ii. Idols

divine

Exodus 20:4-6 "You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or.. You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children… to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing love to a thousand {generations} of those who love me and keep my commandments.

Exodus 20:4-6 "You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or.. You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children… to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing love to a thousand {generations} of those who love me and keep my commandments.

God said..God said..

divine

Isaiah 44:9-20 All who make idols are nothing, and the things they treasure are worthless. Those who would speak up for them are blind; they are ignorant, to their own shame. Who shapes a god and casts an idol, which can profit him nothing? He and his kind will be put to shame…

Isaiah 44:9-20 All who make idols are nothing, and the things they treasure are worthless. Those who would speak up for them are blind; they are ignorant, to their own shame. Who shapes a god and casts an idol, which can profit him nothing? He and his kind will be put to shame…

God said:God said:

compare..

divine

Isaiah 40:12-28 Who has measured the waters in the hollow of his hand, or with the breadth of his hand marked off the heavens? Who has held the dust of the earth in a basket, or weighed the mountains on the scales and the hills in a balance?....

Isaiah 40:12-28 Who has measured the waters in the hollow of his hand, or with the breadth of his hand marked off the heavens? Who has held the dust of the earth in a basket, or weighed the mountains on the scales and the hills in a balance?....

God said..God said..

..and contrast

divine

1. What’s the problem?1. What’s the problem?

divine

1 Sam 16:7 ..The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.

1 Sam 16:7 ..The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.

1. What is the problem?1. What is the problem?

it’s function not form that counts:

divine

Jesus said:

Mark 12:30 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength

Mark 12:30 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength

1. What’s the problem?1. What’s the problem?

divine

“Every one of us is, even from his mother's womb, a master craftsman of idols .”

“Every one of us is, even from his mother's womb, a master craftsman of idols .”

John CalvinJohn Calvin

divine

Things & people

Ephesians 5:5 For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person—such a man is an idolater—has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God

Ephesians 5:5 For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person—such a man is an idolater—has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God

2. What are our idols today2. What are our idols today

divine

thoughts and sensations

2. What are our idols today?2. What are our idols today?

Mark 7:21 For from within, out of men's hearts, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly. ..

Mark 7:21 For from within, out of men's hearts, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly. ..

divine

“We must remember that Satan has his miracles, too.”“We must remember that Satan has his miracles, too.”

John CalvinJohn Calvin

divine

supernatural power

Lev 19:31 'Do not turn to mediums or seek out spiritists, for you will be defiled by them. I am the LORD your God.

Lev 19:31 'Do not turn to mediums or seek out spiritists, for you will be defiled by them. I am the LORD your God.

3. What are our idols today?3. What are our idols today?

divine

who or what do I worship?

Matt 6:21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Matt 6:21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Take a closer lookTake a closer look

divine

take heart

3. What can we do about it?3. What can we do about it?

divine

take heart

Isaiah 43:24 ..But you have burdened me with your sins and wearied me with your offenses.

Isaiah 43:24 ..But you have burdened me with your sins and wearied me with your offenses.

3. What can we do about it?3. What can we do about it?

divine

take heart

Isaiah 43:25 I, even I, am he who blots out your transgressions, for my own sake, and remembers your sins no more.

Isaiah 43:25 I, even I, am he who blots out your transgressions, for my own sake, and remembers your sins no more.

3. What can we do about it?3. What can we do about it?

divine

take heart

1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness

1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness

3. What can we do about it?3. What can we do about it?

divine

take action

3. What can we do about it?3. What can we do about it?

divine

take action

Acts 19:19 A number who had practiced sorcery brought their scrolls together and burned them publicly. When they calculated the value of the scrolls, the total came to fifty thousand drachmas.

Acts 19:19 A number who had practiced sorcery brought their scrolls together and burned them publicly. When they calculated the value of the scrolls, the total came to fifty thousand drachmas.

3. What can we do about it?3. What can we do about it?

divine

take action

1 John 5:21 Dear children, keep yourselves from idols.

1 John 5:21 Dear children, keep yourselves from idols.

3. What can we do about it?3. What can we do about it?

divine

take control

3. What can we do about it?3. What can we do about it?

divine

take control

Eph 3:20-22 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.

Eph 3:20-22 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.

3. What can we do about it?3. What can we do about it?

divine

Psalm 37:4-6 Delight yourself in the LORD  and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him and he will do this: He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun.

Psalm 37:4-6 Delight yourself in the LORD  and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him and he will do this: He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun.

4. Is it worth it?4. Is it worth it?