Two Approaches To The Preacher/Religion

TWO APPROACHES TO RELIGION AND THE PREACHER...

By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com

I did this in one lesson, but you have to move very quickly. It would be easy to do as two parts.

We seem to love and call for victory by doing the quick and easy in our society. This attitude spills over into the church.

We love instant microwavable things.

Instant coffee? Instant mashed potatoes?

We call for things that have "STARTER KITS" --- they are almost done when we start? This will save us time and effort.

Sometimes we find ourselves searching for stream-line no effort, or little effort worship styles. Some spiritual battles can not cut the corners and achieve real success. Time and trials will tend to test

our faith and our attitudes.

I. OFTEN WE FIND THAT IF WE DO THIS, WE WILL GET THAT?

IF WE BYPASS THIS WE WILL BYPASS THAT?

A. As we count cost, we must also count the cost of apathy and idleness.

B. I need two quarts of oil in my car? The cost will be $4.00.

What will the cost be if I don’t buy and add the two quarts of oil?

$300 towing bill? $2,000 repair bill?

C. We often hear: PAY NOW? OR PAY ME LATER.

Proverbs 30:33 Surely the churning of milk bringeth forth butter, and the wringing of the nose bringeth forth blood: so the forcing of wrath bringeth forth strife.

D. IF WE CHURN MILK SHOULD WE BE SURPRISED WITH BUTTER?

If we force anger and wrath should we be surprised if STRIVE FOLLOWS?

II. WE ARE IN A TERRIBLE SPIRITUAL BATTLE WITH UNSEEN FOES. YOUR ENEMY HAS A PLAN AND PURPOSE AND HE HAS ESTABLISHED GOALS AND ATTACK POINTS TO COME AGAINST YOU AND GOD’S PLAN.

A. We could discuss for weeks why, how the attack comes against us.

Luke 22:31 And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat:

32 But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.

B. Your enemy has a desire to come against you, hinder you, detour you and kill the GOD FACTOR IN YOU AND YOUR HOME AND CHURCH.

III. YOUR SPIRITUAL ENEMY WILL DO ANYTHING HE CAN TO ACCOMPLISH HIS THREE-FOLD PURPOSE AGAINST YOU, YOUR FAMILY AND YOUR CHURCH.

A. KNOW YOUR ENEMY AND PREPARE YOURSELF FOR HIS SHARP DARTS.

John 10:10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

B. TO STEAL.

C. TO KILL.

D. TO DESTROY

E. Our enemy has a clearly defined MISSION!

We must SUBMIT TO GOD...

IV. OUR ENEMY HAS SOME OLD BUT STRONG TOOLS IN WHICH

HE WILL BATTLE YOU! KNOW HIS TOOLS AND HAVE A COUNTER-

PUNCH TO MAKE HIS TOOLS OF NON-EFFECT.

A. OUR ENEMY WILL TRY TO GET YOU TO DISOBEY.

Genesis 3:4-5

B. A SUPER TOOL IN THE ENEMIES TOOL BOX IS GOSSIP and to SLANDER THE SAINTS. (Job: 1:9-11)

Many can not accept believers as saints. They are critical fault finders?

Others feel like if it is the truth it is OK to gossip.

DAVID SAID: DON’T MENTION SAUL’S FAILURE IN GATH!

James says: the tongue is full of deadly poison.

Others hide gossip as PRAYER REQUEST?

C. OUR ENEMY WILL TRY AND STEAL YOUR GOOD SEED.

Matthew 13:19

D. Then the ACCUSER OF THE SAINTS WILL SOW TARES IN THE MIDST OF THE GOOD SEED.

Matthew 13:38

E. NEVER UNDER-ESTIMATE THE POWER OF HALF-TRUTHS, DECEPTION AND LIES.

John 8:44

May Christians speak the TRUTH, the WHOLE TRUTH and NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH.

F. HAVE YOU SEEN THE GREAT POWER TOOL OF A JUDGMENTAL/CRITICAL SPIRIT?

Hey, church member? Church leader? Sinner?

WHO MADE YOU A JUDGE?

Matthew 7:1-2

G. A BACK BREAKER OF THE SAINTS IS ANGER/WRATH/BITTERNESS.

These are all a practice of unforgiveness.

Eph. 4:26

Wrath is long term anger.

H. HOW ABOUT DIVISION AND STRIFE?

We Christians learn how to hide hate and unforgiveness!

Mark division and AVOID IT!

Matthew 12:25-26

Romans 16:17

V. FIGHT AND RESIST ALL YOU WANT TO --- establish a pattern of failure? THE SECRET TO SUCCESS IS SUBMISSION TO GOD AND HIS WORD!

Ephes. 4:26 Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath:

27 Neither give place to the devil.

James 4:7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

VI. APPROACH OR ATTITUDE #1: SAUL: REBELLION, STUBBORNESS, DISOBEDIENCE AND ACCEPTED AS A GOOD CHURCH MEMBER.

A. GOD DID SOMETHING SPECIAL FOR SAUL.

1 Samuel 10:6 And the Spirit of the Lord will come upon thee, and thou shalt prophesy with them, and shalt be turned into another man.