Return to Holiness: Overcoming Idolatry and Desensitization

Summary

### Summary

In today's sermon, we delved into the book of Ezekiel, focusing on God's profound frustration with Israel's idolatry. God used vivid imagery to describe Israel's spiritual state, likening them to an abandoned baby whom He nurtured and adorned, only for them to turn His blessings into idols. This idolatry was not just a betrayal but a perversion of God's gifts, leading to severe consequences. God showed Ezekiel visions of the elders secretly worshiping idols, thinking they could hide their actions from Him. This hidden idolatry was a stark contrast to the public worship they were supposed to offer to God.

God's anger was so intense that He was ready to wipe out Israel, sparing only those who were genuinely grieved by the abominations around them. This highlights the importance of maintaining a pure heart and being sensitive to sin. Ezekiel's own purity and separation from idolatry allowed him to remain close to God and receive His messages. The sermon also drew parallels between ancient Israel and modern society, emphasizing how exposure to sin and idolatry can desensitize us, making us less repulsed by what offends God.

We were reminded that blessings can become curses if they lead us away from God. The sermon called for a return to holiness, urging us to detox our minds from worldly influences and fill them with God's Word. It was a call to remember that everything we have is from God and should be used for His glory, not for self-promotion or idolatry. The message concluded with a challenge to purify our minds and hearts, to be like Ezekiel, undefiled and close to God, ready to be used for His purposes.

### Key Takeaways

1. God's Intense Displeasure with Idolatry: God described Israel's idolatry in vivid and harsh terms, showing His deep displeasure. He likened Israel to an abandoned baby whom He nurtured, only for them to turn His blessings into idols. This betrayal led to severe consequences, highlighting the seriousness of idolatry in God's eyes. [03:31]

2. Hidden Idolatry and Its Consequences: The elders of Israel secretly worshiped idols, thinking they could hide their actions from God. This hidden idolatry was a stark contrast to the public worship they were supposed to offer. God sees all, and secret sins are just as grievous to Him as public ones. [06:23]

3. The Danger of Desensitization: Exposure to sin and idolatry can desensitize us, making us less repulsed by what offends God. The sermon emphasized the importance of maintaining a pure heart and being sensitive to sin, as Ezekiel was. This sensitivity allows us to stay close to God and receive His guidance. [17:44]

4. Blessings Can Become Curses: The blessings God gives us can become curses if they lead us away from Him. Israel took God's blessings and turned them into idols, leading to their downfall. We must always remember that everything we have is from God and should be used for His glory, not for self-promotion or idolatry. [08:05]

5. Call to Purity and Holiness: The sermon concluded with a call to purify our minds and hearts, to detox from worldly influences, and to fill our minds with God's Word. Like Ezekiel, we are called to be undefiled and close to God, ready to be used for His purposes. This involves a conscious effort to replace worldly images and thoughts with biblical ones. [56:14]

### YouTube Chapters

[0:00] - Welcome
[03:31] - God's Intense Displeasure with Idolatry
[06:23] - Hidden Idolatry and Its Consequences
[08:05] - Blessings Can Become Curses
[17:44] - The Danger of Desensitization
[56:14] - Call to Purity and Holiness

Study Guide

### Bible Reading

1. Ezekiel 16:4-8 (NIV)
> "On the day you were born your cord was not cut, nor were you washed with water to make you clean, nor were you rubbed with salt or wrapped in cloths. No one looked on you with pity or had compassion enough to do any of these things for you. Rather, you were thrown out into the open field, for on the day you were born you were despised. Then I passed by and saw you kicking about in your blood, and as you lay there in your blood, I said to you, 'Live!' I made you grow like a plant of the field. You grew and developed and entered puberty. Your breasts had formed and your hair had grown, yet you were stark naked. Later I passed by, and when I looked at you and saw that you were old enough for love, I spread the corner of my garment over you and covered your naked body. I gave you my solemn oath and entered into a covenant with you, declares the Sovereign Lord, and you became mine."

