THE WORLD, THE FLESH, AND THE DEVIL

"For everything in the world the craving of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does comes not the Father but from the world.
1John2:16

Look closely at this verse. How would you sum up the craving of sinful man? With one word: lust. And what about the lust of his eyes? That's envy. And boasting is just another word for pride. They say that virtually every kind of sin can be traced to those  three villains lust, envy and pride
       So how us the battle against those opponents going for you today? Maybe you are toying with daydreams and imagining yourself in the arms of someone forbidden. Perhaps envy is enticing you to spend beyond your mean in order to keep pace with the neighbors. And pride may be tempting you to run mental movies of past successes.
      Is all this struggling worth the effort? Wouldn't you rather sit ringside and watch someone else go his share of rounds against lust, envy, and pride? Well, if you are wrestling against these villains today, you are in a better state than many who have feeling for the struggle at all. You are in a better condition than those who are stagnated in apathy.
      Bishop Rule has said, " The very fact that the Devil has pinpointed you as his opponent should fill hour mind with hope. For to be at peace with the world, the flesh and the devil is to be at enmity with God."
Lord of the Battle, please fit me for conflict today for I constantly face temptation. Rather than lust, I want to desire You. Instead of envy, may I be jealous for fellowship. Instead if pride, I would rather boast in You Guard me and my loved ones from the world, the flesh, and the Devil.

UNSTOPPABLE

The Lord opened Balaam's eye, and he saw the Angel of the Lord standing in the way.
Numbers 22:31

Under it. Over it Around it. Through it. Nothing will stop from doing it." I often hear people express this kind of attitude when they get an idea or see an opportunity that seems good or profitable. They devote all of their resources getting it done.
      As evidence that this way of thinking may flawed, I call as my witness a donkey a donkey belonging to a man named Balaam.
      Balaam was offered a profitable assignment from neighboring king and he inquired of God for permission to accept it (Num.22). When God said no, the king representatives made better offer Thinking God might change His mind Balaam asked again. God granted permission for Balaam to go with them but with strict conditions. God knew Balaam's heart and was not pleased with him, so He placed His Angel in the way. Balaam couldn't see the Angel but his donkey could. When the donkey refuse to continue, Balaam became angry with the animal for blocking his progress.
      Balaam's story teaches us that not every obstacle is meant to be  overcome. Some are place by God to keep us from doing something foolish.When our plans are hindered, we shouldn't assume that it's Satan trying to stop us. It. Might be God trying to us. It might be God trying to protect us
      Let Your wisdom guide me ever, for I dared not trust my own;
Lead me, in tender mercy,Leave me not to walk alone.
       God is always protecting us even when we don't realize we need it.

God WAITING

The Lord is not slack concerning His promise. . . but is long suffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.
2 Peter 3:9

During the Christmas season we wait. We wait in traffic. We wait in checkout lined to purchase gifts. We wait for family to arrive. We wait to gather around s table filled with our favorite foods. We wait to open presents lovingly chosen.
     All of this waiting can be a reminder to a Christians that Christmas is a celebration of waiting for something much more important holiday traditions. Like the ancient Israelites, we too are waiting four Jesus. Although He already came as the long,-awaited Messiah. He has not yet come as ruler over all the earth. So today we wait for Christ's second coming.
     Christmas reminds us that God also waits. . . He waits for people to see His glory, to admit that they are lost without Him, to say yes to His love, to receive His forgiveness, to turn away from sin. While we wait for His second coming. He waits for repentance. What seems to us like God slowness in coming is instead His patience in waiting (2 Peter 3:9).
      The Lord is waiting to have a relationship with those He loves. He made the first move when He came as baby Jesus and the sacrifice Lamb. Now He waits for us to welcome Him into our lives as Savior and Lord

