An Idol Is Anything You Give Higher Priority Than God

Sermon outline

True worship is obedience and service, not only music, and anything or anyone you give higher priority than God becomes an idol that blocks it; identify those idols, repent and make yourself a vessel of honour.

1. Worship and service always go together

   In the third temptation Satan offered Jesus the kingdoms of the world if He would bow down, and Jesus answered that it is written: worship the Lord your God and serve Him only. The two words are like brothers who always go together. Worship is not only the last two songs on a Sunday; it must become a seven-day lifestyle. If Satan tempted Christ this way, he will tempt the church the same way.

   Illustration: When he first came into ministry he thought church, tithes and being nice to people were enough. He learned that ministry is work, going out and telling people about Jesus, and that no one can live on someone else's relationship with God.

   “You cannot worship God without serving the Lord.”

   • Matthew 4:1-10
   • Matthew 6:33

2. Abraham's worship was a knife, wood and fire

   God told Abraham to take Isaac, his only son whom he loved, and offer him on a mountain three days' journey away. Abraham told his servants that he and the boy would go and worship. Worship became obedience to God's instruction. God does not ask us to sacrifice our children, but true worship goes beyond singing on a Sunday.

   “He's not carrying a guitar. He's not carrying a mic, but he's carrying a knife, wood and fire, and his son, and he calls that worship.”

   • Genesis 22:1-5

3. Your body as a living sacrifice is your spiritual worship

   Paul urges believers by God's mercy to offer their bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing, which is their spiritual act of worship. Other translations call it the most sensible way to serve God and the true worship we should offer. Music is one part of worship; the part he is teaching is obedience and fulfilling the assignment God has given each of us. God is interested in how you serve Him now, not twenty years ago.

   “Offering our bodies as living sacrifice to God is the most sensible way to serve him.”

   • Romans 12:1

4. Idols become a snare

   Israel worshipped idols that became a snare, a baited trap, and their downfall. God asked Ezekiel why He should listen to leaders who had set up idols in their hearts. Paul was distressed to see Athens full of idols and told believers to flee idolatry, as a boy runs when he sees his mother coming home. John says keep yourself from anything that might take God's place in your heart, and Paul calls greed idolatry. Today's idols are mostly invisible, and the church must deal with them before it can set others free.

   Illustration: His mother, a nurse, would ask him to take the chicken out to thaw before she came home. Busy playing, he would see her coming, flee inside and try to defrost it in boiling water in two minutes. That is what flee means.

   “An idol is anything or anyone that we give higher priority than God.”

   • Psalm 106:36
   • Ezekiel 14:3
   • Exodus 20:3-5
   • Acts 17:16
   • 1 Corinthians 10:14
   • 1 John 5:21
   • Colossians 3:5
   • Revelation 2:4

5. The idols of our day

   He names some: the cell phone, a good gift that becomes an idol when it is the first thing we reach for in the morning, sits between couples at dinner and is used for games in church; sports and games that make people shout for a team that does not pay them while they will not lift their hands to God; relationships where a spouse's or friend's voice outweighs God's; secular jobs that crowd out God's work; binge-watching a series for hours without thirty minutes in the word; social media and bought likes; and greed. Every saved person is a worker and a leader, so when the church calls workers and leaders, that means everyone.

   Illustration: He admits he used to pray each morning and then go straight to his messages, and sat at restaurants with his wife unable to put his phone down, until the Lord told him to put first things first.

   “All of us here are workers and leaders.”

   • James 1:17
   • Proverbs 11:1

6. Adjustments: repent, refill and serve

   He lists the adjustments: repent and ask God to forgive you, since Jesus is faithful to forgive; be filled with the Holy Spirit and cultivate that relationship; rededicate your life and begin worshipping where you are; seek His kingdom first; honour Him with your finances and resources; worship at home, at work and in business; use your body, skills and talents; serve in your local church; clear out toxic music and anything that does not glorify God; and win souls on every available platform.

   Illustration: During lockdown he asked the Lord where to find souls and was told there are always souls. Now when call centre agents phone to sell him contracts or insurance, he listens, then asks if he can do something for them, asks about their relationship with God and prays with them. One saleswoman wept and said the Lord had sent a light in her time of need.

   “God will use you any way and every way. Just make yourself available.”

   • 1 John 1:9
   • 1 Corinthians 11:31
   • 1 Corinthians 12:11

7. Make yourself a vessel of honour

   A great house has vessels of gold and silver and of wood and clay, some for honour and some for common use, like the special plates his parents kept for important visitors. Whoever cleanses himself becomes a vessel of honour, sanctified, useful to the Master and ready for every good work. God will not clean you; you must clean yourself.

   “God is not gonna clean you as a vessel. You must clean yourself.”

   • 2 Timothy 2:20-21

In this message