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Idolatry

 
Idolatry And Sorcery
 
INTRODUCTION
 
1. As we continue our examination of the "works of the flesh" listed in
 Ga 5:19-21...
 a. We come to sins which modern man may think do not affect him
 b. These are the sins of "idolatry" and "sorcery" - Ga 5:20a
 
2. However
as we examine them more closely
I believe we shall find
 that these sins are not as far removed from us as we might think...
 a. Indeed
most people practice idolatry!
 b. And many people engage in some form of sorcery!
 
[This is true of many Christians as well
so perhaps we should give
these words our careful attention...]
 
I. EIDOLOLATREIA (idolatry)
 
 A. CONCERNING IDOLATRY AS COMMONLY CONSIDERED...
 1. In the beginning stages of idolatry
no one worships the idol
  or image itself
 a. The idol simply served two purposes:
 1) To localize the god it represents
 2) To visualize the god it represents
 b. It is simply designed to make it easier to worship the god
 represented by the idol
 2. Inevitably
however
people will wind up worshipping the idol
 or image itself
 a. We see this in various forms of Catholicism
 b. Where the leaders say the image is not an idol
only an 
 "icon"
 c. But who can deny that the average worshipper begins to view
 the image itself as something "holy" and to be "revered"?
 d. Thus that which is "created" begins receiving adoration 
 rightfully due the "Creator"
 3. According to Ro 1:19-23
the basic error of idol worship is
 the worship of the "created thing" rather than the "Creator of
 all things"!
 
 B. CONCERNING IDOLATRY AS THAT WHICH DISPLACES GOD...
 1. Idolatry is not just the adoration or worship of images
 2. Paul defines "covetousness" as idolatry - Ep 5:5; Co 3:5
 a. Any strong desire for material things that replaces our 
 desire for God is a form of idolatry!
 1) Our hearts are such that they are drawn to whatever is 
 our treasure - Mt 6:21
 2) If our treasure is earthly things
our heart (devotion)
 is drawn away from God
 3) We cannot serve material things and God at the same 
  time! - Mt 6:24
 b. Thus we can be idolaters when we make things other than God
 Himself our priority in life
such as:
 1) Our job
 2) Our house
 3) Our family
 4) Our hobby
 
[So when we find admonitions like this one...
 
 "Little children
keep yourselves from idols." - 1 Jn 5:21
 
...let's not be so presumptuous to believe that we are too "modern" or
sophisticated to need such a warning. We might need it more than we 
realize! The same can be said for warnings against the next sin...]
 
II. PHARMAKEIA (witchcraft
sorcery
magic)
 
 A. INFORMATION RELATED TO THIS WORD...
 1. PHARMAKEIA is found to be used in three ways
 a. Medically
to the use of drugs with no bad meaning at all
 b. The misuse of drugs so as to poison
not cure
 c. The practice of sorcery and witchcraft
which often used 
 drugs to cast spells and alter the behavior of others
 2. The practice of witchcraft and sorcery is strongly condemned
 in the Bible
 a. In the Old Testament - Exo 22:18
 b. In the New Testament - Re 21:8
 3. In Ac 19:18-20
we find a remarkable example of repentance
 related to the practice of magic
 
 B. EXAMPLES OF THIS SIN TODAY...
 1. There is an increasing number of religions based upon the 
 occult
and that make use of drugs in their religion
 2. The "recreational" use of drugs also falls into this 
 category...
 a. Remember that altering the behavior of others through such
 drugs was a basic function of sorcery and witchcraft
 b. What difference is there between using drugs to alter 
 others' behavior
and your own?
 c. This is not to discount the proper medicinal use of drugs
 d. But just as the Bible condemns drunkenness
which is an 
 altered state brought on by alcohol (a drug)
so it would
 seem to condemn similar use of other drugs
 
CONCLUSION
 
1. As we continue our study of the "works of the flesh"
we should keep
 in mind that each one of these sins is a perversion of something 
 which in itself is good; as illustrated by Barclay...
 a. Fornication
uncleanness
lasciviousness - perversions of the
 sexual instinct which in itself can be a beautiful thing and a
 part of true love between a man and a woman
 b. Idolatry - a perversion of worship
 c. Sorcery - a perversion of the proper use of drugs
 d. Hatred
contentions
jealousies - perversions of that noble 
 ambition and desire to do well which can spur one to greatness
 e. Outbursts of wrath
selfish ambitions - perversions of righteous
 indignation without which the passion for goodness cannot exist
 f. Dissensions
heresies
envy - perversions of the devotion to 
 principle which can produce the martyr
 g. Drunkenness
revelries - perversions of the happy joy of social
 fellowship
 
2. Indeed
the following is so true:
 
 "The awfulness of the power of sin lies precisely in its ability to
 take the raw material of potential goodness and turn it into the 
 material of evil." (Barclay)
 
I implore us all to devote our lives in the proper worship of God and 
His Son Jesus Christ
and to abstain from the misuse of anything God 
has created for good purposes!

－－《Executable Outlines》