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Gods at War(Part 1)Defeating the Idols that Battle for Your HeartTeacher: Kyle IdlemanWhat Are You Worshipping?Joshua 24:14-15; Exodus 20:4-5Introduction: Idolatry is the issueBehind every SIN there is a GOD that is winning the war.14“Now fear the Lord and serve Him with all faithfulness. Throw away the gods yourforefathers worshiped beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the Lord. 15 But ifserving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whomyou will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the River, or the godsof the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we willserve the Lord.”Joshua 24:14-151. We are all WORSHIPPERS.2. We have to make a CHOICE.For more resources, go to www.LivingontheEdge.orgCopyright 2022 Kyle Idleman and Living on the Edge1
Gods at War(Part 1)Defeating the Idols that Battle for Your HeartTeacher: Kyle IdlemanWhat Are You Worshipping?Joshua 24:14-15; Exodus 20:4-5How to identify the gods at war within you:1. What are you disappointed with? / What do you complain about?2. What do you sacrifice your time and money for?3. What do you worry about? / What are you most afraid of?4. Where do you go when you hurt?5. What makes you mad?6. What do you dream of? / What are you passionate about?7. What brings you the most joy?8. Whose applause do you long for?For more resources, go to www.LivingontheEdge.orgCopyright 2022 Kyle Idleman and Living on the Edge2
Gods at War(Part 1)Defeating the Idols that Battle for Your HeartTeacher: Kyle IdlemanWhat Are You Worshipping?Joshua 24:14-15; Exodus 20:4-5Every day you choose who will sit on the throne of your heartQuestion: How does God feel about idolatry?Answer: He is jealous. He refuses to share the seat of glory.4“You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or onthe earth beneath or in the waters below. 5 You shall not bow down to them or worshipthem; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God.”Exodus 20:4-5aHow to choose God:1. APPRECIATE what God has done for you.2. RECOGNIZE who God is.3. SMASH all other gods.For more resources, go to www.LivingontheEdge.orgCopyright 2022 Kyle Idleman and Living on the Edge3
Gods at War(Part 1)Defeating the Idols that Battle for Your HeartTeacher: Kyle IdlemanWhat Are You Worshipping?Joshua 24:14-15; Exodus 20:4-5Discussion Questions:1. What new insight did you gain from this teaching?2. Take some time to answer the questions on page two to identify the gods at warwithin you.3. Like the people of Israel, we sometimes need a reminder of God’s faithfulness inorder to appreciate what He has done. List some ways you have seen God’sfaithfulness in your life.4. What practical steps will you take this week to smash the gods at war within you?For more resources, go to www.LivingontheEdge.orgCopyright 2022 Kyle Idleman and Living on the Edge4
Gods at War(Part 2)Defeating the Idols that Battle for Your HeartTeacher: Kyle IdlemanGods of Pleasure1 Kings 18:19-39Introduction: Sin is just the fruit. Idolatry is the treefrom which it grows.Oftentimes gifts given to us by God get turned into gods in our lives.In Israel’s history, the kings came and went, but the people became more andmore entrenched in the worshipping of false gods.29In the thirty-eighth year of Asa king of Judah, Ahab son of Omri became king of Israel,and he reigned in Samaria over Israel twenty-two years. 30 Ahab son of Omri didmore evil in the eyes of the Lord than any of those before him.1 Kings 16:29-30When we live in sinful patterns we either experience: God’s ACTIVE wrath – “He withholds the rain.” God’s PASSIVE wrath – He allows natural consequencesto occur.For more resources, go to www.LivingontheEdge.orgCopyright 2022 Kyle Idleman and Living on the Edge1 Kings 17:1bRomans 1:18-321
Gods at War(Part 2)Gods of Pleasure1 Kings 18:19-39Defeating the Idols that Battle for Your HeartTeacher: Kyle IdlemanThe god of pleasure:19Now summon the people from all over Israel to meet me on Mount Carmel. And bringthe four hundred and fifty prophets of Baal and the four hundred prophets of Asherah,who eat at Jezebel’s table.” 20 So Ahab sent word throughout all Israel and assembledthe prophets on Mount Carmel. 21 Elijah went before the people and said, “How long willyou waver between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow him; but if Baal is God,follow him.” But the people said nothing.1 Kings 18:19-21We don’t like to be forced to CHOOSE.25Elijah said to the prophets of Baal, “Choose one of the bulls and prepare it first, sincethere are so many of you. Call on the name of your god, but do not light the fire.” 26 Sothey took the bull given them and prepared it. Then they called on the name of Baalfrom morning till noon. “Baal, answer us!” they shouted. But there was no response; noone answered. And they danced around the altar they had made.27At noon Elijahbegan to taunt them. “Shout louder!” he said. “Surely he is a god! Perhaps he is deep inthought, or busy, or traveling. Maybe he is sleeping and must be awakened.”28So theyshouted louder and slashed themselves with swords and spears, as was their custom,until their blood flowed.1 Kings 18:25-28We have BLED for gods of pleasure.For more resources, go to www.LivingontheEdge.orgCopyright 2022 Kyle Idleman and Living on the Edge2