2. Ezekiel 8:7-12 (NIV)
> "Then he brought me to the entrance to the court. I looked, and I saw a hole in the wall. He said to me, 'Son of man, now dig into the wall.' So I dug into the wall and saw a doorway there. And he said to me, 'Go in and see the wicked and detestable things they are doing here.' So I went in and looked, and I saw portrayed all over the walls all kinds of crawling things and unclean animals and all the idols of Israel. In front of them stood seventy elders of Israel, and Jaazaniah son of Shaphan was standing among them. Each had a censer in his hand, and a fragrant cloud of incense was rising. He said to me, 'Son of man, have you seen what the elders of Israel are doing in the darkness, each at the shrine of his own idol? They say, "The Lord does not see us; the Lord has forsaken the land."'"

3. Ezekiel 9:4 (NIV)
> "and said to him, 'Go throughout the city of Jerusalem and put a mark on the foreheads of those who grieve and lament over all the detestable things that are done in it.'"

### Observation Questions

1. How does God describe Israel's idolatry in Ezekiel 16:4-8, and what imagery does He use to convey His feelings? [03:31]
2. What did Ezekiel see when he dug through the wall in Ezekiel 8:7-12, and what were the elders of Israel doing in secret? [06:23]
3. According to Ezekiel 9:4, what specific action did God command to be done to those who grieve over the abominations in Jerusalem? [09:12]

### Interpretation Questions

1. What does the imagery of an abandoned baby in Ezekiel 16:4-8 reveal about God's relationship with Israel and His feelings towards their idolatry? [03:31]
2. How does the secret worship of idols by the elders in Ezekiel 8:7-12 contrast with their public roles, and what does this say about hidden sin? [06:23]
3. Why is it significant that God wanted to mark those who grieve over the abominations in Ezekiel 9:4, and what does this tell us about the importance of a pure heart? [09:12]

### Application Questions

1. Reflect on the imagery of the abandoned baby in Ezekiel 16:4-8. How does this imagery resonate with your own spiritual journey and God's grace in your life? [03:31]
2. The elders in Ezekiel 8:7-12 thought they could hide their idolatry from God. Are there areas in your life where you might be hiding sin, thinking it goes unnoticed? How can you bring these into the light? [06:23]
3. Exposure to sin and idolatry can desensitize us. What are some worldly influences in your life that might be desensitizing you to sin, and how can you detox your mind from these influences? [17:44]
4. The sermon emphasized that blessings can become curses if they lead us away from God. Can you identify any blessings in your life that might be turning into idols? How can you redirect these blessings for God's glory? [08:05]
5. Ezekiel remained undefiled and close to God despite the idolatry around him. What steps can you take to maintain purity and holiness in a society that often promotes sin? [22:22]
6. The sermon called for a return to holiness and a detox from worldly influences. What practical steps can you take this week to fill your mind with God's Word and remove ungodly influences? [56:14]
7. Reflect on the challenge to purify your mind and heart. What specific actions will you take to ensure that your thoughts and motives align with God's will? [01:06:45]

Devotional

Day 1: God's Intense Displeasure with Idolatry

God's displeasure with Israel's idolatry is vividly described in the book of Ezekiel. He likens Israel to an abandoned baby whom He nurtured and adorned, only for them to turn His blessings into idols. This betrayal was not just a rejection of God but a perversion of His gifts, leading to severe consequences. God’s anger was so intense that He was ready to wipe out Israel, sparing only those who were genuinely grieved by the abominations around them. This highlights the seriousness of idolatry in God's eyes and the importance of maintaining a pure heart and being sensitive to sin. [03:31]

Ezekiel 16:4-6 (ESV): "And as for your birth, on the day you were born your cord was not cut, nor were you washed with water to cleanse you, nor rubbed with salt, nor wrapped in swaddling cloths. No eye pitied you, to do any of these things to you out of compassion for you, but you were cast out on the open field, for you were abhorred, on the day that you were born. And when I passed by you and saw you wallowing in your blood, I said to you in your blood, ‘Live!’"

Reflection: Are there any blessings in your life that you have turned into idols? How can you realign these blessings to glorify God instead of leading you away from Him?

