EXAMPLES TO KEEP YOU FROM SIN

“Psa. 119:11 (AMP) Your word have I laid up in my heart, that I might not sin against You.

Scripture commands us to bring examples to the Word for testing. Are people constantly quoting opinions? "Isaiah. 8:20 (AMP) [Direct such people] to the teaching and to the testimony! If their teachings are not in accord with this word, it is surely because there is no dawn and no morning for them.  We follow a man for the light in his lamp; but if that goes out we leave him. And this Scripture certifies that the person cannot have any light at all unless his opinion has been established in the Word. If he does not know where he is going, how can we know where he might lead us?

Examples are precepts, not warrants. "Ex. 23:2 (AMP) You shall not follow a crowd to do evil; nor shall you bear witness at a trial so as to side with a multitude to pervert justice. An example will not bring acquittal just because you have a precedent to sin. Adam tried that when he said the woman gave him the fruit; yet it did no excuse him from paying the price with her. She was the leader in sin but punishment followed them both. Would you be willing to et poison if another person offered to taste it first? Does this example make it any less deadly?

The Word warns that dedicated saints can sin. When Paul called others after him, he counseled them to keep their eyes open to see whether he followed Christ: ". 1Cor. 11:1 (AMP) PATTERN YOURSELVES after me [follow my example], as I imitate and follow Christ (the Messiah). The holy life of the best saint on earth is only an imperfect translation of the perfect standard in God's holy Word and therefore must be tried by it. It is the character of sincerity to look to the way rather than to the crowd. "Prov. 16:17 (AMP) The highway of the upright turns aside from evil; he who guards his way preserves his life.

I am showing you how this sword of the Word-- like the one in the cherubim's hand-- maybe turned every way to protect the Christian from venturing into sin, no matter how right it seems.

This was David's refuge: "Psa. 119:11 (AMP) Your word have I laid up in my heart, that I might not sin against You.  It was not the Bible in his hand, the word on his tongue or in his mind, but the hidden Word in his heart, which kept him from sin.”

Quoted material from, ”The Christian in Complete Armour Daily Readings in Spiritual Warfare” by Gurnall and James S Bell. http://www.moodypublishers.com/pub_productDetail.aspx?id=41823&pid=53617

Discovering the Holy Spirit as We Exist in God

Discovering the Holy Spirit as we live, move and have our being in God.

Acts 17:28 (AMP) For in Him we live and move and have our being; as even some of your [own] poets have said, For we are also His offspring.

What Role does the Holy Spirit have in accomplish or fulfilling this scripture in the life of the believer?

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SECRET SINS' EFFECTS

“Do not be deceived-- one sin will send you to hell as fast as a thousand. "1Cor. 6:9 (AMP) Do you not know that the unrighteous and the wrongdoers will not inherit or have any share in the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived (misled): neither the impure and immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor those who participate in homosexuality,  10 Nor cheats (swindlers and thieves), nor greedy graspers, nor drunkards, nor foulmouthed revilers and slanderers, nor extortioners and robbers will inherit or have any share in the kingdom of God.  Scripture excludes not only the man who is all of these, but he who is any of them. All men must die, but they do not die of the same disease. And it is just as certain that all unrepentant sinners will be damned-- one for a particular sin and another for something else. But they will all meet in the same flaming hell.

Satan tempts us with secret sins. Saul was ashamed to approach Endor in his princely robe because he had told the world of his hatred of witchcraft, making it punishable by death. But he was not afraid to go to a witch in disguise. What weight is added, then, to the devil's sinister motive when he tempted Christ in the wilderness, soliciting Him to a secret acknowledgement of him, just between the two of them. But how much greater was Christ's glory in His victory that day! He won the battle over Satan's assaults with the sword of the Word-- and it is time for us to take up His weapon to fight the same enemy. This defense takes on several specific expressions.

Scripture says God knows every secret sin. "Psa. 90:8 (AMP) Our iniquities, our secret heart and its sins [which we would so like to conceal even from ourselves], You have set in the [revealing] light of Your countenance.  God sees secret sins as plainly as we see things at high noon. And He not only knows them but sets them up as targets for His arrows of vengeance.

"Prov. 15:3 (AMP) The eyes of the Lord are in every place, keeping watch upon the evil and the good." He sees when you close your closet door to pray in secret and rewards your sincerity; but He also sees when the door is closed for you to sin in secret-- and He will not fail to reward your hypocrisy.”

Quoted material from, ”The Christian in Complete Armour Daily Readings in Spiritual Warfare” by Gurnall and James S Bell. http://www.moodypublishers.com/pub_productDetail.aspx?id=41823&pid=53617

THE SUFFERING SIN CAUSES

“Who can describe the convulsions that disturb the rest of the sinning soul? " Psalm 57:21 (AMP) There is no peace, says my God, for the wicked. The cries of condemned sinners evidence the disturbing quality inherent in sins of their own choosing: " Psa. 38:3 (AMP) There is no soundness in my flesh because of Your indignation; neither is there any health or rest in my bones because of my sin. " Gen. 4:13 (AMP) Then Cain said to the Lord, My punishment is greater than I can bear.. Perhaps the prime example, though, is Judas. When he was not able to stand up under his guilt he ran from it, and hanged himself, throwing himself into hell to erase the torment of his sins.

