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• This culture has distanced itself from the idea of idolatry (as outdated worship of ancient magical objects etc.).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.