Quenching Our Thirst: Turning from Idols to God
Summary
### Summary
Good morning, everyone. Today, we are blessed to have Caleb and Kaylee, missionaries to Thailand, with us. They are involved in a training school, church planting, and running a boys' home. Let's lift them up in prayer, asking God to bless their efforts and provide them with the energy and spiritual sustainability they need to continue their work. We pray for favor with governments and people, and for ways we can support them, whether financially, through prayer, or by providing supplies.
As we continue our series "My Pet Monster," we focus on the idols in our lives—work, wealth, possessions, and relationships. These idols often promise satisfaction but leave us wanting more. Even I, as a tech enthusiast, find myself drawn to the latest gadgets, thinking they will bring me joy. However, the excitement fades, and I am left longing for something more. This cycle of seeking satisfaction in earthly things is endless and unfulfilling.
King David, in Psalm 63, expresses a deep longing for God, likening it to a thirst in a dry and weary land. Our souls, too, have this deep desire for God, but we often try to fill it with other things. David's words remind us that only God can truly satisfy our soul's thirst. Much like the British soldiers in the desert, who were desperate for water, our souls are desperate for God. Yet, we often turn to idols, thinking they will quench our thirst.
In Genesis, we see how Adam and Eve turned away from God, enticed by the promise of knowledge and being like God. This disobedience led to a broken relationship with God. Similarly, we turn to idols, thinking they will satisfy us, but they only lead us away from God. In Exodus, God commands us to have no other gods before Him, emphasizing the importance of putting Him first in our lives.
As we keep turning away from idols and towards God, our soul's thirst will be satisfied. Psalm 63:1-3 reminds us that God's love is better than life, and when we earnestly seek Him, we will find true satisfaction. This satisfaction comes from a real relationship with God, where we experience His power and glory in our lives.
To help us turn away from idols, I offer the acronym PRAYER:
- Pray for guidance: Ask God to reveal the idols in your life and give you the strength to let them go.
- Reprioritize your life: Make a conscious effort to put God first in everything.
- Accountability: Share your journey with someone who can keep you accountable.
- Yield possessions to God: Dedicate your work, wealth, possessions, and relationships to Him.
- Eliminate excess: Physically remove or give away things that have become idols.
- Receive His grace: Embrace the finished work of Jesus on the cross and the grace He offers.
As we continue to turn away from idols and towards God, we will find that our soul's thirst is quenched. This relationship with God is the only thing that can truly satisfy us. Let's pray and ask God to help us in this journey.
### Key Takeaways
1. The Danger of Idolatry: Idols such as work, wealth, possessions, and relationships often promise satisfaction but leave us wanting more. These earthly things can never truly satisfy the deep longing in our souls. Only God can quench this spiritual thirst, as King David expressed in Psalm 63. We must recognize the futility of seeking fulfillment in idols and turn our hearts towards God. [39:42]
2. The Thirst for God: Just as the British soldiers in the desert were desperate for water, our souls are desperate for God. King David's longing for God in Psalm 63 illustrates this deep spiritual thirst. When we earnestly seek God, we find true satisfaction that no earthly thing can provide. This deep connection with God is what our souls truly desire. [51:35]
3. The Consequences of Turning to Idols: In Genesis, Adam and Eve turned away from God, enticed by the promise of knowledge and being like God. This disobedience led to a broken relationship with God. Similarly, when we turn to idols, we miss out on the fullness of joy and satisfaction that comes from a relationship with God. We must heed God's command in Exodus to have no other gods before Him. [55:27]
4. The Process of Turning Away from Idols: To turn away from idols and towards God, we can use the acronym PRAYER. Pray for guidance, reprioritize your life, seek accountability, yield possessions to God, eliminate excess, and receive His grace. This process helps us to put God first and find true satisfaction in Him. [01:11:09]
5. The Satisfaction of a Relationship with God: When we turn away from idols and earnestly seek God, we experience a real relationship with Him. This relationship brings true satisfaction, as we encounter God's power and glory in our lives. Psalm 63:1-3 reminds us that God's love is better than life, and when we seek Him, our soul's thirst is quenched. [01:00:38]
### Youtube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[19:31] - Introduction of Missionaries
[38:40] - Prayer for Missionaries
[39:42] - The Big Four Idols
[46:06] - The Idol of Relationships
[51:35] - The Thirst for God
[55:27] - The Consequences of Idolatry
[01:00:38] - Satisfaction in God
[01:11:09] - PRAYER Acronym
[01:18:28] - Closing Prayer and Invitation
[01:21:01] - Offering and Final Remarks
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
1. Psalm 63:1-3 (ESV)
> O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you; my flesh faints for you, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water. So I have looked upon you in the sanctuary, beholding your power and glory. Because your steadfast love is better than life, my lips will praise you.
