Satan's Attack Strategy

I want you to turn to Genesis chapter 3, Genesis chapter 3.

Genesis 3 · chapter mention Genesis 3 · chapter mention

Tonight is the Super Bowl and I'm excited that one I still

claim him as mine.

He apparently don't claim me anymore.

Chris Jones, defensive tackle for all pro defensive tackle for

Kansas City Chiefs and so I wear his colors today in honor of

him.

So went to Houston High School and a dear friend, so sweet and a

good guy.

But anyway, the Super Bowl and in preparation for the Super Bowl,

both teams have watched film.

They've spent time in preparation.

They do that on the college level.

They do that on the high school level.

They watch their game to see their strengths, to see their

weaknesses, to point those things out to the players, to allow

them to see those problems.

Then they also watch film of their opponent and see what their

tendencies are, what their strengths are, what their weaknesses

are.

And then you make a plan to combat that.

Whether on offense, to try to beat their defense.

Or whether you're on defense, trying to stop their offense.

They strategize and make plans for that.

So this morning I want us to watch a little film together.

It isn't a game.

And honestly, it isn't a film.

It's a narrative account.

But I want to help us picture some images in our minds.

More than that, I want you to understand strategy.

I want you to understand the strategy of the evil one.

And I also want you to understand how we can defend ourselves

against the evil one.

As I said a couple of weeks ago, Satan is a snake in the grass.

But he's a convincing one.

He's a slimy one.

He's a sneaky one.

And Adam and Eve were the first to fall for his schemes.

But there's no need for us to point fingers at them.

Because all of us have done the same thing.

We fell for the evil one's schemes.

So my prayer this morning is we can get a handle on that.

Get a better understanding of what we're dealing with.

Better know how to combat it.

But then another step that we won't know today,

we'll know in the coming days,

is do we carry out those combative strategies

to gain victory in our lives?

It's found in Genesis chapter 3, verse 1 through 6.

Genesis 3:1–6

And I'll just tell you, I don't believe this is just a one-time occurrence.

I believe that this is a one-time occurrence

that explains what happens again and again and again in our lives.

A blueprint of sorts for what we deal with.

Genesis chapter 3 says this.

Genesis 3 · chapter mention

Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the Lord God had made.

He said to the woman,

did God actually say,

you shall not eat of any tree in the garden?

And the woman said to the serpent,

we may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden.

But God said,

you shall not eat the fruit of the tree that is in the midst of the garden.

Neither shall you touch it lest you die.

But the serpent said to the woman,

you will not surely die.

For God knows that when you eat of it,

your eyes will be opened and you'll be like God,

knowing good and evil.

So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food

and that it was a delight to her eyes

and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise,

she took of its fruit and ate.

And she also gave some to her husband who was with her.

And he ate.

There was no need for her to sin.

She was placed in the garden of Eden.

She had everything she needed around her,

yet she wanted more.

Even the garden and all its beauty was not enough.

And the one place that she was forbidden to go,

the one thing that she was forbidden to do,

that's what she wanted to do.

That's where she went.

So often that is the case.

We often have so great an appetite

for the things that we need to stay away from,

the things that often lead us astray.

So I want you to be well aware this morning

that the devil is on attack.

He knows how to place things before us

that would most lead us to fall.

I told you a couple of weeks ago,

it's not because he's omniscient that he knows all things.

It's because he and his army of demons watch us

to see our tendencies,

to see what we look at,

to see how we respond and how we act and what we say.

And he leads us to fall in those areas,

just like he did with this first question

that he asked in verse one.

He said, did God actually say,

you shall not eat of any tree in the garden?

That's just a question.

That's not just a question.

It's a twisting, deceptive type question.

He did not question the love of God.

He did not deny the existence of God.

I'll tell you what he did.

He went after the word of God.

He attacked the word of God.

So I want you to notice this process.

First thing he does is he attacks God's word.

He asked the question, did God actually say,

and then he twists the question.

Did God say you shall not eat of any of these trees?

Now remember, it was the word of God

that gave Adam and Eve everything that they had.

As we talked about a few weeks ago,

God spoke and the sun and the moon were developed.

Stars in the sky were placed.

The land separated from the water.

All on the speaking of God.

Vegetation was created.

Animals were made.

