Don't Settle for Anything Less than Jesus

Introduction

https://www.npr.org/2019/08/19/752333921/spicy-with-a-twist-nearly-4-tons-of-pot-found-in-jalape-o-shipment - Marijuana found in shipment of jalapenos! People will do crazy things to sell drugs/buy drugs. You know the stories of people who give up everything to feed their addiction. The addiction becomes the most important thing in that person’s life.

What is the most important thing in your life that if it was taken away from you, you would lose all your hope? All your meaning and purpose? All your joy? All your sense of significance? If you answer to those questions is anything other than God, you have a problem.

God is our hope, our source of meaning and purpose, our source of joy, etc. If you are depending on something other than God to give you purpose, meaning, joy, etc. You’ve erected an idol in your life.

Idolatry seems like an ancient problem - who builds stone or wood gods today? But, idolatry isn’t only an ancient problem, it’s is perhaps the biggest problem our culture faces today. Everyone is looking for something to worship, and until you discover that Jesus is the only true God that deserves our worship, your heart will always drift to idolatry.

Even in this room, there are those of us who claim Christ yet struggle with idolatry. We continually find ultimate joy, meaning, and purpose, in things other than God.

In , Paul goes head-to-head with an idolatrous culture. The city of Ephesus was full of idol worship. From this passage, three truths about idolatry that you need to know to guard your heart against idolatry.

Story:

Paul’s 3rd missionary journey - 4-5 years - 2500 miles. A tough season - 18 months in Corinth. Now, Ephesus for several months - a great city and great fruit!

Paul’s 3rd missionary journey - 4-5 years - 2500 miles. A tough season - 18 months in Corinth. Now, Ephesus for several months - a great city and great fruit!

Apollos already serving there - Paul preached in synagogue for 3 months (19:8) - opposition - began to preach daily in hall of Tyrannus (a lecture hall) for two years.

vs. 10 - All residents of Asia heard the Gospel in two years! WOW! What would it take for everyone in a five-mile-radius of us to hear the Gospel in two years? What if we had that kind of passion to share the Gospel to our community?

God using Paul in such a mighty way - it’s noticed by Jewish exorcists - they don’t know Jesus, but they try to cast out demons in the name of Jesus that Paul proclaims. Evil spirit, “Who are you?” (vs. 15)

People turning from pagan practices. Burning books. City being changed!

AND, that was the problem because the livelihood of the city depended on idolatry.

Artemis - the goddess hunting - worshipped in Ephesus - Temple in Ephesus one of 7 wonders of ancient world. People from all over the Roman empire would travel to see this marvelous site and to worship Artemis.

Idolatry was the business of Ephesus. If people turned from idolatry, the economy would crash, and if the economy crashed, the Demetrius’ livelihood would vanish.

Demetrius made silver shrines to Artemis. Tourists bought them and put them in their homes to pray to them. It was big business. (vs. 25)

Gathers others who are making a living off of idolatry, “Paul is turning people away… He’s saying gods made with hands are not gods at all! Not good for business! Plus, this temple is going to become nothing! Artemis is going to be disposed of her magnificence”

City being changed, but maybe not a good thing! Their idols had brought them wealth, now they could lose it all! Not only that, Paul threatened the very heart of the cultural identity of the city!

Riot breaks out! For whatever reason, they can’t get to Paul, so they drag Paul’s traveling companions to the theatre (Paul already out of town) - which held about 25,000 people. (vs. 29) The crowd is going to kill them!

Word got to Paul about what was going on, but he was encouraged to stay out of it - or he would lose his life! (vs. 30-31)

Then, Alexander, a Jew, put into the crowd - to speak on behalf of the Jews - “Don’t confuse those Christians with us!”

For two hours - citizens of Ephesus should “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!” It’s chaotic! It’s crazy! And, it’s all in the name of idolatry! People passionate about their idol, Artemis!

Town clerk talks sense into the rioters. Rome wasn’t going to like this! If Rome caught wind of this riot, would remove privileges from Ephesus. The clerk: “You can’t kill these men. They haven’t stolen. They haven’t spoken against our goddess. If you have a case, take them to court, or we will be charged by the Roman government!”

Peace restored - but very clear who Demetrius and many in Ephesus were idolaters.