2. Exodus 20:3-6 (ESV)
> You shall have no other gods before me. You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. You shall not bow down to them or serve them, for I the Lord your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and the fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing steadfast love to thousands of those who love me and keep my commandments.
#### Observation Questions
1. What does King David compare his longing for God to in Psalm 63:1? How does this imagery help us understand his desire? [47:54]
2. According to Exodus 20:3-6, what are the consequences of turning to idols instead of God? [56:20]
3. In the sermon, what are the "big four" idols mentioned that people often turn to for satisfaction? [42:19]
#### Interpretation Questions
1. How does King David's expression of thirst for God in Psalm 63:1-3 reflect our own spiritual needs? What does this say about the nature of true satisfaction? [47:54]
2. Why do you think God emphasizes having no other gods before Him in Exodus 20:3-6? How does this command relate to our modern-day idols? [56:20]
3. The sermon mentioned that even good things like work, wealth, possessions, and relationships can become idols. How can we discern when something good has become an idol in our lives? [46:53]
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on your own life. Are there any "big four" idols (work, wealth, possessions, relationships) that you find yourself turning to for satisfaction? How can you begin to turn away from these idols and towards God? [42:19]
2. The acronym PRAYER was introduced as a tool to help turn away from idols. Which step (Pray for guidance, Reprioritize your life, Accountability, Yield possessions to God, Eliminate excess, Receive His grace) do you find most challenging, and why? [01:11:09]
3. King David earnestly sought God and found satisfaction in Him. What practical steps can you take this week to seek God more earnestly in your daily life? [47:54]
4. In what ways can you yield your possessions to God? Is there something specific you feel called to give away or use for God's glory? [01:12:53]
5. How can you involve accountability in your journey to turn away from idols? Who in your life can you trust to help keep you accountable? [01:12:22]
6. Think about a time when you felt a deep spiritual thirst. How did you try to quench it? What was the outcome, and how might turning to God have made a difference? [51:35]
7. The sermon emphasized the importance of a real relationship with God. What are some ways you can deepen your relationship with God this week? How can you make time for prayer, Bible reading, and worship? [01:00:38]
Use these questions to guide your discussion and reflection. Remember, the goal is to turn away from idols and find true satisfaction in a relationship with God.
Devotional
Day 1: The Futility of Idolatry
Idols such as work, wealth, possessions, and relationships often promise satisfaction but leave us wanting more. These earthly things can never truly satisfy the deep longing in our souls. Only God can quench this spiritual thirst, as King David expressed in Psalm 63. We must recognize the futility of seeking fulfillment in idols and turn our hearts towards God. [39:42]
Jeremiah 2:13 (ESV): "For my people have committed two evils: they have forsaken me, the fountain of living waters, and hewed out cisterns for themselves, broken cisterns that can hold no water."
Reflection: What is one idol in your life that you often turn to for satisfaction? How can you begin to turn away from it and seek fulfillment in God instead?
Day 2: The Deep Thirst for God
Just as the British soldiers in the desert were desperate for water, our souls are desperate for God. King David's longing for God in Psalm 63 illustrates this deep spiritual thirst. When we earnestly seek God, we find true satisfaction that no earthly thing can provide. This deep connection with God is what our souls truly desire. [51:35]
Psalm 42:1-2 (ESV): "As a deer pants for flowing streams, so pants my soul for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and appear before God?"
Reflection: When was the last time you felt a deep longing for God? How can you create space in your daily routine to seek Him earnestly?
Day 3: The Consequences of Idolatry
In Genesis, Adam and Eve turned away from God, enticed by the promise of knowledge and being like God. This disobedience led to a broken relationship with God. Similarly, when we turn to idols, we miss out on the fullness of joy and satisfaction that comes from a relationship with God. We must heed God's command in Exodus to have no other gods before Him. [55:27]
1 Samuel 12:21 (ESV): "And do not turn aside after empty things that cannot profit or deliver, for they are empty."
Reflection: Reflect on a time when you turned to something other than God for fulfillment. What were the consequences, and how did it affect your relationship with God?
Day 4: The Process of Turning Away from Idols
To turn away from idols and towards God, we can use the acronym PRAYER. Pray for guidance, reprioritize your life, seek accountability, yield possessions to God, eliminate excess, and receive His grace. This process helps us to put God first and find true satisfaction in Him. [01:11:09]
James 4:8 (ESV): "Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded."
Reflection: Which step in the PRAYER acronym do you find most challenging? How can you take a practical step today to address this challenge?
