Jeffrey Holton
  • Home
  • About
    • Resume
    • Sermons
    • Family Discipleship
    • Book Reviews
    • Philippines
  • Blog
  • Pictures
  • Contact
  • Archives

A PASTOR IN TRANSFORMATION

Foundations Week 9, Day 1

2/26/2018

0 Comments

 
Scripture Read:  Exodus 32 - 33
Title: Israel worships a golden calf
H.E.A.R. Entry
(H) Highlight verse:  
"Up, make us gods who shall go before us.  As for this Moses, the man who brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him."  Ex. 32:1b

(E) Explain:   While Moses is up on Mount Sinai receiving instructions from God the Israelites grew restless and demand that Aaron make an image of the god who delivered them from Egypt.  Moses, apparently was gone for a while and probably thought he had either abandoned them or died.  Their need for an image of a god drove them to commit one of the greatest sins the nation of Israel has ever seen.  
Aaron listened to the people and fashioned a golden calf that was made from gold earrings of the people.  Once the golden calf was completed the people worshiped this idol and attributed it as the god who delivered them from Egypt.  Aaron also built an altar and proclaimed the next day as a feast to the LORD.  

God tells Moses to go down the mountain and because the people have turned to idolatry.  God's anger burned hot and He declared that He was going to destroy the Israelite people.  Moses interceded for the nation and God relented.  
Mose came down the mountain and rebuked the people.  He called them to repentance and God punished the people.  The following day Moses went back up the mountain to make atonement for the sins of the people.

(A) Application: What is an idol?  I believe an idol is anything that is placed in higher reverence that God.  This could include money, possessions, relationships, power, religion, sacred relics, etc.  Whenever we place anything above God in our lives, that thing becomes an idol.  The people of Israel were obviously religious people.  They had seen the power of God first-hand.  they were recipients of his divine provisions.  They were declared to be His people.  The problem for them was, they had never seen God and they had the inclination to give God a face and body.  In the process they attribute to this idol the power that did not belong to it.  They gave their allegiance to an object that had no power and this was idolatry.  God is a jealous God.  He does not share the spotlight with others.  He alone deserves our worship and praise.  Let us be careful as to what we allow to have precedence in our lives.  Idols are not always as blatant as being a statue or object, often times the idols we have in our lives are more subtle.  What idols do you have in your life that you need to deal with?

(R) Respond:  Ask God to check your heart today.  Have you placed anything or anyone over him in your life?  Allow him to examine and convict you as you allow him to search your heart for any idolatrous inclinations
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.



    Picture
    Jeff has been in ministry for well over two decades. He currently serves as Campus Pastor at West Bradenton Baptist Southside Campus in Bradenton, Florida.

    Jeff Has authored an Advent Devotional (The Advent of Jesus) and a devotional on the book of James (James: Where Faith and Life Meet). Both are available on Amazon.

    He is married to Carrie and they have four children, Micaiah, Gabe, Simon, and Berea.
    Preview or purchase Jeff's Books






    RSS Feed

    Archives

    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    July 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014

    Categories

    All

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.
  • Home
  • About
    • Resume
    • Sermons
    • Family Discipleship
    • Book Reviews
    • Philippines
  • Blog
  • Pictures
  • Contact
  • Archives