1 Corinthians 10:14-22
"Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry.  I speak as to wise men; you judge what I say.  Is not the cup of blessing which we bless a sharing in the blood of Christ?  Is not the bread which we break a sharing in the body of Christ?  Since there is one bread, we who are many are one body; for we all partake of the one bread.  Look at the nation Israel; are not those who eat the sacrifices sharers in the altar?  What do I mean then?  That a thing sacrificed to idols is anything, or that an idol is anything?  No, but I say that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to demons and not to God; and I do not want you to become sharers in demons.  You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons; you cannot partake of the table of the Lord and the table of demons.  Or do we provoke the Lord to jealousy?  We are not stronger than He, are we?"

This was the passage my Pastor preached this past Sunday.  I have to say that it was a very impactful sermon and my heart was pierced as the Holy Spirit brought conviction and grief over my sin.  I wanted to share a couple of things God weighed upon me from this sermon, which continue to fill my mind and heart with conviction and encouragement.  May Christ strengthen His people to truly flee this deadly sin of idolatry!

* We should avoid idolatry at all costs!  God must be pre-eminent over every concern, every interest, every person, and every commitment in our lives.

* "God plays second fiddle to no one or nothing."  (Pastor Sabella)

* We should pray that our New Year is one in which we love God as never before!  We should pray that He enables us to give Him our utmost loyalty.  We should evaluate our lives and hearts and ponder whom or what we value most.

* "To neglect the church is to neglect Christ!"  (Pastor Sabella)

* If we seek to please men rather than to please God, then we are guilty of idolatry.  This brings to mind Colossians 3:23-24, which says, "Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance.  It is the Lord Christ whom you serve."

* The word flee has the connotation of running as fast and as far as possible in the opposite direction from some danger or threat.  I should apply this to idolatry.  When I see my heart bending toward serving or treasuring some earthly thing, activity, or even person -- I should, in my heart (and if necessary, physically), run as far and as quickly as possible in the opposite direction.  The opposite direction would be toward serving and treasuring Christ alone, toward His Word, toward His church.

* "When believers take the Lord's Supper, they partake of the substance behind the symbolology."  (Pastor Sabella)

* To adore anything or anyone more than we adore Christ is idolatry -- and demonic!

* You cannot possibly give God His due worship if your heart is even the least bit bowed to any idol.

* Idolatry is deadly and will suck the joy out of you if you fail to flee from it.  "Tear down your idols while there's still hope!"  (Pastor Sabella)

*Practicing idolatry invites God's jealous discipline.  Don't pick a fight with the Supremely Sovereign God of the Universe because He will always prove Himself stronger!  He is fearsome!  He is mighty!

*  God has purchased my soul and defined His territory.  He will protect me as His own -- even against myself and my own weak flesh.  Whoah!

* If I fail to flee from idolatry, I'm dabbling in the table of demons.

*  I can rejoice that victory has been won!  Christ already hung on the cross to pay for my sin of idolatry, therefore it is possible to live victorious over that sin.  He has conquered my adversaries, particularly the adversary which is my sinful flesh.  Idolatry has been defeated on my behalf, by the Savior Jesus Christ!  Glory!