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http://www.lmcigreenville.org/watch-live/
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Sunday AM: 11am
Sunday PM: 6pm
Wednesday: 7pm
www.lmcigreenville.org
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CCLI #: 3105920
Oppositions – Rick Bagwell
Tag: enemy
The Enemy – Rick Bagwell
You can watch us live each week!
http://www.lmcigreenville.org/watch-live/
Service Times
Sunday AM: 11am
Sunday PM: 6pm
Wednesday: 7pm
www.lmcigreenville.org
Worship Cast License #: 6786
CCLI #: 3105920
THIS IS THE REASON OF SAFETY FOR YOU
AS I MOVE ACROSS THIS EARTH AND GATHER MY PEOPLE FROM NATION TO NATION, YOU WILL SEE A GREAT AFFLICTION AGAINST THEIR ENEMY. HE WILL LOOSE GROUND AS THE TIME COMES FOR MY RETURN. I HAVE ALL YOU NEED AND YOUR SAFETY IS SECURE, BUT GREAT DEPTHS OF MY OWN JUDGMENT IS ON THE HORIZON. YOU WILL SEE IT AND WILL FROWN AT MY WORK, BUT YOU WILL KNOW IT IS ME. I AM NOT HERE TO DESTROY, BUT I AM HERE TO SECURE YOUR SAFETY. GO AHEAD AND DO YOUR DAILY TASKS AND WATCH AND PRAY. MY TIME IS UPON ALL WHO WOULD TURN THEIR BACK UPON ME. YOU WILL SEE ME AND KNOW I HAVE COVERED YOU. YOUR BACK IS PROTECTED BUT YOU WILL KNOW ALSO THAT I AM LEADING NO MATTER WHAT YOU SEE.
(This was given to me as I sought the Lord in my “secret place” this morning)
RECKLESS FAITH
MARK 5: 25-29 – AND A CERTAIN WOMAN, WHICH HAD AN ISSUE OF BLOOD TWELVE YEARS.
AND HAD SUFFERED MANY THINGS OF MANY PHYSICIANS, AND SPENT ALL THAT SHE HAD, AND WAS NOTHING BETTERED, BUT RATHER GREW WORSE.
WHEN SHE HAD HEARD OF JESUS, CAME IN THE PRESS BEHIND, AND TOUCHED HIS GARMENT.
FOR SHE SAID, IF I MAY TOUCH BUT HIS CLOTHES, I SHALL BE WHOLE.
AND STRAIGHTWAY THE FOUNTAIN OF HER BLOOD WAS DRIED UP; AND SHE FELT IN HER BODY THAT SHE WAS HEALED OF THAT PLAGUE.
THIS WOMAN KNEW WHAT IT WAS LIKE TO BE SICK.
THIS WOMAN KNEW WHAT IT LIKE TO GET HER HOPES UP AND BE DISAPPOINTED.
I KNOW WHAT GOES ON IN THE MIND OF A SICK PERSON.
I ALSO KNOW WHAT IT’S LIKE TO BE HEALED.
I AM SO THANKFUL FOR MY RELATIONSHIP WITH THE LORD, EVEN WHEN I WAS SICK. GOD IS GOOD TO US ALL THE TIME. THE DEVIL IS OUR ENEMY NOT GOD.
HEALING IS ALWAYS AVIALABLE TO US, SOMETIMES IT IS INSTANT, SOMETIMES IT IS PROGRESSIVE.
I PREFER THE INSTANT, BUT WILL BE HAPPY WITH THE PROGRESSIVE HEALING.
THIS WOMAN HAD A SICK BODY, BUT A STRONG WILL. A STRONG WILL IS A MAJOR FACTOR IN RECEVING ANYTHING FROM THE LORD.
SHE ALSO HAD PATIENCE, AND DETERMINATION.
HER WILL TO BE HEALED STAYED STRONG, WHILE HER BODY WAS STILL SICK.
SHE BECAME RECK-LESS IN HER FAITH. ACCORDING TO JEWISH LAW, HER CONDITION OF BLEEDING, FORBID HER FROM BEING IN PUBLIC.
RECK-LESS FAITH CAN CAUSE YOU TO FORGET WHAT YOU HAVE BEEN TAUGHT. SOME HAVE BEEN TAUGHT THAT HEALING IS NOT FOR TODAY. YOU NEED TO FORGET THAT. IT IS A LIE STRAIGHT OUT OF RELIGIOUS TRADITION. GET RECK-LESS AND RECEIVE.
THIS WOMAN SAID IF I CAN TOUCH, BUT HIS CLOTHES, I SHALL BE WHOLE. HER WILL SAID, WHAT HER WILL BELIVED, THIS IS IMPORTANT. WHAT A STATEMENT, SHE DIDN’T ASK FOR JESUS TO TOUCH HER, HE DID TOUCH A LOT OF PEOPLE FOR HEALING, BUT SHE WAS DETERMINED TO TOUCH HIM.
