GOD IS MORE POWERFUL

1 Chronicles 29:11 MEV

Yours, O LORD, is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty, for everything in the heavens and the earth is Yours. Yours is the kingdom, O LORD, and You exalt Yourself as head above all.

Some New Testament believers had a weak conscience and thought meat meant for idol worship would defile them if they ate it. In the Old Testament there are numerous verses that emphasize that idols are manmade structures with eyes and ears, but they can’t talk or hear. People that pray to them will become dead and powerless like they are - Psalm 115:4-8; 106:34-39, Deuteronomy 27:15, Hosea 4:12-14. 

People that come from a background of idol worship are aware of the power of satan. Christians are aware of Almighty God’s power and know that the enemy is already defeated. Therefore the Bible considers people  that fear the enemy as people having a weak conscience. The Spirit of Almighty God lives inside us and we should not fear. Our God is more powerful than the enemy.

‭‭Jeremiah‬ ‭10‬:‭5‬ ‭TPT‬‬
“Their idols are like speechless scarecrows standing in a field; someone must carry them around because they can’t even take a step. So don’t fear them in any way, for they are incapable of doing good or evil.””

Psalm 135:15-18 TPT
The unbelieving nations worship what they make. They worship their wealth and their work. They idolize what they own and what they do. [16-18] Their possessions will never satisfy. Their lifeless and futile works cannot bring life to them! Their things can’t talk to them or answer their prayers. Blind men can only create blind things. Those deaf to God can only make a deaf image. Dead men can only create dead idols. And everyone who trusts in these powerless, dead things will be just like what they worship—powerless and dead!

1 Corinthians 8:4-12 TPT
Concerning food sacrificed as offerings to idols, we all know that an idol is nothing, for there is no God but one. [5] Although there may be many so-called gods in this world, and in heaven there may be many “gods,” “lords,” and “masters,” [6] yet for us there is only one God—the Father. Out of him is all things, and our lives are lived for him. And there is one Lord, Jesus, the Anointed One, through whom we and all things exist. [7] But not everyone has this revelation. For some were formerly idolaters, who consider idols as real and living. That’s why they consider the food offered to that “god” as defiled. And their weak consciences become defiled if they eat it. [8] Yes, we know that what you eat will not bring you closer to God. You are no better if you don’t eat certain foods and no better if you do. [9] But you must be careful that the liberty you exercise in eating food offered to idols doesn’t offend the weak believers. [10] For if a believer with a weak conscience sees you, who have a greater understanding, dining in an idol’s temple, won’t this be a temptation to him to violate his own conscience and eat food offered to idols? [11] So, in effect, by exercising your understanding of freedom, you have ruined this weak believer, a brother for whom Christ has died! [12] And when you offend weaker believers by wounding their consciences in this way, you also offend the Anointed One!

1 Corinthians 10:18-33 TPT
Consider the people of Israel when they fell into idolatry. When they ate the sacrifices offered to the gods, weren’t they becoming communal participants in what was sacrificed? [19] Now, am I saying that idols and the sacrifices offered to them have any value? [20] Absolutely not! However, I am implying that when an unbeliever offers a sacrifice to an idol, it is not offered to the true God but to a demon. I don’t want you to be participants with demons! [21] You can’t drink from the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons. You can’t feast at the table of the Lord and feast at the table of demons. [22] Who would ever want to arouse the Lord’s jealousy? Is that something you think you’re strong enough to endure? [23] You say, “Under grace there are no rules and we’re free to do anything we please.” Not exactly. Because not everything promotes growth in others. Your slogan, “We’re allowed to do anything we choose,” may be true—but not everything causes the spiritual advancement of others. [24] So don’t always seek what is best for you at the expense of another. [25] Yes, you are free to eat anything without worrying about your conscience, [26] for the earth and all its abundance belongs to the Lord. [27] So if an unbeliever invites you to dinner, go ahead and eat whatever is served, without asking questions concerning where it came from. [28] But if he goes out of his way to inform you that the meat was actually an offering sacrificed to idols, then you should pass, not only for his sake but because of his conscience. [29] I’m talking about someone else’s conscience, not yours. What good is there in doing what you please if it’s condemned by someone else? [30] So if I voluntarily participate, why should I be judged for celebrating my freedom? [31] Whether you eat or drink, live your life in a way that glorifies and honors God. [32] And make sure you’re not offending Jews or Greeks or any part of God’s assembly over your personal preferences. [33] Follow my example, for I try to please everyone in all things, rather than putting my liberty first. I sincerely attempt to do anything I can so that others may be saved.