Dealing With Pot Holes, Cancers, And Snakes Lesson 7 Series

A. INTRODUCTION

1. What will keep you from exercising extraordinary faith?

a. Pot holes. The negative circumstances of life. Pot holes will grow if you don’t look after details, i.e., neglect. Results: inconvenient and distracting.

b. Cancer. Sin nature, grows slowly out of sight. Results: always ends in death.

c. Snakes. “Your adversary, the devil, as a roaring lion . . . seeking whom he may destroy” (I Peter 5:8). Results: destroys you.

2. Faith is a relationship with God. In a negative way, you must turn from sin and Satan. In a positive way, you must seek God. “But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him” (Heb. 11:6).

B. DON’T LET THE POT HOLES OF LIFE DETRACT YOU SPIRITUALLY

1. Stay on the path. “The road is straight, and the gate is narrow, so only a few find it” (Matt. 7:14, LB).

2. Expect pot holes, life is not perfect. “Don’t be surprised at the trials you will go through” (I Peter 4:12, LB).

3. Accept them. “Dear brothers and sisters, whenever troubles come your way, let it be an opportunity . . . you will be strong in character” (James 1:2-3 LB).

Why me?

Why this?

Why now?

4. Don’t react negatively. “I am glad to boast about my weakness, so that the power of Christ may work through me” (II Cor. 12:9).

5. You are not responsible for what happens to you, but you are responsible for what happens in you.

I may fail, but I am not a failure.

6. Learn from your pot holes.

a. Blow up, anger.

b. Cover up, won’t admit, and can’t get help.

c. Back up, never learn and go forward.

d. Slow up, controlled by problems.

e. Wake up, learn and smell the coffee.

C. DON’T LET CANCER CONTROL YOUR REACTION TO LIFE

1. Don’t ignore or deny. “The good that I would, I do not; but the evil which I would not, that I do” (Rom. 7:19).

2. Inward deception. “All that is in the world, that lust of the flesh, the lust of the eye, and the pride of life” (I John 2:16).

Lust of the flesh: body pleasure, sex

Lust of the eyes: material things, stuff

Pride of Life: ego, self

3. Know the diagnosis.

a. Yield your body to God (Rom. 6:13).

b. Deny worldly lust (Titus 2:12).

c. Claim Christ power (II Cor. 12:9).

4. Know the rehab to get stronger: exercise.

a. Grow in the word (I Peter 2:2).

b. Pray for strength in temptation. “Watch and pray that you enter not into temptation” (Matt. 26:41).

D. DON’T LET SNAKES DESTROY YOUR LIFE

1. They destroy your life with poison. “We are not ignorant of his devices by which Satan gets an advantage of us” (I Cor. 2:11, ELT).

2. They capture you with fear. “Fear none of those things which you will suffer from Satan” (Rev. 2:10, ELT). “And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell” (Matt. 10:28).

3. If Satan tempted Jesus, he will tempt you. “Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil” (Matt. 4:1).

4. Realize God will give you protection from Satan. “Greater is he that is in you, then he that is in the world” (I John 4:4).

5. You need protection. “Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies and tricks of the devil” (Eph. 6:11, LB).

6. Be truthful with yourself and God. “Putting on the sturdy belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness” (Eph. 6:14, LB).

7. Seek inner assurance. “For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News” (Eph. 6:15, LB).

8. Faith. “You will need faith as a shield to stop the fiery arrows aimed at you by Satan” (Eph. 6:17, LB).

9. Your best defense is an attacking weapon. “Take the sword of the Sprit which is the Word of God” (Eph. 6:17, LB).

10. Intercession for victory. “Pray at all times and on every occasion in the power of the Holy Spirit (Eph. 6:18, LB). “Deliver us from the evil one” (Matt. 6:13).

If you have never really accepted Jesus as your personal Savior, would you do it right now? Do not delay or put it off. If you would like to receive Christ by faith, pray this simple prayer in your heart:

Dear Lord, I acknowledge that I am a sinner. I believe Jesus died for my sins on the cross, and rose again the third day. I repent of my sins. By faith I receive the Lord Jesus as my Savior. You promised to save me, and I believe You, because You are God and cannot lie. I believe right now that the Lord Jesus is my personal Savior, and that all my sins are forgiven through His precious blood. I thank You, dear Lord, for saving me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.