Participants: Chris Shelton (Host), Kenny Shelton
Series Code: BTLP
Program Code: BTLP000005
|
00:41 Hello and welcome to the another Behold the
00:43 Lamb Presents program. I'm your host Chris Shelton 00:47 and I'm so thankful that you have allowed us into 00:49 your home for another Bible study today. 00:52 Before we get started I have a question for you, 00:55 have you ever thought about what it means to 00:58 have Christian integrity? Christian integrity, 01:02 I looked up that word "Integrity". I want to share 01:05 some of the definitions that I found in the dictionary. 01:08 It says Adherence to moral and ethical principles; 01:13 soundness of moral character, moral character, 01:17 honesty. The state of being whole, entire, 01:21 or undiminished. Listen to this, it means to be 01:24 sound, unimpaired, or in perfect condition. 01:29 Do those sound like character traits that 01:31 possibly you've heard before, they sound familiar 01:34 to me because I read them in scripture. 01:36 Those were the character traits that Christ was to 01:39 have put in our heart, so that he can prepare you 01:43 for his kingdom. The sad part is that Christian 01:47 integrity is almost extinct in our world today. 01:53 And in today's message which we have entitled 01:55 "Satan Offers You the Kingdoms of This World." 01:59 "Satan Offers You the Kingdoms of This World," 02:02 Pastor Kenny is going to teach us more about the 02:05 Christian integrity. He is gonna teach us and talk 02:09 to us about three sins that perhaps you've not 02:12 even thought about, yet and yielding to just one 02:15 of these sins our first parents has caused this entire 02:21 world to fall into sin for almost 7000 years. 02:26 What misery, what disasters, what heartaches 02:30 we have experienced for so long because of one 02:34 sin, that's the importance of getting sin out of our 02:39 lives. That's how vital it is, because when we get 02:42 to the kingdom they will be no sin. 02:45 But, before we begin today's message we are so 02:48 blessed to be able to go 3ABN's worship center. 02:52 We are going to listen to an instrumental and it's 02:54 entitled Sweet Beulah Land it's by Ron Woolsey, 02:59 Sweet Beulah Land, I hope you're wanting to be there. 07:34 Thank you for joining us we are glad that we can 07:37 spend a little bit of time with you today. 07:38 Wherever you might be around the world, 07:41 we are gonna make this a habit by the way 07:42 that we can come together and study God's word, 07:45 so that we can draw closer to him because we know 07:47 that he is coming soon and we want to be ready, 07:50 by the way thank you for that beautiful song there 07:52 brother Ron Woolsey, Beulah Land, one of my 07:54 favorites, keep up the good work for Jesus. 07:57 But, before we get into out study today and 07:59 it's titled by the way Satan offers you the kingdom 08:03 of this world. My what to me an enticing subject. 08:08 You won't wanna miss it but we need power of the 08:10 Holy Spirit, so I'm gonna invite you to kneel with 08:12 me as we pray together. Loving Father in heaven, 08:17 we truly thank for your word, we thank you for 08:20 your sweet Holy Spirit. As promised that you would 08:23 enlighten our minds and our hearts as we per take 08:26 of the bread of life, oh we pray that you will 08:28 shower us with your blessings and give us 08:30 understanding and wisdom and help us to so order 08:33 our life in harmony with what the scriptures teach. 08:36 Thank you for loving us and for the privilege of 08:38 reaching your precious children around the world, 08:41 we give you praise and honor and glory in Jesus 08:43 name, Amen. Again we're glad that you joined us 08:48 today and we always invite you to be sure and 08:49 take out a pencil and paper and get your Bible 08:53 and you know shut the phones off and everything 08:55 else so that we can just spend some time together 08:58 studying the word, you know the enemy has 08:59 ways of trying to come in and distract us and we 09:01 don't wanna do that and we study about this 09:03 subject because it effect all of us by the way. 09:07 Now again the subject Satan offers you the 09:09 kingdoms of this world. How might you react? 09:14 How might you react? Jesus, remember, 09:17 was offered the kingdoms of this world, 09:19 he was offered this world. All he had to do was 09:21 just bow down and worship the enemy. 09:24 What if you were offered the whole world and 09:26 they say served on a little silver platter how, 09:30 what might you exchange? What might you give? 09:34 We're gonna find out from scripture and there are 09:38 some real warnings there, why? Because it can 09:39 effect every person living on the face of this 09:40 earth and it's effected millions, my I be bold and 09:44 say there would be millions that will go to Christ-less 09:47 graves because they haven't heeded the 09:48 message just like this. If you have your Bibles 09:51 I want you to take and turn with me please, 09:54 to the book of Matthew, Matthew chapter 16, 09:57 verse 26. Matthew chapter 16 verse 26, here's one 10:01 by the way that you know real well, as we read 10:04 it I want you to contemplate a little bit with me. 10:07 'Cause it poses some questions, some questions 10:09 that need to be answered. Notice how the Bible 10:12 reads here in verse 26 it says, for what is a 10:15 man profited, if he gained the whole world, 10:20 and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give 10:24 in exchange for his soul? So, there are several 10:28 words here that we need to closely look at here, 10:30 what is the man going to profit? Well again, 10:33 the world operates on profit. All businesses where 10:38 ever you might go, whatever you do in the 10:40 household and many make a lot of profit, 10:42 others maybe just make small. But, every business 10:45 has to make a profit in order to maintain. 10:48 And so when we go to sell something, we go 10:51 you know buy something we even ask question, 10:52 I wonder how much money they're making. 