Keep Taking the Tablets

God said.. Exodus 20:4-6 "You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or.. You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children… to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments.

God said: compare.. Isaiah 44:9-20 All who make idols are nothing, and the things they treasure are worthless. Those who would speak up for them are blind; they are ignorant, to their own shame. Who shapes a god and casts an idol, which can profit him nothing? He and his kind will be put to shame…

God said.. ..and contrast Isaiah 40:12-28 Who has measured the waters in the hollow of his hand, or with the breadth of his hand marked off the heavens? Who has held the dust of the earth in a basket, or weighed the mountains on the scales and the hills in a balance?.... I love these verses.. Read from bible Isaiah 40… How can we even begin to worship other gods??...And yet we do, we really do..

1. What’s the problem?

it’s function not form that counts: 1. What is the problem? it’s function not form that counts: 1 Sam 16:7 ..The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.

1. What’s the problem? Jesus said: Mark 12:30 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength

John Calvin “Every one of us is, even from his mother's womb, a master craftsman of idols .”

2. What are our idols today? Things & people Ephesians 5:5 For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person- such a man is an idolater - has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God

2. What are our idols today? thoughts and sensations Mark 7:21 For from within, out of men's hearts, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly. ..

John Calvin “We must remember that Satan has his miracles, too.”

3. What are our idols today? supernatural power Lev 19:31 'Do not turn to mediums or seek out spiritists, for you will be defiled by them. I am the LORD your God.

Take a closer look who or what do I worship? Matt 6:21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also

3. What can we do about it? take heart

3. What can we do about it? take heart Isaiah 43:24 ..But you have burdened me with your sins and wearied me with your offenses.

3. What can we do about it? take heart Isaiah 43:25 I, even I, am he who blots out your transgressions, for my own sake, and remembers your sins no more.

3. What can we do about it? take heart 1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness .

3. What can we do about it? take action ..

3. What can we do about it? take action Acts 19:19 A number who had practiced sorcery brought their scrolls together and burned them publicly. When they calculated the value of the scrolls, the total came to fifty thousand drachmas.

3. What can we do about it? take action 1 John 5:21 Dear children, keep yourselves from idols.

3. What can we do about it? take control

3. What can we do about it? take control Eph 3:20-22 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.

4. Is it worth it? Psalm 37:4-6 Delight yourself in the LORD  and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him and he will do this: He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun.