Exposing Idols - Self Idolatry
Notes
Transcript
TIM KELLER......
“AN IDOL IS ANYTHING MORE IMPORTANT TO YOU THAN GOD, ANYTHING THAT ABSORBS YOUR HEARTS AND IMAGINATION MORE THAN GOD, AND ANYTHING THAT YOU SEEK TO GIVE YOURSELF WHAT ONLY GOD CAN GIVE.”
EZEKIEL 14.
SHOWS US THAT IDOLATRY IS PRIMARILY AN ISSUE OF THE HEART
IN EZEKIEL 14 WE SEE THAT GOD’S GOAL IN EVERYTHING HE DOES IS TO RECAPTURE THE HEARTS OF HIS PEOPLE
1 Some of the elders of Israel came to me and sat down in front of me. 2 Then the word of the Lord came to me: 3 “Son of man, these men have set up idols in their hearts and put wicked stumbling blocks before their faces. Should I let them inquire of me at all? 4 Therefore speak to them and tell them, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: When any of the Israelites set up idols in their hearts and put a wicked stumbling block before their faces and then go to a prophet, I the Lord will answer them myself in keeping with their great idolatry. 5 I will do this to recapture the hearts of the people of Israel, who have all deserted me for their idols.’
6 “Therefore say to the people of Israel, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Repent! Turn from your idols and renounce all your detestable practices!
IN MARK 12:30-31
30 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ 31 The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.”
WHEN WE LOVE THE LORD IN THIS WAY
THERE IS NO ROOM FOR SELF
WHEN WE LAY DOWN OUR DESIRES FOR OTHERS...
THEIR IS NO ROOM FOR SELFISH GAIN
I THOUGHT ABOUT DIFFERENT IDOLS TO PREACH ON FOR A LONG TIME
I CAME TO ONE CONCLUSION
SIN AND ALL OTHER IDOLS, STEM FROM ONE OTHER IDOL
THE IDOL OF SELF
WE ARE SO CONCERNED WITH OUR OWN COMFORT AND PLEASURES.
THAT WE HAVE ALLOWED OUR HEARTS TO BE TURNED AWAY FROM GOD
OH COME ON....
11 Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therein to be content. 12 I know how to be abased, and I know also how to abound: in everything and in all things have I learned the secret both to be filled and to be hungry, both to abound and to be in want. 13 I can do all things in him that strengtheneth me.
BUT PASTOR DOESN’T THE LORD WANT ME TO BE COMFORTABLE IN LIFE?
HE WANTS YOU TO LEARN TO BE CONTENT....
THE DIFFERENCE...
COMFORT IS HAPPINESS BASED ON THE ABSENCE OF PAIN
CONTENTMENT IS HAPPINESS REGARDLESS OF CIRCUMSTANCE OR PAIN
WOW.....
IN AMERICA
WE ENJOY EXTREMELY COMFORTABLE LIVES
EVERYTHING WE NEED OR WANT...
IS JUST A SHORT TRIP OR A CLICK AWAY
OH COME ON SOMEBODY....
FOOD
LIVING ESSENTIALS
FAMILY
FRIENDS
ENTERTAINMENT
UNFORTUNATELY, A LIFE FILLED WITH COMFORT....
CAN BREED SELF-IDOLATRY
WE LOVE OUR COMFORTS MORE THAN WE LOVE GOD
THE BIBLE TELLS US THAT IF WE TRULY LIVE THE WAY JESUS CALLS US TO...
WE WILL BE DESPISED
HATED AND PERSECUTED
12 Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, 13 while evil people and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived.
WOW....
FRIENDS MAY MOCK US FOR...
REFUSING TO HAVE SEX BEFORE MARRIAGE
OR REFUSING TO HAVE SEX WITH ANYONE OTHER THAN OUR SPOUSE
CO-WORKERS MAY OSTRACIZE US FOR ...
NOT GOSSIPING ABOUT THE BOSS
THE BOSS MAY FIRE US FOR....
NOT LYING TO CLIENTS
PEOPLE WILL HATE US FOR BEING GRIEVED BY....
SAME-SEX MARRIAGE
1 But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. 2 For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, 4 treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people.
“HAVING THE APPEARANCE OF GODLINESS”
A CAMOUFLAGED FAITH
AN IMPOSTOR
OH MY LORD.....
VERSE 13 SAID
13 while evil people and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived.
