I am the crafty serpent, a beautiful creature in my un cursed state more subtle then any other who beguiled Eve in Genesis 3:1 and brought untold, uncounted misery to all mankind through this first of a countless number of lies. I am the pride of life in unholy Cain that took Abel’s life in Genesis 4:8 and caused the first innocent blood to be shed on this newly sin cursed world. Do you think you are you are a worthy adversary for me Christian? I caused almost the entire population of Noah’s time to be deceived and then destroyed in Genesis 6:7. Eight people survived! Only eight people were found to be worthy of escaping the judgment I caused to come on the earth. I have had thousands of years to hone my craft, I am more then a worthy adversary for any man. I whispered in unholy Haman’s ear in Esther 3:6 that why be happy with only killing righteous Mordecai, why not kill his whole race, the Jewish people, and I nearly succeeded. There would come another many years later in the spirit of Haman, Adolf Hitler. You know what I was able to accomplish through him, at least six million Jews killed and my anti christ kingdom was nearly established. Through my cunning the quote, un quote “Christian” nation of Germany at that time was seduced into believing I was leading them into a righteous, glorious future. Look what it brought them, death and destruction, my calling cards. Are you any better “Christian” America? Your fate is sealed. You go on about your daily business as if there is no blood on your hands, but I’ve made sure that is not the case. For you see, just as I deceived the children of Israel into causing their children to “pass through the fire” in Ezekiel 20:31, America you have been doing the same and worse for many years now. Yes America you have been causing your children to “pass through the fire” of abortion at the rate of 1.6 million children a year for quite some time, all in the name of the god of convenience, another of my many titles. Your sin far exceeds Nazi Germany and the children of Israel of times of old. Do you think you are a worthy adversary for me? I already own you America! Your righteousness is as filthy rags. The time will come when you will be judged and found wanting, then I will be waiting for you, to welcome you into my kingdom. Why do you suppose that when the Savior of Mankind walked the earth he spoke as much or more of my kingdom then he did of his own? He knew. He knew that I am more then a worthy adversary for any of his children. Why do you suppose that in Matthew 7:13-14 this same Savior spoke of the way to His Kingdom being a narrow gate, with few finding it and the way to my kingdom being a broad gate with many going in there at? He knows. He knows I am a cunning and subtle adversary and that most of my victims are mine before they even realize it. Why do you suppose that in Matthew 24:24 this same Savior of mankind warned of my false christs and false prophets to come, that they would perform great miracles and very nearly deceive you Christians. He knew. It is nearly time for me to once again raise up my answer to the Savior of mankind, and when I do, you Christians had better be on your very best guard or, well you know by now# you will never face a more worthy adversary then me.
End of story.
Please understand the reason for this story, it is not to bring out any kind of glory for the enemy. We know the evil one’s fate, scripture makes that clear. But the reason is to show that we must not play with sin, we cannot afford to pay the price for trying to straddle the fence. To see how close we can live to the world, yet still be one of God’s children.
The point of this story is that we must always strive to do what is best in Christ’s sight at ALL times! It is not okay to dabble with sin, even just a little. Sin will get on you, like stepping in mud, once its on you its only going to spread. The more you try to wipe it off the more covered in it you become. We must strive to walk in holiness, we must listen AND obey when God’s Holy Spirit speaks to us and seeks to counsel us. Most of the time we just are not willing to pay the price spiritually to walk in total obedience to the Lord. I say again! Most of the time we just are not willing to pay the price spiritually to walk in total obedience to the Lord.
Zechariah 7 verses 8-14 says
8 And the word of the LORD came again to Zechariah: 9 "This is what the LORD Almighty says: 'Administer true justice; show mercy and compassion to one another. 10 Do not oppress the widow or the fatherless, the alien or the poor. In your hearts do not think evil of each other.' 11 "But they refused to pay attention; stubbornly they turned their backs and stopped up their ears. 12 They made their hearts as hard as flint and would not listen to the law or to the words that the LORD Almighty had sent by his Spirit through the earlier prophets. So the LORD Almighty was very angry. 13 " 'When I called, they did not listen; so when they called, I would not listen,' says the LORD Almighty. 14 'I scattered them with a whirlwind among all the nations, where they were strangers. The land was left so desolate behind them that no one could come or go. This is how they made the pleasant land desolate.'
" Have we made our “pleasant land”, our Church desolate through our sin? I am afraid we have.
We are no better today, the Lord speaks to our hearts and we plug up our ears and turn our backs and pretend we did not hear, or just as bad the Lord speaks and we just ignore him totally. No wonder we go on and on in the same ruts, without our prayers being answered.
Zechariah 7 13 " 'When I called, they did not listen; so when they called, I would not listen,' says the LORD Almighty.
There is a phenomenon called “male selective hearing” you guys know what it is. When your wives ask you to do something, its like you just did not quite hear it right, so its okay to act like nothing was said at all and go about your business. I would submit to you that when it comes to listening to the Holy Spirit speak to our hearts this is a phenomenon that is not limited to the male of the species only but it is just as prevalent in women too.
We cannot afford to play with sin, the price is to great. Jesus said in Matthew 1230"He who is not with me is against me, and he who does not gather with me scatters.
When we continue in unrepentant, willful sin I submit to you that we are among those who scatter, we find ourselves working against the Lord and not for him. We must put away our childish, selfish sins and do all we can for the Lords work.
A huge part of this willful sin problem concerns our tongues. A huge part...
James 3 verses 5-10 says:
Likewise the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. 6The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole person, sets the whole course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell. 7All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and creatures of the sea are being tamed and have been tamed by man, 8but no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. 9With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God's likeness. 10Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing.
James 5 verse 12 says it this way:
12Above all, my brothers, do not swear--not by heaven or by earth or by anything else. Let your "Yes" be yes, and your "No," no, or you will be condemned.
Jesus said in Matthew 5 verse 37 Simply let your 'Yes' be 'Yes,' and your 'No,' 'No'; anything beyond this comes from the evil one.
How many times this week have you allowed the evil one to complete your sentences? I’m speaking to myself in this as well. God has put a huge amount of responsibility on our shoulders, I should say our tongues. James tells us we can bless or curse with it. I submit to you that being creatures created in Gods image we have with our tongues the power to create or destroy, to help to gather or to scatter, to build up or tear down. The choice is ours. Do we build up our Church, our part of the body of Christ or do we tear it down?
One more thing I would like to touch on tonight that we are severely lacking in our Church. Holiness and reverence. If we are ever to move forward we must get back to Holiness and reverence in this Church. We and our children disrespect God during our services. These are the kind of things that just should not be happening. Holiness and reverence. We’ve got to get back to them.
I shared this quite a few years ago at Abundant Life Church, Exeter, Ca. It seemed relevant and worth sharing considering the times we are living in, God Bless!
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