SHE KNEW SHE WAS TOUCHING THE WORD MADE FLESH.
I HAVE BEEN HEALED, TOUCHED BY THE POWER OF GOD THROUGH TOUCHING JESUS IN HIS WORD. BY HIS STRIPES I AM HEALED, HIS WILL FOR ME IS HIS WORD FOR ME. IF I CAN BELIEVE HIS WORD FOR THE SALVATION OF MY SOUL, I CAN BELIEVE HIS WORD FOR MY HEALING. SALVATION FOR MY SPIRIT, SOUL AND BODY.
EVERY WORD, EVER ACTION OF THIS WOMAN WAS FAITH ORIENTED.
SHE HAD EVERY REASON TO GIVE UP, BUT SHE REFUSED TO GIVE UP.
IN DOING THAT SHE WAS REFUSING THE SICKNESS.
MARK 5:34 – AND HE SAID UNTO HER, DAUGHTER, THY FAITH HATH MADE THEE WHOLE, GO IN PEACE, AND BE WHOLE OF THY PLAGUE.
SHE GOT WHAT SHE BELIEVED FOR, SHE PRESSED THROUGH THE CROWD.
THERE WILL BE OBSTACLES THAT YOU HAVE TO PRESS THROUGH; SYMPTOM’S THAT SCREAM OUT AT YOUR FAITH; WORDS OF FACT FROM PHYSICANS, TRY TO IMPART FEAR AND UNBELIEF; PAIN THAT SCREAMS, “NO THIS IS NOT FOR YOU, YOU CANT BE HEALED.”
THE WOMANS FAITH SCREAMED LOUDER THAT THE SICKNESS, I SHALL BE WHOLE.
THE ONLY ONE IN THE CROWD THAT TOUCHED JESUS IN THE PRESS, WAS THIS WOMAN’S RECK-LESS FAITH THAT WAS AIMED BY HER WILL TO RECEIVE.
SHE KNEW SHE HAD THE RIGHT MAN. THE ONLY ONE IN THE CROWD THAT COULD EVER HELP HER WAS JESUS. I SHALL BE WHOLE SHE SAID. THE TOUCH OF FAITH FIXED HER PROBLEM, THE TOUCH OF FAITH WILL FIX EVERY PROBLEM.
EVERY TIME I READ ABOUT THIS WOMAN, WHAT SHE DID AND WHAT SHE GOT, CREATES FAITH IN ME, IT CREATES STRONG WILL INSIDE ME NOT TO BE DENIED WHATEVER IS PAID FOR, THAT BELONGS TO ME.
ALIGN YOUR TALK AND YOUR FAITH; THEY GO TOGETHER AND WILL MOVE YOUR MOUNTAIN’S. AMEN, GLORY TO MY KING JESUS.
THE FORCES OF EVIL/HOW THEY WORK
Evil began with Satan. With Adam, sin entered into the world.
Most Christians know this,
but there are things we must understand about our enemy, that keeps us from
being the best we can for God.
Satan uses demons, and shows
up himself, at times, as we are in the
process of developing in our
relationship with God.
I don’t mean he can be
everywhere at all times like God, but his demons are dispatched by him to
follow us around, to see if we will open the door for them to enter.
By this, I mean when we get
in the flesh, or look back to the world, we can take a back-step into what we
used to be before salvation, and be tempted to turn back to our old carnal
ways.
Why do you think God’s
ministers backslide?
Most of the time, it is
because they get so involved in God’s work,
they don’t make time to
spend with the God they serve.
Why do you think so many of
these occult religions get as far as they do?
They pray many times a day to their false god, which opens the door for
Satan to increase their growth, and spread their doctrines of error.
Evil will continue until the
end of the Church age, then it will become more furious during Jacob’s: The
Great Tribulation period of seven years, and will appear again, for a short
time, at the end of the millennial reign
of Christ.
We as Christians, should
guard against, or be watchmen, confronting
evil.
Surprisingly enough, sometimes, we as Christians, can be
influenced by Satan, to do his work.
How?
Hearts of
unbelief – Hebrews 3:12,13 —-Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of
unbelief, in departing from the Living God.
But exhort one another daily, while
it is called today; lest any of
you be hardened through the deceitfulness
of sin.
Some begin to wander off
from the work of God, and God Himself, when the fiery trials come. They might get criticized for they way we do
things, and become despondent and loose
their vision, instead of turning it over to God.
Fear could arise, and they
might never start what God has called them to do. I have even seen people who are called to do
something, but try to influence someone else to do it, so they can be a part of
it, and they won’t have that responsibility on themselves. It never works, and the other person becomes
troubled and out of place, and ultimately out of the will of God. It won’t stand the test.
On the other hand, in the
body of Christ, we are commissioned to submit to authority. A person who is called to do a work, has authority over others under them. From the pastor, all the way down, we have to
submit to someone.
Every ministry that is
involved with a Church, has the responsibility of answering to the
leadership. If we can’t learn to follow,
we will never be successful leaders.
