Don’t you Dare!
1st Peter 5:8 – Genesis 2
Don’t you dare!!
How many of us this morning have ever heard that phrase! I would about guarantee that most of us have heard that….or even use that…… at one point of our life. I would even add that there is something mystical or even powerful about a dare.
We have all heard about people being dared to do something. Perhaps you can remember a time in school where someone drew a line in the sand and dared you to cross it! Now for most boys that is something hard to resist. Maybe it was a parent that dared their daughter to defy a direct command that was given….not to go on that date……not to leave the house….not to watch TV or use the computer because they were grounded. Whatever the case, there is always a temptation in being dared not to do something. May I also add that in all of the years I have worked with youth, the perception is that boys are worse about taking dares, but in reality….it is so oftern the girls!
Satan is the ultimate about daring us to do something. He knows how to dress up a challenge to you to make the temptation hard to resist. He also knows your weak spots and the weakest among us. To be dared is a form of temptation and this tool of Satan is one of the oldest he has. He even used this one on Eve in the Garden of Eden. If you will allow me to paraphrase just a little this morning, I want to remind us all of that story.
Here is Eve, in the garden…and I believe on the most part Eve was just minding her on business. But then Satan came along and begins to talk to her about that one fruit tree that God had commanded both Adam and Eve not to eat of this tree. “Notice what God said in Genesis 2:17, “But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die”. In other words, God basically said…..Don’t you dare eat of that tree!
Said knowing the weakness of Eve said….once again I am paraphrasing……”Eve, why would God let you have all of the fruit in the garden and then dare you to not eat that one fruit. That is the most beautiful fruit tree here! God also knows that if you eat of that tree, you will become like him and will know what is good and evil. But I bet you are afraid to find that out now, aren’t you? IF you are that much of a woman and you are not scared to find out…Then I Dare you to eat of the tree!!!
The First Dare was a dare from God and a dare that was to be heeded. The second dare was from Satan and it should always be avoided. So how do we avoid the snare of dares that Satan sets for us? Well, I glad you asked because I also want to give you some dares this morning….and if you will heed them, they will change your life!!
1. Don’t You Dare Stray!
Psalm 119:67 Before I was afflicted I went astray: but now have I kept thy word.
Of all of the men in the Bible who learned valuable lessons from straying, King David probably had learned as much as any man. His straying from God brought affliction for number the people when commanded not to do so. His straying brought the end of a man’s life when he strayed with Bathsheba. It brought misery in his house and eventually brought about the death of his son! We need to learn that we should not dare stray.
How do we stray? Christians most often begin straying when they….
A. Begin to neglect their prayer life – (our form of power)
B. Begin to Neglect their study of God’s Word – (our form of instruction)
C. Begin to Neglect their church attendance – (Our form of encouragement)
D. Begin to fail to say “No” to our Friends – (our form of defeat)
We must guard our devotional life from Satan’s attacks and dares! We must take our stand boldly for God, by staying away from Satan’s territory>
James 4:7-8
7Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you.
II. Don’t You Dare Strut!
Proverbs 16:18 Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.
A. Some Christians lack humility!
They desire the praise and honor of people, rather than the approval of God.
John 12:41-43
41These things said Esaias, when he saw his glory, and spake of him.
42Nevertheless among the chief rulers also many believed on him; but because of the Pharisees they did not confess him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue:
43For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.
B. Realize that Jesus was our example in humility.
He declared that He could do nothing on His own and relied on His Father. He also pleased His Father.
John 8:28-29
28Then said Jesus unto them, When ye have lifted up the Son of man, then shall ye know that I am he, and that I do nothing of myself; but as my Father hath taught me, I speak these things.
29And he that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him.
C. WE MUST BE HUMBLE AS WELL!
We avoid Satan’s snares when we are doing the things the Father would have us to do and when we put him FIRST in our lives!! If you really want to be exalted, let me show you the proper way…..
James 4:10 10Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.
III. Don’t You Dare Stoop!
In other words, don’t lower yourself to Satan’s Standards
Romans 12:21 Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.
A. The morals of our world are at an all time low. Violence, alcohol and drug abuse, sex industry and pornography are at an all time high. Corruption and dishonesty are seen everywhere including most of the world’s government systems.
B. Millions have relaxed their moral standards. Even the church has relaxed the moral standards. This is evident in the lack of reverence we have in God’s house and for God’s house.
C. Christians must not condone evil, “but overcome evil with good”.
. Once we learn to share the Gospel and then help the less fortunate, we will learn to avoid Satan’s snares.
IV. Don’t You Dare Stop!
Matthew 10:22 And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved
This verse does not speak of gaining salvation, but rather proving our salvation!!
A. Some Christians have a good start to the Christian life, but a poor finish! Why?
i. Satan attracts – He gets your mind off of the things of God.
ii. Satan distracts– He gets your Focus off of the Will of God!
iii. Satan attacks – He gets you out of the House of God!
B. No problem is too difficult, no trial is too severe and no burden is too heavy for God!
i. God himself is with you in the time of trouble
ii. God Grace is sufficient for you
iii. God is more than a match for Satan!
Romans 8:37-39 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.
38For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,
39Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
CLOSING: None of us can stand the temptation of a Dare. So this morning, as you’re Pastor, I will dare you to serve the Lord this year more than you ever have! I will dare you to trust the Lord more than you ever have! I am also daring you to walk closer to the Lord than you ever have. How?
Don’t you dare Stray! Don’t Do you dare Strut! Don’t you dare Stoop! And Don’t you dare Stop!!
Will you take the challenge? I Dare You!!!!
