Sunday 07/16/17
Series: Doers of the Word
Message – Relationship
*** Handout Questions & Assignment ***
Relationship
This week we are going to do three things in this message…
- Review the 3 major points from last week
- Introduce 2 new passage and one point
- Present a challenge and assignment
As we learned last week, many Christians believe that spiritual warfare works completely different than it really does and their expectations sets the pace for their Spiritual Development in relationship with God.
God does not run around after the devil visits a Christian Life trying to clean up after his mess. On the contrary it is the devil who comes to try to mess up what God has deposited in His children.
God reveals truth to us and Satan challenges it!
Satan tries to…
- prevent it taking root
- bearing fruit
- at least only sparse and immature fruit.
In short, satan is looking to stop the advancement of relationship with God. A relationship of knowing and trusting is the most dangerous thing in existence to the devil!
The strength God offers arises from within… It infuses itself into us enabling us to combat the deception & lies…the Arguments, of the enemy.
This is even stated indirectly in James 4:4-10,
“4. Adulterers! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.
5 Or do you think that the Scripture says in vain, “The Spirit who dwells in us yearns jealously”?
6 But He gives more grace.This is often seen as meaning “more grace” relative to the devils attack… Like God is playing catch up… But it means additional grace. More than what you had initially.
Therefore He says: “GOD RESISTS THE PROUD, BUT GIVES GRACE TO THE HUMBLE.”
7 Therefore submit to God (submit to strength) . Resist the devil and he will flee from you.
8 Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.
9 Lament and mourn and weep! Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom.
10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.”
Spiritual warfare is anything that hinders the progress of Christ’s reign in our hearts. It is temptation towards disloyalty in our relationship with God and nothing generates more opportunities for disloyalties than indifference.
This is one reason Jesus made SO much of love in terms of our relationship with God and our siblings in Christ!
Love God and Love your brother = fulfilling the TOTALITY of the law!
Remember satan’s attacks are ALL against God’s words TO YOU and they are designed to…
- prevent those words from taking root
- From bearing fruit
- Or at least only sparse and immature fruit.
Last week we concluded with Rom. 5:1-5 & 2 Cor. 5
Rom. 5:1-5, “(1) Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, (2) through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. (3) And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; (4) and perseverance, character; and character, hope. (5) Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.”
2Cor. 5:1-14, “(1) For we know that if our earthly house, this tent, is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. (2) For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed with our habitation which is from heaven, (3) if indeed, having been clothed, we shall not be found naked. (4) For we who are in this tent groan, being burdened, not because we want to be unclothed, but further clothed, that mortality may be swallowed up by life. (5) Now He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who also has given us the Spirit as a guarantee. (6) So we are always confident, knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord. (7) For we walk by faith, not by sight. (8) We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord. (9) Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to Him. (10) For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad. (11) Knowing, therefore, the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are well known to God, and I also trust are well known in your consciences. (12) For we do not commend ourselves again to you, but give you opportunity to boast on our behalf, that you may have an answer for those who boast in appearance and not in heart. (13) For if we are beside ourselves, it is for God; or if we are of sound mind, it is for you. (14) For the love of Christ compels us, because we judge thus: that if One died for all, then all died;”
From these two passages we concluded these three things…
This week I am only adding TWO passages and then a challenge….
1Jn. 3:1-3, “(1) Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. (2) Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. (3) And everyone who has this hope continually set on Him is constantly purifying himself just as He is pure .”
1Jn. 4:16-19, “(16) And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him. (17) Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world. (18) There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love. (19) We love Him because He first loved us.”
We have spent a LOT of time learning about…
- Being a Doer
- Bearing fruit
- Spiritual warfare
But what difference has it actually made in your walk and relationship with God?
If you are NOT the better for having heard, then the Word has had NO effect! WHY?
*** Handout Questions & Assignment ***
We will pick up here next week…Blessings!
I hope this teaching will challenge you and encourage you to place your trust in the Lord Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord.
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Blessings!