IMPOSTERS????
A PERSON WHO PRETENDS TO BE SOMEONE ELSE IN ORDER TO DECEIVE OTHERS, ESPECIALLY FOR FRAUDULENT GAIN
SOMEONE WHO LOOK REAL ON THE OUTSIDE
BUT INSIDE THEYRE FAKES
OH MY LORD....
SOME WHO LOOK GOOD AND DO GOOD AT CHURCH BUT THEN
WHEN THEY GET AROUND THEIR BUDDIES
OR WHEN THEY’RE WATCHING THE GAME
IT’S A DIFFERENT STORY
DON’T BE AN IMPOSTOR....
OH COME ON SOMEBODY....
FAITHFULLY KEEPING GOD’S COMMANDMENTS REQUIRES US TO....
CONSTANTLY STEP OUT OF OUR COMFORT ZONES
TO DAILY LAY DOWN OUR DESIRES AND PLEASURES
OH COME ON...
IT’S NOT COMFORTABLE TO GO AGAINST THE MAINSTREAM
IN ORDER TO STAND UP FOR GOD’S TRUTH
IT’S NOT COMFORTABLE TO...
LOVE OUR ENEMIES
IT’S NOT COMFORTABLE TO...
GIVE UP FINANCIAL SECURITY
IT’S NOT COMFORTABLE TO...
BEAR OTHERS PEOPLE’S BURDENS
IT’S NOT COMFORTABLE TO.....
FORGIVE THOSE WHO HAVE HURT US DEEPLY
BUT JOHN 14:15
15 “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.
UNDERSTAND THIS....
A PREFERENCE FOR COMFORT IS SELF-IDOLATRY
WHEN WE LAY THINGS DOWN IN OUR LIVES....
CHANGE TAKES TIME…BUT
WE MUST BE CAREFUL NOT TO ASSUME THAT GOD IN HIS INFINITE MERCY
WILL KEEP TOLERATING US JUST AS WE ARE
THIS KIND OF STUBBORNNESS TAKES GOD FOR GRANTED
AND WE BECOME NO BETTER OR DIFFERENT THAN NON-BELIEVERS
THE BOTTOM LINE.....
STUBBORNLY STICKING TO OUR COMFORT ZONES
IS THE SAME AS SELF-IDOLATRY
ACTS SAYS IT THIS WAY....
51 “You stubborn people! You are heathen at heart and deaf to the truth. Must you forever resist the Holy Spirit? That’s what your ancestors did, and so do you!
GODS REJECTS SAUL BECAUSE OF HIS UNWILLINGNESS TO STEP OUT OF HIS COMFORT ZONE...
23 Rebellion is as sinful as witchcraft,
and stubbornness as bad as worshiping idols.
So because you have rejected the command of the Lord,
he has rejected you as king.”
WE READ IN 2 TIM 3. THAT....
THERE WILL BE A TIME WHERE MEN AND WOMEN WILL BE LOVERS OF THEIR OWN SELVES
THAT SOCIETY WILL LOSE IT’S NATURAL FAMILY EFFECTION
THE BIBLE TELLS US THAT THERE WILL BE SUCH A MENTALITY OF SELFISHNESS...
THAT EVEN HUMAN LIFE IN THE EYES OF MAN WILL BECOME INSIGNIFICANT
OH COME ON....
AS LONG AS I CAN BE HAPPY
IT DOES NOT MATTER WHAT HAPPENS TO OTHERS AROUND ME
CHURCH WE ARE THERE.....
LOOK AT ABORTIONS AND HOW QUICK SOCIETY IS ...TO DEHUMANIZE CHILDREN THAT ARE CREATED BY GOD
IT’S ALL BECAUSE OF SELFISHNESS
IT’S ALL BECAUSE
WHAT I WANT AND MY DESIRES MATTER MORE
I CAN’T HAVE A CHILD BECAUSE...
I’M NOT READY
BECAUSE IT WILL DISRUPT MY LIFE
BECAUSE I CAN’T AFFORD IT
THERE MAY BE SOME IN HERE WHO HAVE GONE THROUGH THIS EXPERIENCE...
THERE IS GOOD NEWS
THERE IS FORGIVENESS
LIKE SO MANY THINGS IN SCRIPTURE...
