Killing Kryptonite | Week 5

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Week 5 | Idolatry

Weather | Warm and Muggy

Diesel and Kotter continued the book study at Celery Fields at 6:15 for the fifth week of this 3rd F gathering. There were many Pax downrange this week.

The reading assignment was chapters 10-12.

Idolatry

  • Throughout scripture God equates idolatry with adultery. Why do you think?
  • Idolatry begins by worshipping creation rather than its Creator.
  • True worship is obedience to God’s commands. Who can you think of in your life that is a good example of living a lifestyle of true worship?
  • Samuel told Saul that stubbornness is the same as adultery. Why is that?
  • Covetousness leads us to idolatry, but contentment leads to Godliness. Would you say you are more covetous or content?
  • What’s the difference between contentment and complacency?

Chapter 10 – What’s Behind Idolatry?

Romans 2:14-15 (NLT)   Even Gentiles, who do not have God’s written law, show that they know his law when they instinctively obey it, even without having heard it. 15 They demonstrate that God’s law is written in their hearts, for their own conscience and thoughts either accuse them or tell them they are doing right.

  •  God has planted eternity in our hearts, even non-believers.
  • There’s no justification for a human being to be ignorant of God. He has made himself known who is honest and desires truth.
  • What is The Critical Juncture?
  • What gods has man created?
  • The truest definition of worship is obedience. Without this foundation, worship is nothing.

Romans 1:24-25 (NLT)   So God abandoned them to do whatever shameful things their hearts desired. As a result, they did vile and degrading things with each other’s bodies. 25 They traded the truth about God for a lie. So they worshiped and served the things God created instead of the Creator himself, who is worthy of eternal praise! Amen.

  • God abandoned them, because of their behavior.
  • The next few verses list 22 offenses against God. (43% of words are homosexuality)
  • US govt spent $200 billion on issues dealing with gender ID and homosexuality.

Matthew 22:20-21 (NIV) and he asked them, “Whose image is this? And whose inscription?” 21 “Caesar’s,” they replied. Then he said to them, “So give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.”

  • Homosexuality is a God issue (immoral sin), not a government issue.

Romans 1:32 (NLT) They know God’s justice requires that those who do these things deserve to die, yet they do them anyway. Worse yet, they encourage others to do them, too.

  • They knew it was a sin, yet they did it anyways.
  • Worse yet, they encouraged others to sin.

Take Action

  • Worship is the choice to obey, honor, and give thanks to God.
  • What has God told you to do? How important do you view this assignment?

Chapter 11 – Believers’ Idolatry

  • King Saul and the Amalekites | Saul did not destroy ALL of them.
  • Saul was disobedient to God by not completely obeying him.
  • Do your kids ever only do partially what you ask, and expect that to be satisfactory?
  • To God, partial obedience is not obedience at all. It is rebellion.
  • Your will, wishes, agenda is placed before God’s.
  • Saul became wicked.
  • Disobedience to God is a downward spiral.

Contentment: Feeling or showing satisfaction with one’s possessions, status or situation.

  • We cannot properly serve unless we are content. Otherwise we will be focused on “How will this benefit me?”

Philippians 4:11 (NIV) I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.

  • Live in complete satisfaction of HIS will
  • What is the difference between contentment and complacency?

Covetousness: A strong desire of obtaining and possessing some supposed good.

Colossians 3:1-4 (NIV): Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. 3 For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is your life,appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

  • Satan’s temptation of Jesus in the wilderness was provision outside that of God’s.

Colossians 3:5-6 (NIV): Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. 6 Because of these, the wrath of God is coming.

Hebrews 13:5-6 (NKJV): Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” 6 So we may boldly say: “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?”

Take Action

  • It’s vital for us to understand the truth in God’s Word.
  • What are some areas you have been partially obedient to God or stubborn?

Chapter 12 – Alleviating Pressure

  • King Saul’s earlier battle against the Philistines, Saul did not wait for Samuel
  • Saul’s insecurity due to his lack of contentment. He took matters into own hands.
  • The Lord wants men after his own heart.

1 Samuel 13:10-14 (NLT): Just as Saul was finishing with the burnt offering, Samuel arrived. Saul went out to meet and welcome him, 11 but Samuel said, “What is this you have done?” Saul replied, “I saw my men scattering from me, and you didn’t arrive when you said you would, and the Philistines are at Micmash ready for battle. 12 So I said, ‘The Philistines are ready to march against us at Gilgal, and I haven’t even asked for the Lord’s help!’ So I felt compelled to offer the burnt offering myself before you came.” 13 “How foolish!” Samuel exclaimed. “You have not kept the command the Lord your God gave you. Had you kept it, the Lord would have established your kingdom over Israel forever. 14 But now your kingdom must end, for the Lord has sought out a man after his own heart. The Lord has already appointed him to be the leader of his people, because you have not kept the Lord’s command.”

  • The Lord wants men after his own heart.
  • David returned to his home and found everything was taken, his men wanted to kill him.
  • David prayed to God and was told to go after the Amalekites and recover everything.
  • David waited on God, he was content, and Saul did not.
  • Saul coveted respect and honor from his people.

Idolatry is what you draw your strength from or give your strength to.

Take Action

  • God provides for us through our jobs. God provides love through our families.
  • Where does idolatry have influence in our community?

Homework:

  • The next week’s reading assignment is Chapters 13-14.
  • Please read through Chapter 14 (no more than one chapter per day) by next Saturday 7/28.

Thought for the week:

Kryptonite! Is it possible to not be prone to sin, but be prone to righteousness? Why are the lost around us not attracted to us? Is there a difference between the lost sinning and believers sinning?