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I hope you are doing well and are in the best of health. I am doing very
well and am thankful for another day of blessings that God has bestowed
upon us. I have been thinking about the destruction of sin that comes to
those who do not crucify their flesh and protect their mind from the wiles
of the enemy's temptations and I felt the Lord leading me to write a
message on this subject. I hope this message on resisting the enemy's
temptations and protecting yourself from accepting his suggestions will
minister to your heart and equip you to stand strong against his attacks
and commit your heart anew to the Lord Jesus Christ. To God be all the
Glory for His continued leading and blessing upon this work.
The Bible declares in Galatians 6:7-8, "Be not deceived; God is not mocked:
for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth
to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the
Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting." The Bible is very clear
in its warning that when we sow only to the flesh that in the end we will
reap corruption, but if we sow to the spirit we will reap the benefits of
living righteously before the Lord. There are many temptations that come
our way that subtly suggest to cheat a little, lie a little, steal a little
and nobody will ever know. I want you to know that that is a lie straight
from the pits of hell because the eyes of the Lord sees everything that is
done openly and in secret. There is nothing that can be done without the
Lord knowing about it. He is omniscient and omnipresent and sees all
things at all times. (Psalm 139:1-6) (Matthew 6:1-8) (Psalm 139:7-13)
There is an excellent story in the Old Testament of temptation, greed,
deceit and ultimately destruction that I would like to share with you. I
will tell the main points of the story that is found in 2 Kings chapter 5.
It is the story of Gehazi who was the servant of Elisha the Prophet. The
story begins with a mighty warrior named Naaman who had leprosy and was in
need of a healing. He heard of Elisha the Prophet and was sent word by
the King of Aram that he was welcome to go to Israel to meet with Elisha
and hopefully receive his healing. Naaman gathered his men and took with
him silver, gold and expensive clothing hoping to give them to Elisha the
man of God as gifts for his healing.
When Naaman arrived to the house of Elisha, Naaman was told by Elisha's
messenger to go dip himself seven times in the Jordan River. Naaman was
initially offended because he didn't believe by simply dipping himself in
the river that he would be healed, but after his men urged him to follow
Elisha's directions, he did so and was completely healed making his skin
as smooth as a young child's. Naaman was so happy that he came before the
Prophet Elijah offering him the silver, gold and garments as gifts of
thanks, but Elisha refused them telling Naaman that he would not accept any
gifts. Naaman accepted what Elisha had told him and after he had thanked
Elisha again and praised the God of Israel, Naaman proceeded to return back
to his home.
Now Gehazi who was Elisha's servant saw that Elisha didn't accepted the
gifts of Naaman and in his greed he thought that he could accept the gifts
on behalf of Elisha without Elisha ever knowing about it. So Gehazi
followed after Naaman and when he saw Gehazi running after him, Naaman
got off his chariot to see what the matter was. Gehazi told him that he
requested the silver and garments for two Prophets that just arrived in
town which was a lie. Naaman gladly gave him double of what he asked for
and sent two men into town with Gehazi to carry the goods. Before they
reached the town with the goods, Gehazi sent the men off and hid the goods
in his house hoping that no one saw him.
When Gehazi entered the house of his master Elisha, Gehazi was asked where
he had been. Gehazi answered Elisha and said he had not been anywhere.
Elisha knew all that had taken place because of his prophet gift and
answered Gehazi as we read in 2 Kings 5:26-27 "But Elisha asked him, "Don't
you realize that I was there in spirit when Naaman stepped down from his
chariot to meet you? Is this the time to receive money and clothing and
olive groves and vineyards and sheep and oxen and servants? Because you
have done this, you and your children and your children's children will
suffer from Naaman's leprosy forever." When Gehazi left the room, he was
leprous; his skin was as white as snow." Gehazi not only lost his position
as the servant of Elisha the Prophet, but was stricken with leprosy that
would affect him and his descendants and is never mentioned in the Bible again.
The point that I want to emphasize is that sin can seem very appealing in
the beginning and we believe the lie that no harm can come from our lying,
cheating, stealing or whatever the sin may be, but that is not true because
there is a Just God watching the actions that we do openly and in secret
and will reward us accordingly. Many people think of God as one who loves
unconditionally and that is true, but He is also a Just God and a God of
Judgment. Remember the scripture says God is not mocked and whatsoever a
man sows that he will also reap. (1 Corinthians 6:9-11) (2 Thessalonians 1:5-8)
Be encouraged to do the right thing at all times not only when people are
watching you, but also when no one is watching you because the Lord is a
just judge and will give to every person righteous judgment. Learn the
lesson from Gehazi's story and do not fall for the enemy's tricks of greed
and deceit, but rather live purely before the Lord asking Him to give you
strength for each new day's trials. The Lord loves you and has made a way
for you to escape every temptation, so you stand strong and know that with
God by your side you can overcome every temptation of the enemy and come
forth victorious. (2 Corinthians 5:9-11) (Psalm 18:29-33) (James 4:1-8)
Read and meditate on these scriptures:
James 1:13-17 "Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for
God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth He any man: But every man
is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when
lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished,
bringeth forth death. Do not err, my beloved brethren. Every good gift
and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of
lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning."
2 Corinthians 10:3-5 "For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after
the flesh: (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty
through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) Casting down imaginations
and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and
bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ."
1 Corinthians 10:12-13 "Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take
heed lest he fall. 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."
All of these scriptures can be found in the King James Version Bible.
Today's Selected Poem: GOD ISN'T FAR AWAY
Click here to read --- http://www.Godswork.org/enpoem110.htm
Today's Selected Testimony: WITH OR WITHOUT GOD
Click here to read --- http://www.Godswork.org/testimony92.htm
In Christ's Service,
Dwayne Savaya
Gods Work Ministry |
