"In Their Heart"

 

Ezekiel 14:3 "Son of man, these men have set up their idols in their heart, and put the stumblingblock of their iniquity before their face: should I be enquired of at all by them?"   Do you remember the story of the woman at the well (John 4)? In answer to her questions about where to worship, the Lord Jesus said in John 4:24, "God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth." If effective worship to God is done "in spirit and in truth," what do you think would be the most effective form of idolatry? Worshipping idols in spirit and in truth! Notice in verse 3 that the "elders of Israel" had set up their idols "in their hearts." Whatever idol you have today is in your heart. The one sin mentioned more than any other sin in God's Word is the sin of idolatry. Idolatry can be found in nearly every book in the Old Testament, and you'll even find it the New Testament! Have you ever heard the phrase "idols of the heart"? The truth is, all idols are a matter of the heart!   The New Testament calls covetousness idolatry (Ephesians 5:5). You may be so poor that you cannot construct a visible idol for your idolatry, but your poverty does not mean that you cannot be covetous. Covetousness is a prime example that sin is never satisfied!   God calls these idols a "stumblingblock." Theses people came to inquire of the Lord, yet they were going everywhere else for their needs. God promised to answer each one "according to the multitude of his idols" (verse 4). God answered these men in accordance to the idols they had in their hearts; God will answer you the same way today. How many stumbling blocks are between God and what you are asking Him for right now?   Every time I make something to take the place of God in my dependence, my affection, or the like, it is another block in the wall of separation I am building. Every day, I can either build a block or I can remove a block that is separating me from Him. The Lord's ability to help or hear is not diminished; my sin is what separates me from God (Isaiah 59:1-2). What are some stumbling blocks in your life? All idolatry is a heart matter; is there a wall between you and God this morning?     Prayer Requests: 1. Protection and provision for staff 2. Campers traveling home from camp tonight and tomorrow morning 3. Families traveling to the Ranch for Family Week next week     Camp Quote:  "God does not respond to our needs; He responds to our faith." -Evangelist Jim Cook   Visit our website for more information about our summer camp weeks!

Bill Rice Ranch | 627 Bill Rice Ranch Road | Murfreesboro | TN | 37128