ARE YOU READY TO STAY PURE? DAN 1:8
PREPARE YE THE WAY OF THE LORD
GOD SEEKS WORSHIPERS, NOT JUST WORSHIP
OUR WORSHIP PART II.
SIN-CONFESS-RESIST.
My little children, I am writing these things to you that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous (1 John 2:1).
People who are caught in the sin-confess-sin-confess-sin-confess cycle eventually begin to lose hope that they can experience any real victory over sin. Sheer willpower can't keep them from repeating the sin they just confessed, and Satan pours on the condemnation. Self-control seems like an illusion, and the Christian life is one of unending ups and downs.
Suppose there is a door you are commanded not to open. On the other side of the door is a dog that keeps insisting, "Come on, let me in. Everybody is doing it. You deserve to have a little fun. Who will know? You can get away with it." So you open the door and the dog roars in and bits you on the leg. Ironically, the dog instantly changes its story: "You opened the door. I have a right to be here. You'll never get away with this!" If such a thing happened, would you beat on the dog or on yourself?
Sin, which is allowed to reign, is like the dog that bits you on the leg and won't let go. Not realising there is a dog, you beat on yourself for leaving the door open and cry out to God for forgiveness. He forgives you, but the dog is still there. Why not cry out to God and beat on the dog instead of yourself? James 4:7 tells us, "Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you."
We are correct in confessing our sin, but we have failed to follow the complete biblical formula, which breaks the cycle: sin-confess-resist. We must first assume our responsibility for opening the door, then we must resist Satan and command him to leave if we are going to experience victory over sin. We live as though God and a sick humanity are the only realities in the spiritual realm. We must turn to our righteous Advocate (1 John 2:1) and resist our perverted adversary if we are to experience victory and freedom over temptation and sin.
Pray this affirmation of faith with me:
Lord Jesus, show me where I have opened the door of my life to sin that I may confess it to You and command Satan to leave in Your precious name. Amen
MISPLACED WORSHIP
Worship is misplaced when people revere the sanctuary. How can you tell when this is happening? You can tell when people fight over pews, get upset over the P.A. system or argue over material things at the church.
Worship is also misplaced if people adore a person, such as a pastor, music leader or other type of minister instead of God. When people find out their pastor or music leader is not perfect and they leave the church, then where was their focus? We need our people to understand they are not to place their focus on a person, pastor, and minister of music or church leader. We are not worthy of worship.
Worship is misplaced if people clamor for power on committees, value absolute perfection in administration or care more about church programs than giving reverence to God. When people are focused on things rather than the Lord Jesus Christ, it is our responsibility to teach them what it means to truly worship the Lord. The devil is working overtime in getting our people to misplace their worship.
It is for this reason that Christ Jesus Came to DIE. The other time Paul said: Let's forget about the basic things and move into maturity, crave for solid foods instead of milk. Let's rise up people of God and be WORSHIPERS, rather than craving for positions and lordship. Stop complaining and murmuring and do what is expected of you.
INTERESTINGLY
God calls all men to come unto him and reason together with him. Are you ready to reason with the Lord?I AM READY what about YOU
