Thursday, January 17, 2013

Idols - Spiritual Adultery



Exodus 20:2-6 “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. You shall have no other gods before Me. You shall not make for yourself an idol, or any likeness of what is in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the water under the earth. You shall not worship them or serve them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children, on the third and the fourth generations of those who hate Me, but showing loving-kindness to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments.”

Wrapping up our six week small group Bible Study series, we touched the topic of idols in our life. Christian admonition is not angry scolding. It is loving correction and warning based on God's Word for the purpose of protecting and building up. Therefore, it is important to understand the difference between jealousy and envy. Envy is wishing that you had something that someone else has. Jealousy is not wanting someone else to have what you have. God is sovereign, with supreme power and dominion over His Creation, which shares with no one and no thing. Idolatry is spiritual adultery against our Creator Father God and what the first three of the Ten Commandments address and is the reason that ungodly people do not want them displayed and spoken. 

2 Corinthians 6:16-7:1 What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said: “I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people. Therefore come out from them and be separate, says the Lord. Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you. I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters,
says the Lord Almighty.” Since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God.

God has much to say in His Holy Word with respect to idols and their worship. An idol is anything that we bow down to, that we put in the rightful place of God, anything that receives a priority over Him in our affections. An idol is a counterfeit god that will lead us away from loving God with all your heart, mind, soul, body and strength. God does not tolerate idols. They are bad for you and I; they keep us from being all that God, in His goodness, desires for you and for His kingdom. God is divinely jealous. He is jealous for our holiness and our sanctification, without which, He says “No one will see the Lord” (Hebrews 12:14).

Luke 16:13 No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth” … (or any other idol). We can not have to both ways.

Do you believe that Idolatry is a problem today? Do you see people that have something or someone in their life that receives a priority over God in our affections? We must never let our sinful flesh desires, the god-rejecting world system or Satan take the heart of God from us. Let’s walk in the Spirit, praise the Lord and love God alone.

 Mark 12:30Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.”
In Christ, Brian

5 comments:

Susan said...

So true, Brian. I fail at this every day. Thank God He loved me before I loved Him or I would never make it :)

I just recently heard Phil Johnson's sermon on coveting. It convicted me to the core. He outlined how that "little sin" permeates this fallen world, and I for once was able to see it more clearly, our desperate situation. And as a consequence, I could perceive His work and His love more clearly too. I posted about it on my blog (shameless plug, lol)

The Truth really does set you free. Seeing it fully in His love is very freeing indeed. :)

child of God said...

Hi Brian,
Yes, amen!
People place so many things before God, even Christians do this and often. Self, I believe, is the biggest idol today. Which is the Satan's original sin.

You would think that a parent would have their children as their idol, which some do, but the norm is tending towards divorce therefore, if children are involved, sacrificing the security of the children for the pleasure of satisfying self.

Of course there are so many other idols like money, food, entertainment but I believe the root idol is self.

Great post Brian, thanks so much for your ministry, it really helps keep my thoughts on our awesome God.

<><

Brian Ray Todd said...

Susun, there is so much truth in what you say that it would take a couple posts to touch on "seeing truth fully", "seeing His work and His love in guiding correction", "little sins", "never making it on our own", sin permeating the world", our fallen world's desperate situation", and "being set free". If we see this, thoughtfully pray about these things and take action upon them, then we are "walking in the Sprit" on the "right" path, aligned with the will of God. Wow! Thanks for the comment.

Susan said...

Brian :)

Your comment inspired me :) about another dream that I had just yesterday morning.

I'll post it today on Flutterbys blog.

Having a blessed weekend and hope you do too <3

Susan

Brian Ray Todd said...

Child of God, Idolatry is like trying to fill the "God-shaped" hole in our lives, and nothing on earth fits, works or fulfills. Father God is the standard, Christ Jesus is the model and the Holy Spirit is the Guide to true love, joy and peace. Everything else is just "Chasing the wind". Let's keep our eyes, our hearts and our minds on the Lord. Thank you for writing and the kind words sister.