Moses had a problem like
this, but God quickly handled the problem; but people’s lives were lost in the
process. (Numbers 16:1-3) – Look at verse 3 —-And they gathered themselves together against Moses and Aaron, and said
unto them, Ye take too much upon you, seeing all the congregation are holy,
every one of them, and the Lord is among them: wherefore then lift ye up
yourselves above the congregation of the Lord?
Or, “Moses and Aaron, What
right do you have to put yourselves forward, claiming that we must obey you,
and acting as though you were greater than anyone else among all these people
of the Lord?
Now, look at verse 28,31-33
—-And Moses said, hereby ye shall know
that the Lord hath sent me to do all these works; for I have not done them of
my own mind.
And it came to pass, as he had made an
end of speaking all these words, that the ground clave asunder that was under
them:
And the earth opened her mouth, and
swallowed them up, and their houses, and all the men that appertained (or related) unto Korah, and all
their goods.
They, and all that appertained unto
them, went down alive into the pit, and
the earth closed upon them: and they perished from among the congregation.
And Verse 34 states, All of
the people fled at their screams, fearing that the earth would swallow them up
too.
Have you noticed when people
come against leadership, how their whole family is affected?
They pray and pray, their
loved ones come to Church, get saved, and are growing in the Lord. (which, by
the way in itself, makes Satan and his demons mad) Soon they see
something they question about what the leadership is doing; they call a
family meeting, discuss it, and soon their family drops out of
Church, backslides, and they blame the Church? I’ve seen this over and over again. —-
Korah and his house were destroyed, as well as those who conspired with them.
The leaders are
responsible for the decisions they make.
It is not up to us to
straighten them out verbally, we are to pray for them.
Also, if you are not wearing
their shoes you have no right to judge them.
God called them to that
position. Most of the time, they are
following the leadership of the Lord, and they could know something you
don’t know.
When we serve the Lord with
all our hearts, the trials will come to try to stop God’s work. I have found, through experience, this is
when God is getting ready to do something great in that work.
Stay where you are, pray,
AND DON’T GIVE UP ON THE BRINK OF A MIRACLE.
We can be used unknowingly
in Satan’s plan: which is always trying to stop the work of God.
You wonder why you pray,
pray, pray, and can’t get peace?
Maybe you need to repent and
ask your family to forgive you for getting out of your place. We are not God,
we can’t control people.
You might ask me how I know
all this.
Well I’m sorry to say, I was
involved in something like this myself on two occasions of my life. When I understood, I repented.
But that didn’t keep me from
reaping what I sowed.
People of God, it is important
to me, to instruct you in how not
to fall into this trap of Satan.
There are no “Lone Rangers”
in the body of Christ, everyone is connected to someone.
We should be on guard and
stay out of things that could cause us to be influenced. How do the forces of evil influence us?
In our
thought life —- 1 Corinthians 13:4,5
—- Charity suffereth long, and is kind;
charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,
Doth not behave itself unseemly,
seeketh not her own, is not
easily provoked, thinketh no evil (or we could say, is not ready to
suspect evil).
We see here,
devices that Satan uses, that could cause us to think evil of someone:
1- Lack of
love
2- Lack of
patience
3- Lack of
kindness
4- Envy (or
jealousy or rivalry)
5- The pushing
of self forward
6- Pride
7-
Inappropriate behavior
8-
Self-seeking
9-
Being easily provoked
10- I call these The Nine Rotten Fruit of Evil.
All of which,
manifest in someone who is ready to think or suspect evil of others.
Believe me,
these are things that should not, but do, operate at times in the body
of Christ.
We are told in
Romans 12:21 to …Be not overcome of evil,
but overcome (or Conquer) evil with
good.
In the very
next chapter, Chapter 13 we are instructed to honor authority.
These are
things the devil doesn’t want us to know that keeps us from being the best
followers of Christ we can be.
Evil Forces
Influence Us Through Our Companionships 1 Corinthians
15:33 —-Be not deceived: evil
communications (or companionships)corrupt
good manners.
Have you ever
noticed how, when you get around some people, even in the body of Christ, there
is a spirit of criticism that enters the conversation?
Before we know
it, we enter into the gossip without even meaning too; and we feel so
convicted afterwards; and wonder how we allowed ourselves to get involved.
In Proverbs
6:16-19, we are introduced to seven things that are an abomination unto the
Lord, which is called Seven Deadly Sins.
Let’s read it
—-These six things doth the Lord hate;
yea, seven are an abomination unto Him:
a proud
look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood,
a heart
that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in
running to mischief,
a false
witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord
among the brethren.
Wow! God hates them, and they are an abomination (or loathsome
and wickedness) to him.
The sowing of
discord among the brethren causes more trouble in the Church than sinners or
demons on the outside.
The Church of
Jesus Christ needs revival, and a time of repentance.
This evil is
what the world and the Church are guilty of.
