GIVE GODLINESS BACK TO GOD

We give what we were first given. This was a principle in the old and now too in the new testament. God plundered Egypt on the passover, and gave Israel gifts, which He later asked of for the building of the temple. The temple is a creation built by the gifts of God to men and the gifts of men to God. When God withholds, it is not to be a gift. This was so in the Babylonian garment and precious metal stolen by Achan in the fall of Jericho when God had specifically ordered that everything had to be burnt down and the gold and silver had to go through fire. This led to the defeat of Israel by tiny Ai. The same happened when Saul, the King spared some cattle for "sacrifice" in a city where all living things were to be destroyed. This would have been an abomination of offering. It resulted to his rejection as a King of Israel by God. God does not give wickedness, and in return He does not receive wickedness for an offering (Ps 15:8). When Israel made an idol in the desert in place of God, they did this. They were offering a wicked sacrifice to A Holy God. God responded with a plague and a separation of only one tribe that would in future draw near for His service. Now the principle stands, worship God is spirit and in truth, in the beauty of holiness. Our idols can also be our fattened flesh or lusts in rebellion to God.

Godliness is a gift of the Spirit of God.