Trust in God Part 3,4,5,6 Joyce Meyers

Trusting God - Joyce Myers

Great message! Part 1 and 2

Why is Trusting God So Hard?

The Bible says this about trusting God, "Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding" (Proverbs 3:5). Furthermore, it tells us that "He who trusts in himself is a fool. . ." (Proverbs 28:26). Still, most of us have difficulty trusting God at least at one point or another in our walk with Him.

There are probably many reasons why trusting is difficult. God's ways don't always make sense to us. God told Noah to build an ark. It may have never rained up to this point and the nearest body of water was probably many miles away. It could not have made much sense to Noah at all (story found in Genesis 6-8). We want life to make sense. We always want to set our own terms and timetables.

God works on a different timetable than our minds comprehend. God promised Abraham a son from his own body through his wife Sarah. It was at least 24 years before this promise was fulfilled in the manner in which God had promised. In the meantime, Abraham and Sarah had difficulty trusting God and tried their own methods to fulfill the promise (read about this in Genesis 15-17). We want what we want and we want it. . .now! It is difficult to trust in a plan that requires us to surrender all control of the time for completion.

In order to trust in God, you must totally surrender your will, your ideas, your desires, and your future in to God's hands. Many of us are "control freaks." We don't want to give the control of any part of our lives over to another. If you don't believe that God loves you fully and really does have your best interests at heart and desires the very best for you, trusting Him is going to be extremely difficult. It takes a very special relationship to allow that measure of surrender. Most of us have a tendency to claim trust in God. However, at the first sign of any difficulty or trial, we think that God must not love us because He is allowing this difficulty to happen. The trial is exactly what God is using to test the level of trust that we have in Him.

In spite of the trials, we always have God's promise that the trials and tests that we go through are for our good (Romans 8:28, Hebrews 12:2, 2 Corinthians 4:17, James 1:2). We learn that it is through trust that our relationship with God strengthens and our love for Him grows.

We can trust in many things. None, however, offer the protection plan, the long term security, or the benefits that trusting in God offers. All of the other things in which we place our trust can fail. God never fails! In the words of King David, ". . .Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the LORD God, my God, is with you. He will not fail you or forsake you. . ." (1 Chronicles 28:20).

http://www.allaboutlifechallenges.org/trusting-god-faq.htm

Don't Give Up On God

I must say that last week was one of the hardest weeks in my life from an emotional stand point. Our topics for the last few weeks were on faith, disobedience, and resisting temptation. It seemed as though God put me through all that to see if I could practice what I preach. Everything in me knew it was a test, but my days last week just got harder and harder. By Friday I was to the point where it was too hard to pray and it seemed as though my biggest enemy was God Himself. I remember sitting staring aimlessly into the sky wondering "what's really going on?". I remember hearing God say "Trust me".
I wish I could write ... "at that very moment, I cast all my worries aside and trust God for all the He can do in my life".... NO. The story didn't quite go that way. Actually, I did suck it up and reluctantly said "ok God, I trust you." I had the tone of a skeptic. The week's events clouded everything that God has done for me and was doing for me in my life. I couldn't see pass my dwindling bank account. I couldn't see pass the road blocks I kept running into with this month's Jesus Cousin outreach, nor could I see pass the stress I was enduring working with the kids. Really, I couldn't see pass ME. Yet, I still "trusted".
Going into the weekend, I was due in Atlanta for a private performance for an A&R. The week had took a toll on me and by the time I was suppose to leave, I didn't want to go. I was exhausted, I had no fight left in me. Then I heard God again saying "trust me". By this time God is all I had to hold on to, by this time he was my only hope. I gathered myself, prayed, and went. It was pouring raining the whole time. I wanted to turn back, but I kept going. Finally I arrived and was able to perform. The show went well and I impressed the A&R. With the feedback I received, the trip was worth it.
I believe Satan was doing his best to keep me from receiving my blessing. I believe God allowed it just to see if I could be pushed to a point where I would give up on him. I with stood the test just as Job did.

Proverbs 3:5
Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;

I couldn't have gotten through this pass week without God. I trusted God to protect me, guide me, and keep me sane. This pass week, I would have truly lost my mind if I did not trust him. Don't ever give up on God because he will not give up on you. Every promise he has made to you, he will full fill them. Trust him and know that He is God and God all by him self.

Tips For Resisting Temptation

Introduction - Fundamental Truths
Since the entrance of sin into the world, a war has been raging in every human heart between the spirit and the flesh. Every person desiring to serve God feels the battle between these two opposing masters. And Satan is always exploiting our physical and emotional desires to sever our relationship with the Lord. "Your iniquities have separated you from your God" (Isaiah 59:2 NKJV). The Bible begins with the serpent tempting Adam and Eve and follows with the world's deterioration. The New Testament begins with Satan tempting Jesus and follows with the world's salvation. When humanity fell after that first subtle temptation in the garden, it lost the pure loving motives with which it had been originally created. Selfishness took its place, and the result has been devastating: death, disease, war, crime, pain-the list goes on.
God has called us to holiness. "But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy" (1 Peter 1:15, 16). But without supernatural aid, men and women are powerless to resist the evil desires and motives of the carnal heart.
Yet God will never ask us to do anything that we are incapable of doing without His help. He has not abandoned His rebellious creation, and He made complete and final provision for its restoration. The purpose of His plan of salvation is to restore within you and me the image of Christ, so that we might be called the sons of God. "According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust" (2 Peter 1:3, 4).
Many believe it is a sin to be tempted. This is not true. The Bible declares, "For we have not an High Priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin" (Hebrews 4:15). Jesuswas tempted in the wilderness, so it can't possibly be a sin to be tempted. Rather, it is a sin to give into temptation. Shakespeare wrote, "Tis one thing to be tempted, Another thing to fall." Christians must not allow the carnal nature to dictate what they do; they must allow the Spirit to direct their path and not the flesh.
If we truly want to follow Jesus, we can choose to resist those actions and thoughts that we know are contrary to His will. Thankfully, through Jesus, God has provided everything we need to successfully resist evil and be overcomers. So we might naturally ask ourselves, "Since I am a follower of Christ, what did Jesus do to resist temptation?" For one thing, He quoted the Bible. Knowledge of His Word makes for the first and best defense against temptation. "Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee" (Psalm 119:11). Second, we need to pray! Even Jesus turned to prayer to resist temptation. "Watch ye and pray, lest ye enter into temptation" (Mark 14:38). I could easily expound on just these two basic points, prayer and the Word, to develop an entire book about fighting temptation. But instead, I want to use these fundamental truths as a foundation to highlight 12 practical keys to resist and overcome temptation. I also want to give you some Bible passages that you might recite, as Jesus did, when you are tempted. I believe this basic biblical ammunition, along with regular and sincere devotions, will mark your path with more consistent victory.

#1 Remember the Reward
"It's easier to endure the darkness when you believe in the approaching day."
I am certain that one reason people are so easily overcome by temptation is that they lose sight of their eternal perspective. If an angel appeared to you right now in all his brilliant glory and said, "Repent! Jesus is coming soon," would it be easier for you to resist temptation—at least for the rest of the day? Sure, because your faith would be strengthened that your reward was real and near.
Hebrews 11:24-26 says, "By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter; Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompense of the reward." Moses was in line to rule Egypt during the zenith of its power and wealth. That position of influence would be a terrible temptation for anyone. But Moses looked to God's eternal reward and was able to resist the devil's temporary earthly treasure. Don't forget the glory God has in store for you. "Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him" (1 Corinthians 2:9). It is so much easier to resist temptation if you believe you are really saved. If you mistakenly think you can work your way into being saved, you will actually erode your ability to resist. But when you believe you are saved, it's a lot easier to behave like a son of God.
"For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us" (Romans 8:18). It's easy to resist a jellybean when you know you are on your way to a feast!