All on the voice of God.

It all came from the word of God.

His instruction came by his word.

All that they knew was by the word of God.

And that's what the devil attacked.

We base all of our faith on the word of God.

We believe his word that Christ is the only way.

We believe his word that we live by his instruction.

That his will and his way is what's best for our lives.

We believe his word that he walks with us in the valley.

That he will not leave us alone.

That the peace that he gives us is beyond any of our understanding.

We believe his word that he sent Christ to live as an example for us.

To die as a sacrifice for us.

To rise as an eternal hope for us.

To ascend to prepare a place for us.

And to return to take us with him that where he is we may also be.

We believe his word.

That upon that salvation we are empowered by the Holy Spirit.

We are sealed by his spirit.

We are guaranteed an eternal inheritance.

All because of his word.

We believe that we've been changed by salvation.

We've been challenged by his commission.

And that we've been empowered by his spirit.

To share with others the hope that God has granted to us.

And we believe all of that based upon the word of God.

All that we believe is the word of God.

These truths are not only printed on a page.

They are God breathed.

They are God breathed.

Into the writers of scripture.

And God indwelt within us.

When we give our hearts and lives to him.

All we know about God.

Is the word of God.

If you attack his word.

You attack him.

If you attack his word.

You attack his salvation.

If you attack his word.

You attack the hope that he has given to us.

The foundations of our belief.

Is found in the word of God.

Therefore the evil one attacks the word of God.

Notice how he attacks the word of God.

He questions what it says.

He said you shall not eat of any of the trees.

It's not what he said.

At all.

We believe his word.

And he attacks his word.

Now I'll tell you what he attacks when he attacks God's word.

He attacks that Christ is the only way.

A lot of philosophies about that today.

Christ is still the only way.

He attacks that we live by God's instruction.

That that's the best way for us.

We often question that.

I know God says this.

But what about my circumstances?

He attacks that.

He attacks the fact that we.

Is God really walking with me?

Does God really see my circumstances?

Does God understand where I am?

The word says God never leaves me alone.

I feel alone.

Can God really give me a peace in the midst of my circumstances?

He attacks the fact that our salvation.

Can come.

No better way to cripple a Christian.

Than make them question their salvation.

And so if you question your salvation.

Let's clear it up.

Before we leave here today.

I will take the time.

To meet with you.

And let's clear it up.

There's no need for you to doubt.

Your salvation.

Because it's the best way.

How are you going to share your faith with anybody?

If you're not even sure about it yourself.

How are.

How are you going to live.

In the power of the Holy Spirit.

If you struggle.

With your salvation.

No need for you to struggle.

With that at all.

But that's where he attacks.

He attacks the fact that we've been challenged by the commission of the Lord Jesus Christ.

That his last words told us to go and tell others.

And make disciples.

And baptize them.

Not only do we not want to travel the world to reach somebody.

We only want to walk across the street and share Christ with somebody.

You know.

He attacks that.

I've said before.

I've said recently.

That there's always going to be two tides against you.

When you try to do two things for the Lord.

One is to share your faith with somebody.

You're always going to be under attack when you do that.

And prayer.

There's always an attack for prayer.

You'll think of something else you need to do instead of pray.

So you'll get up and stop praying.

And the devil loves to get us not to evangelize people.

And not to pray.

Because that's where the power is.

So he attacks those things.

He attacks the fact that we're empowered by his spirit to share.

You'll say, well, I don't know what to say.

I don't know what to do.

He'll give you the words to say.

When he opens the door and you walk through it, you're empowered by the spirit of God.

But the devil's going to whisper in your ear, you ain't adequate.

You can't handle it.

He attacks the word of God.

Not only does he attack, but he also questions the word of God.

Satan is trying to bring doubt.

He says, did he really say that you could not eat of any fruit?

No, he didn't.

It's not what he said.

He said, you may surely eat of every tree of the garden, but this one.

But what God said and what the devil said is polar opposites.

And that's how he questions God's word.

The devil has convinced the world to ask us,

is God's plan really what's best for me?

I mean, if I know what the word of God says,

and I see how it tells me to live,

I mean, is that really the best plan for me?

I don't know that you ask that out loud.

But every time we're tempted to sin and we struggle with it,

that's exactly what we're asking.

