In my previous message on this topic, I attempted to point
out some of the most common traps that satan lays for us.
A. We are relatively safe from obviously gross
temptations.
1. satan works in the areas in which we are the
most susceptible.
a. According to Scripture, many....if not
most....of these areas are temptations
which we, as Christians, hold in
common.
I Cor. 10:13 - 13No temptation has overtaken you except
such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will
not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but
with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that
you may be able to bear it.
Not only do Christians not recognize these general areas of
temptation, but when they do see the temptation, they
conclude one of two things.
A. They become ashamed and confused...feeling as
though they have sinned.....when in fact....they
have only been tempted in that area.
1. A temptation is not a sin!
James 1:2-4 - 2My brethren, count it all joy when you fall
into various trials, 3knowing that the testing of your faith
produces patience. 4But let patience have its perfect work,
that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.
B. The second response is to hide their sin because
they think that this sin is unique to them.
1. There is a perverted sense of uniqueness that
I believe satan instills in our minds.
a. If he can get us to think that our sin is
unique and we hide it from others
because of this belief......he has us at
his mercy (which he has none)....we
won’t seek out prayer or help.
In my last message, I addressed three very common areas in
which satan attempts to spiritually kill us.
A. The fiery arrow of doubt.
B. The fiery arrow of a critical and
accusing spirit (This is, by the way,
the spirit of the devil).
C. The fiery arrow of misplaced priorities
and/or procrastination.
Today, we will expand this list of fiery arrows of the
devil...
very common areas, in which he attempts to bring us down.
I. satan will work very hard to cause us to feel guilt.
II John 8 - 8Look to yourselves, that we do not lose those
things we worked for, but that we may receive a full
reward.
A. he won’t let us have the faith that we need to
believe and trust that God can...and has forgiven
us.
1. he does this by bringing back to our minds,
the sins that we have placed under the blood
of Christ.
a. This area is related to doubt, but it is a
specific form of doubt.
b. A Christian need never feel guilt for the
sins that he/she has placed under the
blood of Christ.
Psalm 103:12 - 12 As far as the east is from the west, So
far has He removed our transgressions from us.
Is. 43:25 - 25 “I, even I, am He who blots out your
transgressions for My own sake; And I will not remember
your sins.
**For those of us who must see it in the New Testament....
consider the following...............
Acts 3:19 - 19“Repent therefore and be converted, that
your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing
may come from the presence of the Lord.
I John 2:12 - 12 I write to you, little children,
Because your sins are forgiven you for His name’s sake.
B. There is another area under the classification of
guilt which satan uses.
1. It comes as “the unforgivable sin”.
a. A person believes that he/she has been
soooooooo wicked that God could or
would NEVER forgive them.
2. The truth is......there is no sin too large...too
wicked.....too unspeakable....but that God can,
will, and very much WANTS TO forgive it.
I John 1:7-9 - 7But if we walk in the light as He is in the
light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood
of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin. 8If we say
that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is
not in us. 9If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to
forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all
unrighteousness.
a. The point that I make from this verse is
that the blood of Jesus Christ cleanses
us from ALL sin.
1.) All still means all......there is no
sin that cannot be forgiven.
a.) Ah....you say....”What about
the ‘unpardonable sin’?”
** It is my firm belief that Christ was addressing those
wicked men who were in front of Him.....NOT THE
WHOLE HUMAN RACE!
1. But if you want to get technical.....If you personally
tell Jesus that the miracle which you saw Him
perform was done by the power of the devil....then
perhaps you too can sin the “unpardonable sin”
B. Lastly, under the heading of Guilt...is the person
who may really be guilty of a sin...this person has
NOT placed his/her sin under the blood of Christ.
1. The reason that this person feels guilt, is
because he/she IS guilty.
a. Guilt needs to be faced....not denied.
1.) Guilt will make a person defensive;
evasive; and belligerent.
2. There is but one cure for this arrow of guilt...
TOTAL AND REAL, GODLY
REPENTANCE!!!!!
a. Your heart should break over what you
have done to Christ.
b. Ask God’s forgiveness.
c. Right the wrongs that you have done....
as much as is possible.
d. Move on with life.
1.) Don’t keep dredging the sin up.
2.) Learn from it but don’t keep
remembering it....and don’t let
satan keep tormenting you with it.
II. Next.....the devil would have us be drawn into a spirit
of envy, covetousness, and jealousy.
A. Each one of these differs....to some extent....by
definition, but each one comes from the same
selfish angle and results in the same spiritual death
1. This is an arrow which burns from within.
Prov. 14:30 - 30 A sound heart is life to the body, But
envy is rottenness to the bones.
Romans 1:29-32 - 29being filled with all unrighteousness,
sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness,
maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit,
evil-mindedness; they are whisperers, 30backbiters, haters
of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things,
disobedient to parents, 31undiscerning, untrustworthy,
unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful; 32who, knowing the
righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such
things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also
approve of those who practice them.
Gal. 5:19-21 - 19Now the works of the flesh are evident,
which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness,
20idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies,
outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies,
21envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of
which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time
past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the
kingdom of God.
B. We see how invasive and destructive this heart
condition is, but what can we do to correct the
situation.
1. We must be realistic......jealousy appeals to
what isn’t.....we need to see what is.....and
learn to accept it for what it is.
a. We see others being blessed with talents,
with earthly goods, with opportunities of
all sorts.
1.) What we fail to accept is the fact
that......what might be good for
someone else....could well mean
our destruction.
b. We see others that have special talents
and abilities and it drives us to evil
thoughts and actions because of this.
1.) Reality says that each one of us
has some kind of talent.
c. Other’s needs may not be my needs.
1.) I need to be ready to thank God
for supplying MY NEEDS!
a.) If we would spend more time
cultivating OUR OWN
TALENT......we wouldn’t
have to have our hearts burn
with evil thoughts towards
others.
C. This leads me to understand that when we focus
on others......we lose sight of ourselves, and satan
can lead us into an eternal trap of envy, jealousy,
and covetousness.
1. We need to count our blessings.
a. Blessings which, in some cases, may be
exclusive to us as individuals.
2. Let us focus on ourselves in a good way.
a. Acknowledge our faults and sins
b. Acknowledge our real needs.....not our
perceived, false needs.
c. Let us focus on our spiritual goals.
** All of these sins are sins of a mis-directed focus.
1. We focus on others so as to want what they have.
2. We fail to focus on self with all of our own
problems, real needs, and the narrow way that
we should be walking.
a. One is not likely to stay on this narrow way,
if one is watching others instead of keeping
his eye on the path.
At this point, I ran out of time and concluded this message,
“off the cuff”. I had two more points which I have decided
to make into a third part.