#2 Believe in the Badness of Sin
You also must remember how bad sin is—with or without a reward. Paul says "That sin by the commandment might become exceeding sinful" (Romans 7:13). You need to truly know that sin is very ghastly, and if you need a reminder, go back about 2,000 years ago to Calvary and see what sin did to Jesus. As Christians, we can't embrace sin because it is filthy, ugly, and deadly. Sin caused the death of our beloved Jesus.
The Bible says, "There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was blameless and upright, and one who feared God and shunned evil" (Job 1:1 NKJV). We need go beyond the basic emotion of loving God. Like Job, a part of loving God is hating evil. God wants us to hate sin because He hates it. "Through thy precepts I get understanding: therefore I hate every false way" (Psalm 119:104).
Don't be deceived when the devil tries to portray sin as something desirable and attractive. He's a genius at making something filthy and crooked look clean and harmless. But don't be mislead, because that pretty picture will end up killing you. You need to come to the place where you love God so much that you would rather die than deliberately sin and grieve Him.
"Sin will take you farther than you want to go, keep you longer than you want to stay and cost you more than you want to pay."

#3 Don't Love Money
I could write out a long list of individual temptations, but I've chosen to include money specifically because next to pride, it's the big one. But the money I'm writing about isn't so much about dollar bills as it is about the trap of materialism and power. I believe Christians should work hard, earning and saving and giving as much as they can. Yet there is a constant danger that money could become our god.
"But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition" (1 Timothy 6:9 NKJV). I've seen people make such foolish choices, like gambling away their savings, because they want to get rich quick. They keep yanking the slot-machine lever because the devil tells them that maybe if they drop in just one more quarter, they'll hit it big. Not to mention that they're throwing money away when it could be used for saving souls.
"No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon" (Matthew 6:24). Serving God and your desire for money is impossible. Money is a power, and not all power is bad. Money can be a power to do good or evil—a double-edge sword. We pray in our churchesthat the Lord will bless our needs financially, but we don't want to become slaves to loving money. If your heart is with your money, it can't be with God. God has asked us to be prepared to leave our full nets, tax booth, and houses filled with possessions without looking back. "Remember Lot's wife" (Luke 17:32).

#4 Get Ready to Flee
Few speed records are broken when people run from temptation. Generally, they crawl away from temptation hoping it catches up with them. Sometimes temptation comes through a door we deliberately leave open. Suppose that you accidentally spilled kerosene all over your clothes and somebody nearby lit a match. Where would you go? As far away as you could and as fast as possible! That should be the attitude of a Christian toward temptation. Paul said, "Flee fornication" and "flee from idolatry" (1 Corinthians 6:18; 10:14). So flee from sin, and don't leave a forwarding address.
Don't miss this: When you run from temptation, you head toward God. "Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you" (James 4:7). When you know something is sinful, don't engage or banter with the devil, because he is the master of rationalization—that's how Eve fell!
It breaks my heart when Christians try to justify their sins. There is no limit to the arguments with which the devil can supply you. As soon as you know something is wrong, flee! The bravest man runs from temptation; the fool flirts with it.
You also don't want to wait until you get so old that all those desires of youth fade away and you deceive yourself into thinking you have gained the victory. "And desire fails. For man goes to his eternal home" (Ecclesiastes 12:5 NKJV). Your heart may still be corrupt. Flee now, actively. You must commit yourself to God while you can still experience His renovating grace in your life. Jesus' power is sufficient even for our hot-blooded youth. Remember when Joseph was tempted, he fled from Potiphar's wife (Genesis 39:12).
John Dryden said, "Better to shun the bait than struggle in the snare."

#5 Don't Follow the Crowd
A common reason Christians easily fall into temptation is the reasoning, "Everybody's doing it, so it must be okay." That's the devil's favorite "lemming logic." It's also why Peter denied Jesus. Just a few hours before betraying Jesus, Peter vowed, "Even if I have to die with You, I will not deny You!" (Matthew 26:35 NKJV). And when Peter made that statement surrounded by his friends, he was very sincere. But when Jesus was taken into the judgment hall, it was no longer popular to be with Christ. Peter gathered with Christ's mockers around a campfire, and the longer he stayed, the easier it was to act and talk like Christ's enemies.
By letting the crowd measure our values, we become like the crowd. And the Bible says the crowd is usually wrong. "Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat" (Matthew 7:13). Christians have to think for themselves. They must resist peer pressure—they have to be different. If a billion people believe a lie, it's still a lie.
In the end-times, there's going to be two very religious groups—one with the mark of the beast, the other with the seal of God. The former group will be the larger. Just because a large group of people is being religious, it does not mean it's God's group. Generally, the Bibleís great men and women are the ones standing for right when everyone else is bowing down.
Also keep in mind another reason to not follow the crowd is because the crowd is watching. While you don't want to follow the crowd, you should live a life the crowd can look at. People are more impressed, and many have been converted, when they have seen Christians maintain their faith under pressure. One weak compromising act might spoil an entire lifetime of witness.

#6 Plan to Stay Busy
Hanging behind the check-out register in a Cincinnati candle shop is a large sign that reads: "There is a very good reason for this sign being here and you standing in front of it reading it. It is here to keep you busy. We realize how annoying it can be just standing around doing nothing, trying to find someone to help you. So, we have this sign here for you to read, and hope that by the time you finish reading it one of our salespeople will have found you."
A little later it adds, "P.S. If not, please read this sign again."
Most people hate to be idle because God created us for activity. You've heard the expression, "Idleness is the devil's workshop." That's not a direct Bible quote, but Ezekiel 16:49, 50 comes close. "Behold, this was the iniquity of thy sister Sodom, pride, fullness of bread, and abundance of idleness was in her and in her daughters ... therefore I took them away as I saw good."
The sin of Sodom and Gomorrah wasn't simply perversion and sexual immorality. The valley of Sodom was lush with vegetation and abundant with food. Life was easy for her inhabitants. Lot moved there because it offered him a life of leisure. But when a person doesn't have anything to do, chances are the devil will help the carnal heart to concoct something evil. "Idleness is the parent of all vice."
Sin begins in the human mind, which is designed to concentrate mainly on one thing at a time. If we stay busy, especially focused on doing something good like witnessing or helping the poor, we don't have time to think about evil. E. G. White said, "Strength to resist evil is best gained through aggressive service." One of the ways to stay out of trouble is to be aggressively involved in serving Jesus. After the fall, when God told Adam, "In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread," it was intended to be a blessing for man to stay busy and out of trouble (Genesis 3:19). But an idle person tempts the devil to tempt him.
"See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil" (Ephesians 5:15,16 NKJV). An Italian Proverb adds, "He that labors is tempted by one devil; he that is idle, by a thousand."

