Where do we Draw the Line
How are we to respond as a church• WE Need to have a clear sense of our yes and our no.Let your Yes be YES and your NO be NO Matt 5:37 We Need that CLARITY—Because We are a people of FAITH, We have to know our boundaries. We need to Develop Boundaries—Ps 16:5-6
Lord, you have assigned me my portion and my cup; you have made my lot secure.
6 The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; surely I have a delightful inheritance.
Boundaries!!! (Relatives??? Certain Friends???)
You have to know Where your NO IS—where is your YES
Let start with a look at ‘NO’
Later we’ll get to the YES!
How many know if we can’t say NO— we get overrun!?
When can’t say YES—miss out on right stuff, Provision, Blessing, Faith
FAITH is integrally linked
To our YES—in opening the doors. And to our NO—closing the doors—not being be a push over for someone.
Some people allow ALL KINDS of things—they should say no to, because if you do not people will take advantage of you.
So lets talk about the word NO, today ,We will put a Twist on it
With an attitude, An attitude of ‘no more’, enough is enough, I draw the line here,
Wanting to ADDRESS An attitude coming against our lives,Today I’m going to talk about 3 Enemies that come against our LIFE.
Because you have to know what you are going to say no to! The World/Flesh/Devil
World--
The world Has its own system,
its Own values—the world values don’t mix with Gods values, the World says—grab all you can get—step on others—fight your way to the top pushing others out of your way. Jesus said, ‘Give and it shall be Given’; Greatest-Servant
What the world tries to give—but does NOT have.
The World might push you into reality that is unacceptable
World has it’s own value system. Has it’s own way But we’re not of the world
I Peter 2:11 11 Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul.
We are Children of Most High God—we are Adopted—
We are to be in the world but not OF the world.
But the world will tempts us . We —need to be transformed by the mind of Christ
If not careful—our mind grabs hold of world’s ways/values/ideas/lifestyle
Before we know it—we allow world to press into our lives.
We Start compromising things
We Pretty soon—can’t see difference between Christian and world.
Has anyone here been tempted to be shaped by the world lately?
Look at the News and newspapers ,tv built by something we can’t be a part of. For some—the World says—living together—having sex before marriage,is ok,they see nothing wrong with it, that’s Not what the Bible says .You have a choice ,Immorality becomes acceptable ,But that’s not what the Bible says.
The Bible is very clear—if you commit sexual sin—there is a judgment on your body. But the world says—it’s alright.There are tons of examples , God wants to show us WHERE we need to take a NO position with the world.
Flesh, Disclaimer—physical body is Good, Bible talks about Carnal nature, Nature to do something wrong ,our sin nature. Has an appetite for the wrong things. You know what it’s like to have a natural appetite, Ever crave something you shouldn’t have? Just because you crave—doesn’t mean you should get it,doesn’t mean its good for you. Appetite of flesh is not the appetite you should live with:
We do not need Selfishness,
Self-centerdness, pride ,wanting praise for everything we do ,Lust pleasure ,Lieing—cheating stealing,Flesh has an appetite for living independently of God,
BELIEVING THAT if it feels good do it.—that’s living independently of God. Flesh wants to be independent of God. What happens with our appetite? If you feed it—the more you feed it – the more you want it. And the Sicker you get—you start doing the ‘way that seems right to man’. Flesh has a proneness for ADDICTION.
NOTHING really PLEASES it.
Flesh has a capacity for doing things that don’t profit.
The Devil & the Spiritual world is what we fight against.
II Cor 10:4-5
(For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)
2Co 10:5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; . Life is more than what you see ,There is also another force out here!!!!
Eph 6:10-17 Evil spirits & DEMON • Paul fought them—Peter— fought them ,Jesus fought them. Everyone of them fought what came against
Jesus Understood evil coming against our lives;Let me ASSURE you ,I John 4:4 GREATER is He that is in us than he that is in the World. But, we must realize ,In our nation there are evil spirits ,The Underworld is fighting against your life.
Evil spirits have a plan for you
Eph 6 Take notes on your life—outline your week. Find out your weakness—find out what your weakness is—what you’re prone to do. satan knows your weaknesses, so he knows where to take advantage of your life• You have the principalities and Powers of the underworld who knows who you are.What I want to try to get you to understand is,
Empowering you to say NO
No to devil—no to world
I am trying to get across to you is do you recognize that the world, flesh or devil has been making war against your life?
Can Anyone see the attack coming against your life that is taking place,I believe the cultural of America is shifting. You can see it in our
politics ,we can see moral shifts in the America and the world.
Our economy/philosophy our changing.Invasion of wrong thinking/ teachings,
As a church—we need to come together—we need stand together.Together we need to say—no way.This is not going to happen to my family ,My life
My morals , Right now—I’m going to be strong in what we are trying to do.To stand firm on the word of God.