10:54 Something to do with profit. The Bible says what 10:56 is it gonna profit you if you gain the whole 10:59 world but lose your own soul what shall a man give 11:02 in exchange and I think about that word 11:04 exchange there, that means something that is 11:06 equivalent. What do you have to give, 11:11 if this whole world was served to you on that 11:14 platter. You know what the devil would probably, 11:16 do you know what he'd say to you. I don't want 11:18 very much, you don't have to write me out a 11:20 check, but you know what just make a commitment 11:23 to me. I'll bless you, I'll work miracles in your 11:27 behalf, I will do all these things, but you just pay 11:32 attention, just give me your soul and I'll give 11:36 you all these things. Very grateful and thankful the 11:40 Jesus says behold I stand at the door and knock 11:41 and he offers us eternal life. Well friend I'm very 11:45 grateful and thankful about that, but there is a 11:47 question here that's posed and it needs to be 11:49 answered and when I come to to grip with this 11:52 passage right, quick my answer is, there's really, 11:54 there's really no adequate answer to this question. 11:59 Because what do we have to give, all we give is 12:01 just our self, our soul. We don't want to give it 12:05 to the enemy, even though he is promising all of 12:07 these things. Now lets maybe ask just maybe a 12:12 little easier question that we can answer and spend 12:14 a little time on. What's wrong and I've had this 12:19 said by a lot of people they'll say what's wrong 12:22 man you know so and so gonna have some 12:23 money over here, we have houses, we have lands, 12:26 we have some property and what's wrong with 12:29 some of the material things of this world. 12:32 What's wrong with having some? 12:34 And you know my answer would simply be nothing. 12:40 And some of you probably jump out of your seat, 12:44 but let me finish it. Nothings wrong with the things 12:47 that I've just mentioned here as long as they 12:50 don't take the place of your love for God. 12:53 As long as you don't put these things before God. 12:55 God said he, he would, that we'd all prosper 12:57 and certainly be in health, God wants to bless 12:59 us and give us things of this world, 13:01 but you know we can't do it if we're going to put 13:05 them before him, he doesn't want that kind of 13:07 relationship, we don't need that kind of relationship. 13:10 I don't want those kind of relationship, 13:13 as long as they advise it doesn't supplant your love 13:16 for God it's okay, but you know there's still a 13:19 lot of warnings that are given in scripture. 13:22 Lets just share just a few of them just quickly again 13:25 if you're jotting down you have your Bible, 13:26 I want you just jot down here with me 13:28 Philippines 4:11. Because Paul you know gives the 13:31 warning here, he says that we need to learn, 13:33 listen carefully to be content. Now, this is a word 13:37 that's very difficult in the society that we live. 13:40 Most people are not content with what they 13:42 have. And Paul says you need to learn to be 13:44 content with such things as you have. 13:48 Now listen don't worry about what the Jones have 13:50 or what the Smiths have down at the corner 13:52 you follow me. If you do that you will 13:53 always be an unhappy sort of a person. 13:56 But learn to be wherever you're at in the walk of 13:59 life, learn to be content, it does bring some 14:02 happiness and cheer. And with always a prospect 14:04 of things can change or maybe something else 14:08 will happen and God so blesses and gives more 14:10 wonderful, if he doesn't, that's okay too, but, 14:12 notice with the warning because what is a man, 14:17 what is he profit if he gains the whole world? 14:20 And then the Bible goes in and says yeah but let's 14:21 listen these things are okay but there's warnings. 14:24 The warning is you need first learn to be content. 14:28 And that's why we have a lot of crime in society. 14:30 We have a lot of people that say you know going 14:32 across the fence. A lot of people doing different 14:34 things because they're not content with what 14:36 they have, they want what somebody else has. 14:39 And then the Bible by the way goes on. 14:42 In First Timothy 6:7, it's awesome here, 14:46 and I like this here because I've heard it people 14:48 talked about it often. You know they'll say well 14:52 you brought nothing into the world and you're 14:54 certainly not going to take anything out of this 14:56 world. Read that if you haven't read that in a 14:59 while, First Timothy 6:7. So, I think you can 15:02 relate to that when we came into this world what 15:04 did we have? How you didn't even have any 15:06 clothes on did you? We had nothing, and when we 15:10 leave here friends this same thing, 15:11 we have nothing, we can't take anything but our 15:14 character? So, the warning is still giving here that 15:19 don't put too much stock in the things of this 15:20 world because there is something that the devil 15:22 is gonna be using. To turn man's mind from, 15:27 from Jesus to things of this world. And again, 15:32 it's a very serious subject because it's taking 15:35 the world captive. We all want more, we all desire 15:41 more, that's why the countries in the mess that's 15:45 its in today. Of course the Bible goes on, 15:48 First Timothy 6:10, it's very interesting and it says 15:52 the rich, it gives the warning to the rich, 15:54 it says the rich will fall into temptation and a snare 15:59 because they've erred in the faith, notice that, 16:03 and they pierced themselves through with many 16:06 sorrows. It doesn't mean that all rich people are not 16:10 going to be in the team, not at all. Praise God 16:12 for people who love God enough and they have a 16:15 lot and they give a lot, praise the Lord for that. 16:17 But, there are many, the more they have, 16:19 the more that they want to gain in this life. 16:22 And it says here the rich fall into the temptations 16:26 and a snare. You say well I'm not sure of that, 16:29 oh friend Hollywood think about it. 16:34 As you read in the paper and you see, 16:36 you know the magazines and always right here 16:38 you know they have a lot of maybe a lot of 16:40 money but it seem like they're falling in through 16:42 one temptation and one snare, one problem, 16:45 one marriage, one divorce and this, that, 16:47 over and over, and over. Until the end result many, 16:51 who have been very wealthy, they have nothing 16:54 at the end of their life. But, it says they perished 16:58 themselves through with many sorrows 17:00 because sometime when you have money you 17:02 think you can get away with things. And do 17:05 something that the other folks cant do. 17:09 First Timothy 6:11 by the way, another warning 17:13 it says simply said flee these things. Interesting 17:19 here, maybe content, what the Bible says right 17:22 here. We brought nothing in, we are not gonna 17:25 carry anything out, be careful if you have 17:27 a lot of money here right here because hey you 17:30 might perish yourself through with many sorrows 17:33 and then the best thing to do is the Bible gives us 17:35 some real insight here is to flee these things. 