THEME: BLOCK THAT CHANNEL I.
MEMORISE:
And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell. Matthew 5:30
READ: Matthew 5:28-30
28 But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.
29 And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.
30 And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.
MESSAGE:
The devil is cunning, not wise. When he sees a Christian determined not to commit sin, he puts strategies in place to ensure such a one falls. He locates the person’s weakness, then searches for a channel through which he can bring him/her down.
Once the devil discovered Moses’ weakness, he began to find ways to get him angry, so he could misbehave. He used Mariam but Moses overcame (Numbers 12:10-13); he also used the Israelites to get him angry by successfully tempting them to worship the golden calf (Exodus 32:1-6). On Moses’ return from the mountain, he got so angry with the Israelites that he broke the tablets God had just given him (Exodus 32:19). The devil knew anger was Moses’ weakness so he continued using the Israelites to annoy him. At another time, Moses let the murmurings of the Israelites get to him again and he lost his temper terribly (Numbers 20:10-12). The devil had him in his hands.
Since the devil has made it a point of duty of discover and exploit the weakness of all Christians, what should we do?
Block every channel he could use to employ that weakness against you. The devil knows you can control what you see on the streets, so he might try another channel- your phone. If you allow lust to take over when provocative pictures pop up on your phone, the devil will rejoice in having found a channel to destroy you. He will then start to introduce more provocative pictures and even more sites to nurture the seed of lust he has planted. You won’t be a victim in the mighty name of Jesus.
Brother, the devil could attack you through the smile of a young lady when you are stressed. He could also use provocation from your spouse to lure you to source money through shady means. Whatever that channel may be, cut it off completely or train your mind to ignore it. If Moses had blocked the channel of anger early enough, perhaps he would have overlooked the murmuring of the Israelites and reached the promised land.
You have the chance now, don’t become a victim. Block those channels!
PRAYER POINT:
Father, expose every hidden channel of destruction the devil could use against me. Give me the grace to block and forsake them completely, in the mighty name of Jesus.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Matthew 13
Luke 8
AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE
HYMN 15: IN CHRIST ALONE.
1.
In Christ alone my hope is found,
He is my light, my strength, my song
This Cornerstone, this solid Ground
Firm through the fiercest drought and storm.
What heights of love, what depths of peace
When fears are stilled, when strivings cease
My Comforter, my All in All
Here in the love of Christ I stand.
2.
In Christ alone! – who took on flesh,
Fullness of God in helpless babe.
This gift of love and righteousness,
Scorned by the ones He came to save
Till on that cross as Jesus died,
The wrath of God was satisfied
For every sin on Him was laid
Here in the death of Christ I live.
3.
There in the ground His body lay,
Light of the world by darkness slain:
Then bursting forth in glorious day
Up from the grave He rose again
And as He stands in victory
Sin’s curse has lost its grip on me,
For I am His and He is mine
Bought with the precious blood of Christ
4.
No guilt in life, no fear in death,
This is the power of Christ in me
From life’s first cry to final breath,
Jesus commands my destiny
No power of hell, no scheme of man,
Can ever pluck me from His hand
Till He returns or calls me home
Here in the power of Christ I’ll stand.