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Day by Day - 1 Samuel
The Constant Fight
Clif Johnson
(Lifeword)
Aired on Aug 25, 2023
Show Day by Day
Aug 16, 2023
Duration:
00:03:16 Minutes
Views:
132
devotionals sin temptation

Scripture

1 Samuel 8:7-8

A desire to be like the world is a constant battle we must fight.   ~~~ A desire to be like the world is a constant battle we must fight. 1 Samuel 8:7-8 “The Lord said to Samuel, ‘Obey the voice of the people in all that they say to you, for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected me from being king over them. According to all the deeds that they have done, from the day I brought them up out of Egypt even to this day, forsaking me and serving other gods, so they are also doing to you.” God says that this request that the Israelites have made is simply the latest actions in a long line of forsaking the LORD, and serving other gods. Samuel, what they are doing to you, in rejecting your leadership at this point, is that they are really rejecting me, and they have been doing it for centuries. They have this constant craving to be like the world, and to distrust my word. This is definitely a battle we all face, isn’t it. The future looks rocky, or the ground beneath our feet begins to quake a little bit, and so we look around to see what other people are reaching for and we reach for the same thing. It’s called pragmatism. We look to see what seems to be working for other people, and then we want the same thing. The church seems to be ineffective, or even wayward, so what are the latest techniques of the world that will get her back on track? I know. How about churches based on common interests like horses, or nascar, or style of worship. The world suggests using marketing ploys and gimmicks and turning ministry into fun-filled theaters, and to avoid talking about sin and the destruction it causes; stop holding people accountable to God’s word and let them just be their own unique self. My marriage is unstable, what does the world suggest? It suggests stepping out bc the grass is greener, at least for a little while; or giving up; consult your girlfriends without ever consulting your bible There is a lack of manly leadership and there doesn’t seem to be much hope for it in the future, what does the world offer as suggestions? It suggest you take a back seat and let women assume the role of leadership and protection. It suggests looseness and laziness concerning marriage; it suggests putting off responsibility for as long as possible; it suggests to fill your life with toys and entertainment and amusements with no concern for righteousness, dignity, humility, or masculinity. The desire to distrust the word of God and be like the world is one of the oldest desires. The desires of the flesh, and the desires of the eyes and pride in possessions is not from the Father but from the world…and we must go to battle against it.

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