to failure and unreality (not of its own choice, but by the will of Him who subjected it".

The phrase translated "not of choice" above -- and in the King James Translation, "not willingly" are from two Greek words, "ouk ekousa" used adverbially -- and means "not voluntarily", "not of one's free will".

It was not the free action of the will of man that brought about creation's subjection to frustration, vanity, corruption and the tyranny of change and decay. It was the will of HIM WHO did the subjecting -- in accord with GOD'S PURPOSE -- GOD'S WILL -- not man's.

Now may be a good place to examine the doctrine of "free moral agent" that sounds so "religious" and "learned" in the mouths of Babylon's bellwethers -- but is NOT Biblical truth.

(1) AGENT: one who performs actions, exerts power, or has the power to act.

(2) FREE AGENT: one who is free to perform actions, free to exert the power of an agent to act.

(3) A FREE MORAL AGENT: one free to act on all moral issues, that is, upon all questions involving the qualities of right and wrong, righteousness and lawlessness.

Free moral agency is probably what man thought he was getting when he partook of the "tree of the knowledge of good and evil".

How can man fit the description or meet the qualifications of being a free moral agent? If in ANY degree we have been made subject to vanity (Greek "mataiotes" = uselessness, moral depravity) we are not free to act in performance of our own will.

(Self-designated "great philosophers" have stated that if man knows what is right, he'll act righteously. Such a statement is hardly worth the effort necessary to refute it.)

Man is under even more restraint than the general coverage of Romans 8.20. The King James Version of our Bible says,

"Surely the wrath of man shall praise Thee;

the remainder of wrath shalt Thou restrain."

(Psalms 76.10)

(Pharaoh thought he was acting of his own free will when he enslaved and abused the Israelites in Egypt. Romans 9.14-21 tells us this wasn't so. Look it up!)

If man is under any restraint whatsoever , then obviously he is not free to act as he chooses. God sets boundaries and controls the interplay of good and evil so that His purposes will be fulfilled -- and He restrains any of man's actions that will ultimately be detrimental to His plan -- He just keeps that action from happening. Either the wrath of man will PRAISE Him -- or He'll "gird it up", restrain it, and even take it to Himself for "safekeeping". (See NIV, NASB, Amplified, et alia, for other translations of Psalms 76.10).

I think it's clear that if man is under any subjection at all, then it's evident that he isn't free to "do his own thing". God hems us in and controls our circumstances. He makes laws which govern man in the most elementary way.

I proclaim most happily that NOTHING can be done OUTSIDE OF GOD'S WILL!! In His magnificence, in His glorious sovereignty and omnipotence He declares, and promises, and commands:

Remember this, fix it in mind,

take it to heart, you rebels.

Remember the former things, those of long ago;

I am GOD, and there is no other;

I am GOD, and there is none like me.

I make known the end from the beginning,

from ancient times, what is still to come.

I say: MY PURPOSE WILL STAND,

AND I WILL DO ALL THAT I PLEASE.

...

WHAT I HAVE SAID, THAT WILL I BRING ABOUT:

WHAT I HAVE PLANNED THAT WILL I DO.

(Isaiah 46.8-11, NIV, my emphasis)

No matter how negative the immediate situation appears, nor how corrupt the desolation, when GOD has done that which He purposed it fits right into the plan of the ages and in such a way that it will redound to HIS praise. Should the heart of man harbor some evil device and plan which God doesn't purpose to use, then He just keeps if from happening -- causing utter frustration in man -- because his puny plans and purposes have failed again.

Tell me, you who may think man controls his destiny: If God placed man in Eden, and then was unable to prevent the so-called "fall" and to withstand the defiling of man with sin, is He then omnipotent? And if God didn't know that the temptation of the serpent would produce chaos, is He omniscient? His infinite power and knowledge must be refuted if He didn't know and couldn't prevent, or perhaps did know and could not correct the abrogation of His will.

It's frustrating. Most of churchanity believes God is some kind of wimp who lets man, satan, and circumstance push him around and do whatever pleases the flesh, the devil, and accident.

Be assured! -- God DID KNOW what was going on in the garden and He HAD THE POWER to stop it. But the fact is: HE (not Old Scratch) PLANNED IT ALL THE WAY. Why? For the outworking of HIS purpose, and when that purpose is complete it will be ALL to HIS praise. The events in the garden were certainly under our LORD's perfect control.

