On Sunday we talked about the struggles when people turn back from God. There are several examples in the Bible, King Saul, Peter 3 times, Lot’s wife, etc. When someone turns from God it can squarely be placed on Satan’s deceitfulness. The believer is deceived and then works so hard to fill the void of God with things. One example of this is:
“A brilliant young 17 year old man once wrote: “Our heart, reason, history, and the work of Christ convince us that without Him we cannot achieve our goal, that without Him we are doomed by God, and only Christ can save us.” Just nine years later, he had abandoned any Christian commitment he may have once had. In fact, his new ideas established him as one of the most influential atheists of history. Worse, his ideas spawned, through the former Soviet Union and Communist movement, one of the greatest epics of human misery and death in history. You would recognize this man by the name, Karl Marx.”
That all sounds bleak and ominous, and like there is no hope for us, but thankfully God is the God of second chances! But even more importantly, He gives us a plan to stay on track and running after Him! We need to draw near to Him, hold fast to Him, consider one another, go to church, and keep your eyes on Christ!
A. Draw Near
Heb 10:22 NIV let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water.
Jas 4:8 NIV Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.
B. Hold Fast
Hebrews 10:23 “Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)”
C. Consider One Another
Heb 10:24 MKJV and let us consider one another to provoke to love and to good works,
(We are our brother’s keeper!)
D. Don’t Forsake Assembling
Heb 10:25 MKJV not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.
Heb 10:25 ERV We must not quit meeting together, as some are doing. No, we need to keep on encouraging each other. This becomes more and more important as you see the Day getting closer.
E. Keep Your Eyes on Christ
Heb 12:2 ERV We must never stop looking to Jesus. He is the leader of our faith, and he is the one who makes our faith complete. He suffered death on a cross. But he accepted the shame of the cross as if it were nothing because of the joy he could see waiting for him. And now he is sitting at the right side of God's throne.
Psa 121:1-8 NIV I lift up my eyes to the mountains-- where does my help come from? (2) My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth. (3) He will not let your foot slip-- he who watches over you will not slumber; (4) indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. (5) The LORD watches over you-- the LORD is your shade at your right hand; (6) the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night. (7) The LORD will keep you from all harm-- he will watch over your life; (8) the LORD will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.
When we do this, we can run the race that God lays before us, we can claim the prize, and we can bring others along with us! God has a plan for us to win and be MORE than conquerors! So as we get as close to Him as possible, all other things will fall into place. This doesn’t mean we will never have a problem, but it means we have a way of passage, a plan, a finish line, and we can have peace and joy, and victory no matter what we are going through! Yeah!
By: Pastor Art Speck
“A brilliant young 17 year old man once wrote: “Our heart, reason, history, and the work of Christ convince us that without Him we cannot achieve our goal, that without Him we are doomed by God, and only Christ can save us.” Just nine years later, he had abandoned any Christian commitment he may have once had. In fact, his new ideas established him as one of the most influential atheists of history. Worse, his ideas spawned, through the former Soviet Union and Communist movement, one of the greatest epics of human misery and death in history. You would recognize this man by the name, Karl Marx.”
That all sounds bleak and ominous, and like there is no hope for us, but thankfully God is the God of second chances! But even more importantly, He gives us a plan to stay on track and running after Him! We need to draw near to Him, hold fast to Him, consider one another, go to church, and keep your eyes on Christ!
A. Draw Near
Heb 10:22 NIV let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water.
Jas 4:8 NIV Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.
B. Hold Fast
Hebrews 10:23 “Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)”
C. Consider One Another
Heb 10:24 MKJV and let us consider one another to provoke to love and to good works,
(We are our brother’s keeper!)
D. Don’t Forsake Assembling
Heb 10:25 MKJV not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.
Heb 10:25 ERV We must not quit meeting together, as some are doing. No, we need to keep on encouraging each other. This becomes more and more important as you see the Day getting closer.
E. Keep Your Eyes on Christ
Heb 12:2 ERV We must never stop looking to Jesus. He is the leader of our faith, and he is the one who makes our faith complete. He suffered death on a cross. But he accepted the shame of the cross as if it were nothing because of the joy he could see waiting for him. And now he is sitting at the right side of God's throne.
Psa 121:1-8 NIV I lift up my eyes to the mountains-- where does my help come from? (2) My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth. (3) He will not let your foot slip-- he who watches over you will not slumber; (4) indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. (5) The LORD watches over you-- the LORD is your shade at your right hand; (6) the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night. (7) The LORD will keep you from all harm-- he will watch over your life; (8) the LORD will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.
When we do this, we can run the race that God lays before us, we can claim the prize, and we can bring others along with us! God has a plan for us to win and be MORE than conquerors! So as we get as close to Him as possible, all other things will fall into place. This doesn’t mean we will never have a problem, but it means we have a way of passage, a plan, a finish line, and we can have peace and joy, and victory no matter what we are going through! Yeah!
By: Pastor Art Speck
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