WHO CUT IN ON YOU?
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Ever been wiped out? By the enemy? By your own decisions? Or by (gasp) another believer? This week we began our new series, WIPEOUT. Our featured scripture is Galatians 5:7 NIV, You were running a good race. Who cut in on you and kept you from obeying the truth?
We’ve all been there. Mired down in the muck of worldliness, carnal thoughts, and good ol’ fashioned sin. Supposed to be walking the straight and narrow, but instead laying over in the ditch wondering what happened. Who cut in on you? You were running well and BAM!
Let me give you 4 ALWAYS I believe will help and encourage you.
1. The enemy ALWAYS uses your natural appetites to trap you. We have God-given desires for things like food, sleep, and intimacy. But we must keep these in check. In the right timing. And in balance. A young person falling into fornication is only acting on God-given wants, just OUT of His timing and boundaries. In your walk, keep your appetites and desires in check. Look at your balance and timing.
2. The enemy ALWAYS uses your past as a trap. Before we were born again, we were all in the world. Sinning. Some of us were professional heathens! Years and years later, the enemy can bring back to you situations or opportunities to fall back into what held you captive before Jesus set you free. Be WISE! If your trap years ago was jelly donuts, then stay out of the Krispy Kreme! That’s a benign example, but you can take that and look at your own life traps. Stay away from the things and people that used to hold you captive. Innocent as a dove, but shrewd as a snake.
3. The Lord ALWAYS warns you of what’s coming. The Holy Spirit within you will give you a nudge before you get knocked down. It’s never a surprise. See Luke 22:31-32. In order to fall into a trap we have to ignore (!) the Holy Spirit and proceed with our bad decision. He can see things from a long way off. Listen to the Lord and you’ll stay on your feet.
4. The Lord ALWAYS gives you an opportunity to escape. Even once you have fallen into a trap, the Lord will fling open a window and say “jump!” So JUMP when you hear his voice. Take a drastic measure to get yourself free. Simon Peter (not through sin, but through another’s scheming) found himself in prison, his life hanging by a thread. Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared and a light shone in the cell. He struck Peter on the side and woke him up. “Quick, get up!” he said, and the chains fell off… Acts 12:7. When the moment comes that you are struck, and you feel the chains fall off, GET UP AND GET OUT!
No one wakes up one morning and says “Hey, I want to fall into sin today.” We just find ourselves there, sometimes before we even realize what happened. Regardless of whether you are dealing with nagging worry & doubt, or more robust big and nasty sin, I encourage you today to RUN! Pick yourself up, repent, turn, and get back on the straight and narrow! With his strength, you CAN BE FREE!
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The Oaks Fellowship
PO Box 5511
Johnson City, TN 37602
423-232-6257
office@theoaksjohnsoncity.com
Sundays, 10AM
Wednesdays, 7PM
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Point three struck home. Five years ago, I knew with absolute certainty that God was telling me, “Now is the time to start looking for another job.” But I ignored the warning. “I have seniority, so my job is safe.” “My boss likes me, so he’ll look out for me in the budget meetings.” Six months later, my boss threw me under the bus. My job of 20 years was eliminated.
I entered a new and strange world. I hadn’t searched for a job in two decades. It was a shock to discover that drug screening and background checks were now almost mandatory. Not that I had any worries there. But if I had heeded God’s warning, maybe I would have found a new job before losing my old one. At the very least, I would have had job applications circulating and my resume would have been updated.