Part Four
Protecting the Sacrifice
Reference: Hebrews 12:1 & 2
We have a Divine Destiny that the Lord has prepared for us.
As well, the Lord warns us here that there is “sin which so easily ensnares us.”
We should know tonight that the Lord does love you, but the devil doesn’t. In fact, the devil hates you and is wanting to “ensnare” you and keep you from fulfilling the destiny God has for you.
Actually, the devil has a strategy for defeating you. This strategy involves confusion, bitterness, anger, rebellion and disbelief.
Along with this strategy is his purpose he has for your life. The devil wants to destroy not just because he wants to exempt you from heaven, but also so you will influence and bring destruction to other people’s lives.
There are two forces in this world working day and night trying to control you:
The Holy Spirit – He wants to convict you of wrongdoing, challenge you, deliver you and (ultimately) restore you.
The Devil – He wants to simply destroy your mind and you soul.
Our response to these two forces:
The Holy Spirit – we must surrender
The Devil – we must protect/guard ourselves
2 Tim 2:26
…that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will.
Text: Genesis 15:5 through 11
We have had three classes in destiny, can anyone tell me what Abrams destiny was?
His “offspring”.
One of the things that was contingent on Abram having his destiny was his obedience to the Lord in making sacrifices to Him.
The same is true for you and I, in that, we would not have a destiny with the Lord if it were not for the sacrifice made by our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen?
The sacrifices were made for the Lord, but Abram had to protect them from being stolen by the “vultures/birds of prey/fowl”
Read Matthew 13:3 & 4
Refer to Proverbs 4: we saw this morning that we are to keep the Word of God in our hearts. And the NIV tells us to “guard our heart”.
We may do as Romans 12:1 tells us to by offering our bodies
“…living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.”
But we must also protect ourselves from the onslaught of the enemy.
We present and God consents. We preserve and God deserves.
Ministry is not about works, talents and skills. It is only effective when we are “…holy, acceptable to God…(this is) your reasonable service.”
The difference in effecting a Divine Destiny for your life has to do with how, and if, we protect ourselves from the filth and unrighteousness of the world and the devil’s schemes.
There are times when I have been ministered to and I didn’t feel comfortable with what was going on. I have had times when I just didn’t bear witness with a particular ministry. I have to remain “holy, acceptable to God.”
This is why I ask if I can pray for someone I don’t know. And visa versa. 1 Timothy 5:22 tells us,
Lay hands suddenly on no man, neither be partaker of other men’s sins: keep thyself pure.
Three things to be careful not to expose yourself , that is, protect yourself from.
1. Bitterness –
Acts 8:18 thru 23
Hebrews 12:14 & 15 – “bitterness”, in the Greek means poison. This reminds me of some of the stories that came out of Viet Nam of how the VC’s maimed and killed many of our men.
2. Rebellion -
Eph 5:21
submitting to one another in the fear of God.
This is a mutual submission. No one is in charge. Everyone has someone who is over them in accountability.
II Corinthians 10:8; 13:10
The whole purpose of authority is not to cause folks to rebel. It is for the purpose of “building you up”, (NIV), “edification” (KJV).
3. Pride -
Actually, this word is used more often (in the Bible) in the positive sense of the word than it is in the negative.
Isaiah 14:12 thru 14
Genesis 3:4 & 5
Many have confused this story with “Sleeping Beauty”. This is not about an apple. It is about foolish pride.
I John 2:16 – this pride belongs to this world.
Proverbs 13:10
