Exodus 32 Aaron made a Golden Calf

2 Chronicles 33:1-10  Manasseh - King of Judah  Began to reign when 12  Was the king for 55 years  Did much evil  Altars for Baal

“He even set a carved image, the idol which he had made, in the house of God, of which God had said to David and to Solomon his son, "In this house and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, I will put My name forever;” 2 Chronicles 33:7

I. What is Idolatry ? Idol  picture or copy, figure of man  images of gods – copy “ the worship of a physical object as a god” (Websters)

Ex 20:3-4 1 st & 2 nd commandments 3. “You shall have no other gods before Me. 4. "You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or 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;”

Leviticus 26:1 “Ye shall make you no idols nor graven image, neither rear you up a standing image, neither shall ye set up any image of stone in your land, to bow down unto it: for I am the LORD your God.” Photographs are not wrong Sculptures are not wrong

II. How did Idolatry Start ? Men worshipped different things Men worshipped different things:  Stones  Animals  Heavenly bodies  Rivers  gods and goddesses

Many idols or gods invented  Ceres = fruits of earth  Esculapius = god of medicine  Mercury = trade  Mars = wars and battles  Apollo = learning

Men trust in gods because they are ignorant of God’s power Romans 1:21-25 describes process V. 23 “And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.”

III. What does the Bible say About Idolatry ? Exodus 20:3-6 1 st & 2 nd Deut. 4:23; 17:2,3 27:15  make you a graven image  served other gods  graven image - abomination

1 Kings 12:28 1 Kings 12:28 “Whereupon the king took counsel, and made two calves of gold, and said unto them, It is too much for you to go up to Jerusalem: behold thy gods, O Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt.”  Jeroboam  Dan and Bethel

2 Kings 10:29 “However Jehu did not turn away from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who had made Israel sin, that is, from the golden calves that were at Bethel and Dan.” 2 Kings 13:2 Jehoahaz “followed the sins of Jeroboam”

Gal.5:20 “idolatry”- image worship Eph. 5:5 “...who is an idolater” Rev. 21:8 “idolaters” Rev. 22:15 “idolaters” Col. 3:5 “covetousness which is idolatry” 1 Cor.6:9-10 “idolaters”

IV. What must we do About Idolatry ? “ For they themselves declare concerning us what manner of entry we had to you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God,” 1 Thes. 1:9

“ But the rest of mankind, who were not killed by these plagues, did not repent of the works of their hands, that they should not worship demons, and idols of gold, silver, brass, stone, and wood, which can neither see nor hear nor walk.” Rev. 9:20

1 John 5:21 “ Little children, keep yourselves from idols.” 1 Cor. 10:14 “ Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry.” Acts 17:16 “ Now while Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit was stirred in him, when he saw the city wholly given to idolatry.”

How can we practice Idolatry ? Anything that comes between us and God. A substitute for the living God Car House Clothes Money $ Sexual sins Recreation

“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 on the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me,” Exodus 20:5

Isa. 42:8 “ I am the LORD: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images.”

John 4:24 “ God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.” Matt. 6:33 - Seek God first

Jer. 10:5 RSV “Their idols are like scarecrows in a cucumber field, and they cannot speak; they have to be carried, for they cannot walk. Be not afraid of them, for they cannot do evil, neither is it in them to do good.”

Sermon by Arthur Pigman Evans Church of Christ 515 Gibbs Road Evans, Ga Sunday Evening June 15, 2008