Neither was our Savior's advent Plan B. Long before there was any sin, our Creator planned sin's remedy. 1 Peter 1.20 says that the Christ was "...chosen before the creation of the world" to be the Lamb slain and to give His life a ransom for many. Some doubters will ask, "Do you dare say that God planned the cure before He permitted -- actually effected the illness?" To which I answer emphatically, "YES!!!", and since victory was secured, His plan is being executed. God RESTED from the foundation of the world, absolutely confident of the outcome. VICTORY IS HIS! HE ALONE IS GOD!!

Recall the time when the High Priest and council were plotting against the apostles (Acts 5.33-40). Gamaliel advised the council thus: "Therefore, in the present case, I advise you: Leave these men alone! Let them go! For if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail. But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God." (Acts 5.38-39, NIV). See also 1 Corinthians 1.25.

If it is of human origin it will fail! Obviously, Gamaliel did not believe in the free moral agency of man. He knew well that God's work can't be overthrown and He didn't want to be found fighting God. There's little reason to get wrought up over the work of man. Our God has already won the battle, and when we align ourselves with His will, then we are one with that power.

Translated by Fenton Farrar, Psalm 33.10-11 emphasizes God's supremacy succinctly:

The LORD breaks the plans of the pagans

And frustrates mere human designs; --

But the plans of the LORD last forever,

The designs of His heart for all times.

Furthermore:

For a man's ways are in full view

of the LORD,

and He examines all his paths.

(Proverbs 5.21, NIV)

So that in the mouths of two witnesses this might be confirmed: "...and there is no creature unmanifest before him, but all things [are] naked and laid open to the eyes of him with whom is our account" (Hebrews 4.13, Zondervan Greek-English New Testament).

There isn't a "cover up" or masquerade that He can't see through; the true state of ALL THINGS are at ALL TIMES "laid naked before Him. Darkness and light are both alike to Him; He created both.

Then wherein is man a "free moral agent"? He may be free to make choices of his mind but he certainly isn't always free to carry these decisions to fruition. Even his will to choose or make decisions properly is stringently limited, because his knowledge is greatly restricted and encumbered by false information, lack of experience and natural desires of the carnal nature.

Even if he does make what appears to be the optimum choice he must often change his mind when more light is shed on that mind, or more information is gathered. Our Savior-God alone has all knowledge and He alone is able to make wisest choices for man. I believe He judges us as to our innermost intent, and that He will purge us until every thought and every desire is according to HIS will -- and we shall then be able to truly worship Him -- and Him ONLY.

As God's Spirit disciplines us in the processing of our life, ultimately we are brought to the place where we can sincerely, without any reservation whatsoever pray, as did Jesus, "Not my will, but yours be done". Then we'll find peace and joy in HIS will -- at ease in the knowledge that His way is the only way to enter His rest.

Man desperately needs liberation from slavery -- the onerous throttling of enthrallment to SELF-liberation and from the weary world which offers only shallow self pride. Man's spirit cries out for HIS reality because His DEEP (id est, HIS SPIRIT) is calling to our spirit. "And I, if I be lifted up from the earth will draw all men to me". (John 12.32).

A brief aside: the word translated "draw" in our New Testament is the Greek "elkuoo" and is used only eight times therein. It means to "tug", to "drag or draw" and in the case of persons probably means to compel. I think it's interesting to note that our pulpit pundits don't believe Jesus will compel man to come to Him and probably hasn't the power to do so. Maybe He'll just cajole and whine and whuffle -- hoping a few will condescend to worship Him. Please note also the word "All" in the cited verse -- and ask yourself, "If God loses even one of the beings created in His image, who wins?" Then ask again, "Whose will is strongest and will be done -- man's, satan's, or God's?"

Not to believe that Jesus' promises will be fulfilled is to do despite to Him in His power and glory; it is to doubt His veracity as well as to suspect His fidelity. If His promises are actualized it's because they are loosed from all human action to which the apostate church has related their fulfillment -- not realizing that such fulfillment is dependent on God alone.