We see every day where there is a misuse of money in both.
Does the Word
say money is evil?
No. Look at 1 Timothy 6:10 —-For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after (or were
greedy about), they have erred (or
turned away) from the faith, and pierced
themselves (to torture one’s soul)
through with many sorrows.
It is the love
of money; that-is the putting of money before God.
God calls
evil, putting money and what you want, before Him and His work. He calls the love of money the root of all
evil.
Think about
it, what seems to be number one on the mind of the world, and also, I’m ashamed
to say, on the mind of much of the Church?
MONEY!
Money is not evil;
it is used by God to do good for His children and those in need.
It takes
money, to send the Gospel around the world.
It takes money
to live.
But, Church,
our dependency is to be focused on God.
He is the supernatural God who supplies all our needs and also gives us
the desires of our hearts. Our money may
fail, but God will never fail us.
The apostle
Paul does not condemn the possession of riches: they are only evil where they
are badly used. Neither does he speak against rich men: for he would condemn
such men as Abraham, and Joseph of Armethea who used their wealth
righteously. He condemns the haste to be
rich.
The rich must
not put their trust in their wealth, but put their trust in God, and their
focus on the treasures that have eternal value.
There is much
more I could go into about The Forces of Evil and How They Work, but time won’t
permit today.
We will stay
away from the evil one, if we set ourselves to live in the Word, and God’s
Spirit. ——– Until next week.
THE LIFE GIVER
Nowhere in the Bible do we find where Jesus came to bring death. Everywhere He went, He brought life. He is the access to the Father, the only access. He raised the dead. He gave eternal life through His death.
In John 10:9-11 Jesus said, –
I am the door; (or I am the access to the Father) by Me if any man enter in, He shall be saved and shall go in and out, and find pasture.
The thief cometh not, but for to steal and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.
I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth His life for the sheep.
Jesus is the door to the sheepfold.
He is the way of life.
Who would shut-up the way of life, to live the way of the world?
We are in this world, but not of this world.
By Him, we have eternal life, but we can also move about on this earth, living in two worlds (heaven and earth), freely, with His guidance, without fear of the enemy.
Why? Because He watches over us.
He is our Shepherd; the Good Shepherd. He watches over us individually, with tender care, and self sacrificing love.
The Shepherd died, that we might live.
Also, our Shepherd knows when it is time for us to go home to heaven.
At that time, He will call us. But before that, He will prepare us for our journey.
Many are afraid of death. They walk around in fear of the unknown.
We, as children of God, are to have life each day and not dread and fear of death.
For, Jesus came that we might have life, and that we might have it more abundantly: More than we can possibly use. Abundant supply.
Those who receive life from Him, have within them, continual sources of life for others.
We witness: they get saved: they witness: others get saved; and it goes on…
Those in their graves, who are dead in Christ, will know life again. This is our Blessed Hope.
1 Thessalonians 5:14, 16-18 —-For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep (or die) in Jesus will God bring with Him.
For the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
Wherefore comfort one another with these words.
Part of our abundant life in Him, is to know these things, this great promise of being able to be with our loved ones, when the end of this age comes, who died in-Christ.
Every day, I go to Greenville from my house, I have to pass by my Daddy’s grave. I have the peace of knowing his soul and spirit are not in that grave, but are with Jesus. Only his body is left there, but it will be resurrected on that day of the Rapture, and if I am passing by that way at the time his body leaves that grave, I can watch it come up and meet the Lord in the air with My Daddy.
To me, it’s as though he is on a trip and will soon return to me.
Woman of God, it is an abundant life when we know that we know we are ready to meet the Lord, should He come today.
Sinner, don’t be left behind. Trust Him today to care for you as your good shepherd.
Jesus loves you; He gave His life for you. You are not really living until you put your life in His hands. I’ve heard people say, “I’m not ready, I am still young. I want to live my life they way I choose.”
What are you giving up to invite Him into you life? I’ll tell you. You are giving up eternal torment and destruction for eternal life; You are giving up hell for heaven; you are giving up the lordship of Satan, for the Lordship of Jesus Christ; you are giving up no peace for the “Prince of Peace.
Some women tell me they are afraid their boyfriend or husband will get mad or even leave them if they ask Jesus into their lives. Would you sell your soul to the devil for someone who wants you to go to hell, and to be eternally separated from God? He doesn’t love you, he loves himself, he loves the sin you share with him. He is just like the devil, when he gets through with you, he will laugh at you. This might seem harsh , but believe me, I have seen too much of it.
We can decide to serve God and live according to His standards, or we can set our own standards and live outside His blessings.
The choice is ours.
Proverbs 8:36 —But he that sinneth against Me wrongeth his own soul: all that hate Me love death.
Romans 6:23 —For the wages of sin is death: but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
There is coming a time when all this will be played back in your mind computer. You will remember when you were witnessed to about your soul’s destination. Their is only one way you can be born again, saved from destruction:
For you who did not pray that prayer with me,
Invite Jesus into your heart now, don’t live another day without Him, there is no promise of another chance.
