Works of the Flesh, Continued

1 Corinthians 10:14

Wherefore, my dearly beloved, flee from idolatry.

This is something that we are supposed to flee. The type of love that is considered idolatry is not the true gentle pure kind of love that is from God. Being obsessed with something or someone to the point of idolatry is not true love. We are to love God with all our heart and our neighbor as ourselves. There is no place for excessive obsession with our affections on something else. We need to run as fast as possible from anything that gets our desires away from the Lord. This is what could make something as innocent as sports or any other pastime wrong. If we are obsessed with the thing and it is what we think about more than anything else does then it becomes an idol.

Galatians 5:20

Idolatry is one of the "Works of the Flesh" mentioned in the book of Galatians and it states further down that those who do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. We cannot love God and love the world too. We cannot serve two masters.

Ephesians 5

5 For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.
6 Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience.
7 Be not ye therefore partakers with them.

To be guilty of idolatry that has not been repented of incurs the wrath of God. We must beware of covetousness here. Covetousness is idolatry. Covetousness is excessive desire for material things. This can also be idolatry.

Colossians 3

5 Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:

Mortify or put to death these desires from within us that is considered idolatry. Remember that God does not make commandments and then turn around and do not give us the power to get rid of the sin. Jesus Christ came to give us victory over sin and make us a new creature in Him. We do not have to be overcome with sin at any time after coming to Christ. He gives us power to overcome. The secret is to come to Christ, to seek Him daily and allow His Holy Spirit to fill us continually giving us strength to overcome.

1 Peter 4:3

For the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revellings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries:

These past idolatries and sins were part of our live before receiving Jesus Christ in our hearts and should not be within us afterward. If we find that they are we just go back to the place of prayer and seek the Lord again. He will help those who really desire to live for Him. He wants us to have a new life and not be bound by our old sinful nature again. We can be free. We don't have to be bound by sin anymore.