A WARRIOR FOR JESUS

Eltham Baptist 25th Nov 2012

No. 398

"Everything is permissible for me"--but not everything is beneficial. "Everything is permissible for me"--but I will not be mastered by anything. 1 Corinthians 6:12 You say, "I am allowed to do anything"--but not everything is good for you. And even though "I am allowed to do anything," I must not become a slave to anything. (new living bible)

Paul said that 'in grace' he was able to do lots of things - even marry if he wanted too, but he decided not too for the sake of the gospel. Only certain people could have the grace to go to that extreme, especially in these days when there is often such a stigma upon those who choose to be single i.e. - are they Gay is the question often asked? It's sad. We often think how great it would be to be like Smith Wigglesworth who raised many from the dead, but forget that he would have been really hard to live with. He considered reading a newspaper as evil and read the word more than once during a meal. What would he say about living in this generation and all we get up too like watching TV? There is always a price to pay for being used by God. I have met folk who want to preach and be up front but didn't realise the price that is paid to be in that position along with all the opposition that comes from demonic forces trying to stop you. If you have anything in your life that the enemy can latch onto - He will use it to weaken your ministry. For instance if you have a grudge toward anyone it will weigh you down and blunt your cutting edge. If you have not obeyed the Holy Spirit in some way you will struggle to hear from God. I remember when I pestered God to come back to New Zealand when He wanted me to be in Africa and He let me come here and run a Church in Waihi. Everything was great, but the whole time I was here I never got a new message from God except for my farewell sermon. Sin blunts your cutting edge. To be an effectual soldier we need to strip off those things that can weigh us down.
"Endure hardship with us like a good soldier of Christ Jesus. No one serving as a soldier gets involved in civilian affairs--he wants to please his commanding officer. Similarly, if anyone competes as an athlete, he does not receive the victor's crown unless he competes according to the rules." 2 timothy 2:3-5

I was in the Rhodesian Army in the 1970's and saw firsthand what is required of a soldier. Soldiers have to travel light for a start and can have no ties to this earth that would hinder the war effort. If their Commander said they were to shift camp tomorrow you just had to go, with no 'ifs and buts'. I always remember going on my first long exercise in the bush that was meant to be for a couple of weeks. I wanted to have the best of both worlds and took a lot of canned food in my ruck sack. The trouble was it was too heavy and after a days march my back was almost broken. I had to cast them all away and stick to the dry light boring food stuff, otherwise I would have exhausted myself. I have found my Christian walk to be the same. The more baggage I carry the harder the walk and I end up exhausted and unable to do what I should be doing. My heart ends up divided, part for the army of God and part for the world and it just doesnt work that way. Throw off everything that hinders you otherwise its a hard walk and not pleasing to our Commander Jesus the Lord of Hosts.
Throw off everything that hinders, and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us." Heb 12:1

Many of us join Gods Army with the best of intentions. We dont want to be against the Lord in any way but we soon forget we have a subtle adversary. The Devil doesnt come in overnight either, but patiently lures us through a series of bad decisions and places a seed in our hearts that grows and eventually chokes us. We are living in one of the richest periods of the human history. You may not think so but when compared to other times and countries we are all well off. These are dangerous days for a Christian. "If riches increase, set not your heart on them." Ps 62:10 Sometimes 'More Is Not Better'. Don't get me wrong, I believe God longs to bless us in every area of our lives and that includes financially. But when we get more, we also get more responsibility, more pressure, more insurance, more wear and tear and more bogged down by the very thing that was supposed to be a blessing to us. When they asked John D. Rockefeller (the multi millionaire), "How much is enough?" he replied, "Just a little more." Can I ask you something? When you had less, did you have more time to read the Word, more time to pray and more time to spend with your loved ones? The reason that some parents enjoy their grandchildren so much, is because they missed so much time with own their children in early days. Danger comes when the things we

have, consume so much of our time that we've little or nothing left over for Him. Even ministers fight this battle. It's a lot easier to get involved with the work of the Lord than it is to get involved with the Lord of the work. Did you think that new home or that new car would satisfy you? Shouldn't any joy that costs that much last a little longer? The Bible says that we are to "Lay aside every weight" (Heb 12:1). Lighten up for the race. This is always a tough call, because it's not a right or wrong issue; it's about what drains you and diverts you from being all that you were meant to be. Paul says, "I bring all my energies to bear on this one thing, to reach for the prize" (Phil 3:14). The question you need to ask yourself today is, "Where am I putting most of my energies?" It's amazing how we can intend on giving more to the Kingdom of God and ask God to bless you financially but end up bogged down with maintaining your possessions and keeping up with the Jones, and end up just giving the bare minimum. Lot was a good example of a good man who got distracted by the cares of this life. He wasn't travelling light like His uncle Abraham.
"(For that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds;) 2 Peter 2:8

It says that his soul was vexed daily by Sodom. There was warfare in his soul every day which need not have been there if he was living in the right place. His decision to live in Sodom instead of Canaan made him an ineffective Pilgrim. The only thing he can be noted for is the fact that he left Ur of the Chaldea's and all its idols, (yet took them with him in his heart). There is no record of him ever conquering the enemy; in fact he had to be delivered from the enemy by Abraham twice. Because the enemy had affected his affections Lot was easy prey.
"Charge them that are rich that they be not high minded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God [your source] who gives us richly all things to enjoy. Be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to [share.]" - I Tim. 6:17-18

Prosperity!! Before you open, please read the instructions carefully! Enjoy everything God has given you, but don't trust in anything other than Him! It could all be gone in a day. Ask Job! Elijah also discovered that when the brook dried up, God was still his source! The most important thing you've got is not what you own ... it's your relationship with God. Anything you put before that relationship, you're going to lose eventually! So what's this all about? Simply this: if your gifts or your blessings are just a "status symbol" or a "security blanket," then you've missed it. Jesus said, "Freely ye have received, freely give." My greatest joy has not been what I've earned or acquired. I'm certainly grateful for that. It's what I've been able to give ... the problems I've been able to solve for hurting people, that make me truly glad I lived. The Bible says, "Trust not in uncertain riches, but in the living God" (1 Tim 6:17). If you find yourself trusting in the things God has given you, instead of trusting in Him alone, get back into His presence immediately and do something about it. Remember,, "Our sufficiency is of God" (2 Cor 3:5). What are you depending on today? Are you storing or hoarding? The trouble with the 'unwise' virgins was that they keep procrastinating, leaving off what they knew they should be doing until it was eventually too late. It's amazing how your life can speed by and the next thing you know is that it's getting twilight time and you have lost a lot of chances..
"And as thy servant was busy, here and there, he was gone." I Kings 20:40

A soldier in Israel's army had been given the charge of an important prisoner. He was clearly warned... "If this man gets away from you, you will pay for it with your own life." That's exactly what happened! Listen to these tragic words and see if they apply to your life today. "As thy servant was busy here and there.., he was gone." He got so busy with "other things", that he let the most important thing get away and it cost him his life. When you are too busy to read and pray you are... "just too busy!" Most of the time we can't tell the difference between what's urgent and what's important. But the facts are, urgent things are seldom really important, and important things seldom seem really urgent. The only way you can tell the difference is by asking this question, "When I stand before God,, what am I going to wish I had done today?" Whatever your answer is, that's what you should be doing, and nothing else!