The Lord’s Work – Part 28
Idols
Man’s works are FAKE. They are:
- Shadows, Figures, and Patterns
- Vanity
- Idols
Our works are FAKE? How are they fake? What are they, if not true?
They are idols..
God says some pretty good things about Israel in the OT. Like this one.
Numbers 23:21 He hath not beheld iniquity in Jacob, neither hath he seen perverseness in Israel: the LORD his God is with him, and the shout of a king is among them.
But then.. we also see this:
Jeremiah 32:30-31 For the children of Israel and the children of Judah have only done evil before me from their youth: for the children of Israel have only provoked me to anger with the work of their hands, saith the LORD. 31 For this city hath been to me as a provocation of mine anger and of my fury from the day that they built it even unto this day; that I should remove it from before my face,
The children of Israel didn’t do any good works before the Lord. Not one. They ONLY did evil. From the day they built Jerusalem. The work of men’s hands have ONLY ever, I suppose since Adam fell, provoked the Lord to anger.
Why? What’s so wrong and so provoking about the work of their hands.. the work of our hands?
What are the works of men’s hands… to the Lord, in truth?
Psalms 115:4 Their idols are silver and gold, the work of men’s hands.
Psalms 135:15 The idols of the heathen are silver and gold, the work of men’s hands.
We’ve previously found that our works are Vanity, that they are Shadows and Figures, and now also we find… they are IDOLS!
The works of men’s hands… are idols. The works of your hands, are your idols.
That is 2 witnesses. But there are plenty more!
Deuteronomy 4:28 And there ye shall serve gods, the work of men’s hands, wood and stone, which neither see, nor hear, nor eat, nor smell.
2 Chronicles 32:19 And they spake against the God of Jerusalem, as against the gods of the people of the earth, which were the work of the hands of man.
Isaiah 37:18-19 Of a truth, LORD, the kings of Assyria have laid waste all the nations, and their countries, 19 And have cast their gods into the fire: for they were no gods, but the work of men’s hands, wood and stone: therefore they have destroyed them.
Acts 7:41 And they [Israel] made a calf in those days, and offered sacrifice unto the idol, and rejoiced in the works of their own hands.
It says they were rejoicing in the works of their own hands… What were they doing? Worshipping their idol… Worshipping their own works!!
Isaiah 2:8 Their land also is full of idols; they worship the work of their own hands, that which their own fingers have made:
Jeremiah 25:6-7 And go not after other gods to serve them, and to worship them, and provoke me not to anger with the works of your hands; and I will do you no hurt. 7 Yet ye have not hearkened unto me, saith the LORD; that ye might provoke me to anger with the works of your hands to your own hurt.
To the Lord, man’s works are idols. Men worship their own works, provoking the Lord to wrath.
Jeremiah 1:16 And I will utter my judgments against them touching all their wickedness, who have forsaken me, and have burned incense unto other gods, and worshipped the works of their own hands.
Man’s gods, man’s idols, are the works of his own hands. And man worships his own works. Man’s works. Our carnal works! We devise them, craft them, we bring them forth, we make them look good, we cover them with gold and silver, and then we worship them.
Isaiah 44:17 And the residue thereof [of a tree] he maketh a god, even his graven image [the work of his hands is his god – you’ve seen the witnesses!]: he falleth down unto it, and worshippeth it, and prayeth unto it, and saith, Deliver me; for thou art my god.
I believe that in spirit, this is what man does from the residue of himself. Himself being a stone, a tree.
They make their works out of their own substance, with their own hands, then they worship the works of their own hands, falling down unto them and saying, Deliver me!
“Prayeth unto it” – Whoa, think about that! They are praying to their own works! When you include your works in your salvation prayer.. it is not a prayer to God, but to another god. A god of your own making: a god of the works of your own hands. An idol.
Thinking that your own works can deliver you.. This is idolatry.
If you put any value in the works of your own hands, you’re an idol worshipper.
You want to see what you are like? Here are some idol worshippers. Ones that truly believe in the goodness and power of their idol (the works of men’s hands).
