How to turn from the enemies lies.
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Intro and Tension
Intro and Tension
Any Fisherman? I remember when introduced to Fishing | Grandfather | On a beach | Caught nothing | Bored as
Put me off fishing | However, invited out a year ago | 30 seconds in | caught a fish - When ever I get chance, show photos - well I have a chance.
Serious though - Fishing is patience and tactics = Lures, jellies, sinkers etc.
Exactly how enemy works when trying to tempt you
But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire.
Title: How to turn from the enemies lies.
My Hope: you will identify when your heart is starting to be consumed by an idol, and you can turn that to sacrifice and put it on the altar
*Prayer*
New Series - Idols or Altars
Last week - Defined an idol as;
Anything that becomes a priority above Christ or we trust for a blessing, or help, or guidance in the place of a wholehearted reliance on the tso rue and living God.
We said that we all have longing | Created with it.
we made 3 commitments.
Admitting to having an idol
Admitting that Jesus has power
Admitting that we want to be part of God’s plan.
This week - Let’s talk about how to identify what leads us to worshipping an idol.
Where we going = how the enemy operates | 3 lies | 4 things we can do;
But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire.
and he can do that, because of our Heart.
For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world.
he uses US to tempt US away from reliance on God | Have to understand = father of lies | pure evil - wants you to take eyes of Jesus and on anytihng else | destroy marraige | relationships | split the church | ruin Christ’s name in process.
This forces us to doubt God, and look elsewhere to fulfill the longing of our hearts.
So we have an enemy who is triyng to tempt us and crafty, and trying to take your eyes off God - and onto an idol.
Welcome to Church.
If we can learn to identify whether we have allowed to give him a voice, we can pray, let Jesus divert our attention toward his love and grace.
So how does the enemy do this?
Well, He knows Sin | He knows fleshy desires | He is prowling and lurking | and he has rigged up something for you.
Very rarely enemy going to come into your life with foghorn - He will just subtly and craftily offer you something:
“Life not going well” “God not coming through?”
Remember eve “Did God really say”
He will use anything to worm his way in,
We have a longing, and the enemy will try and convince you that the longing can be fulfilled by an idol
However;
Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.
What do we do?
First = Recognise lures/lies the enemy tries to tell us - See if we are already on the lure.
These lies force us to move our priority from God, to Idol.
3 lies.
First lie: It’s better over there
Truth: Jesus has prepared you a table -
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
Enemy tries to sit down: says = Over there, is where you need to be.
Difficult at home? Over there?
Money is tight? Don’t you dare tithe -
Growth group? NO
Time with God? Too Busy
That idol, going to give you everything that Jesus is holding back on you.
If distracted by comparison - Always scanning horizon around you - and what do you see?
Bloke joined the gym = looks great = left wife = 3 girlfriends = happy.
Person in church = getting all the glory = should be me.
person left the church = travelled australia, so happy.
The enemy paints a picture of Freedom, outside Christ.
We must kill the lie of comparison.
How? By locking your eyes on the Almighty | Getting to know who He is
Lie 2; You shouldn’t be here
crafty = because we all want to be humble,
2 fold - Shouldn’t be saved -
Shouldn’t be in your calling.
if it’s Shouldn’t be saved - sin too big | keep messing up | Grace only goes so far.
if it’s Shouldn’t be in your calling - Not equipped - Be somewhere you can be in control - What does it lead to ? Comfort - There’s a lure (Grab a fishing rod).
Calling is very rarely comfortable.
Why? Because requires God’s grace and your surrender.
Look at Jesus - Went to home town, this reaction;
They said, “Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How does he now say, ‘I have come down from heaven’?”
The enemy will plant a lie - and through other peoples pride use them to re-affirm it;
Sorry, when saved? How old? What is your background? experience?
Just about everyone used in bible was inadaquate - Why?
But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
Because God wants all the Glory.
If you’re calling is uncomfortable, congratulations - Don’t swap it for comfort - Be obedient.
Lie 3: There is no way out
If here last week, introduced Elijah + Ahab.
Elijah first job - Declare drought - 3.5 years - Told to go to brook - when that ran out, God said go to “Zarephath” - God would provide widow to feed him
Went - Met widow gathering sticks, ask her to feed him and she says;
And she said, “As the Lord your God lives, I have nothing baked, only a handful of flour in a jar and a little oil in a jug. And now I am gathering a couple of sticks that I may go in and prepare it for myself and my son, that we may eat it and die.”
For her - no way out - she forgot who’s table she was dining at.
No way out, that’s a lure (grab fishing rod)
When we get to this point - no way out - instead of trusting and relying on Lord - we turn to an idol.
Depressed - Bottle
Hard - comfort
Trials - Happiness
What happened to the widow?
And Elijah said to her, “Do not fear; go and do as you have said. But first make me a little cake of it and bring it to me, and afterward make something for yourself and your son.
How hard is it to be obedient in this moment? She did it - And…
The jar of flour was not spent, neither did the jug of oil become empty, according to the word of the Lord that he spoke by Elijah.
What’s God saying? never run out of food, just believe? no;
Our idea about the Provider, is directly tested when asked to obey in difficult situations.
When it’s difficult - Will you still obey? When it’s tough, is when the enemy will tempt -
Fishing sunrise = when fish are hungry = best opportunity.
Infinity Gold Coast Story - Lie, had to keep going - Truth -turn to the one that is in control.
Do not switch truth for lie…Paul says it like this;
because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen.
Behind every act of false worship to an idol, there is a false idea about who God is.
Here is the cycle;
A Lie, leads us to a temptation that leads to bowing to an idol and always offers instant gratification
The Truth, leads to bowing to God, that leads to a sacrifice on an altar, and always offers delayed blessings.
And that sacrifice is you.
Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.
(Gospel Message)
Why can we be tempted? Because we have desires? how to get rid of them? Put it all on the altar.
What do we do?
1. Identify your Lure - If the fish could catch on, what the hook looks like - they would run from it.
Learn to identify the lie of the enemy.
Where do you need to get prayed up?
2. Know that there is no Idol, that can give you, what God Promises.
They are called the Promises of God, because they are the Promises of God.
3. Give it over - Hand over your life, desires, everything you have to God
Elisha story - King wanted to kill him - Sent army after him - while sleeping, army surrounded - Servant woke - Looked - scared - said to Elisha - What shall we do? Doomed
Elisha said;
He said, “Do not be afraid, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.”
Ever had anyone have some dumb advice;
Then Elisha prayed and said, “O Lord, please open his eyes that he may see.” So the Lord opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw, and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.
This is our prayer this morning.
*prayer*