17:41 Pretty difficult right, a lot of money involved or 17:44 a lot of things of this world. But, you know what 17:48 I found out, we are surrounded, I mean we are 17:52 surrounded, we're bombarded by worldliness. 17:57 Let me just give you a little food for thought. 18:02 Think along with me if you will. We're surrounded by 18:06 worldliness, and lets use this word here worldlings. 18:12 We are surrounded right, people living in a, 18:16 we live in a worldly world. We also we find 18:21 out here that where there's such a thing as 18:24 worldly associations, worldly friends, 18:28 by the way that's enter worldly attachments. 18:32 You see we are not saying we're bombarded 18:34 by all these words. In fact there is worldly 18:36 attractions. Have you ever been attracted by 18:39 something that's worldly. Have you ever been 18:44 draw in by a worldly attachment, you've been 18:50 in a worldly association, oh friend think about 18:54 it. Let me just let you scratch your head little bit 18:57 there is such thing is worldly employment did 18:59 you know that, worldly employment, 19:04 worldly gain, there is worldly ideas, worldly 19:08 influences, worldly interest, you can be worldly 19:13 minded, there can be worldly pleasures, 19:15 you see how the list can go on and on. 19:17 Worldly policy, worldly principle, oh how it goes 19:22 on and on and on, worldly. But you know the 19:27 Bible has given us plenty of information here. 19:30 Again what's wrong with things of this world? 19:35 Because I know this the more that we have it 19:37 seems, the more that we want and the more 19:42 distracted we become, but we just come to grips 19:47 with the more that we have sometime things 19:50 that are wrong with this world is because they 19:52 draw us what? Away from God. See it may not 19:59 be wrong within itself what you have but it 20:01 takes all your time, all your energy, you have 20:04 nothing left for God. Now how do we know that 20:08 these things of the world are not good for? 20:10 Oh the Bible is very, very clear, turn with me 20:12 you know this, you probably even memorize it, 20:14 bless your heart in the book of First John 20:16 chapter 2 verse 15. First John chapter 2:15 through 20:21 17. Now remember as we read these passage of 20:24 scripture, its good if you haven't read them in a 20:28 while to jot down what we're talking about, 20:31 go back when you have the opportunity and 20:33 read them, read them. The Bible says the warning 20:37 is given love not the come on, I didn't hear 20:41 you, love not what? Love not the world, 20:44 neither the things that are what? That are in 20:47 the world. If any man loved the world, 20:49 notice this, the love of the Father is not in him. 20:53 Now it can't be any cleared than that you can 20:55 deny it if you want to, but the Bible says if 20:59 you love the world. The love of the Father is not 21:04 in you, you realize here that you can't love 21:07 God and mammon. That's what the Bible says in 21:10 the, what is that, in the Matthew chapter 6 21:13 isn't it. Matthew 6:24, otherwise you can and 21:17 manage just means the wealth and the things 21:19 of this world you just, you can't love God and 21:21 love them because you're going to get confused 21:23 on it and more likely we maybe choosing the things 21:25 of this world because we see them now, 21:28 you know we can touch them now and they can 21:30 make us feel better and people will like us 21:32 and you can have lot of friends. 21:35 But Jesus says that we be careful here because 21:38 we're talking about salvation issues here. 21:42 Love not the world, and you know what this 21:44 is interesting? When it says love not, the word 21:47 simply means stop loving. Stop loving what, 21:55 stop loving the world, don't continue to love 22:00 the world. Now lets be a little bolder shall we. 22:05 When you talk about the world you must talk 22:07 about, oh, oh people. We're supposed to love 22:12 people? Yes. But, how about the ungodly people? 22:21 I want you to kind of hang a little bit because 22:23 we will talk a little bit more on as you are 22:24 because some of your minds already I can sense 22:26 that you are already struggling here and you 22:28 are saying well yeah but you we've got just wait 22:30 a minute. It says love not what? It doesn't mean 22:35 the people but what? Their actions and their 22:37 lifestyle, the ungodly, the ungodly people are 22:41 associated with this thing called the world. 22:44 See when these 10 passage were written 22:46 down as inspired by the Holy Spirit. It wasn't that 22:50 you know God was saying here I hate this 22:53 planet, hate this whole, the things that in it. 22:59 The things that draw us away from him. 23:01 And it has to do many times with ungodly, 23:04 and by the way when you talk about the world 23:06 it's those who hate God. But we have to sometime 23:10 with what? Withdraw ourselves from the haters 23:13 of God, because its worldly, worldly associations. 