#7 Have a Plan!
We often stumble into sin because when we see temptation coming, we just wait like a deer caught in the headlights to see what might happen when it arrives. But it's better to be prepared in advance. Proverbs 22:3 advises, "A prudent man foresees evil and hides himself, but the simple pass on and are punished" (NKJV). A wise man surveys the road for potential trouble. If he spots a band of robbers, he thinks, "I'd better hide or change routes because I don't want to be robbed!" But the fool says, "Wow. I think there are bandits down the road. I wonder what's going to happen when they get here."
Christians will often do that with temptation. We say, "I wonder if I'll be tempted if I watch this program, read this magazine, or drink this stuff." I think it was Ben Franklin who said, "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure." And Jesus said, "And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell" (Matthew 5:29). If you have an area of temptation you know will drag you down, take whatever advance measures of prevention you can, no matter how desperate, to keep from being overcome.
If you are trying to quit smoking, then avoid friends who smoke or places where you are more prone to be tempted. In the very least, plot a way of escape. If your temptation is overeating, make an advance decision to place an appropriate amount of food on your plate and plan to stop when it's gone. Millions nibble their way into sin because they don't think ahead. This leads me to the next point very well. #8 Know Thyself
Alex was trying to save all the pennies he could to buy a new baseball bat, but he had a real struggle. One night as he said his prayers, he fervently requested, "O Lord, please help me save my money for a baseball bat. And, God, don't let the ice cream man come down this street!"
A Spanish proverb instructs, "Be not a baker if your head be of butter."
When someone joins Alcoholics Anonymous, he or she is first supposed to admit to being an alcoholic. This admission can represent a tremendous breakthrough, because the person recognizes their weakness. Likewise, it's one of the first steps in becoming a Christian, to admit that we are a "sin-a-holic."
"If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us" (1 John 1:10). "Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall" (1 Corinthians 10:12). The Bible says that we must not trust in our own strength. We must be very cautious when we begin to think we have a handle on a certain temptation and say, "It won't bother me anymore. I'm strong enough. I've got the victory!" Thatís when we are especially in a position to fall. Some Christians are even proud of the areas they have overcome, but they're only setting themselves up for the devil to knock them down. On the night of His betrayal, Jesus warned Peter: "This night, before the rooster crows twice, you will deny Me three times" (Mark 14:30). But Peter boasted, "If I have to die with You, I will not deny You!" (Mark 14:31). Jesus was warning Peter that he didn't really know how weak he really was.
Even when you're helping somebody else overcome weakness, you need to pray with him or her, but also recognize that you're in danger of making the same mistake. When a rescuer is pulling a person from rushing water, they have to be careful that they don't get pulled in too. So we must always be vigilant to recognize our weakness. "Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted" (Galatians 6:1).
Watch out for temptation—the more you see of it the better it looks!

#9 Overcome Evil with Good
We sometimes leave ourselves wide open to compromise when we fail to fill the vacuum left by forsaken bad habits. I have known people to gain victory over one addiction only to replace it with another because they did not find a positive substitute to fill the vacancy.
"When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places seeking rest; and finding none, he saith, I will return unto my house whence I came out. And when he cometh, he findeth it swept and garnished. Then goeth he, and taketh to him seven other spirits more wicked than himself; and they enter in, and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first" (Luke 11:24-26).
If you are struggling with an eating disorder or food addiction, you can't simply give up eating. The secret is to learn to "eat what is good" (Isaiah 55:2 NKJV). "Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good" (Romans 12:21). If you have a problem nibbling chocolate through the day, buy some grapes or almonds. Have you even thrown away those cigarettes? Get a box of toothpicks or some sunflower seeds (but not chocolates).
If someone has insulted or cruelly used you, do not retaliate with evil but kindness. "If your enemy is hungry, feed him; If he is thirsty, give him a drink" (Romans 12:20 NKJV). Overcome evil with good. When a hawk is attacked by kingbirds, it does not make a counterattack, but soars higher and higher in ever widening circles until the tormentors leave it alone.

#10 Care for Your Health
Temptation often comes not at our strongest moments, but during our weakest. When we are at the limits of our strength, patience, love, and health, we are tempted to be un-Christian. Beware; Jesus' temptation began after 40 days of fasting. He was tired and hungry. When Peter denied Jesus, he was also very tired.
Our ability to resist basic temptations might be greatly influenced by everything from regular exercise, or lack of, to body hormones. Often when we are sick or when our reserves are drained, we react in negative ways. Most marital arguments occur at the end of the day when one or both spouses are tired and hungry. Get enough sleep and eat good food at regular times. One of my favorite authors also advises, "By the indulgence of perverted appetite, man loses his power to resist temptation." Excessive sweets can give you a temporary rush only to be followed by feelings of depression and irritability.
You may not always be able to avoid fatigue or hunger, but if a soldier is passing through a minefield, he is much more careful where he steps. Avoid sensitive discussions or demanding tasks during these volatile times. Jesus said, "The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak" (Matthew 26:41). But that does not mean we should not try to do everything in our power to improve our health and as a result improve our moral resolve. A good night's rest, a little exercise, and nutritious breakfast can make you feel like you're ready to take on Goliath. #11 Recognize Your Escape
When boarding a plane, I make a mental note of emergency exit locations. I'm not paranoid, just prudent. For me, the very best means for overcoming temptation is recognizing that God has provided a way of escape for every one of us. Remember this passage: "There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it" (1 Corinthians 10:13). Now that's some very good news. We don't have to rely on our shaky faith; we can rely on God because He is faithful!
Now when you are tempted, you can say, "God is measuring what He allows the devil to bring against me, and I'm able to handle it with His grace." You never have to say, "I can't bear to resist the devil any longer." By saying that, you'd be calling God a liar!
The Egyptians pursued the children of Israel from behind, and as they fled they also found that mountains were on both sides and river lay in front of them. It seemed like a very hopeless situation. But God had promised that He would be faithful, and He provided a way of escape. The Bible is full of stories like these that seemed hopeless, but God was faithful. And He'll use even dramatic rescue attempts to help you. When it looked like there was no food to feed the crowd following Jesus, God was faithful to bring food even out of heaven for the followers.
So every time you think, "I don't see any way out," remember these stories and make up your mind to trust God and watch for His way of escape. Even with the most devilish temptation at your doorstep, say, "I'm going to trust God. I'm going to do the right thing." God will make an escape for you.

#12 Surviving a Fall
In 1944 over Germany, Flight Sergeant Alkemade jumped from his blazing bomber and fell headlong 18,000 feet. He survived without a scratch because his fall was broken by snow covered fir trees on a slope.
I've saved for last what I believe to be the most important key to overcoming temptation. You already know that Jesus is able to keep you from falling (Jude 1:24). But if you do fall, don't stay down.
If you are in Christ, you have the greatest power to resist wrong. To abide in Him is to abide in His Spirit. Galatians 5:16 says, "Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh." Noah, Enoch, and Abraham walked with God. And you can do the same today by getting on your knees and petition for strength. God will send every angel in heaven to save you from sin, rather than let a trusting child fall when pleading for His help. But we must choose to follow Jesus, rather than the lies of the devil. God has made us free moral agents, and the devil cannot make us sin.
By God's grace, you and I can resist every temptation through His Spirit. But remember that if you do fall, don't give up. Many people who fall down, stay down. They say, "Oh well. I'm lost now; I may as well surrender to every other temptation." God can help you recover lost territory, and He will save you from future temptations. You might need to spend three days sorrowing and searching just like Joseph and Mary when they lost Jesus, but He will be waiting for you in His Father's house.
The devil may dishearten you with his wicked whisperings saying, "I know you! I tempted you, and you did it! You're no good. You call yourself a Christian, but you're just a hypocrite. In fact, you aren't even saved!" But I believe the Christian life is progressive. The Bible promises, "My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sins, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous" (1 John 2:1). If you sin, and we all do, don't give up. If the devil tricks you, and you fall down, don't stay down. Don't let your past failures be an excuse for future compromise. God can help you overcome everything. You just take it one day and one step at a time.

Staying Out of Trouble

Stay out of trouble

First, stay away from sin. Don’t go looking for Satan just to show that you can withstand his wiles. We aren’t supposed to go looking for trouble, jumping off of spiritual cliffs and expecting angels to rescue us. What I recommend is the opposite: Draw boundaries for yourself that keep you away from the danger.

By boundaries, I do not mean that you see how close you can get to sin without actually going over the line. That is stupid, for the simple reason that our strength of resistance varies from time to time. A boundary that may be safe for us one day may be hazardous to us the next, depending on our emotional state. So a boundary, if it’s going to work, has to be set for our weakest moment, not our strongest.

