Lies the Devil Loves to Tell God’s Children

The devil is a liar. That’s not all he is, but he is good at what he does.

He’ll tell you whatever he needs to tell you in order to trip you up, or keep you down.

And he’ll change up the delivery of his message depending on what you’re going through.

So when you’re suffering a trial, the devil will whisper a message of hopelessness to you. He’ll say something like: This will never end.

On the other hand, when you’re in a season of blessing, the devil will try to shake your confidence by telling you the exact opposite: This will never last.

But trials do end. Joy comes in the morning. There is a mountain of victory on the other side of your valley.

And blessings do last. Even though seasons change, God’s favor is forever. He who began a good work in you will be faithful to complete it.

One thing, is to remember, Greater is He that is in us than he that is in the world. 1 John 4:4 (KJV) ⁴ Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.

Here are some other Lies Satan will use against you and the church.

You can be okay with God and not love your brother or sister in Christ. After all if they were “right” they would see things your way.

Satan will also lie and tell you, you don’t need to be faithful to your church. It is okay to divide your loyalties. Satan will get us too busy with other things some of them maybe good things, but not the best things, so as to take our focus off God’s Vision for us.

Satan will also lie to you and tell you it’s okay not to support the leadership of your church, especially if you don’t agree with them. One of the great dangers in the church is when we begin to think I can just do my own thing. Remember, Prov 14:12 There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death. This warning is so important that God says it again just two chapters later in Proverbs 16:25 Also one of the problems with the Children of Israel was they lacked a willingness to follow God’s leader and desired a new thing, a king. And the scripture says one of the things which lead them to disobedience was that “every man did that which was right in his own eyes.”

Satan will also lie to the leadership and try to convince you that you are not accomplishing anything. If Satan can disillusion you with the leadership or disillusion the leadership, he wins.

How does Satan do this?

1. We begin to question the Lord. We question is God really in control? Where is God when I needed Him? We question His direction and Leading. Remember the disciple questioned Jesus when he said He must needs go up to Jerusalem.
2. We begin to deny the Lord access to He wants to do with us. Remember Peter when Jesus was washing the disciple’s feet? Peter at first didn’t want Jesus to wash his feet.
3. We begin to focus on our own selves, our wishes and desires or how good we are.
4. We begin to follow the Lord afar off
5. We draw near the world’s crowd. We will begin to seek like company even if it is with the world or other backslidden Christians, rather than staying near the Lord’s family.
6. We get comfortable and begin to sit and run with the world’s crowd.
7. We begin to deny Christ with our words and actions.
8. We go out, out of the church, out of fellowship and out of God’s will. We have lost our focus and lose our vision.

Don’t let the devil twist the truth.
Catch him in his lies, and stand on what God says.

Together in Christ’s Service,

Pastor Rick

Once Upon A Marriage – Week 3 – FAITH – LESS or FAITH – FULL – Abraham and Sarah

Abraham and Sarah

Here we are already in part 3 of the series Once Upon A Marriage. We have discussed what takes place in a marriage where there is no real understanding about marital satisfaction, what hurts a marriage in passive husband and pushy wives are in an endless power struggle. Today we look at Abraham and Sarah as they struggle with faith in their relationship.

Talking through the message during the week will help you put what God is saying to you into action.  These talking points, questions, and scriptures are designed to help you take the next step.

With your Bible or YouVersion, read Genesis 12:1-9 and Hebrews 11:8.

THINK ABOUT IT / TALK ABOUT IT

These verses describe how Abraham obeyed God’s calling to leave home. Even though he didn’t know where he was going, Abraham and Sarah demonstrated faith in God by obeying.

• Describe a time when it took faith to do something that God led you to do? What did this situation teach you about trusting in God?
• What did your earliest dreams of marriage look like? How different is your life now from how you thought it would be?

Read Genesis 12:10-20.

Abraham gives into his fear in this passage. We see his faith falter as he asks his wife Sarah to pretend to be his sister so he isn’t killed.

• Describe a time when you gave into your own fear and did not rely on God. What did you learn from this experience?
• How have you seen fear affect your relationships with others and with God?

Read Genesis 16:1-6.

Sarah grows impatient waiting on God’s promise to give her a child in this passage, so she asks Abraham to marry Hagar so that she can give them a child.

• Why is it so hard for most of us to be patient while waiting on God to answer our prayers? Why do you think God makes us wait sometimes?
• Sarah’s impatience caused her to get ahead of God’s timing of keeping His promise. How have you seen impatience negatively affect your relationships?

