Anderson Hills

We have many beliefs about what money can do for us. We say, “Money will satisfy me.” “Money can make me significant.” “Money will bring me security.” When we say these things, we are giving money divine attributes and in so doing, we make it a god in our lives. We are saying that money has the power to do for us what only God can do. Our life purpose is not to pursue wealth, but to pursue God. And in this pursuit, God takes care of our needs and truly brings us life, honor, fulfillment, and sometimes wealth. Money as an idol prevents us from being generous and from trusting God. God wants us to rely on Him; we cannot serve both God and money. Ask

God to help you develop a heart of generosity that leads to contentment.

We have many beliefs about what money can do for us. We say, “Money will satisfy me.” “Money can make me significant.” “Money will bring me security.” When we say these things, we are giving money divine attributes and in so doing, we make it a god in our lives. We are saying that money has the power to do for us what only God can do. Our life purpose is not to pursue wealth, but to pursue God. And in this pursuit, God takes care of our needs and truly brings us life, honor, fulfillment, and sometimes wealth. Money as an idol prevents us from being generous and from trusting God. God wants us to rely on Him; we cannot serve both God and money. Ask

God to help you develop a heart of generosity that leads to contentment.

This week we will look at an idol that may be the most deceptive of all—the god of love. Sometimes we allow our love for other people to be the central driving force in our life. God indeed calls us to love others, however, that love is supposed to flow from our love for God. Romantic love and relationships within our immediate family are legitimate loves that have the tendency to get out of order in our lives. When your love for someone is greater than your love for God, that person has become an idol. The problem is not with loving others too much, it is with not loving God enough. By loving God more, we are going to love our family in more fruitful ways. Determine what love is greater than your love for God and repent.

This week we will look at an idol that may be the most deceptive of all—the god of love. Sometimes we allow our love for other people to be the central driving force in our life. God indeed calls us to love others, however, that love is supposed to flow from our love for God. Romantic love and relationships within our immediate family are legitimate loves that have the tendency to get out of order in our lives. When your love for someone is greater than your love for God, that person has become an idol. The problem is not with loving others too much, it is with not loving God enough. By loving God more, we are going to love our family in more fruitful ways. Determine what love is greater than your love for God and repent.

This week we are exploring the worship of a false god – the god of pleasure. In the past, some Christian traditions have taught that pleasure is wrong, but the Bible does not say this. God is not anti-pleasure, but God is against idolatry. Pleasure becomes a problem when it becomes an idol to us. When times get tough, is it God to whom you turn first, or do you turn to your sources of pleasure? Does the enemy tempt you to pursue things like retail therapy, comfort food, “escape” through binge watching shows, visiting inappropriate websites? Where you turn when you are hurting and need comfort is likely what you worship. The goal is to identify the god of pleasure in your life from which you need to repent and dethrone.

This week we are exploring the worship of a false god – the god of pleasure. In the past, some Christian traditions have taught that pleasure is wrong, but the Bible does not say this. God is not anti-pleasure, but God is against idolatry. Pleasure becomes a problem when it becomes an idol to us. When times get tough, is it God to whom you turn first, or do you turn to your sources of pleasure? Does the enemy tempt you to pursue things like retail therapy, comfort food, “escape” through binge watching shows, visiting inappropriate websites? Where you turn when you are hurting and need comfort is likely what you worship. The goal is to identify the god of pleasure in your life from which you need to repent and dethrone.

True spiritual awakening, or revival, is the manifest presence of God in our lives. Awakening comes when we go to God prayerfully, in repentance and total surrender to Jesus, making Him Lord of our lives. We are renewed in love for God and love for others through the power of the Holy Spirit. We pray for spiritual awakening within our own hearts so we are empowered to share our testimony of God’s love with others. We pray for the Holy Spirit to make everyone in the church ambassadors of Christ who are sent out into the world. We also pray that God uses us to pass our faith on to future generations who, in turn, will do the same.

True spiritual awakening, or revival, is the manifest presence of God in our lives. Awakening comes when we go to God prayerfully, in repentance and total surrender to Jesus, making Him Lord of our lives. We are renewed in love for God and love for others through the power of the Holy Spirit. We pray for spiritual awakening within our own hearts so we are empowered to share our testimony of God’s love with others. We pray for the Holy Spirit to make everyone in the church ambassadors of Christ who are sent out into the world. We also pray that God uses us to pass our faith on to future generations who, in turn, will do the same.

The Scriptures are filled with powerful signs, wonders and miracles that occurred because of God’s power working in and through people. In the New Testament one main purpose of signs and wonders was to open doors to preach the gospel. These were a means to an end. Jesus didn’t come just to wow people with His power. He came to do the greatest miracle—to save people from their sins. When we pray for power, we are seeking power to do what God calls us to do as the church, individually and collectively. We seek the power to walk in obedience, to overcome the evil one, and to fulfill our purpose and calling in His kingdom.

The Scriptures are filled with powerful signs, wonders and miracles that occurred because of God’s power working in and through people. In the New Testament one main purpose of signs and wonders was to open doors to preach the gospel. These were a means to an end. Jesus didn’t come just to wow people with His power. He came to do the greatest miracle—to save people from their sins. When we pray for power, we are seeking power to do what God calls us to do as the church, individually and collectively. We seek the power to walk in obedience, to overcome the evil one, and to fulfill our purpose and calling in His kingdom.