Answered According to Idols
Scripture: Ezekiel 14:1-5Devotional Series: Where is My Fear?
Teaching: Where Is My Fear pt. 3 (WED 2024-05-22) by Pastor Star R Scott
We’re looking to stir up our hearts in the fear of God, which is synonymous with total obedience. When you’re about to make that decision, you pause and choose God’s way, not the wisdom of this world. We have a number of young men here who are caught up with being wealthy. Timothy 6 makes it very clear: if you seek to be rich, you’re going to be pierced through with many sorrows. Be rich toward God; amen? God’s blessings will overrun you; they will run you down if you seek Him.
Riches cannot be equated to material things. “He that loveth silver will never be satisfied with silver.” You’re always going to want more. Then, you will live under the fear of losing what you have. When God is your source, you never fear losing any of it. You didn’t get it for yourself. God gave it to you. There’s all of this wisdom in the world. Many of our young people want to make sure investments are being handled properly.
When I was a young Christian, you didn’t have to worry about that and I couldn’t find another quarter. “How’s your portfolio doing?” “Well, you know, I’ve got three cents over here and I got one nickel over here. Other than that, if the Lord doesn’t show up, we’re not eating.” I remember one time that the cupboards were totally bare. There was a knock at the door. Hookie was there. She said, “Lord just told me you guys need some groceries.” She dumped them and went her way. We didn’t see her again for months. Fear God. Keep His commandments.
We’re to fear God with all our hearts; amen? What does the Lord require of you? Fear the Lord. “Walk in his ways,” the Scripture says. They feared the Lord but made the lowest of them the priests. So, what kind of a preacher do we want? “Well, we want a preacher that’s more covetous than I am, more prideful than I am, more ambitious than I am. That’s who we want to be the priest.” Well, why? Well, they’ll think that what we’re doing is not that bad. “Ya’ll doing okay? This is good man. Look at us. Let’s have a, Think-of-ourselves-more-highly-than-we-ought-to-party.”
The lowest of them were made priests. He goes on and says which sacrifice for them in the house of the high places. Look, they feared the Lord and served their own gods. Can we think we’re fearing God, but we’re serving our own gods? You know Ezekiel 14. We know that the Scripture says if we’re not careful, we’re going to be hearing this voice. It’s going to become very familiar with us, but God is answering us according to our idols. “I feel at peace with this. I believe this is God’s will. I’m seeing this in the life of others, and they seem to be getting blessed.” Is God the source? How do we know that? How much of it is being used from the wisdom of the world, the methods of the world? The wisdom of the world is earthly, sensual, and demonic; amen? “That wisdom that’s from above is peaceful and easily entreated,” the Scripture says. They serve their own gods after the manner of the nations.
As that day’s coming upon us, the trumpet’s going to sound. Where really are you invested? Where is your trust? Where is your hope? Is Jesus still that pearl in your life?