Monday, September 24, 2007

By Faith... Or Not? Israel's Exodus and Conquest, Part 28 of 41

TEXT: "Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh, and having a High Priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water" (Hebrews 10:19-22).

IDEA: People were drawn to idols because idols seemed to give guaranteed access to God.

PURPOSE: To help listeners realize that what idolaters sought through idols we possess in Jesus Christ.

Have you traveled in countries where people worshiped idols? How do you feel when you see idolatry up close?

Were you attracted to it?

Have you ever wondered why the people of Israel in almost every generation were drawn away from God to worship idols?

“What does he see in her?”

I. Idolatry gave the people guaranteed access to a god or a goddess through the idol.

People usually understood that the idol they had in their homes was not really a god. But it captured the presence of the god it represented through the incantations made to it.

In some ways it resembled a picture phone. You say, “I’m talking to Henry – I can see him.” You don’t mean that Henry is really in that two-inch square box that you hold in your hand. His picture makes you feel close to him.

All people want to be in the presence of God. They want to cut down the distance.

Christians are indwelt by the Holy Spirit. What is the significance of that?

Christians have direct access to God (Hebrews 10:19-22, see above). That is even greater than what the Hebrews had in their temple.