20150814 DO I AGREE WITH GOD ABOUT SIN?

RESCUE US

Matthew 6:13 And don't let us yield to temptation, but rescue us from the evil one. [For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.]

Note: The words that are gray up above are in some manuscripts, but not in others. The NLT and other translations point this out. Since I’m using the NLT with permission I left the words as they have them.

Here Jesus teaches us to pray for protection, for rescuing from sin and the evil one. [1^st Attitude] When temptation comes do you immediately look to your Heavenly Father for assistance? Do you ask Him to help you make the right choice? [2^nd Attitude] Or do you start weighing the consequences if you give in? Do you look around to see if anyone is watching? Can you get away with this sin and not get caught?

I’ve heard it said that the strength of one’s character can be measured by what he does when no one is watching. But, God is always watching. He does not sleep, nor does He slumber.

The 2^nd Attitude above shows a heart that has not fully agreed with the Heavenly Father about sin and therefore has not fully repented. Sin is what got Adam and Eve kicked out of the Garden of Eden. Sin is what separated us from the Father. Sin is what made us in need of a Savior. Sin is what would send us to a devil’s hell. Sin, our sin is what Jesus took upon himself on the cross of Calvary. He died to pay the penalty for our sin, and to set us free from the law of sin and death. He gave us victory over sin, Satan and death. He didn’t do all this for us to continue to walk in sin. His desire is that we would be a light to the rest of the people in the world who don’t yet know Him.

“Why so hard on sin, preacher?” Because sin will always take you farther than you want to go, cost you more than you want to pay and keep you longer than you want to stay. That is not just some cute saying that preachers spout to get more “AMENS”. I have seen the devastation in the eyes of spouses who’ve been cheated on. I have heard the desperation and unbelief in the voices of children who grew up being abused. I have sat in a locked room on the other side of a table from a prisoner caught with drugs, or caught driving under the influence. I’ve watched them weep over the lost opportunities with their children and spouses. I’ve sat with the family members of one who paid the ultimate price for his or her sin and wondered, “Where do I find strength and hope to offer this family?”

Jesus wasn’t just looking for something else to add to a short prayer. He knows the hearts of men. He saw the struggles we deal with. He was tempted in every way like we are and yet He did not sin. In the garden of Gethsemane He told Peter to pray so that he wouldn’t give into temptation. See Matthew 26:41.

James tells us, James 4:7 So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

He doesn’t suggest we have a conversation with the tempter. No, the instructions are to 1) humble ourselves before God and 2) resist the devil. The result is that Satan will flee. It is imperative that we are humble before God and that means that we agree with Him fully. We agree that He is right about sin and therefore we look to Him for help in defeating it in our lives daily, moment by moment. Then we will not be looking around for a way to sin and not get caught. We will quickly say, “NO” to sin and the devil.

Someone put it like this, “When Satan comes knocking ask Jesus to answer the door.”

Heavenly Father, don’t let us yield to temptation and please deliver us from the evil one. Thank You for the promises in Your Word that You will indeed help us and that the evil one will indeed flee. In Jesus Name, AMEN!!!

WORSHIP THE LORD AND TELL SATAN TO GET LOST

WORSHIP THE LORD AND TELL SATAN TO GET LOST

(Matthew 4:10)  "Get out of here, Satan," Jesus told him. "For the Scriptures say, 'You must worship the LORD your God and serve only Him.'"

Satan here tempted Jesus with another short cut. He was made prince of this world when Adam bowed to him and his temptation in the Garden of Eden. So, what he was offering Jesus was indeed his to offer for the time being. But the offer was a short cut that would have ended any hope of our salvation. God’s plan was for Jesus to beat Satan at the cross by paying the penalty for our sin.

Jesus’ response is to answer again with scripture which is a good reason for us to be as familiar with the Word of God as possible. Read it. Think about it and memorize it.

His response, “'You must worship the LORD your God and serve only Him.’”, goes along with (Exodus 20:3) "You must not have any other god but Me.” And (Deuteronomy 6:13a) “You must fear (reverence or worship) the LORD your God and serve Him.”

On this topic of worshiping only God I like what John Piper says.

“Q 4: Is God an idolater?

A: No. He has no other gods before him.

This is not megalomania because, unlike our self-exaltation, God’s self-exaltation draws attention to what gives greatest and longest joy, namely, himself. When we exalt ourselves, we lure people away from the one thing that can satisfy their souls—the infinite beauty of God. When God exalts himself, he manifests the one thing that can satisfy our souls, namely, God.

Therefore, God is the one being in the universe for whom self-exaltation is the most loving act, since love labors and suffers to enthrall us with what is infinitely and eternally satisfying, namely, God. Therefore, when God exalts God and commands us to join him, he is pursuing our highest, deepest, longest happiness. This is love, not megalomania.”

http://www.desiringgod.org/conference-messages/why-god-is-not-a-megalomaniac-in-demanding-to-be-worshiped

The other thing Jesus said to Satan is, "Get out of here, Satan," which is a good strategy for us whenever temptation arises. James tells us, (James 4:7) “So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” Thus I give you this advice, humble yourself to God first, and worship Him first. This will make resisting the enemy easier. Someone once said, “When temptation comes knocking at your door, ask Jesus to answer it.”

Note that Jesus did not argue with Satan. He stated the facts and told him to get lost. It will do me and you no good to carry on a conversation with the evil one. He is smarter than either of us and has a way of clouding our judgment if we give him much time to do so. Therefore, act fast in worshiping God, in fact, make that a daily, moment by moment practice so you are always ready to tell Satan to get lost.

Father in heaven, may we live our lives in a state of constant worship, awe and wonder of You. May the enemy find it hard to speak to us because our hearts, minds, souls and strength are always focused on You. In Christ Jesus holy name we pray, AMEN!!!