God is righteous and demands full obedience from His creation. He will not tolerate unrighteousness, and designed hell to eternally house those who are not willing to submit their lives to Him.
There is no other way to the Father but through Jesus.
Jesus said in John 14:6 … I am the way, the truth, and the life, no man cometh to the Father, but by Me.
Jesus is Life. He is still giving life.
John 3:16 — For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
Think about it. Everlasting life.
Look at verse 17,18 —-For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through Him might be saved.
He that believeth on Him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God
Pray this prayer with me, and receive Jesus, by faith, as your Lord and savior:
Jesus, come into my life, and save me. I am sorry for my sin, I repent of my sin. I am tired of trying to live my life, my way. I give my life to You.
Deliver me from every stronghold of bondage. In Jesus name I pray.
Thank You for saving me.
bondage,
We have already seen where Jesus Christ is life, conqueror over death, and the only way to the Father.
There are also special promises from God for those who serve Him:
Eternal life
Peace
Joy
Abundant life
Heaven
Escape from hell
There is a great contrast between heaven and hell, and both are real places: one to joy and one to darkness with no hope.
Choose the life giver.
THE GREAT ESCAPE
THE GREAT ESCAPE.
I know, from one of our last messages, Wilderness Experience: where Jesus revealed to us; when He went through those temptations, he did this for us. Again, what the Father revealed to me today, is a revelation, I am likely never to forget.
When we get to the place, of complete surrender to God and His plans and purposes for our lives, we never again have to be troubled about anything. There is great freedom that comes with this level of our walk with Him. The Lord said to me, “I will take you to the place of escape for every temptation. I prepared this for you, when Jesus was in the temptation wilderness with Satan. Now, you understand how I did it. I gave My people the way of escape. This was My purpose for this great experience of Jesus. Nothing can take you under. I have prepared the way of escape.”
I always knew after I read the Scripture in 1 Corinthians 10:13, that God will make a way of escape; but I didn’t completely understand how the escape would come.
1 Corinthians 10:13 —- There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to men: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation wilderness,also make a way of escape, that ye may be able to bear it.
Studying this verse an comparing it with Mark 1:13a let’s read it —- And He was there in the wilderness forty days, tempted of Satan;…
Comparing these two, together, began to bring light to me: Jesus’ temptations; and our temptations.
Finding other references, that relate or connect, is also important for the full understanding of this great truth, or any other subject in the Bible: comparing Scripture with Scripture (Isaiah 28:10).
Hebrews 2:3a —-How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation;…
Escape means = to evade, or slip away from.
Temptation means = a testing designed to strengthen, or corrupt.
2 Peter 2:9a —- The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations,…
Temptation is withstood, through our trust in the faithfulness of God.
God has undertaken to defend, and deliver His servants, whether it is daily temptations, or the Great Tribulation period of the last days.
We all need to escape both.
Look at Luke 21:36 —- Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.
Jesus prepared the way of escape, but we can see in this verse we also have something to do: We are told to watch and pray.
This would go for any kind of escape we might need.
When Jesus was tempted in the Judean wilderness, He warded off every thrust by the power of the Scriptures.
God encourages us to call on Him in the day of trial.
The sentry or soldier, doesn’t advance or move forward, to meet the approaching enemy: he falls back, and gives warning to the commander.
So, when we are tempted, we should call upon our God.
It’s the difference in being strengthened, or corrupted.
temptation When God strengthens us, we just slip away from the temptation.
Joseph was given strength, by God, to do this very thing.
Most all Christians know this story, but for those who are listening who don’t, and those who would love to be refreshed, turn with me to Genesis 39:6b —- And Joseph was a godly person, and well favored.
Verse 7-9 —- And it came to pass after these things, that his master’s wife cast her eyes upon Joseph; and she said, Lie with me.
But he refused, and said unto his master’s wife, Behold, my master wotteth not what is with me in the house (or trusts me with everything in his house) and he hath committed all that he hath to my hand.
There is none greater in this house than I; neither hath he kept back any thing from me but thee, because thou art his wife: how then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?
Look at verses 10-12 —- And it came to pass, as she spake to Joseph day by day, that he harkened not unto her, to lie with her, or to be with her.
And it came to pass about this time, that Joseph went in to the house to do his business; and there was none of the men in the house there within.
And she caught him by his garment, saying lie with me: and he left his garment in her hand, and fled, and got him out (he got out of there).
We know from the next verses, he escaped this temptation, but she lied on him, and his master, Potifhar, sent him to prison; but we also know God was with him, and even used him in prison.
Verse 21 —- But the Lord was with Joseph, and shewed him mercy, and gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison.
Verse 23 —- The keeper of the prison looked not to any thing that was under his hand; because the Lord was with him, and that which he did, the Lord made to prosper.
