Psalms 115:8
Chuck Smith explains that people make their gods after themselves, leading to idolatry, and that we should strive to be made by God, not make our own gods.
Chuck Smith emphasizes that every person has an inherent capacity for God and is bound to an authority, which often leads to idolatry. He identifies three primary forms of idolatry in the Old Testament: the worship of Baal (nature and intellect), Molech (emotional deification), and Mammon (the pursuit of wealth). Smith argues that humans create gods in their own image, resulting in a diminished understanding of the divine and a lowering of their own potential. Ultimately, he asserts that while man makes gods that are less than himself, God creates man to be more like Him, challenging listeners to reflect on who or what they truly worship.
Text
I JOHN 3:2
Intro: All men have capacity for God. Man cannot live without God. All men have
a god. Every man is bound to an authority.
I. THREE BASIC FORMS OF IDOLATRY IN O.T.
A. Baal - Worship of nature - deification of intellect.
1. Seeking secrets of universe.
2. Philosophy, speculations.
B. Molech - Deify emotional nature.
1. Outcome is lust - debased.
2. Love is true deity of emotion.
3. If emotions allowed to master lust results.
C. Mammon - Passion for power.
1. Drive for wealth.
a. Worse than drink traffic.
b. Remove love of money and liquor business would be through
in 6 months.
What causes man to deify these things?
II. MAN ALWAYS MAKES HIS GODS AFTER HIMSELF.
A. The form of the gods.
1. Mouths.
2. Ears.
B. His gods are always less than himself.
1. Man deifies intelligence-Agnosticism.
2. Emotion - lust.
3. Power - slave.
C. He then lowers himself to the level of his god.
1. He becomes blind. Tramples over the world-sees nothing.
III. WE SHALL BE LIKE HIM.
A. When man makes gods, less than himself.
B. When God makes man - more.
"Show us the Father" "He that hath seen. . ." Who is your god young man?
Today you answer, tomorrow we can.
Sermon Outline
- I points: - Three Basic Forms of Idolatry in O.T. - Baal - Worship of nature - deification of intellect - Molech - Deify emotional nature - Mammon - Passion for power
- II points: - Man Always Makes His Gods After Himself - The form of the gods - His gods are always less than himself - He then lowers himself to the level of his god
- III points: - We Shall Be Like Him - When man makes gods, less than himself - When God makes man - more
Key Quotes
“Show us the Father, He that hath seen me hath seen the Father.” — Chuck Smith
“Who is your god young man?” — Chuck Smith
Application Points
- We should be aware of the idols we create in our lives and strive to make God our ultimate authority.
- When we make our gods less than ourselves, we risk becoming blind to the world and losing our sense of purpose.
- We should seek to be made by God, not make our own gods, in order to become more like Him.