Is God's plan what's best?

Maybe how about this question?

How can a loving God hate those who disagree with God's word?

How can he do that?

That's a question the devil loves to throw out.

Is the Bible really relevant today?

Come on, thanks, 2,000 years old.

Is it really relevant today?

That's a question the devil loves to throw out.

And all of that is twisting.

All of it is a perversion of God's word.

I'll tell you what God said.

God said adulterers and perverts and liars and thieves and murderers

will not inherit the kingdom of God.

That's what he said.

If they come to Christ, he will wash away their sins.

He will remove their sins.

When people come to Christ, they are a new creation.

They are not the same.

Listen to me.

They don't do the same things they used to do.

Their minds are being transformed.

They're not perfect.

But the process begins of a mind transformation.

The will is empowered by the spirit of God.

Do we always listen to him?

No.

We're in the process of being transformed.

We are in the process of growing in the Lord.

The process for living that changes.

Our purpose for living changes.

All of that changes.

And when people remain in their sins

and do not come to Christ

or when they struggle in their walk with Christ,

God does not hate those folks.

God does not hate them.

When we speak against sin,

I want to be clear about something.

When we speak against sin,

I'm not telling us to hate the sinner.

I'm telling us to hate the sin.

And no matter what the sin may be,

we have a responsibility

to share the gospel with folks.

To not let them be brainwashed

by an evil world

in which it's led by the evil one.

to convince us that the sins of yesterday

are somehow not sins today.

It is a twisting

and a perversion of God's word.

God does not hate those folks.

God loves those folks.

God loves those enough

to send Christ to die for them.

That's how much he loves them.

The word of God is timeless.

It is always on time.

It is relevant.

It is God breathed.

It is spirit filled.

And it is a book

that reads us like a book.

I want you to listen

to what Hebrews says about it.

Hebrews 4, 12 and 13 says this.

For the word of God

is living and active,

sharper than any two-edged sword,

piercing to the division of soul

and of spirit and of joints

and of marrow,

and discerning the thoughts

and the intentions of the heart.

You know why it's such a struggle

for you to spend time

in God's word?

Because the devil don't want you

to read God's word

and to sense the spirit of God

discerning your thoughts

and the intentions of your heart.

We'd just soon stay distant from that.

And no creature

is hidden from his sight,

but all are naked and exposed

to the eyes of him

to whom we must give account.

So I don't want to be naked

and exposed,

so I'll just not spend time

in God's word.

That's why we don't like it.

That's why we struggle with it.

That's why the forces

of the evil one

come against you

and get you struggling.

Those of you who are trying

to be on a reading plan

and you get behind a little bit

and you get discouraged

and get overwhelmed by that

and say,

I'm just going to give it up.

Don't do it.

Don't do it.

I don't know what

they're telling you to do.

Skip it and start today

fresh and new.

But you stay in God's word

every day.

If you can't handle

the chapters you got to do,

don't do them all.

I'm giving you permission.

Don't do them all.

But you be in God's word

every day.

You spend time

in God's word every day.

You need it.

You're going to be saturated

with this whole evil world

the rest of the day.

You better take time out

to hear from God.

I'm just telling you.

Don't tell me

you don't have time.

You don't have time not to.

You've got to take in God's word.

And if somebody asks you

if you believe

that only people

that believe like you

go to heaven,

you tell them no.

No.

No.

Tell them this.

I believe Jesus.

I believe what Jesus says.

That's what I believe.

And you know what Jesus says?

Jesus says in John 14, 6,

I am the way,

the truth,

and the life.

And no man comes

unto the Father

except through me.

So I don't know

all the things that I believe.

I don't know

if all they're correct.

But I know one thing.

I believe in Jesus.

And I believe what Jesus said.

And Jesus said

you have to come through him.

You just point, folks,

to Jesus.

He's the one that said it.

You got an issue with it?

Take it up with him.

But take it up with him.

Get on your knees

and get before him

and take it up with him.

All of that

is questioning

the word of God.

And when Satan

questions God's word,

he wants us

to question his word.

He wants the,

he works hard on us

questioning

the word of God.

Not only that,

but he distorts

God's word.

He rephrases

this question

in a negative way.

He says,

did God

say

that you shall not

eat of any

tree

in the garden?

