IDOLATRY

1 Kings 16:31-33 NIV

[31] He not only considered it trivial to commit the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat, but he also married Jezebel daughter of Ethbaal king of the Sidonians, and began to serve Baal and worship him. [32] He set up an altar for Baal in the temple of Baal that he built in Samaria. [33] Ahab also made an Asherah pole and did more to arouse the anger of the Lord, the God of Israel, than did all the kings of Israel before him.

We have so many examples of why we shouldn't commit idolatry and to put God first in everything we do.

Psalms 89:8-9 NIV

[8] Who is like you, Lord God Almighty? You, Lord, are mighty, and your faithfulness surrounds you. [9] You rule over the surging sea; when its waves mount up, you still them.

Matthew 4:10 NIV

[10] Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’”

Exodus 20:3 NIV

[3] “You shall have no other gods before me.

Idolatry, by all biblical definitions, is the practice of making and worshiping physical images and icons. But it’s more than that. It’s the very misdirection of our worship. It’s our hearts clinging and confiding in what does not or cannot bring us peace or security. It is the elevation and glorification of anything other than God, which eventually leads to personal emptiness and separation from true life.

Often our hearts affections are aimed at good things our jobs our marriages our friendships it is okay to enjoy and even love these things but where we see error or this sin issue is when the things we enjoy or love like this start to climb above our love for God

If our theology of idolatry and modern day idols is built on scripture centered around worshiping the one true God then there should be no socially acceptable idol

You can't align with God's scripture and who you are as a side kick if you are living with GOD + something

GOD + LIFESTYLE OF SIN

GOD + MAKING MORE MONEY TO BE HAPPY

GOD + THESE HOBBIES THAT BRING LIFE

GOD + A HIGHER TITLE IN LEADERSHIP LIKE JEZEBEL

This doesn't mean we can't long for a better lifestyle or have hobbies we love or anything of the sort. This just means we can't add a + to God when He is the ultimate source of life forgiveness joy and sustainability it we cannot live our lives as believers looking at God and adding to it putting other things beside Him.

Elijah was a prophet and because of Ahab and Jezebel's sin Elijah warns Ahab there will be a drought.

1 Kings 17: 1

“As the Lord, the God of Israel, lives, whom I serve, there will be neither dew nor rain in the next few years except at my word.”

2 Corinthians 10:17-18 NIV

[17] But, “Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.” [18] For it is not the one who commends himself who is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends.

1 Kings 18:36-39 NIV

[36] At the time of sacrifice, the prophet Elijah stepped forward and prayed: “Lord, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel, let it be known today that you are God in Israel and that I am your servant and have done all these things at your command. [37] Answer me, Lord, answer me, so these people will know that you, Lord, are God, and that you are turning their hearts back again.” [38] Then the fire of the Lord fell and burned up the sacrifice, the wood, the stones and the soil, and also licked up the water in the trench. [39] When all the people saw this, they fell prostrate and cried, “The Lord—he is God! The Lord—he is God!”

1 Kings 19:2 NIV

[2] So Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah to say, “May the gods deal with me, be it ever so severely, if by this time tomorrow I do not make your life like that of one of them.”

1 Kings 21:3-7
'But Naboth replied, “The Lord forbid that I should give you the inheritance of my ancestors.” So Ahab went home, sullen and angry because Naboth the Jezreelite had said, “I will not give you the inheritance of my ancestors.” He lay on his bed sulking and refused to eat. His wife Jezebel came in and asked him, “Why are you so sullen? Why won’t you eat?” He answered her, “Because I said to Naboth the Jezreelite, ‘Sell me your vineyard; or if you prefer, I will give you another vineyard in its place.’ But he said, ‘I will not give you my vineyard.’ ” Jezebel his wife said, “Is this how you act as king over Israel? Get up and eat! Cheer up. I’ll get you the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite.” '

1 Kings 21:9-16 NIV

[9] In those letters she wrote: “Proclaim a day of fasting and seat Naboth in a prominent place among the people. [10] But seat two scoundrels opposite him and have them bring charges that he has cursed both God and the king. Then take him out and stone him to death.” [11] So the elders and nobles who lived in Naboth’s city did as Jezebel directed in the letters she had written to them. [12] They proclaimed a fast and seated Naboth in a prominent place among the people. [13] Then two scoundrels came and sat opposite him and brought charges against Naboth before the people, saying, “Naboth has cursed both God and the king.” So they took him outside the city and stoned him to death. [14] Then they sent word to Jezebel: “Naboth has been stoned to death.” [15] As soon as Jezebel heard that Naboth had been stoned to death, she said to Ahab, “Get up and take possession of the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite that he refused to sell you. He is no longer alive, but dead.” [16] When Ahab heard that Naboth was dead, he got up and went down to take possession of Naboth’s vineyard.

1 Kings 21 :20-21

'Ahab said to Elijah, “So you have found me, my enemy!” “I have found you,” he answered, “because you have sold yourself to do evil in the eyes of the Lord . He says, ‘I am going to bring disaster on you. I will wipe out your descendants and cut off from Ahab every last male in Israel—slave or free. '

23-29

'“And also concerning Jezebel the Lord says: ‘Dogs will devour Jezebel by the wall of Jezreel.’ “Dogs will eat those belonging to Ahab who die in the city, and the birds will feed on those who die in the country.” (There was never anyone like Ahab, who sold himself to do evil in the eyes of the Lord , urged on by Jezebel his wife. He behaved in the vilest manner by going after idols, like the Amorites the Lord drove out before Israel.) When Ahab heard these words, he tore his clothes, put on sackcloth and fasted. He lay in sackcloth and went around meekly. Then the word of the Lord came to Elijah the Tishbite: “Have you noticed how Ahab has humbled himself before me? Because he has humbled himself, I will not bring this disaster in his day, but I will bring it on his house in the days of his son.”'

Before anything or anyone as Christ followers we are sidekicks of God carrying out his will and wishes for our lives even when we have the power or free will to do whatever when we submit there is a spirit of conviction that keeps us from wanting to do the selfish sinful things

"To bear the cross means that you refrain from doing what you have the power to do. You are qualified to fulfill your desire, yet you refrain from doing so. A person like this is the strongest person. The strongest person is not the one who is able to do something, but the one who is able not to do what he has the power to do." ~ Watchman Nee