The S.O.S. Lesson Materials Why I Don't Pray to Idols

Unbelievers hate us not for what we believe, but for what we don't believe! 1PE 4:1-4 WE DON'T BELIEVE IN IDOLS! ACT 17:16-31 19:23-34. (Use this as a Testimony Type Lesson)

WHAT IS AN IDOL & IDOLATRY

1. It is an image of a god or a saint; "of anything in heaven above, on earth beneath, or in water below, EXO 20:4, whether engraved, molded or painted used as an object or instrument of worship.
2. It is an object of excessive devotion or admiration; any creature used in place of, or to represent the Creator in prayer, praise or worship! ROM 1:21-23, 25.
3. IDOLATRY -That which involves making, serving, praying to or bowing to idols, EXO 20:4-5. It means devotion to that which is not God. Any form of worship or religion that involves an idol, or a false god.
4. TWO FORMS OF IDOLATRY: Worship of false gods, with or without using images and Worship of True god by means of images, JUD 17, 18 EXO 32

REASONS WHY I DON'T BELIEVE IN IDOLS

1. An idol is nothing – having no real existence. 1CO 8:4-6 ACT 19:23-27. Becoming a Christian involves renouncing of idols, 1TH 1:9-10. Idolatry is an evidence of ignorance! ACT 17:22-30. Paul says that their thoughts have become complete nonsense, and their empty minds are filled with dark­ness, ROM 1:21-22. Satan who wants worship for himself can make images speak, MAT 4:9 ISA 14:12-14 REV 13:6-9,12-15.
2. For us Christians, there is no God but one. He has no rival, DEU 6:4-5. Idolatry of any kind is forbidden. EXO 20:4-5 DEU 5:7-9. This is sin of rebellion and hating the true God!
3. God is a Spirit, JOH 1:18, 4:24 ROM 1:20, 23 1TI 6:16. No man has seen Him at any time to be able to make His picture or image. Faith in God does not require natural "sight". HEB 11:1 JOH 20:29. Believers do not need pictures or statues of Jesus in order to love and believe Him, 1PE 1:8-9. Worship of idols is worship of demons, 1CO 10:19-22, REV 9:20 DEU 32:16-18.
4. Idolatry makes you become like your idol, PSA 115:8 135:15-18. We become like the one we worship or idolize. Then it leads to depravity and abominable sins, ROM 1:18-32. The reason why idolaters are religious but not righteous is because "God gave them up" to let them do what they want. God withdrew His spiritual influence and control from their lives. Because people refuse to love the truth, God sends them a strong delusion so that they will believe the lies of Satan, 2TH 2:10-12.
5. Angels and saints did not accept worship and adoration ACT 10:25- 26 14:11-18 REV 8:9 COL 2:8-12 Saints cannot help us after they die because they cannot continue their work here or anywhere, PHI 1:22-25 HEB 7:23. Praying to the (dead) saints is necromancy, talking to the dead, which is strongly forbidden by God, DEU 18:10-11. The spirit of the dead cannot come back at will or at someone's bidding in prayer, 2SA 12:23 LUK 16:27-31.
6. Praying to the saints signifies belief in their divinity (that they are gods) WHY? Because praying to them is based on the presumption that they are present to hear, to see, to help and to save! These qualities belong only to God. No `canonized’ man saint can have these qualities.
7. God answers prayer in Jesus' Name, JOH 15:16 16:23-24, 26-27 HEB 7: 25. Because of this, there is no need for a Christian to "recourse" his prayer to saints. In heaven there is only one that really prays for us: JESUS, ROM 8:34 HEB 7:25-26 1JO 2:1. Here on earth, the Holy Spirit prays for us, ROM 8:26-27, Jesus is sufficient to help sinners and we are complete in Him, COL 2:8-10, 18-19
8. Jesus is an accessible Mediator to any believer, JOH 14:6 HEB 10:19-23, 1TI 2:5 The Marian Cult teaches that we can only come to Jesus through Mary. The Bible disproves that. In fact it is God the Father Who brings us to Jesus! And Jesus does not cast us away when we come to Him, JOH 6:37, 45, 65. Until now, the Father is the One Who brings us to Jesus and has never delegated this work to anyone! Jesus Himself gives the invitation to come, MAT 11:28-30 REV 3:20.
9. Worship of idols (idolatry) does not lead to heaven but to the lake of fire! GAL 5:19-21 1CO 6:9-10 REV 21:8 22:15. Idolatry is Satan’s way of bringing you away from God not only now but also for eternity.