What Is an Idol?

Ask Pastor John
Episode: 1726

[jenniferharrell]

So, recently I had to cut off video games for my kids, because I felt they were idols to them, because it’s literally all they cared about. I couldn’t interest them on anything else, let alone God. Everything else in life became “boring” to them. Reading, playing outside, playing board games, educational things, even my oldest who loves art, all of his art was about video games. That is what filled their hearts desires. So I would add not only reliance on things, but the hearts desires that become greater than God. We need to love Him supremely, over everything in life, and our desire should be to do His will, seek His will, and desire to please Him above anything else. If something gets in the way of those things and they become first in our lives, it’s an idol, in my opinion.

[edgarmorales]

Behind the search for every idol lies the yearning for completion. To seek a special person or a thing to "add" to you to make yourself complete can only mean that you believe some form is missing, and by finding this, you will achieve completion in a form that you like. This is the purpose of an idol, that you will not look beyond it to the source of the belief that you are incomplete.

[Paula-ugw]

This very theme has been showing up in my life, enough to make me pay attention and listen and learn about various things in my life that are and have been idols. Namely, yoga practice, Kwan yin statues and general beauty items like make up and clothing. This has been an eye opener for me to see how pervasive and sneaky idols creep into our lives. Purging is on my to-do list. Thankful for this message

[HearGodsWord]

Excellent answer from Pastor John - as always. Idol worship is easy to fall into, which is why churches need to talk more about it.

[johnzhenli]

For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person—such a person is an idolater—has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.［Ephesians 5:5 NIV］

Appreciate Rev. John Piper's answer and the communications between members. I have to mention the above Scripture as an addition, which clearly tells us that immoral, impure or greedy are kinds of idols.

Actually, spiritual war is in everywhere, including Satan and devils are trying to attack or tempt Christians. Trust in the Holy Trinity GOD faithfully with our pure hearts so that we can keep away from any visible and invisible idols. Repent timely when we have any sins on idols. Pray for the protection and guidance of HOLY SPIRIT in the Victory Name of JESUS CHRIST. Amen.

[Wahetylerjames]

This was so thought-provoking! Thank you.

[nsktsunami]

Thank you desiring god and teams. First thing i like to do when i wake up is pray for GOD to be near me and then listen to videos of God

[servantofMostHighELELON]

With the making of a gold calf it would seem their hearts were in their stomachs. Thank you teacher, God bless the righteous.

[bradtrekell]

Paul says in Colossians 3:5 that covetousness (a desire rather than a physical object) is idolatry:

"Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry."

In Philippians 3:19, Paul speaks of the enemies of the cross of Christ and says that their "god is their belly" meaning that their appetites are the recipients of their idolatry.

"Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things."

[rdallas]

Praise the Lord, who is God.
Give Him glory, that's our JOB.
Who is the Lord?
Few will say.
Future tense?
No, TODAY.
The great falling away already started.
From His truth, THEY departed.
They love the world, and the things in it.
Yet, it all was written FROM the beginning.
Made manifest in the word.
Once was flooded,
Soon to burn.

Prophesy is being fulfilled as I write this,
Even as my flesh tries to fight this.
Overcome, by HIS spirit.
The end is near, and I don't fear it.
Fear of the Lord IS the beginning of wisdom.
A place for US, in HIS kingdom.
Written before the foundation of the world, We jump over the swine, and retain our pearls.

God absolutely, irrevocably is "A man of His word"

[rdallas]

The best gift I ever received is in me.
He died so we can receive Him.
He is worshipped in SPIRIT and in TRUTH but that can not be in sin.
He Himself chooses to whom He, His Self reveals Himself to.

That is not something the law decides.
It is something the law describes.
It is something only God prescribes.
Written long before the scribes,
Obliterates the idea of tribes,
Jew and Gentile futile pride,
The word of truth is on our side,
Made manifest in the flesh He resides,
And puts the ways of the world aside
for those souls of His He chose, He cries and He flies as He pries in hearts of His elect I confess these words are all true and you can know too what its like the know Christ in His spirit; renewed.

Yet; It is God who measures the heart.

[sonjapetrovic]

Yes!!! ***ANYTHING*** that we put BEFORE, OR IN PLACE OF God such as lust for anything above God IS idolatry! This could be in the form of $, fame, sex, materials made by mad in the form of God such as statues, crosses, images of any kind that we BOW DOWN to & worship in place of God is idolatry. But, I don't think it's necessarily a bad thing to enjoy things, use tools in ADDITION TO worshipping God like anointing oil, incense, etc. Or have pictures & jewelry that we wear as a representation of our faith. It's only when we worship those things ABOVE God! This can be ppl too! Many ppl idolize famous ppl by making them as important as a "godly" being. Nothing & no one should ever take the place, or be above God & we should be willing to give up everything & everyone to follow the Lord, even our families! This is excellent! Thank you! 🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼

[SoulDeepZim]

Reminds me of that song Jimmy Needham song “Clear The Stage”.

[alexmcphee]

So, not getting an answer pastor. I didn’t think you could answer anyway but thanks for still posting. I personally idolised a lot of things. Now I am idolising the lord

[TheCreepypro]

it seems so foolish but if we are being honest we worship idols more than we think and need to rely more on God than the idols we have built up either in real life or our minds

[dogman]

Thank you for explaining the definition of what an idol is - I was curious

[barefootdgypsy]

My grandparents have their criminal son as an idol above God. They literally worship him on levels. It’s like a self worship protecting him and shielding him of any consequences of his evil acts towards even children. They literally have a scanner playing all day so loud you can’t even have a conversation in fear if he gets busted or in trouble they can get down there asap. My grandma pays more attention to that police scanner more than she hears the word of God. If any of us kids come against my dad they disown us and control us with money. It’s absolutely disgusting and I cant even watch it much longer. It’s causing me a lot of spiritual pain.

[rdallas]

When one "Finds" God in their own heart through faith, JOY is replaced by pure spiritual bliss the second God sends his Holy Spirit to you through HIS grace, by YOUR Faith! The Holy Ghost comes from above Litterally and falls down upon and around the individual who is counted as righteous in Gods eyes and feels like a sheet of energy and pure love. Every hair stands up, you feel electrified and more than content. You feel the Holy spirit and you hear the holy spirit! Others "see" the Holy Ghost IN the true believer who all of a sudden becomes a TRUE KNOWER of God! That is How it happens. That is How It happened to me, and I never looked back. God is here. He truly is omnipresent. He saved me, he saved my life, and I showed others the power of God almighty who's Holy Spirit is very active in these reasons that are biblical in scale and proportions. These days ARE those days prophesied millennia ago....If you have no idea of what I speak in any of it, you need to pray. Pray until you get Gods answer...His Holy Ghost.

[fce]

He ends pretty well. I’ll say it this way: ANY thing that rules the heart, apart from God. As what rules your heart is YOUR God.

For us in North America, a few I hope some will reflect on: sports, politics, our partners, our families, friendships, work, job, food, alcohol, mind altering substances, cars, hobby, and even religion itself…

[AmberDennis]

So recently I was told that wanting marriage is an idol but yet I struggle with lust. I’m a confused individual especially being single at 27.