MY IDOLS
SCRIPTURE: ‘Thus says the Lord God: “Everyone of the house of Israel who sets up his idols in his heart, and puts before him what causes him to stumble into iniquity, and then comes to the prophet, I the Lord will answer him who comes, according to the multitude of his idols, 5 that I may seize the house of Israel by their heart, because they are all estranged from Me by their idols.” ’ 6 “Therefore say to the house of Israel, ‘Thus says the Lord God: “Repent, turn away from your idols, and turn your faces away from all your abominations.” Ezekiel 14:4-6
The challenge today is that some of us will seek the blessings of God but reject the authority of God. In Ezekiel 14 they are inquiring of the Lord, because they need His help, yet they have other gods. Here is what happens; gods of the heart can be hidden from men, but God is saying to Ezekiel, "They speak to you as if they really want Me.” But these men have gods in their hearts that they have set up themselves. You and I have a capacity to erect our secret sanctuaries of idols yet go through the outward function as if we are seeking the true God.
The challenge today is not only idols of the heart, but to what extent will God respond when they are there. The question is, “Are they in charge?” Oh, you know you have some. You don’t call it that, but when you look at it from God’s perspective the question is, “What controls you?” “What has the final authority over you?” “What do you truly worship?” This is a message that does not allow you any room when you are aware that there is a God who sees what no one else sees about you. It makes you take your eyes off what you think and see about other people and take a moment to try and focus on what God must see about me.
Prayer: Our gracious God and King, You desire to sit upon the throne of our hearts, but we as Your people have elevated lesser things. We have this tendency to take the spiritual path of least resistance, yet we want the full blessings of all You have for us. Help us to see what You see in me. Please help us with a spiritual refocus that causes us to examine our hearts (Am I truly saved?), inspect our walk our relationship (Are You pleased?), observe our work (Is my motivation right?), scrutinize our fruit (Is it Godly?) and cast down every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of You. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen!
By Pastor Wayne Cockrell
Taken from "The Battle with Idols in the Heart"
The challenge today is not only idols of the heart, but to what extent will God respond when they are there. The question is, “Are they in charge?” Oh, you know you have some. You don’t call it that, but when you look at it from God’s perspective the question is, “What controls you?” “What has the final authority over you?” “What do you truly worship?” This is a message that does not allow you any room when you are aware that there is a God who sees what no one else sees about you. It makes you take your eyes off what you think and see about other people and take a moment to try and focus on what God must see about me.
Prayer: Our gracious God and King, You desire to sit upon the throne of our hearts, but we as Your people have elevated lesser things. We have this tendency to take the spiritual path of least resistance, yet we want the full blessings of all You have for us. Help us to see what You see in me. Please help us with a spiritual refocus that causes us to examine our hearts (Am I truly saved?), inspect our walk our relationship (Are You pleased?), observe our work (Is my motivation right?), scrutinize our fruit (Is it Godly?) and cast down every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of You. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen!
By Pastor Wayne Cockrell
Taken from "The Battle with Idols in the Heart"
Archive
2024
January
Gratitude Mixed with Faith Should Equal ObedienceGrace Comes In God’s TimingGOD USES WHOM HE CHOOSESSeeing What God Sees to Get What God HasA Life Verse That Is Good for Every YearSeeing Things as God Sees ThemThree QuestionsDon’t Worry About the FutureForgiveness Is Our Daily CelebrationPeace When We Do RightGod’s True Children Certainly Should KnowRegret In Missed OpportunitiesThe Attitude of Delight Is RightMeditation Deprivation Is EvidentARE YOU A DISCIPLE OR JUST A CONVERT?An Anchored Soul Won’t QuitGod Wants to Be BelievedFinding God in Our PainI Must Be About God’s WordWhat the Wondrous Word of God Can Do in a Willing ServantSeeing Things God’s WayGetting Along for Jesus SakeMeditating Brings Us Success In The Christian LifeThe State of Mind That Pleases GodPraised By the RaisedHaving the Right Knowledge for Real FaithWhose Mind Do You Think With?All My Heart & All My WaysWise with the Lord’s TimeNo Shame About What God Has SaidPrayer Is A Conversation
February
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March
LOVE x LOVELove is CommitmentSUNDAY MORNING PRAYER with Pastor CockrellTHE HIGHEST DEBT OF LOVEPREVAILING IN LOVE, AND IN THE LIGHT OF THE PROMISEReturn Your Love to METhe Loveless ChurchWhat Do You Want First: the Good News or the Bad News?POSITIVE FRICTION THAT MAKES US BETTERSUNDAY MORNING PRAYER with Pastor Wayne CockrellHis Love Versus My FearsJESUS LOVES YOUBe Surrendered to 'Love'Victory Over Fear: Life’s Small LessonsJesus, Our VictoryTRUST CHRIST, BANISH FEARSUNDAY MORNING PRAYER with Pastor Wayne CockrellHarmony and Discord Aren’t FriendsHOLY PARAMETERSBlinded by HateACT or REACTRESISTING ANGER AND HATE IN CONFLICTPeculiar PeopleSUNDAY MORNING PRAYER with Pastor Wayne CockrellONWARD & UPWARDHow To Fall ForwardThe Front Windshield is Much Bigger than the Rearview MirrorONE THING TO DOLooking Back Will Have You SaltyGreat Cloud of WitnessesSUNDAY MORNING PRAYER with Pastor Wayne Cockrell
3 Comments
Wow. What a blow, Pastor. Thank you for the challenge and the questions that keeps us asking, "Is that me, Lord?"
Seek ye first the kingdom of God and all these other things will be added to you.
This is a mic drop! Amen Pastor Cockrell. We went to a funeral yesterday. The deceased was a huge Ravens fan, so much so that there was a Ravens emblem on the program. A comment was made to me "...now that's dedication. " I said, "No, that's idolatry!" Thankfully, the eulogy was on point, and 5 souls accepted Jesus when the invitation was given.