Have No Other gods Before Me
The Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:1-17) have been a guide for maintaining a spiritual lifestyle since the days they were received by Moses. These commandments show forth the true nature of God. In them we see God's desire for mankind to be like Him. By making them a part of our nature we are more pleasing to our creator. Because human beings are so frail, it is easy to not follow these commandments, so people do their own thing. Jesus Christ provided ways for us to maintain God's laws and actually fulfill what is commanded by God in the Ten Commandments.
The first commandment, "You shall have no other gods before me," seems to be one of the hardest to do. In mankind’s search for God, people turn to anything to try and fulfill the desire to find Him. Man tends to follow the lies about who God is before they will seek the truths of his nature and revelation, turning truth into lies and forming other gods to satisfy their evil (Romans 1:18-25). In mistaking who God is, a great series of lies have led people through the centuries to follow gods hidden in Christianity.
1. Religion.
Religion has become its own god, separate from the truths of God and what he wants believers to be (Matthew 15:8-9).
2. Doctrines.
Christianity has embraced lies which have become doctrines that dare not be questioned. These doctrines cannot be proven by scripture nor can the god of religion respond to them because he is not real. (Matthew 15:9; Colossians 2:8,22).
3. Position. In some demonstrations or church groups positions in their anarchy are sacred and without question. Leadership in a local church or group of churches has its place, but these positions should never be more than just that, a position of leadership to help the entire church. No one is more important than the other and we should not hold people as being "holy" because they are in some position or elevated place of leadership. We are to love each other and admonish one another, and not allow ourselves or others to be more than mortal people working together in the Kingdom of God. (Matthew 20:25-28).
When God says “He is the only true and living God,” he is saying it because there truly is no other. He is the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. He is the only LIVING god. All others are dead. They are dead because they cannot respond to the things said about them. God the Father of Jesus Christ does respond and will respond to you even as you read these sentences. The reason God is always shown in the Bible as having thunders, lightening and loud sounds when He is present, is because he is ALIVE not dead. Try to get any sound out of any other god, it will not happen. This is why many people are not hearing God today. The god that has been presented in their religious doctrines does not exist.
God has revealed to us through his word, the Bible, that he wants us to do certain things known as “His will”. He has made these things known to us through the teachings of Jesus Christ. Many religious organizations have twisted these teachings to satisfy their doctrines (2 Peter 3:16). To follow these teachings will cause people to trust in things that are not in the will of God, and in some cases teach against the will of God. This makes God something he is not, thus “another god” becomes the god of religion.
To keep from following a god of religion, be willing to listen to the revelation of who God is, and how he wants you to carry out His will. Here is a check list of some of the things God has shown to be His will for those who believe:
1. God is the only God (Deuteronomy 4:35; Isaiah 43:106; 44:6, 8; 45:5-6).
2. Jesus is His Son, follow him (Matthew 3:17 and 17:5; Luke 9:35; John 6:69).
3. The Holy Spirit is sent for us to have guidance and power (John 14:26; 16:13-14).
We have the Gifts of the Spirit (1 Corinthians 12:8-11) and the Fruit of the Spirit
(Galatians 5:22-23) available through the Spirit.
4. We are to be baptized in the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 5:17-18).
5. Do and teach the things of Jesus until he returns (Matthew 28:18-20).
6. Certain things will follow those who believe (Mark 16:17-18).
These are only a few of the many things reveled in the Bible concerning God’s will. He desires to have relationship with us if we seek him. He is alive and is a rewarder of all who diligently seek him (Hebrews 11:6).