eSermon 11-19-2006
I Can Get You There: Satan's Schemes of Short Cuts and Substitutes
How would you live if you had a true understanding of eternity? Differently, I bet! Because of our lack of understanding, we settle for the NOW rather than investing for the FUTURE. Our society is a fast food, microwave society, full of self gratification for today. This affects all areas of our lives including our spiritual mentality.
The definition of Maturity is the state or quality of being fully grown or developed.
The definition of Patience is the capacity or quality to endure hardship, difficulty, or inconvenience without complaint.
Both these words have a common word in their definitions, which is QUALITY.
Why settle for a cheap, quick fix when we can have God's best for us?
Jesus had an eternal perspective and did not settle for the now.
1Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil. 2After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. 3The tempter came to him and said, "If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread."
Isn't this what God wanted - to prove to the world that He was the Son of God?
4Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.'
5Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. 6"If you are the Son of God," he said, "throw yourself down. For it is written: "He will command his angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone."
Isn't this why He came - for everyone to see His power & glory?
7Jesus answered him, "It is also written: 'Do not put the Lord your God to the test.'"
8Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. 9"All this I will give you," he said, "if you will bow down and worship me."
Wasn't this the goal - for the kingdoms of the world to follow Him?
10Jesus said to him, "Away from me, Satan! For it is written: 'Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.'"
Satan is telling Jesus, I can get you there! I can make this happen for you today, with out work, pain and with out the CROSS! My way is easier and quicker!
The problem is...
16 Simon Peter answered, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." 17Jesus replied, "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in heaven.
39And when the centurion, who stood there in front of Jesus, heard his cry and saw how he died, he said, "Surely this man was the Son of God!"
Isn't this why He came - for everyone to see His power & glory?
"When I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw all men to myself."
Wasn't this the goal - for the kingdoms of the world to follow Him?
9Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name,
10that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
11and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
It was God's Way from the beginning! We ask God to give us just a brief glimpse of heaven and of hell, and it would be so easy for all of us to live the way God wants us too. But God wants us to have faith and trust in Him and know that his Word is true and we live knowing his way is the best way to live! We have so many areas of our lives that we can take shortcuts and substitutes, but in the end, when we each have to stand and give account of our lives, we will know that God's way is the best way to achieve our Eternal Care!
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