Idols promise prosperity.

The real idol in Ephesus wasn’t Artemis - at least not for Demetrius and so many in the city. The real idol was prosperity. Artemis was a means to gain what Demetrius really wanted: wealth. As long as business went well, the worship of Artemis promised prosperity.

The reason why you and I turn to idolatry is because of what idolatry promises.

How the heart works: You take good things and make them ultimate things - job, marriage, kids, hobbies - Good gifts that God wants you to enjoy, but we tend to put all of our hope in the gifts of God rather than God Himself. Why? Idols promise prosperity.

Your job promises you prestige, promotions, career advancement, accolades - so you work like a dog and give your job ultimate allegiance.

Education promises you open doors of opportunity - pats on the back - etc. So, it gets your allegiance.

Marriage promises you fulfillment, a lifetime of happiness and joy - so you make your spouse your idol.

That addiction - pornography, alcohol - promises you a release - you give it your allegiance.

That hobby promises you a break from life - You pursue.

Comfort as an idol - you want an easy life - and you do anything to have the comforts - go into debt, miss opportunities to live on mission, etc.

The list of idols limitless - but your idols tell you the same lie: “Give me your allegiance, and I’ll make your life better.”

Beware: Idols promise prosperity, but in the end:

Idols consume you.

Idols blind you.

Idols anger you.

Idols never deliver.

Demetrius and the businessmen had their idols, but in a moment they fell apart. That’s why there was a riot! Idols couldn’t deliver because people in Ephesus were finding the One who could deliver by giving real hope, real meaning, real satisfaction. Idols never deliver on their promises because:

Idols never give you enough. You finally get that promotion and everything you worked so hard for. It was never enough. (Getting Ph.D. - nothing changed - It wasn’t as fulfilling as I thought it would be.) For some, your idol is the praise of people - you’re most satisfied when people sing your praises - but it’s never enough. You want more and more praise. You get married thinking your husband will fulfill all your dreams and desires, and he doesn’t. He’s not enough. You live vicariously through your kids, but their successes don’t fulfill you. Thing about idols: you don’t even really enjoy them - trying so hard to please your idols, to feed your idols - they make you miserable.

Idols always expose your emptiness. Idols expose a longing in your heart that the idols cannot fulfill. You get the promotion, get get the wife, you get the house of your dreams, etc., and you still feel empty. The emptiness you feel can only be filled by God through a relationship with Him.

Idols always demand a sacrifice.

Demetrius and the business leaders were willing to sacrifice the lives of believers to hold on to their idols - Paul could have died if he went into the theatre! Idols require:

Sacrifice of time - How much time have you given pursuing an idol that will never fulfill you? Thinking if I just gave a little more time, it will finally pay off.

Sacrifice of resources - How much money have you given to that hobby? How much money have you given to feed that addiction? How much debt have you gone into to hold on to the idol of comfort?

Sacrifice of relationships - What relationships have you hurt in order to pursue your idol? Maybe your family didn’t get your time and affection because you were too busy trying to climb the corporate ladder, etc.

Only solution - Knock down the idols and embrace Jesus. What idol(s) are you holding on to that must go this morning? Be honest. Come clean with yourself and with God. What are you obsessing over to bring you joy that isn’t delivering? What is it that if it was taken away from you would leave you hopeless?

Embrace Jesus:

He promises real prosperity. Deliverance from sin and eternity with Him. - If you put all your hope in Christ you will be a co-heir with Christ.

He always delivers - Idols let you down because they don’t fulfill. Jesus does. He always fulfills. ()

He made the sacrifice. Idols demand sacrifices, Jesus made the sacrifice. Because of love, He went to a cross and died in your place. He showed His loyalty to you. Which of your idols has done that? He suffered the punishment for your sin and rose again. Run to Him because: His love is more faithful, more tender, and more fulfilling than romance; his promises are more secure and more reliable than money; his presence is more life-sustaining than comforts; his future more fulfilling than living vicariously through the future successes of your children, and his attention and affections better than the praise of people.

His love is more faithful, more tender, and more fulfilling than

romance; his promises are more secure and more reliable than money; his presence is more life-sustaining than creature comforts; his future more fulfilling than fertile family, his attention and affections better than the praise of people.