FOOD FOR THOUGHT
“...For in him we live, and move, and have our
being (IMAGE); as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his
offspring...” (Acts 17:28 KJV).
“…old things are passed away; behold, all things are
become new” (2 Corinthians 5:17
KJV).
“…be conformed to the image of
his Son…”
(ROMANS 8:29 KJV).
“...[NOT]...an image in the form of corruptible
man (ESPECIALLY BODY IMAGE) ...” (Romans
1:21-25 NASB).
“...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...” (Exodus 20:1-4
KJV).
“...they (the world) became
fools, and exchanged the glory of the
incorruptible God for an image in the form of corruptible man ... For they exchanged the truth of God (the God image) for a lie (a created image), and worshiped and served
the creature rather than the
Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen...” (Romans 1:21-25 NASB).
*
According to some definitions, image worship is the same as idolatry. Image worship is devotion to or
reverence for a CREATED object other than God, the Holy Spirit.
Idolatry originates with image worship where mankind forsakes the
God image and “...exchange[s]... the glory of the incorruptible God for an image in the form of corruptible man and of birds and four-footed
animals and crawling creatures...” (Romans 1:23 NASB).
“...For even though they knew God, they did not
honor Him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their speculations,
and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools,
and exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God for an image in the form of corruptible
man and of birds and four-footed animals and crawling creatures. Therefore
God gave them over in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, so that their
bodies would be dishonored among them. For they exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen...” (Romans 1:21-25 NASB).
When
mankind EXCHANGES the God IMAGE for
an IMAGE in the FORM of a CREATED thing or person it is IDOLATRY.
“.. For everything in the
world—the lust of the flesh (desire for an ideal self-image), the lust of the
eyes (desire for an ideal body image), and the pride of life (desire for high
self-esteem)—comes NOT from the
Father but from the world. The world and its DESIRES pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.”
(1 John 2:16-17 NLT). Idolatry will always come from too much contact with the
carnal WORLD.
While in the WORLD,
God’s righteous people can sometimes fall into the same idolatrous practices as
the heathen.“...the whole world lies under
the power of the evil one” (1
John 5:19 RSV).
“...they (the world) became fools, and exchanged the glory of the
incorruptible God for an image in the form of corruptible man ... For they exchanged the truth of God (the God image) for a lie (a created image), and worshiped and served
the creature rather than the
Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen...” (Romans 1:21-25 NASB).
When the
righteous are SAVED they are set FREE from ALL SIN, including idolatrous
practices. “…Who will free me from this life that is dominated by SIN
(including idolatrous practices)? Thank God! The answer is in Jesus
Christ our Lord …” (Romans
7:14-25 NLT). “…if the
Son (Jesus Christ, the indwelling Holy Spirit)…shall make you FREE, ye shall be FREE
indeed.” (John 8:36 KJV).
A practicing, sinful lifestyle, which can
include idolatrous practices, will always, no matter how big or small, be in
opposition for what God desires for his REDEEMED PEOPLE. "…A little yeast works through the whole batch
of dough…" (Galatians 5:9 NIV).
The righteous are NOW set apart through the indwelling anointing or the indwelling Holy Spirit. God does not
endorse straddling the fence, where you practice sinful behaviors part-time and
righteous behavior the other part of the time. "… You must
purge the evil from among you…” (Deuteronomy 21:18-21 NIV).
God desires for his righteous ones to
separate themselves from all forms or appearances of sinful and idolatrous
practices. “…Abstain from all APPEARANCE OF EVIL…”
(1 Thessalonians 5:22 KJV).
God’s Word says, to his people, “BE NOT”
conformed, to this world. “…Therefore,
come out from their midst and be
separate,”
says the Lord. “…And do not touch what is unclean…” (2 Corinthians 6:13-17
NASB).
It literally means NOT to copy, follow the
crowd, fit in, imitate, accept their opinion of you, or adapt in any form or fashion, the sinful or
idolatrous lifestyles or practices of the CARNAL world.
