Free Downloads Gods At War: Defeating The Idols That Battle For Your Heart
In gods at war, Kyle Idleman, bestselling author of not a fan, helps every believer recognize there are false gods at war within each of us, and they battle for the place of glory and control in our lives. What keeps us from truly following Jesus is that our hearts are pursuing something or someone else. While these pursuits may not be the “graven images” of old, they are in fact modern day idols. Behind the sin you’re struggling with, the discouragement you’re dealing with, the lack of purpose you’re living with is a false god that is winning the war for your heart. According to Idleman, idolatry isn’t an issue―it is the issue. By asking insightful questions, Idleman reveals which false gods each of us are allowing on the throne of our lives. What do you sacrifice for? What makes you mad? What do you worry about? Whose applause do you long for? We’re all wired for worship, but we often end up valuing and honoring the idols of money, sex, food, romance, success and many others that keep us from the intimate relationship with God that we desire. Using true, powerful and honest testimonies of those who have struggled in each area, gods at war illustrates a clear path away from the heartache of our 21st century idolatry back to the heart of God – enabling us to truly be completely committed followers of Jesus.
Paperback: 240 pages
Publisher: Zondervan (February 17, 2013)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 031031884X
ISBN-13: 978-0310318842
Product Dimensions: 5.5 x 0.7 x 8.5 inches
Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (629 customer reviews)
Best Sellers Rank: #9,648 in Books (See Top 100 in Books) #87 in Books > Christian Books & Bibles > Christian Living > Personal Growth #251 in Books > Christian Books & Bibles > Christian Living > Spiritual Growth #2198 in Books > Religion & Spirituality
In Ken Idleman's God's at War: Defeating the Idols that Battle for Your Heart, write's of the battle of the heart. Idleman starts with an intriguing statement: "Idoltary isn't an issue; it is the issue." Biblical counseling will often lead us to explore rival hopes. Our heart is naturally inclined to hope and we misplace hope in love of people, places and things rather than pursuit of the one true God. So, in a sense, I agree with Idleman, that this is an important issue. However, the issue is our fundamental need for reconciliation with God, which leads us to the gospel. The gospel of Jesus Christ must be the issue that we come back to. Idleman leads us to Christ throughout the book, though the gospel is often not central.Idleman begins with asking great questions. Rival hopes can be difficult to identify and the timely interrogative can help the diagnosis. Some helpful interrogatives:What disappoints you?What do you complain about the most?Where do you make financial sacrifices?What worries you?Where is your sanctuary?What infuriates you?What are your dreams?Idleman rightly states that these things are not bad in and of themselves. It is good and well to dream, to seek sanctuary. The primary issue is when these felt needs are ultimate as compared to eternal needs.Idleman then walks through several prominent rival hopes found in an affluent Western culture, which he categorizes as pleasure, power and love. They are:goodsexentertainmentsuccessmoneyachievementromancefamilymeThough not exhaustive (if this were possible) the list is a great and challenging start. Each chapter on specific rival hopes ends with equally helpful questions.
I work in a Christian bookstore and had heard countless good customer reviews for Idleman's book, Not A Fan. I had never read anything from him, but I figured since he's been quite a hit with the customers, I'd checkout one of his books. I skimmed the overview for his more popular book, Not A Fan, but found it to be a little amateur for my personal interests. Also, we had Gods at War on sale for $5.Good customer reviews and having "Kyle Idleman" as practically a household name in my store, I approached the book with high hopes and expectation, only to be disappointed.The book is summarized in one statement: all sin is because of the idolatry in our hearts.There are a lot of solid statements through out the book. I appreciate his call to walk in holiness and his serious, no-toleration approach to sin. Idleman makes many statements in loving truth such as, "'You will have no other gods before Me.' There is no cohabitation. There is no open marriage." The statement is biblical, is sound, and is in the character of God.However, throughout much of the book, I found myself pondering and meditating on his statements and having the same outcome of, "I agree with you to an extent." I found that Idleman makes claims infinitely, rather than accepting that this "root" isn't the answer for every circumstance.I felt like his claims all led to gods and idolatry rather than acknowledging that a lot of sin begins simply with our sinful nature as humans living in a fallen world.Though I do not a agree with many of his explanations, or to certain extents, I do appreciate his serious approach to sin, allowing no excuses, but bringing an invitation to the grace given to us through the blood of Jesus.
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