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There are moments in life when we become complacent in our faith and do not
heed the voice of God to stand strong in Him and continue to do what is
right in His eyes. We must remember that the temptations of the enemy have
only one purpose and that is to draw us away from God to live a rebellious
life that is promised to end in death. The Lord has given us the complete
instruction manual on life that is called the Bible and in its timeless
pages is written very clearly the result of rebelliousness and sin. The
Bible declares in James 1:13-15, "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." (John 10:10) (Psalm 119:11)
I encourage you to resist the devil's temptations and stand strong on God's
Word committing to Him your life and asking the Lord to lead you on to the
best path as He sees fit. The Lord is faithful to hear and answer your
hearts cry. (1 Corinthians 10:12-13) (Isaiah 30:21) (Proverbs 3:5-6)
I hope today's message ministers to your heart to continually follow the
Lord so that His presence and sense of direction will be felt by you all
the days of your life.
STEADFAST IN FAITH
You have been born again. Saved.
Following your conversion to Christ, life changed. The Bible became a new
book and the services of your church a delight. Christian fellowship was
important to you. Peace filled your heart. The future seemed bright. No
one could have convinced you that your love for Christ would decline and
your zeal cool.
Nevertheless, here you are - defeated. Your Bible is neglected. Church
attendance is irregular. Old habits have been returning. Sin seduces. Joy
has departed.
Perhaps you have been experiencing the chastening of God. Things have not
been going right. The Bible teaches that God corrects His children when
they stray (Hebrews 12:5-11).
How well I remember the bitterness of backsliding in my own life! Let me
share the end of that experience with you: The moment of truth came while
on the way to a meeting where I was to play my accordion. I was traveling
at 65 M.P.H. in an effort to maintain my reputation for punctuality.
Somehow I lost control of the car and it rolled over, landing on its top
in a ditch. In a moment I knew the reason. Hebrews 12:6 flashed through my
mind: "For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son
whom he receiveth."
I crawled out of the car and looked at the damage. It was a total loss. I
remembered how I had stopped tithing some time ago and had used the money
to make car payments, reasoning that it was all right since I was using the
automobile in the Lord's work. Now the tithe money was lost, as well as
much of my own investment, since the insurance was inadequate to cover the
loss. My expensive accordion was inside the overturned car, and as I stood
there I was unsure of the damage to that instrument so important to me.
I was at the end of myself - ready to get right with God.
By now a sizeable crowd had gathered. It was a busy highway and within
moments the police had been summoned and the number of gawkers was
increasing steadily. Nevertheless, oblivious to the onlookers, I knelt in
the ditch beside the wrecked automobile and confessed my sins to the Lord.
I knew what I had to do, and I did it. I didn't care about those who were
watching.
Long before I had memorized I John 1:9: "If we confess our sins, He is
faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all
unrighteousness." Now its message became personal to me. I felt the release
as I claimed God's promise of forgiveness. It was as if a great load had
been lifted. I told the Lord that I was through backsliding; that I would
get back into church, and that I would study the Bible in order to be
equipped to give its message to others.
Now, it is time for you to rid yourself of that heavy load you have been
carrying. The forgiveness that was extended to me as I knelt beside that
overturned car is available to you.
Confess your sins to Jesus. Forsake them. Claim His forgiveness.
Commit your life to Him and get busy in His service. Return to your church
and let others know what has happened in your life!
By Dr. Jack Van Impe
http://www.jvim.com
Read and meditate on these scriptures:
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."
James 4:7-8 "Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he
will flee from you. Draw nigh to God, and He will draw nigh to you.
Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded."
Isaiah 55:6-7 "Seek ye the LORD while He may be found, call ye upon Him
while He is near: Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man
his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and He will have mercy upon
him; and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon."
Romans 10:13-15 "For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall
be saved. How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed?
and how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? and how
shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach, except they
be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach
the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!"
All of these scriptures can be found in the King James Version Bible.
Today's Selected Poem: LIFE WITHOUT PURPOSE
Click here to read --- http://www.Godswork.org/inpoem57.htm
Today's Selected Testimony: WHO WOULD I BE WITHOUT YOU?
Click here to read --- http://www.Godswork.org/testimony108.htm
In Christ's Service,
Dwayne Savaya
Gods Work Ministry |
