Prioritizing God: The Challenge of Idolatry
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Family is very, very important. Family is important in the word of God, but the problem with all of these things is that the good gifts of God can often become idols. Money is something God gives us which is helpful and useful to be able to preach the gospel in order to live our lives, but when money takes its wrong place in our lives, it becomes an idol. [04:53]
The church is patterned after the family. The Godhead is the ultimate family. God reveals himself as Father and Son and Holy Spirit. Why does he not reveal himself as God and the Word? Because remember, Jesus is the Word. In the beginning was the Word. But why does he choose to reveal himself as Father and Son rather than God and Word? Because of the importance of family. [09:35]
God just wanted the best for them, but they wouldn't do what God wanted for them. And I want you to notice one of the reasons they give for not obeying God: "Why has the Lord brought us to this land to fall by the sword, that our wives and children should become victims? Would it not be better for us to return to Egypt?" [11:57]
Adam was not deceived. He knew exactly what was going on. But what did Adam do? He chose obedience to his wife, or he chose his wife, let me rather put it that way, rather than obedience to God. That's what Adam did, and in the process, he sold us all down the river, every one of us. [15:25]
Lot had fled from Sodom and Gomorrah. His wife turned back; she had her own idols of the city, the stuff that she owned, the house and stuff that she had in the city. She turns into a pillar of salt. Lot continues to flee with his two daughters. And in Genesis 19:31, the firstborn, the first of the two daughters, said to the younger, "Our father is old, and there is no man on the earth to come into us as is the custom of all the earth." [17:23]
Abraham had waited over a hundred years for a descendant, and God had promised him that he would have a descendant, and not only would have been one descendant, but he would have multitudes. Abraham's whole life is bound up in this one boy. Remember, he had another son who wasn't really a true son. He was born out of disobedience to God again, Abraham trying to do what God didn't want him to do. [22:49]
If you love anything more than you love him, it is an idol. And if you're not willing to give it up, you're not saved. You say, well, that's strong preaching. Remember, we looked at some of these verses last week, that those who are idolaters will not enter into the kingdom. In other words, they're not saved because they're not worshiping God; they're worshiping something else besides God. [24:21]
The principle is that if we are willing to lose things for his sake, we will gain them. Here he's speaking about your life, but in the passage that we read in Mark, he's talking about all sorts of other things, the things that we try and hold on to. He says you're going to lose it. The things that you're willing to let go, you will gain it. [32:10]
When we miss church for family activities, we've chosen family over God. I understand there are times that we have to pay attention to the family, but here's the problem: church is at the most three hours a week, and yet there are many who find it hard to give God those three hours when in fact they have 24 times seven with family. [34:00]
When parents won't allow their kids to mix with kids of other families because they feel a sense of superiority, you've made a god of your family. Kids who are taught by their parents that they are Christians and they're saved because they're born into a Christian family. In fact, I'm not talking about those in historic churches; I'm talking about people in evangelical churches. [37:48]
The question simply is, are you going to be more obedient to God than to your kids? Because here's the problem: modern families are not built around parents; they're built around kids, and parents obey the kids because otherwise, the kid is going to throw a tantrum. Who are you listening to? Are you listening to God, or are you listening to your family? [48:57]
Nothing we give up for him... I'm not asking you to divorce your husband or your wife. I'm not asking you to kick your children out. I'm asking you just to put things in their right place. Make sure that God is in his right place in your heart and life, and when we do that, God honors that. [50:12]
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The church is patterned after the family. The Godhead is the ultimate family. God reveals himself as Father and Son and Holy Spirit. Why does he not reveal himself as God and the Word? Because remember, Jesus is the Word. In the beginning was the Word. But why does he choose to reveal himself as Father and Son rather than God and Word? Because of the importance of family. [09:35]
God just wanted the best for them, but they wouldn't do what God wanted for them. And I want you to notice one of the reasons they give for not obeying God: "Why has the Lord brought us to this land to fall by the sword, that our wives and children should become victims? Would it not be better for us to return to Egypt?" [11:57]
Adam was not deceived. He knew exactly what was going on. But what did Adam do? He chose obedience to his wife, or he chose his wife, let me rather put it that way, rather than obedience to God. That's what Adam did, and in the process, he sold us all down the river, every one of us. [15:25]
Lot had fled from Sodom and Gomorrah. His wife turned back; she had her own idols of the city, the stuff that she owned, the house and stuff that she had in the city. She turns into a pillar of salt. Lot continues to flee with his two daughters. And in Genesis 19:31, the firstborn, the first of the two daughters, said to the younger, "Our father is old, and there is no man on the earth to come into us as is the custom of all the earth." [17:23]
Abraham had waited over a hundred years for a descendant, and God had promised him that he would have a descendant, and not only would have been one descendant, but he would have multitudes. Abraham's whole life is bound up in this one boy. Remember, he had another son who wasn't really a true son. He was born out of disobedience to God again, Abraham trying to do what God didn't want him to do. [22:49]
If you love anything more than you love him, it is an idol. And if you're not willing to give it up, you're not saved. You say, well, that's strong preaching. Remember, we looked at some of these verses last week, that those who are idolaters will not enter into the kingdom. In other words, they're not saved because they're not worshiping God; they're worshiping something else besides God. [24:21]
The principle is that if we are willing to lose things for his sake, we will gain them. Here he's speaking about your life, but in the passage that we read in Mark, he's talking about all sorts of other things, the things that we try and hold on to. He says you're going to lose it. The things that you're willing to let go, you will gain it. [32:10]
When we miss church for family activities, we've chosen family over God. I understand there are times that we have to pay attention to the family, but here's the problem: church is at the most three hours a week, and yet there are many who find it hard to give God those three hours when in fact they have 24 times seven with family. [34:00]
When parents won't allow their kids to mix with kids of other families because they feel a sense of superiority, you've made a god of your family. Kids who are taught by their parents that they are Christians and they're saved because they're born into a Christian family. In fact, I'm not talking about those in historic churches; I'm talking about people in evangelical churches. [37:48]
The question simply is, are you going to be more obedient to God than to your kids? Because here's the problem: modern families are not built around parents; they're built around kids, and parents obey the kids because otherwise, the kid is going to throw a tantrum. Who are you listening to? Are you listening to God, or are you listening to your family? [48:57]
Nothing we give up for him... I'm not asking you to divorce your husband or your wife. I'm not asking you to kick your children out. I'm asking you just to put things in their right place. Make sure that God is in his right place in your heart and life, and when we do that, God honors that. [50:12]
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