Aug. 9, 2014
THOU BELIEVEST THAT THERE IS ONE GOD; THOU DOEST WELL: “THE DEVILS ALSO BELIEVE, AND TREMBLE” James 2:19 (KJV)
My friends, let’s focus on what James is saying to us today. Do We believe in God? that is great!! But what does that prove, the Devils believe and tremble!! Paul even tells us one day soon “that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” Phil 2:10-11 (ESV)
Again what have we proven to God. As I see it, there must be a distinctive difference between Satan and a child of God because we all know the god of this world and his forces will never behold God’s pure and Holy Kingdom again. So what is that distinction since we all believe, and one day we will all acknowledge that Christ is King of Kings and Lord of Lords?
Mrs. White tells us, [the forces of evil] “belief does not bring them justification, neither will the belief of those who give a merely intellectual assent to the truths of the Bible bring them the benefits of salvation. This belief fails of reaching the vital point, for the truth does not engage the heart or transform the character…..In Christ, the justified believer beholds his only hope and deliverer. Belief may exist without trust, but confidence born of trust cannot exist without faith.” (Sings of the Times Nov. 3, 1890)
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation;” 2 Corinthians 5:17-18 (ESV)
My friends that verse gives us at least one distinction between Satan and ourselves. Satan’s chance for reconciliation has passed, and it passed when he said in [his] heart, ‘I will ascend to heaven; above the stars of God I will set my throne on high I will sit on the mount of assembly in the far reaches of the north; I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.’ Is.14:13-14 (ESV)
But what other distinction are there between Satan and everyone who claims to be a Child of God, what is lying dormant in our heart that takes us away from the same place Satan has been barred for life from, which is God’s pure and holy kingdom.
My friends is it our pride like Satan, or our envy towards others, has our lies destroyed us like it did too the father of lies, has our covertness taken it’s toll, or have we gotten so brazen as to tell ourselves “I will make myself like the Most High.” My friends let’s focus today on, what character traits of Satan could be so attractive to us, that would make us want to lose our Salvation for.
Satan has made this world such a complicated place to live. “While people are saying, “Peace and safety,” destruction [has] come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and [the majority] will not escape.” 1 Thess. 5:3 (NIV) and it is not because they don’t have the desire to escape.
But “the gate is wide and the way is easy, that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. [But] the gate is narrow and the way is hard [that leads to Life Eternal and Gods Pure and Holy Kingdom,] and those who find it are few.” Matt. 7:13-14 (ESV)
So it is time every child of God makes a personal decision about their future, as we ask ourselves today “How long will [we] waver between two opinions? If the LORD is [our] God, [then we must] follow Him; but if [Satan is our] god, [then] follow him.” 1 kings 18:21 (NHV)
Time as we know it is about to end my friends and God NEEDS WORKERS YESTERDAY which means we are already running behind schedule. Time is fleeting away and the world is “harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd…. [for] “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest [that we have the faith and endurance to give it all to the Master and become] laborers into his harvest.”
So my friends today. Stay focused, remain faithful, love one another and endure till the end and never forget to STUDY&PRAY