Gtcotr/ss082524
This Sunday marks 36 years that I have been the Pastor of this congregation. I was 33 years old when we began this journey together and, in that time, we have impacted untold numbers of lives for Christ here in Southeast Texas and around the world. By the grace of God the sun truly never sets on the ministry of Golden Triangle Church on the Rock.
Living life with a large family of Believers has given me a healthy respect for good advice from God’s word. I have come to depend on the Bible as the guide of life. It is indispensable counsel from heaven designed to lead us in critical times. I trust the scriptures now more than ever before.
Along with the responsibility God has graciously given me, and in light of the times we live, I feel a great need to warn Believers about the tricks of the devil and encourage them to walk in wisdom in these last days. And believe me, we are in the last days. In fact, You are not only living in the last days, you are living in the only days you have. Every generation has but a few days in which to live out their lives and accomplish their work for Jesus.
Today we are going to consider what is in us and also what it is that is putting pressure on us from the outside. What, or should I say, who is influencing you?
First: What is in us? Who are you? And What can you do about you?
Psalm 1 NKJV
1 ¶ Blessed is the man
Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, Nor stands in the path of sinners,
Nor sits in the seat of the scornful;
2 But his delight is
in the law of the LORD, And in His law he meditates day and night.
3 He shall be like a tree
Planted by the rivers of water, That brings forth its fruit in its season,
Whose leaf also shall not wither; And whatever he does shall prosper.
4 ¶ The ungodly are not so, But are like the chaff which the wind drives away.
For the past 5 decades, I have served the Lord. I have prayed mountains of prayers, read endless volumes of Holy Scriptures, sang enough worship songs to fill all the heavens with the praises of God, and preached to individuals and multitudes all over the world. The results of my diligence towards the things of God have led me to conclude:
There are Godly and ungodly people in this world. The last two verses of the first chapter of Psalms confirms and concludes:
Psalm 1 NKJV
5 Therefore the ungodly shall
not stand in the judgment, Nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.
6 For the LORD knows the way of the righteous, But the way of the ungodly shall perish.
Unfortunately, Just as iron sharpens iron, people influence people. Who we allow in our lives will either push us to be more like God or draw us farther away. It can be so subtle and yet God speaks about the power and the potential of others we invite to influence us.
Remember, you are in your last days. You do not get to decide if these are your last days, you only get to decide if they are your best days.
People often imagine and say, “If I could just save one person, it would all be worth it.” Well you can … that one person you can save is yourself.
2 Timothy 3 NKJV
1 ¶ But know this, that in
the last days perilous times will come:
2 For men will be lovers of
themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to
parents, unthankful, unholy,
3 unloving, unforgiving,
slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good,
4 traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God,
Paul is not talking about you becoming lovers of yourselves or lovers of money or blasphemers or unthankful or out of control slanderers or brutal traitors – He is talking about other people around you. People who have the potential to influence you and draw you away from God and godliness.
5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!
They may look or sound godly, they may even quote scripture, but they have no holy intent. (Luke 4)
Verse 6 says They creep in unaware and lead the gullible away as captives. They are deceived and driven by ungodly designs and they want you to stand with them. For this reason, the Holy Spirit instructs us to:
Proverbs 22 NKJV
24 ¶ Make no friendship with
an angry man, And with a furious man do not go,
25 Lest you learn his ways And set a snare for your soul.
1 Corinthians 15:33 Do not be
deceived: “Evil company corrupts good habits.”
2 Timothy 3 NKJV
13 But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived.
From such people turn away. Only you can clean up and clean out your life! Only you can save yourself and throw out the lifeline to others.
Let your light shine but do not be drawn down into the darkness.
The devil is looking for an opportune time (Luke 4:13) to influence and deceive you.
1 Peter 5:8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.
How can we know?
Matthew 7 NKJV
15 “Beware of false prophets,
who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves.
16a “You will know them by their fruits.
There are godly and ungodly people in this world. The first person you need to save is yourself.
We should always let our light shine for Jesus, but we should not be drawn down into the darkness. Fishing is different than swimming with the fish.
The best way to not get stuck in an ungodly relationship is to never make one in the first place. However, the message today will have to find its own place in your heart. Your take-away needs to come from the Holy Spirit.
Allow me to pray for each one of us this morning and lets allow the Holy Spirit to seal His word and intent in each one of our hearts.
Prayer
and altar call.