23:18 Jesus said he who is not what? With me is against 23:22 me. We, we very seldom wanna come to grips 23:25 with a fact that if you have a friend that has not 23:28 given their life to Jesus Christ the enemy has 23:31 their mind. The enemy runs that individual, 23:36 it can't be two ways, we just read, you can't 23:40 love God and mammon or wealth or things of 23:43 this world. You can't, anything that you put 23:47 before God becomes your idol doesn't it? 23:51 Sure it does. Now, lets go back and try to make 23:55 it little easier because some of you are 23:57 still the doubting Thomas' here we're, 23:59 I'm saying here we need to be very careful 24:02 about people, when you say worldly people, 24:06 but by the way when you mention the world, 24:09 I'm wanna have to say this here. I'm even 24:11 talking about false teachers. False teachers 24:17 why? Because the enemy's running them. 24:20 The deceivers, but I do believe this, we need to 24:26 have a, be careful now, a hatred for the world, 24:30 notice this. But a real Christian you know will not 24:34 stop trying to help and win the souls of those 24:37 who have fallen in the sand. I hope that makes 24:40 sense to you? We hate the world, but not the 24:44 people who fall in or say people who need help, 24:46 we've got to reach out, we've got to touch them 24:48 and bring them to Jesus Christ. This is what 24:54 we're talking about in the study. What's wrong 24:56 with the things of this world? What's wrong with 24:59 us? What are we choosing today by the way? 25:04 Of course that passage of scripture when you 25:05 read there in First John 2, that was 15 through 25:08 17 and it really begins to get, I'm talking about 25:11 really bold right there it says you know 25:14 it goes on to speak about the lust of the flesh, 25:17 and the lust of the eyes. See flesh things of the 25:22 world and the eyes what they behold and what it 25:25 draws into. There is a warning that's given here 25:29 in scripture. Now remember and the pride of life 25:34 in that passage. Be careful about the pride of life, 25:38 when you say the pride of life that means you are 25:41 satisfied with the goods of this world. 25:46 Oh friend make sure you're not satisfied with 25:47 the goods of this world, they're soon to pass 25:50 away, nothing here is going to last forever. 25:52 We're looking for a kingdom, alright, we're 25:53 looking for Jesus to come. Storing our treasures 25:56 in heaven. Now, there's a point here I don't want 26:00 us to miss. Satan is very, very happy, 26:08 notice this when we yield yourself. We don't have 26:12 to go out on drugs, we don't have to be drunk 26:14 all the time, we don't have to be shooting up, 26:15 is somebody with me? He's happy with you when 26:21 you just simply yield your heart and your soul 26:23 to worldliness. Why? Because he has you, 26:29 we'll get a clear of that in a moment, 26:30 time last here. Remember he has you, 26:34 he can have me, if we yield yourself to what? 26:37 Worldliness, is Satan is what? He's satisfied. 26:43 This becomes very intense in scripture. 26:46 And I want you to turn with me in Matthew 26:48 chapter 4 and you know this very well but please 26:52 notice with me. In Matthew chapter 4, 26:55 we are going to read and you know this 26:57 temptation of Jesus. None of us will ever have 26:59 to go through, none of us will ever have to 27:03 go through what Jesus went through. 27:06 But, dear friends we're going to be tested on 27:07 what I'm talking about today. We're going to get 27:09 some answers here from scripture, we are gonna 27:13 show how Jesus overcame the enemy. In Matthew 27:18 chapter 4, notice what the Bible says. 27:21 Matthew chapter 4 and we're looking through 27:23 will say what 8 through 10, Matthew chapter 4:8 27:26 through 10. Now notice what the Bible says, 27:29 the Bible says this, Again the devil taketh him 27:32 up into an exceeding high mountain, who? 27:35 Jesus, You remember this is the wilderness temptation. 27:37 Showed him the kingdoms of the world, and the 27:39 glory of them; And saith unto him, all these things 27:42 will I give thee if thou wilt fall down and do what? 27:47 And worship me. Notice what Jesus said his 27:50 response? And Jesus said unto him, 27:53 Get thee hence, Satan, for it is written, 27:58 Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only 28:00 shall thou serve. Jesus answer and said get 28:04 behind me Satan. But, Satan offered Jesus, 28:06 the audacity of the enemy. To the King of the 28:11 universe he says I want you to fall down and 28:13 I want you to worship me and I'm gonna give 28:15 you these things. But, you know I'm so thankful 28:20 for Christ example because it set here for you 28:24 and for me, showing us how we may overcome 28:27 the enemy. And we simply overcome the enemy by 28:30 what? With good scripture, and the first temptation 28:36 he overcame was by every word that perceives 28:38 out of the mouth of God. You and I have to have 28:41 an answer to the enemy when he comes against 28:43 us but it must be not I think or I was told or 28:46 mom said, but you know what it's a thus saith 28:48 the Lord. The enemy has no answer for that. 28:52 This is how Jesus conquered the enemy. 28:56 This is how we can be more than conquerors 28:58 through him. You remember on the sermon on the 29:00 mountain Jesus said for us he said you know 29:03 lay not for yourself treasures on what? 29:06 On this earth, he warns us about putting us interest 29:11 and our affections on things of this earth. 29:16 There is a warning that he gives. Because he 29:20 knows that if we are not careful then our affection 29:23 be greater for the things of earth than for him 29:30 You know, what it shows me he is concerned for 29:31 you and he's concerned for me. And this is 29:35 awesome when you think about what a creator 29:37 how much he loves us. Friend, who are you serving 29:43 today, who are you serving today. Is it possible 29:49 that the God of this world has blinded your eyes. 29:54 That's blinded my eyes so that eternal things 29:58 are no longer valuable, could it be. Does he have 30:04 way that he can blind our eyes? Remember, 30:08 I mentioned a while ago that the things that we love 30:11 more than God becomes what? Becomes our idol, 30:16 in Matthew chapter 10 verse 37 it says he 30:19 that loveth father or mother, or sister, 30:22 or brother more than me is what? Is not 30:25 worthy of me. Our mother, our father, our sister, 30:32 brother, husband or wife. Anything we put 30:34 before God, becomes our idol. Have we lost our 30:39 senses, have we lost our direction. Have we lost the 30:44 value of eternity? An the devil's offering us 30:48 trinkets, we're selling ourselves for things of this 30:53 world that's not going to last. Now I've been know 30:59 sometime to make big statements and I'm gonna 31:01 make some more big ones. But, you know what I'm 31:03 gonna back it up with scripture. I'm gonna 31:06 back it up with scripture. I don't know exactly, 31:12 that is in scripture, how many temptations that the 31:15 devil has. So, I can say to you hundreds and thousands 31:19 of different temptations that the enemy has. 31:24 It may going into the millions, tempting this, 31:27 tempting this going this direction, that direction 31:29 but you know what, everyone of these temptations, 31:34 the hundreds and the thousands come out of a little 31:38 pot of three. We'll call them the big three. 