To know all the steps and formulas churchdom has saddled us with doesn't mean we are living in the results of His fulfilled promises -- and we certainly can't truly worship Him until we cease to worship SELF. That old "I will" that has ruled us and has caused such terrible pain and confusion must be dealt with by His cross -- and it HAS BEEN DEALT WITH! ...if only we'll receive it. In that great moment when our will bows in TOTAL submission to Him -- that surrender becomes the threshold to true worship.

"In his heart a man plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps."

(Proverbs 16.9, NIV)

"Many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the LORD'S purpose that prevails."

(Proverbs 19.21, NIV)

The LORD Almighty has sworn, "Surely, as I have planned, so it will be, and as I have purposed, so it will stand."

( Isaiah 14.24, NIV)

Think about it!!

How many times have we planned and schemed only to find that when it comes time to carry out our grand purposes the whole course of direction gets changed. GOD RULES AND OVERRULES. It is written that "the steps of a man are ordered by the LORD" (Psalm 37.23). And in Proverbs 16.33 of the Amplified Bible we read, "The lot is cast into the lap, but the decision is wholly of the LORD -- even the events [that seem accidental] are really ordered by Him."

These precious truths add peace and stability to our daily walk -- EVEN THE APPARENT ACCIDENTS OF OUR JOURNEY ARE ORDERED BY OUR SAVIOR-GOD! And this has not a thing to do with the silly religious confusion of being a free moral agent, and should surely bring man to see that creature worship (humanism) is anti-christ and vain.

Truth in worship brings an end to worshipping man as god, whether in the abstract, as the humanists require, or as an individual, which so many current cultists command. Further, and extremely important to the true worshipper, it will bring an end to our condemnation of people. "Who art thou that judgest another man's servant? To his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand." (Romans 14.4).

God orders a man's steps and controls his decisions. If we don't understand what is taking place in another, let's leave him to God because the very fact that we don't understand proves we're incapable of just judgement. Perhaps if we knew all the facts we wouldn't condemn him, knowing that God's purpose is being fulfilled.

To take this even further: If we truly believe that our Father is in control of every man's steps as He, who can't lie, says He is, then I dare to say any condemnation, especially of a brother in Christ, is another case of "creature worship". We are stating that our own opinions and conclusions are better than God's plan that is being worked out in that brother. Will we, a creature of God, brazenly presume to contradict the LORD'S work?

Creature worship again very subtly raises it head in the form of SELF-condemnation. When we condemn ourselves we are saying, in effect, God doesn't know what He's doing with us. (NO! I'm not writing about "taking stock" or investigating our motives and/or actions.)

Do you condemn a dog or cat for not flying? Do you expect goats to produce silk? Of course not! -- because you know they were not created to do such. But because of the deep delusion in which man finds himself, believing that he is "a god" he bears a constant load of condemnation. He doesn't measure up to expectation -- because Christ is the measure of man, and man can't be the measure of Him. That Christ who is the Author and Finisher of our faith is God and we worship Him only! HE will perfect everything concerning us -- BECAUSE WE ARE HIS WORKMANSHIP.

I think the Amplified Bible's translation of Isaiah 45.9,11-12 is explicit:

"Woe to him who strives with his Maker! A worthless piece of broken pottery among other pieces equally worthless [and yet presuming to strive with his Maker!] Shall the clay say to him who fashioned it, 'What do you think you are making?' or, 'Your work has no handles?' -- Thus says the LORD, the Holy One of Israel, and his Maker: 'Would you question me of things to come concerning my children and concerning the work of my hands command Me? I made the earth, and created man upon it; I, with My hands, stretched out the heavens, and I commanded all their hosts.'"

In another place Jesus said that ever since the good news of the Kingdom of God has been preached, everyone strives violently to go in -- would force his own way, rather than God's way into it. Demand an answer to prayer! Storm the gates of heaven! Let your "commanding faith" result in fulfilling your most whimsical desires!! Don't take "no" for an answer! Thus the creature sports himself before his Creator -- just another form of creature worship.

God be praised for the manner in which HE dethrones man's ego, and brings him to the end of SELF, after which he can learn to worship Him in true spirit -- and HIM ONLY!!!

"Many plans are in a man's mind, but it is the LORD'S purpose for him that will stand." (Proverbs 19.21, Amplified Version). This promise brings peace, especially so to parents whose children, being grown to adult - or pre-adult-hood, voice plans that may be contrary to what the parent feels is right. Committing the child to the LORD, the parent may be assured that ONLY GOD'S PURPOSE FOR THEM WILL STAND! It's HIS responsibility -- and HE will bring the necessary discipline to the child until all is in alignment with HIS will for their life. He uses parents as some of His instruments, don't you think?

