MC Sermon - 2/20/22
Intro. Many within the church are being distracted by what is going on around them. The distraction disrupts the pursuit of the purpose of our journey. This then leads to discouragement which leads to destruction.
The Results: Many Christians live a life governed by the philosophy of ‘what is the use‘ or ‘it is what it is’. Neither is conducive to spiritual growth or victorious living but in reality produce a life of bondage and deception.
In truth what we are experiencing is what Solomon shed light upon in the Song of Solomon 2:15, “Take us the foxes, the little foxes, that spoil the vines; for our vines have tender grapes.”
The reality of it is simple…it isn’t the big bad sins that cause most people to fall away it is the little overlooked things in our lives that control and rule us but seldom ever get our attention. What must be recognized today is that the ‘little foxes’ are the strongholds in our lives that cause us to live a see-saw type of Christian life; Not up long enough to enjoy the view…neither down long enough to be concerned. What I want each to know today is this is not God’s will. John 8:36, clarifies God’s will for us, “If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.” Are you living the ‘free indeed’ life? If not…why not? Is it possible the un-admitted strongholds in your life have controlled you so long until a life of bondage has become your accepted way of life. If so…today is the day you need to break free and begin to declare that by the grace and goodness of God “I Will Be Free…I Will Be Free…I Will Be Free At Last” and then you will be able to shout, “I Am Free…I Am Free…I Am Free At Last!” How can you do it? Accept and embraced knowledge. John 8:32, “And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”
The Truth - We Are In A War Not A Popularity Contest: A war whose outcome will determine whether we will go in the rapture are remain behind to witness the wrath of God being poured out upon remaining humanity. A war that is being fought very subtle and without a lot of visible bloodshed.
Christians are quietly and beguilingly being drawn away from a Biblical foundation that will enable them to withstand the stormy winds that are ahead. The words of II Tim. 3:5 are unfolding before us, “Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof:”. We have a lot of form and formality…a lot glitz and glamor…a lot of theatrical light shows in the church today but ‘WHERE IS THE POWER?”
You, I, can win this war for God has given us the power and the authority to do so. It hinges on the words of Isa. 19:1-2, “If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land: But if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be devoured with the sword: for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it."
Learn & Live: II. Cor. 10:”3-4, “For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh. 4 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;” (Stronghold - a place that has been fortified so as to protect it against attack; a place where a particular cause or belief is strongly defended or upheld.)
Eph. 6:10-12, “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. 11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.”
The Little Foxes, Gal. 5:16-21, “I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness (morally, spiritually impure), lewdness (indecency or obscenity; vulgar sexual character or behavior:), idolatry, sorcery (magic, witchcraft), hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.” (Practice=the customary, habitual, or expected procedure or way of doing something.)
Conc. Matt. 24:13, “But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.”
Endures - “to remain firm in a commitment to be true to the commandments of God despite temptation, opposition, and adversity.”
Endurance is and always will be necessary for us to complete and win what is set before us.