1 Kings 18:26-29 And they took the bullock which was given them, and they dressed it, and called on the name of Baal from morning even until noon, saying, O Baal, hear us. But there was no voice, nor any that answered. And they leaped upon the altar which was made. … 28 And they cried aloud, and cut themselves after their manner with knives and lancets, till the blood gushed out upon them. 29 And it came to pass, when midday was past, and they prophesied until the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that there was neither voice, nor any to answer, nor any that regarded.
You call on your works, your idols, saying “save me, oh works of my hands!” but don’t can’t answer. And then you cut yourself. And shed your blood upon the altar of your works, and still there is no answer. And then you throw your entire body on the altar, your whole life itself, saying, “please, oh works of my hands, hear me! Please respond, please do me good. I’ll pour out my own blood into serving you. I’ll offer my whole life to serve you, oh work of my hands. Please accept my offering! Please do me good, please SAVE ME!”
But there is no voice, or any to answer, nor any that regard.
Your work… Its beautiful. Covered in Gold and Silver.
But its an idol. It’s a fake, its reprobate. It looks like a god, but it is no god. It looks like it can save, but has no power to save. Your work of your hands.. is an idol.
Habakkuk 2:19 Woe unto him that saith to the wood, Awake; to the dumb stone, Arise, it shall teach! Behold, it is laid over with gold and silver, and there is no breath at all in the midst of it.
Awake, my works! Arise, the works my hands! Save me!
My works will deliver me. My works will be my security. My works will be my proof!
Isaiah 44:9-13 They that make a graven image are all of them vanity; and their delectable things shall not profit; and they are their own witnesses; they see not, nor know; that they may be ashamed. 10 Who hath formed a god, or molten a graven image [the work of men’s hands] that is profitable for nothing? … 13 The carpenter stretcheth out his rule; he marketh it out with a line; he fitteth it with planes, and he marketh it out with the compass, and maketh it after the figure of a man, according to the beauty of a man; that it may remain in the house.
We make our idols after what we have seen with our eyes. We make them after birds, and four-footed beasts, and creeping things, but mostly… men! We fashion our works after the beauty of a man.
They know what a good man looks like. So they make works after the figure of a good man. They scope out the pattern, and fashion their works (themselves) after a good man. Just be like Jesus! Just be good like Ghandi! Just be like Mohammed! Just be you, but better than you were before. Mold and Reshape your life. Completely change your lifestyle. Change your actions. Change your shape.
Mold yourself.. craft your idol. Craft the work of your hands, after the figure of a man.
As an unsaved man, your work – the work of your hands is a dumb and deaf idol!
That is what you worship, and that is what you pray to, and that is what you trust.
Men’s works are deceitful works. Man’s works (his idols) are teachers of lies.
Habakkuk 2:18 What profiteth the graven image that the maker thereof hath graven it; the molten image, and a teacher of lies, that the maker of his work trusteth therein, to make dumb idols?
Man thinks his works are true good works but his WORKS are lying to him, and his heart, trusts in them.
Man’s works are dumb idols. They cannot speak, hear, walk, nor can they save.
Just like a dumb and deaf idol, your works will not profit you.
Jeremiah 10:5 They are upright as the palm tree, but speak not: they must needs be borne, because they cannot go. Be not afraid of them; for they cannot do evil, neither also is it in them to do good.
My theory: What we do in the flesh is not true good OR true evil. True evil or true good is defined by what sort of spirit it is which creates the thing, and what sort of heart the thing comes out of. What comes out of a saved man’s new heart is always true good, and what comes out of an unsaved man’s heart is always true evil. No matter what the outward appearance of the flesh is, no matter what the shadow looks like, what the flesh does is according to the spirit which is in it. Its neither true good or true evil. Its nothing. Its vanity. It’s a shadow.
An idol can’t do any true work. And neither can you! Because the works of your hands are idols, and you are just like your works.
Psalms 115:4-8 Their idols are silver and gold, the work of men’s hands. 5 They have mouths, but they speak not: eyes have they, but they see not: 6 They have ears, but they hear not: noses have they, but they smell not: 7 They have hands, but they handle not: feet have they, but they walk not: neither speak they through their throat. 8 They that make them are like unto them; so is every one that trusteth in them.
Everyone that trusteth in idols (the work of their own hands), is just like an idol – dead and vain, without life, without power to speak or move or deliver.
You are vanity, and your works are vanity. You are of nothing, and your works are of nought.
