LOST IN THE CHURCH: [BEING LOST IN CHURCH] Part Six Idolatry in the House of God Many have interpreted the word idol from the perspective of the Old Covenant, an era in which the main emphasis was on the physical. But now, the Lord is seeking people who will worship Him in spirit. Therefore, the most dangerous and difficult idol—not one made of iron, stone, or wood—is the one that can be carved within a person’s heart or spirit. An IDOL can be anything that takes the place of God within a person. The first commandment the Lord gave us is to love Him above everything else. Therefore, whatever you can love more than you love God becomes an idol to you. Furthermore, the Lord has warned us not to fear anything more than Him (Matthew 10:28), and not to place our faith, hope, or dependence on anything except Him. By this reasoning, whatever you give those places in your life becomes an idol that you have carved within your own heart. Scripture is clear that those who worship idols will have their part in the lake of fire, which is the second death (Revelation 21:8). In these last days, many people have become lost in Church by worshipping things that are close to the Lord, or things that have been called by His name, thinking that by doing so they are worshipping the Lord Himself! Some of the things people have come to worship—and many of you may be surprised when I mention them—include worship services, the Church, the mother of Jesus, servants of God, angels, the Word of God, prayer, the name of a church, and so on. But the Lord will never allow anything to take His glory! Nevertheless, many people who worship idols in the house of God do so out of ignorance and lack of knowledge. And this is where our enemy gains his strength. Therefore, this message is given by the great grace of God to those who are willing to love the Lord above everything else. Worshipping the Word of God The Word of God can become an idol if it takes the place of God Himself. And this is astonishing! I know that by making this statement, I have probably disturbed the theology of many people. Let me repeat it, so that you understand that I am not speaking carelessly: “The word of God can become a very dangerous idol, and it can bring death if it is worshipped or allowed to take the place of God.” There is nothing as valuable as the Word of God. Nevertheless, everyone must understand that the “word of God” is not God Himself! It is extremely dangerous for any person, Church, or institution to build upon the word of God instead of building upon God Himself. Today, there are many Churches that have fallen into this kind of deception. You can recognize them by observing their people: they have a form of godliness but deny its power (2 Timothy 3:5). The Church develops certain forms of worship that contradict the presence of God! The Word of God vs. “the word of God” I know that when I say “the word of God is not God,” many people become surprised, especially when they remember John 1:1, which says: > “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” It is absolutely true that this Scripture says the Word was God. However, it is important to understand that this passage is speaking about “the Word” and not merely “the word of God.” There is a significant difference between these two expressions: “the Word of God” and “the word of God.” When you say “the Word of God,” you are referring, in essence, to a Person—which is why Word begins with a capital letter. However, when you say “the word of God,” you are not necessarily referring to a person, but rather to the ordinary word that proceeds from the mouth of God. Throughout the Bible, there are places where the word “Word” is used with a capital letter. When Scripture uses it in that way, it refers to a Person—Christ! The Bible is filled with the word of God that needs to be made alive. When a person reads it, they should seek the Spirit through whom that word was written. Therefore, the word of God needs the Spirit behind it so that it can be transformed into the living Word of God, who is a Person. And that is what saves, blesses, and heals. Thus: The word of God + the Holy Spirit = The Word of God [Jesus] Without the Holy Spirit, there is no life in anything. Therefore, do not be surprised that even the Bible can be used by witches or traditional healers in their practices. This helps us understand the meaning of the Scripture: > “For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.” — 2 Corinthians 3:6 Essentially, without the Holy Spirit, the Bible becomes nothing more than a book of history, literature, philosophy, stories, politics, or any other ordinary book. And many people have treated Scripture in exactly that way. They have never encountered the Living Word of God within their hearts. As a result, they have built their lives upon a “word of God” that has never become flesh within them. Because of their lack of understanding, many people consider such individuals to be servants of God. Yet this condition has ultimately turned them into philosophers, motivational speakers, politicians, and extreme businessmen operating within the house of God. This is extremely dangerous! When the Lord made a whip and overturned the tables of the merchants in His Father’s house, was that not also a prophecy of what is going to take place in the house of God today? May God bless you greatly! #ToBeContinued... Mwl. Ernest Nyalula +255 616 609 885 #LostInTheChurch #CircumcisionOfTheHeart #TrueHoliness #BornAgain #GraceAndTruth #ChristJesus #Christianity #TheCross #SpiritualGrowth #GodsWord