Well,

they'd starve to death.

That'd be the case.

He didn't say that at all.

What'd God

really say?

He really said,

you may surely

eat of every tree

in the garden,

but of one.

I'll tell you

what the devil's

trying to do.

He's trying to cast

doubt on God's

motivation.

He's trying to cast

doubt on,

is God

holding me back

from opportunities?

I mean,

what looks like

out there in the world

looks like the best

thing to do.

That's the stuff

I want to do.

If I do what God

tells me to do,

I'll be held back

from those things.

I won't be able

to enjoy all those

things.

Somehow God

don't want you

to be happy.

No,

I'll tell you what.

He's trying to keep

you from getting

trapped.

That's what he's

trying to do.

He's trying to keep

you from getting

trapped.

We can get trapped

in habitual

lifestyles of

behaviors that we

were not designed

to be a part of.

God didn't make us

for that.

And when we go

outside of God's

purpose for our

lives,

we get hooked

on stuff we

don't need to be

hooked on.

Satan tempted

her by telling

her she would

in fact be

like God.

He was making

God out to be

so jealous that

he was holding

her back from

her potential.

I want to be

clear because

the Old Testament

is clear.

We serve a

jealous God.

We do.

I don't know

how that hits

you where you

are.

But I'm

sorry.

We serve a

jealous God.

But I want to

be clear about

something.

He's not

jealous of us.

He's jealous

for us.

He wants all

of us.

He wants all

of us.

He wants the

best for us.

And the devil

does not.

And so the devil

is going to

limit, try his

best to limit

our potential

because our

greatest potential

is found in

Christ.

Christ.

And one way

the devil does

that, the one

way he works in

this world is

through distorting

God's word.

But that's not

the only thing

that happened

because this

wasn't all the

devil.

So let's turn to

Eve for just a

minute.

What did she

do?

She fell into

temptation.

Why did she

fall into

temptation?

I'll tell you

why.

She diminished

God's word.

She did.

When she

began to

think about

it and

continue to

look at

opportunity

before her,

God's word

got smaller.

The whispers

of that snake

got louder.

And if you

ignore God's

word, walk

away from

God's word, or

don't apply

God's word to

your life, it's

going to happen

every time.

I promise you.

I'll tell you

how the devil

does it.

He does it in

two different

ways.

One is he

works in our

world and the

world gets

so loud in

distorting the

word of God

that that's what

we hear, and

that's all we

hear.

I mean, listen

folks, it's

being shouted

all around us.

It's being

shouted in the

news we watch.

It's being

shouted in the

twisting of

science.

It's being

shouted in the

polarizing focus

on politics.

Tear God's

people up

through politics

instead of on

the power of

the gospel.

So he does

it loud like

that, but I'll

tell you how

else he does

it.

He does it by

whispering to

us individually.

Did God

really say,

do you really

think?

Does that

apply to you?

What about

your circumstances?

man, that is

easy to fall to.

We have an

inborn nature

within us that

pulls us toward

it.

And the first

one to face it

who didn't have

an inborn tendency

like we do

fell for it.

He fell for it.

Adam and Adam

just dumbly

following along

joined right in.

And we've been

dumbly following

along, joined

right in ever

since.

Every time.

Tell you what,

James 1 describes

what happens to us.

James 1.

I pray that

when I read

this passage

you'll see

if it applies

to your life

and what's

really happening

in your life.

But each

person

is tempted

when he's

lured and

enticed

by his own

desire.

Then desire

when it has

conceived,

gives birth

to sin.

And sin

when it is

fully grown

brings forth

death.

And I want

you to understand

the New Testament

concept of

death.

You say,

well preacher,

what I do,

I'm not going

to die doing

that.

Yeah,

you are.

Yeah,

you are.

My grandmother

went home to be

with the Lord

years ago

and I

didn't lose

her.

I know

where she's

at.

Okay?

And I

miss her.

And the

reality is

that she

never died.

Scripture

tells me

that when

she closed

her eyes

in death

here,

because of

her commitment

to the Lord

Jesus,

she opened

her eyes

in glory.

It was a

transition.

She left

the shell

behind.

I lived

away from

her.

I didn't

see her

in her last

days.

And when

I saw

her corpse,

it broke

my heart

that I

hadn't seen

her alive.

she died,

but she

still lives.