And you are just like your works. You are like an idol. The physical body can look like a good man. It can be covered with gold and silver. Beautiful. But it is just a figure, just a shadow.
There is an evil spirit behind you that may come and work… but it will work evil. It will be your ruin.
Micah 5:13 Thy graven images also will I cut off, and thy standing images out of the midst of thee; and thou shalt no more worship the work of thine hands.
How do you STOP worshipping the works of your hands?
Hosea 14:2-3 Take with you words, and turn to the LORD: say unto him, Take away all iniquity, and receive us graciously: so will we render the calves of our lips. [You take words – His words – and offer a sacrifice out of your lips!] 3 Asshur shall not save us; we will not ride upon horses: neither will we say any more to the work of our hands, Ye are our gods: for in thee the fatherless findeth mercy.
To get saved, you must repent of your idols – the works of your hands.
Revelation 9:20 And the rest of the men which were not killed by these plagues yet repented not of the works of their hands, that they should not worship devils, and idols of gold, and silver, and brass, and stone, and of wood: which neither can see, nor hear, nor walk:
Your works are blind and deaf, dumb, and lame idols.
Men need to REPENT of the works of their hands. But they see profit in their works. They see their works like an idolater sees his idol. The works of my hands can rise up and deliver me! Save me, my works!
“men’s hands” appears 6 times in the Bible. 5 refer to them directly as gods/idols. The 6th is this.
Acts 17:24-25 God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands; 25 Neither is worshipped with men’s hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things;
The true worshippers worship in spirit and in truth.
But our natural works are not true works. Nothing an unsaved man makes with his hands is accepted / true worship.
Psalms 28:4-5 Give them according to their deeds, and according to the wickedness of their endeavours: give them after the work of their hands; render to them their desert. 5 Because they regard not the works of the LORD, nor the operation of his hands, he shall destroy them, and not build them up.
You will be judged according to the works of your hands.
Your works will be weighed against His works. Your works will be proved, tested, tried.
Your works will be found to be idols.
A man must repent of his idolatry, that is, the works of his hands. A man must regard the works of the Lord as his only salvation.
Psalms 111:7 The works of his hands are verity and judgment; all his commandments are sure.
The Lord’s works are truth and judgment. The Lord’s works are not made with carnal hands.
The Lord’s works are his sons.
Isaiah 45:11 Thus saith the LORD, the Holy One of Israel, and his Maker, Ask me of things to come concerning my sons, and concerning the work of my hands command ye me.
Isaiah 60:21 Thy people also shall be all righteous: they shall inherit the land for ever, the branch of my planting, the work of my hands, that I may be glorified.
Saved men are not like idols. Saved men have true life, eternal life. Saved men are the work of the hands of the Lord.
Isaiah 29:23 But when he [Jacob] seeth his children, the work of mine hands, in the midst of him, they shall sanctify my name, and sanctify the Holy One of Jacob, and shall fear the God of Israel.
And, as a saved man, those are our works of OUR hands.
What is the work of our (spiritual) hands? New Jerusalem of course. The city of God, the Bride of Christ.
This is the Lord’s work, and it is our work, as labourers together with Him.
1 Corinthians 3:9 For we are labourers together with God: ye are God’s husbandry, ye are God’s building.
This was not true in the OT. They could not work good and acceptable things. But it was prophesied that they would.
Isaiah 65:22-23 They shall not build, and another inhabit; they shall not plant, and another eat: for as the days of a tree are the days of my people, and mine elect shall long enjoy the work of their hands. 23 They shall not labour in vain, nor bring forth for trouble; for they are the seed of the blessed of the LORD, and their offspring with them.
Psalms 90:16-17 Let thy work appear unto thy servants, and thy glory unto their children. 17 And let the beauty of the LORD our God be upon us: and establish thou the work of our hands upon us; yea, the work of our hands establish thou it.
These OT references are prophetic, futuristic. When the Lord’s work appears, then ours will be established too. What work? The building of God! The house of the Lord.
1 Peter 2:4-5 To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious, 5 Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.