God doesn’t tell us where to put our boundaries, and we all may need slightly different levels of strictness with ourselves. For example, a photo that is sexually suggestive for one person may not even catch the eye of another. Consequently, people have differing ideas of what sort of pictures to avoid. People with a high tolerance should not look down on those with low tolerance—everyone must judge the risk for themselves.

A person with high tolerance should not “push” the boundaries of the other, saying it’s OK, for that might cause the person to sin. The person with high tolerance should also remember that it is dangerous to overestimate one’s strength. Many aspects of society are designed to tempt, so don’t forget that you are human.

Many of us struggle with temptation in the form of calories. Here, we can break our boundaries every now and then and still recover. Many people have trouble with alcohol, and experience has shown that the safest boundary for most is “absolutely none.” The potential danger is high; the benefits are low; it is simply not worth the risk.

Sexual temptations can also be dangerous, because the consequences of sexual sins are severe. We can’t just “recover” a relationship shattered by infidelity. Here, we must set boundaries well away from the danger zone, just to make sure that nothing happens even in our weakest moments.

For example, our pastors have been given a boundary: They cannot counsel a woman alone. Although the chances of improprieties may be slim, the devastating consequences make the risk too great to allow private counseling. And for similar reasons, youth ministry workers are not to be alone with a child. Safety is too important to leave to good intentions and assumptions.

Resisting Sexual Temptation

Hormones are tough to handle. Without being knowledgeable about how hormones actually work, we can state the obvious: that they are a real and powerful part of our human make up. Our sexual hormones, which give us “sex drive”, can make being a Christian very tough at times!

Many of the world’s societies are sex mad. Sexual immorality is everywhere, both visibly and hidden. The prevalence and extent of unchecked sexual activity creates a situation where to be different really makes you stand out from the crowd. Pornography has more and more of a place in many cultures and societies. Also the practice and acceptance of homosexuality is possibly greater now than at any time in history.

Lust and fornication (sex outside marriage) are sinful. In order to resist sexual temptation, the Christian needs to have knowledge of why he or she needs to resist, as well as having the spiritual and emotional strength to make an effective resistance. With God’s help we can resist. If we trust in the truth behind God’s rules about sexual morality, then we have the foundation that we need to make our stand against temptation.

1 Corinthians 10:13 says: “When you are tempted (God) will provide a way out so that you can stand”.

Here are some other scriptures which will help those who are tempted: Psalm 1, Psalm 139:23,24, Matthew 26:41, I Corinthians 10:12-14, Philippians 4:8, James 4:7, II Peter 2:9, II Peter 3:17.

We must trust that God knows what is best for us and that we will ultimately be happiest if we obey Him in this area of sex and sexuality. Indeed, we must comply with God’s will or we will be judged and cut off from Him. The Bible is clear that lust, fornication and adultery are sinful. We can see this in scriptures such as Matthew 5:27,28:

“You have heard that it was said “Do not commit adultery.” But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.”

This verse is followed by a warning that, “it is better to (sacrifice our personal desires and not sin) than for your whole body to be thrown into hell” (verse 29). If we persist in sin we will pay the crushing price of experiencing separation from God.

Resisting Temptations

Neal A. Maxwell once said, "If we entertain temptations, soon they will be entertaining us." As an angel of light, Satan is especially skilled at making sin seem attractive to us. In other words, Satan prefers to employ subtle tactics rather than overt ones because disguised temptations are more effective in deterring and deceiving well-intentioned Christians. In his book Screwtape Letters, C.S. Lewis wrote that from the devil's vantage point "the safest road to Hell is the gradual one--the gentle slope, soft underfoot, without sudden turnings, without milestones, without signposts."

Though it is not a sin to be tempted, it is a sin to give in to temptation. Temptations come to the godly and the sinner alike, but what sets them apart
is not the temptation itself but rather the response to it.

>From Scripture we realize two important principles about temptations. Most importantly, God is not responsible for tempting us because it is against His character to lead anyone into sin. James 1:13-15 says, "When tempted, no one
should say, 'God is tempting me.' For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone, but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death." Thus, it is clear that sin originates both from the yearnings of our sinful nature as well as from the Devil.

Secondly, we see that all temptations can be overcome by the power of God. I
Corinthians 10:13 states that "No 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." To set an example for us on how to overcome sin, Jesus endured temptations of various kinds. Hebrews 4:15 says that "He was tempted in every way just as we are--yet was without sin." Christ demonstrated that sin can only be overcome by prayer, fasting, and studying the word of God. Just like Jesus, the more in tune you become with the word and the ways of the Lord the more apt you are to be able to distinguish His voice from the enemy's in times of crisis.

Though resisting temptation is never easy, God promises to reward us for being obedient. When Potipher's wife pursued an immoral relationship with
Joseph, he immediately fled from her presence. Though he was later thrown into jail because she falsely accused him, God was with him and eventually enabled him to ascend to the second highest position in Egypt. Moses too made a decision that involved temporal sacrifices but eternal rewards. Hebrews 11: 25 says that "He chose to be mistreated along with the people of God rather
than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a short time." As a result, God gave Moses the privilege of witnessing His miraculous hand of blessing for 40 years in the desert.

Temptations comes to all of us on a daily basis but God promises to give you the strength to overcome them. Ask the Lord today to give you discernment so that you can avoid the enemy's pitfalls. God has called you to a life of victory--don't let anything stand in your way!

The Hard Task of Resisting Temptation

The temptation to sin surrounds me daily. If it isn't one thing its another. I find myself constantly praying that I do not fall short of the glory of God. Truth is, every now and then, I do fall. I do surrender to temptation. After each time, I am left feeling horrible and very apologetic. Last week we spoke about disobedience. Disobedience happens when one is unable to resist the temptation to sin. This week we will face temptation head on and learn how to flee in the event it comes knocking at our door.
The stronger my relationship with Christ becomes, the harder Satan tries to break it up. To be completely transparent, I have a boyfriend. We have been together nearly three years. About a year ago we decided that we would live for Christ and we would do what thus says the Lord. This includes refraining from sex until marriage. Together we strive to be a support system for one another to refrain from going against the word of God. We have found other ways other than sex to grow closer to each other and express our affection.
Nevertheless, there are times when it becomes hard to bare. There are times when we both just want to give into sin and satisfy our physical "needs". We don't do it though. We resist it. We remember the God that has been blessing our lives and we remember how God has been blessing our relationship. Its important to us both that we please God.
It isn't easy to maintain that mentality. This week we will explore steps on how to recognize and resist subjecting ourselves to temptation.

Until Next Time...

The Consequence for Those Who Disobey

Disobedience to God: The Consequence for Those Who Disobey

By Leah S. Goldman

At the End of Days, who can say whether God will save only the obedient? I hear what seem to be gunshots a short distance away from my apartment, and here I am thinking, have I been obedient to the Lord? Will I be one of the saved? The Holy Scriptures indicate that if we are obedient, then we shall receive goodness from the Lord, yet in today's society I find it easy to say that we are a civilization that is plagued by disobedience. That being said, we have to thank God for the covenant that exists between humans and God. Luckily, according to the covenant, humanity will never again exterminated, the ultimate consequence of disobedience. So in this sense, what are the consequences of true disobedience if we are promised by God not to be annihilated? The mere threat of extinction is no longer a deterrent to committing acts of great disobedience or transgression. What is the point of God's omniscience and omnipotence, if He will not exact the ultimate consequence of disobedience? Thus, how can we define consequence in the Bible and in our lives? What are the meanings of our small misfortunes and adversities? Is it merely an act of God that allows us to think, breathe, and be, so shouldn't we be obedient? Then I turn to Job. Job was nothing but obedient to the Lord and in return, God accepts a bet from satan and toys with Job and his obedience. The Lord destroyed all that belonged to and all who loved Job. Is it not that our blind obedience is a curse instead of a blessing to be coveted?