This includes habits, fashion patterns,
behaviors, actions, sinful practices, biases, prejudices, idolatrous practices, or worldly IMAGES.
Whatever the current, wicked and carnal culture is DOING; do not conform to it. “…ye shall be holy unto me: for I the Lord am holy, and have severed you from other
people, that
ye should be mine. …” (Leviticus 20:26
KJV).
God wants his people to be influenced and
governed by the biblical lifestyle. He wants his people to pattern their lives
after Jesus Christ, the God image and
be conformed to HIS IMAGE. “…be conformed to the image of
his Son…”
(ROMANS 8:29 KJV).
Many redeemed people think they are NOT
conformed to the sinful lifestyle or idolatrous practices, but consciously or
unconsciously they are privately indulging or engaging in many of its patterns,
carnalities, and idolatrous behaviors. “…thou hast gone a
whoring after the heathen, and …art polluted
with their idols…” (Ezekiel 23:30).
My SFF
(sister friend forever), Pastor Linda M. Wilson, said two things that can
relate to the righteous and their continued problem with IMAGE Worship. She said they are “...delivered, but NOT healed or they are
released, but NOT walking in freedom....”
The righteous must become aware of and be
careful with images they’ve been delivered and released from.
In
addition, the righteous must become aware of and be careful with images they STILL
desire to become conformed to, because it MEANS they are NOT healed or walking
in freedom from them. “…Who
will free me
from this life that is dominated by SIN (including idolatrous practices)? Thank God! The answer is in Jesus
Christ our Lord …” (Romans
7:14-25 NLT).
Any IMAGE worship can become an idol. The
ongoing desire to be conformed to a particular image is a form of covetousness.
“…if
the Son (Jesus Christ, the indwelling Holy Spirit)…shall make you FREE, ye shall be FREE
indeed.” (John 8:36 KJV).
The ongoing coveting of a particular image
is a form of IMAGE worship,
especially WHEN the object(the ideal image) of adoration is “...an image in the form of corruptible
man (woman) ...” (Romans
1:21-25 NASB).
When you are obsessively devoted to becoming
like something or someone(an earthly image) out of reverence or worship, for
it, that thing or person is considered your idol. The bible distinctly says, “...Thou shalt have no other gods before me...” (Exodus 20:1-4 KJV). “...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...” (Exodus 20:1-4
KJV).
A god, graven IMAGE, or idol is ANYTHING
that replaces the one, true God as YOUR object of devotion, reverence, or
worship in ANY area of your life.“...Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image,
or any likeness of any thing..”
(Exodus 20:1-4 KJV).
Many righteous people covet “body images
or self-images,” gleaned from the WORLD. These images are prevalent forms of
idolatry and the righteous STILL worship and adore those particular images. “...an image in the form of corruptible
man (or woman) ...” (Romans
1:21-25 NASB).
Most likely, they STILL desire, above all
else, to be conformed to those images (another human image, fake image, corruptible
image, or pagan image) more than being conformed to the image of Jesus Christ.
The desire to conform to an “ideal” body
image replaces the desire to be conformed to the image of Jesus Christ in order to become the BODY OF CHRIST.
For instance, the desire to conform to an ideal
self-image replaces the desire to be conformed to the image of Jesus Christ who produces spiritual fruit in and
through you (divine character). “...an image in the form of corruptible man (or woman)...” (Romans 1:21-25 NASB). “…be conformed to the
image of his Son…” (ROMANS 8:29 KJV).
In addition, the desire to glean your esteem from things or people in the world replaces the desire to be conformed to the image of Jesus Christ and get your esteem from HIM. As NEW
CREATIONS, the indwelling Holy Spirit
has already given you the HIGHEST esteem through God’s acceptance of you, his
choosing you, his making you his child, his honor of you, and your belonging to
his family.
You are accepted. “…Then Peter replied, “I see
very clearly that God SHOWS NO FAVORITISM. In
every nation HE
ACCEPTS those who fear him and do what is right…”
(Acts 10:34-36 NLT). “… [God]…hath
made us ACCEPTED in the beloved…”
(Ephesians 1:6 KJV).