31:46 Out of the three comes all of these other temptations, 31:51 these tests. And you'll say well what could they 31:55 possibly be, well now we quit preaching a little bit, 31:59 and people say we're going to meddle just a little 32:02 bit. But, you know it either is truth or it's not 32:05 truth. It either is right or it's not right. Here is the 32:11 big three things that the devil uses and then he 32:17 responds of in a lot of different directions off of 32:19 these three, we are going to have to gain the victory 32:22 over all three of these. It will shut off all the other 32:25 avenues. The first by the way is appetite, now some 32:33 of you shutting it off already aren't you, 32:34 you can't take it. Don't become offended, 32:38 it either is truth or it's not. And the Bible reveals 32:41 the fact, millions have been overcome by appetite. 32:50 Millions are in the process of it right now, they're 32:54 loosing their grip on eternal life because of their 32:58 appetite. Now that goes in a lot of different 33:02 directions but you need to still think, won't you 33:04 think with me. You are gonna say well how could that 33:07 effect me in eternal life. Let's just a make few 33:13 simple statements here. How could this effect 33:18 through just the gratification of taste? 33:23 What changes take place, what happens, remember 33:27 when someone says the gratification, not many 33:29 people say this. You say boy that thing there 33:31 whatever they're getting, that's kind of a nasty 33:34 thing. Oh! But it tastes good. And you can point out 33:40 in Bible that says well that's unclean, 33:42 God said not to eat it. Oh! But it tastes good. 33:48 You've heard it, it's all about taste, it's not about 33:53 the word of God this is what they're telling us. 33:58 The gratification of diet that means, gratification 34:01 means that which give you pleasure, that which 34:06 gives you an indulgence, millions going to miss out 34:10 on the kingdom. It's very serious business because 34:14 the devil, you see he brought that what? 34:18 Against Adam and Eve in the beginning isn't that 34:20 right? And the world was lost. And the big victory 34:25 is when Jesus came what? He had to go and do 34:28 without food for almost six weeks. To gain 34:30 the victory, for man had fallen. You say well yeah 34:36 but I'm not sure, it's just matter of something 34:37 tastes good or they say oh listen to your friends 34:40 we're talking about, we are talking about here 34:42 overdoing. Being overcome by the appetite, 34:46 letting it get rule and reign as here's what happens. 34:50 It affects our nervous system. 34:54 When we abuse the appetite it affects our 34:55 nervous system. It becomes over excited, 34:59 it becomes overloaded, and then it begins to affect 35:04 our brain power, it deletes our brain power and 35:08 the results makes it impossible for us to think 35:14 calmly or rationally or to balance issues, 35:18 I hope you're still with me. We become unbalanced, 35:24 this is some awesome things and we call 35:27 him sobering things to the point where the devil 35:29 is working with our nervous system, 35:32 to where we can't become, you ever notice people 35:34 are so nervous anymore. They can't seem to 35:38 sit still, allowing things what we're putting in, 35:42 you wanna talk about the children you say oh! 35:44 Boy what is she over there dancing around while 35:46 all the kids are running around, because they're 35:48 just eating the wrong things and oh I tell you we 35:52 become unbalanced and we cannot sort it out, 35:56 here is the big point, we can't sort out spiritual 35:58 things. The devil knows this, that's why he is 36:01 trying to work the world over on what, on appetite, 36:04 because it affects our brain, it affects our choices 36:07 and we cannot discern spiritual things. 36:12 Do you see how the devil's working? You see that's 36:14 a medical fact, that's the proven thing you know that. 36:18 And you know what just, it just doesn't stay 36:20 at that too by the way. Our minds become, 36:25 listen to the word perverted. Our minds because 36:29 of what we take into our system the way that we 36:31 begin to think, we become perverted and our moral 36:36 power is gone think about it. And when our moral 36:40 power is gone we give away to lust, once this happens, 36:45 once this happens, now notice this, once the devil 36:48 has weakened us through this appetite or things 36:50 that are affecting the mind we can't make a good, 36:53 here comes two more things that he begins to use. 36:56 Other words he gives you a big punch and then he 36:59 wants to give you the second one, once he gets 37:01 you where you can't quite make the good intelligent 37:03 decisions again, you can't think properly then 37:05 he's going to give you the second of the big three. 37:09 Which all the other stems out by the way you know 37:12 what it is? Presumption, presumption, some people 37:17 say I don't understand what presumption. 37:19 What you mean being presumption. Presumption 37:22 simply means you're over stepping of some proper 37:26 bounds. There's proper boundaries, this is what you 37:29 say in here, everything's okay. But, we presumptuously 37:32 step outside and say it's going to be okay out 37:35 here may be when the warning is don't go outside 37:37 here, because you're going to get hurt. 37:40 But, we say well no, we can go ahead and do this, 37:42 I think it's going to be alright. People say that by 37:45 the way a lot about well we don't have to really 37:47 be obedient to God's laws or any of his commands, 37:50 because you know we're under grace and well he 37:52 is gonna save us in the kingdom, don't be 37:55 presumptuous. You're overstepping, when God 37:59 said that we need to what, we need to honor 38:01 him, we need to obey him, presumption is taking 38:06 something for granted, oh I'll be alright. 