Laying Down Idols

The first commandment is to love the Lord with all our heart, mind, soul, and strength. May we never forsake our first love. He is the only one worthy of all praise and glory. He is worthy of our whole heart, our lives, our everything. He is holy, holy, holy. What is an idol? Anything that claims our heart, mind, emotion, focus, or attention above Jesus Christ. Common idols: relationships, popularity, money, talents, appearance, friendships, popculture entertainment, Facebook, texting, email, movies, TV, magazines, music, internet, food, productivity, social activities, materialism. These things are not wrong in and of themselves, but if they distract us from Jesus, from intimacy with Him in His presence, and if our heart is elsewhere, they become an idol. He must claim our full attention before all these other things. Our delight should be in the law of the Lord. We should meditate upon Him day and night. We should be turning to Him for our rest. Cure for burnout: being in prayer, in His presence, staying fortified, clothed in His armor. His Presence is fullness of joy. Being with Him next to the Father is the delight of my heart. One thing I desire, this one thing I seek, that I may dwell in the house of the Lord forever, to gaze upon His beauty, and seek Him in His temple. Shekinah glory come. Release the fullness of Your Spirit. Lift up your heads ancient gates so the King of glory may enter in. He looks to us to showcase His glory to this world. We need to be in step with the Spirit and we need to be violent to everything that hinders us from entering into His throneroom. What are the idols or “other lovers” in your life that claim your attention above Jesus? He calls for radical holiness and consecration. We must walk in purity and holiness to be worthy of carrying His Spirit. When we are in Christ, there is freedom. Freedom from sin. We become bondslaves to righteousness. Are the things you spend your time on drawing you closer or further away from Christ? Can you imagine giving them up? If not, they have become an idol. Light and darkness can have no fellowship. We need an immediate cleansing. Jesus asked the man who came to Him asking about His kingdom, that He must sell ALL. His money and belongings were an idol to him, and they hindered him from being in the kingdom. He was required to SELL ALL to follow Jesus. Never A pure heart is one to which all things that are not of God are strange and jarring. Never become comfortable with the things of worldly culture. We are called to be set apart. To come out from the world and be separate. We are called to reach the lost and made friends with those in darkness, but not to be a partaker of the world, we are partakers of the divine nature. Meditate on what is true, noble, just, pure, lovely, of good report, of virtue, praiseworthy. Live always with Jesus at your side, in His presence. Hate what He hates. Love what He loves. Wipe the spit from the face of Jesus. Do not carry the banner of Christianity when you are living a worldly lifestyle. Jesus, I fall short of Your holiness. You are holy, holy, holy, I have unclean lips, and live among a people of unclean lips. Cleanse me with Your blood, let me touch the hem of Your garment, baptize me with the Holy Spirit and fire, and set me apart for holiness, to house the very Spirit of the Living, Holy God. Let nothing hinder me from living in the power of Your Spirit. Give us grace to overcome. Give us pure hearts. Renew a steadfast spirit in us. Restore to us the joy of your salvation and grant us a willing spirit to sustain us. Help us to behold the cross, and to see the wonder of Your great love. Give us one fear and one love: Jesus, and Him alone. Amen.