Day 2: Hidden Idolatry and Its Consequences

The elders of Israel secretly worshiped idols, thinking they could hide their actions from God. This hidden idolatry was a stark contrast to the public worship they were supposed to offer. God sees all, and secret sins are just as grievous to Him as public ones. This serves as a reminder that nothing is hidden from God, and our private actions are just as important as our public ones. The consequences of hidden idolatry are severe, as it leads to a separation from God and His blessings. [06:23]

Ezekiel 8:12 (ESV): "Then he said to me, 'Son of man, have you seen what the elders of the house of Israel are doing in the dark, each in his room of pictures? For they say, ‘The Lord does not see us, the Lord has forsaken the land.’"

Reflection: Are there any hidden sins in your life that you need to confess and turn away from? How can you bring these hidden areas into the light and seek God's forgiveness and healing?

Day 3: The Danger of Desensitization

Exposure to sin and idolatry can desensitize us, making us less repulsed by what offends God. The sermon emphasized the importance of maintaining a pure heart and being sensitive to sin, as Ezekiel was. This sensitivity allows us to stay close to God and receive His guidance. When we become desensitized, we risk drifting away from God and His purposes for our lives. It is crucial to guard our hearts and minds against the influences of sin and idolatry. [17:44]

Ezekiel 9:4 (ESV): "And the Lord said to him, 'Pass through the city, through Jerusalem, and put a mark on the foreheads of the men who sigh and groan over all the abominations that are committed in it.'"

Reflection: Have you become desensitized to any sins or behaviors that offend God? What steps can you take to regain sensitivity to sin and align your heart with God's?

Day 4: Blessings Can Become Curses

The blessings God gives us can become curses if they lead us away from Him. Israel took God's blessings and turned them into idols, leading to their downfall. We must always remember that everything we have is from God and should be used for His glory, not for self-promotion or idolatry. This requires a conscious effort to keep our focus on God and use His blessings in ways that honor Him. [08:05]

Ezekiel 16:17 (ESV): "You also took your beautiful jewels of my gold and of my silver, which I had given you, and made for yourselves images of men, and with them played the whore."

Reflection: Are there any blessings in your life that you have misused or allowed to lead you away from God? How can you redirect these blessings to honor and glorify Him?

Day 5: Call to Purity and Holiness

The sermon concluded with a call to purify our minds and hearts, to detox from worldly influences, and to fill our minds with God's Word. Like Ezekiel, we are called to be undefiled and close to God, ready to be used for His purposes. This involves a conscious effort to replace worldly images and thoughts with biblical ones. By doing so, we can maintain a close relationship with God and be prepared for the work He has for us. [56:14]

Ezekiel 36:25-27 (ESV): "I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean from all your uncleannesses, and from all your idols I will cleanse you. And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules."

Reflection: What worldly influences do you need to detox from your life? How can you fill your mind and heart with God's Word and maintain purity and holiness in your daily walk with Him?

Quotes

### Quotes for Outreach

1. "God literally describes Israel as a baby that was uncared for by her mother and her father, a worldly father and a worldly mother that bore her and didn't even care to cut the umbilical cord. And she's wallowing in the dirt in her own blood. And God says, that's when I saw you. And he said, you know what? I looked upon you and I found that you were a vain. And I covered you. He said, nobody took the time to wipe the dirt off of your body after birth. I mean, this is God's words, not mine. Okay. He said, nobody even took salt and scrubbed your body to clean you or wrapped you in linens. You were literally naked. And I picked you up. I put clothing on you. I wrapped you in fine linen, put gold on you. And God says, I married you. You became my bride. And I prettied you up. I made you beautiful. Nobody wanted you, but I wanted you." [01:00](Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2. "You know what? You start messing with people's idols. You start touching something in their life that upsets them. You start preaching against idols and they start imprisoning you. The prophets would preach against the idols and the kings would put them in prison. They would preach against the abominations. Let me tell you what. You start shackling the preacher and you know your country's in trouble. When you start trying to shut the mouth of the preacher, from preaching truth, you know your nation's in trouble. Because when the nation can silence the preacher, it means that iniquity is abounding." [11:01](Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3. "You know what we need to do? Everything we can to reach somebody. But we cannot reach somebody if we are hanging out with the idols. The more what is an idol it's a it's a man-made thing you know America was founded on godly principles this is a nation that was built on Christianity the first church in Jamestown had Acts 2 38 posted at the front door think about it church our nation was blessed of God because our nation put God first it was put into our our our articles of incorporation if you want to call it that everything about the foundation of America was was judeo-christian foundational values and those values produced blessing and God said blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord." [22:54](Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4. "Money can be a blessing or it can become an idol in your life. That's the gold, the prestige, the influence. He said that Israel had taken her influence and turned it to herself rather than giving glory to God. This is what idolatry is. When God blesses us and we start saying, look at what we've done. Calvary, I don't care how large this church becomes, it's always going to be to the glory of God. If it ever becomes about us, God will strip it out of our hands as quick as he gave it. But if we will continue to say, God, you deserve all the glory." [26:05](Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