In obeying the Lord, there are often times when we stray from what we know is morally just, although we are unsure of what the consequence will be, if any, and thus feel little remorse for our improper actions. In disobeying the Lord, for those that are fearful of His power and ability, it is possible that God can erase your name from The Book of Life, and in return cause your soul to be lost, or discontinued, for eternity. This is a great punishment. Although it seems that one would hardly want to participate in such worldly arrogance knowing the adverse outcome that would surely ensue, the Holy Scripture is filled with rampant transgressions. Disobedience manifests itself in two different ways in the Holy Scripture, and the consequences for these forms of disobedience differ in response and extent due to God's covenant with Noah. In order to be disobedient, one can either defy the innate nature of human obedience and knowledge of God's omnipotence, or one can outwardly disregard God's Decalogue. Without the threat of the ultimate punishment, however, are humans more likely to take liberties, unafraid of the consequences?

However, disobedience, whatever the consequences, is still an act against God and His commandments, and we will later see that disobedience goes so far as to reach the inner depths of one's soul as well. Defiance due to temptation goes hand in hand with rejecting God and His laws too. I propose that disobedience comes in two forms, which are integral to the understanding of God and His will. I will enumerate these two transgressions in just a moment; however, I am obliged to say that the story of Adam and Eve, or "the Fall of Man," correlates perfectly with my theory of disobedience. My presupposition is that God can be disobeyed while simultaneously be disobeying Himself and that if and when God violates His own laws, it is understood that His creations will transgress in effect as well due to the divine interconnection of God and humanity established during creation.

In order to talk about disobedience in the text, we must first describe the manner in which one might disobey. One kind of disobedience is the denial of the innate obedience each human posses as given by God during creation. Another kind of insubordination is the rejection of God's Decalogue, or ten commandments that can be evoked by temptation, and Satan who fashions this temptation. However, both of these types of disobedience revolve around defying God or following Satan. Let us speak then of Satan, whose name in the Old Testament simply means "the adversary," someone who tricks mankind into committing sins. His purpose is to prey on human weaknesses and facilitate our downfall. Satan does not indicate an opposing force to God, because God's power is unparalleled; rather, he is a prosecutor, a trickster who can come in many forms, such as a serpent, and who usually proposes an element of temptation. For example, in the story of Adam and Eve, the serpent comes to Eve as an instigator for the downfall of humankind. The serpent inquires into Eve's knowledge about the Garden of Eden and tempts her to eat of the forbidden fruit, fruit that was forbidden by God. Thus, in order to be disobedient, one must either submit to temptation or commit acts against the commandments of the Lord. In several cases of the biblical text, temptation becomes an overwhelming power that man acquiesces to and that evokes anger in the Lord, who thereafter punishes the transgressors. In the story of Adam and Eve, temptation is a prevalent theme, which results in devastating consequences. These creatures and temptations are symbolic of Satan and display the means by which humans can submit to their weaknesses and disobey the Lord. Another example of Satan in the text would be in the story of Job, where Satan is also a menacing force. One can see in Job that Satan challenges the Lord about Job's obedience and admiration as he undermines at creation's loyalty to God (Job 9). But perhaps, since the Covenant with Noah was already enacted and God promised not to annihilate all of creation, He reasoned that instead of punishing all of creation for being sinful, He would test the faith of one of the most pious remaining men in order to use him as a martyr of sorts. By testing and unjustly punishing the most pious of men, God would be able to retaliate against the Covenant that He made with Noah. In this situation, God is challenging the Devil. Perhaps God asks Satan to find his most loyal servant, Job — "have you considered my servant Job?" — as if God has previously suggested to Satan that Job was the most obedient of all and that his character would not let him stray. If Job did stray, however, this would prove to God that he had done Himself a great injustice by trusting people to remain obedient. This is one insight into the mind of Satan and how it operates within the text.

In reading the Holy Scriptures, there are times when one might stumble upon a gap, or a place in the text that does not seem to fit the rest of the story or is somehow unclear. These gaps lend themselves to different interpretations by theologians and philosophers who read the text in disparate ways due to their differing backgrounds, intellects, or insights. So to commence reading the text, one must read it in the "plain sense," or in the Hebrew, the peshat. This means that one must simply read the text and absorb the words at face value, in that the words mean what they say. After reading the text in the plain sense, one might be able to point out some gaps in the text, or places where the text seems unclear, and then begin to construct interpretations of why and what the text is actually saying at these fissures. To start exploring the depths of Genesis 3, or the Fall of Man, we will begin with the text itself, in the peshat:

The two of them were naked, the man and his wife, yet they felt no shame. Now the serpent was the shrewdest of all the wild beasts that the LORD God had made. He said to the woman, "Did God really say: You shall not eat of any tree of the garden?" The woman replied to say: "We may eat of the fruit of the other trees of the garden. It is only about fruit of the tree in the middle of the garden that God said: 'You shall not eat of it or touch it, lest you die'." And the serpent said to the woman, "You are not going to die, but God knows that as soon as you eat of it your eyes will be opened and you will be like divine beings who know good and bad." When the woman saw that the tree was good for eating and a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was desirable as a source of wisdom, she took of its fruit and ate. Then the eyes of both of them were opened and they perceived that they were naked; and they sewed together fig leaves and made themselves loincloths. (Genesis 2:25-3:7)

In the plain sense, the text reads as follows: man and woman are naked and feel unashamed in the garden, the serpent comes and asks the woman to clarify what God had asked her to do, the woman responds that she must not eat of the tree in the middle of the garden or she will die, the serpent tells her it is a hoax, the woman decides to eat the fruit, the man also eats the fruit, and then they both think that they are naked and search for clothing. The first gap, or area of confusion, that we find while reading the plain text is that we have never seen God and woman discuss the trees in the garden. One interpretation of this gap could be that man and woman had an innate understanding with God as to how to obey him due to the fact that they were created in God's image: "Let us make man in our image, after our likeness" (Genesis 1:26). Thus, the two humans have a part of God's knowledge instilled within their minds and this would help to distinguish between what the humans could and could not do in the Garden of Eden. This indicates that divine knowledge could be implicit within one's spirit and soul. Perhaps God bestowed the first commandment upon Eve and since this mandate was innate within her being, the serpent's questioning and then the subsequent answering of those questions by the woman indicate some recognition and acknowledgement of these laws. Because Eve realizes that she was not to eat of the fruit, it seems to follow that she had prior knowledge about the trees as seen in Genesis 3:1-3:4:

He said to the woman, "Did God really say: You shall not eat of any tree of the garden?" The woman replied to say: "We may eat of the fruit of the other trees of the garden. It is only about fruit of the tree in the middle of the garden that God said: 'You shall not eat of it or touch it, lest you die'."

The serpent tells the woman that she will not die, however, God will be upset because the humans would then possess an equivalent knowledge to that of God. But could it also not be that man and woman already possessed that knowledge and that the serpent was simply meant to test their obedience? The serpent is challenging woman's obedience to the Lord. It seems strange that the serpent would know this about the trees because it appears to be privileged information, if the idea concerning the divine image and implicit knowledge is true. Is it possible that the serpent was like Satan in the story of Job and that God was testing the strength and obedience of the first humans? Perhaps humanity had implicit understanding of God's knowledge and already possessed intelligence nearly parallel to God's. We can see this thought evolve when woman thinks about the tree. Another way to understand Eve's implicit knowledge and its parallel to God's is to consider that when she thinks about the tree, she sees that it "was good for eating" (Genesis 3:6) just as God saw that creation "was good" or "was very good": "God saw that the light was good, and God separated the light from the darkness" (Genesis 1:4). Discerning between good and not good is such a prevalent part of creation, so humanity is enacting parts of creation and acting analogously to God.