Read Genesis 17:17, 18:12-14, and Romans 4:19-21.

Even though Abraham and Sarah endured faithless seasons, Romans 4 shows us that they did not lose faith. Their faith was ultimately strengthened when God fulfilled His promise.

• Discuss how each of the faithless seasons has played out in your life. Which one do you identify with the most?
• What are some specific things you can do to have the kind of faith that Abraham and Sarah had?
• Even with faithless seasons, Abraham and Sarah are icons of faith. How will you live from now on so your life (and marriage) will be characterized by faith?

WHAT’s NEXT

Here are some specific things you can do this week to help you have a stronger marriage or prepare for a marriage that honors God.

• Spend time with your spouse writing a vision statement for your marriage based on faith in God not just your personal goals. Put this written document where you can see it on a regular basis.
• Spend time reading Hebrews 11, known as the faith chapter. Let God speak to you as you read about the great things that have been accomplished as a result of having faith in God.

PRAY

Use these prayer tips to guide your time with God this week:

• Confess those areas of your life in prayer where you lack faith. Ask God to strengthen your faith.
• Share with God in prayer the fears that have a hold on you. Ask God to help you remove all fears.
• Pray and ask God to give you more patience in all of your relationships and with God.
• Pray and ask God to help give you a vision for your marriage or any other important relationships in your life.
• Read Hebrews 11 and then ask God to stir the kind of faith within you that is described in this passage.

Together in Christ’s Service,

Pastor Rick Dinkins

Once Upon A Marriage – Week 1 – Never Satisfied –

Well, well, well, here we are. The first month of 2012 is gone and we are entering the second month, the month of love, February. Today we began a new series of Bible Studies and Messages on the Home and Marriage called “Once Upon A Marriage.” With the message each week I hope to add a Pastor’s Pen which will help us reflect on what the message was a bout and get us to think about our own relationships. Now I know that some of you young people will just ignore this and never read it because you are saying, “I’m not married, and this doesn’t apply to me.” But, I bet you like someone, and hope to fall in love someday, get married and have a family of your own. And even if you plan on staying the world’s best most available bachelor or bachelorette, you will probably be in relationships so this information can help even you.

This passage, Genesis 29:16-35, tells the story of Jacob’s marriage to sisters Leah and Rachel. Jacob’s actions mirror many people today who put the weight of their deepest hopes and desires solely on their spouses and ultimately crush their marriages with unreal expectations.

• How does the world’s view of romantic love differ from God’s view?
• Describe what your picture of an ideal marriage looks like. What do you think it takes to achieve the type of marriage that honors God?
• Discuss some of the successful marriages you have seen. How did these couples achieve an ideal marriage?
• Why do you think so many people try to find fulfillment through relationships rather than finding it through God?
• Describe a time when you tried to find fulfillment and satisfaction through a relationship rather than finding it through God. What did you learn from this experience and how did it ultimately affect your relationship with both God and the other person?
• Describe how different your marriage or dating relationship is when you put God first?
• How have you seen unmet expectations like Jacob had in Genesis 29 affect your marriage or your relationships with others?
• Who or what is your ONE in your life right now? What specific things can you do to ensure that God is your ONE?

WHAT’s NEXT

Here are some specific things you can do this week to help you have a stronger marriage or prepare for a marriage that honors God.

1. Consider reading Rescue Your Love Life by Drs.      Henry Cloud and John Townsend with your spouse. This book will teach you      how to set realistic expectations within your marriage, as well as how to      improve communication and enhance romance. A study guide for the book is      also available.

You can learn more about the book and study guide at http://www.cloudtownsendstore.com/reyololibo.html.

2. Follow Dr. Kim Kimberling on Twitter at      http://twitter.com/kimkimberling Dr. Kimberling is a licensed marriage      counselor who posts a marriage booster each day on Twitter. These tweets      suggest actions designed to strengthen and grow marriages.

PRAY

Use these prayer tips to guide your time with God this week to expand your devotions:

• Confess to God those things or relationships that you are putting before Him to gain satisfaction.
• Ask God in prayer to help you keep Him number one in your life. Ask Him to help you overcome the distractions in your life.
• Ask God in prayer to help you have the right kinds of expectations in your marriage and other relationships.
• Pray for your spouse that they will put God first. If you aren’t married, pray for your future spouse.
• Share with God in prayer those areas in your life that you feel unsatisfied. Ask God to help you find satisfaction.

Remember, God Loves You and Jesus Wants You To Be His Valentine!

Together in Christ’s Service,

Pastor Rick