You are chosen. "You did not choose me but I chose you, and
appointed you ...” (John 15:16 ASV). “…God
chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world…”
(Ephesians 1:4).
You belong to God Almighty. “….You belong to God…” (1 John 4:4 NLT). “…But you belong to God, my dear children. …”
(1 John 4:2-7 NIV).
You
are a CHILD of God’s.“…YE ARE “ALL”
CHILDREN OF GOD BY FAITH “IN” CHRIST JESUS…” (Galatians 3:26-28
KJV). “.We know
that we are God’s children…” (1 John 5:19 RSV).
You
are loved and honored by God, himself. “…God is
LOVE…” (1 John 4:4-8 KJV). “…Love ...does not dishonor
others….” (1
Corinthians 13: 4-8 NIV). “…God honors mankind
(his righteous ones). …” (Psalms 37:34 NLT). “..My (the
righteous)… honor come from God
alone. He is my refuge, a rock where no enemy can
reach me…” (Psalms 62:7 NLT). “… Others were given in exchange for you. I traded their lives for yours
because you are precious to me. You are honored, and I love you…” (Isaiah 43:4 NLT). “…I have given you a title of honor
…”
(Isaiah 45:4 NLT). “…The Lord has honored me, and
my God has given me strength…” (Isaiah 49:5 NLT). Therefore,
“…Sit
in a place of honor…”
(Isaiah 52:2 NLT).
Perceived “ideal” IMAGES are things or
people YOU bow to and place significance upon because YOU desire to become LIKE
those images. .“...Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image
(mental or physical), or any likeness of anything..” (Exodus 20:1-4 KJV). “...[Especially
NOT]...an image in the form of corruptible man (woman) ...” (Romans 1:21-25 NASB).
We worship “those” IMAGES whether directly
or inadvertently; consciously or unconsciously and in our hearts we long or
desire to be like “them(those images)” more than anything else. “…They kept doing whatever they wanted,
following the stubborn desires of their evil hearts. They
went backward instead of forward”
(Jeremiah 7:24 NLT). “...We will continue to live as we want to,
stubbornly following our
own evil desires…”
(JEREMIAH 18:12 NLT).
Body image, self-image, and the desire for
higher esteem is about YOU and what YOU want. You believe these images will
make you a better person, change your appearance, make you happy, or enable you
to achieve the things you want out of life. “…NOW UNTO HIM THAT IS ABLE to
do exceeding abundantly
above all that we ask or think, according
to the power that worketh in us…” (Ephesians 3:20 KJV). “…I am come that THEY MIGHT
have life, and that THEY MIGHT have it more abundantly…”
(John 10:10 KJV).
If you don’t OBTAIN these desired images
you think you will forever be flawed, or won’t ever know true happiness, or you
will never achieve the things you desire in life.“…For in
him (ONLY) we live and move and have our being (IMAGE).’ … ‘We are his
offspring…” (Acts 17:28 NIV).
IMAGES issues are a common problem with
ALL human beings, including the righteous. The WORLD promotes UNREALISTIC images
and call them “IDEAL” standards for your body, self, and for building esteem. “...an image in the form of corruptible
man (woman)...” (Romans 1:21-25 NASB).
If YOU constantly compare yourself with
those UNREALISTIC images and don’t measure up to them, eventually you find yourself
depressed, anxious, negative, hiding, self-condemning, desperate, or
self-loathing. “...their (image worshippers’) foolish heart was
darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God for an image in the form of corruptible man
...(Romans 1:21-25
NLT).
Failing to measure up to some UNREALISTIC
image affects how you see yourself and ultimately how you behave. “…The trouble is with me, for
I am all too human, a slave to [image
worship]. …I don’t really understand myself, for I want to [be delivered from
image worship] …but I don’t [allow myself to trust in or depend upon God’s indwelling
healing power]... Instead, I do what I hate. So I
am not the one doing wrong; it is [the old images]… living in me that does it. And
I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. I want to [be
free from image worship) … [which]… is right, BUT I CAN’T…Who will free me from this life
that is dominated by [image worship or idolatry]?” (Romans
7:14-25 NLT).
