Study Material: Ezekiel 14:1-3
1 Then came certain of the elders of Israel unto me, and sat before me.
2 And the word of the Lord came unto me, saying,
3 Son of man, these men have set up their idols in their heart, and put the stumbling block of their iniquity before their face: should I be enquired of at all by them?
Today’s Teaching:
My Pastor always says that we pray for things – jobs, cars, spouses, and children; but as soon as God answers those prayers, we do not have time for Him anymore. This is seen all the time. A young man was often facing financial challenges. He would make money, but he was always in one financial quandary or the other. We offered to help him plan and execute a financial plans, but he agreed only until the next project funds came in. At that point, he changed his mind. He lost that project and the one thereafter.
His stumbling block? Money. He loves money; and he actually idolizes it. The people spoken of in todays’ scripture were elders. They were our Pastors, Bishops, General Overseers and so on. God rebuked them by asking
Ezekiel if these men deserved to hear from Him. He said that they had set up idols in their hearts. Idolatry is not only about images, witchcraft or the other common forms. It is also idolatry when one puts something that they love
before God. Today, many Pastors put money and their love for it before the love of God or the ministry of helps to which we are also called.
No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money (Mtt 6:24 NIV). Men and women of God who have who conduct ministrations or lead ministries with a focus on money will have a stumbling block to accessing God. Money is the stumbling block for many, but what is your stumbling block? Do you put your children, spouse or career before God?
Homework: Ask God to remove every form of idolatry in your
heart and every stumbling block that could keep you out of
heaven.
1 Then came certain of the elders of Israel unto me, and sat before me.
2 And the word of the Lord came unto me, saying,
3 Son of man, these men have set up their idols in their heart, and put the stumbling block of their iniquity before their face: should I be enquired of at all by them?
Today’s Teaching:
My Pastor always says that we pray for things – jobs, cars, spouses, and children; but as soon as God answers those prayers, we do not have time for Him anymore. This is seen all the time. A young man was often facing financial challenges. He would make money, but he was always in one financial quandary or the other. We offered to help him plan and execute a financial plans, but he agreed only until the next project funds came in. At that point, he changed his mind. He lost that project and the one thereafter.
His stumbling block? Money. He loves money; and he actually idolizes it. The people spoken of in todays’ scripture were elders. They were our Pastors, Bishops, General Overseers and so on. God rebuked them by asking
Ezekiel if these men deserved to hear from Him. He said that they had set up idols in their hearts. Idolatry is not only about images, witchcraft or the other common forms. It is also idolatry when one puts something that they love
before God. Today, many Pastors put money and their love for it before the love of God or the ministry of helps to which we are also called.
No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money (Mtt 6:24 NIV). Men and women of God who have who conduct ministrations or lead ministries with a focus on money will have a stumbling block to accessing God. Money is the stumbling block for many, but what is your stumbling block? Do you put your children, spouse or career before God?
Homework: Ask God to remove every form of idolatry in your
heart and every stumbling block that could keep you out of
heaven.
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