Day 5: The Satisfaction of a Relationship with God
When we turn away from idols and earnestly seek God, we experience a real relationship with Him. This relationship brings true satisfaction, as we encounter God's power and glory in our lives. Psalm 63:1-3 reminds us that God's love is better than life, and when we seek Him, our soul's thirst is quenched. [01:00:38]
Isaiah 55:2-3 (ESV): "Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labor for that which does not satisfy? Listen diligently to me, and eat what is good, and delight yourselves in rich food. Incline your ear, and come to me; hear, that your soul may live."
Reflection: How have you experienced God's satisfaction in your life? What steps can you take to deepen your relationship with Him and experience His power and glory more fully?
Quotes
### Quotes for Outreach
1. "Wealth, possessions, relationships aren't bad. These things are a part of our world. These things are a part of our lives. And they're not bad. What the problem is, is when we idolize these things and place them before God and put our faith and our trust and our happiness in them, it's when we seek to use these things to satisfy our souls, we miss out on what our soul truly desires." [46:53]
2. "Nothing compares to the wholeness and satisfaction than a relationship with the one who created you. It is the feeling of quenching an unquenchable thirst. This relationship, when we get to it, that thirst that our soul longs for gets quenched when we have this relationship, this one-on-one relationship with God. And it's a continual thing. It's not just the, oh, I have Jesus now, now I'm good. It's an ongoing relationship and that relationship will quench our souls and quenchable thirst." [01:09:59]
3. "If only I had more money, I could buy a newer car. I could buy more things. I could buy a bigger car. I could buy a car with more seats. If only I had more money, I could buy an ultra-glamorous mom-mobile. That's a minivan. Thank you. It's a minivan, if you don't know. But if only I had more money, I could buy a bigger home. And if I had a bigger home, we could expand our family. And we could buy more things. And I could get more gadgets. I could redecorate." [44:27]
4. "Our souls desperately long for God, and much like the men standing in line for water, we can choose idols and try to go to them to satisfy what our soul needs, satisfy our soul's thirst. But when we do, it's much like the men going to get a drink from a water fountain. But that's not God's intent. That's not what God has for us. What God has for us is like the ocean. He has an ocean of water. He has an ocean of living water that's readily available to us if we would just turn away from these idols and turn to God." [52:51]
5. "As we keep turning away from idols and to God, our soul's thirst will be satisfied. As we keep moving away from these earthly creations, these earthly things, whatever it might be that we idolize, that we put our hope and our faith and our trust in, that we think is going to satisfy, and we turn away from those things and we put that hope, that trust, and our faith and everything else into God, our soul's thirst will be satisfied. I promise." [58:46]
### Quotes for Members
1. "When we earnestly seek God and replace the idols in our lives with Him, that is where we encounter a real relationship with God. It's where we get to see God in our everyday lives. It's where we get to see His power and His glory in our lives. And we get to experience God in a way that we've never experienced before, and we can't help but to worship and glorify God because there's something about meeting God that is satisfying to our souls. It's where we get to meet with Him. We get to sit with Him. We get to read His Word. We get to pray. We build this relationship with Him. And He provides a satisfaction for us that only He can satisfy, that our soul thirsts for." [01:00:38]
2. "As we keep turning away from the idol of work to God, this shifts us from idolizing our careers and achievements to finding true satisfaction by using our talents and our efforts for God's glory and his kingdom. Psalm 37, verse 4 says, Delight yourselves in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart. Delight yourselves in the Lord. In this context, the word delight means to refresh, to take pleasure in. We're called to take pleasure in God. We're called to refresh ourselves and renew ourselves in the Lord. And when we do this, it gets rid of this dissatisfaction and this emptiness that the idols want to give us, and it fills us with satisfaction and fullness from God." [01:02:35]
3. "As we keep turning from the idol of work back to God, it means that whatever we're doing, whether we're taking out the garbage, driving a bus, whether we're stocking shelves or day trading or working in an office or crunching numbers, we do it with all of our hearts. This dedication gives us a sense of pride and closeness to God. And it can make the everyday tasks seem meaningful." [01:05:14]
4. "As we keep turning away from the idol of relationships to God, this moves us from idolizing human relationships and finding true satisfaction by growing relationships that honor God's glory and advances his kingdom. A lot of times we can idolize the relationships and they can be so deeply, we can deeply long for a relationship, but it will not satisfy the same way that a relationship with God can." [01:08:43]
5. "Our hearts, our souls were designed to be with God in perfect relationship with Him. And in that relationship is the fullness of joy, it's the fullness of satisfaction, it's peace, it's identity, it's trust, it's love in a caring and loving Heavenly Father. And we had this perfect relationship at one point. If we turn back to the book of Genesis, and when we read this account, God created all things and He made this perfect place and He was in full relationship with us." [54:45]
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