38:09 I don't have to worry about these things, 38:11 overconfidence, oh God is gonna to take me 38:14 to heaven anyway, I know I'll just do the 38:15 best I can, oh he will take me to heaven, 38:17 no that's not true. Don't be presumptuous, 38:21 oh we have a lot of time I can give you a lot of 38:23 examples of people in the Bible that were 38:25 presumptuous. You know what I can start 38:27 with Adam and Eve, presuming upon God's mercy 38:31 that well he won't really do this because he 38:34 loves us too much, don't kid yourself. 38:37 God says no, it means no. Presumption is gonna 38:44 be by the way can be you know if you go 38:48 beyond that which is a known fact. 38:51 This is a known fact, this is what's going to 38:53 happen. You have a bare wire out here and 38:58 you've got one tin running through it, 39:02 then you're gonna say well I know one tin is 39:03 running through there but I think if I stand a 39:05 certain place I can touch it and I'm gonna be 39:06 alright, don't presume on that, you'll probably get 39:09 shocked, I bet you probably get killed. 39:13 Presumption is a common temptation by the way. 39:17 To many professed followers of Jesus Christ. 39:20 This is where the devil's working by the way, 39:21 he's working in the church those who profess 39:23 his name, and they are presuming upon Christ, 39:28 and they fall pray to the old enemy because 39:31 they listen, because they put themselves in 39:34 dangerous positions. Put themselves in a place 39:37 where God would not have them to be that 39:40 they know that they shouldn't be, 39:41 but they still do it anyway. Well God will still 39:45 take care of me. How's God going to take care 39:49 of you if you're not following his direction. 39:52 Remember when he says don't or no that's 39:54 what he means. Now lets go a little bit 39:58 deeper with it, I mean presumptions, 40:00 what he listen. We do that sometime when 40:03 it comes to claiming the promises of God. 40:05 Have you read many of the promises of God? 40:08 I'm claiming this promise of God while you're at 40:10 the same time living in direct disobedience to 40:14 the word of God. There's no use to claim 40:16 those promises because they're not yours. 40:20 But, many presume well I know but I did and 40:23 I know, he knows what I'm. Oh! Friend time 40:27 is too short we need to get right with God. 40:33 We put ourselves in dangerous situation 40:36 sometime Violating the laws of God, 40:39 violating the laws of nature. Oh! Friend, 40:47 using bad judgment, this is being presumptuous. 40:55 Now remember the devil likes it, he likes if 40:58 you'd overstepped because God said no but 41:00 he likes to get you to go over that because 41:02 he knows you're gonna be easy prey. 41:06 Now remember more likely you wouldn't be over 41:08 this presuming if you had already violated the 41:13 appetite or the drugs or the alcohol, 41:15 whatever it might be overeating, eating the 41:17 wrong things, lets just get down to it. 41:20 It weakens your mind and so weaken our 41:22 mind, that we begin to say well yeah but 41:24 God is gonna, oh! Friend he means what he says, 41:28 Jesus said in his second temptation, 41:32 notice this, thou shalt not tempt the Lord 41:36 thy God. Once again we use scripture, 41:41 you are going to have to use it. 41:42 I'm going to have to use it, we're going to have 41:45 to, we're gonna have to walk in the foot 41:46 steps of Jesus Christ. We are gonna have to go 41:50 through these things, these temptations. 41:53 And when the devil brings on a temptation, 41:58 we have to come to the point that we have to 42:00 realize the word that what? We are not gonna 42:02 go that direction. Because God has said, 42:07 Jesus said to the enemy you can't, thou shalt 42:10 not tempt the Lord thy God. And as God's 42:13 children we can't let the enemy tempt us in the 42:16 wrong direction, we have to know what 42:17 truth is. If we do this, if we follow Jesus they'll 42:22 be no presumptuous actions, notice this. 42:26 If we study scripture and if we follow scripture 42:30 dear friends, notice that we will be able to be 42:34 just exactly like Jesus, we'll be able to meet 42:37 the foe and be more than a conqueror through 42:39 Jesus Christ. These are the things that we face 42:43 everyday I want you to hear, it doesn't matter 42:45 how many times you've heard this message, 42:47 it doesn't matter how many times. 42:48 Friends, these are the big three that the 42:50 devil is using today, millions will go to Christ-less 42:53 graves. Many you said it dear friends will not 42:56 make it to heaven because they'll say well it 42:58 doesn't matter, it does matter. Because God 43:01 said it matters. It's time for us to make some 43:06 decided bold changes. Oh! Okay you need to, 43:13 let me give some food for thought. 43:15 Did you know that the enemy Satan, Satan's 43:19 rebellion was a presumptuous act. 43:24 Did you know that, do you think he knew 43:26 God? You think he knew what God was talking 43:30 about? And did he presume that he might get 43:34 away with it. It's a presumptuous act, 43:37 there's no doubt about it, as I mentioned before, 43:40 Adam and Eve presumption. You say well 43:45 I'm still not really sure even though we've 43:47 covered a few things here. Remember presumption 43:49 is simply taking human theories against the 43:53 thus saith the Lord. Human what? Human 43:58 theories, I think is seems like we studied, 44:02 it's what the God says in his word is what's 44:04 important isn't it? The devil was tempting men 44:12 and women and children to disobey God. 44:18 And when he gets them to disobey, he says you know 44:23 when you disobey God's word you are gonna find 44:26 more liberty, you are gonna have more freedom 44:28 that's what he did to Adam and Eve, 44:29 isn't it. No, I just do what God, have you 44:33 ever heard that, oh we don't, we don't have 44:35 to keep the law, God's law anymore. 