If the enemy is trying to have his way with me. It’s time for me to take a stand ,Time to wake up—smell the roses, We need to Wake up—and stand against the evils of this world.
Eph 4:27 give no opportunity to the devil ,Don’t give the devil a way to defeat you, You have responsibility ,whether You like it or not you are a PART of this war , If the devil has taken opportunity ,You are giving him some room ,Don’t give the devil any MORE chance, I Want you to do something so that you can make sure you are not opening the door over your life
The word “NO”
Means an emphatic CHOICE
You Can be negative—but we need to be positive We need to Say NO—we got something Better—we have the sacrifice, Jesus made for us by dying for us on the cross.
We can be passive—develop
OR you can say, I believe there is MORE to what is going on around me ,I’m under attack
You know what, the enemy has been planning this for a long time, There is something behind this more than life and self, we need Conviction—Truth/Value that you COMPLETELY sell OUT to Christ
Declaration of INDEPENDENCE born out of CONVICTION
We need to pray for Strength.We need to pray each day that the God will increase our faith,
Things CHANGE when conviction happens
When the LINE is drawn—the MOMENTUM shifts
Declaration of INDEPENDENCE—how it changed EVERYTHING
History changed at that moment,There was a NO MORE, declaration within that!!
That’s why STRENGTH happens!!
CONVICTION vs ‘free floating belief’, When we get CONVICTION—get a NO position.
It is Easy to say NO when you have a bigger YES on the inside of you!! Emphatic Drawing a line. even IN sports—when changed—momentum changes.
Morals—when we draw the line—everything changes
Coming out of Addiction, Relationships, parenting, finances,What I’m asking you to do, is Draw a line.
Take a no position against evil– Give no place to the devil
The enemy is trying to destroy your life and everything around you.
So I am asking you to draw the line.Today—Is a day when it’s all stops.I will no longer let my mouth run off with the negative ,I will not do this anymore .no more gossip—no more doing what people say is ok. but in Gods eyes it is wrong.
Some your relationship is wrong , they are feeding on each others flesh.
We need to step back,
If that happens someone has to draw the line. That goes with our Computer—people watching Porn—one click—look at things—it Feeds the flesh—and scars the soul, Do not know if you Remember Jamses Dobsen/Ted Bundy—role porn plays in pedophiles/serial murderers
Toxic relationships,it is easy to pull these things up on the internet ,but it will get you in trouble and it is Dangerous.
So it is Not a wise thing to do
Draw line—no further
I draw the line
Say no to enemy .Give no room for enemy to occupy or find place of influence in your life?
Who influences you the most?
What is your core of the influence founded upon?
Could it be a person who says they do not like Christian ,Doesn’t love pastors or Local churches, So they Come against the local church
All of the sudden, their influence surpasses YOUR influence ,Takes you some place you don’t want to be.
Is it an influence you can trust?
Is it godly?
Need to draw line
When you take a NO position
God establishes BOUNDARY LINES in perfect places
What does a ‘no position’ bring to our lives?
Safety
Safe boundaries .Peace/safety
Clarity ,Can see clearly, Strength— making God the center of your life ,Gives us a place to stand and a lever long enough and I will move the world— You NEED a place to let your burdens when things that are TOO heavy to take out on your OWN!
Freedom, as a family we are a Team.God never meant us to take our position on no alone
God made us a TEAM—in FAMILY—in the CHURCH
When there’s a bro/sister standing beside me with the same position—it MULTIPLIES the strength and our faith. All boundaries/convictions Operate as we stand TOGETHER as the family of God ,and a family of faith. We Don’t have to stand ALONE .We got each other’s back .I would like you to repeat this prayer with me.in Jesus’ name, I take my position of faith and stand my ground
In Jesus’ name, I Make the choice of my free will to Submit to God and resist the enemy with a definite NO to his invasions into my spirit, soul and body. I draw a line and give no more opportunity to take advantage. I Draw a Line and say NO to the schemes of the enemy— I say NO to the Lies of the flesh –I say NO to the lies of the World—and I surrender my life afresh to God and I say YES to Him.
• In Jesus’ mighty name, AMEN!
When you take a stand—the enemy takes a stand
Enemy loves the atmosphere of lukewarmness/lazy Christians ,
Maybe you don’t need this
But do you know someone else that has been invaded/deceived by devil
You do not have to raise your hand ,but How many thinks the word of God hits home,
(Give Jesus a shout—clap)
And I DRAW the Line and I say NO ,This is an attitude message
Normal life—mom and dad—can’t do it ,But in this expression You can say this to world/flesh/devil .You Can say you really believe it ,Going to pray ,Going to pray VICTORY
Pray God is going to break ALL grip of enemy, praise God.for always being there for us.