So I

want you to

understand

that there

are deaths

that happen

in our lives

spiritually

that don't

stop our

heart from

beating.

Our brains

keeps going,

but we

find out

that our

relationships

with others

become very

strained

because of

our sin

patterns.

We find

out that our

honesty with

others becomes

very strained.

There's a death

that takes

place, a

separation that

takes place, a

chasm between

us and others.

There's a chasm

that happens

between us and

God.

As we

continue in sin

patterns,

and don't

acknowledge

them.

If you

fail to

spend time

with the

Lord in

the morning

or in

tomorrow

evening or

whenever you

do it,

if you

fail to

spend time

with him

tomorrow,

Tuesday it's

going to be

easier to

not spend

time with

God.

Wednesday it's

going to be

easier not to

spend time

with God.

Thursday you're

going to start

getting good

at it.

Friday you're

going to be

that much

worse shape.

By next

Sunday you're

going to be

putting on a

fake smile when

you come to

church trying

to hide the

fact that you

ain't seen

hide or hair of

the Lord in

the last week.

That's a death

that's taking

place.

You understand

that?

Because we have

an ongoing

relationship.

relationship.

Okay?

If I live with

my family for

the next week

and I never

speak to any

of them, I

hope I make it

to church next

week.

But that's a

death that's

taking place.

And that's the

kind of death he's

talking about.

Now, stupid

sin patterns that

lead to habits,

that lead to

degradation, will

lead to death as

well.

And we all

know cases where

people got too

caught in sinful

patterns and they

lost their life

because of that.

But I want you to

understand, there's

death that can

happen before your

heart stops and

your brain stops

functioning.

And God wants to

protect us from

that by doing the

baby steps of

living out our

faith for the

Lord on a

consistent basis.

Eve considered the

temptation, just

like James 1, 14,

15 tells us.

Eve considered the

temptation.

She grew an

appetite for the

fruit of temptation

and her perspective

changed.

When you entertain

the options the

devil throws out, be

careful, it'll change

her perspective.

You'll see it

differently.

Now she saw it was

good for food.

What started as a

question to consider

became a temptation.

And I'm going to

tell you, those

questions can be

subtle.

They really can be.

And that's the

problem.

The subtle nature of

the questions that

he asks us sometimes.

Before you know it,

the thought begins,

if God really loves

me, why would he

deprive me from

that?

I mean, that looks

like the best tree in

the whole garden.

Why shouldn't I do

that?

If he really cares for

me, why would he

deny that?

You see the twisting

of the truth there?

The psalmist tells us

how to combat it.

All of Psalm 119 tells

us how to combat it.

But Psalm 119, 11 says,

I have hidden your

word in my heart that

I might not sin against

God.

The best combat you

have toward the evil

one is to know the

word of God, to spend

time in the word of

God.

It is when these

questions come that

the word must not be

diminished in our mind

but be amplified in our

mind.

Because I'm telling you,

you'll go in a hole if

you are not careful.

When we open our mind

to consideration, when we

begin to dialogue with

temptation, we're in

trouble, folks.

You're in trouble.

I like what scripture

says, snatch them from

the fire.

I tell those men on

Tuesday morning sometimes,

the reason why we meet

at 6 a.m. on Tuesday

and the reason why we

meet at 9 a.m. on

Tuesday and the reason

why we read through

books together to talk

about how to live out

our faith for the Lord

and the reason we

discuss that is I'm

hoping, dear God, I can

snatch some old boy from

the fire, keep him from

doing something stupid in

his life.

God, wake us up.

Wake us up before we

go too far.

The steps of temptation

are there's a reflective

question.

As Barney Fife says,

nip it in the bud when

that comes, okay?

There's a reflective

question.

The second thing is

there's a desire.

There's a desire.

And then the third thing

is where the sin comes in

and that's a sinful

action.

And the answer to walk

away from temptation is

don't focus your attention

on the question.

Get back to the word of

God.

Instead of considering the

temptation, consider this.

And if you don't know this

scripture, you need to

write it down.

If you don't write nothing

else down, you need to

write this down and live by

it.

It's 1 Corinthians 10, 13.

It'll pull you out of a

hole.

No temptation has

overtaken you.

