Keep Yourself from Idols

Transcription

1 Keep Yourself from Idols Countering Satan s Techniques that Weaken Us! 1 Keep Yourself from Idols 1 John 5:21 Dear children, keep yourselves from idols. (NLT) What is an Idol? Greeks: Has in it the sense of Unreality Plato: Illusions of this world vs. the unchangeable realities of eternity. 2 1

2 Keep Yourself from Idols 2 Corinthians 4:17-18 (NASB) For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. 3 Barna Survey of Pastors 627 Protestant Pastors Are their Church attendees placing God as the highest priority in their lives? Pastors believe all is most well! Also Interviewed the church attendees 4 2

3 Is God the Highest Priority for Christians? 80% 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0% 70% Pastor's Think 23% Attendees Say 5 Barna Conclusion The fact that the lifestyle of most churched adults is essentially indistinguishable from that of unchurched people is not a concern for most churches Whether or not people have accepted Jesus Christ as their savior is the sole or primary indicator of life transformation, Regardless of whether their life after such a decision produces spiritual fruit. Galatians 5 Fruit of the Spirit John 15 Vines that don t produce Fruit 6 3

4 Another Barna Survey On Commitment to Christianity Findings: Image rather than Action For starters, it appears that most Americans like the security and the identity of the label Christian but resist the biblical responsibilities that are associated with that identification. For most Americans, being a Christian is more about image than action. 7 Satan s s Purpose for You Make us ineffective for Jesus as possible Types of Devices he uses: Twisting truth slightly Frontal Assault Attack of Erosion/Wearing Down Our Moral Compass We Love Righteousness But do we Hate Iniquity 8 4

5 Hebrews 3: (NLT) 12 Be careful then, dear brothers and sisters. Make sure that your own hearts are not evil and unbelieving, turning you away from the living God. 13 You must warn each other every day, as long as it is called "today," so that none of you will be deceived by sin and hardened against God. 9 God s s Word Not spending time in the Word. Satan s Goal: What devices does he use? Today, we don t need God. Thinking in a non-eternal perspective. By making what is wrong seem right or OK. 10 5

6 Is God s s Word s s Word a Priority? Rationalizations (Idols) come easily I m not much of a reader. I don t have time. I wanted to but I ran out of time. I m too tired at the end of the day. I ll read tomorrow I ll sleep for a couple more minutes I ll watch just one more show on TV 11 Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. 12 6

7 Lust of the Eyes (Coveting) Our View of the Opposite Sex Hey, it s OK to Look! Satan s Goal: Have people or things become objects of your indulgence. 10 th Commandment. Hate Iniquity 13 Countering Lust Consequences Maybe they are a child of God. If not, maybe they will be. How does it affect your view of your Spouse? You don t understand Jesus love for His Bride Effective Counterattack: For I am determined to know nothing among you but Jesus Christ and Him Crucified. 14 7

8 Countering Lust Ephesians 5:25-26 And you husbands must love your wives with the same love Christ showed the church. He gave up his life for her to make her holy and clean, Man shouldn t marry a woman he wouldn t die for; A woman should marry a man that she wouldn t trust with her life. 15 Cutting Down Others Talking negatively about others. Satan s Benefits: Undermine the voice of the Spirit. Diminish the Effectiveness of Another s Ministry. Place emphasis on your own importance. Singing Critiquing Even Paul 16 8

9 Cutting Down Others Examples in the church Sermons Worship Studies Teachers Servants Keep it in the Church! 17 The Tongue James 3:4-6 (NLT) And a tiny rudder makes a huge ship turn wherever the pilot wants it to go, even though the winds are strong. So also, the tongue is a small thing, but what enormous damage it can do. A tiny spark can set a great forest on fire. And the tongue is a flame of fire. It is full of wickedness that can ruin your whole life. It can turn the entire course of your life into a blazing flame of destruction, for it is set on fire by gehenna itself. 18 9

10 Use your Tongue for Good! Ephesians 4:29 Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear. Don t give Satan an opportunity to undermine 19 How You Can Break the Cycle Confession 1 John 1:9 James 5:16 (New Living Translation) Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and wonderful results. C.S. Lewis Screwtape Letters 20 10

11 Is God Your Highest Priority? Destroy Your Idols! Start with just Today. Use the 3 examples Find someone who will pierce your rationalizations. (Men s Meeting) This IS a daily battle