1. Gn.31:30, 19  “Idolatry is worshipping anything that ought to be used, or using anything that ought to be worshipped”  2 Co. 4:1-4 Fault of the audience (3)  1 Co.1:18 Influence of satan (4)

2. I False Gods  Molech (national god of Ammonites) Lv.18:21  Baal (chief male deity of Phoenicians and Canaanites) Nu.22:41  Asherah (wife of baal in Canaanite mythology) Jg.3:7  Dagon (chief god of Philistines) 1 Sm.5:2-7

3.  Ashtoreth (Syrian and Phoenician goddess of moon, sexual love, fertility) 2 K.23:13  Bel (Marduk, chief Babylonian god) Is.46:1-2  Chemosh (national god of Moabites and Ammonites) Jer. 48:7, 13

4.  Zeus (supreme god of Greeks) Ac.14:12-13 (KJV: Jupiter)  Diana (goddess of moon, hunting, wild animals) Ac.19:24, 27-28

5. II The god Behind The gods  Satan (god of this age) 2 Co.4:4  Why call satan “god”? Not because of divine attributes He enjoys service, honor, wor- ship, and reverence of worldly men; he accepts their affections in the same way as idols

6. Satan’s Devices (2 Co.4:4)  Minds, 2 Co.3:14 1 Jn. 5:19. Rv. 20:2-3  Blinded. 3:14. (1 K.22)  Do not believe. Jn.9:39-41 Light of gospel. Ac.26:18…(13) Glory of Christ

7. Idols are nothing; demons are something  1 Co.10:14-22 Pagan deities are imaginary, but demons used them to turn people away from the true God Compare:  Satan  demons  idols  Israel  Satan  demons  idols  Corinth

8. Parallel Passages  Wisdom of this world, 1 Co.1:20 “In truth the world has derived very little, if any, moral good, either from the Jewish rabbins or the Gentile philosophers” 1 Co.1:26  Form of this world, 1 Co.7:31  Course of this world, Ep.2:2

9. III Satan Is Still On The Job  God never speaks (audibly) to people today  Even if He did, He would never contradict His Word Jer. 23:16-18, 21, 31

10. Which god?  Decisions, 2 Co.11:13-15  Focus, Gn.3:1-6  Right, Pro.14:12  Heart of God, Jer.7:31  Self, Ezk.28:2, 9  Minds, 2 Tim.3:8

11. Ruler of this world  Jn.12:31 (14:30; 16:11)  Jesus rules believers, satan unbelievers (1 Jn.5:19)  Jesus’ death (32) destroys satan, drives him out of office Hb.2:14-15