"O LORD, I know that the determination of a man is not in himself. It is not in man (even in a strong man and a man at his best) to direct his own steps". (Jeremiah 10.23, Amplified Bible).

Psalm 139.15-16 is a most interesting scripture concerning the subject under discussion:

My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place.

When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body.

All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.

(NIV)

All of our goings and comings, all of our ups and downs are known to Him because HE PLANNED OUR WAY, and our way was carefully marked out before we took shape and entered this mortal realm. While we were still in pure spirit form and confined to the heart of God, HE knew all that we would become, all that we would suffer -- and He leads us on until His will for us is fully realized. And the object? -- WE SHALL BE BROUGHT FORTH TO HIS PRAISE!!

In our disciplinary training our Savior uses many processes. I think one of the methods He uses is in allowing us to make certain choices, then in judging us for those choices until we learn to choose the way of righteousness and walk with Him. Judgement isn't passed upon actions alone, but also upon the motivation in our hearts, and the choice made in our thoughts. Remember, Jesus taught that though the Law said, "Thou shalt not kill", even to be angry of a brother without cause puts one in "danger of the judgement" (see Matthew 5.21-22). He also taught that if a man even looks at a woman "to lust after her", he has committed adultery in his heart, and would need to be purged of that lust. The quasi-christian cop-out, "Look but don't touch", doesn't work for the true Christian. How deeply the Spirit cuts and burns until all is purified!!

It's comforting to know that man will be brought to a place where he'll voluntarily choose righteousness, and that Christ will enable him to obtain that righteousness.

Self-exaltation is right up front in Genesis 11.3-4 when the nations said one to the other, "Come, let us make bricks and burn them thoroughly." And they used brick for stone and tar for mortar. And they said, "Come, let us build FOR OURSELVES a city, and a tower which will reach into heaven, and let make a name FOR OURSELVES..." (NASB). (Note that even though many of our contemporary theologonuts teach that the people really intended to worship God with this building, perhaps using it as an altar, it couldn't please God. The material used and the object for building was NOT acceptable to God.)

Here we see again that the Creature is the center of attention, and man's own endeavor is used to raise him "into heaven". Such building programs of even this present period of apostasy, as then, testify to man's efforts, and do not glorify the Creator!

Cain tried about the same thing when he "went out from the presence of the LORD...and he builded a city, and called the name of the city after the name of his son Enoch..." (Genesis 4.16-17). -- Another monument dedicated to the creature. Such monuments are built when we go out from the consciousness of God's omnipresent Spirit. In HIS presence we worship the CREATOR, but when we are only aware of our own presence, our self-centered interests, then we will direct our homage to the creature, whether self or other of God's creations.

Such building-up of man's self-importance is doomed to failure. God is always in control, the provider of restraints and the author of discipline. In the case of the tower builders HE knew exactly what restraint to use to straighten out the mess. (See Genesis 11.6-8). He confounded their language and forced their dispersion.

The word "confound" as used in Genesis 11.7 is worth a brief digression. It is a primary root meaning to mix, to confuse, or to mingle, (WITH SELF). It seems to mean, in this verse, that the substance of the languages remained, but was so mixed with the "self" that the builders were "confused" and/or "confounded".)

That mixing with self was all it took to bring an end to the project. I believe He just caused every man to mix his own self-interests in the program, "doing it MY WAY", and thus ceased being a cooperative group. And communication having become almost impossible (a very common malady of our present era) -- division was sure to be the result. Jesus said, "Every kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and every city or household divided against itself will not stand". (Matthew 12.25, NIV).

History records that man has a long string of "unfinished towers", "church projects" and "kingdom-building-programs". Man may put the LORD'S name on such activity, but if the motivation is selfish ambition the end is Babylon -- mixture, confusion, and scattering. It is well to keep in mind Jesus' words in Matthew 7.20-23:

So then you will know them by their fruits. Not everyone who says to Me, 'LORD, LORD', will enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to Me on that day, 'LORD, LORD, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?' And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness.' (NASB, my emphasis)

That's a pretty strong command: "Depart...you who practice lawlessness", especially when such command is given to those who prophesied in His name, cast out demons in His name, and performed great wonders in His name. Yes, I know, the King James Version states "ye who work iniquity" -- and "iniquity" has been given, by long use and abuse, a connotation of incipient evil. This has caused wordbusters and nitpickers to ask, "How can an evil person do such works in the LORD'S name?" But -- the word in the Greek is " anomia" and means "without law", "lawless".