The serpent does not win. Sin does not win. Death does not win. Jesus Christ is victorious. https://patrickryanlewis.com/2026/08/11/the-first-gospel-promise-the-serpent-is-defeated-and-christ-is-victorious/ Almost immediately after Adam and Eve sinned, God gave humanity a promise of hope. In Genesis 3, before the full consequences of the fall had even unfolded, God announced that a Deliverer would come. The serpent would strike His heel, but this promised Champion would crush the serpent’s head. That promise points us directly to Jesus. At the cross, what appeared to be defeat became victory. Jesus carried our sin, endured the suffering of Calvary, entered the grave—and then rose again. The heel was bruised. The serpent’s head was crushed. And that ancient promise still gives us hope today. When temptation comes, remember who has already won. When your past accuses you, remember the cross. When guilt overwhelms you, remember the grace of Christ. When life seems hopeless, remember the empty tomb. The battle is real, but its final outcome has already been decided. Jesus Christ is victorious—and everyone who belongs to Him shares in the hope of His victory. Read the full blog and discover how the first gospel promise in Genesis points us toward the victory of Jesus Christ. #Genesis3 #JesusChrist #Gospel #VictoryInChrist #ChristianHope #BibleStudy #Faith #Grace #TheCross #Resurrection #SpiritualWarfare #ChristianLiving #Salvation #Redemption #WordOfGod

**For three hours... the land grew dark.** Not at sunrise. Not at sunset. At **noon**. All three Synoptic Gospels record the same remarkable event: > **"Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land unto the ninth hour."** — *Matthew 27:45 (KJV)* From **12:00 p.m. until 3:00 p.m.**, darkness covered the land during the crucifixion of Jesus. Some have suggested this was simply a **solar eclipse**. But that explanation faces a significant problem. A total solar eclipse lasts only a few minutes at any one location—not three hours. There's another difficulty. The crucifixion took place during **Passover**, which occurs at the time of a **full moon**. A solar eclipse, however, can occur only during a **new moon**, when the moon passes between the earth and the sun. Astronomically, a normal solar eclipse cannot occur during Passover. So what caused the darkness? The Bible does not explain the physical mechanism. Some scholars have suggested unusually dense storm clouds or other natural phenomena. Others understand the darkness as a miraculous act of God, symbolizing divine judgment and the weight of the moment when Christ bore the sins of the world. Interestingly, a few ancient writers outside the New Testament—including **Phlegon of Tralles**, whose work survives only through later quotations—refer to an unusual darkness and earthquake during the reign of Emperor Tiberius. Historians continue to debate whether these references describe the crucifixion or a different event. Whatever one's conclusion, the Gospel writers present the darkness as no ordinary occurrence. Creation itself seemed to bear witness as the Son of God gave His life. > **"Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land unto the ninth hour."** — *Matthew 27:45 (KJV)* 💬 The darkness at Calvary reminds us that the cross was not just another execution—it was the pivotal moment in God's plan of redemption. What do you think the three hours of darkness signify? Share your thoughts below, and pass this along to someone who enjoys studying the deeper details of Scripture. #BibleStudy #TheCross #Crucifixion #Matthew27 #JesusChrist #Resurrection #ChristianFaith #KJV #BibleTruth #Gospel

**For three hours... the land grew dark.** Not at sunrise. Not at sunset. At **noon**. All three Synoptic Gospels record the same remarkable event: > **"Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land unto the ninth hour."** — *Matthew 27:45 (KJV)* From **12:00 p.m. until 3:00 p.m.**, darkness covered the land during the crucifixion of Jesus. Some have suggested this was simply a **solar eclipse**. But that explanation faces a significant problem. A total solar eclipse lasts only a few minutes at any one location—not three hours. There's another difficulty. The crucifixion took place during **Passover**, which occurs at the time of a **full moon**. A solar eclipse, however, can occur only during a **new moon**, when the moon passes between the earth and the sun. Astronomically, a normal solar eclipse cannot occur during Passover. So what caused the darkness? The Bible does not explain the physical mechanism. Some scholars have suggested unusually dense storm clouds or other natural phenomena. Others understand the darkness as a miraculous act of God, symbolizing divine judgment and the weight of the moment when Christ bore the sins of the world. Interestingly, a few ancient writers outside the New Testament—including **Phlegon of Tralles**, whose work survives only through later quotations—refer to an unusual darkness and earthquake during the reign of Emperor Tiberius. Historians continue to debate whether these references describe the crucifixion or a different event. Whatever one's conclusion, the Gospel writers present the darkness as no ordinary occurrence. Creation itself seemed to bear witness as the Son of God gave His life. > **"Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land unto the ninth hour."** — *Matthew 27:45 (KJV)* 💬 The darkness at Calvary reminds us that the cross was not just another execution—it was the pivotal moment in God's plan of redemption. What do you think the three hours of darkness signify? Share your thoughts below, and pass this along to someone who enjoys studying the deeper details of Scripture. #BibleStudy #TheCross #Crucifixion #Matthew27 #JesusChrist #Resurrection #ChristianFaith #KJV #BibleTruth #Gospel

✝️ The cross doesn't offend us but it exposes our pride. #Lordsbook #TheCross #PowerOfSalvation #FaithInJesus #BiblicalTruth

✝️ Jesus' death shows us God's justice and His incredible love. #Lordsbook #TheCross #GodsLove #GodsJustice #FaithInJesus

✝️ We cannot save ourselves, salvation is found in Christ alone. #Lordsbook #TheCross #SalvationInChrist #FaithInJesus #BiblicalTruth

