The Heart of Idolatry
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Intro:
Intro:
Recap last week:
They were dependent and determined to glorify God regardless of situation
We talked about how God makes clear to us the path for our lives
Well, this week, we’re picking up the story of Paul and Barnabas as they fled Iconium, because of fear of stoning, and headed to Lystra
Show Lystra on the map
Frame It Up
Frame It Up
Read
What we see happening here is that God had been working ahead of Paul and Barnabas.
No real shocker there, we’ve talked about how God goes before us
And as they entered the city, they see a man, crippled from birth, never having walked before
And this man was very intently watching them
You know how you can sense when someone’s eyes are on you
Like your parents for instance when you’ve done something bad…you can feel their eyes burning through your head
My dad and soccer
I think the same thing is happening. This guy is enthralled by Paul and Barnabas…he’s very focused on what they are saying
And it says that Paul, again, being in the Spirit, being led by the Spirit, sensed that he was ready to put his faith in Jesus, tells him to stand up.
And of course he did, because Paul is so powerful right?
WRONG! He did because God was working through Paul
Now, we’ve seen this happen already in Acts
Does anyone remember where and who was involved? (, Peter and John)
And in that passage, it says that the people were amazed!
Well, here in , we see that amazement go up a few notches
Idolatry & Superstition
Idolatry & Superstition
Let’s read verses 11-13 again:
“11 And when the crowds saw what Paul had done, they lifted up their voices, saying in Lycaonian, “The gods have come down to us in the likeness of men!” 12 Barnabas they called Zeus, and Paul, Hermes, because he was the chief speaker. 13 And the priest of Zeus, whose temple was at the entrance to the city, brought oxen and garlands to the gates and wanted to offer sacrifice with the crowds.”
Talk about the reaction to a miracle!
11 And when the crowds saw what Paul had done, they lifted up their voices, saying in Lycaonian, “The gods have come down to us in the likeness of men!” 12 Barnabas they called Zeus, and Paul, Hermes, because he was the chief speaker. 13 And the priest of Zeus, whose temple was at the entrance to the city, brought oxen and garlands to the gates and wanted to offer sacrifice with the crowds.
These people immediately assumed that the gods had come down to them in the form of Zeus and Hermes (or Jupiter and Mercury, same gods)
Not only that, but the priest of the temple of Zeus rounds up some oxen and brings them out so they can sacrifice to the gods that were among them in the form of Paul & Barnabas
What we are seeing is idolatry in a very real way.
The Backstory
The Backstory
Greek mythology is alive and well during this time period in the Bible, and even before it, well into the BC years.
Homer had taught that gods would sometimes take on human form
Think Trojan War
Ulysses
Ovid - Metamorphoses
In Ovid’s book, he writes about a story involving Jupiter and Mercurcy (also known as Zeus and Hermes)
And here’s how the story goes:
Jupiter and Mercury came to earth disguised in human form
And they went from town to town looking for someone to show them hospitality/kindness
What happens is they are actually shown unkindness and treated poorly and not welcomed anywhere
Until one day they come upon and elderly couple who welcomes them, shows them kindness, gives to them out of their meager belongings, and shows them hospitality
The story continues that Jupiter and Mercury take the couple up to the top of the mountain so that they were looking down upon the towns and villages and cities that the gods had been travelling through
At Jupiter’s command, a flood drowns all who treated them poorly, leaving none alive
And the couple is given a house, with a roof made of solid gold
Now, why do I tell you that story. There are two reasons
Firstly, is this. That same valley that the story took place where the people were flooded and killed, is the same exact place that Paul and Barnabas had just healed the lame man
Crazy, right?!?!
Imagine your a local person, you are studied and aware of, and put all of your hope and belief in greek mythology, in fact you believe in the gods and goddesses, their powers, how you dont want to anger them for fear of punishment
And you know this story, you know what happened the last time the gods showed up
And all of the sudden, their over the top response seems to make a lot of sense right?
Better safe than sorry in their eyes!!
But secondly, the people of Lystra are proving something to us that is true of all of us:
At the root of all of us is idolatry and superstition
In fact, idolatry is one of the greatest and most evident defects of fallen man
Adam and Eve were told they would be like God!
And ever since, we’ve all been people rooted in idolatry and superstition
The people of Lystra were convinced that they could experience god through these human manifestations and without it they were left sacrificing to the gods hoping they had done enough
And so when Paul healed a man…finally they had their opportunity
Modern Day Idolatry
Modern Day Idolatry
You may be thinking, now come on Pastor Derek....I don’t believe in any of that Greek mythology crap
Which is good, I don’t either (because it’s not true)
But I put to you tonight that our idolatry and superstitions take root in other ways in our lives:
We are probably all guilty of saying something along these lines before:
I can’t experience/worship/adore God because:
the band at church just doesn’t sound good..they play old music…the singers can’t sing
Our church isn’t hip enough
Our pastor/youth pastor is boring and not funny enough
Or I can’t experience worship or adore God unless:
They’ve got good coffee
The lights aren’t too bright
I feel really welcomed from the minute I get here because we all know this is all about me
And the root of these thoughts and “problems” is idolatry of the heart
Why do I say that? Because the idea of needing anything other than God to experience God proves the point for me
Paul says the same thing, look at verse 15-17
“ 15 “Men, why are you doing these things? We also are men, of like nature with you, and we bring you good news, that you should turn from these vain things to a living God, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and all that is in them. 16 In past generations he allowed all the nations to walk in their own ways. 17 Yet he did not leave himself without witness, for he did good by giving you rains from heaven and fruitful seasons, satisfying your hearts with food and gladness.”
15 “Men, why are you doing these things? We also are men, of like nature with you, and we bring you good news, that you should turn from these vain things to a living God, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and all that is in them. 16 In past generations he allowed all the nations to walk in their own ways. 17 Yet he did not leave himself without witness, for he did good by giving you rains from heaven and fruitful seasons, satisfying your hearts with food and gladness.”
Why do you focus on these vain things when there is a true living God?
There are so many evidences to this real God, why do you need miracles to believe?
Or why do you need hip music, why do you need entertained
Because the truth is the greatest way you’ve seen Him work is in your own life.
That’s the miracle you need to focus on…nothing else
See, whenever we need x,y, or z to be present in order for us to experience God, then we’re missing the trick
Does God use music, pastors, churches to glorify His name?
Absolutely
But He is the means to experiencing Him…nothing else.
When our focus is on those other things and not on Him…we’re idolators, just like the Lystrans
And we might as well be sacrificing to ourselves
Closing
Closing
So the challenge for us is this:
What in your life do you think you need in order to experience God?
And whatever you just thought of....it’s an idol.
So if you come to church next week and the music is old…sing with all you’ve got, and sing to glorify Him
If you’re sitting there and Pastor Dave is boring the socks of off you....read the passage…force yourself to listen to what He is saying
If your friend isn’t here and you can’t sit with who you want…view it as a perfect chance to focus even more so on the God you came to worship