However, I find another interesting point within the syntax of the woman's speech. Through woman, we know that God somehow communicated to her: "you shall not eat of it or touch it, lest you die" (Genesis 3:3). This language seems to be quite paternal and precautionary, like a sign of warning, as opposed to an absolute commandment or validation of death. The word "lest" (meaning "for fear that") is a conjunction that links two clauses, the second of which, within the context of the sentence, requires caution. By using this conjunction, God seems more like a concerned parent admonishing His daughter so that He will not have to banish her. God seems to be saying, do not eat the fruit, for I am afraid that if you do, I will have to expel you from the holiest and most perfect place. It seems that expulsion is the equivalent of death, in that once the humans leave the Garden of Eden, their perfection ceases, and they may no longer dwell in the presence of God. "Lest" is a test, a specific word that God had chosen, which indicates that if woman touches the fruit, she will no longer be able to walk with God. Yet the woman made her choice regardless of the consequences. Once man and woman gorged themselves with the "forbidden fruit," they became aware of their rebellious choices only after God responds angrily:

The Lord God called out to the man and said to him, "Where are you? He replied, "I heard the sound of You in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked, so I hid." Then He asked, "Who told you that you were naked? Did you eat of the tree from which I had forbidden you to eat?" The man said, "The woman You put at my side — she gave me of the tree, and I ate." And the Lord God said to the woman, "What is this you have done!" The woman replied, "The serpent duped me, and I ate...." So the Lord God banished him from the garden of Eden, to till the soil from which he was taken. (Genesis 3:9-3:13, Genesis 3:23)

God also declared specific punishments for each human. The woman would have "pangs in childbearing" (Genesis 3:16) and would live under the dominion of her husband. The man would have to work the earth. Man and woman were then banished from the Garden of Eden. From God's response, they learned what it meant to obey and what it meant to disobey, and clearly, they had disobeyed.

Another important note is that perhaps God's inner workings are woven with shades of noncompliance. I offer this conjecture because God says, "Let us make man in our image, after our likeness" (Genesis 1:26), yet he does not grant humanity unconditional immortality, which would be in his likeness. Perhaps God is disobeying Himself, because He has opposed His own words with His actions (in expelling Adam and Eve and sentencing them to death). It seems as if God first asks Himself permission to create humans like Himself, and then decides that they should rule the earth: "they shall rule the fish of the sea, the birds of the sky, the cattle, the whole earth, and all the creeping things that creep on earth" (Genesis 1:26). In doing so, he indicates that humans shall rule the earth, not the Garden of Eden. God knew that humanity would disobey at some point and that they were not meant for the perfection of the garden. He created humans to be disobedient creatures because He could not help it; for they were after His likeness and He had also disobeyed Himself in sentencing them.

God becomes frustrated with the woman because she not only disobeys the external understandings of the commandments, but alsothe inherent laws that have been cultivated within her spirit and nature. By disregarding God's spoken commands, she is also disobeying the nature of creation. Creation was formed through speech, God's speech, and thus disobeying speech is a rejection of creation. God prohibited them from eating of the tree in the center of the Eden, but He did allow them to eat of all the other trees. However, God later posits that there is another tree, a tree of life, which He also does not want them to eat. Does this not indicate that there were two trees from which the humans should not eat? And if so, were man and woman set up to fail, set up to be banished from the garden? God had no purpose for them to be in the garden if he did not want them to be in His likeness in totality and in immortality (the death sentence), and thus they would have ultimately been forced to leave the garden anyway.

Therefore, God created humans to disobey. Humanity was created in the image of God and was created to disobey due to their predisposition for disobedience, modeled after God's own disobedience. The serpent challenged the woman's loyalty and obedience by introducing the temptation to which she succumbs. The woman then not only violates God's commandment but, in doing so, rejects His speech (his mode of expression, his mode of rendering creation) and rejects her inherent knowledge of God's law. However, her disobedience, as we have learned, is perhaps only a reflection of God's own ways.

God has produced an interesting situation here. He created humans in His own divine image, which is a defining characteristic of God. In doing so, He disobeyed Himself and His own orders to create humans in His likeness. Could it be that God denied Himself and His own commandments and in denying Himself gave creation the capacity to deny Him too? Will these acts of disobedience beget a vicious cycle that will last for all eternity?

Disobeying God, even if it is innate within mankind, will still lead to consequence and adversity. However, if one disobeys God's laws and, having been rendered in His likeness, succumbs to temptation, then one denies the God in himself. We have learned from the Bible what consequences await those who contravene. However, if God also disobeys, then what consequences await Him?

What does the Bible say about Disbobedience

What Does the Bible Say About Disobedience?

By an eHow Contributor

What Does the Bible Say About Disobedience?

Faith Allen

Many people wonder what the Bible has to say about disobedience. The Bible defines disobedience as any choice that is contrary to what God has instructed. Adam's disobedience resulted in mankind being separated from God. The nations of Israel and Judah were both destroyed due to disobedience to God's laws. Obedience is always the answer to disobedience, but disobedience still has consequences, even after repentance.

Significance

1. According to the Bible, disobedience is failing to follow God's laws. People first became separated from God through Adam's disobedience (Genesis 3:17). The Bible is filled with examples of people's disobedience and the devastating consequences. Fortunately, people can always repent and choose obedience, such as David's reaction to Nathan pointing out his disobedience in having an affair with Uriah's wife and then having Uriah killed (II Samuel 11 and 12). Even after repentance, consequences still follow, such as the loss of the life of David's child (II Samuel 12:15-19).

Considerations

2. In the Bible, God frequently uses the "carrot and stick" approach to encourage obedience from His people. For example, after laying out the laws to govern Israel in the Book of Deuteronomy, God enumerated the blessings that Israel would receive if God's people obeyed the laws (Deuteronomy 28:1-14). However, God then went on to expound upon the curses that would befall Israel for disobedience (Deuteronomy 28:15-68). Unfortunately, Israel chose disobedience and experienced those curses.

Effects

3. In the Bible, disobedience is always followed by consequences. For example, the Bible shares in Judges 2:6-23 that, after Joshua died, the Israelites fell into disobedience and worshiped other gods, among other acts of disobedience. God became angry and imposed consequences, such as selling His people into slavery and allowing Israel to be defeated in battle. It was because of Judah's disobedience that Babylon defeated the nation and took God's people captive (I Chronicles 9:2).

Prevention/Solution

4. Obedience is always the solution to disobedience. The disobedience of one man (Adam) brought separation from God, but the obedience of one man (Jesus) saved many (Romans 5:19). God wants to have mercy on those who are disobedient (Romans 11:30-32). Even Manasseh, who was one of the most evil kings of Judah, was able to return to God after terrible disobedience (II Chronicles 33:1-18).

Warning

5. According to the Bible, even though a person might return to God after disobedience, the damage often has already been done. Obedience after disobedience does not change the consequences of the bad choices. For example, the Bible records the story of Manasseh, king of Judah, in II Chronicles 33:1-18. Even though King Manasseh ultimately repented and became obedient to God, the damage of his disobedience was already done. The people continued to disobey God, which ultimately led to the destruction of Judah.

Read more: What Does the Bible Say About Disobedience? | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/about_4580141_what-does-bible-say-disobedience.html#ixzz1GbCBLIU8

Why Do We Disobey God?

By Richard Mansel

Why do men and women openly defy God? Why do we show contempt in the face of his warnings? The short answer is sin and human weakness. Yet, we feel compelled to dig deeper.

