Thursday, May 31, 2007

C.J. Mahaney ~ Discerning the Heart


  • Exodus 20, Romans 1, 1 Thess. 1:9, 1 Corinthians 10:13-14
  • This culture has distanced itself from the idea of idolatry (as outdated worship of ancient magical objects etc.).
  • Idolatry is the most frequently discussed and most seriously condemned sin in scripture.
  • Exchanging the truth for a lie is THE worst trade.
  • Colossians 3:5
  • Often we are no better at recognizing idols than the secular culture.
  • Understanding idolatry will give you new eyes.
  • DEFINING IDOLATRY: and idol is a substitute for God. Anything or anyone you serve or worship or love in place of God.
  • Idolatry can come as an over-attachment to something that is, in itself, perfectly good.
  • Idolatry: "The evil in our desires usually does not lie in what we want, but that we want it too much." John Calvin
  • What do YOU want too much?
  • Discerning Idolatry: The source of idolatry is the sin within.
  • "The human heart is a factory of idols...every one of us is, from his mother's womb, an expert of crafting idols." John Calvin
  • Identify idols through scripture. (Hebrews 4:12)
  • Identify idols through the Holy Spirit. Appeal to him to help us search our hearts and to illuminate scripture.
  • Identify idols through the church. We can't effectively discern idols on our own.
  • We need a different perspective; we are oblivious to some sins, but to others, it is OBVIOUS.
  • We need to INVITE their perspectives.
  • Identify idols through circumstances.
  • How can I determine if I want something too much?
  • What is our response if we don't attain it - or if it is taken away?
  • The test of adversity reveals our hearts.
  • Idols dissillusion and disappoint.
  • When you experience the test of adversity, God is examining your heart.
  • Prosperity is a test too. Heros of faith often failed the test of prosperity before the test of adversity.
  • We often will know people who experience the gift/test of prosperity just when/where we are experiencing adversity.
  • 1 John 5:21
  • The fruit of identifying idolatry:
  1. Growth in godliness.
  2. You will grow in gratefulness to God.

2 comments:

Journey_On said...

Hi Tai, just stopping by - I actually found this blog from your xanga page. I went to Na this year for the first time, and I really enjoyed it. The messages were so wonderful. Glad to hear that you learned a lot too!

Kaylene said...

WOW! The conference sounds really good! I've enjoyed reading some of the NA stuff. Its seems to be stuff of great value and very unlike some of the shallow stuff we teens get fed often times in "youth group"...