Got Idols

here we are now @ TheTemple of Love

Now when we talk about love we’re not talking about a healthy Godly love, but were talking about Inordinate affection - which implies that which is excessive and unnatural and without limitation

To the extent that whatever your drawn to it posses a threat to try to take the very place of GOD

Thus making it or them an idol

And there are three areas that we want to deal with here under the Temple of Love

me

family

romance

1) Me Me Me Me Me Me Me Me Me Me Me Me Me

5. Philautia: self-love

AND I ALREADY KNOW WHAT YOUR THINKING .... THAT ITS NOTHING WRONG WITH...

LOVING MYSELF

TAKING CARE OF MYSELF

TREATING MYSLF

REINFORCING MY SELF ESTEEM

AND YOUR RIGHT! BUT REMEMBER … WE’RE NOT TALKING ABOUT HEALTHY TRAITS

WE’RE TALKING ABOUT

SELFISHNESS

WE’RE TALKING ABOUT BEING SELF ABSORBED

WE’RE TALKING ABOUT BIENG ENAMORED WITH YOUR OWN IDEAS AND YOUR OWN IDEOLOGIES OF YOURSELF

AND THIS BECOMES A GREAT FOUNDATION FOR NARCISSISM!

James 1:22 But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves. 23 For if you listen to the word and don’t obey, it is like glancing at your face in a mirror. 24 You see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look like. 25 But if you look carefully into the perfect law that sets you free,

ONLY IF YOU DON’T FORGET WHAT YOU HEARD OR WHAT GOD SHOWED YOU ABOUT YOU WILL YOU BE LIBERATED

Romans 12:3 Says “ Don’t Think More highly of Yourself Than You Ought”

AND HERE WE HAVE THIS MIRROR THAT RAISES THE RELEVANT QUESTION....

HOW DO YOU SEE YOURSELF

BECAUSE TYPICALLY WE USE THE MIRROR IN THE NATURAL WHEN WE EITHER KNOW WE FLAWLESS OR ABOUT TO GET FLAWLESS ON THE OUTSIDE

HAIR DONE

NAILS DONE

LASHES ON FLEEK

FRESH DYE JOB

BEARD TIGHT

GOD SAYS THATS CUTE AND ALL

BUT MAN IS COUGHT UP ON THE OUTER APPEARANCE

IM CONCERNED ABOUT YOUR HEART

BECAUSE LOOK AT ALL... OF THE ATTENTION YOU GIVE TO YOUR OUTER APPEARANCE

WHAT IF WE DID AN EKG TO SEE THE SPIRITUAL CONDITION OF YOUR HEART

WOULD DWE FIND PRIDE & ARROGANCE

WOULD IT REVEAL THAT YOU ARE A LOVER OF SELF

SAUL PROVIDES A GREAT ILLUSTRATION OF THIS FOR US

REWARD YOURSELF FOR DOING WRONG

SELF PRAISE

1 SAMUEL 15:12 Early the next morning Samuel went to find Saul. Someone told him, “Saul went to the town of Carmel to set up a monument to himself; then he went on to Gilgal.”

13 When Samuel finally found him, Saul greeted him cheerfully. “May the Lord bless you,” he said. “I have carried out the Lord’s command!”

CAN I SUGGEST THAT THERES ONLY ONE REMEDY FOR THIS

YOU GOTTA HUMBLE YOURSELF

1 PETER 1 :66  So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time he will lift you up in honor.

2) FAMILY FAMILY FAMILY FAMILY FAMILYFAMILY

NOW IT’S NOTHING WRONG WITH LOVING YOUR FAMILY BECAUSE IT’S THE FIRST PLACE YOU

EXPERIENCE

LOVE

COMMUNITY

CONNECTION

SUPPORT

NUTURING

Luke 14:25 A large crowd was following Jesus. He turned around and said to them, 26 “If you want to be my disciple, you must, by comparison, hate everyone else—your father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even your own life. Otherwise, you cannot be my disciple. 27 And if you do not carry your own cross and follow me, you cannot be my disciple.

28 “But don’t begin until you count the cost

Mathew 19:14 But Jesus said, “Let the children come to me. Don’t stop them! For the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to those who are like these children.”

Romance ROMANCE ROMANCE

And as we deal with this Romance Love, i want to suggest that ...

There are 7 greek words that define love and out of the seven there’s this one that captures

1. Eros: romantic, passionate love

Eros is passion, lust, pleasure. It’s an appreciation for one’s physical being or beauty, and is driven by attraction and sexual longing. It describes desire and obsession and is most similar to what we think of as romantic, passionate love between life partners. At least in the earlier stages of courtship, when everything is crazy-hot and you can’t get enough of each other, that is.

NOW BEFORE I ELABORATE, I WANNA GIVE YOU THREE HOPE SCRIPTURES IN CASE YOU FIND YOURSELF IN THIS PREDICAMENT

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Philippians 4:11 Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to be content with whatever I have. (content-ADEQUATE)

1 Timothy 6:6 Yet true godliness with contentment is itself great wealth

2 Corinthians 12:9 Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me.

when you find yourself longing for passion and romance, God can give you a Grace to be content without

HOLY WOOD WOULD HAVE YOU ROMANTICIZE AND FANTASIZE ABOUT THIS ROMANCE AND BEING IN LOVE

BABY BOOMERS AND GENERATION X

GENERAL HOSPITAL -

LUKE AND LAURA

MILLINEALS AND BEYAOND

BEYAONCE AND JAY-Z

2. Philia: intimate, authentic friendship

Philia is characterized by intimacy, knowing, and soul-to-soul bonds. It’s encouraging, kind, and authentic; the stuff from which great friendship is made, regardless of whether it’s with a platonic best friend or a romantic partner. This love is also based in goodwill, or wanting what’s best for the other person. Philia is a connection akin to that of soul mates; it’s one part destiny, another part choice.

3. Ludus: playful, flirtatious love

Ludus is infatuation, toying, flirtation. It describes the situation of having a crush and acting on it. It’s rooted in having fun, whatever that means specifically to you. Ludus is definitely the love you’d experience with a fling—casual, sexual, exciting, and with zero implications of obligation. Of all the Greek words for love, this one more than others comes without any eros or philia attachment.

6. Pragma: committed, companionate love

Pragma is love built on commitment, understanding and long-term best interests, like building a family. Over time, eros can turn into pragma as a couple grows to honor, respect, and cherish each other, accepting of differences and learning to compromise. It is everlasting love rooted in romantic feelings and companion.

7. Agápe: empathetic, universal love

Agápe is love for others that’s inclusive of a love for God, nature, strangers, or the less fortunate. It’s generally an empathetic love toward humanity itself and is sometimes connected to altruism since it involves caring for and loving others without expecting anything in return. This sort of pay-it-forward love—people helping others selflessly—is the foundation of great societies and communities.