Now the law we're dealing with here is not the law of the scribes, pharisees, priests and other hangers-about-the-temple, but "THE WILL OF MY FATHER". Those whom the LORD commanded to depart from His presence were intent on doing things THEIR WAY -- building a tower (TV program, temple, church, et cetera) to make a name for themselves -- and they only used HIS name to add respectability to their efforts and make their actions more acceptable to the people. Such worship wasn't then; nor is it now, directed to the Creator, but is creature-oriented. Just tossing the LORD'S name around in various "works" doesn't make those works HIS. We need to be thoroughly cleansed of all self-interest so that we may TRULY worship Him in TRUTH -- yes, in SPIRITUAL REALITY.

Ever present with self-interest proliferating kingdom building we find another strong proclivity of creature-worship -- that of repositioning boundaries or "landmarks". Proverbs 22.28 "Remove not the ancient landmark which your fathers have set" (Amplified Bible). NASB uses "boundary" instead of "landmark" as do the NIV, LXX, and other translations.)

In doing things "their own way" mankind has desired to establish its own landmarks, its boundaries and sets of rules. Men make laws so that their self-interests are protected, and they move the limits and adjust the rules so that there are no restrictions to plans, to conduct, to vain philosophy. Thus we have what is proudly hailed in our churches, schools, and homes by the term "situation ethics" -- that is, deciding right and wrong according to the current situation. This constant moving of boundaries, or limits, so that self gains what self desires is an easily recognizable characteristic of Humanism, which attempts to cast off all restraint.

"If it feels good, do it." "How do you feel about such and such?" Seldom if ever does humanism ask "What do you believe or know is right/wrong?" Such doctrine is just plain creature worship.

Every generation has their particular path in seeking to serve the creature. Very predominant in today's cults is the seeker of unity with creation rather than the Creator. They speak of "Mother Earth", "Sister Moon", "Father Sun", and moan a lot about getting back to nature. God is ignored. The creature is the center of their focus, and this alliance with creation only strengthens its mark of bestial slavery upon man.

(Lest I be condemned as an earth, animal, and forest hater, let me say here that I bear no malice toward the tree-huggers, snail and owl lovers, and similar dooms-day-dandies. I just find it ungodly to encourage their distrust of THE GOD WHO CREATED ALL AND CONTROLS ALL.)

There is some insight into the prevalent creature homage in the book of Revelation, Chapter 13, verse 16: "...he, (the beast), causes all, the small and the great, the rich and the poor, and the free men and the slaves, to be given a mark on their right hand, or on their forehead." Chapter 14, verses 9 and 10: "...If anyone worship the beast and his image, and receives a mark on his forehead or upon his hand, he also will drink of the wine of the wrath of God..."

The Greek word translated "mark" in the New Testament is "charagma" and is used nine times -- eight times as "mark" and once as "graven" or "scriptured". The latter case helps clarify its meaning, for we see it used in Acts 17.29: "Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man's device . (My italics).

The word "art" is translated from the Greek "techne" and means "art", "skill", "craft" or "occupation", and is the basis for our word "technology". It signifies the works of the hands, "handiwork" -- and the "mark" or "stamp" is placed upon the right hand according to the reference in Revelation, above.

"Device" is in the Greek "enthumesis" and means "thinking, consideration, thoughts". It's used four times in the New Testament -- thrice translated "thoughts" and once (see above scripture) "device". This word deals with mental activity in mankind. Again we see a relation to the verse in Revelation which speaks of a "mark in the forehead".

So we have engraving or marking by handiwork and a reference to mind control. The realm of the creature wants to stamp its image on us, controlling the work of our hands, adjusting our minds to flesh-whims, until our every expression is according to its kind -- worldly, earthly, fleshly.

No, I don't think I'm "far out". Take stock of what is taught in our schools, the sick-and-silly fare on television, the liberal wishy-washy peanut pulpitry that is modern man's daily fare. And if you'll think about this further you'll remember that the number 666 which people are afraid is going to be tattooed on them is the triplication, intensification and perfection of 6, which is the number of man.