Deuteronomy 33:1 And this is the blessing, wherewith Moses the man of God blessed the children of Israel before his death. [this is prophetic, futuristic] … 8 And of Levi he said, … 10 They shall teach Jacob thy judgments, and Israel thy law: they shall put incense before thee, and whole burnt sacrifice upon thine altar. 11 Bless, LORD, his substance, and accept the work of his hands: smite through the loins of them that rise against him, and of them that hate him, that they rise not again.
The works of carnal hands are idols. But the works of Spiritual hands are acceptable.
This is fulfilled in us, the Church… we are the true priesthood, offering up spiritual sacrifices. NOT with the carnal hands of men.
Romans 13:12 The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.
That is all they could do in the OT. And its all we can do according to the flesh. Darkness, shadows, figures, patterns of the true. But now… the day is at hands. Cast off the works of men’s hands, the works of darkness, your idols… and put on… the Holy Spirit, the word of God, the gospel of Jesus Christ.
You will be recompensed according to your works.
Psalms 28:4 Give them according to their deeds, and according to the wickedness of their endeavours: give them after the work of their hands; render to them their desert.
Lamentations 3:64 Render unto them a recompence, O LORD, according to the work of their hands.
Jeremiah 25:14 … and I will recompense them according to their deeds, and according to the works of their own hands.
We will each be recompensed according to our works.
Which are your works? Which hands are you working with? Which works will be rewarded to you again?
The vain works of your own carnal hands (your idols), or the works of His hands (His children, His building).
“the work of men’s hands” – 5 times, all 5 define them as gods/idols.
“the work of the hands of man” – 1 time, defined as gods/idols.
To me, that seems to be the definition of men’s works.
1 Samuel 15:23 For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry.
Rebellion is as idolatry (worshipping the works of men’s hands).
Idolatry (worshipping the works of your own hands) is rebellion.
1 Samuel 15:13-23 And Samuel came to Saul: and Saul said unto him, Blessed be thou of the LORD: I have performed the commandment of the LORD. 14 And Samuel said, What meaneth then this bleating of the sheep in mine ears, and the lowing of the oxen which I hear? … 20 And Saul said unto Samuel, Yea, I have obeyed the voice of the LORD, … and have utterly destroyed the Amalekites. 21 But the people took of the spoil, sheep and oxen, the chief of the things which should have been utterly destroyed, to sacrifice unto the LORD thy God in Gilgal. 22 And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices [works], as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey [believe the word of God] is better than sacrifice [work], and to hearken [believe the word of God] than the fat of rams. 23 For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, he hath also rejected thee from being king.
Saul and the people used their own wisdom to reject the word of God. To change his commandment. To rebel against it by taking of man’s good things (works) and sacrificing them to the Lord.
Now, that’s not how they saw it… They really believed they had done a good thing! They thought they obeyed the commandment. Saul said so twice. They thought, what a good work! Surely the Lord will be pleased with our offerings of these good things!
But the Lord didn’t want any of those things. He wanted those things destroyed – man’s things, man’s works.
What do we learn from this?
1 – Believe the word of the Lord perfectly! Don’t add, don’t subtract. Offer to Him exactly what He requires. No more, no less.
2 – Don’t save what is to be destroyed. God said destroy it all. Likewise, we are to repent of all our works. We are to crucify the flesh. But Saul and the people spared the good things and only destroyed the vile things. Likewise, the false prophets would have you repent only of your sins, but not of all the works of your hands. Saul and the people couldn’t think to destroy those “good works”. They could not scripturally Repent.
3 – To rebel (in this case, to make an offering to the Lord of something that was supposed to be destroyed) is as idolatry (worshipping the work of your hands). A prayer including one’s own works (which were supposed to be cut off/destroyed) is rebellion. This is what a false salvation prayer is to God: Witchcraft and Rebellion. This is why He does not accept or respect, or even hear, their prayers.
The works of men’s hands… spiritually, scripturally, truthfully… are idols.
Revelation 9:20 And the rest of the men which were not killed by these plagues yet repented not of the works of their hands, that they should not worship devils, and idols of gold, and silver, and brass, and stone, and of wood: which neither can see, nor hear, nor walk:
Woe to the man that offers the works of his hands (his idols) to the Lord.
To obey, to believe, to be saved, a man must repent of the works of his hands and have regard only to the Lord and the work of His hands.