Gods at War(Part 2)Defeating the Idols that Battle for Your HeartTeacher: Kyle IdlemanGods of Pleasure1 Kings 18:19-39How do you defeat the gods of pleasure?29Midday passed, and they continued their frantic prophesying until the time for theevening sacrifice. But there was no response, no one answered, no one paid attention.Then Elijah said to all the people, “Come here to me.” They came to him, and herepaired the altar of the Lord, which had been torn down. 31 Elijah took twelve stones,one for each of the tribes descended from Jacob, to whom the word of the Lord hadcome, saying, “Your name shall be Israel.” 32 With the stones he built an altar in thename of the Lord, and he dug a trench around it large enough to hold two seahs ofseed. 33 He arranged the wood, cut the bull into pieces and laid it on the wood. Then hesaid to them, “Fill four large jars with water and pour it on the offering and on the wood.”3034“Do it again,” he said, and they did it again.“Do it a third time,” he ordered, and they did it the third time. 35 The water ran downaround the altar and even filled the trench.At the time of sacrifice, the prophet Elijah stepped forward and prayed: “Lord, the Godof Abraham, Isaac and Israel, let it be known today that you are God in Israel and that Iam 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 turningtheir hearts back again.”3638Then the fire of the Lord fell and burned up the sacrifice, the wood, the stones and thesoil, and also licked up the water in the trench.When all the people saw this, they fell prostrate and cried, “The Lord—he is God!The Lord—he is God!”1 Kings 18:29-3939The EXPULSIVE power of a new AFFECTION.God must be your GREATEST pleasure.For more resources, go to www.LivingontheEdge.orgCopyright 2022 Kyle Idleman and Living on the EdgePsalm 37:43
Gods at War(Part 2)Defeating the Idols that Battle for Your HeartTeacher: Kyle IdlemanGods of Pleasure1 Kings 18:19-39Discussion Questions:1. Behind every sin struggle there is a false god that is winning the war in your life.What are the gods at war within you?2. What gifts from God have you turned into gods?3. What are some ways you can make God your greatest pleasure?4. Oftentimes we empower the gods warring against us by continuing to focus on ourinability to defeat them. Instead we should replace these gods with a greateraffection for God. Take some time to list all the ways God has been faithful in yourlife.For more resources, go to www.LivingontheEdge.orgCopyright 2022 Kyle Idleman and Living on the Edge4
Gods at War(Part 3)Defeating the Idols that Battle for Your HeartTeacher: Kyle IdlemanGods of SuccessLuke 18:18-23Review: We choose who will sit on the throne of our hearts. God is jealous. He refuses to share the seat of glory. Sometimes we take the gifts God gives us and make them into false gods. We must replace our false gods with an affection for the one true God. Being a Christian is a continuous choice.For more resources, go to www.LivingontheEdge.orgCopyright 2022 Kyle Idleman and Living on the Edge1
Gods at War(Part 3)Gods of SuccessLuke 18:18-23Defeating the Idols that Battle for Your HeartTeacher: Kyle IdlemanThe god of success:18 Acertain ruler asked Him, “Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”19 “Whydo you call Me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good—except Godalone. 20 You know the commandments: ‘You shall not commit adultery, you shall notmurder, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, honor your father andmother.’” 21 “All these I have kept since I was a boy,” he said.22 WhenJesus heard this,He said to him, “You still lack one thing. Sell everything you have and give to thepoor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow Me.” 23 When he heardthis, he became very sad, because he was very wealthy.Luke 18:18-23This is not a story about MONEY. This is a story about IDOLATRY.No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or youwill be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God andmoney.Matthew 6:24The things in our life that have the most potential to become a false god are thethings that PROMISE to do for us what only GOD can do.For more resources, go to www.LivingontheEdge.orgCopyright 2022 Kyle Idleman and Living on the Edge2
Gods at War(Part 3)Defeating the Idols that Battle for Your HeartTeacher: Kyle IdlemanGods of SuccessLuke 18:18-23Three ways that we ascribe the attribute of divinity to money: It will give me SATISFACTION. It will give me SIGNIFICANCE. It will bring SECURITY.How to identify the false god of money in your life:1. What do you complain the most about?2. What do you sacrifice your time for?3. What do you worry about?4. What do you dream of? / What brings you the most joy?5. What controls you?The problem with idolatry is that ultimately, we are putting our trust in somethingother than JESUS.19 AtHoreb they made a calf and worshiped an idol cast from metal. 20 They exchangedtheir glorious God for an image of a bull, which eats grass.Psalm 106:19-20When GOOD things become GOD things, we are guilty of idolatry.For more resources, go to www.LivingontheEdge.orgCopyright 2022 Kyle Idleman and Living on the Edge3
