The Little Foxes (2023)

The Little Foxes

Song of Solomon 2:15 NKJV

Catch us the foxes, The little foxes that spoil the vines, For our vines have tender grapes.

John 15:1–11 NKJV

“I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit. You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples. “As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love. If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love. “These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full.

Guard your Relationship with God

Vineyard—the fellowship of believers

Walls—Boundaries of God’s Word

Watchtower—Guardians of the Vineyard

The Vinedresser—God the Father

The Vine—Jesus Christ

The Branches—Believers

The Grapes—Fruitfulness of Abiding in Christ

The Little Foxes (Schemes of the Devil)

Foxes look cute and harmless compared to other predators.

Foxes are sly, cunning, crafty, and and fast.

Foxes are small—they only need a small crack to enter.

Saying: “A little folly, a little sin, a little crack, the devil’s in.”

A Little Folly (Foolishness)

Folly is making unwise choices that harm and destroy yourself and others.

Folly is straying from the known path of wisdom.

Proverbs 5:23 NKJV

He shall die for lack of instruction, And in the greatness of his folly he shall go astray.

Foolish people keep making the same foolish mistakes.

Proverbs 26:11 NKJV

As a dog returns to his own vomit, So a fool repeats his folly.

People who commit folly have no discernment.

Proverbs 15:21 NKJV

Folly is joy to him who is destitute of discernment, But a man of understanding walks uprightly.

They do not see where their choices will lead.

Sin will take you where you do not want to go, keep you longer than you want to stay, and cost you more than you want to pay.

Adrian Rogers: “On sin: you’ll get what you want, but you won’t want what you get.”.

A Little Sin (Disobedience)

“Little sins” lead to “great consequences”.

Little sins of lust, stealing, drinking, smoking, lying, cursing, cheating, pride, rebellion, prejudice, hatred, violence, etc.

Proverbs 5:22 NKJV

His own iniquities entrap the wicked man, And he is caught in the cords of his sin.

A Little Crack (Compromise)

This speaks of compromise.

Compromise is usually set up by an opportunity or invitation to sin.

It means playing around with sin like with a rattlesnake.

It means imagining that a little will not really hurt.

It means thinking that it is okay so long as nobody finds out.

Sayings:

“Sow a thought and you reap an action; sow an action and you reap a habit; sow a habit and you reap a character; sow a character and you reap a destiny.” –Unascribed

“Don’t let the devil ride because if you do, he’ll want to drive.”

Response to the Word

Get rid of the little foxes in your life.

Get rid of sin, pride, compromise, and excuses.

1 Corinthians 5:6–7 NKJV

Your glorying is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump? Therefore purge out the old leaven, that you may be a new lump, since you truly are unleavened. For indeed Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us.

Matthew 5:27–30 NKJV

“You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart. If your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell.

Don’t allow anything—even the smallest compromise—to enter your life. It will spoil the vine of your fruitfulness in Jesus Christ.

Do you want to be free from the bondage of sin in your life? Come to Jesus and surrender your life to Him today! He will set you free indeed!

John 8:31–32 NKJV

Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”