Sermon Tone Analysis

Idols of the Heart

Ezekiel 14:1-8

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INTRODUCTION

!! A.      Idolatry of Old

 

B.

Idolatry of Now

 

C.

Three Things One Must Do With Idols

 

!!!!! I.        IDOLS MUST BE BUILT

!! A.      These gods are not self-existent

 

B.

These gods are created from the imaginations of man

 

C.

These gods are created out of the cravings of man

               Colossians 3:5

Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry.

Ephesians 5:5

For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.

 

! II.

IDOLS MUST BE WORSHIPED

A.      Worship defines their existence – (why else would they be built?)

B.

Their identity defines what is worshiped

 

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III.

IDOLS MUST BE DESTROYED

!! A.      They infringe upon a jealous God

          Exodus 20:5

Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me.

!!!! B.      They cannot be interchanged with a holy God

          Jeremiah 2:11-13 (NLT)

Has any nation ever exchanged its gods for another god, even though its gods are nothing?

Yet my people have exchanged their glorious God for worthless idols!

The heavens are shocked at such a thing and shrink back in horror and dismay, says the Lord.

For my people have done two evil things: They have forsaken me – the fountain of living water.

And they have dug for themselves cracked cisterns that can hold no water at all!

         

!!!! C.      They inhibit the presence of God

          Genesis 35:2-3b

Then Jacob said unto his household, and to all that were with him, Put away the strange gods that are among you, and be clean, and change your garments: And let us arise, and go up to Bethel; and I will make there an altar unto God….

!!!! D.     They impede the blessings of God

!!!!!!           Ezekiel 14:3

Son of man, these men have set up their idols in their heart, and put the stumbling block of their iniquity before their face: should I be inquired of at all by them?

 

!!! CONCLUSION

                   1 Corinthians 10:14

                Wherefore, my dearly beloved, flee from idolatry.

 

                1 John 5:21

                Little children, keep yourselves from idols.

Amen.