IDOLS

What’s first in our life that’s not God?

Would we be willing to to say “take all my desires and fantasies” in exchange for His presence? Is being consumed by His presence, love, joy and peace enough or do we need addition too? Must we have materials to subsidize His presence?

A. He’s worthy of full affection

Scriptures:

The Widow’s offering (Luke 21: 1-4)

“Jesus looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the offering box, and he saw a poor widow put in two small copper coins. And he said, “Truly, I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all of them. For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.”

Woman with Alabaster jar (Matthew 26: 6-13)

The Parable of the Hidden Treasure (Matthew 13:44-46)

Paul’s achievements, when compared to christ, are worthless. (Philippians 3: 7-11)

Is there a cost from us that gives Him full affection? If so, what does that look like? Is it seasonal? can what you lay down be picked back up or is it an idol we must lay at His feet and be crucified?

1. Are married to You?

or are we committing adultery with our hearts, minds, bodies and spirit?

Ephesians 5:21–33 (ESV)

submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.

Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everything to their husbands.

Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish. In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church, because we are members of his body. “Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church. However, let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.

Definition:

Submit- hypotasso; subject, subordinate, place or arrange under, submit, place under

to yield to the control of another. (authority)

to submit one to another, we recognize the authority each other has been given by God.

Does submission cost something?

- I would argue yes and even try to answer what we’re giving away… CONTROL!!!

Note: If some here say, “oh that’s easy, i’d like to follow up with another question. Is what you deem to be easy, disguised as passivity?

But coming from the other side, if you say it’s hard for your to submit, i’d ask what are you afraid of?

perhaps many or some fall into one of this examples or maybe many fall somewhere in between.

submission relinquishes function for faith!

do we get out of control because we feel we’re not in control of our life?

Though it cost you everything, get understanding...