But receiving the mark is only part of the sin -- because the "mark" is just evidence of man's involvement with the whole beast system of the world. God's wrath upon man comes BECAUSE HE WORSHIPS THE BEAST -- and since man has made himself a god, the more he worships the creature the more bestial he becomes.

2 Corinthians 3.18 says, "And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the LORD'S glory, are becoming TRANSFORMED INTO HIS LIKENESS WITH EVER-INCREASING GLORY, WHICH COMES FROM THE LORD, WHO IS THE SPIRIT". (NIV). We are destined to BEAR HIS LIKENESS, TO HAVE HIS CHARACTER AND NATURE STAMPED UPON US -- and not necessarily in some pie-in-the-sky paradise, BUT AS WE WORSHIP and behold HIM as He is. Remember, when He appears to us we shall be like Him! Look it up! (1 John 3.2).

The LORD showed Ezekiel man's inner realm, and the prophet records, "... I saw portrayed all over the walls all kinds of crawling things and detestable animals and all the idols of the house of Israel . He said to me, 'Son of man, have you seen what the elders of the house of Israel are doing in the darkness, each at the shrine of his own idol?'..."(Ezekiel 8.10,12, my italics, NIV).

AT THE SHRINE OF MAN'S OWN IDOLS --!! In the chambers of the darkened mind the truth has been distorted and bound in self-opinionated, humanistic, imaginations. These "ideas" that assault and bind the natural mind are products of the spirit of the world -- no matter what the spirit is called: "New Age", "Saint Sophia Worship", "Radical Feminism", "Gay Rights" -- names that reflect the sewer man's finite and frustrated mind has become.

These bestial images are produced in the life and character of the one whose mind is flooded with them! The King James Translation of Proverbs 23.7 says that "as a man thinketh in his heart, so he is". Psychologists and other pseudo-savants would quickly agree -- but not from revelation; their realm is the rotten mind of unregenerate man.

The man who has witnessed the glory of God has a deep desire to be freed from every vestige of the beast-character -- and this cleansing is sorely needed. Such cleansing is done by a loving God whose desire is that we see Him as He is and for this reason, He exposes the motivations of our innermost being, brings the light and dispels darkness.

Man and churchdom point accusing fingers and heap condemnation on the true worshipper when Christ begins to deal with the things within him, but Christ does NOT condemn. There is a tremendous -- an infinite amount of difference -- between the conviction ministry of the Holy Spirit and condemnation. HE WILL NEVER CONDEMN US! "For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved." (John 3.17). Do you think Jesus could not or would not do what He came to do?

BUT HE WILL CONVICT US -- : a lovingly administered GODLY PERSUASION that causes us to acknowledge and freely confess our need for Him, and an absolute dependence on Him to meet our need.

Man condemns, but can't really convict. Condemnation may certainly expose sin but can never correct and remove the cause of short-fall. This human trait of willingness to condemn without the ability to restitute is characteristic of man who thinks he is a god. But the Christ, BECAUSE HE IS GOD and dwells in the believer , is able to convict of sin and immediately supply the cure, thus bringing us into the fullness of HIS life.

Paul faced up to his own inner condition and saw nothing in himself of which he could boast. He records that when he wanted to do good, evil was right there with him and he said: "What a wretched man I am. Who will rescue me from this body of death. Thanks be to God -- through Jesus Christ our LORD!" (Romans 7.24-25, NIV). Paul had been high and holy in his own esteem, but when Jesus Christ came to him the "ego-god" was cast out and the Christ enthroned! Thereafter Paul says he had died and the life he lived was by the Christ perfecting life within him. Of this inchristed life, there is a promise left to us that should be branded on the heart of every believer, "[not in your own strength] for it is God who is all the while effectually at work in you -- energizing and creating in you the power and desire -- both to will and to work for His good pleasure and satisfaction and delight". (Philippians 2.13, Amplified New Testament).

As we yield ourselves to the LORD, to worship Him with all of our heart, mind, soul, and strength, His truth works in us to bring down every vain thought and imagination that exalts itself against the person and knowledge of God -- until we completely cease our worship of the creature. To worship God is to find freedom from self and enjoy true riches in His life.