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  IF YOU ATTEMPT TO ENTHRONE THE CREATURE!
  by Thomas Brooks
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Summary: Christ will not tolerate competitors for His royal throne, and
those who attempt to enthrone the creature will face destruction.

Topics: "Idolatry", "Prioritizing Christ"
Scripture References: Genesis 49:4, Ezekiel 24:21, Matthew 6:19

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DESCRIPTION
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Thomas Brooks emphasizes the danger of overvaluing earthly comforts and
mercies, warning that when we prioritize them over Christ, we risk
losing them. He illustrates that our hearts should be reserved for
Christ alone, as He will not tolerate any rivals in our affections.
Brooks cautions that indulging in these mercies can lead to spiritual
idolatry, resulting in God removing those very blessings we cherish. He
reminds Christians that true joy and comfort come from placing Christ at
the center of our hearts, rather than allowing creature comforts to take
His place. Ultimately, Brooks calls for a re-evaluation of our
priorities, urging believers to ensure that Christ remains on the throne
of their hearts.

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CONTENT
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O Christian! God has removed one of your sweetest mercies,

comforts, or enjoyments! It may be you have over-loved them,

and over-prized them, and over-much delighted yourself in

them. It may be they have often had your heart--when they

should have had but your hand. It may be that care, that

concern, that confidence, that joy--which should have been

expended upon more noble objects--has been expended

upon them!

Your heart is Christ's bed of spices--and it may be

you have bedded your mercies with you--when Christ

has been made to lie outside! You have had room for

them--when you have had none for Him! They have

had the best--when the worst have been counted good

enough for Christ!

It is said of Reuben, that he went up to his father's bed,

Gen. 49:4. Ah! how often has one creature comfort, and

sometimes another--been put in between Christ and

your souls! How often have your dear enjoyments gone

up to Christ's bed! Your near and dear mercies have

come into Christ's bed of love--your hearts!

Now, if you take a husband, a child, a friend--into that

room in your soul which only belongs to God--He will

either embitter it, remove it, or be the death of it.

If once the love of a wife runs out more to a servant, than

to her husband--the husband will remove that servant;

though otherwise he was a servant worth gold.

Now, if God has stripped you of that very mercy with which

you have often committed spiritual adultery and idolatry--

have you any cause to murmur?

There are those who love their mercies into their graves--

who hug their mercies to death--who kiss them until they

kill them! Many a man has slain his mercies--by setting too

great a value upon them! Many a man has sunk his ship of

mercy--by overloading it. Over-loved mercies are seldom

long-lived. The way to lose your mercies is to indulge them!

The way to destroy them is to fix your minds and hearts

upon them. You may write bitterness and death upon that

mercy first--which has first taken away your heart from God.

Christian! Your heart is Christ's royal throne, and in this

throne Christ will be chief! He will endure no competitor!

If you attempt to enthrone the creature--be it ever

so near and dear unto you--Christ will dethrone it! He

will destroy it! He will quickly lay them in a bed of dust

--who shall aspire to His royal throne!

"This is what the Sovereign Lord says: I am about to desecrate

my sanctuary--the stronghold in which you take pride, the delight

of your eyes, the object of your affection. The sons and

daughters you left behind will fall by the sword!" Ezekiel 24:21

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Source: https://sermonindex.net/speakers/thomas-brooks/if-you-attempt-to-enthrone-the-creature/
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