5. "If God has to get our attention, the way he does it is by removing prosperity. That's what he said. He said, I'm going to, he said, I'm going to strike them. And when I do, I'm going to hit their crops and I'm going to wipe them out. Well, what was their crops? It was their income. It was their paycheck, right? And God told him, if you do what I say to do, you'll have more crops next year. I'll give you so many crops. You won't know what to do with the crops. You'll have more than you know what to do with. But when you worship idols, he says, I'll rob you of every crop you got." [43:00](Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

### Quotes for Members

1. "Exposure to idols limits indignation. Or you could say it another way. Time with idols desensitizes us to repulsion. They were hanging around the idols. They were walking past the idols every day. The idols had become a normal part of society. And God was as repulsed or ever more repulsed as he had ever been. But society was beginning to emerge. Embrace the idols. I saw an article where families are attacking, I believe it's North Dakota, because of the law that has outlawed child transgender surgery. Mutilation. They've outlawed where the doctors are not allowed to perform sexual mutilation surgery. Try to physically turn opposites." [17:44](Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2. "Ezekiel had maintained his worship of the one true God in Ezekiel's heart there was no other God how do we know when I don't start creeping into our lives when we stop giving glory to God for everything that happens in our lives when we take the things that God has given and we start using them for self-promotion when we start taking things that maybe God has blessed us with and start looking for recognition. God deserves all of the recognition. This is the key. Anytime I'm tempted to take recognition to myself, take recognition from God, and even put recognition on an individual." [41:28](Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3. "If we get around that kind of a culture, we're going to start getting desensitized. Young people, don't fall into the people worship. We're after a move of God, not a move of man, not a move of the flesh. We don't need more flesh. Plenty of that. That's all over the place. We need more of God. And so who's going to be the young person that goes after God, gets anointed by God, and keeps that anointing pure and separate from this world so that God can elevate them and use them as a vessel of honor for His glory? Amen. This is what it's about. It's about getting in the presence of God and saying, God, I'm available. Whatever you want to do, Jesus, you can do it through me." [47:36](Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4. "If sin doesn't move you, you need a renewing in the Holy Ghost. If sin doesn't bother you, if you're friends trying to pull a stunt, sinful thing, talking about girls the wrong way, insinuating things that are ungodly, and it doesn't offend you, it's funny, you're under the peer pressure. You're letting peer pressure run your, your life. And you've been around it long enough that you can't even feel righteousness. Dear God, I was offended by it. And you know what? I lost friends because of it. I stuck out. I got made fun of in the youth group because I wouldn't laugh at the dirty jokes. I was repulsed." [49:09](Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

5. "I want to encourage you to brain detox. To detox the world from your thinking. This is how you got to do it. Everything that you enjoy that's worldly, you got to cut off. Now, are there things that are not sin that are worldly? Absolutely. There are all kinds of things. But I want to encourage somebody. I don't know if anybody will take this challenge or not. Some of you may not have the guts to. That's okay. Yeah, that was a challenge. Abel, I'm still stronger than you, pal. I could beat you in arm wrestling. Two hands against one, and I still won. About broke my elbow, but I about won. No, I'm joking. Still hurt. I haven't arm wrestled since then. Hallelujah." [56:14](Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

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Transcript

What was the most surprising thing in this sermon?

Were there any personal stories shared?