Just as sin disturbs the inward peace of a soul, it also interrupts outward peace in the world. What else but sin has caused such confusion? " James 4:1 (AMP) WHAT LEADS to strife (discord and feuds) and how do conflicts (quarrels and fightings) originate among you? Do they not arise from your sensual desires that are ever warring in your bodily members? Delilah betrayed her own husband into the enemies' hands. And Absalom tried to take the life of his dear father. Sin is the subtle whisperer, which separates friends and families and even the sweet communion of saints.

Sin has such a kindle-fire nature that as deadly sparks fly not only from one neighbor's house to another but from nation to nation. All the water in the seas cannot quench the wars it ignites between kingdoms; instead, it makes men who live at one end of the world thirst for the blood and possessions of those who live at the other end. The earth has become an arena where there is little else but fighting and killing. Is this the guest you welcome within your heart?

Sin has a damning property. If sin's damage could be confined to this world, it would be bad enough. Considering our short stay here, we might take a measure of comfort in the fact that it would soon be over. But to be bothered by it here and then damned to eternal torment in the next world-- it is unbearable!”

Quoted material from, ”The Christian in Complete Armour Daily Readings in Spiritual Warfare” by Gurnall and James S Bell. http://www.moodypublishers.com/pub_productDetail.aspx?id=41823&pid=53617

Glory to the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob

Glory to the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Who has sent us His Son as our Redeemer!

THE NAMES OF SIN

“Satan trains sinners to cover sin with approved nicknames-- superstition may become devotion; covetousness, thrift; pride, self-respect; carelessness, freedom.

God has never made a mistake. If something is sweet He will not say it is bitter; if it is good, He will not call it evil. Do not ever expect to find honey in the pot if God has written, "poison" on its lid. Instead, let us say of sin what Abigail said about her husband-- whatever Scripture names it, so it is.

But Satan trains sinners to cover sin with approved nicknames-- superstitions may become devotion; covetousness, thrift; pride, self-respect; carelessness, freedom; and idle word, cleverness. Sinners have to do this of course; a horsemeat sandwich would make them sick immediately if they knew what it was. Persecutors used to wrap Christians in animal skins so that the wild beasts would devour them quickly; and Satan sharpens our appetites by sins garnished with appealing temptations which conscience cannot easily recognize and reject.

Are you willing to be cheated like that? Your hand will be just as much charred if you reach out and take a log out of fire after a hateful fool promises the fire will not burn you. Hear what the God of truth names sin-- vomit of dogs; venom of serpents; stench of rotten tombs and sewers; sores, gangrene, and plague. Because even the horrors of hell struggle to find a name repulsive enough for it, the worst expression of its putrid nature is to call it by its own name-- "Did that which is good then prove fatal [bringing death] to me? Certainly not! It was sin, working death in me by using this good thing [as a weapon], in order that through the commandment sin might be shown up clearly to be sin, that the extreme malignity and immeasurable sinfulness of sin might plainly appear, Romans 7:13. Now what should we do to the thing that the great God loathes so much; and loads with names of dishonor? We must pursue it with the sword He left us until we have executed the judgment written upon it-- utter destruction!

The nature of sin is clearly laid out in the Word. God's Word defines it: "John 3:4 AMP Everyone who commits (practices) sin is guilty of lawlessness; for [that is what] sin is, lawlessness (the breaking, violating of God’s law by transgression or neglect—being unrestrained and unregulated by His commands and His will). In these few words is enough weight to press the sinning soul into hell for eternity, or to press sin itself to death in the saint's heart, if he seriously considers truths concerning the nature of sin.”

Quoted material from, ”The Christian in Complete Armour Daily Readings in Spiritual Warfare” by Gurnall and James S Bell. http://www.moodypublishers.com/pub_productDetail.aspx?id=41823&pid=53617

SPIRITUAL WARFARE FOR A LIFETIME

“Remember, it is only the unbelieving world-- without spiritual arms and abandoned by God-- that is left to become the prey of Satan.

Spiritual warfare is noble because it is just. It is all too true that most people join in political and military battles without ever knowing why. But there is no doubt about the cause of holy war-- it is against the only enemy God has who claims the right to rule His world. For this reason God calls all mankind-- some by the voice of natural conscience and others by the loud shout of His Word-- to join with Him "against the mighty" Judges 5:23 He does this not because He needs our help but because He prefers to reward obedience rather than to punish rebellion.

This noble warfare is not only just, but it is also hard. Our stubborn enemy is strong and will do everything he can to try our skill to the limit. Cowards can never hope to overcome him. When sin loses ground it is only an inch at a time, and what it holds it will not easily let go.

Spiritual warfare against lust is enlistment for a lifetime career. If you have a daring, adventurous spirit, here is what you have been looking for. Fighting with men is child's play compared to repelling demons and lusts: "Prov. 16:32 (AMP) He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty, he who rules his [own] spirit than he who takes a city.

It is sad that many of world's finest swordsmen who courageously risked their lives for freedom have died slaves to sin. Hannibal, for example, enjoyed victory in foreign expeditions but was defeated in his own country. So too many of the bravest heroes, who have had great victories abroad, have been miserably beaten and trampled upon by their own personal corruptions.

But do not be afraid because your enemies are mighty and many; your victory will be so much greater. And do not worry, either, when you see Caesars stripped of their insignias and forced to die in chains of lust. Remember, it is only the unbelieving world-- without spiritual arms and abandoned by God-- that is left to become the prey of Satan.”

Quoted material from, ”The Christian in Complete Armour Daily Readings in Spiritual Warfare” by Gurnall and James S Bell. http://www.moodypublishers.com/pub_productDetail.aspx?id=41823&pid=53617