Jesus Is Our Crutch

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One of the hardest things for me was adjusting my music when I got saved—especially in my 20s.
I loved Heartbreak Drake, Fall Out Boy, and songs like:
"I’d catch a grenade for ya (yeah, yeah, yeah) Throw my hand on a blade for ya (yeah, yeah, yeah) I’d jump in front of a train for ya (yeah, yeah, yeah) You know I’d do anything for ya (yeah, yeah, yeah)."
"Oh, I would go through all this pain Take a bullet straight through my brain Yes, I would die for ya, baby But you won’t do the same."
Then there were songs like:
"Baby, I love you, you are my life My happiest moments weren't complete if you weren't by my side You're my relation and connection to the sun You next to me, there's no darkness I can't overcome."
"You are my raindrops, I am the sea You and God who’s my sunlight, I'm blooming, grown so beautifully Baby, I'm so proud, proud to be your girl You make the confusion go all away from this cold and misty world."
"I am in love with you You set me free I can’t do this thing Called life without you here with me ’Cause I’m dangerously in love with you I’ll never leave Just keep loving me The way I love you loving me."
These lyrics show how people can express their love. But the problem comes when we’re willing to sacrifice everything for someone or something else other than the Lord.
Transition
Sometimes, it’s easy to recognize idolatry in music but harder to see it in our everyday lives and actions.
Today, we’re going to talk about idolatry.
What is idolatry?
What does it look like today?
Tim Keller defines idolatry as:
"Anything you put your functional trust in; anything that absorbs your imagination more than God."
When we look to an object, person, or situation to do for us what only God can do, that is idolatry.
Ultimately, we find out that the people we thought would be our “everything” fail us. That promotion we thought would solve everything? It might end up ruining a marriage.
These things fail to deliver what we believe they could because they aren’t God. They will always fall short when compared to Him.
The First Sin Was Rooted in Idolatry
Genesis 2-3 tells us about the first instance of idolatry:
"The LORD God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it. And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, ‘You may surely eat of every tree of the garden, but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.’"
Adam and Eve put their trust in something other than God. This act of disobedience distanced them from Him.
It wasn’t that God left them—it’s that they moved out of His proximity.
Have you every wondered why you feel that you so far from God? Idolatry puts something between us and God.
The Problem Today
One of the biggest challenges we face is believing we don’t have idols.
Most of us aren’t bowing to statues, but if you examine:
Where you go to cope,
How you spend your money,
What soothes you when you’re angry,
...you’ll likely find your idols.
This conversation is meant to challenge you. Let it. God wants to reveal the idols in your life so you can make room for Him.
Types of Idols then VS Today
Comfort and Pleasure
Ancient: Dionysus (god of wine and pleasure), Aphrodite (goddess of sensuality).
Modern: Entertainment, food, addictions, pornography, leisure activities.
Core Desire: Escape from hardship or pain.
Power and Control
Ancient: Mars (god of war), emperor worship.
Modern: Political influence, career dominance, perfectionism.
Core Desire: Security through self-sufficiency.
Approval and Identity
Ancient: Venus (goddess of beauty), tribal deities.
Modern: Social media, physical appearance, relationships.
Core Desire: Validation and worth.
Wealth and Materialism
Ancient: Fortuna (goddess of fortune).
Modern: Consumerism, financial security.
Core Desire: Fulfillment through material abundance.
Family and Relationships
Ancient: Fertility gods.
Modern: Idolizing children, romantic relationships.
Core Desire: Stability through human connections.
idolatry Definition: Anything you run to more than God to bring the desired result you want.
Comfort 
Emotionally 
Provision
Your idols can be your problems or your goals.
Jesus + One of the biggest lies of the enemy
The Golden Calf
Gods has just saved his people from egypt and is taking them on a journey to the gift of a promised land that he promised to abraham.
but first the stop by mount sinia, the intent behind this is to make a covenant with people an agrement.
a covenant represents a arrangement that two parties would enter into that would only be broken incase of a death.
the covenant that God has made with with his people in the old and new testament always resemble marriage and time after time the break way and forsake him calls them adulterous
because they break the covenant while he remains faithful
The people become gods people and he become their god.
while moses is on that mountain for almost a month and a half the people get afraid and they belive god has forgotten about them.
