in the end, FREEDOM is the only thing worth living for!

There is a very fine line between idolatry and reverence for God.
If you love something and use it accordingly, that is fine- with all moderation and regard for yourself, others and most of all God.
But if you misuse and abuse anything- then it becomes a problem.
Again, if you use something, and you are in control of how much, how often, and to better your life and the lives around you, then good.
But if the object controls you, your habits, your attitudes and your destiny, then it is an idol.

Many people hear the word "idol", and think of an unspecified person... or maybe they think of greek gods.... or maybe they don't really know what to think.
The first few definitions of "idol" in the merriam-webster online dictionary would easily confuse , or confirm the uncertainty of what exactly an idol might me... they call idol things like, "false god", "the likeness of something", "imposter"... but then we get to a better description of what an idol really is, that we can understand in "layman's terms":
'Idol' is defined and described as "an object of extreme devotion".

So, to break this down, an idol is something someone is extremely devoted to.
It could be anything.
It could be sex. It could be clothes, or vanity. It could be drugs. It could be money. It could be a lifestyle. Anything that consumes your mind - other than GOD - is an idol.

You may wonder then, How can anyone live and please God? Or How can anyone not be called an idolater?
The easiest answer is to confront your idols, and get rid of them.

But there's a biggger problem... and the main reason idolatry is suck a tricky demon to defeat.
Most people do not want to get rid of their idols... or their drug habits, or their spending habits, or their sexual gratifications, or their pride- yes pride is an idol. An idol of the ego, an idol of the self.
HMMMMMM.........................................................???


People - if people want to be TRULY and WHOLLY satisfyed in their lives should realize that if something is needed to make them happy in life, or feel better about thier life, unless it's GOD, then it's an idol.

I see people never satisfyed, never satusfyed with thier lives, or thier work or their relationships because they try to find satisfaction in ways that will never satisfy.

The things that truly bring satisfaction and peace and contentment and glory to life and to people are things from GOD, pure things... true things, good things....
let me tell you of some...
LOVE


PEACE


JOY


RIGHTEOUSNESS


GOODNESS

GENTLENESS

KINDNESS


HUMILITY


MODERATION aka TEMPERANCE aka SELF-CONTROL


which brings us back to the subject of this message.

Idolatry vs. Self- Control


I confess: I used to be a chain smoker. And I used to be a "pot-head". I used to be a lot of other things.

Then I got set free.


I will make another confession.
I have smoked cigarettes since I quit.
I have even smoked pot since I quit.

But the difference is this:
cigarettes do not control me..... the urge or craving for cigarettes do not control me... getting high on weed does not control me... I don't have to spend money every week on drugs or cigarettes every week to maintain my inner peace and sanctity. I don't have to smoke a joint every day to enjoy the day. I know some people who can't LIVE and be happy and normal with out consuming some type of substances. Yeah, I take herbs, but thier legal, and I can survive pretty good without them. I treat them like a luxury, not a neccessity.
When we start depending on things, like drugs for happiness, sex for pleasure, money for entertainment, then we begin to lose the true value of happiness, pleasure, and enjoyment of life... for what it is.

I have learned the glory of the liberty of not being in chains to things that kill and waste and uses and makes poor.

I used drugs and cigarettes --- they were my friends.
If I was lonely or alone or bored, smoking made me feel like I was doing something... it took my mind off of it's lonliness... but it was hurting me. And it was making me tired and I was wasting all my money and my precious energy and I was only becomeing unhealthier and unclean because of them... I can go on and on.

I know the victory of conqering my addictions.
I know what it's like to be freed from chains of the mind... of the spirit.. of the self.

YOU CAN BE FREE~!

FIGHT FOR YOUR FREEDOM~

FIGHT FOOR YOUR PEACE~

BELIEVE IN REAL SATISFACTION~
BELIEVE IN REAL LOVE -
THESE THINGS DO NOT FIND US , NOR DO WE FIND THEM; WE CREATE THEM. WITH OUR LIVES, OUR LOVE, AND OUR WILL.

FAITH AND STRONG HOPE TO ALL WHO DARE TO BELIEVE!
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