As time went by, Joseph began to interpret dreams.
interpret,butler,One morning, Pharaoh awoke from a dream that troubled him, (Genesis 41:7,8) and the chief butler told Pharaoh, that Joseph could interpret it.
Pharaoh sent for Joseph, and in verse 16, we read —- And Joseph answered Pharaoh, saying, It is not dream,in me: God shall give Pharaoh an answer of peace.
Pharaoh shared his dream of which Joseph interpreted and verse 39 reads —- And pharaoh said unto Joseph, Forasmuch as God hath showed thee all this, there is none so discreet (or discerning) and wise as thou art.
Joseph showed himself not only to be a man of integrity no matter the cost, he showed himself to be a man who sought God.
My friend, sometimes when we escape temptation, the result is: trouble with man; but we can depend on peace with God. Obedience, and peace with God, are worth the stand we take. In the end, we win every time.
Verse 40 —- Thou shalt be over my house, and according to thy word shall all my people be ruled; only in the throne will I be greater than thou.
We see Joseph, sold into slavery by his own brothers, taken down to Egypt and sold to Potiphar, who was the captain of the guard, under Pharaoh; promoted by God’s favor to the second to Pharaoh.
My friend, only God, can give this kind of favor, that a man could come from a servant, to the second to a king, in approximately fourteen years.
Most of Joseph’s life was filled with troubles and trials, but he remained faithful to God, and completely trusted God.
He followed God’s plan and purpose for his life.
If you are going through a time of testing or temptation, my advice to you is, stand strong in you conviction of what is truth, and keep your heart and mind toward God.
Now, there are sins of disobedience that can cause us to fail to escape the judgment of God. We will take these last few minutes, and go over some of the Scriptures that cover failure to escape:
HE THAT SPEAKETH LIES SHALL NOT ESCAPE:
Proverbs 19:5 —- A false witness shall not be unpunished; and he that speaketh lies shall not escape.
Shall not escape what?
Revelation 21:8 —- But the fearful and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone; which is the second death.
All liars are eternally separated from God.
IF WE GET INTO DARKNESS WE SHALL NOT ESCAPE:
1 Thessalonians 5:3-5 —- For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.
But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.
Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.
IF WE NEGLECT OUR SALVATION WE SHALL NOT ESCAPE:
Hebrews 2:1-4 —- Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at anytime we should let them slip.
For if the word spoken by angels was steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompense of reward;
How shall we escape, if we neglect (or disregard) so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard Him.
IF WE JUDGE OTHERS WE SHALL NOT ESCAPE:
Romans 2:1-3 —- Therefore thou art inexcuseable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest (or criticizes anyone): for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things.
But we are sure that the judgment of God is according to truth against them which commit such things.
(a question) And thinkest thou this, O man, that judgest them which do such things, and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgement of God?
Or we could say, Do you think God will judge and condemn others for doing them and overlook you when you do them, too?
God is saying,— There is no excuse for you, whoever you are, that criticizes anyone for doing something you are doing yourself. When you are condemning them, you are condemning yourself. And we know that God, in justice, will punish anyone who does such things as these.
GOD’S MIGHTY STRENGTH
PHILIPPIANS 4:13 – I CAN DO ALL THINGS THROUGH CHRIST WHICH STRENGTHENETH ME.
PAUL WAS SAYING I CAN MAKE IT THROUGH EVERYTHING CONTENT. SATISFIED WITH MY PRESENT CONDITION, BECAUSE OF MY RELATIONSHIP WITH CHRIST. HE CAN CARRY ME THROUGH ANY HARD PLACE AND ALSO HE CAN CAUSE ME TO ENJOY ABUNDANCE, OR TO BE IN NEED.
PAUL WAS CONTENT IN CHRIST REGARDLESS OF HIS CONDITION. PAUL KNEW HE HAD THE ABILITY AND THE STRENGTH TO FACE ANYTHING AND DO ANYTHING THROUGH CHRIST.
THE PRESENCE OF CHRIST IN OUR LIVES GIVES US STRENGTH AND ABILITY FOR EVERY SITUTATION OF LIFE. THAT STRENGTH AND ABILITY COMES FROM THE ANOINTING THAT ABIDES IN US THROUGH JESUS. WE CAN BE STRONG IN FAITH THAT COMES BY HIM.
THE GREEK WORD FOR STRENGHTENED IS USED IN OTHER SCRIPTURE. HE WORD STRONG; ALSO ENABLED, IS USED TO EXPLAIN THE WORKING OF GOD IN OUR LIFE.
THIS GREEK WORD FOR STRENGTH IS FOUND ONLY IN BIBLICIAL AND ECCLESIASTICAL GREEK, MEANING TO MAKE STRONG; VIGORUS; TO STRENGTHEN.
GOD IS EQUIPPING US WITH THE POWER NECESSARY FOR THE TASK SET BEFORE US.
