Living Hope Fellowship Church

OTHER GODS

(part1and 2)

Training Material

by Pastor Kevin Badgley

OTHER GODS
by Pastor Kevin Badgley

(PART 1)

In Luke 9:41 Jesus called his generation faithless and perverse. A perverse generation is one that is perverted, turned aside from right and good, to the wrong and twisted.

If luxuries become your main focus, they become your god. Luke 16:15 tells us that ". . . Ye are they which justify yourselves before men; but God knoweth your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God." Some things that are acceptable to men are hated by God. Some even call evil good and good evil. Some people cannot discern the difference between perverted preaching and right preaching. If sin is not openly condemned how will people know what it is?

Diversions are things that attract. They are made to draw someone from one point to another, and there are many things that can divert our attention. We are too busy (diverted) to pay attention to God. To pervert means to corrupt, to misdirect, to divert. Some diversions are perversions.

David said in Psalm 139:24, "And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting." Numbers 32:23 says, ". . . be sure your sin will find you out." The devil will try to get you diverted, distracted, and preoccupied.

Idols divert us from God. An idol replaces God—all or partially. We are commanded to serve God with ALL of our hearts. Covetousness is idolatry. This takes place when you use THINGS to satisfy yourself in place of God. You must get rid of idols before you will do any thing for God.

When you put your trust in something, it can become a god to you. Idols can become a drug to you. They can be anything to satisfy you and cause you to look to as a comforter, healer, deliverer, or keeper.

Ezekiel 14:4 speaks about people setting up idols in the heart, and about the stumblingblock of iniquity! We lean to our self will, and comfort ourselves with counterfeits till God answers. There are things we won't give up until we seek God deeper!

Hebrews 12:1 says, "Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us." An idol is a stumblingblock and a landmark that says, "Go here, this far, and no further." There is no Bible doctrine that says we must cope. Instead, we must overcome. We have become "idol" dependent. God said in Exodus 20:3, "Thou shalt have no other gods before me." Our God is a jealous God. "Normal" does not cast out devils. Get rid of diversions, stumblingblocks, and idolatry in your life. Satan will see you sifted as wheat, like he tried to do with Peter. Get right with God.

(PART 2)

1 Peter 5:8 tells us our, ". . . adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour." We are warned to be sober and vigilant. The carnal mind is not obedient, nor subject to God (see Romans 8:7); therefore, we must put on the mind of Christ (see 1 Corinthians 2:16 and Galatians 3:27). We have been brought out of bondage and we are to have no other gods before GOD. Some today will try to do as the people in 2 Kings 17:33, who feared the Lord AND served their own gods! Matthew 6:24 says, "No man can serve two masters. . . ." If you can't let go of something, it is a god to you.

WHAT IS A GOD?
1. For some it is a time of frolic, lightness, foolishness. They don't have to make a decision of right or wrong. It turns to mischievous madness.
2. A god is one you yield to and obey in your physical body. Smoking is one. If a man is bound, he doesn't trust in God Almighty. Read Romans 6:16.
3. A god is one who has most of your attention most of the time. Read Isaiah 26:3.
4. The god of this world will suck the life right out of you. Some make up their own gods from cars, houses—things. God Almighty gives life and more abundantly (even though in the prayer closet it feels like you are dying).
5. A god is the one you give the best and most excuses for. If you press some long enough, you will find out that God didn't answer them so they picked up another little god! Jeremiah 7:8-19 mentions some specifics about walking after other gods. God's people said they were delivered to do these things!
6. What is the first thing you do or think about when you get mad or upset? That could be your god.
7. Some bow down to the refrigerator.
8. A god is the one you sacrifice the most often to. Consider all the monthly payments.
9. A god is one you will believe in to deliver you and give you victory without crucifixion. (It won't push holiness.) There is Gethsemane, Calvary, and resurrection. Matthew 7:13-14 tells us that strait is the gate that leads to life. Jesus is the truth, the life, and the way, yet people refuse Him. God is not going to make it easier. You have to slim down to get in, laying aside the sin and the weights.
10. A god is one you get mad at when it is preached on!
11. A god is the first one you go to when you are depressed, angry, or angry with God.
12. A god occupies most of your mental and physical time. God told some to go back and let the gods they trusted in deliver them, knowing those gods could not deliver.

Is getting your prayer answered as significant as these other gods? Jesus said in John 14:15, "If ye love me, keep my commandments." If we do this, we will have a proper perspective of the love of other things. Sanctify some time every day to God. Deuteronomy 6:5 says, "And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might."

CONTACT INFORMATION:

PASTOR KEVIN BADGLEY

LIVING HOPE FELLOWSHIP, P. O. BOX 111, GRAND CHAIN, IL  62941

CHURCH / FAX (618) 634-2541

livinghope@hughes.net

www.livinghopefellowshipchurch.org

These condensed Bible studies have been published to help new Christians in their new walk with the Lord.  Kevin Badgley, the author, is the pastor of Living Hope Fellowship Church.

This is a Living Hope Fellowship publication.