Nov 21 2021
The Lord’s Work – Part 28
Downloadable Word document:
The Lord’s Work – Part 28
The Lord’s Work – Part 28
Idols
Man’s works are FAKE. They are:
Our works are FAKE? How are they fake? What are they, if not true?
They are idols..
God says some pretty good things about Israel in the OT. Like this one.
Numbers 23:21 He hath not beheld iniquity in Jacob, neither hath he seen perverseness in Israel: the LORD his God is with him, and the shout of a king is among them.
But then.. we also see this:
Jeremiah 32:30-31 For the children of Israel and the children of Judah have only done evil before me from their youth: for the children of Israel have only provoked me to anger with the work of their hands, saith the LORD. 31 For this city hath been to me as a provocation of mine anger and of my fury from the day that they built it even unto this day; that I should remove it from before my face,
The children of Israel didn’t do any good works before the Lord. Not one. They ONLY did evil. From the day they built Jerusalem. The work of men’s hands have ONLY ever, I suppose since Adam fell, provoked the Lord to anger.
Why? What’s so wrong and so provoking about the work of their hands.. the work of our hands?
What are the works of men’s hands… to the Lord, in truth?
Psalms 115:4 Their idols are silver and gold, the work of men’s hands.
Psalms 135:15 The idols of the heathen are silver and gold, the work of men’s hands.
We’ve previously found that our works are Vanity, that they are Shadows and Figures, and now also we find… they are IDOLS!
The works of men’s hands… are idols. The works of your hands, are your idols.
That is 2 witnesses. But there are plenty more!
Deuteronomy 4:28 And there ye shall serve gods, the work of men’s hands, wood and stone, which neither see, nor hear, nor eat, nor smell.
2 Chronicles 32:19 And they spake against the God of Jerusalem, as against the gods of the people of the earth, which were the work of the hands of man.
Isaiah 37:18-19 Of a truth, LORD, the kings of Assyria have laid waste all the nations, and their countries, 19 And have cast their gods into the fire: for they were no gods, but the work of men’s hands, wood and stone: therefore they have destroyed them.
Acts 7:41 And they [Israel] made a calf in those days, and offered sacrifice unto the idol, and rejoiced in the works of their own hands.
It says they were rejoicing in the works of their own hands… What were they doing? Worshipping their idol… Worshipping their own works!!
Isaiah 2:8 Their land also is full of idols; they worship the work of their own hands, that which their own fingers have made:
Jeremiah 25:6-7 And go not after other gods to serve them, and to worship them, and provoke me not to anger with the works of your hands; and I will do you no hurt. 7 Yet ye have not hearkened unto me, saith the LORD; that ye might provoke me to anger with the works of your hands to your own hurt.
To the Lord, man’s works are idols. Men worship their own works, provoking the Lord to wrath.
Jeremiah 1:16 And I will utter my judgments against them touching all their wickedness, who have forsaken me, and have burned incense unto other gods, and worshipped the works of their own hands.
Man’s gods, man’s idols, are the works of his own hands. And man worships his own works. Man’s works. Our carnal works! We devise them, craft them, we bring them forth, we make them look good, we cover them with gold and silver, and then we worship them.
Isaiah 44:17 And the residue thereof [of a tree] he maketh a god, even his graven image [the work of his hands is his god – you’ve seen the witnesses!]: he falleth down unto it, and worshippeth it, and prayeth unto it, and saith, Deliver me; for thou art my god.
I believe that in spirit, this is what man does from the residue of himself. Himself being a stone, a tree.
They make their works out of their own substance, with their own hands, then they worship the works of their own hands, falling down unto them and saying, Deliver me!
“Prayeth unto it” – Whoa, think about that! They are praying to their own works! When you include your works in your salvation prayer.. it is not a prayer to God, but to another god. A god of your own making: a god of the works of your own hands. An idol.
Thinking that your own works can deliver you.. This is idolatry.
If you put any value in the works of your own hands, you’re an idol worshipper.
You want to see what you are like? Here are some idol worshippers. Ones that truly believe in the goodness and power of their idol (the works of men’s hands).
