Crunch Time Has Arrived!
When God seems the closest, Satan is nearer
This could be a depressing post, I will tell you this upfront. This has probably been one of my more, up and down weeks. Things this semester have been great, awesome even. Things have had some bumpy edges though. Something in ministry I have known to realize is that when God seems like he is as close to you as possible, Satan with his big "Temptation Pizza" shows up on the door step.
I suppose that you can all relate to my situation, although I have almost become numb to the pain of my hurts, my emotional aches and scars. This is where things are sad. Classes this semester have been great, friends are awesome too and everything new and most of all you are looked to for once.
All great, but here are the disadvantages....It seems that things can be easily used as distractions or temptation to forget the purpose you are out to achieve. This week has been a real test of Faith in my life. There are things on my mind about my home situation, friends that are sick or maybe even dying, dreams that have allowed me to wonder, compiled emotion of tension, challenges which have made me ask the question... Why am I here?
This semester I have been told on a couple of occasions, that I am considered innocent....sure I will take that, but perhaps I am not. Satan has taken me when God has been closest and tried to distract me.
There is truly a spiritual battle at work in our lives, especially when we find God and have Him closest. Satan will try his hardest to get a foothold on us, but we must not allow him in to make our faith waiver. Satan will try throwing failing papers at you, he will try making you curse at a neighbor, he will try putting things in your face that will make you think falsly of someone or about someone.
When God is close, Satan gets closer.... Let this not scare you though.
1 Corinthians 10:13
13No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.
God will not allow Satan to tempt us beyond what we can bear. I recall an occasion when Jesus was tempted, after His baptism. He was taken to the dessert and put face to face with Satan. Satan challenged Jesus' Faith, offering Him all of the kingdoms of the world, along with other things, if He had fallen to the will of Satan. Christ did not give in to Satan, but He knew God was there, He knew what God's word taught and He knew that the power of God would overcome all.
We are a fallen people and no matter how hard we try, we will be tempted by Satan, but we must remember this:
Ephesians 2:1-8
1As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, 2in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. 3All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature[a] and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath. 4But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. 6And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, 7in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. 8For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—
We were dead in our transgressions and God made us alive in Christ. When we are tempted, let us remember that we our God's people, that God cares for us and when we are hurt inside or falling on hard times, that we are a fallen people, who are serving a risen Lord! I can endure through all, from the knowing that Christ is here for me, in my life, through all things. God Is Good.
James 1:1-7
2Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. 4Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. 5If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. 6But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. 7That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord;
Sorry Dave, its another Sermon, but I feel that the words must be said. In closing, let us not let our Faith linger by temptation, let us not be dead in transgression, but let us, be Alive In Christ Jesus, and endure, as His Love has endured to Us. Amen!
posted by Darrell @ 6:36 PM
Comments: 3
