Below are notes to a sermon preached Sunday morning, July 24, 2005, at Gospel Light Baptist Church, Albany, Georgia.
AMERICAN IDOL
By Michael D. O’Neal
Pastor, Gospel Light Baptist Church
Albany, Georgia
Scripture Reading: Acts 7:30-42
Text: Acts 7:41
Acts 7:41 And they made a calf in those days, and offered sacrifice unto the idol, and rejoiced in the works of their own hands.
Introduction: I want to bring you a message this morning titled
AMERICAN IDOL
Popular television show
America is filled with idols.
Sadly, many Christians have idols, too.
The Israelites knew the true God, but when the man of God was away, they made and worshipped an idol, the work of their own hands.
How could someone turn back to idols after knowing the true Lord God?
1 Thessalonians 1:9 For they themselves shew of us what manner of entering in we had unto you, and how ye turned to God from idols to
serve the living and true God;
I’m stirred to see our land filled with idolatry.
I’m stirred to see the body of Christ filled with idolatry.
Acts 17:16 Now while Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit was stirred in him, when he saw the city wholly given to idolatry.
Do you have an idol set up in your heart?
Have you forsaken your love and service to the one true God to serve an American idol?
I. WE SHOULD RECOGNIZE THE IDOLATRY
Colossians 3:5 Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil oncupiscence, 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.
A. Coveting praise
1. John 12:43 For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.
B. Coveting pleasure
1. 2 Timothy 3:4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;
C. Coveting profit
1. 1 Timothy 6:10 For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
II. WE SHOULD REJECT THE IDOLATRY
Gal. 5:19-25 (read)
A. Confess it as sin
B. Crucify the flesh and its lusts
C. Continue in the Spirit
1. “walk in the Spirit”
III. WE SHOULD RUN FROM IDOLATRY
1 Corinthians 10:14 Wherefore, my dearly beloved, flee from idolatry.
2 Timothy 2:22 Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.
1 John 5:21 Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen.
A. Scrutinize your priorities
1. Anything you put before the Lord is an idol
2. Anything hindering your love, faithfulness, and service to God is an idol
B. Stop practicing idolatry
C. Smash any idols you now have
D. Stay away from them
E. Sanctify the Lord in your heart
1. 1 Peter 3:15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:
2 Corinthians 6:16 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell
in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
Michael D. O’Neal (Proverbs 11:30), Pastor,
Gospel Light Baptist Church
P.O. Box 3071 (237 Lockett Station Road),
Albany, GA 31706
(229) 432-0039 (church) / (229) 698-2127 (parsonage)
*Scriptures in my notes are from the Authorized Version 1611 -KJV- and are used by permission of the Author – Ephesians. 6:17*
“Come Alive In 2005”