They take the gifts of gold they were given and melt them down to build a new God to be worshiped, to fullfil there needs
have you ever considered that Most of things that are idols are actually good gifts
there gifts that God gives to us and we take them and turn them into idols
Why Do We Seek Idols? The real question is why? why do we run there? What the root ? Whats the heart posture?
because idolatry is only the result of whats already been goin on in our hearts, its a results of the thoughts and mindsets and lies that we have already agreed with, that then move us to act in this way that puts our full trust in other things.
It’s easy to judge the Israelites for worshiping the golden calf, but we’re no different. We turn to idols out of:
Desperation
Anxiety
Fear
Impatience
Vulnerability
We often question:
God, are you good?
Will you come through?
Are you trustworthy?
Our lack of confidence in God drives us to seek comfort and provision elsewhere.
because we lack confidence in him we run to other things for peace.
Romans 5:1"Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ."
Big Question : What gets in the way of your time with God?
Big Ask Anything that takes your focus off Jesus—don’t play with it. Starve it.
Main Point Idolatry is giving anything other than God your functional trust.
Application
In these last months, I’ve been addressing idols in my life.
I thought they were just gaming or entertainment, but I’ve realized it’s deeper: comparison, wealth, self-worth, and others’ opinions.
These idols have affected how I see myself and even how I feel God sees me.
In my prayer time, God has been asking me: “Who are you doing this for?”
This process has required time, tears, and reevaluation.
But the only way to move forward is by removing these idols and keeping my focus on Jesus.
especially in times suffering we have the chose to return to my typical idol that promises to fulfill me but never does or do i choose to allow jesus to now be my crutch
The Rich Young Ruler Mark 10 17:27
17 As He was setting out on a journey, a man ran up to Him and knelt before Him, and asked Him, “Good Teacher, what shall I do so that I may inherit eternal life?”
18 But Jesus said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good except God alone.
19 You know the commandments: ‘Do not murder, Do not commit adultery, Do not steal, Do not give false testimony, Do not defraud, Honor your father and mother.’”
20 And he said to Him, “Teacher, I have kept all these things from my youth.”
21 Looking at him, Jesus showed love to him and said to him, “One thing you lack: go and sell all you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.”
22 But he [a]was deeply dismayed by [b]these words, and he went away grieving; for he was one who owned much property.
The rich young ruler in the Bible couldn’t let go of his wealth—it had become his idol.
Ask yourself:
He is most likey apart of the sanhridrin
the bible calls him a ruler
but he has money
and his money is getting in the way of him following jesus
his money money is something that he is unwilling to say no to for a time
his money is the thing he cant live without
he money is the thing he has chosen to put his trust in
his money is his provision
here a question we have to ask oursleves? A idol is something you cant even move out of the way?
What good thing take priority in mylife over following jesus, over spending time in my bible
whats getting in the way my intamscy with God?
What can my not go without or you refuse to go without.
what good thing my life turned to for satifaction and provision first instead intentionally seeking his face
Next Pray And ask the holy spirit to reveal idols in your life
When You Identify Your Idol
Repent. Repentance isn’t about saying im sorry, if you keep doing it your not sorry you just feel guility.
True repentance is changed behavior.
Luke 19:8 Zacchaeus’ example again highlights this aspect of repentance.
What does this do?
Its turns your heart back to the father, killing your flesh, reminding it that God is the boss
make changes in your life
Starve it. Stop feeding what keeps you from God.
Joel 2:12-13"‘Even now,’ declares the LORD, ‘return to me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning. Rend your heart and not your garments.’"
Pursue His presence. The more you seek Him, the more He will fill the space where idols once lived.
Mathew 6:33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you."
Let’s turn our hearts back to Him. God is all we need.
Because an idol has no life in itself, it cannot save, and they cannot serve you
Whatever you’re searching for you can find it in Jesus whatever your sacrifice for you in Jesus
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