An idol is a person or thing that is greatly admired, loved and worshiped by someone.
In ancient times, people used to make their own idols.
They carved statues, crafted poles and worshiped images made with human hands.
They put their trust in objects and things in monuments instead of the one true living God.
Now today, we might not have idols of bronze or silver, but the idols people tend to have in this day and age are invisible idols, idols of the heart.
And you may ask how, how can you have an idol of the heart?
Well, if you remember our definition of an idol, it is a person or thing that is greatly admired, loved or worshiped by someone.
In other words, whatever or whomever you put first in your life, that is your God, whatever or whomever you honor above all else in your life.
That is your God, whatever you value highly and love deeply, be careful because that is your God a career.
It can become an idol so can money your business, your husband or wife or even the secret sin that you refuse to give up.
These can all be idols because God Jehovah, he should be first in our lives.
He should be honored above all else in our lives.
He should be the one who’s highly valued and loved deeply by all of us as his Children.
If it’s not the Lord who’s first in your life, then you’re in danger of making that thing or person an idol.
If it competes with God for our attention and for our time, then that thing, that person has become an idol and we have to be careful because here’s what the Bible says about idols.
Jonah two verse eight, those who cling to worthless idols turn away from God’s love for them.
Now, I don’t know about you, but this scripture really puts things into perspective for me.
When you cling to an idol, you’re saying no to God’s love.
It’s not that he doesn’t want to shower you with his love.
No, it’s the fact that you have chosen to turn away from his love. Dear listener.
Let me tell you this. Only God can satisfy the deep longing that is in our hearts.
Only God can fulfill us and give our lives meaning and purpose.
So when we try to replace Him with lesser things, we will always come up empty.
And this grieves the heart of God.
The people of the old Testament were punished severely for their idolatry.
But each time God also gave them the chance to repent of their sin and return to Him once more and he offers that same choice to us.
Idols. They can be torn down, they can be shattered and they can be replaced with something far better true worship of the living God.
So today I encourage you to tear down the idols in your life.
Let there be no more idols.
No more idols of wealth, no more idols of relationships, no more idols of worldly power.
Now join with me in prayer and let’s ask the Lord to open our eyes so that we can be discerning.
Let’s pray for the power of the holy ghost to move so strongly in our lives and to destroy every evil altar that we’ve built in our hearts, whether knowingly or unknowingly.
Father God. We come to you in the name of Jesus Christ.
We come to you in prayer today seeking forgiveness. Lord, we repent from our ways.
We repent from our old sinful habits and passions. Father, in agreement with everyone listening.
I ask that you would move within our hearts and in our lives.
Lord, tear down every idolatrous image that we have kept in our eyes.
Cast out every passion, everything and everyone who seeks to be placed above you.
Lord, remove them from our lives, remove all idols that seek to challenge the position of Jesus Christ in our lives.
We declare that Jesus Christ is the king of kings and he reigns in our lives.
We declare that Jesus Christ is the Lord of lords and he rules in our lives. Jesus Christ.
He is the beginning and the end the first and the last. It’s all about you, Lord Jesus.
It has always been about you and it will forever be about you.
My Lord Psalm 1 35 verses 15 through 18, say the idols of the nations are silver and gold made by human hands.
They have mouths but cannot speak eyes, but cannot see, They have ears but cannot hear nor is their breath and their mouths.
Those who make them will be like them and so will all who trust in them.
There is only you Jehovah Abba.
Father Elohim, the great I am all of their idols, all other manmade gods, they’re powerless.
They are dead and weak and useless, which is why our worship and adoration is to you the most high God, the God who speaks truth, the God who is living and eternal, the one who holds all power and knows all things and is in all places at all times, a limitless and majestic God to you and you alone be all glory and honor and praise.
Gods are bigger and greater than anything on this earth. You alone are worthy of our attention.
You deserve our affection and our devotion.
Dear God, open our eyes so that we can see what is evil in our hearts and remove it.
Lord, open our eyes so that we can live according to your word.
And be obedient to your word that says in Exodus 20 verses three through six, you shall have no other gods before me.
You shall not make for yourself a carved image, 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 nor serve them for I the Lord, your God am a jealous God.
Visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the Children to the 3rd and 4th generations of those who hate me, but showing mercy to thousands to those who love me and keep my commandments.
Lord help us to keep your commandments. Help us in. Lord, please purge your hearts.
God, I ask that you would tear down every evil altar and destroy every carved image in our hearts.
God give us eyes only for Jesus Christ. Give us minds that are focused only on Jesus Christ.
And Lord give us a strong desire to be followers and disciples of Jesus Christ.
It is in his name that we pray and we give you thanks.
I’m in.