Blessing Blockers- Part 2
Pastor Chad Gilligan
Part of Blessing Blockers—May 2025
May 4, 2025

Ephesians 3:20-21 (NIV) Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us, 21 to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.

BLESSING BLOCKERS: Proven Strategies for Missing Out on God’s Best for Your Life

2 Corinthians 2:11 (NIV) in order that Satan might not outwit us. For we are not unaware of his schemes.

1 Corinthians 10:1-4 (NIV) For I do not want you to be ignorant of the fact, brothers and sisters, that our ancestors were all under the cloud and that they all passed through the sea. 2 They were all baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea. 3 They all ate the same spiritual food 4 and drank the same spiritual drink; for they drank from the spiritual rock that accompanied them, and that rock was Christ.

1 Corinthians 10:5 (NIV) Nevertheless, God was not pleased with most of them; their bodies were scattered in the wilderness.

1 Corinthians 10:6 (NIV) Now these things occurred as examples to keep us from setting our hearts on evil things as they did.

TWO WAYS WE BLOCK GOD’S BLESSINGS

1. IDOLATRY

1 Corinthians 10:7 (NIV) Do not be idolaters, as some of them were; as it is written: “The people sat down to eat and drink and got up to indulge in revelry.”

The Idolatry of Substitute Gods

SUBSTITUTE GODS = IDOLATRY

Exodus 32:1 (NIV) When the people saw that Moses was so long in coming down from the mountain, they gathered around Aaron and said, “Come, make us gods who will go before us. As for this fellow Moses who brought us up out of Egypt, we don’t know what has happened to him.”

When we get impatient with God, we begin to look for substitute gods.

An idol is anything you use to fill the space intended to be occupied by God.

TRUST TRIGGERS: Things that cause us to question our trust in God.

1 Corinthians 10:8 (NIV) We should not commit sexual immorality, as some of them did—and in one day twenty-three thousand of them died.

The Idolatry of Cultural Compromise

CULTURAL COMPROMISE = SEXUAL IMMORALITY

Numbers 25:1-3 (NIV) While Israel was staying in Shittim, the men began to indulge in sexual immorality with Moabite women, 2 who invited them to the sacrifices to their gods. The people ate the sacrificial meal and bowed down before these gods. 3 So Israel yoked themselves to the Baal of Peor. And the LORD’S anger burned against them.

Morality must not be defined by the prevailing view of the culture we find ourselves in.

According to the Scriptures, all sexual activity is to be experienced in marriage.
Marriage is the covenant relationship of one man and one woman for a lifetime.
Any sexual activity outside of marriage is sin.

Romans 1:24-25 (NIV) Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another. 25 They exchanged the truth about God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator—who is forever praised. Amen.

Sexual immorality confuses our worship.

Colossians 3:1-6 (NIV) Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. 3 For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. 5 Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. 6 Because of these, the wrath of God is coming.

Sexual immorality separates you from God’s best.

Sexual immorality comes from a place of emptiness.

1 Corinthians 10:13 (NIV) No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, He will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.

1 Corinthians 10:11 (NIV) These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the culmination of the ages has come.

1 Corinthians 10:12 (NIV) So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall!

THREE STEPS FOR ADDRESSING THE IDOLS IN YOUR LIFE

STEP ONE: Reveal The Idol

“Whatever your heart clings to and relies upon, that is your God.” —Martin Luther

1 John 5:19-20 (NIV) We know that we are children of God, and that the whole world is under the control of the evil one. 20 We know also that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know Him who is true. And we are in Him who is true by being in His Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life.

1 John 5:21 (NIV) Dear children, keep yourselves from idols.

1 John 5:21 (NLT) Dear children, keep away from anything that might take God’s place in your hearts.


ARE YOU ACTING OUT OF FRUSTRATION OR IMPATIENCE?

Is this area of your life having an effect on other people or things in your life?

Is this area of your life more cultural than it is Biblical?

Is this thing an “insurance policy”?

IF YOU ARE HONEST WITH YOURSELF, ARE YOU TRYING TO FILL A PLACE OF EMPTINESS IN YOUR LIFE?

STEP TWO: Remove The Idol

Romans 8:1-2 (NLT) So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus. 2 And because you belong to Him, the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you from the power of sin that leads to death.

FIND FREEDOM IN JESUS.

1 John 5:21 (NIV) Dear children, keep yourselves from idols.

MOVE TOWARDS FREEDOM IN JESUS.

If you would like more information about Jesus and what it means to follow Him, we have resources available to help you on your spiritual journey at https://toledocalvary.org/jesus

STEP THREE: Replace The Idol

WHAT ARE YOUR TRUST TRIGGERS?

1 Corinthians 10:13 (NIV) No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, He will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.


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