WE CAN TRACE MUCH OF THEOLOGY BACK TO THE BOOK OF GENESIS
SELF IDOLATRY OR SELF-WORSHIP IS NO EXCEPTION.
IN GENESIS 3:5
1 Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the Lord God had made.
He said to the woman, “Did God actually say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree in the garden’?” 2 And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden, 3 but God said, ‘You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the midst of the garden, neither shall you touch it, lest you die.’ ” 4 But the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. 5 For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”
THE SERPENT ENTICED EVE WITH WORDS OF SELF-EXALTATION.
OH MY LORD....
BECOMING A GOD UNTO OURSELVES HAS ALWAYS BEEN THE GREATEST TEMPTATION THAT SATAN LAYS BEFORE HUMANKIND.
HE SUBTLY ENTICES US ...
TO TAKE THE AUTHORITY THAT BELONGS TO GOD INTO OUR OWN HANDS.
WE DEFINE THIS AS JUST REBELLION..
BUT IT IS FAR MORE THAN JUST THAT....
IT’S SELF-IDOLATRY
WE TEND TO THINK THAT IDOLATRY IS AN OUTSIDE THE CHURCH PROBLEM
NO, THE WORST VERSIONS OF IDOLATRY ARE INSIDE PROBLEMS...
INSIDE THE SAINTS AND THE CHURCH
WE CAN SEE ALL THROUGHOUT THE OLD AND NEW TESTAMENT
THE MOST GRIEVOUS FORMS OF IDOLATRY CAME FROM WITHIN THE CAMPS OF GOD’S PEOPLE.
10 SIGNS YOU MIGHT BE GUILTY OF SELF-IDOLATRY
YOU SEARCH YOUR HEART BEFORE YOU SEARCH THE BIBLE
9 The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?
30 This God—his way is perfect;
the word of the Lord proves true;
he is a shield for all those who take refuge in him.
2. YOUR FEELINGS MATTER MORE TO YOU THAN YOUR FAITHFULNESS
42 And the Lord said, Who then is the faithful and wise steward, whom his lord shall set over his household, to give them their portion of food in due season?
OH MY LORD....
9 Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.
3. YOU ARE OVERLY OBSESSED WITH OUTWARD BEAUTY AND VANITY
THE BIBLE IS FILLED WITH SCRIPTURE REGARDING THIS AND MOSTLY POINTED AT WOMEN HOWEVER,
MEN NOW DAYS…LOL
4. YOU CRAVE FLATTERY BUT RECOIL AT CONVICTION
6 Wounds from a sincere friend
are better than many kisses from an enemy.
5. YOU LACK COMPASSION FOR THOSE LESS FORTUNATE THAN YOU
12 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.
6. YOU MAINTAIN A DOUBLE STANDARD; YOU CONSIDER SOME THINGS ACCEPTABLE FOR YOU BUT NOT FOR OTHERS.
10 False weights and unequal measures—
the Lord detests double standards of every kind.
11 For God does not show favoritism.
7. YOU USE AND MANIPULATE PEOPLE WHILE SIMULTANEOUSLY WANTING THEIR ADMIRATION
42 “But woe to you Pharisees! For you tithe mint and rue and every herb, and neglect justice and the love of God. These you ought to have done, without neglecting the others.
8. YOUR PRAYER ARE PRIMARILY FOCUSED ON YOU OWN WANTS AND NEEDS; YOU RARELY PRAY SELFLESSLY FOR OTHERS.
3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, 4 not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.
WOW…THIS IS HARD SOMETIMES
HUMILITY!!!
THIS IS SOMETHING WE CAN ALL LEARN
BECAUSE EVERYTHING WE DO MOST OF THE TIME
IS OUT OF SELFISH AMBITION
WE DO IT TO MAKE OURSELVES FEEL GOOD
WE DO IT BECAUSE WE HAVE SOMETHING TO GAIN FROM IT
I ENCOURAGE YOU THIS WEEK TO DO SOMETHING IN PRIVATE...
WITHOUT EXPECTING ANYTHING IN RETURN
NOT EVEN A THANK YOU
IN FACT, DON’T EVEN LET THE OTHER PERSON KNOW YOU DID IT.
9. YOU VIEW CHURCH AS BEING ALL ABOUT YOUR BLESSING; YOUR OPINIONS, WANTS, AND NEEDS ARE ALWAYS THE MAIN FOCUS
3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, 4 not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.
IT’S NOT ABOUT US!
