IDOLS OF THE HEART

1. IDOLS OF THE HEART Learning to Long for God Alone by Elyse Fitzpatrick Presented by Elder Wendie G. Trott

2. Chapter 4: The Heart Changer Luke 7:36-50: “A Pharisee invited Jesus to have dinner with him. So Jesus went to the Pharisee’s home and got ready to eat. When a sinful woman in that town found out that Jesus was there, she bought an expensive bottle of perfume. Then she came and stood behind Jesus. She cried and started washing His feet with her tears and drying them with her hair. The woman kissed His feetand poured the perfume on them.

3. The Pharisee who had invited Jesus saw this and said to himself, ‘If this man really were a prophet, He would know what kind of woman is touching Him! He would know that she is a sinner.’ Jesus said to the Pharisee, ‘Simon, I have something to say to you.’ ‘Teacher, what is it?’ Simon replied. Jesus told him, ‘Two people were in debt to a money lender. One of them owed him five hundred silver coins, and the other owed him fifty.

4. Since neither of them could pay him back, the money lender said that they didn’t have to pay him anything. Which one of them will like him more?’ Simon answered, ‘I suppose it would be the one who had owed more and didn’t have to pay it back.’ ‘You are right,’ Jesus said. He turned toward the woman and said to Simon, ‘Have you noticed this woman?

5. When I came into your home, you didn’t give me any water so I could wash my feet. But she has washed my feet with her tears and dried them with her hair. You didn’t greet me with a kiss, but from the time I came in she has not stopped kissing my feet. You didn’t even pour olive oil on my head, but she has poured expensive perfume on my feet. So I tell you that all her sins are forgiven, and that is why she has shown great love. But anyone who has been forgiven for only a little will show only a little love.’

6. Then Jesus said to the woman, ‘Your sins are forgiven.’ Some other guests started saying to one another, ‘Who is this who dares to forgive sins?’ But Jesus told the woman, ‘Because of your faith, you are now saved. May God give you peace.”

7. Her eyes were opened to His worth [TRUE VALUE], and worship flowed out of her. Are our eyes as open? Do we care about the approval of others over God?

8. IDOLATRY is: worshiping, adoring, admiring, reverencing, or loving false gods.

9. Incomprehensible Power The Power of the Holy Spirit = the only life-changing power in the world! His unique work produces holiness. In our own strength, we don’t have the power to make us a holy God-worshiper, but God is committed to changing us!

10. How the Spirit Makes Us Holy • Teaching Us the Glories of Christ: John 16:14: “The Spirit will bring glory to Me by taking My message and telling it to you.” • Showing Us the Cross: John 16:8-11 says that the Holy Spirit’s assignment is to: • 1. Convict the world of sin • The world has no faith in the Lord! [NO FAITH = Can’t please God!] • 2. Convict the world about Righteousness • Christ’s righteousness [HIS PERFECT NATURE] is freely available to all God’s children. • 3. Convict the world about Judgment • God’s holiness demands that sin be destroyed!

11. Writing His Word on Our Hearts: John 16:13: “The Spirit shows what is true and will come and guide you into full truth.” Psalm 119:11: “I treasure Your Word above all else; it keeps me from sinning against You.” [CEV] Inclining Our Hearts to Worship Him: Bend Down, Listen With Your Heart, and Love On Him! I Kings 8:57-58: “May the Lord our God be with us…that He may incline our hearts to Himself, to walk in all His ways and to keep His commandments and statutes and His ordinances.” The Spirit Convinces Us That We Are God’s Children: Romans 8:15-16: “God’s Spirit doesn’t make us slaves who are afraid of Him. Instead, we become His children and call Him our Father. God’s Spirit makes us sure that we are His children.” The Spirit Teaches Us to Pray: Romans 8:26-27--The Spirit prays through us when we don’t even know what to say to God.

12. God Is Faithful 1 Corinthians 10:13-14: “You are tempted in the same way that everyone else is tempted. But God can be trusted not to let you be tempted too much, and He will show you how to escape from your temptations. My friends, you must keep away from idols.”

13. The Certainty of Our Ultimate Glorification Romans 8:29-30—Speaks of predestination = PRE (before/already), DESTINY (fate/divine intervention/external circumstances), DESTINATION (purpose/end/target/aim/goal/objective/intention) [Msg] “God knew what He was doing from the very beginning. He decided from the outset to shape the lives of those who love Him along the same lines as the life of His Son. The Son stands first in the line of humanity He restored. We see the original and intended shape of our lives there in Him. After God made that decision of what His children should be like, He followed it up by calling people by name. After He called them by name, He set them on a solid basis with Himself. And then, after getting them established, He stayed with them to the end, gloriously completing what He had begun.”

14. Chapter 5: Better Than Life “Because Your loving-kindness is better than life, my lips will praise You.”—Psalm 63:3

15. The Worth of God’s Love How valuable is God’s love to you? Is the love between you and Him more valued than everything else in your life?

16. Man’s Happiness Is God Himself Happiness means: contentment, pleasure, gladness, cheerfulness, delight As God’s children, it is God Himself who should be the Source of our happiness. Knowing Him, worshiping Him, being loved by Him, and loving Him in return should be the center of our existence and our joy. Psalm 16:11 says: “You have shown me the path to life, and You make me glad by being near to me. Sitting at Your right side, I will always be joyful!” [CEV]

17. Delighting to Do God’s Will Psalm 40:8: “I delight to do Thy will, O God! Thy Law is within my heart.” Delighting to do God’s will means: turning from the deception that joy lies outside obedient fellowship with God. Does something else seem more attractive? It’s a deception! Matthew 6:21 says: “Your heart will always be where your treasure is.”

18. Eve’s Unhappy Choice • Genesis 3:6: Eve chose to disobey God by eating from the tree that: • was good for food • was a delight to the eyes • was desirable to make one wise • Running after Happiness • Pursue THE happiness of knowing and loving Christ and you will find that your holiness and worship will grow.

19. Why Do We Choose the Way We Do? If you are willing to sin in order to be happy, you are an idolater! Happiness becomes a god if and when your pursuit of it is done despite the offence to God!

20. Your History and Happiness We are all products of what we have endured. The power of God is greater than our history, or any other power, however, failure to admit we have been affected, and need healing, can cause us to erect false gods in our lives.

21. The good news is that the Holy Spirit can illuminate your heart and cause you to grow in your esteem of Christ and disdain the charms of the world. He does this by inclining you to serve Him and teaching you the true joys of heaven.

22. So go ahead! Pursue happiness! Define it the way that God does and you’ll never be disappointed. Remember your goal is to say with David, “Nothing, not even life, brings me more happiness than Your love!”