1 Kings 18:26-29 And they took the bullock which was given them, and they dressed it, and called on the name of Baal from morning even until noon, saying, O Baal, hear us. But there was no voice, nor any that answered. And they leaped upon the altar which was made. … 28 And they cried aloud, and cut themselves after their manner with knives and lancets, till the blood gushed out upon them. 29 And it came to pass, when midday was past, and they prophesied until the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that there was neither voice, nor any to answer, nor any that regarded.
You call on your works, your idols, saying “save me, oh works of my hands!” but don’t can’t answer. And then you cut yourself. And shed your blood upon the altar of your works, and still there is no answer. And then you throw your entire body on the altar, your whole life itself, saying, “please, oh works of my hands, hear me! Please respond, please do me good. I’ll pour out my own blood into serving you. I’ll offer my whole life to serve you, oh work of my hands. Please accept my offering! Please do me good, please SAVE ME!”
But there is no voice, or any to answer, nor any that regard.
Your work… Its beautiful. Covered in Gold and Silver.
But its an idol. It’s a fake, its reprobate. It looks like a god, but it is no god. It looks like it can save, but has no power to save. Your work of your hands.. is an idol.
Habakkuk 2:19 Woe unto him that saith to the wood, Awake; to the dumb stone, Arise, it shall teach! Behold, it is laid over with gold and silver, and there is no breath at all in the midst of it.
Awake, my works! Arise, the works my hands! Save me!
My works will deliver me. My works will be my security. My works will be my proof!
Isaiah 44:9-13 They that make a graven image are all of them vanity; and their delectable things shall not profit; and they are their own witnesses; they see not, nor know; that they may be ashamed. 10 Who hath formed a god, or molten a graven image [the work of men’s hands] that is profitable for nothing? … 13 The carpenter stretcheth out his rule; he marketh it out with a line; he fitteth it with planes, and he marketh it out with the compass, and maketh it after the figure of a man, according to the beauty of a man; that it may remain in the house.
We make our idols after what we have seen with our eyes. We make them after birds, and four-footed beasts, and creeping things, but mostly… men! We fashion our works after the beauty of a man.
They know what a good man looks like. So they make works after the figure of a good man. They scope out the pattern, and fashion their works (themselves) after a good man. Just be like Jesus! Just be good like Ghandi! Just be like Mohammed! Just be you, but better than you were before. Mold and Reshape your life. Completely change your lifestyle. Change your actions. Change your shape.
Mold yourself.. craft your idol. Craft the work of your hands, after the figure of a man.
As an unsaved man, your work – the work of your hands is a dumb and deaf idol!
That is what you worship, and that is what you pray to, and that is what you trust.
Men’s works are deceitful works. Man’s works (his idols) are teachers of lies.
Habakkuk 2:18 What profiteth the graven image that the maker thereof hath graven it; the molten image, and a teacher of lies, that the maker of his work trusteth therein, to make dumb idols?
Man thinks his works are true good works but his WORKS are lying to him, and his heart, trusts in them.
Man’s works are dumb idols. They cannot speak, hear, walk, nor can they save.
Just like a dumb and deaf idol, your works will not profit you.
Jeremiah 10:5 They are upright as the palm tree, but speak not: they must needs be borne, because they cannot go. Be not afraid of them; for they cannot do evil, neither also is it in them to do good.
My theory: What we do in the flesh is not true good OR true evil. True evil or true good is defined by what sort of spirit it is which creates the thing, and what sort of heart the thing comes out of. What comes out of a saved man’s new heart is always true good, and what comes out of an unsaved man’s heart is always true evil. No matter what the outward appearance of the flesh is, no matter what the shadow looks like, what the flesh does is according to the spirit which is in it. Its neither true good or true evil. Its nothing. Its vanity. It’s a shadow.
An idol can’t do any true work. And neither can you! Because the works of your hands are idols, and you are just like your works.
Psalms 115:4-8 Their idols are silver and gold, the work of men’s hands. 5 They have mouths, but they speak not: eyes have they, but they see not: 6 They have ears, but they hear not: noses have they, but they smell not: 7 They have hands, but they handle not: feet have they, but they walk not: neither speak they through their throat. 8 They that make them are like unto them; so is every one that trusteth in them.
Everyone that trusteth in idols (the work of their own hands), is just like an idol – dead and vain, without life, without power to speak or move or deliver.
You are vanity, and your works are vanity. You are of nothing, and your works are of nought.
