Groves Of The Mind

Intro:

* I would like to look seriously about Idolatry tonight. Not just the statues but more so of the ones that Christians are prone to have.

* Idol 1. a. An image used as an object of worship. b. A false god. 2. One that is adored, often blindly or excessively.

* Idolatry is not just the things that we bow down to but also that which we hold sacred in our minds, So for those of us that feel we already know all there is about Idolatry I ask you to keep an open mind and heart before God.

* Idolatry you will find is anything we would place before God.

II Cor 10:3-5

I. Groves in Our Minds

a. What is a grove? Well in modern time it is where they grow fruits. In bible times it

was a place of hidden worship.

1. Judges 6:25-30, Gideon (I Kings 15 - King Asa ) (I King 16 Ahab.)

b. I can safely say we all have a grove or two in our minds that we must cut down.

1. We can’t hide from them or ignore them, because if we do destruction will

eventually overtake us.

2. It is like cancer when it first appears it is only a small colony of cells. If cut out

early it poses no threat to our lives but if left unattended it can cause death.

II. Casting down Imaginations.

a. Two type of groves of the mind, Permissive and Non-Permissive.

1. Lets look at the non-permissive first.

b. Blatant sin.

1. The fact of the matter is that many Christians have these Groves of Sin that

they place before God.

2. They may be blinded by these sins or they simply feel they cannot get the

victory of that particular area of their life.

3. Heb 3:13 But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any

of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.

a. Sin is deceitful the moments you think you can handle it you will find that it

is handling you. That is why Paul said to cast down these imaginations.

c. The reason why Paul had to tell the Corinthians this is that most that were in

the church acted as if they were still serving the pagan gods.

1. The temple of Apollos and Diana.

2. This can be the same today, We can be in love with Jesus but have a grove that

needs to be removed and the only way is to let Christ help us.

3. 1 Corinthians 10:13-14 "There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to

man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but

will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it. {14}

Wherefore, my dearly beloved, flee from idolatry."

III. Permissible things that become Idols.

a. Money is the first and foremost. We all need money but many serve Money.

1. When it comes to the offering you can tell those who have a grove. They say

God you can have anything you can pry out of my hands.

2. Money is a spirit and must be dealt properly with.

3. 1 Timothy 6:10 "For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while

some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves

through with many sorrows."

b. The wrong view of money leads to a poverty spirit.

1. Matt 6:24 Two Masters. Those that have this are always scheming.

Rooking and being rooked. A sucker born every minute.

1. The lady that died of malnutrition. She had $500,000 in her bank account.

c. Security

1. This is a problem with lots of ladies.

2. Psalms 37:25 "I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen

the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread."

d. What we Look at: Movies, books, TV Sexual Material

1. I Know families who would die if they had now TV.

e. Cars, Education, Family.

IV. Turn to Jesus

a. Of all that we looked at we know there is a balance. Jesus wants the whole man

not just part.

1. Here is an easy example if spouse had another 2 or 3 would you say that’s OK

they love me the best?

2. let’s take down all the groves that are in conflict with the Lord. Not serving

leftovers.

b. Josh 22:5 But take diligent heed to do the commandment and the law, which

Moses the servant of the LORD charged you, to love the LORD your God, and

to walk in all his ways, and to keep his commandments, and to cleave unto him,