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EZEKIEL 14:1-6

"IDOLATRY"

I. TRUE IDOLATRY IS OF THE HEART. vs.3.
        A. This is where it all begins.
                1. Long before a man attempts to carve a representative
                   figure, he has had his idol.
        B. An idol is an object of worship and love.
                1. God wants first place in our devotion.
                        a. "Thou shalt have no other gods before Me."
                        b. "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy
                           soul, strength, and might."
                2. Many things can become idols to us.
                        a. Material things - cars, boats, homes.
                        b. Ideas - dreams - dominated by a thought.
                        c. People.
                        d. Drugs.
                        e. Religions.

II. THE EFFECT OF IDOLS. vs. 5
        A. There is always an estrangement from God.
                1. God has a right to our first love.
                        a. He created us.
                        b. He redeemed us.
                        c. He sustains us.
                2. Idols can take our time which we should be devoting to
                   God.
                3. Idols can drain our energies and leave us too tired to
                   serve God.
                4. Idols can drain our financial reserves and leave us too
                   broke to lay up treasures in heaven.
        How to discover your idol.
        B. They are a stumbling block.
                1. They will lead to your fall.
                2. Here is a man who used to walk in fellowship with
                   Christ, now he never frequents the house of God - what
                   happened? Some idol.
                3. Many times after idol gone, effects remain.

III. GOD'S ONLY MESSAGE TO IDOLATERS. vs. 6.
        A. Repent!
                1. Message to church as well as sinner.
                        a. Revelations 2,3.
                2. Repentance is a change of heart.
                        a. More than just changing your mind.
                3. Repentance involves work of Holy Spirit.
                        a. He alone can destroy idols.
                        b. He alone can bring me to Christ.
                        c. He alone can free me from power of that idol.
        B. Turn from your idols "yourselves" added.
                1. Turn to Jesus Christ - God's only way.
        C. God will not play second fiddle.
                1. He will not take 2nd place in your life.
                2. He wants first place or no place.
        D. To continue to worship idols is to court eternal disaster - for
           in day of calamity, your deaf idol will not hear, your blind
           idol will not see, your dumb idol will not speak - and you
           shall perish.