Gods at War(Part 3)Defeating the Idols that Battle for Your HeartTeacher: Kyle IdlemanGods of SuccessLuke 18:18-23Discussion Questions:1. In what ways have you ascribed the attribute of divinity to money?2. Describe a time when money could not deliver satisfaction, significance, or security?How does recognizing the shortcomings of money make you trust Christ more?3. How has God been faithful in providing for you?4. Will you make God the Lord of your entire life and let Him have the throne on theseat of your heart? Take a moment before the Lord to surrender your idols.For more resources, go to www.LivingontheEdge.orgCopyright 2022 Kyle Idleman and Living on the Edge4
Gods at War(Part 4)Defeating the Idols that Battle for Your HeartTeacher: Kyle IdlemanGods of LoveGenesis 22:1-14Introduction: A good thing can become a god thing1Some time later God tested Abraham. He said to him, “Abraham!” “Here I am,” hereplied.2 ThenGod said, “Take your son, your only son, whom you love—Isaac—and go to theregion of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on a mountain I will show you.”Genesis 22:1-2It is your greatest BLESSINGS that can also become your greatest TEST. Will this blessing become competition for God or will this blessing draw you closer toHim? Will this blessing become your primary affection or will this blessing cause youraffection for God to increase?For more resources, go to www.LivingontheEdge.orgCopyright 2022 Kyle Idleman and Living on the Edge1
Gods at War(Part 4)Defeating the Idols that Battle for Your HeartTeacher: Kyle Idleman3 EarlyGods of LoveGenesis 22:1-14the next morning Abraham got up and loaded his donkey. He took with him twoof his servants and his son Isaac. When he had cut enough wood for the burnt offering,he set out for the place God had told him about. 4 On the third day Abraham looked upand saw the place in the distance. 5 He said to his servants, “Stay here with the donkeywhile I and the boy go over there. We will worship and then we will come back to you.”6Abraham took the wood for the burnt offering and placed it on his son Isaac, and hehimself carried the fire and the knife. As the two of them went on together, 7 Isaac spokeup and said to his father Abraham, “Father?” “Yes, my son?” Abraham replied. “The fireand wood are here,” Isaac said, “but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?”8Abraham answered, “God Himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.”And the two of them went on together. 9 When they reached the place God had told himabout, Abraham built an altar there and arranged the wood on it. He bound his sonIsaac and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood. 10 Then he reached out his hand andtook the knife to slay his son.Genesis 22:3-10 When you begin to ascribe divine attributes to something or someone, they becomea FALSE GOD for you. God wants to be your source of significance, security, satisfaction, and yoursalvation.“If anyone comes to Me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children,brothers and sisters—yes, even their own life—such a person cannot be My disciple.Luke 14:26 Your level of commitment to Jesus should be such that there really is no othercommitment.For more resources, go to www.LivingontheEdge.orgCopyright 2022 Kyle Idleman and Living on the Edge2
Gods at War(Part 4)Defeating the Idols that Battle for Your HeartTeacher: Kyle IdlemanGods of LoveGenesis 22:1-14Five things that happen when you make someone a false god in your life:1. There is unrealistic PRESSURE.2. There are unreachable EXPECTATIONS.3. There is unreasonable DISAPPOINTMENT.4. There is undeserved CRITICISM.5. There are unfair COMPARISONS.10 Thenhe reached out his hand and took the knife to slay his son. 11 But the angel ofthe LORD called out to him from heaven, “Abraham! Abraham!” “Here I am,” he replied.12 “Donot lay a hand on the boy,” He said. “Do not do anything to him. Now I know thatyou fear God, because you have not withheld from Me your son, your only son.”13 Abrahamlooked up and there in a thicket he saw a ram caught by its horns. He wentover and took the ram and sacrificed it as a burnt offering instead of his son.14 SoAbraham called that place The LORD Will Provide. And to this day it is said, “On themountain of the LORD it will be provided.”Genesis 22:10-14 Abraham chose God over his only son.For more resources, go to www.LivingontheEdge.orgCopyright 2022 Kyle Idleman and Living on the Edge3
Gods at War(Part 4)Defeating the Idols that Battle for Your HeartTeacher: Kyle IdlemanGods of LoveGenesis 22:1-14Discussion Questions:1. Is there anyone in your life whom you have made into a false god? What practicalsteps will you take to restore the relationship with that person and put God in Hisrightful place?2. Why is it so crucial that your level of commitment to Jesus surpasses all othercommitments?3. How will you demonstrate affection towards God?For more resources, go to www.LivingontheEdge.orgCopyright 2022 Kyle Idleman and Living on the Edge4
1. Behind every sin struggle there is a false god that is winning the war in your life. What are the gods at war within you? 2. What gifts from God have you turned into gods? 3. What are some ways you can make God your greatest pleasure? 4. Oftentimes we empower the gods warring against u