WHATEVER THE PURPOSE FOR OUR LIVES IN THE KINGDOM OF GOD, WHATEVER ABILITY WE NEED IN EVERYDAY LIVE, IN CHRIST, WE ARE EQUIPPED WITH HIS POWER AND STRENGTH.
AS A CHRISTIAN, STRENGTH LIVES IN US, BUT OUR STRENGTH COMES FROM ABIDING IN HIM. RELATIONSHIP, FRESH EVERDAY, DEVELOPES PASSION FOR GOD. WE BECOME STRONG IN FAITH AND POWER.
THERE ARE MANY CHRISTIANS WHO ARE SPIRITUALLY WEAK. CHRIST ABIDES IN THEM, BUT THEY DON’T ABIDE IN HIM. THEY QUOTE THE SCRIPTURE BUT THEIR RELATIONSHIP WITH THE LORD IS NOT A PRIORITY WITH THEM.
TO ABIDE IN CHRIST IS TO LIVE IN AWARENESS OF HIS EVER ABIDING PRESENCE.
YOU MAY OR MAY NOT FEEL IT, BUT YOU WALK BY FAITH, PRAYING IN FAITH, STUDYING HIS WORD IN FAITH, WORSHIPPING IN FAITH.
IF YOU ARE FAILING IN THIS AREA, REPENT AND ASK THE LORD TO REFILL YOU WITH HIS SPIRIT AND DRAW YOU TO HIM. ADMIT YOUR WEAKNESS AND ASK HIM TO TOUCH YOUR WEAKNESS WITH HIS STRENGTH.
EPHESIANS 6:10 – FINALLY MY BRETHREN BE STRONG IN THE LORD, AND IN THE POWER OF HIS MIGHT.
HERE IS A COMMAND. THE VERSES THAT FOLLOW ARE RECIPES FOR STRENGTH: PUT ON THE WORD OF GOD AND PRAYER AND THE FAITH OF GOD WILL CARRY YOU TO PURPOSE AND STOP THE ENEMY.
ABILITIES WILL COME AND DEVELOPE IN YOUR LIFE, GIFTS WILL SHOW UP THAT YOU DIDN’T KNOW YOU HAD.
OUT OF WEAKNESS YOU WILL BE MADE STRONG.
HEBREWS 11:34 SAYS OUT OF WEAKNESS WAS MADE STRONG.
OF COURSE THIS IS JUST PART OF THIS SCRIPTURE. GOD TOUCHES OUR WEAKNESS WITH HIS STRENGTH AND ENABLES US TO DO ALL THINGS THROUGH HIM, HE IS OUR STRENGTH, HE IS OUR ABILITIES, OUR FAITH COMES FROM HIM, HE GAVE US ALL A MEASURE OF FAITH. THAT FAITH CAN STAY SLEEPING INSIDE OF US ARE WE CAN STIRR IT UP AND IT WILL GROW. I CHOOSE TO USE MINE.
EVERYTHING GOD HAS PUT IN OUR HEART CAN BE ACCOMPLISHED, THROUGH GOD’S MIGHTY POWER IF WE WILL OBEY HIM AND BELIEVE HIM. AMEN, IN JESUS’ NAME.
HOW THE DEVIL CAN WORK FOR YOU -PART II
JOD 12:6 – THE TABERNACLES (OR TENTS) OF ROBBERS PROSPER, AND THEY THAT PROVOKE GOD ARE SECURE; INTO WHOSE HAND GOD BRINGETH ABUNDANTLY.
HERE, JOB GOES BACK TO HIS MAIN ARGUMENT, AND MAINTAINS THAT, THE WHOLE COURSE OF EARTHLY EVENTS BEING UNDER GOD’S DIRECTIONS, ALL THE RESULTS ARE TO BE ATTRIBUTED TO HIM, AND AMONG THEM BOTH THE PROSPERITY OF THE WICKED, AND, BY PART OF REASONING, THE SUFFERINGS OF HE RIGHTOEOUS.
THIS IN NO WAY IMPLIES THAT GOD IS UNFAIR, IT MEANS THAT GOD IS LONGSURRERING AND USES THE WICKED TO BRING FORTH THE MEANS, OF THE END OF HIS PURPOSE.
THE WICKED WILL ALWAYS BE PUNISHED, AND THE RIGHTEOUS WILL ALWAYS VICTORIOUS IN THE END; EITHER HERE OR IN THE WORLD TO COME.
GOD IS GOOD, THEREFORE HIS PLANS SRE GOOD. HIS PLAN CANNOT BE DEFEATED.
IN THE END, JOB WAS PRIVILEGED TO REALIZE THAT GOD HAD A WONDERFUL PLAN THAT HE COULDN’T SEE. HE CAME TO UNDERSTAND THAT HIS SUFFERING HAPPENED FOR A LARGER PURPOSE —-EVEN IF HE COULDN’T PERSONALLY UNDERSTAND THAT PURPOSE. HIS EYES BECAME OPEN TO THE FACT GOD IS GOOD, HE CARES ABOUT HIS PEOPLE, AND HIS PLAN CAN’T BE DEFEATED, NO MATTER WHO IS USED TO BRING IT TO PASS.