And you are just like your works. You are like an idol. The physical body can look like a good man. It can be covered with gold and silver. Beautiful. But it is just a figure, just a shadow.
There is an evil spirit behind you that may come and work… but it will work evil. It will be your ruin.
Micah 5:13 Thy graven images also will I cut off, and thy standing images out of the midst of thee; and thou shalt no more worship the work of thine hands.
How do you STOP worshipping the works of your hands?
Hosea 14:2-3 Take with you words, and turn to the LORD: say unto him, Take away all iniquity, and receive us graciously: so will we render the calves of our lips. [You take words – His words – and offer a sacrifice out of your lips!] 3 Asshur shall not save us; we will not ride upon horses: neither will we say any more to the work of our hands, Ye are our gods: for in thee the fatherless findeth mercy.
To get saved, you must repent of your idols – the works of your hands.
Revelation 9:20 And the rest of the men which were not killed by these plagues yet repented not of the works of their hands, that they should not worship devils, and idols of gold, and silver, and brass, and stone, and of wood: which neither can see, nor hear, nor walk:
Your works are blind and deaf, dumb, and lame idols.
Men need to REPENT of the works of their hands. But they see profit in their works. They see their works like an idolater sees his idol. The works of my hands can rise up and deliver me! Save me, my works!
“men’s hands” appears 6 times in the Bible. 5 refer to them directly as gods/idols. The 6th is this.
Acts 17:24-25 God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands; 25 Neither is worshipped with men’s hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things;
The true worshippers worship in spirit and in truth.
But our natural works are not true works. Nothing an unsaved man makes with his hands is accepted / true worship.
Psalms 28:4-5 Give them according to their deeds, and according to the wickedness of their endeavours: give them after the work of their hands; render to them their desert. 5 Because they regard not the works of the LORD, nor the operation of his hands, he shall destroy them, and not build them up.
You will be judged according to the works of your hands.
Your works will be weighed against His works. Your works will be proved, tested, tried.
Your works will be found to be idols.
A man must repent of his idolatry, that is, the works of his hands. A man must regard the works of the Lord as his only salvation.
Psalms 111:7 The works of his hands are verity and judgment; all his commandments are sure.
The Lord’s works are truth and judgment. The Lord’s works are not made with carnal hands.
The Lord’s works are his sons.
Isaiah 45:11 Thus saith the LORD, the Holy One of Israel, and his Maker, Ask me of things to come concerning my sons, and concerning the work of my hands command ye me.
Isaiah 60:21 Thy people also shall be all righteous: they shall inherit the land for ever, the branch of my planting, the work of my hands, that I may be glorified.
Saved men are not like idols. Saved men have true life, eternal life. Saved men are the work of the hands of the Lord.
Isaiah 29:23 But when he [Jacob] seeth his children, the work of mine hands, in the midst of him, they shall sanctify my name, and sanctify the Holy One of Jacob, and shall fear the God of Israel.
And, as a saved man, those are our works of OUR hands.
What is the work of our (spiritual) hands? New Jerusalem of course. The city of God, the Bride of Christ.
This is the Lord’s work, and it is our work, as labourers together with Him.
1 Corinthians 3:9 For we are labourers together with God: ye are God’s husbandry, ye are God’s building.
This was not true in the OT. They could not work good and acceptable things. But it was prophesied that they would.
Isaiah 65:22-23 They shall not build, and another inhabit; they shall not plant, and another eat: for as the days of a tree are the days of my people, and mine elect shall long enjoy the work of their hands. 23 They shall not labour in vain, nor bring forth for trouble; for they are the seed of the blessed of the LORD, and their offspring with them.
Psalms 90:16-17 Let thy work appear unto thy servants, and thy glory unto their children. 17 And let the beauty of the LORD our God be upon us: and establish thou the work of our hands upon us; yea, the work of our hands establish thou it.
These OT references are prophetic, futuristic. When the Lord’s work appears, then ours will be established too. What work? The building of God! The house of the Lord.
1 Peter 2:4-5 To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious, 5 Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.