44:41 I'm hearing the same things over and over. 44:44 That we heard, that we in the very beginning. 44:47 The enemy says you don't have to keep them 44:48 anymore and if you don't go, you don't have 44:50 do that and when you go the other direction 44:52 here, there's gonna be more freedom, 44:54 we're free now. Oh! The devil is a liar, 45:01 how could this happen to so called Christians, 45:05 in our society if we're really studying, 45:07 we're really reading the word of God like we 45:09 should. Let me tell you dear friends you know 45:13 why because man's mind have become darkened. 45:18 We are not thinking spiritually the way that we 45:21 should, we've become confused and you are 45:24 gonna say well how have we become dark and 45:26 spiritually, how we become confused, 45:29 because we have conformed too much to the 45:32 worldly costumes that's what we've done 45:33 dear friends and the influences of this world, 45:37 what? We have fashioned our self like the 45:39 world, we are participating in worldly things all 45:42 the time, well around worldly things and we 45:44 don't know whether it's dark or light anymore. 45:47 That sad, in the time that maybe we backed 45:52 away just a little bit, from some of those 45:55 things that are not Christ like and try to look 45:58 at the total picture. Of how the devil is 46:01 sucking us in, trying to take advantage of us, 46:04 disorientating us. Having us walk around in 46:08 darkness, disoriented, we can't make a good 46:12 decision, we're presumptuous. Then he is 46:16 gonna pull the rug out from under you and 46:18 under me. Don't let him do it, your answer 46:22 is to know the scripture dear friend, 46:24 here is the results by the way that we've been 46:28 custom to the, you know the world and the 46:29 influences of the world you know what happened, 46:33 man has lost his power. The power to discern 46:36 between light and darkness between truth 46:39 and err. Think about that with me, the way 46:47 the enemy's working its very difficult now 46:49 because we're not spiritually mind we've lost, 46:52 have you ever been dizzy, have I ever felt 46:55 faint? Have you ever been disoriented its not 46:59 pleasant but you really can't make an intelligent 47:01 decision you really don't know which way to 47:03 go if you're lost you don't know what to do. 47:06 And the devil says I've got him disoriented now 47:09 because they don't know, they're calling 47:11 light dark and dark light. Oh! Friend don't 47:15 become, don't get that way, spend time in 47:19 the word. We must remember this and I 47:25 want you to jot this down. Those of you home 47:27 by the way at least I want you to really 47:29 listen and put this in your mind. Presumption 47:34 is Satan's counterfeit of faith, did you get it? 47:42 Presumption is Satan's counterfeit of what? 47:47 Of faith. For every truth the devil has what? 47:51 Good, a counterfeit. If we can understand how 47:55 we're led to commit presumptions sins. 48:00 Oh! Dear friends if we can understand it, 48:10 if we can just really figure this out using God's word, 48:16 then we can gain the victory. If we can see how 48:21 the enemy's working, how he's coming against 48:23 us then we can gain the victory through Jesus 48:26 Christ, because you know what the enemy's ever 48:29 present to offer you something of this world, 48:34 a little bit of a gain, a little bit of you know 48:36 things of this world. He's trying to entice man 48:40 into his service. Friend, you have to make a 48:45 choice, I have to make a choice, we cannot be 48:47 indifferent because we're either on his side or 48:49 we're on God's side. He's either enticed you to 48:52 things of this world. Or wanting the things of 48:54 this world, that you're putting all of your 48:55 energy your time, your talents you're putting 48:58 into either God's service or the devil's service, 49:01 which is it? Have you been lured, have you 49:04 been hypnotized? Have you been distracted? 49:13 It was just simply through one fault. 49:19 You remember this man in Bible name Balaam. 49:22 Lets just hit this real quickly, the man Balaam. 49:28 The Bible says there in Second Peter he 49:29 said he loved, listen he loved the wages of 49:34 righteousness. He loved what? He loved the 49:37 wages of righteousness and remember it was 49:41 just through this one fault that Satan gained 49:46 entire control of this man, did you get it? 49:51 Through this what? Somebody say one, 49:54 one fault, that the enemy gained entire control 49:59 of him and you know what be careful he's working 50:04 to gain control of you and me. That's big two 50:08 now the three one quickly in a few moments we 50:10 have left, I want you think about simply is love 50:12 of the world, appetite presumption, 50:17 love of what? Love of the world. We read few 50:22 moments ago where the devil came and he 50:25 offered Christ the kingdoms of this world. 50:29 I'm gonna give you wealth and honor, 50:32 people are going to pay homage to you and 50:33 pleasure and you can relate maybe in this life, 50:35 maybe this has happened to you. And when 50:38 the devil comes to get you, he presents all of 50:40 these things in a retroactive light. It doesn't 50:44 seem like it would hurt it, it just seems pretty 50:45 good at the time we're lured into it, we will be 50:49 deceived. I like Jesus' answer I'm telling you. 50:56 The enemy said you need to fall down and 50:57 worship me, Jesus said, there be no tempting 51:02 of the Lord. Jesus gained entire full victory. 51:13 But, you know what man many times fails. 51:17 In this area where Christ gained the victory 51:19 we fall short. Because you offer somebody a 51:22 little power, a little cloud, we say, a little 51:26 authority and they lose their head, have you 51:28 ever met someone like that oh boy. 51:35 But, if we give in let me just tell you this 51:36 quickly, if we give in to the enemy there is a 51:40 price to pay. There is a price to pay and 51:45 you know what that's interesting the price to 51:46 pay also has three areas that's very, 51:49 very important, we'll try to cover those in just 51:50 a few minutes. If you give into the enemy and 51:55 you want the things of this world, 51:56 you know what he is gonna, this is what he's 51:58 gonna ask you in return. You know we always 52:01 can get it down and say well ask for your 52:03 soul, let me tell you, let's get a little bit deeper 52:05 into it, first all he says I ask for your integrity. 