Freedom From Idols

Pastor Calvin Lee

Everyday is a gift from God when we wake up alive and as we live by each day. What are some things that take the place of God in our lives each day?

Idols in our lives
Exodus 20:3-5

(1) God is passionately jealous that we worship Him alone

(2) God prohibits the worship of carved image or anything other than Him

(3) God makes it clear that the worship of anything or anyone other than Himself is wrong. Not only wrong but it is sinful.

An idol is anything that we give higher priority other than God Himself. Anything or anyone more important God in our lives is wrong.

Exodus 32:2-8
(1) It is a clear violation of the commandment
- they knew and here they violated

(2) The absence of leadership is a contributing factor to Israel idolatry

(3) The people of Israel failed in their calling as a holy nation that God has called them to be

(4) Divine indignity fell upon them

(5) The people paid a price for their idolatry

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

How do you refrain from idols in your life?
(1) Remember the Truth Of God.
- He is God.
a. a divine REQUIREMENT
- No one or nothing that is allowed to be competitor with God. No God substitute
Isaiah 45:18
b. a divine RIGHT
Titus 2:14
c. a divine REALITY
Matthew 6:33
When you honour God He will honour you in your life. When you chase after God, things will chase after you.

(2) Remember the Truth About Ourselves
a. we are God's people
1 Peter 2:9
b. we have a tendency to have idols in our hearts

The heart of man is a perpetual factory of idols
- John Calvin -

What is important to you?
What do you worry about the most?
What occupies your mind?
What do you love the most?
Where is the basis of your trust?

Some examples of idols :
Approval
Achievement
Control
Career
Children
Finance
Family
Possession
Power
Position
Prestige
People
Security
Self

How do you know that something in your heart has become an idol?
- When your can becomes cannot
- When your small 'm' becomes your big 'M' (money, marriage, mobile phone etc)
- When your small 'g' becomes your big 'G' (goals, games, grades, girlfriend, grandchildren, golf)

Don't allow the blessings in your lives to become a burden. The shape of idols may have change but there must still be the basic principle allegiance to God above all else.

(3) Remember the Truths About Idols
a. idols are usually not bad things but good things that have become ultimate things
b. idols will always make you sacrifice for them
c. idols will have you play now bu pay later
d. idols that controls our hearts control our lives

The Christian life is a process of God breaking our idols one by one
- Elisabeth Elliott -

(1) We need to recognise the idols in our lives and hearts
(2) We need to remove that idol by the power of the Holy Spirit
(3) We need to replace that idol with the Love of God

Whatever controls us is our lord.
The person who seeks power is controlled by power.
The person who seeks acceptance is controlled by acceptance.
We do not control ourselves.
We are controlled by the lord of our lives.
- Rebecca Pippert -

Idolatry is a worship in which the honour due to God in Trinity and to Him only is given to some of His creatures or to some invention of His creatures.
- J.C. Ryle -

An idol is anything in our lives that occupies the place that should be occupied by God alone. Anything that ... is central in my life, anything that seems to me ... essential ... An idol is anything by which I live and on which I depend, anything that ... holds such a controlling position in my life that ... it moves and rouses and attracts so much of my time and attention, my energy and money.
- D.M. Lloyd-Jones, "Idolatry" in Life in God -