God is all-powerful and formed the universe with a thought ( Jeremiah 32:17,27; Genesis 1). He is perfectly good and cannot sin nor lie ( Psalm 32:19; Psalm 145:9; Titus 1:2). Moreover, he can bring terrible destruction upon man with a word ( Psalm 18:7-15; Lamentations 1:8,9).

God cannot tolerate disobedience, and he has made this abundantly clear./1 God's people suffered at the hands of the Edomites and God completely destroyed them (Obadiah). God said that Egypt and their allies would suffer, and it happened ( Ezekiel 30). God said that Ammon would cease to exist as a nation and it came true ( Ezekiel 25:1-7). The Philistines suffered the wrath of God and ceased to exist ( Ezekiel 15:15-17). God promised, on more than one occasion, the destruction of Jerusalem as a result of Israel's disobedience, and it always happened exactly as prophesied.

Israel saw the wrath of God for centuries and never made the connection between the disobedience of the sufferers and their own actions. The most powerful example is when Israel witnessed the ten plagues in Egypt, the parting of the Red Sea, the destruction of the Egyptian army and in short order began to doubt God could feed and protect them ( Exodus 15-17).

Moses goes up to God on the mountain to receive the Law and in no time Israel has constructed a golden calf to worship ( Exodus 32:1-6). Forgetting all about the fear of God, they commit idolatrous acts.

Today, little has changed. Man continues to read of the certainty of the consequences of rebellion against God. Yet, he never makes the necessary connections between his actions and their consequences.

One of man's greatest instincts is self-preservation. It is defined as, "Protection of oneself from harm or destruction and the instinct for individual preservation; the innate desire to stay alive."/2 While it is useful in escaping physical danger, it nonetheless can lead us to disobey God.

Man's greatest weakness is selfishness ( 2 Timothy 3:2). Man will find something he wants to do and will fashion a way to accomplish his goal. When opposition arises, self-preservation engages and we employ denial and rationalization in order to justify our desired path. We will sometimes accomplish this goal at the expense of truth, family, friends, and reputation. We will lie to ourselves and berate our conscience until it condones our behavior ( 1 Timothy 4:2). We must remember that man will accept anything in order to get through the night and face himself in the mirror.

When God's will conflicts with man's will, questions quickly arise. How badly do we want what we desire? Can we find a loophole in God's commands? Do we know anyone we can use to justify our will? What shortcomings can we highlight in order to bring shame on our critics? How can we discredit God's Word so the admonition disappears?

In the briefest of moments, these temptations race through our brains as we try to find peace with our desired actions. We work the angles and weigh the costs, and if we lose the battle, we disobey God. We have found the consequences less important than our own selfish desires.

The courage to defy these urges and do what is right is extraordinary. However, God has given us the power to stand for truth and defy Satan ( James 4:7; 1 Peter 5:8,9). But, it will require a suppression of our base desires and the courage to stand for our souls rather than our pleasure.

1/ Kenny Barfield, The Prophet Motive (Nashville: Gospel Advocate, 1995).
2/ http://www.answers.com/topic/self-preservation

Disobedience or Not?

John 14:12-17 This passage of scripture is so powerful. Jesus not only let us know that we need to and can continue to do what He did while He was here. However, the most important scripture in this passage to me is verse 15. "If you love me, you will obey what I command".

This week is about disobeying God. The problem is many us of don't actually take the time to realize what disobedient actions are. So I think sometimes we just need to stop and say, "Lord teach me right and wrong all over again like I'm a child."

I was tweeting earlier today on the topic Open Your Eyes! I was just wondering if Christians are paying attention to what is going on in the World today. If we don't think that it has spiritual implications then we simply need to Open Our Eyes! So if every religion on the map is coming out stronger than ever and we as Christians are hiding, is that disobedience? If we walk along see someone who looks distressed and hurt and we don't try to witness to them, is that disobedience? If we are around our family, friends, co-workers, etc. who will know are not saved and we don't lead them to Christ, is that disobedience? If we're disrespecting the order of God in and out of Church, is that disobedience? If we are cursing, lying, cheating, stealing, drinking, partying, and any other thing not conducive to the Christian lifestyle, is THAT NOT DISOBEDIENCE?

Romans 3:23 For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God Many people think I'm trying to be all "holier than thou", but I am the first to admit that I am a sinner saved by God's Grace and I'm thankful everyday. I just wish that Christians will stop making excuses for their sin and citing that "God knows my heart." Let's obey at all cost, by any means necessary. Let's come out of the closet since everyone else is, and stop being ashamed of the Gospel of Jesus Christ! 1Samuel 15:22 To obey is better than sacrifice!

As always I wish that God will bless you spiritually, mentally, socially, physically and financially.

5 Ways to Disobey God

Five Ways to Disobey God

by Chris Reeves

As we begin the new year, let us think about how we all can do our best not to disobey God. Let us strive to please God and obey him. The Devil makes it easy for us to disobey God, and he will try to get us to do just that. Let us remind ourselves how we can disobey God. There are five ways.

1. By doing what God has said not to do. This is the way Adam and Eve disobeyed God. They ate what God had told them not to eat and were punished (Genesis 2:16-17; 3:6). Lot's wife also disobeyed this way. She looked back when God said not to look back and she was killed (Genesis 19:17,26). Whatever the temptation, whatever the reason, we must never do what God has said not to do (James 2:11).

2. By failing to do what God has said to do. This is the way Israel disobeyed. They did not enter the land of Canaan when God told them to do so and they were punished (Numbers 13:30-14:3). Jonah also disobeyed this way. He did not go to Ninevah when God told him to go and he was punished (Jonah 1:1-3). Regardless of the obstacles and challenges that lie ahead, we must always do what God has planned for us to do (James 4:17).

3. By adding to God's word. This is the way Nadab and Abihu disobeyed. They added "strange fire" which the Lord had not commanded them and they perished (Leviticus 10:1-2). No matter what good work or neat idea we would like to add to God's plan, we must never add to God's word (2 John 9).

4. By taking from God's word. This is the way the blind men (Matthew 9:27-31) and the leper (Mark 1:40-45) disobeyed. They took the first part of what Jesus said and obeyed it, but ignored the rest of what Jesus said. Even if there are things that we think are unnecessary or inconvenient in God's word that we would like to remove, we must never take away from God's commandments (Deuteronomy 4:2).

5. By substituting for what is commanded by God. This is what Naaman tried to do. He tried to reap the benefits of God's mercy by substituting his river for God's river and he found out that it won't work (2 K.5:8-14). No matter how much we think our ways are better than God's ways, we must never substitute what we like for what God commands (Isaiah 55:8-9).

Let us work hard this year to obey the Lord, never disobey.

I Confess: I've Been Disobedient

My parents allowed me to start driving as soon as I got a document to say I could drive. When I was younger I had a vehicle before many of my high school peers. On the weekends, my curfew was 11pm, and I was to be in no later than that. At the time, I couldn't understand why, but to continue to be able to drive my car, I would comply. It was a Saturday night and my bestfriend at the time was riding with me. I had timed it where I could drop her off at home and be back at my house right at 11pm. Well, my friend lost her house key and didn't notice until we was at her house. Her mother wasn't home and there was no one to let her in. She asked me to take her back to the restaurant where we spent our evening. I knew that I really didn't have time, but I figured my parents would understand- I was helping out my friend. I decided to call my mother and let her know, but she told me that both of us needed to come back to my house and we would find the keys in the morning. Well, I didn't think that was a good idea so I decided to go ahead and take my friend back to find the keys.
Long story made short, we found the keys, I dropped her off and went home. I came home to two angry parents. No matter how much I tried to explain why I did what I did, they weren't trying to hear me out. I was doomed to punishment and my keys were taken away. Later my mother explained that she had given me specific instructions on what she wanted me to do. She informed me that high school girls shouldn't be out late and didn't want anything to happen to me. She let me know that she understood why I did what I did, but it wasn't what she told me to do and she over-rules all my decisions. Therefore, I had to be punished to reinforce who is in charge, and to enforce how important it is to obey her commands.
I didn't understand it then, but I get it now. God treats us the same way. Many times he gives us instructions and we think we can do it better or our way is the right way. When we go against God's word and God's commandments, God has to do as my parents did... punish for disobedience.
This week on Jesus C.O.U.sin we will explore what disobedience is, we will dissect it, and we will dig deep into disobedience as it relates to our lives. It is important that we understand the actions we engage in that are unpleasing in God's eyes. It is equally important that we understand what happens as a result as our disobedience.