WHAT IF I TOLD YOU WHEN YOU PAY TITHES OR GIVE OFFERING
THAT YOU WOULD NEVER RECEIVE ANYTHING FOR THAT
THAT GOD WON’T BLESS THAT
THAT THERE IS NO REAPING AND SOWING
EVERYTHING STILL BELONGS TO GOD
THE REASON YOU CAN EVEN PAY YOUR BILLS OR BUY THOSE THINGS IS BECAUSE GOD ALLOWS YOU TOO
HE STILL ASKS FOR A STILL ASKS FOR A MINIMUM OF 10%
BUT WHEN YOU GIVE, NOTHING WILL COME BACK TO YOU IN RETURN
THE SCRIPTURE ABOUT THE WINDOWS OF HEAVEN BEING OPENED
BLESSINGS PRESSED DOWN SHAKEN TOGETHER AND RUNNING OVER
NONE OF THAT IS THERE
WOULD YOU STILL GIVE?
DO NOTHING OUT OF SELFISH AMBITION
STOP LOOKING TO YOUR OWN INTERESTS
LOOK OUT FOR OTHERS BEFORE YOURSELF
IT’S HARD!!!
24 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. 25 For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it. 26 What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul?
YOU MUST DENY YOURSELF !!!
THIS SCRIPTURE IS A CALL TO SELF-ABASEMENT AND SELF-SACRIFICE.
16 For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father, but are from this world.
BUT PASTOR CHRIS I AM PROUD OF WHAT I HAVE ACCOMPLISHED.
YOU SHOULD BE PROUD OF YOURSELF
YOU WORKED HARD
YOU SACRIFICED A LOT
BUT, ..........
IF YOUR NOT CAREFUL YOU WILL BEGIN TO WORSHIP THE CREATED THING RATHER THAN THE CREATOR OF THAT THING.
OH COME ON.....
IF YOU NOT CAREFUL THE FACT THAT YOU FINALLY ACHIEVED THAT POSITION OR AWARD
WILL BECOME WHAT YOU ARE MOST PROUD OF
AND THE FACT THAT GOD ALLOWED YOU TO GET THERE WILL BE TAKE A BACK BURNER
THIS IS THE IDOLATRY OF SELF
IDOLATRY TAKES ON MANY FORMS.
PEOPLE IDOLIZE MONEY
POSSESSIONS
CELEBRITIES
SPORTS FIGURES
STATUS
TECHNOLOGY
AND MANY OTHER THINGS
BUT IT ALL STEMS FROM ONE THING...
SELF GRATIFICATION
REAL QUICK I WANT TO LOOK AT A LETTER THAT PAUL WROTE TO THE CHURCH IN LAODICEA
15 I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! 16 So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth. 17 You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. 18 I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see.
19 Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent. 20 Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.
......WORSHIP TEAM COME.......
CHURCH GOD IS KNOCKING ON THE DOOR OF YOUR HEART
SOME OF YOU HERE HAVE BEEN BLIND FOR A LONG TIME
THINKING THAT YOUR ALL GOOD
THINKING THAT YOU DON’T NEED ANYTHING
VERSE 17 SAID...
17 You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked.
SOME OF YOU HAVE THINGS IN YOUR LIFE THAT HAVE BECOME MORE PRECIOUS TO YOU THAN GOD
I MEAN YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD REVOLVES AROUND YOUR LIFE
MEANING, IF YOU HAVE TIME FOR GOD OR CHURCH THEN YOULL GO
OTHERWISE, YOUR JUST TOO BUSY
I WANT TO CLOSE WITH THIS SCRIPTURE....
14 having canceled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross.
I WANT TO DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT THIS MORNING
WERE GONNA NAIL SOME STUFF TO THE CROSS THIS MORNING
WE’RE GONNA LAY SOME THINGS DOWN
THE PAPERS YOU WERE GIVEN....
WRITE DOWN SOMETHING OR SOME THINGS
THAT MAY HAVE TAKEN THE PLACE OF AN IDOL IN YOUR LIFE
JUST WRITE THAT DOWN
I’M GONNA OPEN THE ALTARS AS THE WORSHIP TEAM PLAYS
JUST COME AND NAIL THOSE IDOLS
TO THE CROSS
LAY THEM DOWN THIS MORNING
WORSHIP TEAM GO AHEAD......