Wednesday, April 16, 2014

Warning!

"You should also know this, Timothy, that in the last days there will be very difficult times. For people will love only themselves and their money. They will be boastful and proud, scoffing at God, disobedient to their parents, and ungrateful. They will consider nothing sacred. They will be unloving and unforgiving; they will slander others and have no self-control; they will be cruel and have no interest in what is good. They will betray friends, be reckless, be puffed up with pride, and love pleasure rather than God. They will act as if they are religious, but they will reject the power that could make them godly. You must stay away from people like that." 2 Timothy 3:1-5

There is a reason Paul warned Timothy of the last days, and there is a reason this passage still applies to us today. We need to be warned, aware, and conscious.

These things can take root within us, our families, our homes and our Churches. For some, this may already be the case. So how do we rid our homes, our lives, our families from these things?

Three ways

1. Understand none of us are immune.
2. Go Straight to the Root.
3. Combat it with the Word of God and the power of the Holy Spirit.

If we think we are immune to the attacks of Satan, we have another thing coming. He is constantly planning and scheming, he waits until we are weak, and then he attacks. We are susceptible.

We need to learn, evaluate and get familiar with the root of what causes these actions-selfishness.
When we focus on ourselves, the desires of our flesh, and feelings we literally remove Christ from the center and place ourselves in the place He should be. This will always produce problems, stress, frustration, and more selfishness. In order to put Christ back in the center you must daily put aside your selfish ambition, shoulder your Cross daily and follow Him. You literally have to wake up and run to the foot of the Cross and lay your selfishness down.

Then, you have to put on the armor of Christ and be completely on guard at all times. You need to tune your ears to His voice and listen. None of these things are easy, but if we choose to do them day in and day out, we will be able to look back and see how He has guided us, protected us, and helped us grow in perseverance, self-control and faith.

The greatest asset we have is His Word. We need to be storing it within us every second, constantly meditating on His promises, seeking it out like we would lost treasure or hidden money. The more we store His Word, the stronger the Holy Spirit is within us, and the less likely we are to give into our selfishness.

Jesus, uproot the selfishness within us and replace it with Your truths, Your promises, and selflessness. Take complete control of our lives in every area. Guard us from our own selfishness. Jesus bring healing to those who are living in the bondage of selfishness. Bring freedom and healing to the families who have allowed sin and selfishness to divide them. Amen

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