Isaiah 42:24-25 Who gave Jacob for a spoil, and Israel to the robbers? did not the LORD, he against whom we have sinned? for they would not walk in his ways, neither were they obedient unto his law. Therefore he hath poured upon him the fury of his anger, and the strength of battle: and it hath set him on fire round about, yet he knew not; and it burned him, yet he laid it not to heart.

Until Next time...

Faith and Spiritual Warfare Making a Determined Effort

Faith and Spiritual Warfare

Making a Determined Effort

Ken Birks, Pastor/Teacher

I. Introductory Remarks.

In this message I want to talk about the importance of making a determined effort in everything that we are involved in, both spiritual and natural. Determination is a necessary part of our spiritual warfare our walk with the Lord. We will not endure to the end without it.

You can have plenty of vision, insight and purpose, but without determination you will not get the job done. When your vision and purpose fail, your determination must kick in to keep you going in the midst of doubt and uncertainty.

Proverbs 4:23-27 Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life. Put away from you a deceitful mouth, and put perverse lips far from you. Let your eyes look straight ahead, and your eyelids look right before you. Ponder the path of your feet, and let all your ways be established. Do not turn to the right or the left; remove your foot from evil.

· Determination Definition.

Determination is the inner fortitude and strength of character – being disciplined to remain consistent, strong and diligent regardless of the odds or the demands. It is the act of deciding definitely and firmly, or coming to a resolve. Determination is acting in faith when we temporarily lose sight of where we are going.

Without determination we will find ourselves being tossed here and there and beat to a pulp when the enemy comes against us. When the pressure is on we will find ourselves reacting in a way that is contradictory to what we believe. We must have the inner fortitude and strength of character to remain consistent, strong and diligent regardless of the odds or the demands.

II. Determination Is An Important Part Of Our Spiritual Warfare.

1 Corinthians 16:13 Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong.

Ephesians 6:13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

The thing that we must realize is that the devil is making a determined effort towards us and if he is more determined to keep us from moving forward in God than we are, he will win.

1. The Example of Manasseh and the Canaanites.

God had given all of the tribes of Israel the command to go forth into the promised land and to drive all of its inhabitants out. He not only commanded them, but promised them that He would help them.

Joshua 1:9 "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go."

With this promise the children of Israel were to go forth conquering all of the inhabitants of the Promised Land. We find that this did not happen in all cases, because of the determination of their enemies to continue to dwell in the land.

Joshua 17:12-13 Yet the children of Manasseh could not drive out the inhabitants of those cities, but the Canaanites were determined to dwell in that land. And it happened, when the children of Israel grew strong, that they put the Canaanites to forced labor, but did not utterly drive them out.

The reason the children of Manasseh were not able to drive the Canaanites completely out of the land was because they lacked the determination to do so. The Canaanites were more determined to stay then the Tribe of Manasseh was to drive them out.

2. Through a Determined Effort, We Are to Drive Out Our Enemies.

How many of us give place to the devil, because we lack the determination to completely drive him out of our lives? God has given us the authority and the power to defeat the enemy.

Luke 10:19 "Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you.

We all have strongholds in our lives that the enemy is trying to hold on to with a determined effort. The thing that we have to realize is that we must have more of a determined effort than the enemy, realizing that greater is He who is in us than he who is in the world.

1 John 4:4 You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.

The enemy doesn't give up that easily. He is determined, so therefore you must realize that it takes a determined effort to defeat him. We are wrestling against principalities, against powers, against rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.

Ephesians 6:12-13 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

Many Christians fail in many areas because they fail to make a determined effort. Marriages, children, jobs, business, ministry, bondage to sin, and prayer life are areas that the enemy wants to continue to dwell in. Are you letting him, simply because he is more determined than you are?

Do you have the inner fortitude and strength of character to remain consistent, strong and diligent regardless of the odds or the demands that are being placed upon you in these areas?

Without determination you will find yourselves being tossed to and fro and beat to a pulp when the enemy comes against you. When the pressure is on you will find yourselves reacting in a way that is contradictory to what you really believe.

1 Peter 5:8-9 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world.

III. The Kingdom Is Extended Through Determination.

1. The Example Of Solomon Being Determined To Build The Temple.

2 Chronicles 2:1 Then Solomon determined to build a temple for the name of the LORD, and a royal house for himself.

The kingdom that was established under Solomon's reign was the greatest and most glorious of all the kingdoms of the earth. I'm sure that Solomon had his obstacles that he faced along the way. But he was determined to complete the task he had been given. He had the inner fortitude and strength of character to remain consistent, strong and diligent regardless of the odds or the demands that were placed upon him.

2. We Too Must Be Determined To See The Kingdom Extended.

Matthew 11:12 "And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force.

We must make a determined effort in establishing the kingdom of God in our midst. We have experienced many defeats, setbacks, discouragements and other hindrances, but we must be like the apostle Paul who said, "none of these things move me."

Acts 20:24 "But none of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.

3. Illustrations

A page from John Wesley's Diary reads as follows:

· Sunday morning, May 5, preached in St. Ann's, was asked not to come back anymore.

· Sunday p.m., May 5, preached at St. John's, deacons said, "Get out and stay out."

· Sunday a.m., May 12, preached at St. Jude's, can't go back there either.

· Sunday p.m., May 12, preached at St. George's, kicked out again.

· Sunday a.m., May 19, preached at St. somebody else's, deacons called special meeting and said I couldn't return.

· Sunday p.m., May 19, preached on the street, kicked off the street.

· Sunday a.m., May 26, preached in meadow, chased out of meadow as a bull was turned loose during the services.

· Sunday a.m., June 2, preached out at the edge of town, kicked off the highway.

· Sunday p.m., June 2, afternoon service, preached in a pasture, 10,000 people came to hear me.

Harold Sherman wrote a book entitled, "How To Turn Failure Into Success." In it he gives a code of persistence. He says:

· I will never give up so long as I know I am right.

· I will believe that all things will work out for me if I hang on to the end.

· I will be courageous and undismayed in the face of odds.

· I will not permit anyone to intimidate or deter me from my goals.

· I will fight to overcome all physical handicaps and setbacks.

· I will try again and again and yet again to accomplish what I desire.

· I will take new faith and resolution from the knowledge that all successful men and women have had to fight defeat and adversity.

· I will never surrender to discouragement or despair no matter what seeming obstacles may confront me.

In 1873 D. L. Moody and Ira Sankey sailed to England for a series of evangelistic meetings. But once there they found to their dismay that all three of their prime contacts had died. Meetings had to be hastily arranged. Some of the pastors who had endorsed Moody's ministry turned against him. At Sunderland, a group of pastors covered the public buildings with material warning about the Americans and their "questionable procedure" and probable evil results." Rumors about Moody traveled ahead of him. He and Sankey went to Scotland, only to encounter deep skepticism. But Moody persevered, and revival swept the British Isles. – Moody, 5-10-91

IV. Concluding Remarks.

My prayer is that you would come to the place in your life where you have more determination than the enemy in dealing with your issues and moving forward in faith towards the destiny God has for you.