“This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” — Luke 22:19 We gathered to remember His sacrifice, proclaim His death, and celebrate His grace. صلیب ہمیں یاد دلاتی ہے کہ مسیح کی قربانی کافی ہے۔ HOLY COMMUNION SERVICE ✝️ Last Friday, we gathered together in faith and unity to remember the sacrifice of our Lord Jesus Christ. His body was broken for us. His blood was shed for us. His grace has brought us together as one family. Holy Communion reminds us of the Cross, strengthens our faith, and calls us to live in unity and love. “For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death till He comes.” — 1 Corinthians 11:26 Thank you to everyone who joined Intercession Worship Ministry (IWM) for this special time of worship, remembrance, and fellowship. ❤️ پاک شراکت کی خصوصی عبادتی سروس ✝️ گزشتہ جمعہ ہم ایمان اور اتحاد کے ساتھ جمع ہوئے تاکہ اپنے خداوند یسوع مسیح کی عظیم قربانی کو یاد کریں۔ اُس کا بدن ہمارے لیے توڑا گیا، اُس کا خون ہمارے لیے بہایا گیا، اور اُس کا فضل ہمیں ایک خاندان کی طرح جوڑتا ہے۔ پاک شراکت ہمیں صلیب کی یاد دلاتی ہے، ہمارے ایمان کو مضبوط کرتی ہے اور ہمیں محبت، اتحاد اور وفاداری کے ساتھ مسیح کے پیچھے چلنے کی دعوت دیتی ہے۔ “کیونکہ جتنی بار تم یہ روٹی کھاتے اور یہ پیالہ پیتے ہو خداوند کی موت کا اظہار کرتے ہو جب تک کہ وہ آئے۔” — 1 کرنتھیوں 11:26 #IntercessionWorshipMinistry #IWM #HolyCommunion #CommunionService #HolyCommunionService #RememberHisSacrifice #JesusChrist #JesusIsLord #TheCross #PowerOfTheCross #BodyOfChrist #FaithAndUnity #WorshipTogether #ChristianWorship #WorshipMinistry #ChurchFamily #ChristianCommunity #Communion #RememberJesus #GrowTogether #FaithInChrist #JesusSaves #Gospel #Christianity #LahoreChurch #پاک_شراکت #HolyCommunion #یسوع_مسیح #JesusChrist #مسیح_کی_قربانی

Dear Father, A man came to Jesus and asked, "What shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?" Jesus responded, saying, "Go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me." But the man went away grieved, for he had great possessions. It is easy to make an entirely literal interpretation of what Jesus meant when He said, "Sell all you have and take up your cross." It almost as though a man with great abundance cannot successfully combine both his possession and fellowship with You. But this understanding is altered when we look at it through the analogy of the cross. To carry a cross, we need our hands and shoulders. More explicitly, we need our entire body, inclusive of our hearts. It means doing away with whatever can become a distraction. In essence, Jesus wasn't saying, "You can't combine wealth and devotion." He was saying, "Whatever has your heart other than Me can prevent you from following Me." Solidarity is not determined by verbally pledging commitment, but by the structure of our priorities. In school, I was taught about opportunity cost-- what we do when we cannot afford to have both of our desires, and, in choosing one, we let go of the other. It applies differently to every one of us. For some, the exchange may seem insignificant, like the midnight sleep that prevents necessary fellowship with You. So perhaps the best way to look at this is to ask: What can stand in the way of my commitment to You? That thing is the distraction from the cross. Translations; Slide 1: English Slide 2: French Slide 3: Bengali Slide 4: Hindu Slide 5: Urdu #LettertoGod #thecross #wealth #fellowshipwithGod #koinonia

Dear Father, A man came to Jesus and asked, "What shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?" Jesus responded, saying, "Go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me." But the man went away grieved, for he had great possessions. It is easy to make an entirely literal interpretation of what Jesus meant when He said, "Sell all you have and take up your cross." It almost as though a man with great abundance cannot successfully combine both his possession and fellowship with You. But this understanding is altered when we look at it through the analogy of the cross. To carry a cross, we need our hands and shoulders. More explicitly, we need our entire body, inclusive of our hearts. It means doing away with whatever can become a distraction. In essence, Jesus wasn't saying, "You can't combine wealth and devotion." He was saying, "Whatever has your heart other than Me can prevent you from following Me." Solidarity is not determined by verbally pledging commitment, but by the structure of our priorities. In school, I was taught about opportunity cost-- what we do when we cannot afford to have both of our desires, and, in choosing one, we let go of the other. It applies differently to every one of us. For some, the exchange may seem insignificant, like the midnight sleep that prevents necessary fellowship with You. So perhaps the best way to look at this is to ask: What can stand in the way of my commitment to You? That thing is the distraction from the cross. Translations; Slide 1: English Slide 2: French Slide 3: Bengali Slide 4: Hindu Slide 5: Urdu #LettertoGod #thecross #wealth #fellowshipwithGod #koinonia