Vintage counterfeit gods_1.11.15

“Idolatry is taking good thingsand turning them into ultimate things.”

Tim kellerAPPROAPPRO

VALVAL

APPEAPPETITETITE

AMBIAMBITIONTION

Success/moneySuccess/money

Satisfaction/sexSatisfaction/sexStrength/powerStrength/power

Mike Breen(LUKE 4)

An idolatrous attachment can lead you to break any promise, rationalize any indiscretion,

or betray any other allegiance, in order to hold on to it.

It may drive you to violate all good and proper boundaries.

To practice idolatry is to be a slave.

Tim keller

Suppose you come to a country where you couldfill a theater by simply bringing a covered plateon to the stage and then slowly lifting the cover

so as to let everyone see, just before the lightswent out, that it contained a mutton chop or a

bit of bacon, would you not think in that countrythat something had gone wrong…?

c.s. lewis

SatisfactionSatisfaction

One critic said that if he found a country in whichsuch a strip-tease acts with food were popular,

he would conclude that the people ofthat country were starving.

c.s. lewis


The person who can’t (or won’t) have (romantic love)will avoid people who would be wonderful partners.

The person who must have it will choose partners who are ill-fitting or abusive…If you are too AFRAID

of love or too ENAMORED by it, it has assumed god-like power, distorting your

perceptions and your life.

Tim keller


The one who is truly FREEis free to COME or GO,

LEAVE or STAY,to say YES or NO…

They are not BOUNDone way or the other

FREEDOM

“Idolatry is taking good thingsand turning them into ultimate things.”

Tim keller

AfraidAfraidto beto be

vulnerablevulnerable(Avoid!)(Avoid!)

FEAR FEAR FREE FREE FORCEFORCE

SEX/RELATIONSHIPS

DesperateDesperatenot to benot to be

alonealone(Obsess!)(Obsess!)

At peaceAt peaceeither wayeither way(Available(Available

& Open)& Open)

Now Laban had two daughters; the name of the older was Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel. Leah had weak eyes, but Rachel had a lovely figure and was beautiful. Jacob was in love with Rachel and said, “I’ll work for you seven years in return for your younger daughter Rachel.”

Genesis 29:16-21


Laban said, “It’s better than I give her to youthan to some other man. Stay here with me.”So Jacob served seven years to get Rachel,but they seemed like only a few days to himbecause of his love for her.

Genesis 29:16-21


Then Jacob said to Laban,“Give me my wife. My time iscompleted, and I want tolie with her!”

Genesis 29:16-21


So Laban brought together all the people of the place and gave a feast. But when evening came, he took his daughter Leah and brought her to Jacob, and Jacob made love to her…When morning came, there was Leah!

Genesis 29:22-28


So Jacob said to Laban, “What is this you have done to me? I served you for Rachel, didn’t I? Why have you deceived me?” Laban replied, “It is not our custom here to give the younger daughter in marriage before the older one. Finish this daughter’s bridal week; then we will give you the younger one also, in return for another seven years of work.”And Jacob did so…

Genesis 29:22-28


He finished the week with Leah, and then Laban gave him his daughter Rachel to be his wife…Jacob made love to Rachel also, and his love for Rachel was greater than his love for Leah…

Genesis 29:29-30


When the Lord saw that Leah was not loved, He enabled her to conceive, but Rachel remained childless. Leah became pregnant and gave birth to a son. She named him Reuben (See, a son!) for she said, “It is because the Lord has seen my misery. Surely my husband will love me now.”

Genesis 29:31-35


She conceived again, and when she gave birth to a son she said, “Because the Lord heard that I am not loved, He gave me this one too.” So she named him Simeon. (One who hears) Again she conceived, and when she gave birth to a son she said, “Now at last my husband will become attached to me, because I have borne him 3 sons.”So she named him Levi. (Attached)

Genesis 29:31-35


She conceived again, and when she gave birth to a son she said, “This time I will praise the Lord.” So she named him Judah. (To praise)

Then she stopped having children.

Genesis 29:31-35


The only way to dispossess the heart of an old affection

is by the expulsivepower of a new one…

THOMAS CHALMERS


- Blame the things that are disappointing youand try to move on to “bigger and better” things

to satisfy the longing inside your heart

(THE WAY OF IDOLATRY/ADDICTION)

- Blame yourself and beat yourself up

(THE WAY OF SHAME/SELF-LOATHING)

What to do...


- Blame the world; grow cynical & hardened

(THE WAY OF VICTIMHOOD/ISOLATION)

- Reorient the entire focus of your life toward God

(THE WAY OF SALVATION/FREEDOM)

What to do...


Spiritual

Vintage counterfeit gods_1.11.15