For what does it benefit a person to gain the whole world, and forfeit his soul? Mark 8:36
We are inundated with advertising to entice and affect our emotions to the point we cross a line, make a decision, make a purchase, change the direction of our lives, mostly to profit someone else.
You have to have this...
You experiencing this? Then you need...
You may have this, consult your doctor...
Now is the time to buy, because we're dealing...
But the verse above speaks to that. Look at one of the top booming businesses. Storage Units.
Look through neighborhoods. Cars relegated to the driveway or street because the garage is now a storage unit.
Preying on feelings is what advertisers are paid to do. Add to this that the god of this world is Satan. Prey is what people are to him. The Scripture is very clear that he roams around the world seeking someone to devour.
World Holidays are his twisting of the celebrations God intended for Israel to remember the mighty deeds of God. Playing on the emotions of people to keep them FROM a life with Christ.
His point is to not only keep people craving for more who aren't believers but also to distract those who are believers. The lusts of the flesh are Satan's specialty. Pride of life is his greatest accomplishment in imparting that to humanity to keep them from the knowledge of Christ Jesus to be saved. Those in Hell, weeping and gnashing their teeth are those who only now see how far they have been deceived. Some who weep know they cannot go back. Those who are gnashing their teeth because in the twisted minds they think they want more of what they had. That regardless of God’s truth, their way is better to them.
You are being enticed.
You have both Angels and Demons around you.
The Scriptures are clear that we are not in a war of flesh and blood. Let's read it, shall we?
Ephesians 6:12-18 "For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. Stand firm therefore, HAVING GIRDED YOUR LOINS WITH TRUTH, and HAVING PUT ON THE BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS, and having shod YOUR FEET WITH THE PREPARATION OF THE GOSPEL OF PEACE; in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. And take THE HELMET OF SALVATION, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints"
Every soldier in all history has had an outfit to wear for battle. Regardless of who the Christian is, regardless of where you are in life, of where you live, of how your life is going, YOU are at war.
Only with a life that is God centered, not world centered, do our foes know that we can resist.
Excuses are your measuring stick.
We all have them. I am this, I am that. I can't help it because of this. I am just this way.
The job of the Holy Spirit is to work at making you more like Christ. If changes are not happening then one of two things is the reason. Either you need to question your being saved ot you are living in defiance of God’s command and instructions from the Bible.
Don't go there in regards to physical limitations. If you have read your Bible at all you will know that God can use anyone in any circumstance to fulfill the work of God.
You and I, because of the cross, have the almost God-like power of choice. In human terms that is. People in power think they have the power of choice to alter the lives of people. Only those God allowed choices will. Regardless of whom is in power making such choices.
Choice is what separated Adam and Eve from God. It's what separates millions per day from God and consign them to Hell. Choice in the mind of man is that powerful. The Cross provided choice and how it impacts the destiny of mankind.
Satan knows and twists choice to send as many away from salvation as he can, caring not who ends up in Hell just as long as they don't end up in Heaven. He was elated at finding Judas Iscariot willing to do his bidding. Knowing full well that Judas was going to end up in Hell. Even Satan knows the Bible. Knows that it cannot be broken, but still he tries.
Satan wants you and I to choose to live lives that honor only ourselves.
Satan is the one whom Christ said disguises himself as an angel of light.
We are by no means pawns, but spirit beings who have the power of choice.
Enough with our Excuses. In many places in the Old Testament God got to that point with the Children of Israel. A day is coming soon when enough will be enough. It's been promised. Jesus is returning. We will give an account of our lives. What will your life show? A life of excuses as to not obeying Christ or will it show obedience?
You, like Joshua, must choose. As he said so say I, as for me I choose the Lord.
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