God gets the last word!

I wanted to start these thoughts with a passage that I believe speaks to one of the greatest internal trials the church faces. The lack of diligence when it comes to the trickery of the devil.

I Peter 5:8 KJV

Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:

Message

Keep a cool head. Stay alert. The Devil is poised to pounce, and would like nothing better than to catch you napping.

What I am saying is that we have turned our heads to things that years ago we would not tolerate.

Now be careful and don’t let your minds wander to to the things of the world. I am speaking to us. The people who come to church. Claim Him as their Redeemer.

Peter wrote this entire chapter to the elders of the church; giving them instruction in their duties and their lives.

“The devil would like nothing better than to catch you napping.”

Life is filled with compromise. We compromise in relationships, in our jobs, in our families. We have even compromised with our relationship with God.

As Pastors today we face a tough challenge. If we preach on sin people think we are condemning and judgmental. If we don’t preach on sin people think they can do anything and it is ok.

Lulled to sleep by attendance and finances Pastors have compromised with the Gospel.

Let me tell you this in no uncertain terms; we must strive to live a life that is pleasing to God. One that is dedicated to righteousness and right living. Not pleasing to the flesh but committed to killing it.

It is time for Christians and the church to stop focusing on what we can get by with and start living a Godly life.

Please know this that when I ever speak of particular sins that I am in no way being critical of anyone that might be captive to that sin.

For I have been and always will be chiefest amongst sinners in this place. Redeemed by His Grace I move forward in Him and so can you.

The challenge for us all today is that we must learn to watch. To pray. The devil is out to get us and he will spare nothing in his quest for your soul. Even if it means presenting himself at the throne of God and requesting permission to trouble you.(as he did with Job.)

Luke 22:31 KJV

And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat:

Message

Simon, stay on your toes. Satan has tried his best to separate all of you from me, like chaff from wheat.

In our quest for prosperity and the American dream; God often comes in second in time spent and effort made to develop our relationship with Him.

I have said this several times of late and I am going to say it again.

We are in a battle, for our soul and the souls of others. Every thing that can be poured out upon Christians and the church will be poured out.

Like Peter, the enemy is trying to separate us from God.

Often the snares he lays are so deceiving. They look so good and so right. Their appearance is almost Godly.

Their end result is to drive a wedge between you and God; and between you and your fellow man.

We must watch in prayer, and be diligent in our commitment so we will see them coming and have the strength to resist.

The Apostle James in the fourth chapter of his writings to the church he said submit to God and resist the devil and he will flee.

He was talking to us.

The Apostles knew as we all should that the sins we must be diligent against are the ones that come into our lives as Christians.

They knew as we should that these sins are what cause division in God’s house and separate us from fellowship with Him.

Can I name them? All day long. Pride, arrogance, laziness, stinginess, hate, and so on and so on.

What about all those sins in the world. Name some of them. Ok.

Pride, arrogance, laziness, stinginess, hate, and so on and so on.

The same thing that makes you think you are better than another in God’s house, is the same thing that makes you think you can run around on your spouse.

The same thing that makes you talk about someone to feel better about yourself, is the same thing that will make you turn up a bottle or light a pipe so you can make your troubles go away.

The same thing that causes you to judge someone is the same thing that could cause you to hate them.

Sin is a manifestation of something from the inside. Yes, doctrinally it is the manifestation of being separated from God.

Yet the hurt and pain from our past, the weakness in our personalities, the anger from wrongs, as well as many other things cause us to sin against God and His word.

James 4:17 KJV

Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.

James 4:16-17 Message

As it is, you are full of your grandiose selves. All such vaunting self-importance is evil. In fact, if you know the right thing to do and don’t do it, that, for you, is evil.

The church, individually and corporately, needs to examine itself on a daily basis and repent from our complacency and pride.

This message is not to burden you with guilt and condemnation. I do not believe in doing that.

From my heart it is to help you realize what great potential you have.

We all need to realize where condemnation comes from. It comes from the devil. He is the one who reminds us of our faults and failures. He is the one who tells us that God can’t use us. He is the one intent on destroying our hope and our relationship with God.

Let me tell you something. Your redemption, your success, your victory, is not up to him or those who follow him.

Let me read the passage is started with again and add a couple of more verses to it from the message Bible.

I Peter 5:8-11 Message

Keep a cool head. Stay alert. The Devil is poised to pounce, and would like nothing better than to catch you napping. Keep your guard up. You’re not the only ones plunged into these hard times. It’s the same with Christians all over the world. So keep a firm grip on the faith. The suffering won’t last forever. It won’t be long before this generous God who has great plans for us in Christ—eternal and glorious plans they are!—will have you put together and on your feet for good. He gets the last word; yes, he does.

Why not let God have the glory for the work He does in you today.

Anybody can talk about sins, faults, and failures.

I am here to talk about love, forgiveness, redemption, victory and the great and wonderful grace of God.

Tags: Church, individual, potential, sin