As Christians, we are to keep a burden for sinners. Sometimes it can be someone close to us as well. You want to tell them about Jesus, what he has done for you, what he has brought for you, and most importantly, that he CAN save them. I know it can be tough finding words and verses to tell them that will plant the seed of conviction in them that will eventually lead them to accepting Christ. A good knowledge (some) of the bible is something that can help to no end in situations like this. Romans road is one of the common ways that you can use through scripture to lead someone to accepting Christ. If you want a burden for someone you love, imagine them, and read this verse in the bible :
Luke 16:23 - And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.
He closed his eyes in death, and lifted them in hell. If you truly care for someone, and their soul is of your concern, you will be burdened for them when you read this. Around 200,000 people die every day from various causes and surely you don't want your friends, family, people you work with, church family, or anyone else you care for to die and go to hell.
I don't mean to offend anyone with this post, but I want to assure you that hell is a real place that sinners who die without Christ go every single day. I have people on my heart that when I see how they live and how they believe, it pains me to think that they are on the road straight to eternal torment when salvation is a free gift that keeps them from burning.
Hebrews 9:27 - And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgement...
All honor and glory to the Lord
Amen
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
Sunday, April 10, 2011
Spiritual Warfare
Temptation is everywhere. Looking for you, to devour you and destroy your life. The devil is NOT your friend, not at all. When temptation comes, you need to be spiritually ready.
Tempter (Satan) is in italics. Jesus's response is in bold.
Matthew 4:1-11 - Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil. And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungered. And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread. But he answered and said, It is written, MAN SHALL NOT LIVE BY BREAD ALONE, BUT BY EVERY WORD THAT PROCEEDETH OUT OF THE MOUTH OF GOD. Then the devil taketh him up in the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple, And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, HE SHALL GIVE HIS ANGELS CHARGE CONCERNING THEE: AND IN THEIR HANDS THEY SHALL BEAR THEE UP, LEST AT ANY TIME THOU DASH THY FOOT AGAINST A STONE. Jesus said unto him, It is written again, THOU SHALT NOT TEMPT THE LORD THY GOD. Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them; And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me. Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, THOU SHALT WORSHIP THE LORD THY GOD, AND HIM ONLY SHALT THOU SERVE. Then the devil leaveth him, and, behold, angels came and ministered unto him.
Perfect example. Scripture can easily help you avoid the tempter if you know it. The conversation between the devil and Jesus is a great example of how to use scripture to keep temptation away from you.
Deuteronomy 8:3 - And he humbled thee, and suffered thee to hunger, and fed thee with manna, which thou knewest not, neither did thy fathers know; that he might make thee know that man doth not live by bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the LORD doth man live. (1st temptation)
Deuteronomy 6:16 - Ye shall not tempt the LORD your God, as ye tempted him in Massah. (2nd temptation)
Deuteronomy 6:13 - Thou shalt fear the LORD thy God, and serve him, and shalt swear by his name (3rd temptation)
All scriptural references that the devil was trying to get Jesus to break. There are many more than that found throughout your bible. A good knowledge of scripture is very handy when temptation is calling due to the fact that you can tell yourself (and the tempter) the verse(s) in which the bible says that you are to avoid that situation. It can save a lot of heartache & hard times in your spiritual life. And, by the way, we can't physically fight the devil ourselves :
Jude 9 - Yet Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil he disputed about the body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke thee.
Temptation is at every corner. It is waiting to destroy you at a moments notice, take away your joy, destroy your friendships, destroy your ministry, even physically & mentally destroy you. Get in your bible. Study it, and keep yourself from temptation & sin.
Psalm 119:11 - Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.
All honor and glory to the Lord
Amen
Tempter (Satan) is in italics. Jesus's response is in bold.
Matthew 4:1-11 - Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil. And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungered. And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread. But he answered and said, It is written, MAN SHALL NOT LIVE BY BREAD ALONE, BUT BY EVERY WORD THAT PROCEEDETH OUT OF THE MOUTH OF GOD. Then the devil taketh him up in the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple, And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, HE SHALL GIVE HIS ANGELS CHARGE CONCERNING THEE: AND IN THEIR HANDS THEY SHALL BEAR THEE UP, LEST AT ANY TIME THOU DASH THY FOOT AGAINST A STONE. Jesus said unto him, It is written again, THOU SHALT NOT TEMPT THE LORD THY GOD. Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them; And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me. Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, THOU SHALT WORSHIP THE LORD THY GOD, AND HIM ONLY SHALT THOU SERVE. Then the devil leaveth him, and, behold, angels came and ministered unto him.
Perfect example. Scripture can easily help you avoid the tempter if you know it. The conversation between the devil and Jesus is a great example of how to use scripture to keep temptation away from you.
Deuteronomy 8:3 - And he humbled thee, and suffered thee to hunger, and fed thee with manna, which thou knewest not, neither did thy fathers know; that he might make thee know that man doth not live by bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the LORD doth man live. (1st temptation)
Deuteronomy 6:16 - Ye shall not tempt the LORD your God, as ye tempted him in Massah. (2nd temptation)
Deuteronomy 6:13 - Thou shalt fear the LORD thy God, and serve him, and shalt swear by his name (3rd temptation)
All scriptural references that the devil was trying to get Jesus to break. There are many more than that found throughout your bible. A good knowledge of scripture is very handy when temptation is calling due to the fact that you can tell yourself (and the tempter) the verse(s) in which the bible says that you are to avoid that situation. It can save a lot of heartache & hard times in your spiritual life. And, by the way, we can't physically fight the devil ourselves :
Jude 9 - Yet Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil he disputed about the body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke thee.
Temptation is at every corner. It is waiting to destroy you at a moments notice, take away your joy, destroy your friendships, destroy your ministry, even physically & mentally destroy you. Get in your bible. Study it, and keep yourself from temptation & sin.
Psalm 119:11 - Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.
All honor and glory to the Lord
Amen
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