Idleness & Idolatry – Part 2
By Margaret D. Mitchell
Week of April 14, 2024
Closely related to idleness is idolatry. The common letter that begins both of these words is “I.” If you look up “I” in Vine’s dictionary, you will see that it means “ego,” something we all need to submit to The Great I AM.
Idolatry
All levels of idolatry involve exhorting our selfish ways above Holy Spirit—knowingly or unknowingly. Therefore, this makes the practice of idolatry a sin of pride that results in low-level living.
When people turn away from God and worship false gods (that can include our own mindsets), they become slaves “to the depraved ideas [their] idols represent…and thereby, to divers lusts,” according to Vine’s. It can be “traced to lack of the acknowledgement of God and of gratitude to Him.”
What we especially need to know about idolatry, in a practical sense, is that it’s a bondage that leads to captivity of the soul, where idolaters bear little or no fruit (Isaiah 46:2). We need to know that, in troubled times, idols will not help: They never answer or save. And they are powerless to do so (Isaiah 46:8).
Isaiah 44:9 TPT says that "Idol-makers amount to nothing, and the things they treasure can do no one any good. They are witnesses with blind eyes who know nothing; they will be disgraced." In verse 11, God says idol-worshippers will be “terrified” and “put to shame.”
According to Isaiah 45:20 TPT, worshipping idols results in receiving no revelation knowledge. This is the very opposite of what Jesus came to do, which is to open our blind eyes to Him!
Knowing all of this, we can easily see that the enemy tries to use idolatry to make our efforts fruitless and disgraceful. Remember that fruitlessness is a definition of idleness (Strong’s #692). And dis-gracefulness is disempowerment, because anything dis-graceful lacks the grace-power of God.
If you or I have felt bound up, blind, shamed, terrified or powerless, we need to ask Holy Spirit to reveal any idols in our hearts to us so we can renounce them. God tells how to renounce idols in Isaiah 46:9, saying, “Acknowledge that I am God, and there is no other.”
The Word that came forth for this message is this:
Idolatry will look different forward. As God shifts His people into bigger, we must be especially careful to not make idols out of our pasts. Do not let memories, soul ties, fears or traumas interrupt faith for the future. We will be tested to not look back to ungodly things.
Michal
So, as an example, Holy Spirit highlighted Saul’s daughter, Michal, and how she was triggered when she saw King David’s wild dance (2 Samuel 6:16). Her unfaithful action of attacking David’s heart and spirit proved to be the opposite of Queen Esther coming before her king, prepared and in submission to God.
Michal was unsubmitted to both God and King David after they both brought her into promotion. Her reaction, when she saw her king dance for his King, revealed the unfaithfulness in her own heart toward both. As a result, she was not blessed in her household (2 Samuel 6:20-23).
Michal still needed to grow in faith for the new things God was doing, even though she was already seated in her promotion.
So, as in Michal’s story, our faithfulness is key. We are to be captivated by Jesus alone, keeping our eyes on higher, renouncing all ties with lesser behaviors and un-glorified things that aren't worth our time, energy or entanglement, including our own mindsets.
God, in His rich mercy, has brought His righteousness closer to us all through Jesus. He is about to “break the powers of wickedness” and promote His faithful ones, who cry out to Him (Psalm 75:10 TPT). He is about to make them powerful as they praise Him. He will strengthen His faithful ones by His measureless grace—that is those who leave all of their cares and anxieties at His feet (Psalm 55:2 TPT). And choose His higher way of joy.
So, pray with me, if you will . . .
Dear Lord,
I turn to You and acknowledge that You are God and there is no other.
Thank You for bringing Your righteousness closer to me through Jesus for Your glory (Isaiah 48:11 TPT).
I choose gratitude and invite You to search my heart and reveal to me any areas where I have participated in idleness or idolatry, including stubbornness and covetousness.
I renounce all forms of prideful idleness and idolatry and command these spirits to depart from me now. I break the enemy’s plots against me and choose Your plan today, Lord.
Thank You for restoring my heart to wholeness and my mind to soundness. Thank You for setting me free, so I can walk in Your blessing to be a blessing.
In Jesus’ Mighty Name,
Amen.
Now, I declare the blessing of Isaiah 45:8 TPT over you, which is to "Shower down righteousness, O heavens above. Let the clouds drip with deliverance! Let earth's womb open and bear salvation's fruit, with righteousness rising up beside it!" You, "Yahweh, have created all of them!"
And I declare, according to Isaiah 61:11 TPT, that "In the same way the earth produces its crops and seeds spring up in a garden, so will the Lord Yahweh cause righteousness and praise to blossom before all the nations!"
To Him be all glory, honor and praise!
Margaret D. Mitchell is the Founder of God's Love at Work, a marketplace outreach purposed to share God's greatest power source - the love of Christ.
Originally published Sunday, 14 April 2024.
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