52:12 Integrity, how important is this word integrity, 52:15 friends, it means honesty. It means soundless, 52:22 integrity is holiness. See God's people need to 52:27 have integrity, the world needs integrity, 52:32 but it seems like we've lost that word, we've 52:33 lost that sound. Who has integrity today? 52:38 Who's really honest? Who's really sound? 52:44 The devil just says it, just give me that and I'm 52:46 gonna give you some good things of this world. 52:50 And by the way when you talk about integrity it 52:52 means sincerity. How many of you are really 52:54 sincere in the cause of Christ? How many of you 52:57 are really sincere in your marriage? How many are 52:59 really sincere in your religion? Sincere in your 53:04 job, the world's forgetting this integrity, 53:09 but the devil says I want it, I'm gonna that, 53:12 but I'm gonna give you some good shiny things 53:16 why? The devil wants to separate this word 53:20 integrity from a human being. He knows he 53:24 has us by the way if he can do that. And you know 53:27 why the one of the biggest reasons I was 53:28 reading and study. That the devil asked for your 53:31 integrity. Listen because, listen closely, 53:37 listen, my wife's probably talking, I don't want you 53:38 talking, because integrity is an attribute of God. 53:48 What? Integrity is an attribute of God. 53:52 The devil hates it, and he says I'm gonna take it 53:55 from the people. But, I'm gonna give you something 53:57 in return he says, even though we know this 54:00 is soon to pass away, it is not gonna last. 54:06 I've read something that just thrilled my heart. 54:12 That God will never ever forsake you or me 54:16 while we preserve our integrity. That's good news 54:21 oh friend preserve it today. Number two, 54:26 the devil says I'm wanna give you things of this 54:28 world but I need your conscious. A conscious you're 54:32 gonna have to be darkened and we can read 54:36 in scripture in First Timothy 4:2 it talks about 54:39 here that our conscience is seared with a hot iron, 54:43 you remember that. Come on stay with me, 54:44 we just have a little time left, listen see, 54:46 he said devil said I'm gonna sear that conscience, 54:49 did you get? He is gonna brand that conscience, 54:53 he is going to render us insensible, did you get 54:56 it? The devil is going to render us insensible, 55:03 or else we don't care about anybody else did 55:04 you get it? We don't care about anything or 55:10 anybody else, wow! Branded. And number 55:18 three quickly is selfishness, wow! He says 55:24 you know I want you to listen, not give it up, 55:27 but I want you to indulge selfishness quickly, 55:31 give up your integrity, I give you the world right? 55:33 Give me your conscience, I'm gonna give you the 55:35 things of this world. Indulge that selfishness, 55:39 I'm gonna to give you the world, selfish is dear 55:42 friends is the downfall of Kingdoms. It debars man 55:47 from presenting the truth, the selfish man cannot 55:49 present what the truth is in Jesus Christ. 55:51 And let me tell you quickly God cannot pour out 55:53 his Holy Spirit on a selfish individual, and in God's 55:58 sight selfishness is a grievous sin. And let me tell 56:03 you this quickly as we lose if we accept Satan's 56:05 offer the door is always going to be left open 56:09 for him to come in as he pleases and do what he 56:12 wants to do with all sorts of evil. You don't want 56:15 that do you? No, if we accept his plan, 56:20 this is what he is going to do, the door will 56:21 be open, what shall it profit a man. 56:24 If he should gain the whole world and lose his 56:27 own soul. Friend, the choice is your, 56:29 it's mine today, we must keep your integrity, 56:33 our conscience and turn to Jesus right now before 56:36 it is too late, may God bless you and 56:38 we look forward to seeing you next time. 56:42 Welcome back and we pray that this message 56:45 is truly been blessing to you, it has been an 56:48 encouragement for you to get out God's word. 56:51 Dust it off, read it, get on your knees, pray. 56:55 Ask Christ for that Christian integrity, 56:57 that Christian character to prepare you for 57:00 the Kingdom. I know that many of you have found 57:04 that the things that the devil has been offering 57:06 you in this world. The decisions that you have 57:08 been making. Have not brought you the happiness, 57:12 have not brought you the peace that you 57:14 thought it was going to bring, instead it's 57:17 brought you sadness, heartache, it destroys us, 57:22 it brings about depression and Christ wants you 57:25 to have a sound mind, a peaceful mind. 57:28 It doesn't mean everything in this life is 57:30 always going to be easy. But, he promised you 57:32 something that and he promises that he will be 57:35 there to see through those times of trails and in 57:38 those times of temptation. Christ is calling you 57:41 to look up, to look up to him, to ask him into your 57:46 heart, I'd like to pray with you, I know that 57:49 many of you out there are wanting to have this 57:51 change with him, so would you bow your head 57:53 with me now. Most gracious heavenly Father, 57:57 Lord I just pray the your Holy Spirit will touch 58:00 the ears of each and every person that has been 58:03 listening to the program today. That has been 58:06 listening to your voice speak to their heart. 58:09 Father, give us a new heart, a clean heart, 58:13 a heart of integrity and forgive us of our sins we 58:17 pray Lord, in Jesus name precious and holy name, 58:21 Amen. You know we wanna hear from you here 58:23 at Behold the Lamb Ministries, would you 58:26 please write us, you can write us at 58:28 Behold the lamb ministries PO Box 2030 58:31 Herrin, IL-62948 Or email us, everybody 58:37 loves to email anymore you can email us at 58:40 BeholdTheLamb Ministries@yahoo.com. 58:44 Or visit us on the web that's 58:45 www.BeholdThe Lamb Ministries.com. Until next 58:52 time may the Lord richly bless each and every of you. |
Revised 2014-12-17