Not in Word But in Power

For the kingdom of God is not in word but in power.
1 Corinthians 4:20

Christianity is not moral platitudes, lofty intentions, and noble thoughts. The fundamental character of God's kingdom in power. Paul faced constant criticism about his work among the early churches. Some of his detractors would travel to cities such as Corinth and speak expensively about all that Paul was doing incorrectly. At times, peoples in the Churches were enticed to believe the slanderous criticism against the apostle.
     Paul responded with a reminder that the test of a kingdom citizen's authenticity was not the persuasiveness of his words, but the spiritual power of his life. Paul candidly acknowledged that some did not find him eloquent in speech (2cor.10:10). Yet they could not question God's power in his life. He had seen many people converted, and many churches were started through his ministry. He had been used to heal the sick and raise the dead through God's power. Regardless of whether his words were eloquent, they carried spiritual power and authority that came from God.
     You will encounter many people who seek to convince you of their opinions concerning the kingdom of God. They may speak passionately. They may even bring chart and graph to prove their points! But the test of the validity of their words is the spiritual power of their lives. If a person speaks forcefully about a point if doctrine but is habitually sinning, his words are discredited by his life. If a person talks of the power of God but gives no evidence of victory in her life, her word sts empty. It is much easier to talk about the victorious Christian life than it is to live it.
      If you only have the appearance of godliness without any corresponding spiritual power (2Tim3:5), ask God to cleanse you of your sin to fill you with His Spirit so that your life is characterized by power.

HOW TO ENJOY THINGS

As for every man. . . to receive his heritage and rejoice in his labor this is the gift of God.
Ecclesiastes 5:19

In his book Daring to Draw Near, Dr.John White writes that several years earlier God had made it possible for him to acquire a lovely home with many luxuries. His feelings about the house fluctuated dramatically.
     When he reminded himself that it was a gracious gift from God, he felt joy and thankgiving. But when he would begin to compare it with those of his friends, he would feel proud because he had such a fine house and his joy would evaporate. His home would actually become a burden. All he could see were the hedges and trees to care for and the endless odd jobs to do. White said. "While vanity clouds my eyes and burdens my heart, Gratitude's clears my vision and lightens my load."
      The writer of Ecclesiastes saw God at every turn in the enjoyment of material things. The power to eat the fruits if our labors and even the strength to receive and rejoice in them is from Him (5:18-19).
      From beginning to end, all of life is a continuous gift-giving by God. We deserve nothing He owes us nothing. Yet He gives us everything. If we remember this. We need nor feel selfish or guilty. Whatever material blessings we have are the gift from our gracious God. (Philippians 4:8) And always give thank to Him.

Where Are the Simons?

"A certain man from Cyrene, Simon, the father of Alexander and Rufus, was passing by his way in the country, and they forced him to carry the cross."
Mark 15:21

I once read that criminals to be crucified often had to carry to the place of Crucifixion their own cross beam, a piece of wood weight up to fifty pounds. Jesus started out by shouldering His cross, but He had been so weakened from floggings that a passerby named Simon was pressed into service.
     It's interesting to note that Simon was only passing by and that he was forced to carry the cross of Christ. I like to imagine, however, the relief Jesus must have felt after having helped do many others in so many ways, here was a man to help Him!
    Often you'll hear hurting and overburdened people say, "This is the cross I must bear." These dear people need burden bearers. They need help and, in a way, their unspoken plea may be, "Where is my Simon?"
     But who will help? Like Simon, you may see yourself as an innocent passerby being forced into service helping an aunt recovery from a stroke assisting a neighbor who just got out of the hospital lending a hand to a co-worker who recently was diagnosed with a terminal illness.
     And like Simon, the task may take you unaware, your plans may be interrupted, and you may feel put-upon. But as you carry the burden of a hurting friend or family member, you may discover that your attitude will change especially when you sees that smile of relief and gratitude. You'll discover the privilege of being someone's Simon.
     What a privilege it was for Simon to carry Your cross, Lord, In a way, I have the same privilege as I bear the burdens and carry the hurts of Your body, my brothers and sister in Christ. Let me be a Simon to someone today.

The Major Problem with Minor Sins

"No one who lives in him keeps on sinning.No one who continued to sin has either seen him or known him."
1 John 3:16

Sin become a crime, not against law but against love; it means not breaking God's law so much as breaking God's heart."

What hurts me most about sin is not that it breaks God's law but that it break His heart.. Sin is not weakness or a disease. Sin is a mockery of His mercy and a disdain of His love. Sin grieves God.
      That's why our Battle against even minor sins is always major. Our sin is an offense to God. The battle may mean putting a lid on backbiting gossip. No more flirting with your best friend's spouse. No more saying one thing to your Christian friends and quite another to your coworker on the job. It may mean tackling subtle sins curbing your appetite, reining in your daydreams, and ceasing to make copies of cassettes that say, "Unauthorized reproduction. Prohibited.
       Does tackling small sins seem too minor? If so, remember that any sin is a choice to fellowship with the Devil. That's why once the spirit convict s you of some sin. .  .the minor becomes major. Once the spirit convict you of some in. . .the minor become Major.