That's not common to man.

You're not an exception to

the rule.

We all face temptation.

It might be slightly

customized.

But I got news for you.

If we were to stand up this

morning, and we're not

going to, if we were to

stand up this morning and

confess all our sins to

each other, and I had a

big board up here, there

ain't a board big enough to

cover Pickens County to

cover all our sins, okay?

And I were to write them

up there, you know what

you'd see?

You'd just see four or five

categories.

You wouldn't see that

many different things.

I mean, there's nuances,

and I know you're

different than the rest

of us.

See how he does it?

Somehow you're different.

The reality is, no

temptation sees you except

what's common.

God is faithful.

I want you to hear me.

You've got to hang your

hat on this.

He will not let you be

tempted beyond your

ability.

But with the temptation, he

will also provide the way

of escape.

That you may be able to

endure it.

God will provide a way out.

The way to sin may be this

big old wide open door right

in front of you.

That's so easy.

And you feel this sucking

feeling that you're just going

into.

Like a vacuum.

Take a second look.

Look around a little bit.

God's provided another way

out.

And when you fail to amplify

God's word in your life,

that's a key passage.

Psalm 119, 11 is another key

passage.

Memorize them.

Say them.

When you fail to amplify God's

word in the midst of your

temptation and instead

diminish God's word, you're

going to fall to it.

You're going to fall to it.

She also added to God's word.

I want you to notice what

happens once she starts having

a conversation with Satan.

I hope that raised a red flag

when I said that.

When she starts having a

conversation with Satan.

She said that God said not to

touch the tree.

He said neither shall you

touch it.

That's not true.

He didn't say that.

He didn't say that.

We need to stick to God's

word.

And we don't need to be

conversing with Satan.

Converse with God.

Call out to God.

We don't take away from God's

word because we don't like that

part.

We don't need to add to God's

word.

God said enough.

He said all we need.

Let's just follow what he

said.

Don't add to God's word.

Not only that, she ignored

God's word.

When she saw that the tree was

to be desired to make one

wise, she's on a slide at this

point.

You're in a mess at this point

because you're already

reaching for the tree.

First John 2 verse 16 tells

1 John 2:16

us how we sin.

It says, for all that is in the

world, the desires of the flesh

and the desires of the eyes and

pride of life is not from the

father but is of the world.

All three aspects of sin is

mentioned in that scripture and

all three aspects of sin happen in

her life.

I want you to see this.

It's kind of like diagramming sentences in

English.

What a God forsaken activity.

But anyway.

But I remember having to make those

little things.

I don't think kids know what I'm

talking about now.

But diagram sentences, you know.

Break it down.

Well, let's diagram our sin and our

temptation.

Let's see what that's about.

It says the desires of the flesh, the

desires of the eyes, the pride of

life.

The desires of the eyes, she saw what

she's looking for.

Okay.

The desires of the flesh was that she

wanted it.

And the pride of life was that she

could become like God if she did it.

She'd call her own shots.

She'd do it her way.

Temptation got loud.

Her attention got distracted.

Desire got strong.

And the word of God got ignored.

And sin comes when we do things our

way.

Every time we sin, we try to become

our own God.

We try to run our own life.

And when our appetite gets wet for

worldly opportunities, and when we

look at the things that God has told

us not to, when we seek to do it our

way, we sin against God.

And the ramifications are huge.

They're much bigger than they appear.

It's kind of like the message that

used to be in those side view

mirrors.

The things you're looking at are much

bigger than they appear.

Don't back into it.

And I'm just telling you, the

ramifications of our sin are much

bigger than they appear.

And we will look at those in the

days ahead.

But I want you to see it for what it

is.

Whereas salvation comes when we stop

doing it our way, sin comes when we

start doing it our way.

And when we do, it's an attack on the

word of God.

It's an attack on the truth of God.

It's an attack on the character of

God.

The apostle Paul said this, and I

relate to it so well, I know you do

too, whether you admit it or not.

Romans 7, verse 15 and 17 through 20.

Romans 7:15

I'll read it and I'll get close to

closing.

For I don't understand my own actions.

For what I do not do, for I do not do

what I want, but I do the very thing I

hate.

You've been there?

So now, it is no longer I who do it,

but sin that dwells in me.