ISAIAH 19:14 – THE LORD HATH MINGLED A PERVERSE SPIRIT IN THE MIDST THEREOF, AS THE DRUNKEN MAN STAGGERETH IN HIS VOMIT.
AMOS 3:6 – SHALL THERE NOT BE EVIL IN THE CITY, AND THE LORD HATH NOT DONE IT?
TO BRING EGYPT INTO SO DISTRACTED A STATE, THE HAND OF GOD HAD BEEN NESCESSARY. HE HAD INTRODUCED INTO THE NATION A SPIRIT OF PERVERSENESS. THOSE IN WHOM THE SPIRIT WAS HAD, THEN LED EGYPT ASTRAY IN ALL HER DOINGS. THEY HAD MADE HER LIKE A DRUNKEN MAN, WHO STAGGERS ALONG HIS PATH, AND SLIPS IN HIS OWN VOMIT.
LONG -CONTINUED SUCCESS AND PROSPERITY PRODUCES OFTEN A SORT OF INTOXICATION IN A NATION.
WE SEE HERE THAT GOD HAS CONTROL OVER MAN’S CIRCUMSTANCES. EVEN IN OUR REBELLION, GOD CAN WORK HIS PURPOSES THROUGH THEM ALL.
I WAS STRUGGLING ABOUT HOW TO END THIS MESSAGE AND REALLY WANTED GOD’S MIND.
DURING MY TIME WITH THE LORD THIS MORNING, HE SPOKE THIS TO ME:
“NOW TRUST ME TO GIVE YOU THE ENDING OF THIS MESSAGE. THE REASON YOU HAVE STRUGGLED WITH IT, IS BECAUSE IT IS ABOUT THE EXPOSING OF THE ENEMY’S PLANS. IT EXPOSES THE FACT, THAT ALTHOUGH HE GOES AFTER THE DESTRUCTION OF MY OWN CREATION, I STILL TAKE HIS REIGNS AND HE CAN DO NOTHING ABOUT IT. IT IS ALWAYS THAT I AM IN CONTROL OF MY CHILDREN’S DESTINY EVEN THOUGH THEY RUSH AHEAD AND BRING DELAY TO THEIR OWN HURT. I WILL ALWAYS SUCCEED IN MY WAY OF DOING THINGS. I KNOW THAT YOU DON’T ALWAYS SEE THAT I AM IN CHARGE, BUT I EVEN USE HIS PLANS TO FULFILL MY PURPOSE. HE THINKS HE IS A MATCH FOR ME, BUT HE HAS NEVER BEEN A MATCH FOR THE ONE WHO CREATED HIM. HE IS YOUR ENEMY, BUT I USE HIM AS A PUPPET IN MY PLANS. HE THINKS HE CONTROLS THE LIFE OF A SINNER, BUT HE ONLY FOOLS HIMSELF INTO THINKING IT. I AM ALWAYS COAXING AND TURNING THE SINNER HERE AND THERE TO SEE THE TRUTH AND COME TO MY PLAN OF SALVATION AND FREEDOM FROM THE BONDAGE SATAN HAS THEM TRAPPED IN. YOU SEE IT ALL THROUGH THE SCRIPTURES. AS YOU SEE IT, I AM ACTUALLY REVEALING IT TO YOU. THE DEVIL HAS NO POWER OVER ME AND MY PLANS. I JUST USE HIM. THE SINNER HAS A WILL TO CHOOSE, BUT I ALLOW HIM TO BE MOVED HERE AND THERE; BUT THE ULTIMATE CHOICE IS UP TO HIM TO CHOOSE ME AND MY LIFE FOR HIM,—OR SATAN’S. I MAKE SURE THOUGH, THAT, THAT SINNERHAS EVERY CHANCE TO SEEK THE RIGHT DIRECTION. I MOVE HIM HERE AND THERE, AND WATCH OVER HIM LIKE A SHEPHERD HIS SHEEP, BUT WITH THE GREATEST LOVE AND CARE THAT NO ONE CAN MATCH. YES, THE DEVIL THINKS HE IS IN CHARGE HERE, BUT I NEVER GAVE HIM FULL POWER. HE IS …THE PRINCE AND POWER OF THE AIR…, BUT HE WILL NEVER BE KING. I HAVE THE PLAN FOR HIS DESTRUCTION ALWAYS IN MIND. HE KNOWS MY PLAN BUT THINKS HE HAS THE POWER TO BEAT IT. HE IS NEVER IN CHARGE OF MY CREATION, NEVER!”
“IT IS IMPORTANT THAT MY CHILDREN KNOW AND UNDERSTAND THIS. THIS IS NOT A NEW REVELATION, BUT A REVELATION LONG FORGOTTEN BY MAN. I AM READY FOR THIS TO BE REVEALED TO MY CHURCH.”