Deuteronomy 33:1 And this is the blessing, wherewith Moses the man of God blessed the children of Israel before his death. [this is prophetic, futuristic] … 8 And of Levi he said, … 10 They shall teach Jacob thy judgments, and Israel thy law: they shall put incense before thee, and whole burnt sacrifice upon thine altar. 11 Bless, LORD, his substance, and accept the work of his hands: smite through the loins of them that rise against him, and of them that hate him, that they rise not again.
The works of carnal hands are idols. But the works of Spiritual hands are acceptable.
This is fulfilled in us, the Church… we are the true priesthood, offering up spiritual sacrifices. NOT with the carnal hands of men.
Romans 13:12 The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.
That is all they could do in the OT. And its all we can do according to the flesh. Darkness, shadows, figures, patterns of the true. But now… the day is at hands. Cast off the works of men’s hands, the works of darkness, your idols… and put on… the Holy Spirit, the word of God, the gospel of Jesus Christ.
You will be recompensed according to your works.
Psalms 28:4 Give them according to their deeds, and according to the wickedness of their endeavours: give them after the work of their hands; render to them their desert.
Lamentations 3:64 Render unto them a recompence, O LORD, according to the work of their hands.
Jeremiah 25:14 … and I will recompense them according to their deeds, and according to the works of their own hands.
We will each be recompensed according to our works.
Which are your works? Which hands are you working with? Which works will be rewarded to you again?
The vain works of your own carnal hands (your idols), or the works of His hands (His children, His building).
“the work of men’s hands” – 5 times, all 5 define them as gods/idols.
“the work of the hands of man” – 1 time, defined as gods/idols.
To me, that seems to be the definition of men’s works.
1 Samuel 15:23 For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry.
Rebellion is as idolatry (worshipping the works of men’s hands).
Idolatry (worshipping the works of your own hands) is rebellion.
1 Samuel 15:13-23 And Samuel came to Saul: and Saul said unto him, Blessed be thou of the LORD: I have performed the commandment of the LORD. 14 And Samuel said, What meaneth then this bleating of the sheep in mine ears, and the lowing of the oxen which I hear? … 20 And Saul said unto Samuel, Yea, I have obeyed the voice of the LORD, … and have utterly destroyed the Amalekites. 21 But the people took of the spoil, sheep and oxen, the chief of the things which should have been utterly destroyed, to sacrifice unto the LORD thy God in Gilgal. 22 And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices [works], as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey [believe the word of God] is better than sacrifice [work], and to hearken [believe the word of God] than the fat of rams. 23 For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, he hath also rejected thee from being king.
Saul and the people used their own wisdom to reject the word of God. To change his commandment. To rebel against it by taking of man’s good things (works) and sacrificing them to the Lord.
Now, that’s not how they saw it… They really believed they had done a good thing! They thought they obeyed the commandment. Saul said so twice. They thought, what a good work! Surely the Lord will be pleased with our offerings of these good things!
But the Lord didn’t want any of those things. He wanted those things destroyed – man’s things, man’s works.
What do we learn from this?
1 – Believe the word of the Lord perfectly! Don’t add, don’t subtract. Offer to Him exactly what He requires. No more, no less.
2 – Don’t save what is to be destroyed. God said destroy it all. Likewise, we are to repent of all our works. We are to crucify the flesh. But Saul and the people spared the good things and only destroyed the vile things. Likewise, the false prophets would have you repent only of your sins, but not of all the works of your hands. Saul and the people couldn’t think to destroy those “good works”. They could not scripturally Repent.
3 – To rebel (in this case, to make an offering to the Lord of something that was supposed to be destroyed) is as idolatry (worshipping the work of your hands). A prayer including one’s own works (which were supposed to be cut off/destroyed) is rebellion. This is what a false salvation prayer is to God: Witchcraft and Rebellion. This is why He does not accept or respect, or even hear, their prayers.
The works of men’s hands… spiritually, scripturally, truthfully… are idols.
Revelation 9:20 And the rest of the men which were not killed by these plagues yet repented not of the works of their hands, that they should not worship devils, and idols of gold, and silver, and brass, and stone, and of wood: which neither can see, nor hear, nor walk:
Woe to the man that offers the works of his hands (his idols) to the Lord.
To obey, to believe, to be saved, a man must repent of the works of his hands and have regard only to the Lord and the work of His hands.
By Pastor • Christian Doctrine, Good Works • 0