For I know that nothing good dwells in

me that's in my flesh.

For I have the desire to do what is

right, but not the ability to carry it

out.

For I do not do the good I want, but

the evil I do not want is what I keep

on doing.

Now, if I do what I don't want, it's no

longer I who do it, but sin that dwells

within me.

There is a way that is right.

And Jesus said, I am the way.

Any other way interrupts our relationship

with God.

And the ramifications of that sin is

great.

And we'll study that soon.

However, let's make a commitment today

to walk away from our sin.

Carlos Villas was a Spanish monk who

lived in India and wrote a book about

living in India.

And he talks about a bicycle ride that

he took across the Indian countryside.

And as he was riding, he noticed an

unusual silence that came across nature.

The birds stopped singing.

Crickets mum their calls.

Everything got still.

With no clear explanation.

And then off to the side, he looked and

the mystery was solved because what he

saw there, not that far away, was a

snake.

That snake had his head raised up and he

was waving it back and forth with his

eyes fixed on something.

And Carlos looked to see what the snake was

looking at and he saw a bird not far away.

And the bird was transfixed.

It was glued on the snake.

It was paralyzed like a deer in the

headlights, like a mule at a new gate.

And in reality, mentally, he was because

some snakes have the ability to do that and

it leads to their domination.

Vilas just braced for the impact in

anticipation of what was going to happen.

And then he thought, maybe I have time.

And so immediately, Carlos threw his bike

down, started screaming at the bird, waving

his arms and yelling at the bird until the

bird stopped staring at the snake.

Looked at this crazy man and flew off.

I've come today, folks, to throw down my

bicycle, to raise my hands and to scream if I

have to, to tell you, don't get caught in the

stare of the snake.

Let's break it today.

That habit in your life.

That pattern that you're leading to.

That thought that you're entertaining.

That that you're already caught up with.

Whatever it is, today's the day to stop it.

Today's the day to realize what the evil one's doing to you.

Today, will you tell the Lord, Lord, give me the power and

strength to walk away from what displeases you.

Help me to live in a way that honors you.

Answer my questions.

Give me the faith to trust you.

Guide me, oh God, all the way.

Now listen, you may be here this morning and you've never

surrendered your life to the Lord Jesus Christ.

There's never been a time when you've asked him to forgive

you and to cleanse you of your sin.

There's never been a time when you've committed your life to

Christ.

It's never happened in you.

And I'm going to tell you, the power that I speak of, the way

out that I speak of, is not available to you outside of

Christ.

It's not.

Scripture says you are a slave to sin.

A servant to follow his leadings.

And so I'm telling you today that if you'll call upon the name

of the Lord, you shall be saved.

And if you'll ask him to forgive your sins and to come into your

life and change you, he'll empower you with the spirit of

God and he'll enable you to walk away from the patterns in your

lives that have been so destructive in the past.

And I am thankful that you don't do that alone.

Not only does the Holy Spirit come to dwell within you, but you've got a

church body that would love to come alongside of you and support you in

your struggle to help us all become stronger in the Lord.

That's what this is about, folks, is growing in the Lord.

If you've never done that, I'd love to guide you in that process.

I really would.

You come as we stand and sing in just a moment.

I mean, maybe you're here and you have done that, but there's that sin

pattern in your life.

You can't get a handle on it.

Can we confess it before the Lord today?

Can we see it for what God sees it and commit ourselves to follow him from

this day forward?

To trust him with the unanswered questions?

To trust him with the uncertainty of tomorrow?

To know that what he knows is best for us?

To just leave it with him?

I want you to know all week I prayed for you to walk away from the stuff

that so encumbers you and live freely for the Lord.

Maybe you're here and God's drawing you to this church.

You know this is the place that you'd join us.

We're not perfect, nor are you.

So we'll join each other along in the journey and struggle till Jesus

comes for his sake.

You come and obey God.

Maybe you've made a private decision for the Lord.

You've never made that public.

Today, you come.

We'll baptize you.

Not today.

We'll line it up.

You come and obey God as he speaks to your heart and life.

Stand together if you will.

Obey the Lord as he speaks to you.

Lord Jesus, I ask today that you'll move and you'll work in our lives as only

you can, oh God, I pray.

In Jesus' precious name, amen.

Amen.