This could go on for years and years and
as you get older the chances of reaching “that” image lessens. “…Who will free me from this
life that is dominated by... [image worship and/or idolatry]...?” (Romans
7:14-25 NLT).
“…Thank
God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our
Lord…” (Romans 7:14-25 NLT).
“…The Spirit of God dwell[s]… in you…” (Romans 8:9 KJV). “…Jesus Christ is
IN YOU…” (2 Corinthians 13:5 KJV). “…[You] CAN DO all
things (be healed from image worship) THROUGH Christ which strengtheneth [you]…”
(Philippians 4:13 KJV). “….Apart from [the Holy
Spirit]… [you cannot]..do nothing…” (John 15:5
NIV). “...you are not
free to carry out your good intentions. …
…” (Galatians 5 NLT).
Idolatry is at the core
of image worship, driven by a
personal desire (covetousness) to become conformed to some ideal standard of
body image, self-image, and high esteem. “…Abstain
from fleshly lusts …” (1 Peter 2:11). “…ALL that is in
the world, the LUST of the flesh (SELF-IMAGE), and the LUST of the eyes (BODY IMAGE) and
THE PRIDE OF LIFE(HIGH ESTEEM)...is NOT of the Father, but it is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the LUST thereof….” (1 John 2:16-17
KJV).
If the righteous is going to escape from image worship they will have to trust in
and depend upon the indwelling Holy
Spirit to heal them and empower them to walk in their freedom from
idolatrous practices.
The righteous can CHOOSE to reject any and
all forms of image worship. There is
NO NEED for fleshly body image, self-image, or esteem “in” Christ.
The
God IMAGE takes care of all the needs of the righteous. They don’t have
to want or long for ANY other image.
When the focus of the righteous is
centered upon conforming to the IMAGE of Jesus Christ all other image worship will be eradicated.
IS IMAGE WORSHIP A FORM OF IDOLATRY? YES,
AND THE RIGHTEOUS HAVE BEEN DELIVERED AND FREED FROM IDOLATROUS PRACTICES. “…Who will free me from this
life that is dominated by... [image worship]...?” (Romans 7:14-25 NLT).
HOWEVER, MANY DON’T TRUST IN AND DEPEND
UPON THE INDWELLING HOLY SPIRIT TO EMPOWER THEIR HEALING OR ENABLE THEM TO WALK
IN THEIR FREEDOM!
“…Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord…” (Romans
7:14-25 NLT). “…he
[was] wounded for our transgressions, [he was] bruised for our iniquities:
the chastisement of our peace [was] upon him; and with his stripes we are healed…”
(Isaiah 53:5 KJV). Therefore, the righteous “...are
protected (KEPT) by the power of God through faith (trusting and depending)...” (1 Peter 1:15 NASB).
“…The Spirit of the Lord [was].. upon [Jesus], because he hath anointed [him]…
… to set at liberty
them that are bruised [by image worship]…”
(John 4:16-21 KJV). “…God anointed Jesus …who went about doing good, and healing all
…GOD WAS WITH HIM…”
(Acts 10:38-39 KJV).
“…The Spirit of God dwell[s]… in you…” (Romans 8:9 KJV). “…Jesus Christ is
IN YOU…” (2 Corinthians 13:5 KJV). “…[You] CAN DO all
things (be healed from image worship) THROUGH Christ which strengtheneth [you]…”
(Philippians 4:13 KJV). “….Apart from [the Holy
Spirit]… [you cannot]..do nothing…” (John 15:5
NIV). “...you are not
free to carry out your good intentions. …
…” (Galatians 5 NLT).
Thus, “...delivered, but NOT
healed; released, but NOT walking in freedom....”
(Wilson 2020).
However, “...YOU CAN do all
things through Christ which strengtheneth [YOU]....”
(Philippians 4:13 KJV).
Godspeed,
Dr. Pensacola
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