“⁵ And the devil, taking Him (Jesus) up into an high mountain, showed unto him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time.

⁶ And the devil said unto Him, All this power will I give You, and the glory of them: for that is delivered unto me; and to whomsoever I will I give it.

⁷ If You therefore will worship me, all shall be Yours.

⁸ And Jesus answered and said unto him, Get you behind me, Satan: for it is written, you shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only shall you serve.” Luke 4:5-8

Satan tempted Jesus in the wilderness.  The devil took Jesus up into a high mountain and promised Him glory if He would worship him.

Often, on Sunday mornings the devil continues to lead people to high places, centers of idolatrous worship.  There they worship God and serve another gospel…another Jesus.  They serve a Jesus that condones homosexuality.  One who condones fornication.  Their Jesus requires 40 days of purpose or 21 days of fasting to overthrow that sin which so easily besets us.  Perhaps he, their Jesus, will urge us to partake in feasts, festivals or other traditions of man to become holy and righteous.  Allow me to remind you friend, the Word of God says if any man preaches another gospel, he is cursed (Galatians 1:8-9).

These high places serve Jesus Christ as the source and His Cross as the means by which we are saved but they also serve philosophies from the vanities of their minds.  These philosophies require you as the source and their method as the means by which victory is received.  According to their philosophies, that which oppresses you was not nailed to Jesus’ Cross, so you must do your part to overthrow the sinful acts.

It is written, we shall worship the Lord our God and Him ONLY shall we serve.

“And He (Jesus) said to them all, If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.”  Luke 9:23.

Friend, Jesus didn’t say follow various methods and schemes of man.  Our Lord said follow HIM.  God didn’t say  worship Him and serve vanities of man’s mind for victory over the world, the flesh and the devil. Jesus said follow Me and I will make you fishers of man (Matthew 4:19). He said if any man serve me, him will My Father honor (John 12:26).  Jesus said His sheep knows His voice and He knows us and we follow Him (John 10:27).

Lastly, Jesus said if any man does not take up his cross, which is the benefits and promises of all Christ afforded us on Calvary’s Cross, we are not worthy of Him (Matthew 10:38).

“² Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the concision.

³ For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh.” Philippians 3:2-3.

Beware of dogs my friends.  They will lead you up to high places and seduce you toworship the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob while also serving other gods.  Too often these gods can only be found in the mirror.  They are believed to have much power, glory, holiness and righteousness to overcome the world, the flesh and the devil.  These gods stand in the temple and declare their righteousness relative to the publicans unrighteousness (Luke 18:9-14).

We must deny these gods, pick up our cross and follow Jesus.

-Donna Clark Warren