Flee from Idolatry

Idolatry is Alive and Well! Jesus was tempted to yield to it, Matt. 4:8-10 We cannot have fellowship with idols and the Lord at the same time, 1 Cor. 10:14-22 Study the identity, development and some of the elements of idolatry 2

Idolatry: More Common than We Think Definition: Service to, worship of that which takes the place of the living God in one’s life – Before and rather than God: Worship and serve, Exo. 20:1-5 – Idolater: “A servant, worshipper...of idols” (Moulton) – Idolater trusts in his idol, Psa. 115:8 3

The Development of Idolatry Upper movement? “In an age when the study of religion was practically confined to Judaism and Christianity, idolatry was regarded as a degeneration from an uncorrupt primeval faith, but the comparative and historical investigation of religion has shown it to be rather a stage of an upward movement, and that by no means the earliest.” (1911 Encyclopedia Britannica) 4 Romans 1:18-25

The Development of Idolatry Downward movement! Born out of rejection of God’s truth and His presence, 1:18-20 Unthankful and ignorant elevation of human wisdom (self), 1:21-23 Feeds on fleshly lusts, 1:24-27 Ends in a depraved mind, 1: Romans 1:18-25

The Development of Idolatry Begins in the heart, producing the actions of idolatry in life, Isa. 44:18-20 – The attitudes of idolatry elevate self, things and people (while diminishing the true God) The sin of idolatry is not confined to giving homage to a graven image, 2 Tim. 3:1-5 6 Romans 1:18-25

Test for Idolatry Does it have first place in your life? Does it diminish God? Deut. 6:13- 15; Matt. 4:10; 22:37-38 – Self? Lk. 9:23 (2 Tim. 3:2) – Another person? Matt. 10:37 – My time? Eph. 5:16 – My money? 1 Tim. 6:9-10 – My goals? Matt. 6: John 5:21 Beware!

Elements of Idolatry The flesh, Gal. 5:20; 1 Cor. 10:7 – Consuming desire to please fleshly pursuits identifies and defines the (our) false god – Serving various lusts, Titus 3:3 – Love of self rather than God leads to the corruption of the flesh, Rom. 1: Cor. 10:14

Elements of Idolatry Stubbornness, 1 Sam. 15:22-23 – Rejects God’s word, 15:3 – Unwilling to obey, 15:9 – Hardened by rationalization, 15:13-15 – Whenever our will becomes more important than God’s revealed will, we have joined hands with idolaters! 9 1 Cor. 10:14

Elements of Idolatry Covetousness, Col. 3:5; Eph. 5:5 – Greedy desire to have more – Lust to have what is another’s – The object of one’s desire becomes the thing worshipped and served, Lk. 12:15; 1 Tim. 6:6-10 (Job 1:21) 10 1 Cor. 10:14

Elements of Idolatry Enslavement, Gal. 4:8-9 – Captured by the depraved ideas one’s idol represents: Money (power, prestige, possession) Pleasure (fleshly lusts) Self (self-determination that forgets God) 11 1 Cor. 10:14

Elements of Idolatry Idolatry among God’s people causes them to become a mockery before unbelievers! Flee idolatry! 1 Cor. 10:14 Be on guard and keep yourselves from idols! 1 Jno. 5:21 12 Exodus 32:25