We continue the "thoughts on being human" series and asked the question: how do we stay connected. Listen NowHere's an overview: The BIG QUESTION then is this: how do we get past those overwhelming tendencies to turn inward and sin? How do we stay connected? Here are 2 suggestions:#1_We must focus on what we?ve been given, not what Satan offers us. And so with wiring connected to the spiritual beyond us and covering connected to the world around us, we journey. As we journey, we need to be aware that there is a force that is out to deceive us into disconnecting (Ephesians 6:10-18). You see, satan works to steal life from us. Jesus said in John 10:10 that ?the thief comes to steal and kill and destroy.? Peter called him a ?lion trying to devour us.? The problem is that we are letting a formidable force appear to be an unstoppable force and so we surrender. The truth is that Jesus? followers are the unstoppable force (Matthew 16:13-19). "The Christian is a Holy rebel loose in the world with access to the throne of God. Satan never knows from where the danger will come." -AW Tozer Look back at that Ephesians passage. It?s clear that the best defense is a good offense. Look @ the weapons he says we have. And look at the life Jesus promises. We must focus on what we?ve been given, not what Satan offers us. #2_We must stop, drop, and roll to the right connection. When those flaming arrows come our way, we need to remember that we are not alone in this battle. Not only do we have each other, but we can ?stop, drop, and roll? to the King Himself. You hear that phrase related to how to react if you realize you are on fire. Well, a lot of our problem with getting disconnected is that we tend to treat the fire alarm as a fire drill ? too familiar and too numb to its danger. Then we catch on fire. We need to stop, drop and roll before we ever catch fire. >>STOP when you see fire and look for the escape (1st Cor 10:11-13). >> DROP to your knees and cry out for help (James 4:1-10). >>ROLL to Jesus (Luke 9:23). You may, like me, get tired of being clumsy and forgetting to stop, drop, and roll. The good news is that there is an end in sight, and we must overcome (2nd Corinthians 5:1-8). So, here's THE BOTTOM LINE: As we follow, let?s listen for the fire alarms that the Holy Spirit rings off when flaming arrows are on their way. Let?s stop, drop, and roll for cover in Christ. Let?s overcome the battle and enjoy the victory that is to come for all who follow Him. |
to send to friends